Recently, I had the great pleasure to spend some time in Taichung, Taiwan. While I was there for work, I spent pretty much every evening walking about. Sometimes alone. Sometimes with co workers and family. I’ve been to this area many times but this time was different. I spent so much more time with my friends, coworkers and their families. I spent time going to their local eateries. Despite being in Taiwan many times in the past 10 years, I spent time in places I have never been.

This trip I simplified my travel camera kit. I’ll write more about that another time, but I only took a 15mm wide angle and a 50mm standard lens. Both manual focus only. No autofocus. This, too, added to my experience.  It gave me less choices and made me work with what I had. Some evenings I would simplify even furthur and leave with only the camera, 1 lens and a battery back up.

I came home from this trip with some experiences I will never forget. This is mainly due to the people. I’ve written before how much I love the people of Taiwan. Again, I came home amazed with the hospitality and the generous spirit of the people. Because of this, I am too close to the images to properly edit. I think some of these images are pretty good even without that personal attachment, while others are moments that I love and represent something meaningful to me.

More importantly, though, is that I came home inspired. Inspired by life. Inspired to simplify. Inspired to focus. Inspired to take care of myself. Inspired to be a peacekeeper. Inspired to be a better husband & father. It really was an impactful trip for me.

And with that, I will get to a few pictures. I’ve got a couple of sets broken up by experiences.  As always, click on any picture to go to the slide viewer.  Hope you enjoy.

The first set I will just title Moments from here to there

This second set is from the Luce Memorial Chapel on the Tunghai University campus. I was enamored with this place. The chapel was designed by the same architect as the glass pyramid at the Louvre in Paris, France. I loved the design. I love the shapes, angles and how the chapel had a different look from every angle. So much fun. I shot it 3 separate times.  I’m certain that I will shoot in this place many more times in the coming years until I get the shot I want with the lighting I wanted. But here are a few pics.

I will be going back again in the fall, and I already have a few places I want to shoot. For the next trip, I will be bringing a tripod with the intent of shooting some architecture along with either a 28 or 35mm lens for a street shooting. Until next time.