Infrared Village Again (4 photos)

[Don Ellis]

When it’s Typoon Signal No. 1 and No. 3 is on the way, you get about 20 calm minutes to walk around the village and take a few pictures before it starts raining horizontally. So these photos aren’t the greatest, but they are calm snatches of the Chinese village I live in just before the storm.

With the exception of occasional cat burglars, our village is very safe and turtle statues can be left on the garden walls for residents to walk by and admire... or ignore... or photograph...



A character from our own garden. Leela and I were having lunch at Woodlands, an Indian vegetarian restaurant in Tsimshatsui East (recommended), and when we left we found that someone had abandoned their ceramic god next to a Dumpster, so we adopted him and moved him into more natural surroundings...



One of the village dogs who is gentle, durable, and quietly intelligent. When we moved in four years ago, it only took him about two days to realize we were residents and to stop barking at us -- unlike some of the other curs that have seen us every day for months. For three years, he roamed the village, slept in front of our home in driving rain and scorching sunshine, and lived peacefully with his mate, a smoother-coated version of him, fed by village residents. I heard she died a year ago and now he lives alone...



And towards the far end of the village is a small waterfall that varies from dry to exploding depending on the rainfall in the hills. This is about normal...



The awning is now tucked in, the weather is darkly clouded, our tall plants are mostly blown over, and we’re tucked inside with popcorn and a movie. Signal No. 3 is usually rainfall and high winds. It’s when it jumps to No. 8 that the excitement and destruction begins -- and that’s not likely to happen this time.

Cheers,

Don

[Leighow]

DON

Beautiful narrative. Clean, crisp and great photos.

I loved the dog.
************
Reminded my of our old dog Bailey. You are lucky (as I understand things) to have dogs in your village as I seem to recall that one could only rent and walk dogs by the hour in one of China's mainland city's.

The water fall is a classic in artfull composition and simplicity.
************************************************** ***
I would have liked to have posted vaguely similar shots of the small creek- falls that run out of our fresh water lakes in our Canadian bush -- but the simplicity is not there: or, if the subject is made too simple (say top-down shot of three feet of running water... who cares?

So, these are quite perfect in my mind.

HOWIE

[pappy]

These are lovely photos, Don. You certainly make the most of your opportunities. The garden ornaments are interstingly exotic for me. The long-suffering dog is a beautiful photos, as is the falls. Very nicely done.

regards,
peter

[new girl on the bloc]

Don Ellis wrote:
One of the village dogs who is gentle, durable, and quietly intelligent. When we moved in four years ago, it only took him about two days to realize we were residents and to stop barking at us -- unlike some of the other curs that have seen us every day for months. For three years, he roamed the village, slept in front of our home in driving rain and scorching sunshine, and lived peacefully with his mate, a smoother-coated version of him, fed by village residents. I heard she died a year ago and now he lives alone...

this may explain the rather forlorn energy that he seems to have emanating from him. nice photos don.

[marie]

they are so clear don ,all the pictures especially the ceramic god shot . its really standing out for its sharpness and the foliage is wonderful beside it like that

its a beautiful picture of the dog .
he looks very ' pet friendly'
( you adopted the god but not the dog )

If you did got the big storm which was forecast
I guess that lovely waterfall 'was' exploding later
beautiful story and detail and pictures

many thanks

marie

[Don Ellis]

Leighow wrote:
DON

Beautiful narrative. Clean, crisp and great photos.

Hi Howie,

Thanks for dropping in and offering such nice comments.

I loved the dog.
************
Reminded my of our old dog Bailey. You are lucky (as I understand things) to have dogs in your village as I seem to recall that one could only rent and walk dogs by the hour in one of China's mainland city's.

Unfortunately, everybody and his brother can own a dog or seven in Hong Kong, especially in the villages. A lot of people move out to the countryside from the city and figure they need dogs (plural) for protection. And while many people take good care of their animals, for others dogs are a status symbol of fleeting interest.

There are at least nine dogs within a weak stone's throw from us and that's only because the two girls who had seven dogs in a 350-square-foot flat moved out. The dogs were never walked and just hung around the tiny balcony barking all day, while the girls left early and returned home late.

Ah, well... free will, eh?

The water fall is a classic in artfull composition and simplicity.
************************************************** ***
I would have liked to have posted vaguely similar shots of the small creek- falls that run out of our fresh water lakes in our Canadian bush -- but the simplicity is not there: or, if the subject is made too simple (say top-down shot of three feet of running water... who cares?

I know that "who cares?" feeling... I almost didn't post that waterfall picture because it's hardly a pristine mountain stream. But four photos sounded better than three.

So, these are quite perfect in my mind.

I'm glad.

Here's one I didn't post... when I finished shooting the dog, I looked down and there was this composition. Didn't even have to move -- just flipped the camera down and pressed the shutter. I've darkened it more than the others, so it doesn't look like part of this series.

[Don Ellis]

Peter and new girl... thanks for your comments. Glad you liked the walkabout. I’ve stuck all the village photos in one gallery at http://www.kleptography.com/linegallery-irvillage.htm. I’ve created four “line galleries” (that scroll left to right, rather than up and down) now because I’m enjoying photographing again and don’t want to spend so much time creating three different size photos, plus the HTML, for both versions of my normal galleries. These infrareds look better against gray and black anyway, so I’ll have to consider how I want to go forward with new galleries. I think I need an HTML minion to do this for me.

Marie... the dog is very friendly towards us. Because of his rough lifestyle, however, it's awkward petting him unless you’re on your way home and headed for the shower. Still, he often gets a kind word and a pat on the head so he knows we’re thinking good thoughts.

Cheers,

Don

[marie]

very nice shot again don.
was most definitely just joking about the dog
I couldn't resist saying it but never ever meant it .
not for a split second.
as I understand totally what you say about them in apartments .
they are not allowed in apartments which my sister is in because of the very reasons you say.

was j/j




regards
marie