Tag Archives: hungry ghosts

I See Dead People (Buying DVDs)

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Whisper after me: “I See Dead People (buying DVDs)”. Some superstitious Chinese do not go out tonight because they consider it risky. After one month of non-stop partying, the hungry ghosts are on their way back. According to Chinese beliefs, the gates of hell are opened for the last time tonight. Last call.

The month-long Hungry Ghost Festival saw many Chinese burning paper replicas of worldly possessions for their dead relatives or ancestors. These include gadgets such as smart phones, tablets and DVD players. Blu-ray is not as popular yet in the netherworld, it seems.

By attaching several ND (Neutral Density) filters to the lens, I was able to reduce the intensity of daylight drastically. This allowed me to use a very slow exposure to capture this seldom seen side of Chinatown. The camera’s slow shutter speed resulted in moving cars and people streaking into ghostly figures.

I See Dead People (Buying DVDs)

 

Good Distortions

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With a wide angle lens, the vertical lines distort by diverging outwards when you hold the camera pointing down. You can use this effect to your advantage in your compositions. In this picture, I let the vertical candle and worshiper form a V-shape. The elements became an inverted triangle when the arm and joss sticks connect with the flame. Only problem with a wide angle lens is that almost everything falls into sharp focus. This is the time to use Snapseed’s Foggy Filter plus Vignetting selectively to feather the messy background. Photographed with the Olympus OM-D and Panasonic 7-14mm UWA lens at a Hungry Ghost festival prayers session in Hot Springs New Village just now.

Good Distortions

Por Tor

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From last night, a montage of the Hokkien ‘Por Tor’ celebrations held in conjunction with the Hungry Ghost Month. Clockwise from top left:
(1) Every one seems to be taking pics with tablets.
(2) This cute cabbage patched dog is made from fresh cabbage.
(3) More tablet cams.
(4) A miniature Shaolin monk on flower seeds.
(5) Rows and rows of liquor bottles offered as sacrifice to thirsty ghosts.
(6) Lighting a joss stick for the Por Tor Kong deity.
(7) The 1Malaysia Hungry Ghost effigy. Yay!

Por Tor