Mingalarbar! Warm greeting from Yangon, Myanmar. 2011 rainy season in Ygn is simply unproductive. Roads are flooded that one had to overcome lots of barriers to travel. I plan to revitalize my early morning shootings. It fails! Yes, every single weekend I wake up, the sky is dark out, the wind is so strong. It makes my enthusiasm “gone with the wind”. Yes, it truly does!

What about weekdays? Well, I can’t. Weekdays to me are UNTOUCHABLE. I am a working freak and I am on a project here. I seriously need to hit my KPI within a time frame. I don’t want to pay a price for any failure. I came back here to CONQUER. This project is my future and it is my life. So I always need to spare weekdays for my job.

It’s been a while that I couldn’t make any new shots. I made some but merely shared on facebook. I really want to go out for a shooting but weather is a big QUESTION MARK for me.

So let me share an old shot that I made from my MARCH 2011 trip. I happened to drop by Shwe Pyi Resort on the way to Bago. And I happened to capture this shot. Well, it isn’t my real taste. People know me well, I don’t normally make such poetic shots. But it happened.

It’s the bicycle of the watch man. Old antique kind of bicycle but it’s still rolling on his feet. It reminds me of a quote by legendary rock star, Rolling Stone, “You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you might find, you get what you need”. Like he said I need to try to get what I want…

I’ll be off to Mandalay for a market visit. Stay tune and have a joyous weekend to you all…

YE LWIN OO (MPS)
14.09.2011

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“You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you might find, you get what you need”

A few months back, I had updated my blog with a series of CANDID PHOTOS captured on SHWEDAGON PAGODA.  It was night time that I visited very first time to this holy place after 2 whole years.  I was truly contented and consecrated to be there, pay homage to LORD BUDDHA and say words of thank for the past years.  SHWEDAGON to me is truly a SAVIOR.  It is the very place where I prayed a lot during my down turns.  Those are the days without sunrise in my life!!!  I am glad that I have overcome this crisis.

A series of candid shots being captured under dazzling light truly replicates the greatness of SHWEDAGON and also reiterates how much Burmese people are devoted to the Buddhism.  Being decorated with hundreds of thousands of pure gold plates, SHWEDAGON unveils the impression of being more glorious under the yellowish mercury lights.  Many of my friends and fans feel so overjoyed seeing the various activities of pilgrims on the SHWEDAGON PAGODA’s platform.

TO and FOR MY FANS…

And I have promised my dear friends and fans that there will be another set of SHWEDAGON with different taste, being captured in the early morning.  There is no mercury light, there is no artificial illumination.  Yet this is how SHWEDAGON stands amidst the haze.

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SHWEDAGON was, SHWEDAGON is and SHWEDAGON will be the biggest pride for Burma and Burmese people…

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Shwedagon Pagoda is 2,500 years old and the biggest stupa in the world of its kind…

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The Gold seen on the stupa is made of genuine gold plates, covering the brick structure attached by traditional rivets…

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It is very common to see religious people coming to SHWEDAGON PAGODA and offer alms, do meditation and carry out some volunteer works…

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A nun during her meditation…

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It is indeed a peaceful place to clear one’s mind, fill energy and start a day…

I was on vacation to home from 19th March 2011 to 31st March 2011.  I do confess, it was such a beautiful trip for me.  A lot of family outings, reunions with old friends, one day out-of-town shooting to Bago and the wedding event of one of my very whining friends called Htein Htein.  And I happened to visit my favorite shooting spot in Rangoon, Shwedagon Pagoda, for twice.

19th March 2011, I arrived home in noon and went out for a family gathering with my dad’s siblings.  I could not find adequate time to go to Shwedagon Pagoda. On 20th March 2011, I cleared all my schedules to spend my night at this world’s phenomenon place.  4 – 5 years back, it used to be my very shooting ground.  Believe me or not! I spent every SUNDAY morning on this Shwedagon Pagoda for about 2 – 3 years.  Without any doubt, I have heaps of photos captured on Shwedagon.   Some I have shared here on my blog, some I did not.

So, this time, I am feeling very positive to share you a series of CANDID pics I have captured on Shwedagon Pagoda.  At least to showcase something different and to let you feel other side of the world.  It’s just an alternative outlook towards this religious monument. These pictures somehow illustrate how much Burmese people respect to Lord Buddha and his teachings.

And my second time tour to Shwedagon (during this particular recent trip) was on 30th March 2011.  It was early morning time.  I will be having another set for 30th March too.  Of course the second set would be titled CANDID ON SHWEDAGON (02).

