Pic of the Week_Serpentine Gorge_Central Australia

 
Here’s a favourite image that I made a number of years ago and, except for one exhibition, has remained relatively unseen until this post. I came across it while hunting through images for a recent talk I gave on my life, thus far, in photography.
It’s great to think that the talk, and the work associated [...]

Quiet Amidst the Turmoil_Sri Lanka

 
Situated on a rocky outcrop, just 11km north east of Anuradhapura, Mihintale is of enormous spiritual significance to the Sinhalese as the place where Buddhism originated in Sri Lanka. It is here where, in 247 B.C., King Devanampiya Tissa was converted to Buddhism after an encounter with Mahinda, the son of an Indian King and [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

Mantra_Lhasa_Tibet

 

I discovered this mantra carved onto a rock on a hill overlooking the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet. Often carved as a kind of meditation, I believe the process combines religious and artistic practices. It is for this reason that I consider such pieces to be art rather than craft.
I cropped the original medium format [...]

Monk_The Bayon_Ankor Wat_Cambodia

 
Here’s an old image from a trip to Cambodia in the 90’s. I met this monk while photographing the Bayon, a part of the famous Angkor Wat complex near the town of Siem Reap. Apparently he was from a town around one hours drive from Angkor Wat, yet this was the first opportunity he’d had [...]

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 [...]

The Travel Photographers Kit Bag

 

One of the great compromises we face, as photographers, is what gear to bring and, therefore, what to leave at home when we pack our bags. The experienced traveller understands the necessity to conserve space and reduce weight. Some decant their shampoo into a smaller container, dispose of excess packaging surrounding medicines (while including important [...]

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 [...]

Grass and Water_Jiuzhaigou National Park_China

 
Jiuzhaigou National Park is situated in Sichuan Province, China. I’ve been fortunate enough to visit this park on two occasions, summer and winter. One day I hope to visit in autumn when I’m sure the colors will be particularly beautiful.
The above image was made during winter with a Hasselblad 503CW camera and Hasselblad 150mm f4 [...]