Window and Mural – Baoan temple, by Suprada on Flickr

Window and Mural, Bao-an temple, Taipei, Taiwan.

I went to the Bao-an temple because of my travel guide book’s recommendation of “the most beautiful temple in Taipei”. I had to go back again, because i agreed with the book, because I was enchanted, entranced by this amazing temple and its arresting murals and architecture.

More about the temple architecture from this link (pdf):

“The fabulous Baoan Temple, in the old and proudDalongtong community, was erected in its original form in 1805. It has since come a long way, today a large andrich complex. It was not only declared a national historicalrelic of the second grade in 1998 but also received animmensely prestigious UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awardfor Culture Heritage Conservation (聯合國教科文組織亞太文化資產保存獎) in 2003. The layout of the complex is majestic and stately, and the artwork of the great masters in place deservedly renowned, including the architecture, the wallpaintings, the stone, wood and clay sculptures, the koji ceramic art (交趾陶), and the cut-tile mosaic work (剪黏).Each individual part is exceedingly beautiful, but the wholeis magnificent, a feast for eye and soul that is the”

Technical Details:

Camera: Canon Rebel XT
Exposure: 1/4sec at f/3.5
Focal Length: 10mm
ISO: 800
WB: Daylight
Lens: Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
Date: Feb 1, 2009
GPS Co-ordinates: Latitude: 25.073093, Longitude: 121.516101

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Bao-an Temple Window, by Suprada on Flickr

Bao-an Temple Window, Bao-an temple, Taipei, Taiwan.

The prayer wheels through the window in the Bao-an temple, all shining like stars. About the temple windows from this link (pdf):

“Temple chairman Liao Wu-zhi (廖武治) points out that the complex is divided into three major sections, with three halls lined up front to back. On either side of thefront hall stand the traditional sculptures as the saying“green dragon on the left, white tiger on the right” (左青龍、右白虎). Look closely and you’ll learn that the walls onthe temple’s left and right have windows in the shape of book scrolls. Nodded bamboo stalks made of stone standwithin the frames. Count how many stalks in each—stalksin odd numbers signify the yang (陽) element, stalks ineven numbers the yin (陰) element. You’ll find the yin/yang total in harmonious balance, as are yin/yang forces in the universe.”

Technical Details:

Camera: Canon Rebel XT
Exposure: 1/60sec at f/2.5
Focal Length: 50mm
ISO: 800
WB: Daylight
Lens: Canon EF 50mm f1.8 II
Date: Feb 1, 2009
GPS Co-ordinates: Latitude: 25.073093, Longitude: 121.516101

(1 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)

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Today’s interview is with Tamara Danoyan. I found her work when looking at photos at the Foto Nova 19: An Exhibition by Bay Area Photographers, at Modernbook Gallery in Palo Alto – http://www.modernbook.com/fotonova19/danoyan/images.htm. Apart from the Photo Nova exhibition, Tamara’s work has also been exhibited recently at Stanford Art Spaces, and at the recent “Frames of View” show at Foothill College.

You should definitely visit her website to check out the variety and beauty of her work – www.tomasview.com.

Here is the interview:

Photograph by Tamara Danoyan, All Rights Reserved
Photos hosted on Flickr

SU: Tell me a little about yourself. How did you get into photography?

TD: I have always been attracted to photography, but did not think it was something I could do. I was too intimidated by the technical side of it. At the same time I felt a strong need for visual self-expression. After studying graphic design and some web design, it became clear to me that what attracted me in both were actual images. So, after a detour, which took a while, but proved to be very useful for my photography, I finally enrolled in b&w photography class at Foothill College in 2005. In 2006 I moved to Sydney, Australia, and took classes at the Australian Centre for Photography. One of my pictures can still be found on ACP’s website:
http://tmp.acp.org.au/gallery/index.php?obj_id=2006_03
In 2007 I returned to the Bay Area and continued studying photography at Foothill College. Classes motivate me to get out there and shoot, the teachers are excellent, and I like very much a feeling of being surrounded by people with the same passion.

Photograph by Tamara Danoyan, All Rights Reserved
Photos hosted on Flickr

SU: You photograph a variety of subjects. Why do you choose what you choose to photograph?

TD: When I started taking pictures, I never thought of what I was focusing on or question myself what I wanted to photograph. I photographed anything that caught my attention and inspired me. Only later, when I accumulated a certain number of images I looked at them and realized that there were certain themes, subjects, colors. I still photograph whatever catches my eye, but sometimes I also consciously make a decision to create series of work inspired by the same subject. Then I go out there with a specific goal in mind, in search of very specific kinds of images. Funny enough, even in these cases, a project often takes on a life of its own and I gladly let it.

Photograph by Tamara Danoyan, All Rights Reserved
Photos hosted on Flickr

SU: Your photographs have a very graphic quality in them, whatever subject they may be. Can you talk more about this? Can you also give an insight into the technical part of your work.

