Monday, June 30, 2008
I know. I haven't been ranting for a while, and some of my readers tell me they miss my acerbic diatribes. I haven't mellowed at all, it's just that I didn't have much to rant (at least of relevance to this blog) about...however, before I lose my so-called acerbic trademark, here's my position about what gets on my blog and what doesn't.
By the way, at the Foundry Photojournalism Workshop in Mexico City which had over 160 attendees, I was taken aback by the surprisingly large number of photographer/photojournalists (famous and emerging) who knew of The Travel Photographer blog and of my photography. This proves to me two major facts: the power of blogging and the power of branding about this earlier on TTP (I've posted about this earlier on TTP here).
But I digress. Here are the general terms of acceptance that cover what kind of photographic work is, and will be, posted on The Travel Photographer. Firstly, this blog is ad-free, and as I'm not beholden to anyone (corporate or individual), I only post what I like. This is also known as editorial privilege...and it's what counts. There are thousands of blogs dealing with photography and some are much better than mine, so photographers can pick and choose.
My preferences are too many to list, but photo essays/stories, in multimedia or stills, appeal to me a great deal. Work by emerging photographers are always welcome, provided it deals with travel (non stock stuff) and editorial. Particularly interesting is photography that can be described as ethnographic, and deals with religious or secular rituals, tribal cultures, among others. I have a hard time with websites that have dinky photographs, but if the subject matter is really interesting, you're in. If you're a photographer with a travel portfolio better destined to the pages of Travel & Leisure magazine, you don't need this blog.
In terms of geographic preferences, while my own photography is biased towards Asian and South Asian cultures, it doesn't mean that this is true for what gets on my blog. I'm not that interested in what is generally defined as "Western" photo projects...so projects of European and/or North American provenance don't really excite me that much. On the other hand, photographic work by emerging photographers from South Asia, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and South America are especially welcome....but please, have functioning websites.
If you want to know what photography work turns me on, drop by my website or if you have the time, explore this blog. You'll know.
Monday, June 30, 2008 0
Barbados was named the World's number 1 hotspot for celebrities in 2007 and received the Caribbean's first, and only, Zagat rating in 2008; a recognition for superior hospitality. A 'Best of' guide was released this year, highlighting Barbados' most worthy attractions and serving as a manual to allow visitors the chance to wring a pure, satisfying experience from their next vacation.
If there is a predominant theme to the guide and, in turn, the island, it is the high level of diversity saturating the tiny (166 sq. miles) Caribbean island. New attractions breed a unique flavor throughout Barbados, while older and established testaments to its history are renovated and find new life in the flattering sentences of Zagat's guide. With so much to see and do, it would be virtually impossible to tackle its every recommendation. Below, in chocolate-sampler form, is an eclectic taste of the island.
The Lexy Piano Bar claims to be "sufystikated, elegantly-casual and air-conditioned". Cheesy pun aside, the new night spot boasts a swank slice of New York and provides a half show, half party, atmosphere that lasts until 2 in the morning. According to the Zagat guide, "Locals and visitors make requests and join in… mixed drinks, wine and champagne ensure that all inhibitions are banished."
To indulge on the island's famous flying fish and rum punch, visitors must make a stop at the newly renovated Oistins Fish Fry on Friday and Saturday evenings. The event is a popular forum to mix with the Barbados locals, eat rich seafood, and hear great music.
Hands-on dining presides over the Elbow Room, instituting a do-it-yourself experience where you "choose from a number of pre-seasoned meats—beef, chicken and fish—and then grill it yourself on hot lava stone.
The Arlington House Museum recently underwent an elaborate renovation. Reopening under a month ago, the 3-story building has become an interactive tribute to Barbados' history and culture. The ground floor, 'Speightstown Memories', gives insight to the early life of the island's township. The story of the island's colonization and sugar cane industry is found at 'Plantation Memories', on the second floor. And a talking pirate guides the third floor's 'Wharf Memories' exhibit, a tribute to Speightstown's former trades glory.
Barbados' most popular visitor attraction, Harrison's Cave, is once again open after a year's renovation. The newly improved cavern, a haven for crystallized limestone and stalactite and stalagmite formations, features six new wheelchair-accessible trams as well as a new ventilation, drainage, electrical, and lighting system. Other facilities have been added to the site, including interactive displays, a souvenir shop, and a snack bar.
The Zagat guide especially highlights Barbados' rich culture, namely cuisine, and natural attractions in colorful descriptions that leap from the page, tempting you to book that next departing flight. By receiving the Zagat approval, the future visitor can feel confident of their vacation to the island, knowing that there are no embellishments to the guide—that every vibrant adjective is authentic.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
It's not too late to spend your summer vacation in the Caymans Islands! Don't let high air prices scare you away because if you book and travel between now and October 15, 2008, you will receive up to $400 in Air Credit upon check-out from your hotel! The air credit is not the only incentive the Cayman Islands are offering to lure vacationers. Check some of the other promos I found: (**restrictions apply!)
- Free Trip to Stingray City
- Kids eat free
- Kids fly 25% off on Cayman Airways
- Pay with your AMEX and receive a $100 AMEX Gift Check
- 5th Night Free at Participating Hotels
- 2 for 1 Coupon Books
- 10-25% off Dive Packages
Bring your kids to the Caymans before August 29, 2008 and let them enjoy meeting Diego from Dora the Explorer at the Cayman Islands Sea School sponsored by Nickelodeon.
Still not convinced? Watch this video brochure and contact us today for great vacation packages to the Cayman Islands!
Sunday, June 29, 2008 0
Here's a multimedia photo essay I produced about the migrants from Central America and beyond, who pass through Mexico City by hitching rides on freight trains. Their ultimate destinations are the southern states of the United States, where they hope to find jobs.
Similar to the hobos of the past in our own country, the migrants have support from generous people along the way. The last frames of the slideshow are of famished migrants given hot tamales by an impoverished household in the La Lecheria neighborhood of Mexico City. I spoke with them in my less-than-fluent Spanish, and it's impossible not to be compassionate with human beings trying their best to improve their lives by any means.
A number of participants in my class at the Foundry Photojournalism Workshop produced similar photo essays.
Los Migrantes by Tewfic El-Sawy
Idaho has been listed as one of the most affordable travel destinations. Triple A Idaho's 2008 edition of Annual Vacation Costs survey, Idaho is the 16th least expensive states to visit. Triple A Idaho's Dave Carlson calls Idaho a "cheap date", with travelers factoring in record gas prices and oustanding outdoor recreational opportunities and scenic attributs. Idaho is a "decent" travel destination right in our backyard. The survey says two adults can expect to pay just under 200 dollars a day for lodging and meals in Idaho.
source:http://www.670kboi.com/Article.asp?id=762237&spid=18042
Shangri-La of legend, novel and classic film is a real place, the Kathmandu Valley in the Himalayan kingdom of Nepal. This tiny country next to Tibet is home to Mount Everest and much more. From arts and handicrafts tours to trekking and mountaineering, the Himalayan kingdom has something for every traveler.
All Nepal adventures start with the flight into Tribhuvan airport in Kathmandu. Spectacular mountain views give way to green, terraced hillsides and small villages of thatched homes as the plane makes it's rapid descent. Immigration and customs clearance are easy for tourists; visas are issued automatically on arrival for $30.