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This particular spot on SHWEDAGON PAGODA is called AUNG MYAY.  Translated in English as “LAND OF SUCCESS”.  Burmese people always believe that praying LORD BUDDHA from this spot always makes their wishes come true.  That’s where I normally pay homage to LORD BUDDHA too…

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This is what I normally shoot whenever I go to SHWEDAGON… Call it, “Bokeh de Candles”

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Families and friends like to gather under this religious shade and spent their free time…

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People in Burma always believes in LORD BUDDHA and his teachings…  Even during their hard time, they would come and pray for the better future…

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In Buddha’s teachings, people who donates WATER will have 10 kinds of merits in their lives…  That’s why it’s very common to see free drinking water taps around the pagoda and religious monuments…

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A man paying homage to a Buddhist monk near the Southern Wing of Shwedagon Pagoda…

What is LONELINESS?  For me, it is just the state of a human’s mind.  We seldom feel we are lonely.  Yes.  But how long do we feel that?  A few days?  A few hours?  Is that long enough?  We have family, we have friends, and we have those people we love.  We do not have so called pro-long LONELINESS.  Once we are with our family, when we are surrounded by friends, we feel so loved and this LONELINESS is gone.

SHOOTING

I love to go shooting alone.  Especially when I go to those pagodas and temples, I want to spend time wisely.  It is very cool and enchanted being under those religious shades.  I even switch off my mobile phones during my shooting in these places.  Surprised?  Yes, after shooting, I sit, I stretch myself off and pray to Lord Buddha.  I go every single corner of pagodas to make candid shots.

This man, I have come to know while I was shooting at one pagoda in Yangon.  He was sitting at one corner and saw me making some shots through my lens.  He was so curious and asked me what I was shooting.  I showed him my camera LCD.  He was so shocked and asked me, “Son, your equipment so good yea?  You can see photo instantly, huh? Very nice thing.  I have never seen such thing in my life.”  Then we had a chat for some time.  Sometimes, it’s relaxing to chat with such people.  He is a retired army captain who is 82 years old.  “I retired in 1990, son.  I have no family, no relatives.  So I spend my life here in this pagoda being a watchman, son.  The pagoda trustees provide me food which is enough for me to survive.  I need no money, son.  But sometimes, I want family, I want friends and I want love.  Without them, I feel quite boring and lonely, son.”

I wonder how long he is going to be lonely . . .

Have a nice weekend, my friend.

YE LWIN OO (MPS)

WHEN YOU GET OLD

When you are old and grey and full of sleep,
And nodding by the fire, take down this book,
And slowly read, and dream of the soft look
Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;

How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false or true,
But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face;

And bending down beside the glowing bars,
Murmur, a little sadly, how Love fled
And paced upon the mountains overhead
And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.

~ William Butler Yeats ~

Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) is a country with numerous pagodas. Thus, among foreigners, is also known as THE LAND OF GOLDEN PAGODAS or GOLDEN LAND…  In the cities big or small, around the villages near or far, along the roads or beside the small lanes; there always are pagodas and monasteries around.  Being a country filled with Buddhists and Buddhism’s establishment, everywhere we travel it is very common to view many religious edifices. Many Buddhists in Burma who are strong believers, regularly go and pay respect to pagodas and temples believing the concept of assisting to get to the Nirvāna in faster pace.  The Buddha described Nirvāna as free from craving, attachment, sad/anger and other afflicting state of mind and body; the ultimate place of peace and ultimately nothing will ever existed or reborn. It is in the culture itself that throughout the history, Burmese people donate generously to all religious structures and pagodas which take key role in preservation of Buddhist Religion and culture. This wonderful tradition and culture have carried on for thousands of years to present time that Burmese people nowadays are still full of generosity in donation.  That’s the very reason the land of BAGAN is still embellished with thousands of  pagodas beaming along in the bright sunshine and cool blue sky.

Burma is sure enough to be one of the best travel places in Asia.  To the world, Burma is a place with many intact pure nature and ancient beauties.  To me, Burma, the land I was born, is the PRIDE of culture, religion, natural resources and many indescribable values. Yes, I am proud to be a Burmese.  Burma does not have MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) or Bullet Train.  You rarely see air-conditioned supermarkets and shopping arcades (except for the big cities like Rangoon and Mandalay).  Then what is very universal in Burma?  Trishaw, street vendors, local wet markets on the streets…  Yes!

