Category: Frank’ Blog

Computer problems at this end — had to completely reload all the programs and Utilities. 

Since the last post, several events have taken place and I do have images for them, a Beauty show at Kad Suan Kaew Shopping Center, a AmWay Beauty Product Show ( Nu was invited to model , so I have images here too).

I can get started processing the images now , so I hope to have new posts soon.  

Thanks for waiting.

Frank

 

 

 

 

 

           TEMPLE SLIDESHOW

Here is the magnificent white temple Wat Rong Khun on the outskirts of Chiang Rai.  We got there about sundown and took these shots – the painted finger in the photo to the left is real – someone did it , it is not a Photoshop trick.  They don’t allow photos inside.

Ciao

 

On our trip last week we were trying to see what area had the least problem with the smog and smoke that has been plaguing Chiang Mai.  We heard it was coming from Burma – but all we saw was Thailand on fire.

 

 

 

 

Here are some shots out the window – sparks flying everywhere.  I was amazed, almost everything was either burnt or burning – the view above of the river is the same view I showed of Thaton in a earlier post – if was beautiful – now you can barely see the river.

 THATON SLIDESHOW

As we headed back to Chiang Mai, we spotted a field with many elephants and their keepers and families.  This Tribal woman, with black teeth from beetle nut chewing, sold us one of the purses she had made.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now there’s a smile that would turn you on.

Here’s the   SWIMMING SLIDESHOW

 

Ciao

 

 

Sawadee Khrap

On last Saturday we went to the new Mike’s Burgers in the Shopping Center at Kad Suan Kaew right down the street from our Condo.  Our friends Pong and Brian ( Brian used to own the full franchise but sold and Pong’s bought this site.)

 Brian and Pong sponsor the up to 13 year-old soccer team for the Vieng Ping Orphanage in Chiang Mai —— many of the boys have HIV or came from families destroyed by HIV when their parents died from it.   They are in their new uniforms and being treated to burgers, fries and cokes — They love it, most asked for seconds  and we had a great time.  Maybe I’ll get to go to one of their matches and get some shots later – or Brian can give me some shots and I’ll post them. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ciao

 

Sawadee Khrap

It’s been a busy 2 weeks, Nu’s brother in town and the now normal smoke in Chiang Mai.

First the smoke, It’s been terrible – here is a shot out our window last Saturday when they were having a wedding celebration and Balloon show.  The bride and groom were in the last large red balloon – but you can barely see it. in the lower left corner just taking off.  Or for that matter even tell that it is RED.

We’ve had this smoke for the last couple of weeks and this seems the worse so far. Going to take a trip next week to get away from this and maybe see if we can find a smoke-free area.

 

Next is Nu’s brother – we took him to see the Chiang Mai Zoo.  Just finished making a SVCD of all the pictures so he can take it home with him.  He had a lot of fun and we got some good images  – I’ll post them soon.  Here is Nu and his brother.

 

So I’ll be working on the Zoo images, maybe a trip to Chiang Rai (checking out the smoke – does it come from Burma ??? )  and getting ready for Songkran (Thai New Year)  and Nu’s new school class #3.  By the way he just finished class #2  and was the leader in it too – now on to 3

Ciao

 

 

 

Hi  Sawadee Khrap

Normally I find horoscopes a real dead end – they are so vaguely written that they can apply to everyone.  But, this months “Pattaya Mail  Weekly Horoscope” is unique.

“If one relationship has drained you, is it because you’ve been obsessing with the areas that makes you different?  If so, this weeks healing and diplomatic moves of Mercury and Venus can see an improvement.  If you shift a little and the other person does too, you can both soon close the gap.”

Maybe it’s unique because it is exactly what I needed to read and apply to Nu and my relationship.  Trying to bridge the culture and language gap has been trying – on both of us – English classes are helping but the tradition and culture are some thing else.  Thank God  Nu is young and changeable – I find  I’m very hard to change – old age I hope , not just bull-headed.  Yet I’m trying and we are making headway.

Saturday we went to Brian’s new franchise Mike’s Burgers at the Kad Suan Kaew Shopping Center – Brian sponsors a soccer team for the 13 and under Vieng Ping Orphanage in Chiang Mai and the whole team was there for burgers, pictures and a great afternoon.   Pictures to follow, just processing them now.

