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Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Six: Vantage Point makes the difference > Buddhist temple, Chiang Mai, Thailand, 2000
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14-FEB-2000

Buddhist temple, Chiang Mai, Thailand, 2000

My low, upward vantage point allowed me to pull the golden spire, the statue, and the towering umbrella together into a single cohesive unit. Using a digital camera, I was able to instantly view each picture and adjusted my vantage point slightly to eliminate confusing mergers of foreground and background subject matter. It took a number of shots to get just the right spacing between the figure at center and the huge umbrella overhead. Then I noticed rays coming out of the figure's back overlapping the spire at left. I just shifted the camera a bit to the right and made the picture you see here.

Kodak DC4800
1/700s f/8.0 at 5.9mm full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
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Phil Douglis28-Sep-2005 17:30
Thanks, Ramma -- you look up to Buddha because of where I chose to place my camera. And by looking up at it, you experience the feelings and human values I am expressing here -- awe, respect, and reverence.
Ramma 28-Sep-2005 10:30
wow, we literally have to look up to Buddha !
Phil Douglis14-Nov-2004 18:55
I see you are familiar with this temple, Nut. I am honored that you like this image, because you are the first Thai citizen to comment on it. I agree that my low vantage point makes the small statue of Buddha much larger than it really is, because I wanted to emphasize it as the point of the picture. It does indeed suggest the importance of Buddha and his teachings. I also agree with Buddha's saying, in terms of photography. It is not the camera that makes a good picture. It is only yourself.
nut 14-Nov-2004 07:52
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep at Chiang Mai

Actually the golden statue of Buddha is very small compared with the golden umbrella and
Phra That Doi Suthep. To take photo in this angle is to give more meaning of Buddha teaching. I heard he said you can be good because of yourself.
Guest 19-Jun-2004 11:39
You convey the experience and feeling of being there, rather than just a "record" of the place. Bravo.
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