- The Temple of Heaven
The sky was heavenly to say the least and adds so much to my temple shot. In the days of the Emperors, this temple was the site for prayers said once a year to ask for a good harvest. Only the Emperor entered. I wonder if the Empress, when she was in charge, entered. Was an Empress ever the sole leader of China or was she always the power behind the throne?
We had a guide when I went here the first time, but I couldn’t understand a word he said. He tried so hard that I kept an interested look on my face which prompted him to make further efforts bringing him almost to apoplexy, poor man.
The second time I was here was with a famous photographer…a Chinese man now living in America. He wasn’t that keen on me because we had a disagreement and I insulted him accidentally. Although I apologized, he couldn’t forgive me. But he did give me a tip here. He told me where a good shot was, but he didn’t tell me where the best shot was. I didn’t mind as I came close. His shot was better. He got a sunburst off the top of the temple and I only got the rays of the sun. OK by me. He has been here many times before and would be here many times again as he leads photography tours. So he was not as ‘clutchy’ as I was and pretty much always am.
There were a lot of tourists. I don’t like tourists in my photos. They were Chinese people for the most part, but dressed in western clothing. If only they had worn their costume, then that would have been perfect. Trying to cut down on the number of tourists is why I chose the wide angled lens up as close as possible. It’s a big building so you are going to get some tourists even with the close up wide angle viewpoint.
I didn’t take any panorama shots, but I should have. It’s best to do all the viewpoints you can, but I got fixated on eliminating those tourists. Maybe I could have gone early, when no tourists were there, but I am a tourist and I wouldn’t be allowed in until the gates open for everyone.
Its the best I could do and I’m happy with it. Majesty is the word that comes to my mind.