Posts Tagged ‘photos’
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.
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.
Koh 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
Koh Phi Phi, Thailand
We had 9 days in Phi Phi which as it turned out was just the right amount! Some days were lost due to hangovers from partying until the early hours the night before. Other days were lost due to 24 sickness bugs. On the whole though our time in Phi Phi was great.
The Hour Glass Island – Matt Preston
Bored of Tourists – Matt Preston
The stunning scenery and busy night life are what draw people to the island. It’s very compact streets, market stalls and bars give the island a real buzzing atmosphere all day and night. The best place to be at night is on the beach where most bars have fire shows. They are a good test of your photographic skills with live action and night time shooting.
The Beach of Fire – Matt Preston
Fire Reflections – Matt Preston
Dancing by Fire Light – Matt Preston
Snorkelling is a must around this area of the world. There’s very little need to dive in the shallow coral waters around some of the islands close by.
Kayaking Adventure – Matt Preston
Check out the rest of my Koh Phi Phi photos below.
Bangkok, Thailand
With only 1 full day in Bangkok after some itinerary rearrangements we had little time to acclimatise to the hustle and bustle of a major city. Bangkok certainly does take some adjusting after the relative calm of Chiang Mai.
Wat Pho, the famous temples in the heart of Bangkok are of course a must for all tourists. The glittering rooftops and countless golden Buddha statues are stunning.
Making the Effort – Matt Preston
Wat Pho, Thailand
Sitting and Laughing – Matt Preston
Shoes Off to Pray – Matt Preston
Jim Thompson, an American business man who moved to Bangkok in 1945 and is hailed as the man who revived the silk industry in Thailand. He also created a collection of imaculately preserved thai houses from all over Thailand as well as a vast array of artifacts from South East Asia. His house and possesions are now looked after by a preservation fund. Well worth a visit if you’re in Bangkok.
JT’s House – Matt Preston
Trinkets – Matt Preston
Our visit to Bangkok was brief but fun. It’s crazy levels of traffic and heat made us head for the hills and on to Kanchanaburi.
Check out the full set below
As ever your comments, tweets and feedback are welcome.
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Chiang Mai gave us two very different experiences. The urban city feel gave us all the amenities we could ever need. The Loi Krathong festival also known as the Water Festival was an amazing experience with lots of great photo opportunities. But for me the trekking was the most rewarding. Meeting villagers in rural areas an hour north of Chiang Mai gave me a chance to take the sort of photos that are fast becoming my favorite.
Shy – Matt Preston
Happy Pigslets – Matt Preston
Biker Girl – Matt Preston
Watch Out – Matt Preston
Jungle Trekking – Matt Preston
The Loi Krathong festival was a challenge to shoot. The low light conditions and undirected nature of everything happening around you gave me a chance to push my skills.
Getting ready – Matt Preston
Letting Go – Matt Preston
Up Up and Away – Matt Preston
Friendship By Candlelight – Matt Preston
Another wonderful experience in Chiang Mai was meeting Tigers at Tiger Kingdom. A chance to spend a good half an hour in their enclosure, sat next to them as they snooze, occasionally get up and have a look around and even play with the guards when provoked a little. We were assured they’re well looked after, not drugged and just very used to human contact.
Having a snooze – Matt Preston
Cat’s Eyes – Matt Preston
Some varied photography genres, all of which I’m very pleased with. I would recommend a visit to Chiang Mai as it has a lot to offer. Check out the travel blogs at www.travelwithmyfriend.com for more info.
As ever your comments and tweets are very welcome.
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Without doubt Angkor Wat is one of the most beautiful human feats of engineering ever constructed. Built over a 300 year period and lost from sight for over 700 years, the temples of Angkor Wat in Cambodia are now one of the world’s most marveled buildings and rightly so.
Waking up for sunrise, as you can see, was definitely worth it! There was a surprisingly small amount of editing needed to help the colours pop in this photo. One of my favourite from the set for sure.
Beautiful Ruins – Matt Preston
Bhudda Faces – Matt Preston
Ancient Landscape – Matt Preston
Elephant Kingdom – Matt Preston
Path to Enlightenment – Matt Preston
There are so many amazing temples to visit and beautiful ruins in the Angkor area that it’s hard to limit the number of photos to take, edit and share. I’ve got an abnormally high number in this set, for me at least. I’m very pleased with them considering I’m starting to favor more human interest work. Let me know what you think.
