Temple_Sagaing Hill_Myanmar

Myanmar (Burma) is an amazing country, rich in natural beauty with a long history evidenced in a plethora of marvelous Buddhist shrines and temples. The above image was made towards the end of an absolutely wonderful day photographing around the towns of Ava and Sagaing.
The scene inside this hilltop temple was somewhat surreal: a seemingly [...]

Golden Rock_Kyaiktiyo Pagoda_Myanmar

 
At just 5 1/2 meters high the tiny Kyaiktiyo Pagoda may not sound that significant. But, given its position atop a large gold-leaf covered boulder (known as the golden rock) and perched, delicately, on the edge of a cliff on the top of the mountain, you may begin to appreciate this truly splendid Buddhist icon.
The [...]

River Transport_U-Beins Bridge_Myanmar

 
I made this image from U-Beins Bridge in Myanmar (Burma) with the aid of warm, early morning light skimming over the cart and water. The texture in the water and the triangular shape, formed between the two white oxen and the driver’s hat, add a sense of direction and movement through the frame.
It’s certainly an [...]

Sunrise from U-Beins Bridge_Myanmar

 
This is one of my favourite images, the making of which was a joyous experience. Taken toward the sunrise from U-Beins Bridge, Myanmar (Burma) the image is broken up into three areas: the water, either side of a large fish trap, and the sky above. The composition draws our eyes through the frame by the [...]

Architecture Bathed in Light

This is a largely design based image. Made at sunrise on Mandalay Hill in Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma) I remember being drawn to the scene by the color and shape of the architecture and the lovely quality of the light. I organised the composition to emphasize the line, shape, repetition and colors within the scene. I loved [...]

Buddha Reflection_Saiging Hill_Myanmar

 
Despite their relative expense and technological sophistication cameras remain relatively dumb tools that need to be mastered and given direction by the user.
Photographing reflections provides an interesting problem. Cameras do not recognise subject: they have no idea as to whether you are photographing a baby, a bahmitzfa or a birthday cake. As the camera has [...]

Notions of Beauty

 
Here’s one of four environmental portraits I made on Christmas morning, 2000 in a small town on the edge of the beautiful Inle Lake, Myanmar. This lovely old lady was a joy to photograph. She only had one remaining tooth and a face that bore the signs of experience. In the relatively short period of [...]

The Environmental Portrait

 
Environmental Portraiture
Probably the most important shot within the photo essay, the environmental portrait has the capacity to tell a story within a single picture. The image should be constructed so as to contain something of the essential nature of the subject pictured. The photographer’s role is as much facilitator as artist as he or she [...]

Fire Dancing_Myanmar

 
Here’s a bit of fun. I was on route between major points of interest in Myanmar when I noticed, out of the corner of my eye, a group of local folk literally dancing with fire. I was able to make a quick snap as I passed by. Within moments the fires were out and any [...]

Fisherman_Myanmar

 

Some days are truly wonderful. As part of a photography trip to Myanmar I’d undertaken a short pre-dawn trip from Mandalay to photograph U-Beins Bridge at sunrise. It was an amazing day that provided numerous opportunities for landscape, architectural and portrait photography.
 
The above image was an incredible scene to behold. Warm, soft sunrise light illuminated [...]