I’m excited for this project for a number of reasons.

1. becoming a better photographer. the most basic way to be a better photographer is simply to shoot more. It’s not about buying more gear, learning the lingo or having the best presets, but about taking initiative and simply shooting.

From my corporate days, I learned that goals can’t be big, vague ideas but concrete and quantifiable ones. My goal is to become a better photographer. I intend to do this by shooting every day. Simple.

2. less gear, more brain. my friends have all heard me rant about my biggest photo pet peeve. Well-meaning (or perhaps just polite) people compliment your images by saying “wow! you must have a great camera.” Every time I hear that it’s like a stab in the gut, and in my opinion, akin to saying to someone who’s just made you a home-cooked meal “that was great, you must have amazing pots and pans.”

I suppose I’m on a bit of a crusade (if only to prove to myself) that expensive gear is neither necessary nor sufficient to produce great images.

3. a visual diary. 2010 is going to be an incredible year. I feel it in my bones. It’s a product of where I am in life right now, reaching a crossroads in Beijing and preparing for everything that lies ahead. I can tell you right now that next week I will be here and that is only a tiny snippet of the travels and adventures that lay ahead. Not all in the frozen tundra of course

Without further ado, shots from the first week of 2010!

January 1st, ringing in the new year at the 798 Art District

Despite the modernity and growth, Now and then I’m surprised when I see uber-communist propaganda, like on the subway.

Some artsy iPhone photography as I freeze my fingers off  in the worst snowfall in 60 years. (And then biking through this the next day)

Compilation of head shots of my classmates this semester, a farewell gift for our favorite teacher

Two years after leaving New York, I find myself at Central Perk.. circa ’90s Friends.

Franklin! My friends’ pet turtle

The final product. I thought our teacher was going to die from squealing. She is fond of calling us 可爱的高级班 or “the cutest (upper level) class”. Written on the board is the translation in all the languages our classmates speak

Anyone else starting a 365? Drop me a line!

I’ve decided to create a project based upon this tool. Much of this is inspired by Chase Jarvis’ use of the iPhone as a photographic medium. I truly believe that a photographer shouldn’t be defined by what they use. Even a simple point and shoot can produce amazing images.

This will be an on-going project as I finish out my year in Beijing. I want to capture more of the every day, the “only in Beijing” moments, and document some of the sights that have been such an integral part of my life here.

Below is a sample of some of the images. Follow the on-going development on Facebook or “live” on my Twitter feed

Wangfujing, Beijing.

The Man. The Myth. The Legend.

In search of the Beijing Underground City

Window washers in Sanlituen

Elderly Beijingers playing chess on the streets in winter

Napoleon was right when he described the might of China as a sleeping dragon. But little did he know, that also included the ability to control the weather as well. Thanks to the Central Government’s cloud seeding efforts and an unexpected cold front, Beijing has been intermittently blanketed by snow. The oddest thing isn’t just the six inches of snow, but that a day or two later, melts to reveal green grass, piles of autumn leaves and occasional bouts of sunshine. It’s all four seasons in a week!

For those not quite familiar with Beijing, the city is notorious for being extremely dry. Rain, let alone snow is incredibly rare. I can’t even imagine what kind of ecological ramifications this has on the country.

Wading through a snow drift to unlock my bike. Thankfully, mine was mostly sheltered.

Tsinghua University, in front of the main hall

Check out that snowman.. it’s easily 7 feet tall!

Feels like Christmas already

I love how creative students on campus get This was right outside the building where I have all my classes. All the hardworking Chinese students turn into kids whenever it snows

On a different note, yesterday was the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. One of the most iconic moments signaling the end of the Cold War and the end of Communism in Europe. The BBC has been pod casting various interviews and commentaries reflecting on the anniversary, and as I listened (while milling about getting ready for class), I couldn’t help but remark at where we are today. Communism is over in Europe, but there still remains an Eastern Bloc. It may be a unique blend of economic liberalism, but the core of the political infrastructure remains undoubtedly a one-party state. There are restrictions in almost every important aspect of life: freedom of expression, the right to assembly, even individual reproductive rights. To someone who is raised in a world where the word freedom is almost a political battle cry – the contrast of living within the current confines are startling.

It is twenty years after the fall of the wall, and yet from inside China, we are still behind a one. One very much in alive and kicking. And if you ever needed an example of the sheer power it wrests, just look at the weather.

