Mitchell Kanashkevich: Seeing The Light

Photo © Mitchell Kanashkevich-All Rights Reserved
Mitchell Kanashkevich is an oft-published travel/documentary photographer, whose main passion resonates with those of us who are described as "ethno-photographers". Much of his work is in capturing disappearing ancient cultures and the human condition in unique, challenging situations. Much of his travel/documentary photography is represented by Getty Images, while his cultural portraits, both color and black and white, are in private collections.

Mitchell has recently published a new eBook titled Seeing The Light. The premise of the eBook is to show how to create “believable” looking artificial light with a single off camera flash in a softbox or with a reflector, exploit natural light with and without the help of artificial light,and gain a deeper understanding of natural light and how it can be used creatively, even in challenging situations.

Via the above link, you can see sample screen grabs and even download a sample PDF.

As he says, the lessons in Seeing the Light is relevant to anyone who’s passionate about light, but wants to stay compact – that includes travel and documentary photographers, wedding photographers, portrait photographers and even low-budget commercial shooters.

For Mitchell's wonderful travel and ethno-photography, drop by his website...I guarantee you'll be inspired by his work.

WIRED: Kanepari & Ferguson

Photos © Adam Ferguson (L)/Zackary Canepari (R)-Courtesy WIRED

"The photojournalist has long been known as the lone wolf, traveling solo to the far-flung corners of the world to document experiences few are capable of seeing. By function, it’s often a solitary quest, lonely and alienating; rarely as romantic as the photographs make it appear."

What a great start for the Raw File article written for WIRED by Bryan Derballa!

The article deals with the friendship and healthy competition between Adam Ferguson and Zackary Canepari, two immensely gifted photojournalists working in Pakistan, India and Afghanistan. It appears that they helped each other, and edited one another’s work, always hoping to improve its quality.

WIRED's Raw File's article is in essence two interviews: Ferguson giving his views on Canepari's work, and vice-versa. Quite an interesting read...naturally, they pat each other on the back, but that's what friends do, especially those whose camaraderie withstood difficult circumstances.

Both photojournalists are content to be doing what they want to do at this time. Canepari is back in California pursuing personal projects, while Ferguson is still shooting in Afghanistan.

Zackary Canepari was featured on TTP a few times, and Adam Ferguson's work in Orissa was featured here.

Malfreemaps 1st Anniversary Mega GG at Ipoh, Perak.

The Malfreemaps First Anniversary Mega Gathering was held at the Dome Cafe of Majestic Station Hotel which located at The Railway Station of Ipoh. (N4°35.842' E101°04.411')

The community was created since September 2008. There are more than 12,000 members up to now. This is A GPS Enthusiast forum where everything from Global Positioning System to mapping knowledge are provided and discussion room. The FREE map provide from here cover Malaysia (include East Malaysia), Singapore, Brunei and some of South Thailand (The Thailand map was started developed few months ago). Feel free to visit the main website : Malfreemaps

I was there quite late and the place was full of peoples! This was also a good chance for me to meet up many old friends. Because most of the time we only meet in the internet forum, hardly can see each other...
I would like to share some photos of this unforgettable event!!

Antyong given speech (Admin of the Malfreemaps Forum)

The organiser from Ipoh - Ronchan

Special Award from Ronchan to Antyong

Foods and drinks also provided in the area. You can keep on talking, eating and drinking until you enough! haha!

Beside the foods, the Organiser also prepare the mfm Anniversary cake for everyone!

mfm Cake

After the foods, all members started their learning, discussion and chatting session....

Sharkteef (Forum Moderator) and Fancheng (Seremban Senior Mapper)

Members from all Malaysia and Singapore...

email2me (Blue) from www.foodpoi.com

Penang and Singapore members...

Practice and learning....Tlchuan (Blue) from Penang.

Tympg from Penang. Everywhere he go, he will bring his GPS map and paper map...

Sharkteef from Kuala Lumpur - New forum Moderator

Group photos of the event

The event was very successful with more than 70 peoples turn up. The Media reporter from Sinchew and China Press also attended the gathering.


