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Little Beijing While at the top of one of new towers built for the Olympics, I was able to get a good vantage back towards different parts of the city. Beijing is so spread out -- there does not seem to be a central focus in the traditional "skyscraper" sense. I've taken a few other downtown shots you might recall (click on the"Beijing" category), but this spot was kind of cool and unique because of this tower I was in.I happened to be outside with Joe McNally, after we finally convinced the officials to let us get beyond the inside and dirty windows. We were out in the "5th ring" where many Olympic venues were built. And so, here was this huge tower in the outskirts, looking back towards the city. It seemed like a good situation for a zoom-in compression shot.- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest of this entry at the Stuck in Customs blog.
Walking in the Park Instead of describing this photo, I'll talk about a little trick. See how the background is all blurry and quite flat (not complex)? This happens when you use a very low number for your F-Stop. In this case, it was 1.4 on the 50mm 1.4 lens - although this would have also worked with the more inexpensive 1.8 lens. Anyway, if the person (or object) you are shooting is a lot closer to you than the distant background, the entire area back there will be very washed-out and flat. Behind her, there was actually a lot of complexity. There was a park with trees and sky and lights and everything, but it all gets washed away with this technique.- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest of this entry at the Stuck in Customs blog.
Boat in Feng Huang It was a cool and calm afternoon in the ancient and impossible town of Feng Huang. It's an old town, wreathed in many legends. On the old river, you can occasionally see a boat passing here and there. The boatmen come in all shapes and sizes, but many wear the same hat and style. It is absolutely like a warp of time... - Trey Ratcliff Read more here at the Stuck in Customs blog.
The Mysterious Creatures Among Us While in the southern town of Lixiang, I came upon this creature in the evening. Maybe you know the legend of this... maybe it is better to make up your own legend than to have me tell you everything about it... or, perhaps one of you intrepid explorers in the community can tell us all what is going on here!- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.
Deep into the Jungle Mists I was many kilometers down this river away from the town. I got off my little boat to do some hiking up through the hills through the jungle. It was dense. Even when there was a little opening, it still felt like leaves and vines were pressing in on me. On occasion, I would see a wider break that let me see into the mysterious beyond.- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.
Under the Factory As I explored the abandoned airplane factories in this old section of Beijing, I went down into the basement level to see what I could find. There were all sorts of iron fixtures, strange knobs and wheels, semi-circular openings to kilns that had been bricked closed, and endless layers of peeling, scorched paint.I wanted to go back to this whole area to explore more, but maybe next time. I think this will be a great area for the next PhotoWalk in Beijing!- Trey RatcliffFrom the blog entry here at www.stuckincustoms.com.
Lijiang at Night This is the old town of Lijiang, China, where I spent the week with Tom Anderson (the MySpace guy). I think I mentioned him before. Anyway, we got to be friends over the past several months, and we ended up spending a week together here in the south of China.Tom had first been here many years ago when he was setting up the MySpace office in Beijing. He had great memories, and he thought it would be great for a big return now that he is getting more into photography. So, it was definitely a week full of non-stop photography action.One late night after the sun had set, we weaved through the old streets until we found this place. Looking up, I knew it would be a wonderful place to take a photo, so I set up for this one.- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.
Rickshaws at the Drum Tower I've visited Gǔlóu many times and never taken a photo.  I just couldn't figure one out.And then, this most recent trip, I walked around the tower several times until I finally got an idea.This is the giant drum tower built about a thousand years ago by Kublai Khan.  An enormous drum rests in front, and it was beat rhythmically to announce meetings. The temple sits in the Inner City to the north of Di'anmen Street.- Trey RatcliffRead more, including a preview of an exciting announcement, here at the Stuck in Customs blog.
The Great Wall of China Wow I was alone here. As I walked along this ancient, original stretch of the Great Wall, I felt the ghosts haunting the old towers and little enclaves.I finally found an extremely remote part that is far enough away from civilization to stay pure. The ruins of the wall in this area has been overgrown with vegetation. When you walk along the top, you have to snake your way between huge bushes and all sorts of trees. Stairs and parts of the walkways have crumbled away in the past thousand years. The old towers are slowly fragmenting as lichens and moss cover parts of the stone that are decaying away.This has only reminded me that the main tourist part of the Great Wall is a very tiny stretch that has been re-built in recent years… so it is all fake and kind of Disney-wall. I don’t think I like that…That day I walked from tower to tower, looking at the sinuous wall as it snakes over the mountains. It’s so huge that I won’t even begin to come up with analogies… but, speaking of snakes, a family here told me to watch out for them. I kept that in mind as I hiked back in the pure black of night. I had a little flashlight to keep me company, along with my music. I didn’t see any snakes, and I didn’t fall down, so all together it was a great day and night.- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.

Walking in the Park


Instead of describing this photo, I'll talk about a little trick. See how the background is all blurry and quite flat (not complex)? This happens when you use a very low number for your F-Stop. In this case, it was 1.4 on the 50mm 1.4 lens - although this would have also worked with the more inexpensive 1.8 lens. Anyway, if the person (or object) you are shooting is a lot closer to you than the distant background, the entire area back there will be very washed-out and flat. Behind her, there was actually a lot of complexity. There was a park with trees and sky and lights and everything, but it all gets washed away with this technique.

- Trey Ratcliff

Click here to read the rest of this entry at the Stuck in Customs blog.
Click here to read the rest of this entry at the Stuck in Customs blog." href="javascript:openLB(1707361948,'',XLarge,'',1024,701);">Walking in the Park Instead of describing this photo, I'll talk about a little trick. See how the background is all blurry and quite flat (not complex)? This happens when you use a very low number for your F-Stop. In this case, it was 1.4 on the 50mm 1.4 lens - although this would have also worked with the more inexpensive 1.8 lens. Anyway, if the person (or object) you are shooting is a lot closer to you than the distant background, the entire area back there will be very washed-out and flat. Behind her, there was actually a lot of complexity. There was a park with trees and sky and lights and everything, but it all gets washed away with this technique.- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest of this entry at the Stuck in Customs blog.

Walking in the Park


Instead of describing this photo, I'll talk about a little trick. See how the background is all blurry and quite flat (not complex)? This happens when you use a very low number for your F-Stop. In this case, it was 1.4 on the 50mm 1.4 lens - although this would have also worked with the more inexpensive 1.8 lens. Anyway, if the person (or object) you are shooting is a lot closer to you than the distant background, the entire area back there will be very washed-out and flat. Behind her, there was actually a lot of complexity. There was a park with trees and sky and lights and everything, but it all gets washed away with this technique.

- Trey Ratcliff

Click here to read the rest of this entry at the Stuck in Customs blog.
See photo in original gallery.
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