Taiwan - Out Door Markets

All have been lomo'fied.....

Out door markets in Taiwan - I didn't think they still existed, at least in Taiwan, I thought they have been replaced by modern in-door grocery stores.  It is cool to shop around the out door market, there's an energy that you can't experience in regular grocery stores.   One thing I would back off from are meat or fish stalls..   I didn't observe proper refrigeration with those stalls..  hmmmmmmmmm.

Flower stand - fresh flowers daily.

Corner Fruit stand - the store front is probably worth millions...

Taiwan - 2011: Bricks

Another trip to Taiwan. I like it there so much, maybe I should just live there, :)

These pictures are taking from northern and central part of Taiwan. Taiwan being a small island nation, it's really easy to get around, if you have a car, which I don't think I have the courage to fight the local traffics, really makes it easy, but with a very good public transportation system, bus, train, or taxis, can take you any where..



Near 國立政治大學 (ChengChi University).

These are left over rail bridge road columns from the Japanese Occupation era. they broke apart due to earthquakes (twice actually), but they look very sharp with these red bricks.

An early kiln, in the city of that is famous for potteries. However, a lot of stores were selling goods from Japan and Korea. Don't know why they didn't have local stuff.

An old brick house, scary part is, I think someone still living there. I would think this would crumple down any time....

Nikon 28-105mm f3.5-4.5 D

Well, here it is, the lens I used to my recent macro adventures. Like I said in my previous post, this lens is rated at "bargain", hard to believe, because it is in very good shape to me.

Here is the macro/normal switch.  You can only switch to macro mode when it is >50mm.  The front part of the lens (narrower band) is for focusing, while the rear portion of the lens is for zooming.  The focus is very smooth, no problem for me.  Although my eyesight can use some help.  Larger viewfinder would help, :)   Check out Fred Miranda's site, under review, to see other people's opinion.  I have learned to read group opinion on this type of lens review, go with the consensus, rather than one person's opinion.  If you decide to get one, have fun!

Spider Man

I am on a old mid-range zoom kick recently. I don't know how I missed these affordable lenses before, but I have just discovered these useful lenses, and acquired a couple.

One is the 35-70mm f2.8, non-D version. An old professional mid range zoom, that's been replaced by 28-70, then by the 24-70mm f2.8 AFS lens. After doing my research on the web, I found a bargain rated copy at KEH for about $260, that's not bad for a pro graded lens, not bad at all. The design is old, and it is using the push-pull style zoom, but it didn't creep on me like my older 70-210mm lens. Boy, is it sharp! It has very fast focus, and with good light, I can hand hold to capture very detailed images. It also offered a 1:4 macro function, which, since always wanted a macro lens, but never made an investment into such a lens, I was sort of interested in venture into it a little more. I was thinking about buying an 85mm f1.8 for dedicated portait lens, now I don't have a need for that.

That's when I discovered the Nikon 28-105mm f3.5-f4.5 lens, it is another mid-range zoom, which I believe was a kit lens for the F100 when it was released, and it offers 1:2 macro function. At around $150 a pop on KEH for a bargain rated lens, I grabbed a copy without any hesitation. On a D80, it gives me 42mm-157mm range, which is actually very nice range for a walk about lens. I am not sure how KEH rates their lenses, but with this bargain rating, I can't find anything wrong with it. As long as glass elements are not scratched, I am happy.

The macro is available from 50-105mm range only, and I am just having a ball with this lens. It is not the sharpest lens, but I am having fun with it, I think that's what a hobby is about, right? Having fun...

Places

Just a few places that I gave them the monochrome treatment.



Awnings, San Fran

Fruit Stand, San Fran

Disney Gift Shop

Downtown St. Pete.

Water front benches, St. Pete.