Check out the full set below on Flickr.
As always your comments and tweets are welcome. Be sure to get in touch!
Battambang, Cambodia
Our 2 full days in Battambang were a surprising treat. The city itself doesn’t offer much for tourists which keeps most of them away. Those that do venture this far get the chance to tour local villages with moto guides.
Rice Paper Expert – Matt Preston
Fish Sauce Factory – Matt Preston
Chop Chop – Matt Preston
Most people in the villages either make rice paper, sticky rice bamboo or many work at the fish sauce factory which as you can see is a pretty messy job. It was amazing to see the way people live and the conditions they work in.
The Bamboo Train – Matt Preston
The Bamboo Train is quite simply a bamboo platform resting on two home made axles with a lawn mower engine attached. It goes surprisingly fast and helps locals make use of the very overgrown railway line that the french built during the colonial days.
Village Barber Shop – Matt Preston
There’s a surprising number of barbers in Camnbodia. All of which are on the streets. This one in a village is no different and our guide grabbed a quick haircut while we were on the bamboo train. I caught him before he finished and got this great shot. I love the mirror reflection is onlookers.
We also visited a very spooky Pepsi factory that closed in 1975. It’s machinery has long since been removed but there are stacks of Pepsi Cola bottles piled up in the cob web infested warehouse still brandished with their 70’s Pepsi logo.
Leaky Roof – Matt Preston
Long Forgotten – Matt Preston
We had the chance to meet some monks at a village temple. It was great to chat in what little English they spoke. They were happy to tell us about their routine, school and knowledge of the outside world.
Curious Onlookers – Matt Preston
Treking up a mountain to visit temples and admire the view was well worth it. Some great sites and when we got back to the bottle we met some children playing in a local (rather muddy) stream. They delighted in launching themselves into the water for our amusement.
Waiting for Inspiration – Matt Preston
A Monk’s eye view – Matt Preston
Before – Matt Preston
The Moment – Matt Preston
I’m really pleased with our 2 days exploring the villages around Battambang, Cambodia. To really see some of countryside and meet some real people without being hassled to buy overpriced tourist crap was fantastic.
Check out the rest of my Battambang photos below.
As ever your comments are very welcome and feel free to share this blog with friends.
Mekong Delta, Veitnam
The Mekong Delta is known locally as the 9 Dragon River as it has 9 tributaries leading in to the sea. Apart from being a beautiful place filled with small islands, canals and massive mouths where tributaries join, it’s also home to hundreds of thousands of very busy people all chugging up and down the rivers.
Working on the banks of the Mekong – Matt Preston
Give us a hand luv! – Matt Preston
Not only are the rivers filled with elderly boats massively over loaded with cargo, the embankments are full of people hurrying from one place to another as each day is filled with work to be done.As a westerner the sights you see are not only photogenic but sometimes boggle the mind. It just goes to show what a world without so many ludicrous health and safety rules would look like. And I kinda like it.
Hard Work – Matt Preston
Floating Hand – Matt Preston
Fast Boat To Saigon – Matt Preston
The much smaller canals that link islands and villages together along the Mekong Delta are filled with characters usually in their tiny boats where man-power (or more often than not, woman power) are the best method of propulsion. The movement of both ourselves and those that float past was something I wanted to capture. Motion blur is a very captivating effect. While not technically perfect by any means the effect and the content portray a strong and vibrant message that makes for a fun and entertaining image such as the one above. The smiling toothless man in the shot really adds to it too!
Born to Smile – Matt Preston
Wandering around the villages you meet so many friendly and curious people. None more so than the children who, whilst used to seeing tourist now, are also the most curious. The child above delighted in our company and even followed us for a while. Asian children are so photogenic and I adore the lighting of this image. While it would have been nice to capture her hands sometimes you just need to grasp the moment and make the most of it.
Lifting the lid – Matt Preston
Rice paper is big business on the Mekong. Producing thousands of sheets a day these people are one woman production lines. I love capturing action and especially heat and steam in shots. You get such a strong feeling from it, you can almost feel the heat rising as she lifts the lid.
You can check out the rest of my Mekong Delta Photos below.
Please feel free to leave a comment and to tweet about this blog if you like it.