Beijing, China is one of the subjects in my lifework. I have been taking detailed photographs of the town that is continuously transforming since the redevelopment reached its peak just before the Olympics. The SIGMA SD1 joined as my buddy for this lifework.
The 46 mega pixel X3 direct image sensor proves the resolution ability, and furthermore, even takes in the atmosphere of the filed. In addition, though photography in urban areas often faces dramatic difference in luminance, the SD1 renders lights and shadows just as you like based on the astonishing amount of information and the software “SIGMA Photo Pro” which pulls the information out.
The shutter preventing vibration to the utmost limit in order to avoid a camera shake is also attractive. Thanks to the Optical Stabilizer incorporated in the lens, you can take handheld photography without worries. In fact, all photographs introduced here are taken without a tripod, except for the one of sunset. Such mobility is a very important factor for me who walks from 15 to 20km a day on Beijing’s peculiar off streets, called Hutong. Having this size, the SD1, which achieves the high image quality close to large format cameras, lets me feel the possibility of new expressions.
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Gates are the subjects of my lifework in Beijing that I have been taking continuously. Urban development of Beijing has been undertaken based on feng shui (geomancy), and all traditional housing called Siheyuan have gates in South East side without fail. Gates have different designs depending on each Yuan, which makes them pretty much the face of the house.
- Camera:
- SIGMA SD1
- Lens:
- SIGMA 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC MACRO OS HSM
- Exposure Mode:
- M - Manual Exposure
- ISO Setting:
- 100
- White Balance Setting:
- Daylight
- Shutter Speed:
- 1/40s
- Aperture Value:
- F5.6
- Focal Length:
- 28 mm
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Downtown changed dramatically since the Olympics. There are areas which were just simply made newly, as well as areas where traditional scenery was restored like this. The sky is yellow because of the yellow sand. I actually quite like this color tone.
- Camera:
- SIGMA SD1
- Lens:
- SIGMA 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC MACRO OS HSM
- Exposure Mode:
- M - Manual Exposure
- ISO Setting:
- 100
- White Balance Setting:
- Daylight
- Shutter Speed:
- 1/100s
- Aperture Value:
- F8.0
- Focal Length:
- 17 mm
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At Nan luo gu xiang - the café street popular with young people. In the boiling summer afternoon, I took a break under the tree and a woman passed by in front of me looking cool with an umbrella.
The SD1 showed unexpectedly fast response so that I was able to capture the very moment.- Camera:
- SIGMA SD1
- Lens:
- SIGMA 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC MACRO OS HSM
- Exposure Mode:
- A - Aperture Priority AE
- ISO Setting:
- 100
- White Balance Setting:
- Daylight
- Shutter Speed:
- 1/250s
- Aperture Value:
- F3.5
- Focal Length:
- 38 mm
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Summer sunlight was drawing a “silhouette” on the heavy wall of Siheyuan. Though it is a subject with a big luminance difference, the SD1’s X3 direct image sensor surely rendered the light and the shadow well.
- Camera:
- SIGMA SD1
- Lens:
- SIGMA 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC MACRO OS HSM
- Exposure Mode:
- M - Manual Exposure
- ISO Setting:
- 100
- White Balance Setting:
- Daylight
- Shutter Speed:
- 1/100s
- Aperture Value:
- F8.0
- Focal Length:
- 54 mm
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Looking over Di’anmenwai Dajie which goes through the centerline from Gulou to Beijing.
Heavy traffic is already one of the common scenes of Beijing. The hill in the background is the Jingshan which was built using the soils produced from the digging of the moat for Zijin Cheng Castle (Gugong). Over the hill, there is Zijin Cheng Castle spreading.- Camera:
- SIGMA SD1
- Lens:
- SIGMA 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC MACRO OS HSM
- Exposure Mode:
- M - Manual Exposure
- ISO Setting:
- 100
- White Balance Setting:
- Daylight
- Shutter Speed:
- 1/80s
- Aperture Value:
- F8.0
- Focal Length:
- 38 mm
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The colorful background is the curing sheet which is often used in China. At the back, an old traditional housing was demolished. Though it was just another typical Beijing scenery, it left a dramatic impression under sunbeams coming through the trees.
- Camera:
- SIGMA SD1
- Lens:
- SIGMA 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC MACRO OS HSM
- Exposure Mode:
- M - Manual Exposure
- ISO Setting:
- 100
- White Balance Setting:
- Daylight
- Shutter Speed:
- 1/60s
- Aperture Value:
- F7.1
- Focal Length:
- 46 mm
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Beijing has the extreme temperatures all year round. Once the heat wave has gone, the chilly season comes right after. Coal delivery people will come and go around Hutong to prepare for the forthcoming harsh winter. Old housings in Beijing still use coal to stay warm.
