Sera and Tidrum in HDR.

Here are a few HDR shots from Sera monestary and Tidrum nunnery.

I used tone mapping settings for all of them that make for somewhat unreal looking pictures. The second one in particular uses very heavy effects that make for a totally unrealistic sky, but I like what the heavy effects do for the prayer flags in that one.

You Can Never Have Too Many (Photos Of) Prayer Flags

I'm back in Lhasa after the short side trip. The trip ended up being only 3 days because the pass to Nam Tso lake is currently closed due to snow (or so we heard). Even though we didn't make it to Nam Tso I enjoyed the trip and it was nice to see something of Tibet outside of Lhasa.

The first day was a drive out to see the Tidrum nunnery and hot springs in an isolated valley about four hours from Lhasa. This was actually my favorite stop of the trip but unfortunately it was overcast and grey all day.



On Wednesday, after barely making it out of Tidrum due to car problems, we visited the nearby Drigung Til monastery in the morning.



Then after lunch we drove to Reting monastery for the night. Most of the drive was up a pretty river valley on roads that reminded me of my trips in Mongolia.



Yesterday we had planned to go to Nam Tso lake but since access was closed we visited another monastery (Tsurphu) then returned early to Lhasa.



Tomorrow I'll have a post up with a few HDR pictures from the past week. Prayer flags will feature heavily again.

Sera Monestary

Today I went to see the Sera monastery just outside Lhasa.



Tomorrow morning I'm off for a 3-4 day trip to see some sights outside Lhasa. I don't expect I'll be able to post until I return.

Still More From Lhasa

I'm still in Lhasa and in no hurry to leave. Most of these pictures are from the Jokhang temple off of Barkhor square. This is the most holy temple in all of Tibetan Buddhism, and as usual you aren't allowed to take pictures inside.



And finally here's a shot of the Potala in HDR.

More Lhasa

Here are a few more pics from around Lhasa. I finally got over to the Potala today but unfortunately they won't let you take any pictures inside.



And here are two HDR shots of the Lukhang temple. The first is a reasonably realistic shot but the second is the same shot with strong effects. I came up with the second while fiddling around with the tone mapping settings on the way to making the first one and liked it enough that I'm posting it as well.

Potala Palace and more of Barkhor Square.

Here are a few more pictures from around Barkhor Square.



I also wandered over to take my first look at the Potala palace although I didn't go inside it. Here are a few pictures. Expect more - by the time I leave Lhasa everyone will probably be sick of Potala shots.