My big travel blog project
One project more than any other has kept me occupied a lot recently. I’ve been busy launching a new website that makes the most of my travel writing skills as well as helping others to contribute to a rapidly expanding community blog site. Some of the archive is from my original travel blog website but it’s been massively expanded to include guest bloggers and interviews with “global nomads”.
The website is called Travel With a Mate and thanks to the hard work of our guest bloggers we’re launching new posts every day and seeing rapid growth in traffic and new opportunities to improve our services. It’s an exciting project with a lot of setup happening right now.
I’m also looking to work with more travel photographers as we’ll be launching weekly photoblogs from around the world. If you’d like to showcase your work with links back to your site, twitter account, etc then do contact us.
It’s an exciting project that’s given me so many great responses already and I’ve only just begun!
Check out www.travelwithamate.com
Read this blogPhotoshoot with Irina Sotnikova
I recently had the pleasure of working with the very beautiful and friendly Irina Sotnikova. A former Russian model who recently rediscovered modeling in Sydney. Now a competition winning plus size model here in Australia, it’s plain to see she’s the perfect muse for any portrait photographer.
Ready for my closeup – Matt Preston
Curves and Waves – Matt Preston
High Key Beauty – Matt Preston
Natural Beauty – Matt Preston
Utilizing some of the nearby “natural beauty” locations. The bright (and hot!) sunshine causes all sorts of shadow defeating challenges but don’t let that put you off grabbing your camera and shooting at mid-day. It’s a challenge you can overcome and even use to your advantage.
Hot Rocks – Matt Preston
Me And My Jacket – Matt Preston
Sandy Sensation – Matt Preston
Pick Your Direction – Matt Preston
At Street Level – Matt Preston
It was a great day and I’m very pleased with the results. Irina is a natural who knows how to not only work the camera but work with the photographer. It makes direction so much easier when your model instantly grasps what you want to achieve and even adds her own creative ideas.
A big thank you to Irina Sotnikova and also to my wife for assisting!
Check out the rest of the photoshoot on flickr
As always your comments, critiques and feedback are very welcome.
Cleo and Kristy photoshoot
I had the pleasure of working with two very flexible models recently who had a very refreshing and clear idea of some of the shots they wanted to try. It’s always great to work with people with vision and makes for an interesting shoot.
Blown Away – Matt Preston
Far Flung – Matt Preston
It was great to finally do a real Aussie beach photoshoot too! The weather was, as you can see, pretty damn sunny! The occasional cloud would have been nice as there’s a fair few strong shadows but picking the right angles, fill in flash and occasionally using the shadows to add depth and texture means there’s never a bad time to do an on location photoshoot.
Lean – Matt Preston
On the Beach – Matt Preston
Eye On You – Matt Preston
Eyes – Matt Preston
Crawling – Matt Preston
It was also interesting doing part of the photoshoot in a cemetary. While i’ve taken photos in such a location before I’ve never worked with models there and I’ve certainly never attempted the kind of shots we did. I’m really pleased with them and as ever it was new and challenging locations. I really enjoy on-location model shoots. They’re a great experience, a great challenge and produce some compelling results.
A huge thank you to Cleo and Kristy for their hard work!
Check out the rest below and be sure to leave a comment or two on my Flickr Photostream.
As ever your blog comments and tweets are most welcome.
Photo walk in Sydney
Within 2 days of being in Australia I got stuck right in and got out on the streets with some local photographers. It was a great opportunity to meet local people and feel much more a part of Sydney life than living in a hostel can offer you!
The photowalk took place in Newtown and the theme was portraits. Using each other as models i’m pretty pleased with there results.
Just around the corner – Matt Preston
This is one of my favorite shots. I’m a sucker for asymmetric lines and strong textures.
Time Out – Matt Preston
Life Through His Lens – Matt Preston
Grin – Matt Preston
Drained – Matt Preston
It was a fun shoot that produced some interesting results. It also gave me a chance to compare notes on travel, find out more about the city of Sydney and it’s suburbs and also have a pint or two with some great people.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
We had very little time in Kuala Lumpur and most of what we did were in places I couldn’t take my camera. Never the less we had a great time in KL and the few photos I did take I’m quite pleased with.
Everyone takes photos of the Petronas towers, once the world’s tallest Skyscrapers. Unless you have access to other skyscrapers around the twin towers it’s almost impossible to get a great shot of them without something annoying in the way.
