BanHup Teh Photography » Photo-safari

Hanoi-Bac Ha-Sapa photosafari Part 1

Banhup Teh — Sat, 19 May 2012 10:32:33 +0000

After the Bersih 3.0 rally on 28th April, I just couldn't find the inspiration to blog. Photography has taken a backseat and the only significant photography-related action I did was to change my Nikon D800 to the D800E. Yes, I have done that. I figured since I have moved up to medium format territory with the technique- and gear-demanding D800 (need top notch lenses and huge storage spaces!) I might as well go for the best. Only time will tell if I made the right decision.

Back to the photosafari. I have decided to break this into 3 parts i.e. Part 1 to share shots with the Fuji X-Pro1 and the D800 in Hanoi, Part 2 in Bac Ha and Part 3 in Sapa.

We arrived at Hanoi international airport at about lunch time.

Outside airport (Fuji X-Pro1)

We went straight to lunch after which we checked into the hotel to freshen up. We still had a few hours to kill before we board the night train to Lao Cai. We used those time to do some street photography.

Fruit vendor (Nikon D800)

Ratan goods (Fuji X-Pro1)

Hong, one of the participants, making friends (Fuji X-Pro1)

Photographers in action (Nikon D800)

Ambitious transportation (Fuji X-Pro1)

Side street (Fuji X-Pro1)

Patriot (Fuji X-Pro1)

Tourists (Fuji X-Pro1)

We boarded the night train after dinner at 9:00 pm. The 10-hour train ride was quite comfortable, more so than the train ride I used to have back home.

The boys (Fuji X-Pro1)

The girls (Fuji X-Pro1)

'Poisoning' session (Fuji X-Pro1)

'Poisoned' (Fuji X-Pro1)

The next few shots were taken during the return trip at the Temple of Literature, Hanoi. We met these university students there and they were so nice as to pose for us.

Looking out (Nikon D800)

Reflection (Nikon D800)

By the window (Nikon D800)

The Passage

Banhup Teh — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:52:05 +0000

Something new that I just processed which I thought is worth sharing. This was taken during the photo-safari to Siem Reap, Cambodia at end of last year – at Ta Prohm, the same ruins where Tomb Raider (starring Angelina Jolie) was filmed. It is shots like this that make me yearn to go on another photo-safari soon.

The Passage

Peek-a-boo

Banhup Teh — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:34:13 +0000

Playing with children is my forte given the training that I have gone through. This is the same child I met in Chengdu, China when I was there last year. He was a bit apprehensive when we first met and I soon got him to open up.

Taken at f/1.4 with my Nikon 24mm Aperture Priority ISO 400 1/60s.

Peek-a-boo

For those who may be interested, my next photo-safari will be to Northern Vietnam on the Hanoi-Bac Ha-Sapa route. This safari is now open for registration. You may see the details here.

By the big, big tree

Banhup Teh — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 08:17:26 +0000

Again taken during my last teaching photo-safari to Siem Reap. It was an amazing and fascinating sight to see these trees as part of the ruins.

Talking about teaching photo-safari, I am in the mood for some new destinations starting with the Hanoi-Buc Ha-Sapa route (Vietnam) some time in April or May 2012. If you are keen to join me on a eat-drink-sleep photography trip, drop me a line here and I will keep you in the loop. Thanks.

By the big, big tree

Bali, a never-ending story

Banhup Teh — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 11:29:25 +0000

I have lost count of the number of times I have been to Bali. For the past few years, I have been there at least once a year – sometimes even twice in a year! Despite that I never seem to get enough of this magical island. When one has nice food, really friendly people coupled with so many shooting opportunities, what else can a photographer ask for? This is especially so if one is into people photography.

I organised a photo-safari to this paradise last July where a group of keen enthusiasts joined me with this eat-sleep-drink photography event. It was a shoot in the morning, a short rest in the afternoon (when lighting was too harsh to do any photography anyway) and more shooting till sunset followed by post-processing sessions every evening. One can only imagine what fun we had!

Here are a few shots from the trip to share. I have updated my All about Bali gallery slideshow with shots from this photo-safari. Please feel free to view that gallery which I will be updating daily when I have the shots processed.