I left the gathering around 5.30pm, most of them went to dinner together at Yee Man Restaurant at Lawan Kuda. I did not join them...
More photos of the event : Malfreemaps


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Related post :-
* Malfreemaps.com Mega GG (Gathering) at Gunung Ledang 2009

MY TRIPS - Home

Ulla Lohmann: Papua Mummies

An unusual project has put Ulla Lohmann in the 'crosshairs' at the Visa pour l'Image photojournalism festival in Perpignan.

Ulla's Mummies in Papua portfolio was shown at Visa's first nightly projections, and is a distinct change from the normal fare that the festival is reputed for. She had to wait two years before being granted authorization to see and photograph the mummies.

In Papua New Guinea’s Morobe Highlands, the Anga tribe used to follow an ancient method of mummification for its dead by smoke curing, however the tradition has been almost lost, until the tribe leader's grand-daughter's death.

The lost tradition was revived when the grand-daughter died. The mummies were brought back to the village, and eventually restored for preservation. Now, the tribe's leader also wants to be mummified once he dies and has asked Lohmann to record the event.

1854, the blog of the British Journal of Photography has an interview with Ulla Lohmann.

Lou Wong Bean Sprout Chicken Rice at Ipoh, Perak.

Lou Wong Bean Sprout Chicken Rice Restaurant (N4 35.638 E101 05.050) is located at the junction of Jalan Dato Tahwil Azar & Jalan Yau Tet Shin in Ipoh, Perak. We were having our lunch here after checked-in from the New Caspian Hotel. It was strongly recommended from friends if we are happen to visit Ipoh.

Lou Wong Bean Sprout (Tauge in Dialect) Chicken Rice Noodle

It was very crowded while we reached the restaurant, I was surprise because there was not many cars on the street of Ipoh, but....it's so crowded here! :)

we waited about 10-15 minutes to get our table ready. The orders were quite standard with other tables : Steam Chicken, Bean Sprout, Fish ball, Meat ball and Chicken knuckles. We quickly placed our order to avoid the long waiting list....

Surprisingly, the meal serve in 5 minutes!! I'm impressed!

The Delicious Chicken

The Bean Sprout
(Totally looks different from Johor Bahru Bean Sprout)

Fish Ball & Pork Meat Ball mix (we ordered double!)

Chicken Knuckles

Overall, I give double thumbs up for the meal! The Bean Sprout was so juicy! Fish & Meat Ball was delicious! Chicken Knuckles was Good! Especially the chicken was excellent!
The feeling was different when you first bite on the chicken, I can't taste it other place within Malaysia. I Love it very much! It might because of the local weather...
Damage : MYR16.00 (included drinks for 2 adults and one kid)

Rated : 4.5/5

The attitude of the employee in this restaurant also impressed us very much! No matter how crowded the place is, the meal will be serve in few minutes.

They are busy serving the customers

You will be amaze about the speed he 'cut' the chicken.

The night crowd was double from the day time!

The dining area also extend to the outdoor area beside the restaurant during night time.

We wanted to try the opposite Ong Kee Bean Sprout Chicken (only open at night) too, but there's no enough space in our stomach....definitely will try it in our next visit.

The Ong Kee Restaurant opposite had the same crowd like Lou Wong too...

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Our Ipoh Trip (Aug 2009)
* New Caspian Budget Hotel at Ipoh, Perak (D1)
* Ipoh Railway Station, Perak (D1)
* Tuck Kee Noodle Restuarant at Ipoh, Perak (D1)
* Chang Keong Dim Sum at Ipoh (D2)
* Perak Cave at Ipoh, Perak. (D2)
* The Lost World Of Tambun, Perak (D2)
* Tat Seng Salted Chicken at Ipoh, Perak (D2)
* Yee Fatt Dry Curry Noodle in Ipoh, Perak (D3)
* Yong Tau Foo under 'The Tree' in Ipoh, Perak. (D3)

MY TRIPS - Home

New Caspian Budget Hotel at Ipoh, Perak

New Caspian Hotel (N4°35.703' E101°05.155') located at Jalan Jubilee of Ipoh, Perak. Thanks for Ronchan who recommended to us.

New Caspian Hotel at Jalan Jubilee, Ipoh.

