Asia Adventures, Installment 6: BONUS!

Trust me, this bonus post is well worth it!  Ever since we lived in England I have had issue with pictures.  Particularly the 'wish you were here' photos I themed one of the AA installments on.  My issue is it begins to look like you actually just purchased high quality portrait studio backgrounds and put the same group/couple shot in front of it.  Your smile looks the same, you are typically standing in the same position among the group/couple, you even tilt your head ever so slightly in the same direction...in all of the pictures no matter where you are.

One solution is of course to try for the 'action' shot.  But then you end up with a bunch of pictures of your family and friends standing in a semi circle either reading or listening to information about the sight.  Or the classic walking picture; which how many rear end shots can we handle?

The solution I have been enjoying is the posed action shots.  Finding a way to mimic what your looking at and make yourself a part of the sight.  For China, the action pose became jumping.  This was fun (in my opinion) for many different reasons.  1.) People laughed with us.  We knew we looked ridiculous and the tourist just confirmed it for us. 2.) It gave us something to use our creativity.  Finding the ideal (flat) location and deciding on the perfect mid jump pose was integral to a successful jump shot. 3.) I can now do this bonus post of just jump shots.  And the list could go on, but I'm sure I don't need to convince you.  You are already planning to use this technique for your next family vacation.

Before I show the goods, I should admit that these were actually physically challenging.  Some of us walked away with aching knees and pulled hamstrings.  So we recommend stretching before you attempt this on your own.

This was our first attempt.
Don't worry we get better at it.

See better.

The prep squat.

ACTION!

Trying to be the Buddha.

Outside Brian and Kristen's Apartment.

That's where they live!

Can you see us in this crazy maze?

We had high hopes for this one.
But none of the attempts really quite worked.

Boiling egg/Pearl shot.

I missed '3' apparently.

One of our favorites.
2 of the 5 gates to the Forbidden City behind us
and we are doing the '5' point star jump.
Get it???

Another favorite!
On the Great Wall.

yay!

High 5.

This one took a few takes to get.

Dad's turn

Mom and Dad in front of the '70 year door'.
They are showing us how many more years until they will be old enough to use that door.

No one else in the group wanted to join me on this one.
I beat the warrior.