The Travel Photographer Blog will enjoy a brief respite from daily blogging....probably a week or so.
Frequent readers know that I'm leading a two-week photo-expedition to Bali starting July 15, so I'll be busy with its last minute arrangements, travel and will sneak in a few days of downtime.
See you soon!
Tewfic
Gilles Perrin: Tibet
Gilles Perrin was born in Paris, and has a master in photography. Since 1972 he works as an author-photographer, specializing in large format photography (4x5" and 8x10"), and in panoramic and panoscopic cameras. He also works in commercial photography in the fields of still life, portraits, industrial reportage. He taught photography at Paris VIII University for over 20 years.
Gilles traveled to Tibet in 2004 and 2006. He tells us that he witnessed the impact of Chinese and western tourism in many ways, particularly with the introduction of the train Beijing-Lhasa, on the Tibetan culture. The Chinese colonization is evident in both cities and countryside, bringing with it the development of increasing transit infrastructure.
The traditional ways of Tibet so cherished in the western psyche will eventually die out. The economic and tourist exploitation of Tibet will obliterate its ancestral cultures, and will impose a new political and cultural order. These social, artistic and religious traditions will degenerate into folkloric shows organized for Chinese and “western foreigners”.
It is for these reasons that Gilles Perrin wanted to record the Tibetans' way of life before it disappeared altogether. For this series, he used a 4”x5” folding camera on a tripod and had his subjects pose for him. All photographs were taken at a low shutter speed (from one second to 1/8 of a second).
A remarkable and a timeless piece of work, the photographs of Tibet are part of an attractive flash-based slideshow produced by the incomparable Zone Zero.
Gilles Perrin's Tibet
NY Times: Bali
The New York Times decided to publish this mini-feature on Bali in a slideshow, presumably because it's currently high season for tourism. Quite a few photographers believe that the newspaper's weekly Travel Section is aimed at consumer photography, ie. how to take better vacation snaps of sunsets, etc. I don't go that far, since it also publishes wonderful incisive travel photo essays with remarkable work from first-class creative photographers...but I suppose features like this one are designed to sell space for travel ads.
Unfortunately, this feature on Bali doesn't qualify as anything much. The only reason I'm posting it here is to show what photography without soul and direction looks like. I can't blame the photographer at all...it seems that this is an editorial decision. This feature is aimed at individuals who join package tours, stay in luxury hotels and like shopping.
To each his own....
Bali
POV: Quick Tip
Popular Photography magazine (the web editions) usually has a plethora of reheated tips and techniques...but in light of my forthcoming Bali Photo Expedition, I though this one was both timely and relevant.
In the article Conquer the World (How to bring home pictures the way top travel photographers do), Jad Davenport writes:
"The greatest peril in travel photography is also the easiest to avoid -- the cliche. When asked adventure photographer Cory Rich how he freshens up familiar subjects, he said, "I shoot 360 degrees around my subjects, and then I hold the camera up overhead and shoot down. When I'm done with that, I lie on my back and shoot up at them."
Peter Guttman has another trick. I watched him set his battered Nikon on autofocus and self-timer, then clip it to a rickety tripod. He extended it out over the bow of the ship as it crunched through ice for a shot of the ship that only a puffin could take.
As I expect to photograph numerous religious festivals and celebrations in Bali, the "360 degrees" tip is very relevant. The frenetic activities at such events will surround me, and the most interesting action may not always be the one that's happening in front of me, but along the peripheries.
In the article Conquer the World (How to bring home pictures the way top travel photographers do), Jad Davenport writes:
"The greatest peril in travel photography is also the easiest to avoid -- the cliche. When asked adventure photographer Cory Rich how he freshens up familiar subjects, he said, "I shoot 360 degrees around my subjects, and then I hold the camera up overhead and shoot down. When I'm done with that, I lie on my back and shoot up at them."
Peter Guttman has another trick. I watched him set his battered Nikon on autofocus and self-timer, then clip it to a rickety tripod. He extended it out over the bow of the ship as it crunched through ice for a shot of the ship that only a puffin could take.
