Matt in China: Jiuzhaigou Valley

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Kelly
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Brenda
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I can't get enough of these photos, Matt! Thank you for taking the time to share them with us!
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As always, these are some great shots and commentary...keep them coming. :up: :up:
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I don't know the name of this mountain, but since the bus wait was so long, I was able to photograph it whenever the light changed. Of the several dozen this shot is my favorite. I *think* this is Mt. Daje (13,780 ft)
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This little girl poses for photos in her traditional Tibetan garb.
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Boy in his.
[img2]http://www.nyfalls.com/posts/china2/225.jpg[/img2]

Having not seen much in the way of wildlife in China, I was excited to see this chipmunk thing off in the distance.
[img2]http://www.nyfalls.com/posts/china2/226.jpg[/img2]

Some fall color. If i were to return, it would be later in October. The photos I have seen of the valley in fall are amazing.
[img2]http://www.nyfalls.com/posts/china2/227.jpg[/img2]

My Jiuzhaigou Valley portrait.
[img2]http://www.nyfalls.com/posts/china2/228.jpg[/img2]

Here you can see the result of the landslides in this region. because the karst topography, every peak is unstable, and landslides are common and dangerous. With the seismic activity here (the valley is part of a fault line) and recent sizable earthquakes, landslides have been the leading unnatural cause of death in the last 5 years here.
[img2]http://www.nyfalls.com/posts/china2/229.jpg[/img2]

This landslide reaches all the way to where I'm standing by the lake.
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Long Lake... very photogenic.... though the light was just horrible when I arrived. The clouds were off. I was shooting directly into the sun... so I waited... and waited.
The snow-covered peak is Mt Ganzigongzaii (14,954 ft)
[img2]http://www.nyfalls.com/posts/china2/230.jpg[/img2]

The water here was an amazing shade of blue-green, depending on the angle of the light.
[img2]http://www.nyfalls.com/posts/china2/231.jpg[/img2]

Joni was a good sport waiting with me. So I did some modelling shots for her.
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ApproachingLight
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These pics get better and better. And because of that I am wondering your "balance." At what point does you photographic instinct compete with the simple pleasure of the travel, food & friends? Is that not the dilemma? Or maybe I am alone in that photographers paradox.
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Not much for me. I choose only to travel with people that either understand I want to take photos, enjoy taking photos themselves, or are there to take photos as well.

The last trip had legs of the journey added primarily to take pics. This time around was more about cuisine. I carried my camera and shot less.
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hobkyl
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Such a beautiful place! The Mt Ganzigongzaii photo reminds me of a Canadian Rockies scene.
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Mikell
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Loving the photos, Matt.

I can also relate to David's comment about finding balance. It's not easy for me either.
I tend to think of trips to anywhere as opportunities to take photos...and I have to constantly remind myself to just put the camera down for a bit and simply enjoy the view....very hard to do most of the time.
So much of my pleasure is derived from capturing great shots and everything I see is a potential photo. However, I know that this often sets me at a distance from the people I'm with and can be unfair to my travel partner. If you travel with another photographer, maybe this wouldn't be a problem! ;)

Also, occasionally I know I've missed the real experience of an event....like spending so much time trying to capture good fireworks photos that I don't really get to "see" them and enjoy the thrill.

I'm sure it's a common dilemma for many photographers. I'm interested in hearing how others handle this too.

:) mikell
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