Expeditions and tours start from Kathmandu, so you'll need a base and a chance to recover from the long flight. The Yak and Yeti hotel, next to the Royal Palace, is close to shopping and the old city. If the Yak and Yeti's $200 rates leave you wooly-headed, there are many options, from $2 per night guest houses to comfortable hotels for less than $100. Even if you don't stay at the Yak and Yeti, stop for an exotic drink in their lovely garden or a roll of the dice at the Casino Royale. The Raj lives on too at high tea every afternoon in the lobby.
Walk into the old city of Kathmandu along a street that was the ancient trade route from India to Tibet. The city grew up around traders' stalls lining that route, and the market is still in full swing. Fruit, flowers, spices, medicines, metal wares, silk and pashmina, incense, jewelry and more - the 2,000 year old bazaar churns with activity.
The bazaar opens into a complex of palace buildings, enormous temples, and interconnected open plazas. The old Palace Square rivals the best Venice can offer for elegance of design, baroque complexity, and majesty. But here the materials are simple brick and plaster, with elaborately carved wood. Every exposed wooden surface is carved with animals both mythical and real, flowers, religious symbols and gods and goddesses.
The house of the Kumari, Nepal's virgin goddess, faces the palace. A small girl is chosen by elaborate rituals, and Nepalis believe the king's personal goddess enters into the girl. From then until she reaches puberty she is treated as a deity. Each fall she confers on the king the right to rule for another year. In 1955 the then-Kumari dozed off during the ceremony, then blessed the crown prince by mistake when she awoke. Later that year the king died and the crown prince ascended to the throne.
North of the Palace Square, 15 minutes walk or a one-dollar rickshaw ride away, is Thamel, the trekkers and tourist neighborhood. Thamel resembles Harvard Square or The Haight, but on a dizzyingly vast scale. There are literally thousands of small shops selling handicrafts, clothing, expedition gear, music and much more. Mixed among the shops are hundreds of restaurants catering to every taste from Korean to Kosher, and scores of budget hotels and guesthouses. Darbar Marg, two blocks west is Kathmandu's High Street, a neighborhood of expensive, classy shops and hotels, including the Yak and Yeti.
In medieval times there were three great cities in the Kathmandu Valley. One of them, Bhaktapur, was mercifully spared from being "developed". It is a few miles from Kathmandu, but centuries away. Bhaktapur moves to the same rhythm it has for a thousand years. The craftsmen and farmers you will meet are doing as their families have for dozens of generations. In Bhaktapur the festivals and traditions are so old that people say the gods created them.
Pashupatinath temple complex is the holy-of-holies to Nepal's Hindus, and the destination for many Indian pilgrims. The dead are cremated here, and their ashes are cast into the holy river. Here too pilgrims cleanse their sins by bathing in the same river. The central shrine, off-limits to those who are not Hindu, has a spectacular temple with a giant golden bull kneeling in worship. The riverbanks and surrounding hills are littered with sculptures rivaling any museum's Asian art gallery.
Most visitors head out of Kathmandu for other adventures. Jungle safaris from two to four days feature elephant-back expeditions to watch wildlife, and jungle walks with naturalists. Accommodations are rustic but pleasant, with attached baths, all meals and a well-stocked bar. Older children are welcome for all activities, and one lodge has a separate facility for families with younger children, with a pool, ponies, and special activities.
Nepal is the most vertical country in the world, and the whitewater rafting is superb. There are one and two day trips and longer expeditions. Rafting companies provide all equipment and training, and professional guides. You can combine a short rafting trip with mountain biking, a bungy jump, or the new sport of canyonning, a combination of rock climbing and tubing through river gorges and pools.
Today even an armchair lover of the mountains can see them up close. Every morning the Mountain Flight takes people up for an hour of Mount Everest and the entire central Himalaya from 17,000 feet. For many it is the highlight of their trip.
Trekkers visit Nepal's countryside, a timeless world where the rhythms of life and of walking bring peace. There are dozens of routes, and programs to fit anything from a couple of days to several weeks. Trekking agencies will arrange your trek in advance; most offer group programs, but the better outfitters can make individual arrangements, even for one or two people. Trekking costs vary from $40 per day to more than $100 per day.
For those brave few who climb mountains, the Himalayas are the ultimate. But even beginners can climb a "small" 20,000 foot peak here. The great mountains are a different matter. Even though purists now scoff at the "tourist trail" to the top of Everest, it is still difficult, dangerous and all too often deadly. But with eight of the ten highest mountains in Nepal - and hundreds of peaks taller than the Rockies - there is no shortage of alternatives.
Visitors to Nepal should make arrangements in advance with a good agency, either international or Nepali, and stay informed. The US Government Department of State has information sheets for all countries, and many Nepali newspapers are available on the internet.
Kathmandu's temperature is mild, 35-60 degrees in Winter, 60-85 degrees during the long Summer. Short-term visitors need to pack only the essentials and clothing appropriate to the season. Trekkers will need warmer clothing; it is always cold at high altitudes. All clothing and supplies are available in Kathmandu.
Nepal's culture, history and the world's greatest mountains are amazing and one of the best tourism values on the planet. And Nepal's warm, hospitable people truly make it Shangri-La, the timeless land of tranquility, wisdom, and peace.
source:http://newsblaze.com/story/20080623222855chil.nb/topstory.html
Tom Wool is a British photographer currently living in NYC. I'd describe his work as "ethnographic photography" since the work he presents on his website ONE is of 160 portraits made during his travels to Bolivia, Irian Jaya, Kenya, Morocco, PNG, Suriname, Tanzania, Tibet and Venezuela.
His biography tells us that he worked in a number of fashion publications in the 1980s, and this background served him extremely well in photographing his subjects. Tom traveled to Tibet to work on a project, and with the sale of his photographs, he raised enough funds to build a school in Tzombuk, where some of his portraits were made.
We've been spoilt by the ever-increasing web's bandwidth, and are now used to much larger images than what Tom Wool's are. Perhaps an updated website is in the planning?
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Amanda Koster is the force behind Salaam Garage Adventures, which connects travelers and enthusiasts with non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Travelers commit to creating and sharing unique, independent social media that raises awareness and causes positive change. The rest of the adventure is spent touring around the region, experiencing and exploring the culture and environment with an entirely new context.
I've written about Amanda and her work with Moroccan women in an earlier post on TTP, and she's an internationally recognized photographer whose mission to raise the general public's awareness by documenting some of the world’s more compelling issues.
Her biography speaks for itself, but I'd like to highlight that "she combines her anthropology background with photographic and media-making skills to create inspiring media content as a means for powerful communication, storytelling and learning."
I couldn't have described her work any better, but I would've certainly added that her work is immensely sensitive.
Saturday, June 28, 2008 0
Eric de Vries lives in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where he's been travelling since 2000. He's working on a long-term project titled 'Still Life in Khmer Style' that covers landscapes, temple scenes and Buddha statues. He has already produced several series, most of them in black and white, and published 3 books so far.
The new series Breaking The Clouds (Over Ayuthaya) was recently photographed during a trip to Thailand, while the One-Three-Six-series is a documentary about Street 136 in the heart of Phnom Penh.