As I expect to photograph numerous religious festivals and celebrations in Bali, the "360 degrees" tip is very relevant. The frenetic activities at such events will surround me, and the most interesting action may not always be the one that's happening in front of me, but along the peripheries.
Susana Raab: Mongolia
Susana Raab is a photojournalist based in Washington DC whose work regularly appears on the pages of the New York Times. Her work has received recognition from PDN, the Camera Club of New York, the White House News Association, the Ernst Haas/Golden Light Awards as well as the Sante Fe Center.
Her latest work, a feature on Aveiro (a village in Portugal) appeared on the pages of the New York Times, however having visited her website, I chose her feature on Mongolia. It's a mix of travel and editorial style photographs...as Susana chose not to add captions to her photographs, I can only guess that some of the latter images must have been made in orphanages and hospitals.
Susana Raab
LA Times: A Step Back In Time, Cuba
Here's another multimedia feature from The Los Angeles Times. This one is on Cuba, and the photographs and narration are by Gail Fisher, who's the Senior Photo Editor for the newspaper.
Gail has spent the past twenty years of her career traveling extensively throughout Asia, the Middle East, Africa, South and Central America covering social issues, and has won numerous awards.
I expected much more from such a renowned photographer/editor, but the feature verges on a 'ho-hum' collection of photographs of Cuba that any photographer without Gail's experience and access could have easily captured. A few photographs stand out (like the one above), but the large majority are pedestrian. Although Cuba receives over 2,000,000 tourists a year, only 40,000 are from the United States and are generally not tourists but journalists and human rights staff, so who is the target of this consumer-oriented travel feature...our Canadian neighbors?
As Gail says, Cuba has a legendary mystique which makes it a great tourist destination. Yes, we know and most of us want to go! As I wrote in an earlier post, how can anyone justify political isolation, impose economic sanctions and literally prevent its citizens to visit this enchanting island because of trumped up political ideology is beyond comprehension.
Here's Gail Fisher's A Step Back In Time, Cuba
LA Times: Uganda
I don't read The Los Angeles Times often, but it is rapidly joining the ranks of the daily newspapers that offer multimedia slideshows from top photojournalists on a variety of topics. This post features Horror In Uganda, a four part slideshow photographed and narrated by Francine Orr.
Francine is a photographer at the Los Angeles Times since 1999. She traveled and worked extensively in Asia and the Pacific, and in Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, South Africa, Angola, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. She has received numerous awards for her photography and writing.
Uganda has been home to some of the more gruesome atrocities in modern African history since its independence in 1962, particularly under Idi Amin, but since 1987 things have consistently improved. A major concern in the northern part of the country, is the Lord's Resistance Army, which although now appears to consist of less than two thousand combatants, the government has been unable to end the insurgency to date. The LRA have been known to kidnap children, and forced to become child soldiers, porters and sex slaves.
I found the last part of the series, The LRA's Victims, to have the most powerful and compelling, but disturbing, imagery.
Here's Francine Orr's Horror In Uganda
David duChemin: Kashmir
I chanced upon the glorious travel photography website of David duChemin, who has travelled and photographed in Russia, Peru, Ecuador, France, the U.K., Haiti, Ethiopia, DRC, Malawi, Rwanda, Uganda, India, Nepal, and across North America.
Specializing in travel photography and photographing children, the vulnerable and oppressed, David has a bachelor's degree in children and youth leadership and a lifetime of working with children and families in education, social work and recreational settings. A multiple award winner, he has photographed for a growing list of commercial and non-profit groups.
David's statement on his website says: "Anyone can take a picture of poverty; it's easy to focus on the dirt and hurt of the poor. It's much harder - and much more needful - to pry under that dirt and reveal the beauty and dignity of people that, but for their birth into a place and circumstance different from our own, are just like ourselves.
Have a look at David's Kashmir gallery, which I found to the best among his other excellent galleries.
Crusades?
From the New York Times' feature of today, Baquba's Deadly Houses
The caption reads:
During the operation, Specialist Paul Goodyear wore a headband bearing a passage from Psalm 91: "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust."
This reminds me of the green headband with Qura'nic script worn by some of the Islamic fighters-insurgents as a religious talisman.
