El Bueno, El Feo y El Malo
Capturing the good, the bad and the ugly of lesser-known Spain and now Southeast Asia
Smaller and Smaller
(1/30, F2.8, ISO125, 26mm)
During recent travels when hopping on small boats, rickshaws, buses and taxis around Southeast Asia, I became more and more aware that for some travels where photography wasn´t the main focus, it would be very handy to have a small camera.
After a lot of research and testing it was obvious that the third version of the Sony RX100 was the best option for me. Although more expensive than some SLR´s, all other compacts fell short in size, quality or possibilities (for manual control).
After the price came down in Malaysia I went for it and been trying it out for over a week now.
Last Saturday was a perfect time to test its handling of low light situations at a gig here in Kuala Lumpur and I must say I am very impressed; it feels very easy, and therefor fast, to adjust aperture and diaphragm with its two rings and all other settings (e.g. ISO, focus and metering mode) are just a button away.
(1/100, F4, ISO400, 12mm)
The clarity, sharpness, easy handling and lack of noise (at higher iso) makes this a true winner in my book, although it can never replace my big SLR, but that was never the plan.
This last photo shows the beginning of noise when I put it at iso640, but still very well controlled!
(1/100, F4, ISO400, 12mm)
Although I was busy testing my camera I did enjoy the live concerts from Dirgahayu (first photo) and Reset to Zilch (last two photos) very much…
eYe
(1/125, F5.6, ISO200, 214mm)
This is an eye peeking through its capirote, a cone-shaped hat used during the Easter procession in Zaragoza, Spain.
It seemed appropriate to me to start the year 2015 by changing my gravatar to this photo, because this year I hope to become more serious with my photography and also because it was taken in 2012 at the start of my photographic expat travels.
I will obviously go on with posting here and probably add some backstory and experiences while trying this.
Thanks for all the feedback, support and enthousiasm the last couple of years, hope that will continue…
A Time of Reflection
(1/800, F4.5, ISO200, 17mm)
This time of year always comes with thoughts about how you spent the passing year and what will you do in the new one.
I´ve been very fortunate in 2014 to have been able to see so many new beautiful countries and places and meeting so many interesting people, that I can only think about the fact that if next year is gonna be anything like it, I will be happy as ever.
Only thing I can think of and I tried to start it up last month before my travels interrupted it, is to start exploring what the possibilities are to set up a real photo-business and website.
But as my friends and I always say when we raise another glass ´To better times!´.
If it is good it can always get better but when it´s not so good it will hopefully get better.
So thanks everyone of you that took the time to see, comment and support my photos.
Enjoy your holidays and best to all of you for 2015!
To better times!
(especially dedicated to those that need it)
Too Many Buddhas
(1/60, F3.5, ISO400, 10mm)
Near the town of Hpa-an in Myanmar are some steep karst mountains rising from the rice fields.
Apart from the many pagodas and monasteries that stand on top of these mountains, they also contain many caves.
Many of these caves are turned into religious sites, like almost any geological location that stands out in Myanmar.
This is the Kawgun cave, eight miles south of Hpa-an, with its numerous carved buddhas and statues
that date back to the 7th century.
An Ode to the People of Myanmar
(1/320, F5.6, ISO200, 154mm)
The last month of absence in the blogosphere was spent traveling Cambodia and Myanmar. Both were amazing experiences, but I have to admit the spontaneity, enthusiasm and hospitality of the people of Myanmar stole my heart.
Combine that with Myanmar´s amazing scenery, hardly any tourism and therefor some amazing sights only to be shared with locals and monks.
(1/320, F5.6, ISO200, 154mm)
When traveling on the bouncing train from old capital Yangon to Bago we made one stop to buy watermelon, samosas and other food from the people on the tracks.
This was another opportunity to expand my horizons by photographing some of the faces of Myanmar.
Thanks for making me and my friend feel so welcome!
Ode to Zaragoza
(10s, F22, ISO100, 12mm)
About 5 years ago we left the Netherlands to try our luck abroad and our first steps were in Spanish Zaragoza,
the capital of the diverse and beautiful province of Aragon.
The old town of Zaragoza with its small alleys, Medieval architecture and hidden squares filled with tapas bars, feels so much more authentic than most touristy cities of Spain.
Apart from the real Spanish atmosphere it has some great attractions, like the Roman remains, the beautiful churches,
the cathedral and the famous Basilica–Cathedral of Our Lady of the Pillar which you can see here across the mighty river Ebro during sunset.
Ritchie
(1/125, F6.3, ISO200, 187mm)
While visiting the Semengoh Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre in Malaysian Borneo we were very lucky to encounter a family of Orang Utangs. Because it is the fruit season now and they don´t need to come down to the feeding platforms with over 630 hectares of fruity forest at their disposal.
If I remember well this male Orang Utang was called Ritchie and he was waiting to cross the road to join his wife and son and venture further into the jungle…
El Turbón
(1/100, f7.1, iso-800, 55mm)
Last year on a (off the) roadtrip through the Spanish Pyrenees me and a friend found an empty little chapel on top of a small mountain with views all around and we decided to spend the evening and night there.
Seeing the sun come up the next morning from behind the high mountains was spectacular.
The mountain to the left is ´El Turbón´ and is special to me, because it is visible from the garden of friends who live in a nearby valley and such a lone giant.
This was the same sunrise as the Lost Mountain-photo from more than a year ago.
Dawn of the Planet of the Great Apes
The day before we got lucky and saw Orangutans in the wild (and I do have a photo from that soon!) I wanted to find these pieces of street art by Ernest Zacharevic, a young Lithuania-born artist who transformed many empty spaces in Malaysia.
These were made in the streets of Kuching, a coastal city in the Malysian part of Borneo.
( 1/100 & 1/125, F6.3, ISO200, 17mm)
Acid Forest
(1/125, F5, ISO400, 17mm)
El Bueno, El Feo y El Malo 