Both series will be ready for publication during the second half of this year, but a preview of the two series can bee seen on Eric de Vries' website
Friday, June 27, 2008
My personal relationship with this property, goes way back. On one of my first trips to Jamaica, I toured this property with my host, the Jamaican Tourist Board. I was very impressed with the Sales & Marketing Director who gave the tour... in a twist of fate, 5 years later I married her brother! Speaking of weddings, I have booked several Rose Hall Resort Destination Weddings and all brides have been thrilled! Anyway, this hotel was formerly the Wyndham Rose Hall and became an independent property a few years ago. After changing ownership, the hotel has undergone a $35 million renovation and is all sparkly and new! $12 million of those funds were allotted to the new water park which is a smash hit with kids of all ages! I am booking this property on a weekly basis and ALL of my clients are coming home smiling. Here are some pics from Duncan Magee, a client who returned in May... Enjoy! (Thanks Duncan!)
The trend in Caribbean resorts is to create leisure pools with Miami-style cabanas catering to adults:
One of the many natural waterscapes:
Toddler-friendly, zero-entry into the water park pool:
Poolside cabanas at night... oh la la!
Friday, June 27, 2008 0
I've featured Brent Stirton's fabulous work on the Omo Valley a few months ago, and now bring him back with a Quicktime movie of the bull-jumping ceremony (click the small arrow above to start it).
The bull-jumping ceremony is an important ritual performed by some of the tribes of the Omo Valley region of southern Ethiopia, and is considered a sort of a rite of passage in a tribal man’s life. Bull jumping is a prerequisite for a man to take a wife and have children, and it involves him undergoing a number of rituals before leaping onto and running over the backs of cattle.
I witnessed the bull-jumping ceremony not far from Turmi, a village in the Omo Valley, and was taken aback (an understatement) by a preceding ritual involving the women of the Hamar tribe tribe being whipped by the men in their families.
Aditya Kapoor tells us in his biography that his two great passions are travel and photography, and that living in a heritage country such as India provided him a wealth of "diverse communities, architectural marvels, nature and different traditions waiting to be explored".
His photography has been published in various publications such as Tehelka magazine, Hindustan Times, Outlook, Indian Express, India Today and Mail Today, and he is actively involved with NGO’s such as Ithihaas, The National Association for the Blind, Tamana School and SECA.
Aditya's website has many galleries, and I chose his work on Goa to show here. I'm a fan of much larger photographs on photographers' websites, but unfortunately bandwidth realities have to be taken into account. I'm always glad to be able to show the work of emerging and promising photographers, and Aditya is one of them.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Raised in Canada, Lyle Owerko is a photographer, a film maker and, in my opinion, a first class ethnographer. His current projects seek to bridge ethnic borders by documenting cultural groups, such as the Samburu, for the improvement of the human condition.
According to Wikipedia, the Samburu are ethnically related to the Maasai. The name 'Samburu' is also of Maasai origin and is derived from the word 'Samburr' which is a leather bag used by the Samburu to carry a variety of things. The Samburu practice polygynous marriage, and a man may have multiple wives. A Samburu settlement is known as a nkang or manyatta. Each woman in the household has her own house, which she builds out of local materials, such as sticks, mud and cow dung.
From Lyle's website, you'll find that he was the photographer whose image of the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001 was published by the Time magazine on its cover, but it's his ethnographic work that caught my attention, and which brings him to The Travel Photographer blog.
Thursday, June 26, 2008 0
The sponsors of the World In Focus: The Ultimate Travel Photography Contest are the National Geographic Society, and Photo District News.
The categories are:
Travel Portraits
Outdoor Scenes
Sense of Place
Spontaneous Moments
Photo Essay
If you have any interest in participating in the contest, click here: World In Focus. however caveat emptor and read the rules and regulations very carefully before committing your entry fee and more importantly your photographs. Having the National Geographic and PDN as sponsors of the contest does not mean that one should blindly participate...and reading the rules beforehand is a must.
Interestingly, since the contest is open to both "amateur" and professional photographers (each in a different category), I learned that this how the contest defines a professional photographer:
" A professional photographer:
* Earns more than 50 percent of his or her income from photographic sales.
* Is a member of such professional photo organizations as the National Press Photographers Association.
* Publishes photographs in books, magazines, newspapers, or online regularly."
I accept the first two conditions, but what about the third...especially the bit about "publishes online regularly"? Does this mean that photographers who frequently post on Flickr (as an example) are considered professionals? That'll be news to them.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
I'm a real sucker for this kind of reportage, but read on! The New York Times featured a so-called multimedia piece titled The Sworn Virgins of Albania and an accompanying article, which tells us that in the isolated and conservative northern Albania, gender swapping was the norm for families that had a shortage of males...either due to natural causes or due to blood feuds that continued for generations. Consequently, some women took vows of lifelong virginity, and lived as men.
Much to my disappointment, the photo essay (erroneously described as multimedia) has no audio, and the measly 6 photographs cannot do justice in telling the life stories of these interesting women. I don't blame the photographer since I'm almost certain that he photographed to his heart's content...but the absence of accompanying audio interviews (and the small number of photographs) makes this slideshow nothing but a weak one-dimensional product. Why does The New York Times editors think that this qualifies as multimedia is beyond me.
I just returned from teaching a multimedia class at the Foundry Photojournalism Workshop in Mexico City, and the first thing I asked the photographers in my class to do was to capture ambient audio...and then photograph.
So here's the basic rule: slideshows with no ambient sound are not multimedia products....they are just slideshows. Slideshows with music "borrowed" from the web are not multimedia products...they are just slideshows with the photographer's iTunes songs/music playing in the background. Just imagine if the "Virgins of Albania" feature had ambient sound recorded where these women live, with snippets of their voices telling their life stories and experiences, textured by a narration by the photographer!!! It'd be a gem of a multimedia ethnographic-cultural reportage...that's what it would be. As it stands now, it's nothing but a waste of a good idea.
The accompanying article by Dan Bilefsky is here
Wednesday, June 25, 2008 0
Popular Photography magazine's website has published a useful comparison of AA batteries, shopping around for the best prices, by spending $200 that bought seven sets of rechargeable and seven sets of single-use batteries -- 84 batteries in total.
The results for the rechargeable batteries were somewhat ambiguous, but Pop Photo chose the Energizer 15 Minute Charger as the best buy, while the Energizer e2 Lithium batteries are the best buy for single-usage batteries. As you'll see from the comparative data, there are many ways to determine the results.
For the in depth comparison: Pop Photo Batteries' Test
Lately, the most frequent question I hear is "What resorts in the Caribbean are for Adults Only?" Below is my short list of faves and you can view more on my website! Picture is from one that always tops my list of recommendations, Couples Swept Away in Negril, Jamaica.
ALL Couples Resorts in Jamaica
ALL Sandals Resorts, Jamaica, Antigua, Bahamas, St. Lucia
Excellence Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Galley Bay in Antigua
Dian Bay in Antigua
Almond Beach Club & Spa in Barbados
La Source in Grenada
Grand Lido in Negril, Jamaica
The Caves in Negril, Jamaica
Jamaica Inn in Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Royal Plantation in Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Grand Lido Braco in Runaway Bay, Jamaica
Le Sport in St. Lucia
Rendezvous in St. Lucia
Palm Island Resort in the Grenadines
Check back for a list for Mexico's Playa del Carmen and Mayan Rivera!
Whilst attending the Foundry Photojournalism Workshop in Mexico City, I heard many positive things about the Ricoh Caplio GX-100, and that many of the photojournalists use it in situations that do not lend themselves to the large DSLRs.