We check-in to the hotel about 1pm after long drive from Johor. Once we stepped in to this hotel, we felt like walk into a Time Tunnel! The furniture of the reception and the lobby area are really antique! It's been a long time I haven't see this 'small' pieces of mosaics on the floor. That really bring me back to the 70's.....

The Reception.

The lobby area.

The hotel is Well maintain and clean!
We took a room which was come with 2 King bed. The rate was MYR82.00 per day. It's reasonable! The bathroom equipped with hot & cold shower. I love this cabinet very much because of the antique look! :)

The room with 2 King bed

The antique cabinet

This hotel is located in the middle of the Old Town Ipoh which is walking distance to most of the restaurants we wanted to visit. Opposite of the hotel, there are 2 minimart that make us convenience for our daily needs (Business hour till midnight). I bought 2 bottles of Carlsberg which is cost only MYR11.50 per bottle, that's cheap!

The hotel also provided private parking beside it for their customers convenience.

The street in front of the hotel.

Ipoh is a peaceful town which I felt. And the traffic was smooth even during weekend & public holiday! I Love it very much!

If you are looking for luxury stay, this is definitely not the hotel you are looking for. But if you just wanna have a comfort sleep and clean environment (like us), I will strongly recommend it! The hotel also had a Good review from the internet, 'Google' to read.

New Caspian Hotel
6, Jalan Jubilee,
Ipoh, Perak.
Tel : +605-242 3327

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Our Ipoh Trip (Aug 2009)
* Lou Wong Bean Sprout Chicken Rice at Ipoh, Perak. (D1)
* Ipoh Railway Station, Perak (D1)
* Tuck Kee Noodle Restuarant at Ipoh, Perak (D1)
* Chang Keong Dim Sum at Ipoh (D2)
* Perak Cave at Ipoh, Perak. (D2)
* The Lost World Of Tambun, Perak (D2)
* Tat Seng Salted Chicken at Ipoh, Perak (D2)
* Yee Fatt Dry Curry Noodle in Ipoh, Perak (D3)
* Yong Tau Foo under 'The Tree' in Ipoh, Perak. (D3)

MY TRIPS - Home

POV: To Publish or Not?

After 3 weeks of deliberation, the Associated Press released a graphic photograph by Julie Jacobson of Lance Cpl. Joshua M. Bernard shortly after he was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade during a Taliban ambush in Afghanistan. Lance Cpl. Joshua M. Bernard was mortally wounded and died shortly thereafter.

The New York Times has the whole story here.

Naturally, both the knee-jerk and the well reasoned outrage at AP's decision to publish such a photograph have been the subject of many op-eds, newspaper articles, commentary and blog posts. It is not the first time (nor the last) that the issue is whether the public is better served by seeing what really happens in war, or whether it's better to shield us from the ugliness of war, and to protect the privacy of the American families who lose loved ones in these conflicts.

In this case, the father of Lance Cpl. Joshua M. Bernard specifically requested AP not to show the photograph, and Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates intervened personally to ask not have the photos published.

It's a tough call, isn't it? But I reluctantly side with those who believe that showing such images conveys to the viewing public the atrocity, the complexity, the brutality, and the sacrifices of war. We should not allow ourselves to be anesthetized by deliberate governmental or military censorship, often disguised by proclamations of "respect for the families". These are the same people who send our children to war, knowing full well how horrific it is. Mr. Gates pleaded with AP not to show the image of this (in his words) "maimed and stricken child on the front page of multiple American newspapers...." Yet, children like Lance Cpl. Joshua M. Bernard have been sent to war by Mr. Gates and his predecessor by a mere stroke of their pens...and precious lives have been lost, and will continue to be lost.

Every day we see photographs of Iraqi corpses, Palestinians horribly maimed, Afghan women with horrific burns, Congolese civilians beheaded, and many others. They are also loved ones and have families too, yet we show them in our publications without even thinking twice. Yes, sometimes, a gentle soul at one of the newspapers inserts a caution before the graphic images...but they still end up on our front pages, don't they?

Yes, sometimes war is necessary and sometimes it's forced on us...and having taken the momentous decision to send our own to war, we should accept, and see, its atrocious consequences.

Finally, why hasn't the AP shown similar photographs during the previous Administration? If it did, perhaps we wouldn't be in this mess.