In Burma, we still see numerous Street Vendors selling various kinds of food stuffs.  They travel around the town on foot, shouting under the severe heat and selling so called Traditional Food.  They travel around the towns for all day long?  Absolutely No! Burmese street vendors normally stop by those pagodas and temples.  They rest and refill energy under the shade of religion.  These people think that THE SHADE OF RELIGION is cool enough for them so much more than those air-conditioned hi class areas…  It is the coolness of eternity.  And it is away from THE HEAT (Troubles) of LIFE…

SHOOTING

It was in May, summer time in Burma.  For those who have been to Burma might know how hot Mandalay (Central Burma) is during summer.  It is simply burning.  I was in Mandalay for 4 days with my colleagues from company. We were having new product launch event.  As usual, I sneaked out for photo shooting.  With the help of a good company and friend, Nyi Min San (BaganNat); in very short time, I was able to see the whole Mandalay on his motorcycle.  I also went to KU THO DAW pagoda to shoot a documentary blog post.  And there, I saw these street vendors taking a rest at the hallway…  I can’t help it, as a photographer I have to record those meaningful clicks!!!

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Burmese street vendors normally stop by those pagodas and temples.  They rest and refill energy under the shade of religion…

]]> http://yelwinoo.com/5nap5hots/away-from-the-heat.html/feed 30 http://yelwinoo.com/5nap5hots/the-worshiper.html http://yelwinoo.com/5nap5hots/the-worshiper.html#comments Fri, 23 Jul 2010 17:36:22 +0000 Ye Lwin Oo http://yelwinoo.com/?p=2394 SHOOTING

It is an old candid shot taken back in 2009 June.  It is one of my favorite places in Yangon.  A pagoda atop a hill with the blossom garden around, a very peaceful environment comparatively not crowded like other temples and pagodas.  It is genuinely an ideal Buddha’s shade to do religious works and meditation.  Yes, it is THE MAHA WIZAYA PAGODA of Yangon.  Not always but seldom, I dropped by at this PAGODA on my way back from THE SHWEDAGON PAGODA.  These two pagodas are adjacent to each other, only a single road is separated in between.

It was 10th June 2009.  I wanted to capture THE SHWEDAGON PAGODA from THE MAHA WIZAYA PAGODA hill.  I decided to go there in noon time because generally that is not crowded time and less pilgrims so that I can choose any preferential spot on the pagoda as my shooting angle.  I arrived immediately at the main entrance I saw a middle aged man tranquilly meditating alone.  At that time of the day, the sun was absolutely scorching and dire temperature.  But he seemed too peaceful and unruffled doing his religious works.  Our Lord Buddha gives him charm, his mind, his body and his soul.

WORSHIPING & MEDITATION

When you travel to Pagoda, Monastery, Stupa, Temple or any kind of Buddhist religious place in Burma, it is very common to see people keeping meditation.  We, Buddhists, normally do these religious deeds to achieve Nirvāna.  The Buddha described Nirvāna as the perfect peace of the state of mind that is free from craving, anger and other afflicting states.  When one achieves the state of Nirvāna, there is no identity left, and no boundaries for the mind. The subject who is at peace with the world, has compassion for all and gives up obsessions and fixations. In Nirvāna the root causes of craving and aversion has been extinguished, so one day when fulfilled, that person is no longer subject to human suffering instead reflect peace in and out of mind all around.  And Nirvāna is the wishful destination of every Bhuddist…

MY THOUGHT

I do not know whether he is going to achieve the state of Nirvāna.  But for the moment during his meditation, he is in genuine peace, indisputable calmness and his soul is in tranquility.  People nowadays have diverse level of belief in their religions.  Some people do not believe in “FUTURE”, the time being after death.  Excluding those non-believers or whatsoever, do try to have peaceful mind yourself sometimes.  It’s is truly serene and peaceful.  On one fine day, clear your mind, close your eyes and try to see LORD BUDDHA.  You will see, sense and get blessing from him…

Have a nice weekend ahead, my friends…

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In Myanmar (formerly known as Burma), it is very common to see people keeping meditation…

This is an old shot I happened to capture on 30 June 2009.  It was a rainy day.  I went out to make a series of photos for my blog post, Cathedral of Holy Trinity.  I called up Wynn Thein and San Ba, my photographer friends who always join me in shooting, but they both were busy at their work.  So, I was alone walking with my camera on Bogyoke Aung Sann Road.

While I was shooting the cathedral, I felt like someone was standing behind me.  I turned my head, there I saw these street children.  I still remember that moment the elder guy asked some money from me.  I have been told that they have not eaten their lunch yet. I wasn’t sure whether he cheated me. I looked at my watch, it was 5:30 PM.  The younger one was crying.  I searched my camera bag and found some candies.  I gave them some candies and a 500-Kyat note.  All of a sudden, he kneed down on the platform and prayed for me.  I couldn’t fetch his prayer efficiently since he was too fast murmuring lots of phrases.  One thing I could understand is, “May you be richer and richer in this life, next life and next life.”  I felt really delighted that day.  Sometimes, we feel our lives are not fun.  If so, what about these kids on the streets?  For them, uncertainty is everything, hunger is their verb and depression is their food.  I just wonder how would their tomorrows be look like.