So I was interested in today's announcement by Ricoh launching the GX200 digital compact camera. The new model is replacing the GX100 and inherits the old model's 24 to 72 mm (equiv.) lens, manual controls and a removable (optional) tilting electronic viewfinder. Its resolution has been increased to 12 megapixels, and the screen now measures 2.7 inches.
The GX200 will be available in the UK from the beginning of July, but no word as to when it'll be available in the US.
DPReview.com
Eric Lafforgue lives in Toulouse, France, and produces content for television, radio, the music industry and travel photography as a freelance photographer and multimedia producer.
His website is truly excellent, and enhances his photographic talents. If you like ethnography combined with pure travel photography, this is the website to visit and spend time exploring and savoring. Eric seems to have been everywhere; from Indonesia, to the Sudan...from Malaysia to Danakil.
I recommend you open his Flash website Eric Lafforgue...and wait until you see all of his wonderful images on its cover page. The images are of exotic faces...and you'll soon notice that the eyes on each face remain level on every image. Don't miss the main photograph on the cover page of an elderly Chinese woman standing in front of a textured wall!
Professionally produced, this website and Eric's photographs will most certainly reinvigorate those who love travel photography. Highly recommended!!!
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Rhodes is the only short haul destination in the top ten of the 2008 Traveller’s Choice Destinations Awards, winning the accolade for highlights ranging from the largest inhabited Medieval town in Europe, located in the island’s capital, to more rural attractions such as the Valley of the Butterflies. One of the tourist hotspots is Lindos, a beautiful town with a beach overlooked by an ancient castle.
The type of property available on the island is hugely varied, ranging from modern apartments in more touristy areas to traditional villas in the smaller villages and towns. Property in Lindos is among the more expensive on Rhodes, but rental returns are also likely to be higher here than in other areas.
However, when compared to other European countries, prices still seem low. According to the Buy Association a small newly-built apartment in the area can be found for under £70,000, while a two-bedroom detached villa on a small development of 20 houses will cost around £150,000 off-plan.
Meanwhile, a one-bedroom apartment on the island rents out for an average of £256 per week, making Rhodes the perfect place to buy a holiday home to let.
source:http://www.homesworldwide.co.uk/europe/greece/news/articles/rhodes_voted_top_destination_in_europe?news_id=0070234
Tuesday, June 24, 2008 0
Insight Guides in conjunction with the Independent are offering travel photographers the chance to win a commission to shoot one of its travel books. All the entrants have to do is offer three images on the theme of 'water'.
The first prize is a commission, worth £3,000, to photograph a travel destination for a future Insight Guide. Second and third prizes will be £1,000 and £500 worth of photographic equipment. The entrants must be normally resident in the UK, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands, and all entries must be received by Friday 12 September 2008.
As usual in these sort of competitions, caveat emptor and a careful read of the fine print is a must. For instance, here's a condition which anybody considering participating should take note of:
"All entries, however submitted, shall become the property of INM and will not be returned. By entering this competition entrants agree that should they win or be a runner-up they are deemed to have agreed to grant to INM a non-exclusive licence to publish the winning entries online and in print.".
So again, caveat emptor!!!
Insight Guides' Travel Photo Competition 2008
The Global Fund is a unique global public-private partnership dedicated to attracting and disbursing additional resources to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.
Here's a truly magnificent multimedia production for The Global Fund, and featuring work by Magnum Photos photographers such as Paolo Pellegrin, Alex Majoli, Larry Towell, Jim Goldberg, Gilles Peress, Jonas Bendiksen, Steve McCurry, and Eli Reed.
In Access to Life, these 8 Magnum photographers traveled to 9 countries, photographing people before and 4 months after they began antiretroviral treatment for AIDS.
This multimedia production must be one of the best I've seen, and ought to be studied by photographers wishing to learn about multimedia, and how to excel at producing them.
For the Maasai of Kenya, Femal Genital Mutilation (FGM) is considered a rite of passage. Although practiced in some Islamic countries, the tradition originated in Africa.
Particularly practiced amongst the poor pastoral Kenyan families, the marriage of a daughter brings in a significant enhancement of status, and an infusion of cash and livestock as dowry. In 2001, FGM became illegal in Kenya.
Marvi Lacar is a New York based photographer working with non-profit organizations, focusing on migrant and woman's health issues. She's been recognized by Communications Arts, PDN and American Photography, and has a long list of clients such as the New York Times, Time, Newsweek and many more.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Bill Swersey has recently joined the Asia Society and, as as a long-time photojournalist, is leading the revamp of the global non-profit's website. He plans to expand the use of photography on the website, which has already published several photo projects on Asia-related themes. Also in the works is PictureAsia, a section of the site dedicated to showcasing great photography about Asia.
Here's its first multimedia project The Fires Within: Sri Lanka at War by VII photojournalist Ron Haviv, that looks at the civilian toll of 25 years of civil war in Sri Lanka.
Also available is Photographing Conflict to Give a Voice, an interview with Ron Haviv
Coincidentally, Ron was at the Foundry Photojournalism Workshop in Mexico City last week, where he presented The Fires Within. An extremely powerful and poignant multimedia portrait of the 25 years of civil war in Sri Lanka.
Monday, June 23, 2008 0
Here's one of the many excellent multimedia photo essays presented at the Foundry Photojournalism Workshop (FPW). "Migrantes" is produced by Matt Wright-Steel, a photojournalist based in Texas who participated in FPW.
"Migrantes" was photographed in an area nicknamed El Lecheria of Mexico City, where migrants from Central America and beyond slip on freight trains heading north to the United States borders, hoping for a better life and opportunities. It's estimated that in recent years at least 4.5 million migrants made it through the border.
There is that old saying "you can tell a lot about a person by the shoes they wear." Whatever truth that may carry, and my best guess is not very much, it goes without saying that your vacation is a reflection of who you are. College kids travel in hoards to the beaches of Mexico in search of relaxed laws. Some of us, we flock to opposite poles of the world for different flavors of cultural experience. In Punta Cana, the variation between hotels offers a similar range of diversity, truly offering something for everybody.
Punta Cana's resorts span from the personalized,all-about-you services of smaller hotels to the overwhelming extravagance of the chains and boldnamers. What remains constant throughout most of the country and trend to most of the Dominican Republic's hospitality industry are the all-inclusive packages that fulfill almost every demand of a successful vacation. That covered, identifying a hotel that matches your personality, or your shoes, is the next step to finalizing your retreat.
For traveling families, TheStreet.com recommends nothing but the all-inclusives, as they tend to offer special family rates and activities to keep children to tweens occupied. The site suggests booking a reservation at larger reputable hotels.
"Sol Melia's Paradisus Punta Cana gets consistently good reviews." TheStreet.com said, "The sprawling but stylish property has four swimming pools, four tennis courts, a spa and health club, and on-call medical staff. For meals, there are eight a la carte and two buffet restaurants to choose from. Family activities include horseback riding, dance classes, snorkeling and scuba diving. The Family Concierge Suite starts at about $400 per day, including meals and activities. Kids are given t-shirts, floaters and walkie talkies to communicate with their parents."
Vacation planning with a golfing or fishing agenda should look not further than Casa de Campo, home to 3 courses designed by Peter Dye. The greens host international tournaments year-round and are frequented by professionals. Beside the golf, the hotel has over 300 rooms, 9 restaurants, 3 pools, and charters deep-sea fishing expeditions that see its visitors hooking tuna, kingfish, marlin, and barracuda.
