My next major photography trip

jamesoliverstone

jamesoliverstone

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Well, after getting back from Africa I have been itching to get back out of the country again and fully absorb myself in photography again. Even though Africa is part of a set of projects around tribal music, this next trip is a personal project for me (and will form my set for a fellowship attempt).

In August I am off to travel around Cambodia. I will start by doing some street photography around Bangkok and Phnom Penh, then as I travel across the country I am going off the beaten path as much as I can to visit locals in fishing villages and small towns, then finally on to produce a set of photographs of buddhist monks at the overgrown jungle temples around Angkor, and to photograph Angkor *** itself.

I really cant wait, I have 11 days in the country (hopefully with my best mate travelling with me too) and I will be taking along the D700, a set of primes, portable flash units and 28" softbox.

I am really going all out on the environmental portraits this time, as I have learned so much from Africa. I should come back with another good body of portraits and with any luck, attain my fellowship with the RPS and the BIPP.

Excited? Me? :D
 
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Sounds like one hell of an adventure James, Good luck with the project and can't wait to see the images on your return.
 
Good luck James, really looking forward to seeing the fruits of your labour on your return, your African shots are superb
 
If these new pics are half as good as your last lot - they'll be brilliant.
 
Poser!!! :D

I can't wait to see the results. Have fun!
 
Thanks everyone :D

I am just finalising my flights today, damn its a long flight to Cambodia from Heathrow ;)

I have changed my kit around to make it lighter, and I think that I shall just be taking 1 single SB900, my 28" apollo softbox and a REALLY light lightstand. Seeing as I shall have access to power quite a lot during the trip, I wont bother with all the stuff I had to take on my last trip, so my camera rucksack should be relatively light in comparison :)

Sooooooooo looking forward to this!
 
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Look forward to seeing the results - and I mean that!
 
I done Thailand this year the Capitol and southern islands and thinking north Cambodia early next year so am very new to photography but love new places let me know how it goes
 
I've just had a look at your website and your photos from Africa are stunning. I look forward to seeing your next set :)
 
Ok, Might have changed my dates to go in September as it could be a 3rd off the price of the flights :)

On a more serious note, I am travelling with just a mate for the trip (along with 2 guides). If anyone wants to come along and join me on the trip, you are more than welcome to PM me for more info and the full itinerary.

As I teach photography, if you fancy turning it into a learning experience too, I am more than happy to train anyone wanting to learn more while we go ;) I wouldnt charge anything obviously, I would only pass on the direct cost of the trip (although I insist that you have to join me for a few beers each evening :))

I will be taking my laptop, so we will have plenty of time for reviewing and editing the shots of the day each evening.

If anyone wants to come along, it will be quite a trip :D
 
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This is a part of the world that I would love to spend time in. It must be difficult to fit everything in, in the time you have.

I would love to visit some of the areas made famous by the war, particularly the bunker complexes.

Andy
 
I'd love to but don't think I could afford the trip plus the divorce that would accompany it
 
I have to say some of the images from your Africa trip are truly stunning. You should be very proud. Can't wait to see the new ones.
 
Definitely looking forward to seeing the results after seeing the Maasai photos.

I was thinking of heading to Chile or Venezuela over September and was thinking of SE Asia next year. Now though...Tempting tempting.
 
I am going to Thailand from the 4th of July for 5 weeks to help with a charity project, I can't wait! Hoping to get some really good shots to make a little money for the charity afterwards

Jake


p.s if you plan anything similar for next june-september I would be very interested
 
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Byker28i said:
I'd love to but don't think I could afford the trip plus the divorce that would accompany it
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Just tell her you are going on a photography course, then when she asks where, just mumble cambodia under your breath :D

Morph3ous said:
I have to say some of the images from your Africa trip are truly stunning. You should be very proud. Can't wait to see the new ones.
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Thank you very much. I have learnt an awful lot from that trip, and it has allowed me to also be far more aware of how I shoot too. I had the intention of using the images for my fellowship, but when I applied a few of my images were rejected.

At first I was rather taken aback, as I thought I had really hit the nail with many of them (theres that artists ego thing again ;)) but after working with my mentors, I realised that I had got too caught up in the moment, and missed some rather basic things on a couple of photos, which once pointed out to me are now glaringly obvious.