Action

Splash

Cast away

Reflect

Fly away

Glee

Banhup Teh — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 04:14:55 +0000

It is always refreshing and comforting to see smiles and laughter from anyone. It doesn't matter where this laughter has come from, it is always a sight to behold.

The laughter we had from this image was no different. We were at a village outside Siem Reap, Cambodia when I took this shot. The children were riding at the back of this bullock cart on a mud path flanked by paddy fields on both sides. I had fun getting them to pose for us (I was leading this photo-safari) and I am sure they had fun doing so too. This child especially was very keen to pose and to break into laughter…glee-fully. What a field day we had!

By the way, it is 3 days to my Nikon workshop. To all the registered participants, I thank you for your support. You guys will have a go at glamour and photojournalistic post-processing using my workflow. I will give you copies from my own collection to post-process some photojournalistic-type of images. There will be 2 models for our glamour photoshoot instead of the planned one.

To those who are still keen to join, I was told there are just a couple of slots left. Hurry if you are interested. It will be my pleasure to meet you. Click here for more details if you are keen. Or call Nikon at 03-21420218. I heard from unconfirmed 'rumours' that there will be a TV crew during the workshop. Cooooool!

Trapped

Banhup Teh — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 02:45:22 +0000

Another shot taken at the village that led us to Tonle Sap. This was taken on our return trip from the lake. We stopped by a village that makes hammock weaved from water hyacinth fibres. While negotiating how many we should purchase (to help the local 'economy' going) I got this boy to pose for me among one of the hanging hammocks. We eventually bought four (one for me even though I have no use for it). Wait, I can use it as one of the many props that I have with me!

Trapped

Back to the ‘future’

Banhup Teh — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 13:25:51 +0000

Yes, I have come back to reality. This is because going to Siem Reap, meeting the people there and experiencing their way of life is like going back in time. It reminded me of what it was like about half a century ago back in Malaysia. And Malaysia is still just a developing country!

Anyhow it was a great experience for all of us who were there for this photo-safari. We were at the temple ruins which included Ta Prohm, the film set for Tomb Raider starring Angelina Jolie, and the nearby villages especially those at Tonle Sap, the largest freshwater lake in South East Asia. We had, as can be expected for all my photo-safaris, many shooting opportunities during the day and post-processing sessions in the evenings. I am sure all the participants have some great shots to share…I know I do.

For a start, allow me to share with you a shot of these 2 sisters that we met at one of the villages on the way out to Tonle Sap. Life is simple but hard for these people. We helped in whatever way we could by giving the children gifts e.g stationary, and purchasing their goods even though these might not be of much use to us.

More photos to share when I have processed them.

Siem Reap, here I come!

Banhup Teh — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 01:20:47 +0000

One more day and I will be off to Siem Reap, Cambodia on my (very likely) last teaching photo-safari for the year. Having organised and taught in 2 previous photo-safaris this year (Myanmar – March and Bali – June), I think it is time I start something different to keep my interest going. You see, I get bored with routines easily hence I have thought of something exciting for the future. More of that later.

The last time I was in Siem Reap was during Crossing Bridges 5 in November 2008 where I also did my red umbrella series. This time round I have organised an exciting and interesting itinerary for the participants. For a change (didn't I say I am usually bored with routines?) I have planned a more structured teaching program especially during the post-processing sessions in the evenings to get the participants more involved. They will have assignments daily which will be reviewed and critiqued.

Finally, since I will be away for this photo-safari from 16th-20th and since I am not sure if I will have access to the internet, please be patient if I did not reply to your emails or inquiries. I assure you that I will reply them at the earliest instance once internet access is available. For that I thank you for your understanding.

And for that, allow me to share with you a shot of Pak Gulem taken during my last photo-safari to Bali.

Taken with Nikon d3 + Nikon 24/1.4 Aperture Priority @ f/2.2 ISO 200 1/125s.

Will I do pre-wedding photography?

Banhup Teh — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 00:06:47 +0000

Someone once asked me this very question and I gave a very non-committal answer. I now know deep down inside me I will take up that challenge one day. Yes, one fine day….

During the Bali photo-safari recently, I met multi-award wedding photographer Keda Z. Feng at one of my frequent haunts in Bali. With his permission (both to shoot some and to post these) I grabbed a few shots. A very special 'thank you' to Keda for this opportunity and the permission to share these. Here is how I would like to see the shots.

Click image to view large.