Above is an iPhone photo of a questionnaire I was recently given, which is supposed to help a facility improve its teaching and approach to students. At first, it looked harmless enough.. where have you been in China, what is your language proficiency.. etc. And then the questions got… stranger.

What is your attitude towards Chinese people? Four answer choices given: admiration, contempt, envy, pity.

Please rate the following statements according to the scale (how much you agree):

1. I am certain that I can produce novel and appropriate ideas.
2. The people in this country can handle whatever comes their way
3. I like to live close to my good friends
4. Aging parents should live at home with their children
5. Children should live with their parents until they get married.

… and so on.

Along with 30 or so questions on (a foreigner’s) opinions on the individual characteristics of Chinese people, in four different formats.

I really had to stretch my imagination on how any of these answers would help an institution tailor its teaching towards international students. Especially my personal favorite – the question on whether parents have the right to feel honored if their child wins the the Nobel Prize, pictured above.

Parents?? Let’s not forget that most of America (and albeit, the world) is still flabbergasted by the latest Nobel Prize winner. I don’t think anyone’s given any serious thought to whether his parents have the right to feel honored.

I would be remiss to make a mountain out of this molehill, but this was one of the daily reminders of the various culture shock(s) one is bound to face while living in China. I have long since come to the terms with being a global mutt. There are some serious perks. But then again, you’ll forever be standing in the divide between the nations of your birth, youth, and influence. Being asked these questions, however impersonally and far-removed, made me realize how stark the difference in thinking between the country of my ethnicity… and everything else that has been influential.

To put it in broader strokes, I forget how important image is in China, once I get accustomed to the day-to-day details of living here. What foreigners think really seems to matter. This is what drives the censorship, which makes educational surveys come off as something entirely in it’s own category, and why there is no Freedom of Youtube. If I could write my own charter on the universal rights and freedoms of the intar-web, freedom of Youtube would definitely be one of the first articles. Broadly interpreted as the right to access what’s blocked by the Great Wall.

But on a more cheery note, I bring you another iPhone picture, as part of my chronicles of the mundane that I find hilariously interesting.

There you have it. A scene which perfectly expresses what I am feeling this particular day. I snapped this picture while grocery shopping this evening – a lone little crab, who had somehow managed to scramble out of the crowded tank, holding on by a claw – TO FREEDOM.

Recently, I said I would make an effort to post more often, especially posting photos of life in Beijing. Well it’s 8AM Sunday morning (fine.. technically 8:53. But I like sounding productive) and by no small miracle, I was actually up at 7AM, and have already cracked open my books to study. I’m taking a few moments to blog this while my amazing coffee is brewing before I meet up with friends for church. There are worse ways to start a Sunday, methinks.

Being originally from Hong Kong (aka, Jetsonville), there’s no way Beijing’s metro system could ever compare to our super efficient, air conditioned and uber clean subways. But there is one thing we’re lacking, and it’s these odd looking blue ball-shaped things. Hit the jump below to find out what this oddity is. (I will be seriously impressed if you can guess..)

This is none other than a bomb receptacle. No joke. Suspicious packages found in the subway are placed in these blue seal-able bins that are capable of withstanding and containing a blast, at least until authorities figure out what to do with the package, or it… blows up. Heh.

This country really doesn’t kid around with security measures. Bags are x-rayed before getting on to the subways.. and newspapers are confiscated before landing in Beijing (how this constitutes as a security measure, I’m not entirely sure. Nor do I want to speculate for the moment.. in case my site gets blocked (again.))

Beijing is also an incredibly transitory city. Much like Hong Kong or New York. People are constantly coming and going. Last night I said farewell to one of my dearest friends here. Alex is my one-time colleague and one of the earliest friends I made here. The thought of him not being here is almost like losing one of Beijing’s landmarks. But no send off could be proper without some fine Beijing-dining, on none other than 鬼街 (gui jie) or “ghost street”

And of course, with dining anywhere in Beijing, there’s a long wait for a table. But have no fear – restaurants provide seating outside under red lanterns and bowls of sunflower seeds to snack on while your table is being prepared. I secretly believe that if Beijingers were any type of animal, it would be a squirrel. Or some other kind of nut/seed eating animal. Shells are thrown on the floor – whether indoor or outdoor.

There are many signs letting you know you’re at a great restaurant. Michelin guide, “starred” ratings, newspaper or magazine features.. I venture one additional tip for the traveling gourmand. Damp table cloths. Seriously. Damp table cloths. Think about it. If the turnover of a restaurant needs to be so fast that they can’t dry their table cloths in time.. well my friend, you know you’re in for a culinary treat!