This time, I go with a fresh mind with the intention of using all I have learned to come back with even better work. I hope I can achieve it :)

James r said:
Wow all your images are amazing, do you mind me asking where you got your wordpress template? :D
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Thanks :) Its from Theme Forest.

ausemmao said:
Definitely looking forward to seeing the results after seeing the Maasai photos.

I was thinking of heading to Chile or Venezuela over September and was thinking of SE Asia next year. Now though...Tempting tempting.
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You know you want to :naughty:

jacob12_1993 said:
I am going to Thailand from the 4th of July for 5 weeks to help with a charity project, I can't wait! Hoping to get some really good shots to make a little money for the charity afterwards

Jake


p.s if you plan anything similar for next june-september I would be very interested
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I plan to travel each and every year with a different project. I am still working on the long term project in Africa, which means next year I may well be back in Africa for a few months, but funds allowing, I really fancy China and Tibet next year too ;)
 
If only I didn't have a family I would love to come, your photos are superb!
 
menthel said:
If only I didn't have a family I would love to come, your photos are superb!
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Sheesh! Talk about a lack of imagination.

Take them with you and sell them into slavery en route to fund the trip.
 
DemiLion said:
Sheesh! Talk about a lack of imagination.

Take them with you and sell them into slavery en route to fund the trip.
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I don't think anyone would want them! I could dump them in Calcutta with the Wife's extended family though, its on the way! ;)
 
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Well, less than 4 weeks to go now and I am starting to get my pack and all my gear ready.

I will be travelling light with this one, only taking the bare essentials in clothing and camera gear.

So far, my pack is containing the following items:

Personal gear
Craghoppers Nosilife combats x2
Craghoppers Nosilife long sleeve shirts x2
Goretex hiking boots and socks
Hat
Sunglasses
Lifesystems 100+ Deet
Suncream

Equipment
Nikon D700 + Grip
Nikon 14-24 2.8
Nikon 24-70 2.8
Nikon 70-200 2.8 VR2
Nikon 50 1.4
Nikon 85 1.4
Panasonic GF1 + 20mm 1.7
Lee ND grads and a polariser
Macbook Pro

Lighting
Nikon SB900 x2 (although I am tempted to swap this for the 120J, but the SB900 is likely to be far more reliable)
Westcott Apollo 28" softbox
A bunch of Gels + Snoot and a grid.
Very lightweight light stand

The lighting rig can fold up into a shoulder sling which is really useful as its not that heavy at all, the backpack (a Tamrac Expedition 8x) however is getting on the heavy side ;)

I really want to leave the zooms at home, seeing as most of my work is portraits anyway, but I would kick myself if I was halfway across the world and didn't have the lens to get a particular shot, so I may as well go prepared ;)

I will also take an umbrella and a very small raincoat as I am going in the middle of raining season, so there will be very heavy showers everyday, but I am happy that the backpack is weather sealed, and the D700 and the lenses won't be bothered by a bit of rain :)

Anyways, if anyone has travelled to cambodia or jungles anywhere else, please let me know if there should be anything else I need (or should) take with me to make life a little easier. I have been out walking most days with the pack to get my body ready for trekking with that kind of weight again and I am quite pleased that I am still in trim!

To say I am getting excited is now an understatement :D
 
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Don't forget the insect repellent James, don't want to get bitten by mosquitoes and other bugs.
 
exciting stuff James, not been to cambodia but been to thailand 3 times. If you happen to be able to spend any more time near bangkok, with any travel delays get yourself on a train about 6 hours north to the village of Sukothai, it's the old 12th century capital and whilst the ruins do get visited from time to time it is largely off the beaten track and the village of sukothai will feel like the real thailand. Not a sign in english and the food is exceptional. I recomend the sukothai fried chicken which you can only get in this area.
 
I love your work from the Africa trip, and envy you for being able to make this :thumbs:

I would have seriously loved to join, but there would be a number of issues. If you don't mind, keep us posted on this trip, and the ones you're planning for next year.

best of luck, and God speed.
 