I love the rings of steel and glass that wrap around the unusually shaped towers so I decided a more abstract approach to photographing them was in order.
Skyscraper Symmetry – Matt Preston
Industrial Abstract – Matt Preston
Christmas in KL – Matt Preston
I also spotted this feast of decorations at a hotel lobby. I love the Bokeh thanks to my 50mm 1.8.
Cameron Highlands, Malaysia
The Cameron Highlands of Malaysia are absolutely stunning. Everything is photogenic here from the rolling hills of the tea plantations, to the Orang Asli villages dotted around the rain forest. Once again a chance to do some decent trekking and meet local people.
Through a Child’s Eyes – Matt Preston
Protective Sister – Matt Preston
Village Sports – Matt Preston
Happy – Matt Preston
Children are always the first to appear when tourists come to their village. They play outside most of the day anyway but they’re easily the most curious of the villagers and usual greet you with an inquisitive look that is great to photograph. If you can get them to smile and laugh you’ve really made a connection. My only regret is not being able to spend longer at the villages as I loved spending time with the people there. A life so removed from my own western lifestyle.
Anyone for Tea? – Matt Preston
The tea plantations shimmer in the sunshine. they seem to go on forever. A perfectly pruned hedgerow as far as the eye can see.
Mossy Forest Wonderland – Matt Preston
Pitcher Plant – Matt Preston
The Mossy Forest, while i expected it to be quite mossy, is VERY mossy! High up on the slopes of the mountains, thousands of gallons of water pass through the thick trees as clouds slide up and over the peak. Due drops hang on everything helping the moss to grow everywhere. The ground is a soft cushion of leaves. It’s eerily quiet and utterly beautiful. Like a scene from Lord of The Rings.
Check out the rest of the photos from the Cameron Highlands in Malaysia
As ever your comments and tweets are very welcome.
Penang, Malaysia
Our first stop in Malaysia was a real surprise. Having come from the party island of Phuket in Thailand it was nice to be somewhere a bit more relaxed. Georgetown on Penang Island in the North West of Malaysia is a very colonial city with some of the best food we’ve ever eaten!
Turn Left at the Monks – Matt Preston
Big Incense – Matt Preston
The new 9 storey tall Pagoda over the Kuan Yin statue is very impressive and we were lucky to be there on the day it was opened to the public. It’s refreshing to see new architecture which such artistic work when the world seems obsessed with steel and glass buildings.
Kuan Yin Pagoda – Matt Preston
A fishing village not too far from Georgetown was a great place to meet some fishermen and watch them unload their catch. It was hard to get a decent vantage point as most boats are covered in ropes which I found quite annoying when trying to compose. Never
It’s Down There Somewhere – Matt Preston
Barrel of Fish – Matt Preston
We also visited a nearby Butterfly Sanctuary which is always a delight for any photographer. It was a shame I didn’t have my macro lens with me as so real close ups would have been fun.
Taking a Breather – Matt Preston
Catching Some Rays – Mat Preston
Clock Tower – Matt Preston
We really enjoyed Penang. The people of Malaysia are so friendly, the food was divine and the cheap bus service made getting around very easy. I’d definitely recommend it on any itinerary in Malaysia.
Check out the rest of the Penang photos below
As always your thoughts, comments and critiques are very welcome.
Read this blogKoh Lanta, Thailand
Our time in Koh Lanta, one of the biggest islands on the west coast of Thailand, was a relaxing one. After discovering the wonderfully secluded “Sunflower Spa & Bungalow” hotel we settled in to what really did feel like “home” and enjoyed the wonderful service of our host, Norman.
Hidden Gems – Matt Preston
Sunset Palms – Matt Preston
Of course doing very little and relaxing does mean I don’t have a great deal of photos to show you. But what I do have is some great shots of the Bungalows we stayed in. They’re gorgeous, very homely. In fact so much so it’s the first time since leaving home we actually felt “at home”.
Koh Lanta Bungalows – Matt Preston
Secluded Homes – Matt Preston
Relax bay is just a short walk away and very photogenic. A few relative laid back bars, gorgeous water to swim in and a few long tail boats available for a tour out of the bay.
Relax Bay – Matt Preston
If you’re ever on Koh Lanta in Thailand I’d highly recommend seeking out Norman’s ‘Andaman Sunflower Bungalow and Spa‘ hotel. There is no better place to relax and feel welcomed.
Check out www.andaman-sunflower.com
