Zeiss 16-80mm zoom: it's a good match for the precocious high pixel density of the first 24mp a77, especially in the large centre. Sony released a dazzling array of cameras back then in the beginning, before quickly transitioning to mirrorless via a fixed mirror technology (SLT) with EVF: faux-DSLR cameras. So they became lost in time. Now see this combo as very worthwhile today, for deep dof shots certainly.
Below, I was just going out the door from the Shegar Hotel when the cops came and kicked me out. The giude did not know about the no foreigners rule in this town. It's very old, it's in fine condition from lots of resoration state money, and the ridge-top fort looks at Mt Everest in the distance through the thin clear air.
Shegar Monastery, 4200m. b1269 AD.
Samding Monastery, just above 4400m Yamdrok Tso. Female Abbess.
I'm very protective when travelling, backups etc. Some think it is over-egging it but the fact is it's a war zone and you deal with soldiers and border guards who project their authority strongly, let's say. It's overbearing at times for the locals too. Anyway, this is Gyantse Pelkhor Chode. An original structure from 1425 AD when it was commissioned by the Princes of Gyantse. It gives us some idea of the medieval period cultural and architectural character of this rather advanced society of just three million. They were fortunate to be surrounded by the world's great literary societies of China and India. Indian societies were incredibly advanced at a very early stage, Taxila University dates from 500 BC.
(Crows, among the noblest and kindest of birds.) Here, wistful Talung Monastery lies far off the beaten tourist track. The more grand the monastic centre was, the more the Red Guards attacked it. Zeiss 16-80.