The Abandoned Child by Janie

I am scared, hungry, tired, but afraid to sleep
I feel the pain of my cold feet
I can see only darkness

No one comes to take care of me
Mom and dad leave me alone
No one even knows I am here
Is there even one who cares?

If I cry I will be punished, so the tears well up inside
If I can just endure until tomorrow, they will be home but, what then?
Is there no end to my pain? In this cold, empty house, that some would call a home
Maybe tomorrow someone will come to rescue me
Give me warm clothes, a warm bed, and someone to say I love you…

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“The mind has exactly the same power as the hands — not merely to grasp the world, but to merely survive”

HOPE, WHAT IS THAT???

Hope is such a marvelous thing. It bends, it twists, it sometimes hides, but rarely does it break. It sustains us when nothing else can. It gives us reason to continue and courage to move ahead, when we tell ourselves we’d rather give in.
Hope puts a smile on our face when the heart cannot manage.
Hope puts our feet on the path when our eyes cannot see it.
Hope moves us to act when our souls are confused of the direction.
Hope is a wonderful thing, something to be cherished and nurtured, and something that will refresh us in return. And it can be found in each of us, and it can bring light into the darkest of places.
Never lose Hope.

SHOOTING

It was a CANDID shot I made near U Pein Bridge of Mandalay Division, Central Burma.  Yes, I went Mandalay with some businesses.  And I have got a chance to visit U Pein with a group of staffs from my company.  We had walked on the bridge for a while.  The burning heat of A NYAR (Central Burma) made us all worn out so quickly.  So we decided to enjoy some local sugar cane juice at a nearby shop.

It was May 13th 2009, the hottest juncture of Burmese summer.  All of a sudden, I saw this woman in my view finder.  Of course, she can’t walk.  She was dragging herself on the ground.  There’s no one helping her.  The sun was scorching, and she looks so frail.  She does not surrender, she does not give up.  Her face unveils bravery.  Yes, bravery to survive on a hope.  The hope that she would never lose…

Photo Information
Camera – Nikon D40
Exposure Time – 1/2s
ISO Speed – 400
Focal Length – 42mm

It was 17 Feb 2009 (Tuesday).  I was requested to be the photographer of our office manager’s engagement. When it comes to portrait shots, I always perceive myself as the one who possesses a pair of dull hands. I am always bouncy to say a clear “NO” to my friends who ask me to be the photographer of their weddings.  Why??  Well, I am not a professional photographer. Plus I have never learnt the modus operandi and the norms of wedding photography.  But this time, I was in a deadlock where I could not say “NO”. I did, more than a dozen times, begged him to hire a professional photographer where I would be giving some snapshots as supplementary cameraman throughout the ceremony. He wholeheartedly declined my offer.  Finally, I listened to him. I decided to give a “go” for him. Luckily, the engagement was just a small party with the audience of some close friends and peers.

It’s just my snapshot of a water glass captured before the engagement ceremony started. Yes, I have a habit of shooting table settings, floral decorations and lighting of every single ceremony I attend.

Dedication: Ko Han Tha & Ma Zar Zar Yamin. May you have tons of lovely moments ahead…

Photo Information
Camera – Nikon D90
Lens – Nikkor 18-200mm VR
Exposure Time – 1/320s
ISO Speed – 250
Focal Length – 105mm

ABOUT THE PHOTO

Occasionally in life, people come to think their lives are sucks and unfair.  So, this is a picture for these people.   This is a typical painter who challenges his life in this risky situation.  No safety winged used, no insurance, no nothing…  Moreover, he stepped his foot on the electric wire.  Sigh…  I really wonder whether he knows that he could be reached next life within seconds.  Sometimes in our lives, we face lots of situation where we are blessed with NO WAY OUT.  No other choice but to do it.  Sometimes, I even refer these situations as DEAD LOCK.  There ain’t no one who aimed to become such grassroots worker.  He works like this because it’s happened.  A situation that he might want to blame on LUCK.

Lots of renown philosophers stated that LIFE = RISK.  Yes, it’s true for me and also for heaps of people, I bet.  While writing this narration, I remember the quote I used to read when I was in university.  “Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” Helen Keller.

A snapshot captured near my home.  2009 APRIL © YE LWIN OO…