When I started training Karate, I searched deep in myself (a rather shy and timid, looking for identity kid) to develop the a sense of Budo, or Warrior spirit. It's something that you really have to grasp to get a completeness and oneness with martial arts. During my journey, I fell in love with the thought of the Samurai. Actually the Ronin, a samurai who's master was killed and now is in service to no one. He roams the land living as mercenary for hire. Samurai (and Ronins) were knights in armor. Skillful in battle but moves with full efficiency and effectiveness in full battle gear. I used to read a Japanese comic called Lone Wolf and Cub about a Ronin who roams the land pushing a cart with his baby son, Daigoro. My favorite scenes were of him standing, sword drawn on a bridge that looks just like this one. I love the simplicity of this bridge, the banisters, the unique spacing of the pickets that create a very powerful yet peaceful design. Perhaps i should get on Samurai gear and have my picture taken on this bridge...
Siren's Song
There's something about trees that always calls to me. Other than the uniqueness and majesty of each one, I always feel such a strong urge to photograph them. I once heard someone say that as a photographer, you'll immediately notice when there's an image there to be taken. I had been driving for years along the highway passing by this tree on the offramp. Year after year, like a siren's song, it called to me as I drove past. There was always some excuse why I didn't. Too busy rushing...too rainy...late for meeting...too tired.....didn't have camera along. I ignored it for the most part until one day, after a meeting, with clear blue skies, i pulled off the road at incline of the off-ramp. Watching out for crazy drivers, I hopped over the railing and scurried down the hill. I walked around the tree or about 15 mins looking at different angles I wanted to shoot to avoid getting the traffic in frame. As I set down my tripod, a pod of clouds started to move in and I knew then it was time to shoot. This image is of that siren that kept on calling to me...
Power, Grace and Timelessness
Apart from the pure historical presence of the Brooklyn Bridge, I feel a strong connection to the Brooklyn Bridge. As an civil engineer, I have strong urges to wonder how they came about determining a structure that not only solidly carries it's own massive load but also to deliver a challenging, yet usable level of service as one of the many daily arteries for New York commuters. As a photographer, I've struggled in representing that engineering feeling I get while on this bridge in my previous photos of it. I've spent many visits taking a stroll on this bridge. I've walked almost the entire length of it and shot many images but not come close to representing the sense of power I get from this bridge. As the sun was setting, not only on the bridge but in my time in New York, I found the ideal spot at the ideal time. I took my shots and in looking at the back of the camera, It looked like I had captured it. I started to pack up to head back to the car when all of the sudden, the lamppost turned on. I realized at that moment that I would have kicked myself for missing that key element, I repositioned my tripod, waited for some tourist to past and then captured this image just before it became too dark.
Night Chases Day
When I first saw this dock, i felt something special about it. It reminded me of my youth summers spent on Lake Conway with my friends. It's Simple and inviting. The wood is so smooth that you want to walk bare-footed on it and run your fingers along the smooth texture along the rails. As the sun started to set on it, I realized that it was just in the right position to reflect the both the fading day and the oncoming night. I spent most of my afternoon waiting for this happen. It did so in such grand Florida Keys style...