Buddha and Amusements Photo

Photographer’s Note

This is the Kuanyin Statue which overlooks Keelung, just north of Taipei. This temple/statue is on the top of a hill and is visible from many points in Keelung. Supposedly, it is also a landmark that arriving ships look for as well.

I have mentioned before that one of the things I admire about Buddhism/Taoism is how the temples become not just a place of worship, but a social center as well. Here, there are little cars for children to have fun driving around, as well as games of chance/skill where you can win small, plasticky prizes. I guess this makes the temple an attraction for the whole family, which is great I guess. I just can't imagine such things being set up on the grounds of the Churches in Canada.

Handheld, ISO 200, uncropped, normal post processing, focal length 15mm.

supereira, PixelTerror, glopez, Galeota, smael has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

supereira (9576) 2004-10-24 8:55

I like the colors and the contrast betweeen them.Very good sky,I like a lot the clouds.Great textures and light.Great POV and prespective.Good job!

PixelTerror (86036) 2004-10-24 9:34

Hi Darren I like the compo, the cars trace a fine perspective to the statue and I like your photo for its TE "learning about the world" purpose. Nice bright colors too and good note.

glopez (18) 2004-10-24 9:53

very colourful, nice pic

SoupDragon (652) 2004-10-24 10:34

I tried really hard to get this balanced. I felt that the picture was tilted to the right slightly, but even just 1 degree tilt distorts it even more.

I love the picture but my head keeps cocking to the right, and I don't know why.

Sky is so cool, but does this explain the lack of people?

Galeota (10329) 2004-10-24 16:11

Perhaps this is a good representation of how religion can make a temple(church. sinagogue, mosque, whatever...) attractive for the whole family, but personally I'm afraid a find it a bit scary... I'm really not sure this would be a good playground for my kids...of course I'm not an expert on soul's salvation, so what do I know...?

I'm wondering that you could have made a much more interesting photograph if you had used your fisheye...

RandomCameraGuy (3063) 2004-10-25 11:35

This deserves a Keanu style "Whoa!"

What the freakin heck is this!?! What a bizarre kiddie park nighmare scene, and with Kuanyin, Buddha of Infinite Compassion staring on! Seriously horrific! ...or maybe it's just me.

Well composed in all, my only wish was that it was completely deserted to complete that freaky feeling! Cheers!

maciekda (19587) 2004-11-07 12:47

interesting picture Darren, the place is at least strange.. lots of colors in the frame, dramatic sky. i like the kid on the side, a part of a car on the right side is distracting. i wish there were people in the middle and on the right side, i wonder whether you waited long enough... interesting work

photoniall (0) 2004-11-10 6:09 [Comment]

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smael (2878) 2004-11-16 10:16

Good shot! ;)
The symmetry, the colors, the contrast(?) between devotion/entertainment, the person and the fact that there are one car missing !!!
Is it you who sits in it? ;)

Exposure is spot on, and the light is superb!

terje

Homerhomer (4005) 2004-12-01 13:17

Love the contrast between serious religious meditation and all the toys, carts etc, the contrast between the grey colour of the statue and the cheerfull colours of everything else.
I also think that this image is funny, normally you would see serious dragon statues, here we have Scoobydoo like dragon wannabees.
Nice sky adds to the scenery, well exposed image.
Peter