Ciao

Just had a request to swap links – Klaus & Anuparp’s Site and Blog.  I’ll have more information about their site in the future but for now just enjoy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I really liked the video clip on how to make any chore or job or for that matter just making life fun – if you enjoy your work then it’s not work but fun. Sanuk

Check it out

Ciao

 

I think this speaks for itself.  Sorry but I didn’t keep the name of the publication.  I think it was the London Times – not sure though.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Does this apply to baseball players and Rock Stars too !!!!

Ciao

 

 

Sawadee Khrap

I’ve been trying out two new programs:  PhotoMatix HDR & NoiseWare.  Using Lightroom and creating 2 virtual copies, ( one -1 exposure stop and +1 exposure stop ) then High Dynamic Range PhotoMatix to process.  After this I open them in PhotoShop CS3 using the NoiseWare plug-in and with additional tonal control, I created these images.  All have been optimized for the web

(but they are still relatively large, so if you have a slow Internet connection it may take some time for the full size images to load.)

From my trip to China and Philippines in 2003, I got these shots.

 

 

 

 

 

 

From the States, I tried the same techniques on some images from Petaluma, California 2005 – I really like the results, All these shots were taken with the Olympus 2.3 MP camera – Not much to work with, but a definite improvement

 

 

 

 

 

 

And here is one we just took at last Wednesday the local Mok Fa Waterfall — It was created from 17 wide-angle shots of the area – swtiched and blended by PhotoShop CS3 to deliver this amazing image – If you look closely in the lower left you can our friend Brian and his camera – I left him there to show the size of the place – what do you think, comments ?????

 

 

Sorry, when I corrected the image links I lost all comments, thanks

 

 

 Ciao

 

 

Sawadee Khrap

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a specular image Nu captured at Tad Mork Waterfall.  It’s a large file to maintain the quality – so please wait while it loads.

The imagery is perfect for the story I just received from Jerry.

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, “My son, the battle is between two “wolves” inside us all.

One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence,empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.”

The grand son thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: “Which wolf wins?”      The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed .”

Do you agree?

Ciao

 

Sawadee Khrap

Nu just had his final exam on his first semester of English – #1 in his class of 13 students.   He was enrolled in beginning English at the local YMCA.  You might remember an older post where I showed some images of the place  – when I first came to Thailand I stayed at the “Y” while I was in Chiang Mai.  Not a bad hotel and in addition they have language classes, Thai and English.  So I thought I’d show some shots of the place. 

By the way the place is co-ed now.  No more naked swimming for the boys in the big pool – what a let down – I was really excited and couldn’t wait to take a good plunge and check out the place and swimmers.  Ohhh well, what the hell

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great hotel rates, rooms and language classes – Ohhhh Ya they also have a good cafe, Thai & Western.

Ciao

Sawadee Khrap

On Tuesday, I went with a friend to take some pictures at two local waterfalls.  I haven’t finished processing the images and therefore don’t have his permission to post any shots of him but here are shots to the waterfalls we visited.

 

 

 

 

  Near Mae Rim, north of Chiang Mai is Doi Suthep National Park and several waterfalls and camping area exist.  Also there is an elephant training/visitor center, monkey training center, snake farm, orchid farm – great tourist attractions.  We went first the Ma Sa water fall then on to Tad Mork Waterfall.

 

 

 

 

 

Took some great shots at each and when I get approval I’ll post some.  For me it was very hot, or perhaps I’m not fully climate-ized yet, so I did a lot of sweating.  Of  course he didn’t feel the heat like I did, he is used to the heat and humidity. But I also think it was because he didn’t have on as many clothes on as I did . 

However,  I can’t use that as an excuse.  Always near the falls the humidity is very high and that alone makes it seem hotter than it actually is.

Such is the life of a photographer, what we have to endure to get those shots.    Ha Ha

Sawadee Khrap

Saturday, Nu and I went to the Chiang Mai Zoo.  Nu went with my small camera and I took the mid range lens on the Canon 350.  Here’s some images from both.

Got a ticket to drive in the car, but we took this tram first to get a handle on the layout of the zoo before we started to walk.  The main feature of the Zoo is the Pandas and Koala Bears.  Next time I’ll drive the whole thing. 

My batteries died sooner that I expected – not many shots and Nu got a finger-mark on the lens of his camera and the last half turned out all fuzzy – bad picture day but Nu had a great time running around seeing all the animals  – of course I sat in the car for the last half of the day – feet hurting and very hot – not a old man’s idea of fun. 

We plan to go back, hopefully earlier on some morning and get better shots. We also missed some of the animals and he wants to see them if he can –  their out in the cooler mornings, but hot afternoons, sleeping.

Please enjoy the     SLIDESHOW   Ciao