In North-East Dominican Republic, the little town of Cabarete, population 20000, attracts a kiteboarding and windsurfing following. Velero Beach Resort, situated on a corner of the main beach, is a minute's walk out the lobby to all of Cabaretes' wind-sports. In the evening, a younger crowd invades the shoreline as the clubs open their doors and DJs spin their records.
To escape the hotel genres and wane to semi-seclusion, Casa Colonial, a hotel that resembles a manor, offer 50 modern luxury-resorts stocked with flat-screen televisions, high-speed internet, mini-bars, and a beach you can walk to just by stepping out your front door. Its spa features 13 treatment rooms and an assortment of massages and facials.
Contrary to popular pigeonholing, Dominican resorts are casually veering from the gimmicky nature of the all-inclusives of yore. Long past is the cattle-hearding of buffet lines and the screaming children darting wildly through the corridors. Hotels now opt for the serene and assimilate what comes naturally to the Dominican Republic as their sole theme.
Well, I'm back home in New York City after participating as an instructor at the phenomenally successful Foundry Photojournalism Workshop in Mexico City. The event was initiated by Eric Beecroft who, along with brilliant staff members, managed the Herculean task of putting together the workshop attended by over 140 emerging and established photojournalists/photographers.
The event offered the 140 photographers (and instructors) the unique opportunity to mingle, establish contacts, find peer support, discuss, debate, argue and agree on the innumerable facets of photojournalism and photography. It was enlightening to witness and appreciate the photographic depth, wisdom and generosity of Kadir van Lohuizen, Stanley Greene, Kael Alford, Hugo Infante, Michael Robinson Chavez and Adriana Zehbrauskas, to name but a few.
The absolutely stunning presentations by the talented "students" ranged from documenting the Santa Muerte cult, the dancing Aztecs, female wrestlers, gay life in Mexico City, women's prison, street clowns, to a hospice for elderly ex-prostitutes, and farmers' demonstrations. There were many more!
A fuller report will soon be posted on the Foundry Photojournalism Workshop blog, so I intentionally kept this report brief, but I have the absolute certainty that the Foundry Photojournalism Workshop will be an annual event. There's already talk of next year's venue being in India or Morocco.
The above photograph is of a commercial photographer at the steps of the Basilica at the Virgin of Guadalupe. I thought it would be an amusing addition to this post.
Friday, June 20, 2008
The 4th Annual Peacock Ball was held Saturday May 10th, 2008 at the Ritz Carlton, Coconut Grove in Miami Florida. The annual event is hosted by the American Friends of Jamaica and includes a Gala and silent Auction. The American Friends of Jamaica organization consists of a group of Jamaican and American business persons, social sector leaders, political figures, and members of the diplomatic corp who come together to strategical connect resources from North American to Jamaica. To date, the organization has helped send over $11 Million in donations to Jamaican charities benefiting the educational, health, and economic sectors. In short, the AFJ helps to raise funds and overseas that they are deposited to the necessary recipients. The organization also honors extraordinary people with their International Humanitarian Award. One of this year's award recipients was Father Richard Ho Lung, founder of the Missionaries of the Poor based in Kingston. I was lucky enough to experience Father Ho Lung in his fundraising mission firsthand by attending a lovely concert of Jamaican musicians at a local church in Atlanta. Past honorees have included Chris Blackwell, American fashion icon Ralph Lauren and his wife, Ricky, Rep. Charles Rangel of New York, Sandals' founder Gordon "Butch" Stewart, Canada's Michael Lee-Chin, the Jamaican-born billionaire, philanthropist, and high-profile investor, GraceKennedy, Former President Ronald Reagan and Diageo, to name a few.
Friday, June 20, 2008 0
When it comes to Rajasthan Train Tours, Palace on Wheels features the very best that India offers. Embark on a journey back in time, of peacefulness, tranquility, adventure, culture, cuisine... an unforgettable sojourn, all made possible for you on this superb luxury train.
Since its beginning in 1982, the guests of the Palace on Wheels have received service above the ordinary with an experience which was unashamedly romantic and adventurous. To this day the travelers expect nothing less. This is a journey which should only be embarked upon with the highest of expectations. The train provides an opportunity to explore the centuries, to appreciate the history and culture of Rajasthan without missing the features and details of the passing landscapes and enjoying all the on board comfort and state-of-the-art facilities one could ask for.
Rajasthan is one of the most vibrant and historically and culturally rich states of India. The history of Rajasthan is all bravery and chivalry of the Rajputs. Their tales of gallantry and valor are part and parcel of the Rajasthan culture. Their passion for buildings and architecture is manifest in the myriad of magnificent palaces, forts, havelis and temples that speak volumes about history and heritage of the state.
The Palace on Wheels is an effortless way to experience Rajasthan at its best. The spectacle of Rajasthan's great wilderness will take your breath away. This Rajasthan Train Tour is truly worthy of kings, not surprising the experience is labeled as the Palace on Wheels. In a series of trips, the train links some of Rajasthan's greatest destinations including Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Ranthambore, Chittorgarh, Udaipur, Bharatpur and Agra, before culminating the journey to New Delhi. The itinerary covers the very best attractions of North India from Jaisalmer at the tip of Rajasthan to the pink city Jaipur, from scenic splendors as diverse as the bird sanctuary of Bharatpur to the sleepy villages of Jodhpur, from the desert landscapes of Chittorgarh to sparkling lakes of Udaipur and the magnificent Taj Mahal in Agra. During your cruise you will experience the fascinating history and spectacular scenery, exotic wildlife, the beautiful heritage havelis, palaces and forts, desert villages and rippling sand dunes.
The train combines the luxury of five star hotel with the charm of train travel. The Maharaja and Maharani dining cars receive only accolades for their connoisseur selection of Rajasthan cuisines. The food served during the sojourn puts sheer good taste on a plate while gracious hospitality puts you on a pedestal. With 14 coaches named after former Rajput princely states, with spacious cabins, the passengers on board the Palace of Wheels have plenty of space, time and encouragement to do as they please. One can enjoy the company of others, recline idly with a favorite book or simply watch through the window which unfolds new vistas of passing beauty.
Source:http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/65262
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Most of my clients know I am comfortable on any island, tromping through the rain forest sans guide, or mingling with the locals at the city markets or listening patiently to hour-long fish tales at rustic beach bars. (All this adventure is tolerable because I know the splendid bed on which I will rest my head come night...) While the majority of my clients still prefer the safety of their resort and organized tours only, some are brave enough to venture out and really get to know their island hosts. With this in mind, I would like to share a really neat website I found: Pictures of Jamaica. While some of the pictures document the poverty and crime that are a reality on ANY island, most showcase off-the-beaten path spots of paradise that the island offers. Please view with an open mind. Enjoy!
Thursday, June 19, 2008 0
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Bangladesh, land of enchanting beauty, is endowed with almost all the natural potentials to attract tourists. All her six seasons vibrate with fairs, festivals, mirth and merriment. All riverine beauty, colourful tribal life and simple village life of the friendly millions are main motivational factors for the potential visitors.
Though one of the world's small countries, Bangladesh boasts of certain world class attractions and assets. Bangladesh offer ample opportunity to tourists for rowing, angling, jungle trekking, sun and sea-bathing and above all to be in and amidst the pristine nature. Bangladesh is heir to rich cultural legacy.