TD: This was also something that I did not notice at first. I guess, this is just the way I see things. My favorite and most used lens is my 300mm telephoto lens. I like how it allows me to get close and how it compresses distances, making a 3 dimensional reality very flat and 2 dimensional.

Photograph by Tamara Danoyan, All Rights Reserved
Photos hosted on Flickr

SU: You had a show of your work in Modern Book Gallery and having another one right now.. Can you give us some pointers on how to be successful as you are?

TD:Oh, thank you. If only I knew what makes a photographer successful…I feel I have just began a long process of figuring it out and hopefully achieving it. What I have learned so far, though, is that hard work is definitely one of the components. Success is nice, but it shouldn’t be the main motivation. Like many photographers, I take pictures, because I can’t help myself. If people love and buy my work – even better!

My show at Stanford Art Spaces is on display until May 14, 2009. More information can be found here:http://cis.stanford.edu/~marigros/
There is also Frames of View group show going on right now at KCI, Foothill College, one of my images is in it. The exhibition will be up until April 30, 2009.

Photograph by Tamara Danoyan, All Rights Reserved
Photos hosted on Flickr

SU: How do you go about improving your photography?

TD: I don’t do anything special, I think it matures and refines itself with time and more shooting. I have started going to more and more photo exhibitions, looking on-line at other people’s work, looking at photography books. I need to do a lot more of it, but time, or rather, lack of it, is a huge issue right now.

Photograph by Tamara Danoyan, All Rights Reserved
Photos hosted on Flickr

SU: Any recommendations? (like Photographers, Photo techniques, Music, Books, quotes, food..anything?)

TD: I would pay attention to what inspires you in life, what gives you joy or makes you experience any other strong emotion, which you are willing to explore. It can be anything! Something you hear, touch, taste, do or want to see over and over again. We all have our little obsessions, which can be easily translated into photography.

Photograph by Tamara Danoyan, All Rights Reserved
Photos hosted on Flickr

SU: Can you mention how people interested in your work can contact you?

TD: Sure, they can write to me at tamara@tomasview.com and visit my website tomasview.com for more information.

Thanks Tamara!

And readers, we would love to read your comments!

[poll id="19"]

I have signed up for the SoFoBoMo project!
In 31 contiguous days (or a month), I need to come up with an idea, photograph and publish a pdf book. Sounds doable?

Here’s my SoFoBoMo book idea: http://www.sofobomo.org/2009/books/suprada/gogol/

I started haunting my cat last week So my MO of the SOFOBOMO will be May8 – June 8.

Dragon Pillar – Bao-an temple, by Suprada on Flickr

Closeup of the Dragon Pillar – Bao-an temple, Taipei, Taiwan.

Moore about the Bao-an temple from travelguide.com: “Located across the street from the Confucius Temple, this Taoist temple is dedicated to the god of medicine. Built in 1830, it has quite a fascinating history. Early immigrants from Fujien Province brought the statue of the god to Taiwan in the late 18th century. During the Japanese occupation of Taiwan, the temple was used as a language school and factory. After the Japanese discontinued their use of the site, it was neglected until it was finally refurbished in the early 1900s.”

Technical Details:

Camera: Canon Rebel XT
Exposure: 1/90sec at f/2.5
Focal Length: 50mm
ISO: 800
WB: Daylight
Lens: Canon EF 50mm f1.8 II
Date: Feb 1, 2009
GPS Co-ordinates: Latitude: 25.073093, Longitude: 121.516101

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Bao-an Temple Lanterns, by Suprada on Flickr

Lanterns at the Baoan temple, Taipei, Taiwan.

From a previous post: “The Baoan temple is a Daoist temple built in 1805 A.D (10th year Jiaqing rein, Qing dynasty). The deity is Wudao, the God of Sustenance, God of Justice . This deity is also known as Master Wu, who is a master of medicine. More info from the plaque in front of the temple: The temple is a branch of the mother temple in mainland China built by pious devotees from Tongan Prefecture in Fujian province. Dating back to 1805, the temple features an architectural style of much grandeur and embellishment, with a laoyout consisting of three courts – front, main and rear. An extensive renovation project was completed in 1967, fully restoring the grandeur and the opulence os the classical Qing three-courtyard temple. The intensity of the competitive artistic spirit that existed between master craftsmen Chen Yingbin and Guo Ta of Dadaocheng, who carried out earlier renovation in 1917 is clearly manifested in the distinctive woodwork flanking the two wings, preserving unique and original exquisite woodcarvings not seen anywhere else”.

Technical Details:
Exposure: 1/90sec at f/2.5
Focal Length: 50mm
ISO: 800
WB: Daylight
Lens: Canon EF 50mm f1.8 II
Date: Feb 1, 2009
GPS Co-ordinates: Latitude: 25.073093, Longitude: 121.516101

(2 votes, average: 4.50 out of 5)

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