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Saturday, October 2, 2010

Chinese shadows shot on location 2008

It wasn't easy finding shadows in smog-filled Beijing before the Olympic Games in 2008, but this carved stone lion at the entrance to the Forbidden City casts his own shade onto his chin and chest, while the tourists at left provide shade for themselves with a pastel blue umbrella. Meanwhile, my umbrella was black, and absorbed the heat horribly.

The driver of the Dragon Boat taking tourists across the lake to the Summer Palace of the Chinese Emperors is partly in the shade as he ushers his passengers onto the dock. The dragon on the prow casts a dragon shadow, too.

Special windows and skylights send shadowy filtered light down onto the warriors of China's famous Terracotta Army in Xi'An. No longer exposed to the elements as they were when first dug up in a farmer's field, the soldiers are now in a climate-controlled building so they will not deteriorate further.

This elderly lady has combined old and fairly-recent technology with her bamboo baskets on the back of her bicycle. We can see the shadows of the baskets and of her front wheel.

Although indoors and roped off to protect them from tourists, these large jade stallions seem to be outlined in gray. It's the subtle shadow they cast because of the indoor lighting.


Photos by Kay Davies and Richard Schear. Posted by Kay for


26 comments:

Cassie said...

Wowie! All are such fantastic ShadowShots! I remember when the terracotta army was found. I think it was Life Magazine that had the story here. You are so lucky to have gotten to see it all up close and personal!! Have a great week ahead.

Cassie said...

ps-I have to tell you that every time I see the name of your blog I get a chuckle!! thx for that.

Kay L. Davies said...

Thanks, Cassie, all chuckles greatly appreciated.
-- K

Sylvia K said...

Terrific post and shadow shots for the day, Kay! Love all the fantastic things you were able to see in China. I've traveled a great deal and have lived in several different countries, but I've never been to China. My youngest daughter spent three weeks there last year and had a grand trip. Your photos are the next best thing to being there! Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Sylvia

Boom Nisanart said...

Fabulous post, I love the photo of the old lady.

wenn said...

nice series of photos. I love Beijing. I was there in 2006.

Ralph said...

All these are wonderful shots. I am partial to the boat - the brilliant dragon invites us on board, but the shadowy passenger cabin is awash with shadow. It feels like a mystery - where from and where to? I like them all!

Catherine said...

love the shots of the warriors in shadow...

Chubskulit Rose said...

Gorgeous shadow shots Kay.

My entry is in here, have a blessed Sunday!

Rajesh said...

Beautiful place with nice sculptures. That dragon boat is very colorful.

Unknown said...

Fantatic shots. How lucky you are to have been to China.

jabblog said...

Marvellous photos! The terracotta army is fascinating. There is so much work in it.

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Kay those are remarkable shadows from a remarkable trip to China !
The terracotta army has always fascinated me .. from documentaries I understand that no two faces are alike ? it is totally amazing the care to detail. The jade stallions are awesome! I haven't seen those before .. very beautiful shadows : )
Joy

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

I like the woman balancing her baskets on the bicycle. I had seen them on the shoulders. This is a first.

Thanks.

EG CameraGirl said...

Lucky you to have been to China! Lovely photos!

Unknown said...

What a travel experience that must have been. You must have felt like a kid in a candy shop, with so many photo ops to choose from.

These shots are great. I felt like I got a good sense of your experience as you took these photos.

I wonder what the Chinese would think of our swan boats in Boston's public garden? :-)

Anca Pandrea said...

The Chinese army shot is really impressive. Great job!

Kay said...

These are such wonderful photos. China is on our bucket list. I imagine we'll get there sometime in the next five years or so.

Francisca said...

Kay, was that a stolen shot of the terracotta soldiers? When I was there in the '90s, they did not allow photo-taking in the building. I stole one anyway, and it's one of my most precious souvenirs (pre-digital and I haven't started scanning... I get a headache thinking about that.) :-D

Mara said...

I like the bike. The first thing I imagined the woman carrying was a baby on either side! And then I thought they looked like rowboats...

Magical Mystical Teacher said...

old woman
balancing baskets
on her bike
what does she dream of
as she wobbles by?



SSS: Candy Bag

ruthinian said...

the terracotta army is awesome. I love the shot and knowing that it has a colorful historical background made is more interesting.

Chesapeake Bay Woman said...

The second and third shots made me gasp, for completely different reasons.

These are truly outstanding photos. Thank you for sharing.

Beverley Baird said...

What great photos from China! So much history there. Great shadow shots as well!
have a wonderful week!

Unknown said...

So very interesting! I especially am awed by the huge jade horses and the army. So much to see!

ChrisJ said...

Those jade horses are magnificent!