In 2000 or more years of its chequered history, many illustrious dynasties of kings and Sultans have ruled and disappeared and left their mark in the shape of magnificent cities, monuments, the desolate ruins which are still visible in places throughout the country. The archaelogolical treasures of Mahasthangarh, Pahapur Buddhist Vihara, a world heritage site and Salbana Vihara at Mainamati and sixty-domed grand mosque at Bagerhat, also a world heritage site, World War-ÐÐ cemetery at Comilla, Kantaji's temple of Dinajpur, the Hindu temples of Chandranath at Sitakund, Adinath at Mahashkhali, Sonargaon and Dhakeshwari in Dhaka bear testimony to its devotional past.
Most outstanding places in Bangladesh also include Cox's Bazar Beach, Dhaka, Kaptai, Chandanpura mosque, Kuakata, Rangamati Lake, tribal life, Sylhet Tea Garden and wildlife of Sundarbans. Other places of tourist attractions are Shilaidaha Kuthibari(Kushtia, a memory place of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore), Sagordari in Jessore, Mujibnagar memorial, Gandhi Asram, Jamuna Bridge, Trishal and Sri Chaitanya Temple.
Above all, simple and friendly people of Bangladesh along with its tribes isolated from modern society by their own distinct culture and way of life make Bangladesh a distinguished and unique attraction for tourists. Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC), national tourism organization of the country, has renovated the existing tourist facilities and created new facilities at important tourist spots.
More...
Sorce:http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2008/06/16/news0529.htm
Wednesday, June 18, 2008 0
Monday, June 16, 2008
What many will consider the most striking beaches of Puerto Rico—with the exception of Coco Beach—are not actually part of its mainland. Instead, they can be found on islands off the coast. What is often the case with these beaches is that instead of overcrowding and gimmicky tourism ploy, what you get, instead, is a scarcely populated beach that paints a traditional, tropical paradise.
Topping the list is a beach unlike any other in Puerto Rico. It's ecosystem is seemingly unrivaled, and there are no hotels to spoil your line of sight. Mona Island is often referred to as the Galapagos Island of the Caribbean, and like the Galapagos, some of the more bizarre species of animals call it home, roaming its land and waters, openly. As a result, the island is closed to tourists during hunting season (January – April).
To add to exclusivity, tours to the island are only offered from May through November and to visit the island, you'll need permits from the Natural Resources and Environmental Department.
Coco Beach is not quite as elusive as Mona Island, but it does share some similar qualities. It offers lingering stretches of virginal beach and colorful contrast between greenery, sand, and vibrant blue ocean. On the beach, however, are as casual scatter of chic resorts; Gran Melia Puerto Rico and Coco Beach Golf and Country Club, just to name a few.
Shacks Beach, also known as Bajuras, of Isabela Island is known for spectacular waters that facilitate the best snorkeling, surfing, and windsurfing in Puerto Rico. What many notice are the sleepy coconut palms that line the beach and offer ideal conditions for napping or relaxing.
Another deserted beach still absent of hotels (we think), is the Northeast Corridor of Luquillo. The island is not as exclusive as Mona and still offers an impressive amount of exotic wildlife and lush vegetation.
What is particularly appealing about the beaches of Puerto Rico is that, save a few of the overdeveloped areas, most of them are incredibly secluded. They project a sensation of unaware onto their visitors. It is a feeling of isolation that is strangely comforting and familiar.
Monday, June 16, 2008 0
Friday, June 13, 2008
Here's one of my weekly Show-Off features of my personal photography on The Travel Photographer's blog. Click on the photograph to view it larger size.
This is probably one of my very favorite photographs. It's of an elderly widow in the Indian city of Vrindavan, walking painfully to her ashram. Afflicted with osteoporosis, she uses her cane to assist her in her journey to the central hall, where she will receive lentils and rice as her main meal.
The photograph is part of my White Shadows multimedia slideshow, which I shall use during my course of Street Photography & Multimedia at the Foundry Photojournalism Workshop in Mexico City.
Friday, June 13, 2008 0
I'll be flying to Mexico City for the Foundry Photojournalism Workshop early Saturday morning. I'll try to post as frequently as possible on the going-ons on The Travel Photography blog...including photographs and even video snippets.
The workshop has just started its very own blog which is foundryphoto.blogspot.com
Thursday, June 12, 2008
In time to highlight the Foundry Photojournalism Workshop starting in Mexico City this coming Monday, here's a multimedia slideshow from the New York Times of the charreada. These are rodeos and fiestas rolled together, and are one of Mexico’s most popular sporting events, dating to the 17th century.
Similar to the US rodeos, the charreadas involve horse riding, bull riding and team roping. However, riders in the charreadas wear elaborate three-piece suits and women ride sidesaddle in their traditional fineries.
After criticism from animal rights and anti-rodeo activists, the events have been changed to reflect better and safer treatment of animals involved in these rodeos.
Here's The New York Times' Mexican Rodeos
Thursday, June 12, 2008 0
With the Foundry Photojournalism Workshop starting in Mexico City this coming Monday, I had the good fortune of stumbling on the work of Chico Sanchez, a photojournalist based in Mexico City. He produced a slideshow on the pilgrims visiting the church of the Virgin of Guadalupe, which is one of the projects I intend to work on with some of the students enrolled in my multimedia course.
Chico Sanchez worked in Venezuela, collaborating with Reuters, European Pressphoto Agency, Agencia EFE, and freelancing for various newspapers and magazines.
Our Lady of Guadalupe is known in Mexico as "La Virgen Morena", and her festival day is celebrated on December 12, commemorating her appearances to Saint Juan Diego on the hill of Tepeyac near Mexico City from December 9 through December 12, 1531. The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City is the second most visited Roman catholic shrine in the world after the Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Michael Kamber is a well-known photojournalist currently attached to the Baghdad Bureau of the New York times. He has been nominated three times for the Pulitzer prize. He has covered conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, Liberia, Cote D'Ivoire, Sudan, Somalia, Haiti, Israel, the Congo and various others.
He has written an comprehensive review on the Leica M8, which he used extensively in Iraq. He does not mince his words and concludes that the M8's is unusable for working photojournalists in combat situations.
For Michael Kamber's website, click here
(Thanks to Candace Feit for the link.)
Wednesday, June 11, 2008 0
To highlight the Foundry Photojournalism Workshop starting in Mexico City this coming Monday, I will focus this week's The Travel Photographer blog posts on various photojournalists and their work. This is the second in the series.
Kate Orne is a New York-based photographer who worked amongst the neediest people in Afghanistan and Pakistan over the past seven years. Her mission was to use her craft to fight against indentured slavery and to support the wellbeing of women, children and animals. She worked on several essays on indentured laborers in South East Asia, on victims of domestic abuse, on Kabul orphanages where children lack basic facilities, maternity wards without basic care and imprisoned women.
Her website has a number of galleries, documenting the brothels in Pakistan, the maternity hospital and orphanage in Kabul, refugee camps in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and the red light district in Mumbai.
I thought her work on the brothels in Pakistan as her most powerful and thought-provoking, as it highlights the paradox that exists between the sex industry and Muslim fundamentalism in this part of the world.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Canon has announced a new entry-level DSLR. The XS offers 10.1-megapixel resolution, a 2.5 inches rear screen, 7 autofocus points, it will offer Live View on the rear LCD, and supports an unlimited burst rate of 3 frames per second until the memory card is full.
