Photography; I shoot what I like, and sometimes people like what I shoot. All photos are copyright to Michael C. Lam unless explicitly stated otherwise.
Arise, Oh sun, and pierce the veil,
relinquish unto me
the warm embrace of heaven’s light,
the night, ’tis history.
Light kissed leaves and unveiled paths,
beckons to my feet
the way meanders, ever on,
away from the paved street.
Canon EOS 6D, Canon 24-105L | Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara. October 2015
The trodden path meanders, avoiding obstacles.
Click on the image to see it in the Gallery.
Often, we are so focused on what’s ahead of us, that we forget to look back.
The things we have done and seen as we travel this road through life have shaped us, whether those things were good or bad; the people we’ve met, the places we’ve been, the experiences we’ve had, they all add up and influence our decisions one way or another.
When we look back it is probably more important to see the beauty that was and is there, rather than dwell on the bad memories; not to say we should ignore them, but nothing good usually comes of dwelling on negative things, and reflecting on brighter moments will likely put us in a better mood than we had been in before.
There are times we can look back and see a moment in quite a different light, see that there was definitely something there worth having happened, having seen, having done, and know then that because of it, we are changed.
As we continue the journey, just take a moment every few miles to look back, the reflection might be more pleasing that it appeared while passing through.
Pakaraima Reflection | 2016 | Canon EOS 6D, Canon 24-105L
Click on the image to see it in the Gallery
The interior of Guyana faced some prolonged periods of drought over the last few years, I’m still not sure the rains that have fallen in recent months has managed to reverse the conditions significantly.
Leafless trees always seem to make for nice photos…
Canon EOS 6D, Canon 24-105L | Guyana, South America.
Following up on yesterday’s image, It was a sunset, but the scene called to me to process in black and white for that composition, the next evening, I decided to take multiple exposures for an attempt at an HDR Sunset; same area, different composition and view 🙂
Three exposures, combined in Nik HDR Efex Pro II, minor adjustments in Lightroom
Canon EOS 6D, Canon 24-105L | Karasabai, Pakaraima Mountains, Guyana
Click on the image to see it in the Gallery, a set I call Scenic Experiments, all HDR images 🙂
I had just finished up some work, and simultaneously finished up my processing on a photo I took in the Pakaraima’s earlier this year, and I was heading into my vehicle to head home when I was approached by a man of Amerindian descent (our indigenous people).
He called me by my last name, and inquired if I was indeed Mr. Lam, the one who took photographs, once I replied in the affirmative, he proceeded to ask if I had a brother named Patrick, again, I said yes, he apparently went to school with my brother at some point. He then told me how much he enjoyed my photos, I was somewhat stunned to be thus approached on the road, but I was also thrilled. It seems he is now embarking on his own photographic journey.
I would probably never have had the courage to do what he did, but I realise now that I have left many things unsaid to many people simply because I was unsure of how they would take my approaching them gushing about how much I like their work. Judging from my own reaction, I regret not saying to those people whose work I admire, that I love their work, and that they inspire me.
On to the photography – I don’t think I’ve ever treated one of my “safari”or photos taken in the Rupununi or the Pakaraimas in a similar manner to that which I do my seascapes and coastal photos, but something about this one steered me in that direction (yes, the clouds, I know) 🙂
Karasabai, Pakaraima Mountains, Upper Takutu – Upper Essequibo Region, Guyana
Click on the photo to see it in the Gallery.
Since I started using WordPress for this blog, other than using the online interface to write, I’ve been using Windows Live Writer as my main off-line way of drafting and preparing my blog-posts, I had heard sometime back that MS was not developing it further (although its pretty great as it is), this one I tried using Open Live Writer, which is so identical to MS Live-Writer that I forgot I was using a different software. So far, I like it!
I’ve taken a few photos of the Chateau Margot chimney over the years, but I’ve always been looking for better ones, something less “touristy”or “documentary” and a little more towards the artistic side.
I think I finally got one, of course, as things happen I took it after the Guyana Visual Arts Competition was already closed to entries, so I just put it aside and left it there… now, a year and three-quarters later, I am sharing it.
This one is special, it is one of those images that I loved as soon as I pressed the shutter button, I even knew how I’d be processing it in the end, which I didn’t for almost a year… It has been one that has always been in the back of my mind to use, but just never found the right time. I hope you like it.
Chateau Margot – 14-6542 | Canon EOS 60D, Sigma 10-20mm | Chateau Margot, E.C.D, Guyana
Click on the image to see it in the Gallery along with many other Monochrome images
Growing up in Guyana, a joyride meant what it sounded like, jumping on a bicycle/ motorcycle and going out for a ride with friends and having fun, but it seems that up north it means and meant a completely different thing… I guess we were wrong.
Joyride – 16-1823 | Canon EOS 60D, Sigm 10-20mm | 2016, Lusignan, E.C.D, Guyana
Click on the image to see it in the “Out and About” Gallery, a rather quirky collection of images.
It’s been 50 years since some forward thinking people declared Independence for this little nation we now call Guyana. They were looking forward to their futures, some idealistic land of self-rule and happiness for the masses I suppose.
I think by now, most of them have all gone and left many of us wishing we were still under colonial rule, it wouldn’t have been that bad, would it? We’ll never know, and doing the whole “what if” dance is not going to help anyone.
Sadly, even though many of the idealist have gone, there remains some of the followers who can’t seem to open their eyes and realise that the old way can’t work and that the path the country is on is not the right one, that implementing old ideas, once discarded, will not bring about new changes.
I babble… I’ve been staring at this photo for weeks and didn’t know what to write and now I write something quite out of character and from way out of left-field.
Here’s a photo 🙂
Wrong-way Rider 16-1092 | Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF24-105mm f/4L | Croal St, Georgetown.
Click on the image to see it in the gallery along with other images in the Black and White Gallery
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There’s much that could be said, but little that I feel like sharing.
In the meantime, enjoy a photo that has my mind crossing space, time and emotions. I’ve also included this into the extended Oniabo Collection.
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Canon EOS 60D | Between 15 and 50 | February 2016
Click on the image to see it in the Gallery
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Where is your home? Is it an apartment, a flat, a house, a condo, a boat, a trailer, a bench in the park? For many, the word home simply means a dwelling place, for me, it is a place where I am comfortable.
My family is my home.
Guyana is my home.
At work, I’m at home.
Certainly, on the seawalls, I am at home.
Home | Canon EOS 60D | Sigma 10-20mm | January 2016
Click on the image to see it in the Gallery
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