- Camera:
- SIGMA SD1
- Lens:
- SIGMA 17-50mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM
- Exposure Mode:
- M - Manual Exposure
- ISO Setting:
- 100
- White Balance Setting:
- Daylight
- Shutter Speed:
- 1/125s
- Aperture Value:
- F7.1
- Focal Length:
- 35 mm
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A mail was skillfully inserted in the door knob with a historical look. This kind of in a way rational scene makes me somehow feel the sense of China.
- Camera:
- SIGMA SD1
- Lens:
- SIGMA 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC MACRO OS HSM
- Exposure Mode:
- M - Manual Exposure
- ISO Setting:
- 100
- White Balance Setting:
- Daylight
- Shutter Speed:
- 1/125s
- Aperture Value:
- F5.6
- Focal Length:
- 54 mm
-
Slogans and illustrations that call out something to citizens are drawn on walls here and there in Hutong. Comics that tell you daily life guidance used to be often seen, however, as whole towns disappeared every time I visit, they are barely seen now.
- Camera:
- SIGMA SD1
- Lens:
- SIGMA 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC MACRO OS HSM
- Exposure Mode:
- A - Aperture Priority AE
- ISO Setting:
- 100
- White Balance Setting:
- Daylight
- Shutter Speed:
- 1/40s
- Aperture Value:
- F11.0
- Focal Length:
- 21 mm
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This time I used two kinds of standard zoom lenses, and characteristics for both lenses are that they are great at macro photography.
Especially the 17-70mm which took this cut is able to approach subjects as close as the very front edge of the lens. During trips of photography, it is indeed a very assuring item.- Camera:
- SIGMA SD1
- Lens:
- SIGMA 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC MACRO OS HSM
- Exposure Mode:
- A - Aperture Priority AE
- ISO Setting:
- 100
- White Balance Setting:
- Daylight
- Shutter Speed:
- 1/200s
- Aperture Value:
- F4.0
- Focal Length:
- 70 mm
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The moat of Zijin Cheng Castle (Gugong) is surrounded by the Beijing’s peculiar heavy air. Though I have been under the impression that this atmosphere and aerial feeling can only be captured by film cameras, the SD1 has gone beyond my expectations and sensitively rendered them.
- Camera:
- SIGMA SD1
- Lens:
- SIGMA 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC MACRO OS HSM
- Exposure Mode:
- M - Manual Exposure
- ISO Setting:
- 100
- White Balance Setting:
- Fluorescent
- Shutter Speed:
- 1/50s
- Aperture Value:
- F8.0
- Focal Length:
- 17 mm
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The lavish Zijin Cheng Castle (Gugong) built by Qing Dynasty is China’s greatest treasure which is a designated world heritage site. There is a spectacular world, seen also in the movie “the Last Emperor”.
- Camera:
- SIGMA SD1
- Lens:
- SIGMA 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC MACRO OS HSM
- Exposure Mode:
- M - Manual Exposure
- ISO Setting:
- 100
- White Balance Setting:
- Daylight
- Shutter Speed:
- 1/400s
- Aperture Value:
- F8.0
- Focal Length:
- 63 mm
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It is very challenging situation where highlights should not be blown as well as shadows should not be crushed. I photographed believing in the potential of the SD1, and was able to render greatly by using the SIGMA Photo Pro’s “X3 Fill Light”.
- Camera:
- SIGMA SD1
- Lens:
- SIGMA 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC MACRO OS HSM
- Exposure Mode:
- M - Manual Exposure
- ISO Setting:
- 100
- White Balance Setting:
- Daylight
- Shutter Speed:
- 1/60s
- Aperture Value:
- F8.0
- Focal Length:
- 17 mm
-
I visit Beijing a few times a year, and every time I encounter scenery that is disappearing. This town where I happened to be wandering off into is also quietly waiting to be an empty land as most houses being demolished.
- Camera:
- SIGMA SD1
- Lens:
- SIGMA 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC MACRO OS HSM
- Exposure Mode:
- M - Manual Exposure
- ISO Setting:
- 100
- White Balance Setting:
- Daylight
- Shutter Speed:
- 1/125s
- Aperture Value:
- F11.0
- Focal Length:
- 17 mm
-
In Hutong, there are “handy stores” here and there. The edges of the eaves are also interesting as each of them shows own personality, however, recently whole towns are disappearing and they have been gradually taken over by open 24 hours convenience style ”handy stores”.
- Camera:
- SIGMA SD1
- Lens:
- SIGMA 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC MACRO OS HSM
- Exposure Mode:
- M - Manual Exposure
- ISO Setting:
- 200
- White Balance Setting:
- Daylight
- Shutter Speed:
- 1/50s
- Aperture Value:
- F8.0
- Focal Length:
- 21 mm
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In the town scenery with low saturation in general, bright red sometimes comes into my eyes. It makes me think of that they might intentionally tone down all the other parts so that this color they even use for their national flag stands out.