It is estimated that the XS will be priced in the US at approximately $580 for the body only, and $630 with a 35-70mm kit lens. The launch date is July 8.
This is obviously Canon's attempt to solidify its grip on the growing entry-level DSLR market.
(Hey Canon people...where in the &%$$#$ is the Canon 5D II???)
Tuesday, June 10, 2008 0
Very big city dweller dreams of going somewhere to forget about traffic jams, hordes of people and buildings of concrete and glass. Top 6 list of most serene places on Earth where people can find peace and calmness.
Top 6 places of paradise on Earth
1. Island Tristan da Cunha
The world’s remotest island, Tristan da Cunha, is situated in the South Atlantic Ocean, 2,800 kilometers west of the Republic of South Africa. Here you can really stay alone – the only inhabited island is home to 300 people, and there are 400 tourists annually at most. There are no regular flights to this lost world. One can get there only by fishing boats from the Republic of South Africa. Here you will find an unusual volcanic terrain, hospitable islanders and no criminality at all.
2. Cotswolds, England
The Cotswolds hills in the county of Gloucestershire are pastoral villages with shell houses, romantic manors mantled with roses and honeysuckle, old churches and pubs. Even Englishmen call it “the most English England.” Supermodel Kate Moss likes to stay at the luxury Cotswolds House Hotel in Chipping Campden.
3. Kauai, Hawaii
It is the least-developed and the most beautiful island of Hawaii, one of the most humid places on Earth with exuberant green vegetation. The island is enframed with 43 white-sand beaches with palm-trees. The now extinct volcano, Waialeale, rises to a height of 1,600 meters in the centre of the island. Kauai attracts tourists, surfers and hippies from across the globe. The island cuts through the famed one-kilometer-deep Waimea Canyon for 23 kilometers. The Nepali Coastline is very spectacular with its cliffs going vertically into the sea.
4. Algonquin Park, Canada
It is the National Park in Southern Ontario, just a three-hour drive from Toronto. There are only several log-cabins and camping-grounds. The rest of the territory (200x200 kilometers) is a wild forest with age-old pines, lakes gleaming with plentiful trout, rash rivers and picturesque volcanoes. One can go for a walk, fishing and canoeing.
5. Thornybush Game Reserve, South Africa
The Thornybush private reserve adjourns to Kruger National Park and takes 11.5 thousand hectares of the plain covered with thick bushes. In the lap of wild nature there are luxury tents with viewing decks where the old-world colonial atmosphere is recreated. The viewing decks offer a wonderful view of safari where you can see elephants, lions or leopards.
6. Isla Vieques, Puerto Rico
After the U.S. Navy left the Caribbean island Vieques, just six miles off the coast of Puerto Rico, the island restored its serenity. There are still thick forests and kilometers-long white-sand beaches.
Source:http://newsfromrussia.com/business/finance/105315-1/
The world teaches you certain lessons pretty quickly when travelling solo. Some of these come easily, especially through talking with experienced travellers - whose knowledge can be a valuable (although not always reliable) resource.
But other times you find things out the hard way. Experiences like desperately chasing after your bag as it's driven off on a random rickshaw, spending hours queuing for train tickets, or holding your head in your hands when you realise that you've been screwed over teach you the basics very quickly.
To help you avoid the worst panic-attacks travelbite.co.uk blogger Nick Claxton brings you some top tips for stress-free solo travels:
You will stand out, no matter what
There may be thousands of ex-pats in Singapore but I'm still conscious that most locals can tell I'm a tourist. In Nepal and India, there is no question of slipping by unnoticed.
It's important to accept that you'll attract stares or be approached by enquiring strangers.
Sometimes it can feel claustrophobic - and I imagine it's twenty times worse for women - but getting angry or annoyed will not make it any better.
Make as big a scene as possible if you feel threatened but try and shrug these things off until that line has been crossed.
bag may be a burden, but make it a light one
Your rucksack is impossible to miss, and sometimes you're incredibly aware of this fact. But instead of thinking that it makes you a target, its best to view it as an annoyance.
Too much fuss over your bag is only likely to attract attention to it. Pack nothing that you would sorely miss and then treat your rucksack with something approaching distain.
I've found this makes other people view it in the same way – this means I can stop worrying about it being nabbed and enjoy myself a lot more.
Pack light, but bring one luxury item
It may be bulky, impractical and responsible for the bruise developing on the top of my head after repeatedly falling from overhead compartments, but my guitar is one of the best things I'm carrying with me.
Try to keep everything else to the minimum but if possible bring something that's a luxury.
It might make no sense to bring along your prized chess set, a clarinet, or even your laptop, but they can be great ways to meet people - and give you something to do whenever boredom inevitably hits on those long train rides.
your instincts
I've left my guitar in the hands of toilet attendants, been driven off to hostels in places I'd never heard of, and taken a guided city tour from a guy I soon realised was a drug dealer - all without running into any trouble.
Maybe I've just been lucky, but I put it down to trusting my instincts. I've turned away from similar situations just as readily when some red warning light flashed on in my head.
Don't feel sheepish about saying no; it can save you a lot of hassle. At the same time be open to saying yes to anything - as long as it feels right.
You'll be lonely sometimes, but it'll pass
Loneliness is the biggest, and most obvious, drawback of travelling solo. Unless you're incredibly outgoing or quickly run into someone travelling the same trip, you're unlikely to completely avoid this - especially if you are moving on regularly.
There will always be times when you're stuck by yourself, or stuck in a crowd with no-one else who understands you - which is a much worse feeling.
The best advice I can offer is to keep an upbeat, welcoming attitude and you'll soon bump into someone new to hang out with, at least until the next station.
is the hardest word
Finally, one of the hardest things I've found when travelling is deciding when to move on to the next destination.
Stay too long in one place and you can stagnate, but when you're enjoying yourself there's always the nagging feeling that you'll be missing out by leaving.
So far I've successfully followed a simple rule to solve this dilemma: If you're having fun, stay.
But when you know the next track on the hostel playlist, its time to leave - that night if possible!
source:http://www.travelbite.co.uk/feature/travel-advice/travel-tips/top-tips-solo-travellers-$1226225.htm
To highlight the Foundry Photojournalism Workshop starting in Mexico City this coming Monday, I will focus this week's The Travel Photographer blog posts on various photojournalists and their work.
I start off with the work of Frederic Courbet, a Belgian freelance photographer currently based in Nairobi, Kenya. His biography tells us that he started work in Africa 4 years ago, and had had ihis images published in The Guardian, The Mail on Sunday, Der Spiegel, The Observer and other international publications. He has also worked for various NGOs including CARE in Nairobi. Courbet is represented by the London-based Panos Pictures.
I liked Courbet's imagery...and his galleries are well worth spending time on. For instance, look out for the wonderful image in his Somalia gallery of a multi-colored tent and clothes hanging in the wind. However, my favorite are his photographs of Lamu in Kenya.
