Praying in a Vegas Casino Photo

Photographer’s Note

Went out shooting with Mark today. The weater was totally against us. We no longer arrived at Chihnan Temple than the skies opened up and it rained like the world was coming to an end. What made everyhing worse, was the fact that Mark decided to wear ball bearing shoes today; every step he made threatened him taking a header.

Anyways, with the clouds being as thick as they were, the photo opportunities were very limited. This was about the best I did, in a kind of side room which Mark and I both agreed kind of resembled a Las Vegas casion. You can see the Taoist deities here and how their set up looks not unlike a slot machine. Couple this with the gaudy lights and the artificial sky above us and you have what my idea of Vegas is. Full disclosure: I have never actually visited Las Vegas.

If you look at the workshop photo, you can see Mark taking aim, as well as the artificial sky I mentioned.

Philip Coggan, one of my all time favorite members here, once said that Chinese Architecture doesn't believe in understatement. Nowhere has that ever been more true than when it comes to temples.

Once again, I have gone back to the Zenitar fisheye lens.

Didi, designsoul has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Didi (36442) 2007-09-03 2:41

Hi Darren
I remember the days when I was working in a casino in the seventies.
Nice golden composition in spite the hard lights condition.
Good use of the fish eye.
Cheers.

Furachan (0) 2007-09-03 3:01

Nice fisheye work once again Darren, with a great title. They indeed look like slot machines - man, what a spuerstitious lot these traditinal Chinese are, eh? Taoist this and that, ubelievable...
Gorgeous colors too. One of us has to stick to Pentax, man...might as well be you.
Cheers,
Francis

paulalex32 (4) 2007-09-03 5:31

Hi Darren,
This photo seems to me a bit of a misrepresentation and, as such, a tad disrespectful. This is not indicitive of religion to all Taiwanese nor is it exemplary of temples, even in general. As you probably know, the row of lights on the left are kept on as blessings for members who ask for them. They are not Vegas style lights. Your lack of acknowledgement to these points creates a disillusioned image of this country and its people. Regardless, it is also suffering technically. Your use of a fisheye lens should be tempered with an ability to remove such obvious distortions as the man who looks like he will fall over backwards or the pillar of lights that curves so unaturally beside him. Furthermore, what should be the main attraction of your image, the deities themselves, are washed out and painful to look at. Unless of course this was your intention. Well, hope you don't mind a harsh critique or two. Cheers, Paul.

designsoul (21394) 2007-10-03 17:02

A VERY curiuos analogue but one that I cannot resist, Darren. Nevertheless, you present a to me thoroughly unique temple with beautiful deep colours. The fish-eye lens adds to the dynamic. What are "ball-bearing" shoes, btw?
Hello to Mark if you meet, from his conpatriot.
tc,
sasa