- Camera:
- SIGMA SD1
- Lens:
- SIGMA 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC MACRO OS HSM
- Exposure Mode:
- M - Manual Exposure
- ISO Setting:
- 100
- White Balance Setting:
- Daylight
- Shutter Speed:
- 1/15s
- Aperture Value:
- F14.0
- Focal Length:
- 28 mm
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Fully watered Qian Hai Lake and Hou Hai Lake in the North West side of Zijin Cheng Castle are places where citizens relax. It is my daily routine to walk around there while I stay in Beijing as well.
At dusk, when I was walking on the path feeling the breath, willow leaves were swinging on the lake surface.- Camera:
- SIGMA SD1
- Lens:
- SIGMA 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC MACRO OS HSM
- Exposure Mode:
- M - Manual Exposure
- ISO Setting:
- 100
- White Balance Setting:
- Daylight
- Shutter Speed:
- 1/60s
- Aperture Value:
- F4.0
- Focal Length:
- 58 mm
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Beijing is a city where off streets crossover in an orderly manner that connects north, south, east and west, but the old towns in Beijing have many narrow alleys that are not on the map. When you wander off into those narrow alleys that managed to avoid redevelopment, you feel as if you time-travelled to the Qing Dynasty.
- Camera:
- SIGMA SD1
- Lens:
- SIGMA 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC MACRO OS HSM
- Exposure Mode:
- M - Manual Exposure
- ISO Setting:
- 100
- White Balance Setting:
- Daylight
- Shutter Speed:
- 1/125s
- Aperture Value:
- F8.0
- Focal Length:
- 70 mm
-
Though the extensive redevelopment started in 2008, constructions are still undertaken at various places even after three years since the Olympics.
It is not too much to say that the constructions themselves are one of the common scenes in daily lives, and that makes it intriguing as subjects as well.- Camera:
- SIGMA SD1
- Lens:
- SIGMA 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC MACRO OS HSM
- Exposure Mode:
- M - Manual Exposure
- ISO Setting:
- 100
- White Balance Setting:
- Daylight
- Shutter Speed:
- 1/60s
- Aperture Value:
- F11.0
- Focal Length:
- 19 mm
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By looking at the mineral water bottles that are piled up on the side of the road, I spontaneously thought of Andy Warhol’s artwork. The young wholesaler guy who piled them up had most probably never thought of it though…
- Camera:
- SIGMA SD1
- Lens:
- SIGMA 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC MACRO OS HSM
- Exposure Mode:
- M - Manual Exposure
- ISO Setting:
- 100
- White Balance Setting:
- Daylight
- Shutter Speed:
- 1/125s
- Aperture Value:
- F8.0
- Focal Length:
- 28 mm
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In the place called Liulichang, once upon a time, students who came up to the city to take Keju examination lived, and shops that sell ink brushes and papers to those students gathered.
Shops dealing with ancient Chinese stationaries and books are standing side by side on the off streets that remind Qing Dynasty.- Camera:
- SIGMA SD1
- Lens:
- SIGMA 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC MACRO OS HSM
- Exposure Mode:
- M - Manual Exposure
- ISO Setting:
- 100
- White Balance Setting:
- Daylight
- Shutter Speed:
- 1/80s
- Aperture Value:
- F8.0
- Focal Length:
- 70 mm
-
The areas that are not on guidebooks keep the real Beijing remained. However, the waves of redevelopment are swallowing the town with no mercy. Though this housing seen in this image is quite old, the place will probably be an empty land a year later.
- Camera:
- SIGMA SD1
- Lens:
- SIGMA 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC MACRO OS HSM
- Exposure Mode:
- M - Manual Exposure
- ISO Setting:
- 100
- White Balance Setting:
- Daylight
- Shutter Speed:
- 1/60s
- Aperture Value:
- F11.0
- Focal Length:
- 23 mm
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One of the attractive points of the SD1 is that it produces great colors and gradations, as well as the astonishing resolution ability. I have wanted to take images using large format cameras, however, with the appearance of the SD1, the reason for using large format cameras almost disappeared.
- Camera:
- SIGMA SD1
- Lens:
- SIGMA 17-50mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM
- Exposure Mode:
- M - Manual Exposure
- ISO Setting:
- 100
- White Balance Setting:
- Daylight
- Shutter Speed:
- 1/100s
- Aperture Value:
- F8.0
- Focal Length:
- 40 mm
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Sunset at Hou Hai Lake. One of the things I feel in Beijing is the width of the sky. I actually like the foggy sky caused by air pollution as it is typical of Beijing. However, when it is nice weather, you can encounter bright sky which is somehow different to the one could be seen in humid Japan.
- Camera:
- SIGMA SD1
- Lens:
- SIGMA 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC MACRO OS HSM
- Exposure Mode:
- M - Manual Exposure
- ISO Setting:
- 100
- White Balance Setting:
- Daylight
- Shutter Speed:
- 0.8s
- Aperture Value:
- F11.0
- Focal Length:
- 23 mm
