street photography in vietnam

Vibrant Street Photography Opportunities: Saigon vs Hanoi

What’s your best way to photograph the true spirit of Vietnam? Among Southeast Asian destinations Vietnam stands out as an exceptional location for street photography. The bustling markets and historic architecture combined with vibrant cultural elements create perfect conditions for photographers. Photographers planning their trip face one essential question.

Should you go to Hanoi or Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)?

These cities give completely different photo experiences. Each city bursts with energy and authentic life experiences which reveal their distinctive stories through your photography. This article reveals the unique elements of each city that create special street photography opportunities through lighting and cultural influences on your images.

SNAP A PHOTO!
scuba diving in indonesia

SCUBA Diving in Indonesia

I recently returned from SCUBA diving in Indonesia on the Mermaid II liveaboard.  The 7-day itinerary was Bali-Komodo-Bali, and we dove six of those days, with the rest being transit.

The Mermaid II spends most of its time in Bali, Komodo, and Raja Ampat with a few weeks in Lembeh, Alor, and the Banda Sea.  The SCUBA diving in these areas is superb! The marine life and biodiversity are like none other.  Mantas swoop overhead while rare nudibranchs, frogfish, pipefish, and pygmy seahorses hide in the colorful corals.

DIVE IN!
Komodo dragon

Komodo Island’s Komodo Dragons

After three days in Singapore and three days in Bali, we finally boarded our dive boat to explore the waters of Indonesia on the way to Komodo Island and back.  I’m embarrassed to admit that on our 7 day dive-centric trip, I was most excited about potentially seeing a Komodo dragon!  That statement probably sounds like blasphemy to my fellow SCUBA divers, but I had never seen one of these endangered creatures.

The Komodo dragon, the largest lizard in the world, may only be found in the wild in Komodo National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  The park is comprised of three large islands in Indonesia’s Lesser Sundra Archipelago: Komodo, Padar, and Rinca, as well as many smaller ones. 

GO KOMODO!
Ubud

Ubud: Bali’s Cultural Center

If you are picturing relaxing, sandy beaches for your next island vacation, Ubud is not it!  Instead, Ubud is the cultural center of Bali with mopeds zipping in every direction.  If you are interested in arts, markets, cafes, temples, and a few scattered rice fields and waterfalls, then you have come to the right place while visiting Bali.

EXPLORE!

Singapore: Three Day Itinerary

Singapore is an island and city state in Maritime Southeast Asia. Ruled by England, Japan, and Malaysia before becoming an independent country in 1965, Singapore features a diverse culture.  It boasts a population of nearly 6,000,000, with 43% being foreign born.

EXPLORE!
horse culture in mongolia

How to Capture Culture in Photographs

If you ask me what my favorite genre of photography is, I don’t even have to think about the answer. Adventure photography is one of the most exciting and connective ways to capture the world. It broadens both global and personal horizons, brings unlikely people together, and creates the opportunity for extraordinary memories and experiences to emerge.

But I can tell you, there’s so much more to adventure and travel photography than catching a flight and snapping some pictures. It’s a specialty that requires strong intuition, deference, trust, and respect for the people and cultures that you encounter along the way.

It’s extremely important to remain aware of a country’s traditions, practices, and forms of communication to truly capture its essence in an authentic and appropriate way.

Without a sensitive and respectful approach to cultural and travel photography, your cultural appreciation can turn into cultural appropriation – an outcome that won’t serve you or the beautiful people and places you capture throughout your travels.

So, next time you plan a travel photography adventure, keep my tips in your back pocket to ensure you take more memorable, authentic, and culturally appreciative photos.

POINT AND CLICK!

Travel Photo Challenge Day 2

I’ve been nominated by some fellow bloggers, Tony and Margie with Back Roads and Other Stories as well as Jyothi with Travel Explore Enjoy, to post one favorite travel picture a day for ten days without explanation, then to nominate someone else to participate.  That’s 10 days, 10 travel pictures, and 10 nominations.  It is my understanding that the idea behind the challenge is to expose audiences to new bloggers and vice versa.  I’m always up for helping fellow bloggers, so I have accepted the challenge. 

That said, my rule following self is going to follow Tony and Margie’s lead and break a handful of them.  First, while a picture paints a 1,000 words, I’m incapable of posting a photo without some explanation.  Sometimes the story makes the image that much more special.  Second, though not specified, I think the intent is to post 10 days in a row.  I’ll be lucky if I post 10 weeks in a row.  Finally, I sometimes might post a series of photos.

Mongolia

I’m finally getting to Travel Photo Challenge Day 2.  Today I’m including a series of photos taken in Mongolia, a trip I would have never taken if it weren’t for my friend Page who invited me.  I almost still didn’t go because I already had many trips planned for the year and the best time to visit Mongolia is during Naadam in July when I stay home to hike in Colorado.  After all, I suffer through the winter in order to enjoy the summer and fall in CO.

TAKE THE CHALLENGE!
Annie at Estabrook

Postcard Apps for Writing Notes from Afar

Given most of the world is in lockdown due to COVID, this is probably not the best time to write an article about postcard apps that let you mail a note with your own photo from all over the world.  At the same time, they may still be used to cheer someone up during this difficult time and for the holiday season.

When I began traveling internationally for extensive trips, I wanted an easy way to say “hello” to my friends and family back home without having to hunt for a postcard, find a post office, and get the appropriate postage.

SAY HELLO!
view of boats through Trojan Horse in Canakkale

Canakkale, Turkey

During my two-week tour around Turkey with G-Adventures, our final night’s stay was in Canakkale.  Canakkale is a seaport on the southern coast of the Dardanelles with a population of nearly 200,000.  It is a good base for those wishing to visit Troy and Gallipoli.

GO VISIT!