It also brings to mind what Georges Bush said on September 16, 2001:
"And we understand. And the American people are beginning to understand. This crusade, this war on terrorism is going to take a while."
SnapVillage: Microstock
SnapVillage, empowered by Corbis, announced the beta opening of a fresh, interactive and innovative online marketplace for user-generated photography at www.snapvillage.com. The new website has no membership fees and is now accepting submissions from photographers anywhere in the world and offering image licensing in the United States.SnapVillage’s pricing structure claims to give photographers greater control and flexibility in managing and maximizing their photography and income. "The SnapVillage ‘Pick Your Own Price’ model gives photographers the ability to set image price levels at five increments of $1, $5, $10, $25 and $50. Photographers are able to change prices on their pictures at any time. SnapVillage does not have any type of exclusivity agreements and pays a royalty rate of 30 percent across the board for all flat price image sales, and 30 cents a download on all subscriptions sales. All photographer payments are made via PayPal."
Working photographers will see this as further evidence that their livelihood is under threat.
For further details: SnapVillage
Aina Photo
From Aina Photo:
Aina Photo, the first Afghan photojournalism school, is currently is in the stage of creating a world class photo-agency for Afghan photojournalists to be presented in Perpignan festival in September.
Aina Photo is in need of assistance from the international community to help its Afghan photographers with image editing, caption and keyword correction. It would like to have the international volunteers work in Kabul. While it doesn't provide a salary or airfares, it will provide the volunteers accommodation and food for as long as they stay. In return, volunteers will get experience with a internationally recognised photo agency, and will have an opportunity to help out Afghan photojournalists.
Another option is to have volunteers work from home. Aina can provide them with access to its database and they can edit and correct from their own country. Since the current security situation and lack of financial support from Aina may lead some people to choose not to travel to Afghanistan that option may be favored by some.
Either way Aina Photo is in great need of assistance, so if anyone in the industry is interested in coming to Kabul to work at the school, or work some hours per week from their own country, please get in contact with Travis Beard Chief Editor at the earliest. The school wants to raise Afghan photojournalist up to international standards, but cannot do this without help from the global community.
If interested, contact: Travis Beard Chief Editor Aina Photo, Aina Media Centre Malik Asghar (Crossroads Next to Ministry of Economy), Kabul, Afghanistan.
Aina Photo
Aina Photo, the first Afghan photojournalism school, is currently is in the stage of creating a world class photo-agency for Afghan photojournalists to be presented in Perpignan festival in September.
Aina Photo is in need of assistance from the international community to help its Afghan photographers with image editing, caption and keyword correction. It would like to have the international volunteers work in Kabul. While it doesn't provide a salary or airfares, it will provide the volunteers accommodation and food for as long as they stay. In return, volunteers will get experience with a internationally recognised photo agency, and will have an opportunity to help out Afghan photojournalists.
Another option is to have volunteers work from home. Aina can provide them with access to its database and they can edit and correct from their own country. Since the current security situation and lack of financial support from Aina may lead some people to choose not to travel to Afghanistan that option may be favored by some.
Either way Aina Photo is in great need of assistance, so if anyone in the industry is interested in coming to Kabul to work at the school, or work some hours per week from their own country, please get in contact with Travis Beard Chief Editor at the earliest. The school wants to raise Afghan photojournalist up to international standards, but cannot do this without help from the global community.
If interested, contact: Travis Beard Chief Editor Aina Photo, Aina Media Centre Malik Asghar (Crossroads Next to Ministry of Economy), Kabul, Afghanistan.
Aina Photo
Miami Herald: Latin American Hip Hop
The Miami Herald just produced a brilliant multimedia feature on the hip-hop culture in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. The feature is part of a larger many-layered and equally brilliant feature titled A Rising Voice: Afro-Latin Americans which examines social and racial tensions in Nicaragua, Cuba, Honduras (just listen to the beat of the Garifuna music!), Dominican Republic and Brazil.
The Latin American Hip Hop feature is a Soundslides production, with the photographs of Noelle Theard, a Miami-based photojournalist, whose talented lenswork and great sense of color/movement allows us to enter the hip hop world in these Latin American countries. The able narration is by Alvaro Cuello who describes for us how hip-hop creates a cultural bond above race and social class.