I'd get a 4 stop ND as well as your grads, claw back some shallow depth of field if you're shooting in bright light with flash. Pretty useful, one pretty much lives on my 50mm 1.4...

sounds amazing James, have a great trip :)
 
joescrivens said:
exciting stuff James, not been to cambodia but been to thailand 3 times. If you happen to be able to spend any more time near bangkok, with any travel delays get yourself on a train about 6 hours north to the village of Sukothai, it's the old 12th century capital and whilst the ruins do get visited from time to time it is largely off the beaten track and the village of sukothai will feel like the real thailand. Not a sign in english and the food is exceptional. I recomend the sukothai fried chicken which you can only get in this area.
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joescrivens said:
where are you staying in bangkok by the way?
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Cheers for the advice Joe. I was hoping to spend some time in Bangkok on the way out, but I had to change my travel plans, so I hope that I can book a day on the way back as I have just added a couple of days to the trip. I will see if I can travel to where you have suggested as it sounds right up my street :thumbs:

Wail said:
I love your work from the Africa trip, and envy you for being able to make this

I would have seriously loved to join, but there would be a number of issues. If you don't mind, keep us posted on this trip, and the ones you're planning for next year.

best of luck, and God speed.
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Thanks very much :thumbs:

I will be doing trips like this each year (god willing) so I will always post up details of them when I know them :)

itsdavedotnet said:
I'd get a 4 stop ND as well as your grads, claw back some shallow depth of field if you're shooting in bright light with flash. Pretty useful, one pretty much lives on my 50mm 1.4...

sounds amazing James, have a great trip :)
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Cheers bud, my Lee grads are the large resin variety so they work as both a solid ND and a Grad. I have 1, 2 and 3 stop filters, so I can stack to 6, add a circ polariser and I have about 7 stops of light killing power :D

The 85mm will pretty much have the Lee filters welded to them ;)
 
Hi James

I went to Cambodia back in 2001. I also took in Thailand, Burma (Myanmar to be correct), Laos and as my memory is pretty terrible I may confuse them a little but I think the below is correct.

Angkor was extremely hot during the day - I'd get up there or leave at 6am I think to avoid the heat, and crowds. I got a 3 day pass. At the time they use to kick everyone out at a certain time, just after sunset I think, but if you left in a more leisurely manner you could get the place virtually to yourself (it was admittedly a bit darker!).

Phnom Penh the River Bank use to have loss of kids jumping in and generally messing about which may be of interest photographically as well as experience wise as you'll soon be engaged in conversation. You should go to the S21 prison, not for photographic reasons but I found it more moving then say the killing fields. The photos they have of people in there who know they are going to die is very moving.

I went off the beaten track a bit, but I really don't know where which is not much help I'm afraid! I did hire a bike from somewhere and head out across rice paddy fields, have some nice young child chase a water buffalo at me, and met some monks who invited me to the temple where we shared some tea and biscuits (but not a common language sadly). All good photographic opportunities of course, if I'd had a camera then of course....

Are you landing in Bangkok and then going overland to Cambodia or flying in? I did the overland on an open truck and was covered head to toe in dust, so you might want your camera gear locked away if you do something similar.

Lots of interesting stalls etc on the sides of roads selling spiders, I think birds in eggs not fully developed etc. People I was with tried the spiders and quite liked them.

If you go slowly and hang about you'll find people who can talk to you about the Khmer Rouge, which, in addition to interesting if tragic stories might be something you could tie into.

Anyway, I've rambled on enough, if you have any questions let me know and I'll try and answer them. I am, however, very jealous!

Al

As an aside I can highly recommend the courses James runs. :thumbs:
 
Selection of dry bags or you can use Plastic Bags and Zip Lock Bags – Essential!! protection from water, dirt, dust etc. Bring spares. Also line your rucksack with a thick plastic heavy duty bin liner to protect the contents from getting wet.

Flip Flops - very useful once you've finished hiking, also handy going to, during and from the shower

Wash Kit
First Aid Kit incl Mycota foot powder
Mosquito net

A sun hat with a full size brim on it

Am very envious as I would love to go to Cambodia & Laos - really look forward to seeing the photos

PM me and I can send you some drybags and a mossie net

McShug
 
I was in Cambodia last year and your kit looks pretty spot on. Be prepared to get up very early to get the morning light, and to trek in some pretty nasty heat to get anywhere good by the time the evening light starts... It can get surprisingly hot and I spent a decent amount of time making sure I always had enough water with me.
The temples are amazing although Angkor *** is far too busy with people to be able to get the kind of shots I wanted - there are a lot of more impressive and quieter temples that I found far better. Also, it's frowned apon to photograph the monks in most places so just be careful although you're clearly an old-hand at that side of things.

Have fun!
 
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