Now far be it from me to reinforce any stereotypes, but Chinese… really do eat just about everything. Since moving here, I’ve eaten one or two unusual things, but nothing too wild. Nothing compared to my awesome friend, Simon, who thrills at the idea of eating testicles, grubs, brains.. you name it. Here he is about to chow-down on chili bull-frog

Nom nom. But to be quite honest, it’s actually really really good. Tastes like part fish, part chicken. ficken, if you will.

Some (literally) lip-tingling, tongue-numbing 麻辣 (ma la) crabs. Ma la translates as numbing-hot. They were not kidding around. Phew. And just when your lips are completely numb with pain, a little salt to rub in the wound. Clams packed in sea salt

.. T’was quite a night.

But living in China isn’t all about stuffing new and possibly strange food down your throat. This is after all, a bustling cosmopolitan city that absorbs elements of other cultures, particularly from the west. Chances are, if you’re studying in Beijing, you’ll be familiar with the student haunts in the area. Imagine my surprise when I walked into one of my favorite hangouts and was greeted by this:

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, Halloween has indeed come to the Middle Kingdom.

Now if you’ll excuse me, the smell of freshly-brewed Laotian coffee is intoxicating and beckoning to me. ….. must…. heed…

Happy Sunday everyone!

At least according to photographer Chase Jarvis. And he should know. Because while only in his 30′s, he’s one of the world’s most sought-after photographers specializing in lifestyle commercial photography. And one of my favorite photographers to follow.

It’s not the type of photography he does, or the gear that has me following his online footprints like a crazed fan girl. Rather his philosophy and approach to photography. As best I can sum up, it’s a) be undeniably good and b) share your passion.

Chase exploits technology to its fullest potential. He is active on Twitter, Facebook and Youtube (save nothing to say of his blog). He solicits feedback from his fans and genuinely tries to accommodate. He recently posted a play-by-play of a shoot with Sandisk, on all those platforms, complete with videos from behind the scenes.

Much of what I embrace in my own work has been influenced by Chase. We shoot totally different subjects, on totally different scales, but when it comes to making me climb out of my (technology) shell.. no one does it like Chase.

For those actively following Chase, Strobist, Zack Arias or any number of photographers, you’ll have heard of The Best Camera. I purchased (and have been using) it for a few weeks now, but only now am I getting a chance to blog about it. If you own an iPhone, and are at least mildly interested in photography – you must check this out. I would love to post a bunch of links or videos from Chase here – but alas, I am behind the Great Firewall of China. No freedom of youtube for me.

What is so unique about this app? It’s perhaps the first app designed with the modern photographer in mind. Shoot, edit and share your photos all from one program. It’s compatible with Twitter, Facebook, and a variety of other social networking mediums. There’s also a book (of Chase’s iPhone photography) and an online community so you can see what everyone else is shooting. Really impressive stuff. The editing function is much more robust than any other app I’ve seen allowing you to stack filters and even re-order them.

With this awesome tool in my bag, I am really going to make an endeavor to capture my experiences in China this year. No excuses, as now with my iPhone, I’ll always have a camera on me. This is motivated by not only a desire to remember the details of this amazing experience, but also because you don’t realize how precious a freedom is (in my case, of expression) until it’s restricted. And that just makes you want it more

I also have a few upcoming projects I’d really like to blog about as soon as things get under way. If you don’t see an update within a few days, you have permission to send me angry emails and messages demanding to see my iPhone pictures

After a lot of nagging from my family and even a few friends, I’ve finally bitten the bullet and ordered an iPhone. It arrives in a little over a week, and I think my mother in particular will be pleased as I’m sure she thinks if I have a fancier electronic leash, it might be easier to reach me. Maybe.

The iPhone (though it has yet to actually arrive) has sparked a new wave of modernization. I’ve joined Twitter, created a Facebook Fanpage and have plans to re-haul the blog in a fairly drastic way. With any luck, we’ll be looking at an entirely new page in about two weeks.

To ease the conscience over getting an iPhone, I’m thinking about doing a 365 project. I’m a bit too shy to take a self portrait every day, but I wouldn’t mind doing a 365 object project.. with an occasional “only in China..” perhaps. I’m going to try to keep in touch as much as I can both with twitter and images that will be unique to the FB fan page.

Got suggestions for me? Ways I can improve the blog? An object I should shoot for the 365? Want me to process images faster..? leave a comment!