A highly recommended multimedia feature, here's Miami Herald's Latin American Hip Hop.
Noelle Theard's website is here
Taipei Trip 2007, 25th - 30th June
Trip report.
Basically it’s rains everyday, a lot of outdoor places we skipped. The itinerary was change and adjusts to suit the weather over there.
The transport information is superb & the foods at Taipei were wonderful!
25th June 2007
0830hrs flight from Changi Airport, SG.
After 4 hours +.....we reached the north of Taiwan......
Reached Taoyuan International Airport around 1310hrs. (N25°04.624 E121°13.929)
Took a Cab to Han She Hotel (N25°02.567 E121°30.312).....(cost NTW1300 for 7 person, I mean for the taxi fares)
Supposed to check in 1200hrs, but some bad situation make us checked in 1700hrs. But the hotel staff kind enough to let us rest in one temporary room.
Some photos around the hotel area.....
Special brake disc
And......the Wa-Wa....
Having our tea break with relatives from Taipei.....they brought us to a restaurant which is in the basement of Far Eastern Shopping Complex (N25°02.497 E121°30.551). Foods were good! But order too much.....cannot finish all.....
The Restaurant.
And the dishes.....
After the tea break, we went to Ximen MRT Station ( N25°02.531 E121°30.494) to buy our "Yo-Yo card" (TWD500.00 = RM52.52). Basically it's a prepaid MRT card.
By travel with this card, you will get 20% discount from all the fares! :)
Back to hotel, rest till 2000hrs, headed to Jiangzicui Station to look for another old friend of my sis in-law. in less than 5 minutes, we reached Jiangzicui Station (N25°01.790 E121°28.343) and walk across the road to"Feng Hwa Restaurant".(N25°01.740 E121°28.411) which they are waiting......
Also order too much, cannot finish it.......
I took some photos surrounding of the restaurant......
The night view of Jiangzicui street.....
After the dinner, we went back to Hotel for rest and ready for Day 2.
I & my brother in-law went to the convenience store beside to get some "Taiwan Beer" and enjoy ourselves along the street of XimenDing.
Just thinking that how nice if Jaguar is around....
End of Day 1.
Day 2 - 26th June 2007
Finish our breakfast here.....(below the hotel)
Get into "Ximen Station" to "Long San Station" & headed to Long San Temple (N25°02.207 E121°29.985). - The Historical Temple
The building surround.....
Before the temple, we were caught into this shop......because of some cheap stuff.
I got this for geocaching......(TWD20.00)
Shop till noon, took our lunch opposite.......
Here.....
The mee-hoon & the dishes were YUMMY!!
Attracted by this antique shop just next to it......
Then......Long San Temple
The entrance of the temple....
The beautiful waterfall at the side......
Spotted this wawa......(white behind)
While on the way back, my daughter found this indication light.....and so happy to dance on it!!
Daddy, I am so happy to have my pen & book!!!
We went back to Hotel around 1630hrs, take a rest and planning to have our dinner which recommended by "Turbosnail" - "Stinky Tofu" at Gongguan night market. (N24°59.222 E121°31.880)
1930hrs, took MRT from Ximen to Gongguan Station.....
Some photos along the night market.....
Suddenly I smell something very strong come from in front of us!! I told myself....I FOUND IT!!!
This is the ONE!!
Get inside the stall, order whatever the store selling......the superb spicy chili sauce is the BEST!!! (Who say Taiwan chili not spicy enough??!)
I had double of the Stinky Tofu!! Wonderful!!
(Stinky Tofu a.k.a. Chinese cheese)
Oyster mee-sua (vermicelli)
Ooooppsss! Too late! "Tien Pu Rak" (Direct translate - Sweet but not spicy)
As usual, after dinner the women went for shopping! I snap some photos around Gongguan Night Market.....
And....OOOPPPPSSS!!
I ask her to smile, she turn away!!
We got back to hotel around 2330hrs. Same as usual, buy some Taiwan Beer and end my Day 2.