I didn't know that Lamu is Kenya's oldest living town and port, and was one of the original Swahili settlements along coastal East Africa. It has existed for at least a thousand years, and was an important center of the slave trade. The town's architecture is a mix of African and Islamic styles with inner courtyards, verandas, and elaborately carved wooden doors.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Many of St. Kitt's best hotels are participating in a great promo valid all summer and through the fall! In addition to roundtrip airport transfers and taxes/service fees, the special includes:
Booking Dates- 5/6/08-6/30/08
Travel Dates- 5/6/08-11/30/08
Blackout Dates vary by hotel
4th and 7th nights free
Continental Breakfast
Discount card for shops and tours (provided upon check-in
Participating hotels include: Ottley's, Ocean Terrace Inn, Bird Rock, Frigate Bay, Timothy Beach, The Golden Lemon, and The St. Kitts Marriott shown below:
Monday, June 9, 2008 0
As readers of this blog know, the Foundry Photojournalism Workshop is six intensive days of classes, fieldwork, panel discussions, slideshows, portfolio reviews, multimedia creation, parties, networking and more, aimed especially at emerging and student photojournalists.
The workshop runs from June 16-21, 2008 at the AAVI (Academia de Artes Visuales) inMexico City, and is the brainchild of Eric Beecroft.
As one of the workshop's faculty members, I will be posting from the venue on The Travel Photographer blog as frequently as I can. A more comprehensive Foundry Photoworkshop blog is also in the plans. The diversity of the photo-projects and number of assignments being planned are just phenomenal, and the creativity of the student photojournalists is exciting.
The number of emerging and student photojournalists at the venue is about 140, with 20 faculty members. The faculty members are:
Eric Beecroft, Director
Kael Alford
Paula Bronstein
Andrea Bruce
Renée C. Byer
Guy Calaf
Tewfic El-Sawy
Stanley Greene
Ron Haviv
Eros Hoagland
Hugo Infante
Scott Mc Kiernan
Michael Robinson Chavez
Benjamin Rusnak
Shaul Schwarz
Stephanie Sinclair
Kadir Van Lohuizen
Adam Wiseman
Adriana Zehbrauskas
With special guest:
David Griffin, Director of Photography, National Geographic Society
A change is as good as a rest' and over the coming months hundreds of thousands will take to the roads, to the skies and even to the rail tracks in pursuit of their change.
While very few people go on holiday anticipating that they won't enjoy it, there are things that make it more or less enjoyable.
Surprisingly, even the tourism industry now scientifically studies the aspects of holidays that make them enjoyable.
However, I could only identify one study that measured the impact on psychological well-being. The study, published in the Journal Of Travel Medicine in 2005, was conducted by Austrian researchers and identified characteristics that predicted the psychological health outcomes of the annual holiday.
One hundred and ninety one, mainly white-collar workers, were administered a questionnaire one week after completion of their annual vacation, evaluating five broad areas, including: physical characteristics of the holiday (eg, duration, distance travelled to reach destination, time zone, temperature, etc), structuring of the day (eg, number of meals provided, planning of the day, etc), health and social activity (eg, amount of sleep, physical activity, making new acquaintances, etc), stress during the vacation (eg, rows, health problems, etc) and, finally, the physical and mental strain of work and basic characteristics, such as age.
Subjects were asked to rate their subjective feelings of recuperation and exhaustion in comparison to before the holiday. Some of the results were unexpected and counter-intuitive. A proportion of the outcome (27pc) could be predicted by measuring the variables.
The higher the mental strain of work, the greater the feeling of recuperation. In addition, a warm temperature at vacation site, the amount of time vacationers had for themselves and for their needs, engaging in physical activity, good quality of sleep and making new acquaintances all had a positive effect.
Interpersonal conflict was negatively associated with recuperation, but only to a very small extent (two per cent), while health problems during the vacation, number of hours slept and number of meals provided had no impact.
Turning to the predictors of improvement in levels of exhaustion, only 15pc of the variance could be explained. Time-zone differences, temperature and health problems during the holiday predicted improvement but, surprisingly, the duration of the holiday and the travel time to the destination did not impact on this.
The finding that the duration of the holiday did not effect exhaustion levels might seem surprising, since it is assumed that the longer the vacation, the greater the time to sleep and unwind.
However, other leisure research has shown that the greatest improvement occurs in the first three days of holiday and peaks by seven.
On the other hand, the extent to which leisure time predicts recuperation is proof of our intuition that freedom from obligations is central to a holidays restorative value.
Surprisingly, self-determination of daily activities or some scheduling of daily activities was not related to recuperation as other studies found, but the mood-enhancing effects of physical activity and also of social interaction were clearly demonstrated in this study.
source:http://www.independent.ie/health/tips-to-ensure-a-happy-healthy-summer-holiday-1402382.html
Sunday, June 8, 2008
One of my very favorite artists is David Roberts. He was a Scottish painter, and was born at Stockbridge, Edinburgh in 1796. He is especially known for a prolific series of detailed prints of Egypt and the Near East produced during the 1840s from sketches made during long tours of the region (1838-1840). This work, and his large oil paintings of similar subjects, made him a prominent Orientalist painter.
What made me think of him? Well, here's why. This an excerpt from Robert Fisk's "The West's Weapon of Self-delusion", his latest article in the Independent:
"The Tate has just sent me its magnificent book of orientalist paintings to coincide with its latest exhibition (The Lure of the East: British Orientalist Painting) and I am struck by the awesome beauty of this work. In the 19th century, our great painters wondered at the glories of the Orient.
No more painters today. Instead, we send our photographers and they return with pictures of car bombs and body parts and blood and destroyed homes and Palestinians pleading for food and fuel and hooded gunmen on the streets of Beirut, yes, and dead Israelis too. The orientalists looked at the majesty of this place and today we look at the wasteland which we have helped to create."
Robert Fisk is one of the few courageous journalists who tells it as it is.
Sunday, June 8, 2008 0
The online travel insurance provider, WorldNomads.com, together with National Geographic Channel, has announced its 2008 photography scholarship, which will award one exceptional student the chance of a lifetime’ assignment.
The winner will get to accompany renowned wildlife on-assignment National Geographic photographer, Jason Edwards, to photograph the Arid Lands Festival and The Great Hughenden Endurance Camel Race, a quirky 160km camel endurance race run in Australia from 22 - 24 August, 2008
For full judging criteria and to apply, go to WorldNomads.com
Via Imaging Insider.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Petrut Calinescu is a freelance photojournalist member of Panos Pictures, and is working from Bucharest in Romania. His photographs appeared in AP, AFP, Reuters, New York Times, Der Spiegel, National Geographic and a host of other international publications.
Take a look at Petrut's work in Egypt, and specifically his photo essay on the camel market near Cairo. The market is called Birkas, and is the largest of its kind in Africa...it has been in existence for as long as camels have been used for transport. It's certainly not as colorful as the Pushkar Camel fair, and it's not a place for camera-wielding tourists.
The first time I became aware of camel traders was years ago in Khartoum...where I saw many dusty camel traders with some of their herd just ambling down the streets of the Sudanese capital. It was there that I was told of the ancient camel route that traverses Sudan into Egypt.
Again, a few years back, I was interested in joining an expedition which would travel a section of the darb al-arbaeen (translated as the route of 40 days) from the south of Egypt to its capital Cairo. This ancient route -used since antiquity- was an important trade and pilgrimage "highway", and was used by spice, slave, camel traders as well as pilgrims from West Africa on their way to Mecca, and kings and princes visiting Egypt. Its importance has dwindled, but I understand that traditional camel caravans still use it.
Here's the website of Petrut Calinescu.
Saturday, June 7, 2008 0
