Before arriving to this location, I had pre-visualized an image which I had wanted to frame the Main Temple of Thean Hou against the lanterns on the ceiling of one of the two pagodas situated across the main temple.


However, this type of composition was easier imagined than executed.  To get this precise framing composition and ensuring that the top lanterns and pagoda on the left do not overlap the main temple, the camera and tripod had to be perched precariously on the roof of the pagoda from where I was standing from.  As I was not able climb over the roof, I was composing and adjusting the camera settings and viewpoints by leaning over the staircase railings.  It took me a good one hour just to set-up the tripod position just to ensure the tripod do not slip and fall during the exposure.  I would have wanted to have more of the top lanterns visible in the frame, but there was no way for me to include more than that without risking the tripod toppling over to the ground below.


This is perhaps my most famous image to date.  No sooner had I uploaded this image to my 500px account, it was "flicked" (flicked means that the image was stolen and used without my permission) and used in not less than 15 other websites all over the world.  Some of these can be seen in the link below:


http://wowola.ga/uncategorized/20-cities-decorated-for-the-holiday-which-turned-into-a-fairy-tale/


https://genial.guru/admiracion-lugares/20-ciudades-de-cuentos-de-hadas-en-ano-nuevo-106205/


http://caglas.rs/fotografije-najljepse-okicenih-gradova-sveta-za-novu-godinu/


I have titled this image as "The Framing of the Temple".  However, these websites had retitled this image as "The Red Dragon".  I have used this title ever since.


EOS 5D Mk II / Lens EF17-40mm f/4.0 L USM