Taipei Trip
* Day 1 & day 2
* Day 3 & day 4
* Tamsui of Taipei - Day 5
* Day 6 - Taipei bye-bye
Basically it’s rains everyday, a lot of outdoor places we skipped. The itinerary was change and adjusts to suit the weather over there.
The transport information is superb & the foods at Taipei were wonderful!
25th June 2007
0830hrs flight from Changi Airport, SG.
After 4 hours +.....we reached the north of Taiwan......On top of Danshui
Danshui River
Reached Taoyuan International Airport around 1310hrs. (N25°04.624 E121°13.929)
Custom clearance
Took a Cab to Han She Hotel (N25°02.567 E121°30.312).....(cost NTW1300 for 7 person, I mean for the taxi fares)
Supposed to check in 1200hrs, but some bad situation make us checked in 1700hrs. But the hotel staff kind enough to let us rest in one temporary room.Some photos around the hotel area.....
Special brake discAnd......the Wa-Wa....
Having our tea break with relatives from Taipei.....they brought us to a restaurant which is in the basement of Far Eastern Shopping Complex (N25°02.497 E121°30.551). Foods were good! But order too much.....cannot finish all.....
The Restaurant.
And the dishes.....After the tea break, we went to Ximen MRT Station ( N25°02.531 E121°30.494) to buy our "Yo-Yo card" (TWD500.00 = RM52.52). Basically it's a prepaid MRT card.
By travel with this card, you will get 20% discount from all the fares! :)
Back to hotel, rest till 2000hrs, headed to Jiangzicui Station to look for another old friend of my sis in-law. in less than 5 minutes, we reached Jiangzicui Station (N25°01.790 E121°28.343) and walk across the road to"Feng Hwa Restaurant".(N25°01.740 E121°28.411) which they are waiting......
Also order too much, cannot finish it.......I took some photos surrounding of the restaurant......
The night view of Jiangzicui street.....
After the dinner, we went back to Hotel for rest and ready for Day 2.
I & my brother in-law went to the convenience store beside to get some "Taiwan Beer" and enjoy ourselves along the street of XimenDing.
Just thinking that how nice if Jaguar is around....
End of Day 1.
Day 2 - 26th June 2007
Finish our breakfast here.....(below the hotel)
Get into "Ximen Station" to "Long San Station" & headed to Long San Temple (N25°02.207 E121°29.985). - The Historical Temple
The Long San Station
The building surround.....
Before the temple, we were caught into this shop......because of some cheap stuff.
I got this for geocaching......(TWD20.00)
Shop till noon, took our lunch opposite.......
Here.....
The mee-hoon & the dishes were YUMMY!!
Attracted by this antique shop just next to it......
Then......Long San Temple
The entrance of the temple....
The beautiful waterfall at the side......
Spotted this wawa......(white behind)
While on the way back, my daughter found this indication light.....and so happy to dance on it!!
Daddy, I am so happy to have my pen & book!!!
We went back to Hotel around 1630hrs, take a rest and planning to have our dinner which recommended by "Turbosnail" - "Stinky Tofu" at Gongguan night market. (N24°59.222 E121°31.880)
1930hrs, took MRT from Ximen to Gongguan Station.....
Some photos along the night market.....
Suddenly I smell something very strong come from in front of us!! I told myself....I FOUND IT!!!
This is the ONE!!
Get inside the stall, order whatever the store selling......the superb spicy chili sauce is the BEST!!! (Who say Taiwan chili not spicy enough??!)
I had double of the Stinky Tofu!! Wonderful!!
(Stinky Tofu a.k.a. Chinese cheese)
Oyster mee-sua (vermicelli)
Ooooppsss! Too late! "Tien Pu Rak" (Direct translate - Sweet but not spicy)
As usual, after dinner the women went for shopping! I snap some photos around Gongguan Night Market.....
And....OOOPPPPSSS!!
I ask her to smile, she turn away!!
We got back to hotel around 2330hrs. Same as usual, buy some Taiwan Beer and end my Day 2.
Taipei Trip
* Day 1 & day 2
* Day 3 & day 4
* Tamsui of Taipei - Day 5
* Day 6 - Taipei bye-bye
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