Now a major overhaul wouldn’t be complete without some spanking new photos! I spent some time in Japan over the New Year break and took some amazing photos there. The series of photos in this article all illustrate the traditional Japanese customs and architecture.

This photo of Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion – 金閣寺) in Kyoto is, in my opinion, the most amazing shot I took among the bunch. It was freezing cold the day I went there (25F!) and the sun was setting by the time I got to the spot. But luckily this was the perfect time to show off the marvelous golden coating of the pavilion!

The other photos were mostly taken from the new year night markets in Kyoto and Tokyo. These night markets were setup around popular temples so that locals can stroll the bustling shops after finishing their new year prayers.

I’ll be posting more photos from Japan soon. Stay tuned!

This is the final article on Shanghai with photos taken from my 2009 trip. I found this artistic drawing of Mao and Obama at one of the numerous street vendors in Shanghai. At a certain level, both Mao and Obama represent “change” but I’m not going to start a political debate here. What strikes me is that how strongly Western culture has firmly taken root in China. From pop songs to Hollywood movies, Shanghai’s sprawling with imprints of the West.

I guess this is a perfect photo to mark Obama’s first visit to China as the East and the West draw ever closer to each other. That’s it folks for 2009! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all!

Even with all the countless brand new restaurants opening around the city, you can still find places where they still use these traditional “calling menus”. Instead of a server bringing you a copy of well organized menu after you’ve been seated, you go to a clipboard with hand-written “menu cards” to see what’s being served on the day.

An even more popular way to serve food is these street food vendors. Food is prepared right behind the counter where you order and pay. The food is not flashy but delicious (and cheap!). You’ll have to bear with the sometimes long line and the lack of seating but the experience is unmistakably Shanghai. Be sure not to afraid to try them out next time you visit the city!

This is the second installment of my summer 2009 travel photography.

As a continuation of my last article, these photos were also shot in Shanghai. As a result of the rapid economic development, Shanghai’s littered with abandoned buildings waiting to be renovated. This gives an interesting opportunity to capture some intriguing shots of things often missed by unaware passers-by.

I’m particularly fond of the shot with an old bicycle stashed away on a staircase of an abandoned building. The soft side-lighting, together with the red pipe and fire hose cabinet really make the photo pops. If you can’t read the Chinese on the last photo, the character on the yellow traffic sign means “slow down” – a bit of an irony for the fast-paced Shanghai city life, don’t you think?

I’ve been traveling a lot recently and here’s the first of many articles highlighting some of my works during this period.

First up is Shanghai – The last time I visited the city was more than a decade ago. So much have changed since then and I was in for a complete shock! The colonial style city I once knew has been largely replaced by a sprawling metropolitan that I found barely recognizable. However, this makes Shanghai even more intriguing due to its unique blend of tradition and modernity. These graffiti, found in a residential park in the western part of the city, are a clear indication of Western urban culture taking root in the East.

I’ll be posting many more photos in the coming days. Stay tuned!

Met this pair of excellent drummer – dancer performers while trolling down the lovely Newburry Street (I know again) in Boston. You see I’ve always aspired to be a drummer but unfortunately my sense of rhythm is… some what lacking (to put it nicely). And I guess don’t even talk about dancing…

Oh well at least I know how to enjoy their performance :) Their energetic display was a perfect match for the beautiful Boston summer. It seems that they perform every Sunday at Newburry and Mass Ave. Be sure to check them out!

You wouldn’t think I slacked off during the July 4th weekend right? Well, I almost did since there were constant drizzles here in St Louis over the Indepence Day weekend. Luckily, I charged ahead and went to the fireworks showing on Friday. Nothing an oversized umbrella and human shield can’t handle (to protect my gears of course).

The fireworks were spectacular, but the positioning of my camera was a bit off… You see I tried to get the fireworks and the Arch at an angle. Turned out I a bit too off to the side that I couldn’t get a clean shot of both of them! Lesson well learned though – research ahead! Nevertheless, I was still able to get these shots so I didn’t totally come back empty-handed :D

How can I name my site “Maestro Illuminist Photography” without showing off some command over light? Check this out – I can bend light!

Okay I was joking – this series of shots were taken at an overpass overlooking a sweeping corner of Forest Park Parkway. Getting these shots were a lot harder than you’d expect. This is St Louis, not LA after all, and waiting for steady streams of cars to come by was quite tedious. Nevertheless the results were well worth the wait! I hope you’d enjoy them :)

I’m addicted to restaurants in South End of Boston. These photos are from another hip restaurant called “Toro” in the area. I know what you’re thinking – No, that doesn’t mean “fatty tuna”. In fact, it’s not even a Japanese restaurant but instead a really nice Spanish tapas bistro.

Went there for their special Sunday brunch. Unfortunately I was too busy munching the food that I didn’t get any of the plates in their pristine state. However, their interior wine racks are definitely awesome (if not awe-inspiring) :D If you happen to visit the restaurant for brunch, be sure to try their Banana Milk smoothie. It’s downright devilish!

Took this photo during a late afternoon stroll through the Forest Park in St Louis. At first glance you might think this is a normal tree – perhaps until you notice the strange reflections and the lack of foliage. (See those trees in the background?) What in the world is it?!

Turns out it’s a brilliant metal sculpture of a tree tucked cunningly next to the St Louis Arts Museum, concealed among your normal “boring” trees. I bet that most people who frequent the Forest Park have no clue of its existence! Too bad that the sculpture bears no name of its creator – but whoever came up with this definitely deserves a round of applause!