Some of the first shots from Cambodia.  A country that has come on so much since my first visit in 2002, but has managed to retain much of it’s ‘self’. Whilst it’s sad to see the effect of mass tourism, the money it generates can only be a good thing for the country. Providing it is channelled back into the right areas.

Before I put up lots of images of temples and ancient sites, it’s important to enjoy the products of a country too. My first beer after a 25 hour journey tasted good in the tropical heat of Cambodia’s Siem Reap airport.

Pre-flight snaps

It’s great after a long flight to be able to kick back and relax. You’ve got to love Changi airport for not only providing some very reasonable priced electrical stores, but also offering up some great places to wander around and play with your new purchases!

dprblog:

Photographer Captures What a Polar Bear Attack Looks Like

photojojo:

This photographer was attacked by a polar bear while shooting a documentary for the BBC in Norway!

Fortunately, he was in a pod that let him see out.

You can now add polar bear selfie to your photo bucket list.

via Reddit 

Travelling light

So I’m off on my travels, and I thought I’d take a couple of items with me, that is:

• camera body
• 24-70 f2.8 lens
• 80-200 f.28 lens
• lens pens (they are amazing!!)
• lots of memory cards
• power supplies
• adapters
• net book
• external hard drive
• plus some light reading

Actually it’s not that bad, though carrying all 10kgs of it around the aeroport is a bit of a mission. I think a simple body and 2 lens option is my kit of choice, it gives me loads of variety in terms of focal lengths but is a pretty simple combo to carry around. Of course with f/2.8 lenses you are carrying around a lot of glass, and that’s not light. Still, the pay off in terms of image quality is worth it. Besides massages are relatively cheap in South East Asia and even better value at the end of a long day lugging all that round!

timelightbox:

Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME

“Instagram has encouraged professionals to participate by promoting “Suggested Users” and popular imagery on the mobile application. But the new terms of service announced Monday do just the opposite. Photographers and publications will have to consider the value of images posted, as they will be giving them away for unrestricted use to one of the largest companies in the world. The terms of service also grant Facebook the right to use contributors names and likeness for advertising.

I will have to dramatically reduce my posts on Instagram under the new terms of service. In the end, I may just close my account.”

—Brooks Kraft

UNFILTERED: Photographers react to Instagram’s new terms of service.

Kensal Green Cemetery

A day with west London’s permanent residents

Apparently a taphophile is someone who likes visiting cemeteries. I wouldn’t go as far as saying I’m a fully fledged taphophile but I do like visiting the occasional graveyard. Is that weird? I dunno. But they are places filled with so much history, places where the rich and poor eventually spend their eternities together. Photographically they are amazing places where you can wander around and capture the homages left to the forgotten, remembered, famous and infamous. Anyway we had a fantastic day out and went on a fascinating tour run by the Friends of Kensal Green Cemetery who offer really interesting and worthwhile guided tours. 

dprblog:

Check out this creative photo series by Photographer Patrice LaRoche from Quebec

Love this series of photos, really clever concept shoot!

Steve McCurry Masterclass

Hosted by The Guardian

What would you do on a Saturday night? Instead of a night of X-Factor and Strictly I attended a talk by Legendary photographer, and I mean legendary, Steve McCurry.

If you don’t know who he is you’ll know his photo: Afghan Girl. One of the most famous photographs of all time, and an image that helped introduced Afghanistan to the world.

At 3 hours long it seemed short as he went through a selection of his most iconic images

Although primarily a war photographer, his work lends itself very much to travel and his stunning images capture some of the least welcoming parts of the world beautifully. If you don’t know his work check out: his website

I’m off travelling soon, and this is the kind of inspiration I need. If I took anything away from his work, it’s that he always includes a human element - as a viewer it draws us into the image and helps develop a strong psychological or emotional bond.

Photoshopping

Adventures with a camera in Westfield

Had a fantastic day with Amateur Photographer’s editor Damien Demoulder learning all about street photography, whilst catching candids of Westfield’s unsuspecting shoppers.