Travel with a Camera

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Travelling with a camera is one of the most rewarding and exciting experiences you can have. Whether you want to capture the beauty of nature, the culture of a new place, or the memories of your adventure, a camera is an essential tool for any traveller. But what is important when travelling with a camera? Here are some tips to help you make the most of your photography journey.

Choose the right camera for your needs. There are many types of cameras available, from compact point-and-shoots to DSLRs and mirrorless cameras. Each one has its own advantages and disadvantages, depending on your budget, skill level, and preferences. Think about what kind of photos you want to take, how much weight you can carry, and how much control you want over your settings.
Pack the right accessories. A camera alone is not enough to take great photos. You also need accessories to enhance your shooting experience and protect your gear. Some of the most useful additions are: a spare battery or three, memory cards, a tripod, a lens cleaning kit, a camera bag, and a filter. These items will help you avoid running out of power or space, stabilize your shots, keep your lens clean, store your camera safely, and improve your image quality.
Learn the basics of photography. No matter how good your camera is, it won’t do much if you don’t know how to use it properly. Before you go on your trip, take some time to learn the basics of photography, such as exposure, composition, lighting, and focus. You don’t have to be an expert, but knowing some simple rules and techniques will help you take better photos and avoid common mistakes.
Be respectful and responsible. Travelling with a camera gives you the opportunity to document and share your experiences with others, but it also comes with some responsibilities. You should always respect the people and places you photograph, and ask for permission before taking someone’s picture. You should also know the local laws and customs regarding photography, and avoid taking photos of sensitive or restricted areas. And of course, you should never harm or endanger yourself or others for the sake of a photo.
Have fun and experiment. The most important thing when travelling with a camera is to have fun and enjoy yourself. Don’t be afraid to try new things and experiment with different angles, perspectives, and settings. You never know what you might discover or create. Remember that photography is not only about capturing what you see but also about expressing what you feel.

Travelling with a camera is a wonderful way to explore the world and express yourself creatively. By following these tips, you can make sure that your photography trip is a success and that you return home with amazing photos and memories.

Too Much Gear.

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a world without pictures is like coffee without cream and sugar, bitter

I definitely have too much gear but I can’t see myself getting rid of any any time soon. I am running three systems at the moment, Nikon, Fuji and Canon and I use them at different times and for different reasons as they all have their strong points. Most of my gear is not new, the last new lens I bought was a Vitrox 13mm f1.4 for Fuji.

Nikon D3s and a few lenses I bought recently for great prices used. I still enjoy using a DSLR, especially of this quality. Other Nikons I have and still use are the Nikon D2HS, and Nikon D1. I am definitely a hoarder.

The Canon 1D Mk IV has been my main work camera for the past 10 years and it has never put a foot wrong, always giving me the images I required, but like the Nikon D3s it heavy and you…

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forPeace 2019

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a world without pictures is like coffee without cream and sugar, bitter

Every year since 2013/14 I have be invited to spend the week with the forPeace house building team on there quest to finish houses donated to poor families in the Cambodia countryside. Covid 19 interupted the seasonal job as 2020 had o be cancelled. Hopefully 2021 will happen.

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Too Much Gear.

cameras, Fujichrome, fujifilm, Lenses, opinons, thoughts, photography, Uncategorized

The Canon 1D Mk IV has been my main work camera for the past 10 years and it has never put a foot wrong, always giving me the images I required, but like the Nikon D3s it heavy and you need to be fairly strong to hump it and its L lenses around for a days shoot.

Fujifilm have been building wonderful cameras for a while, cameras with a bit of class. My general everyday camera for work is now Fuji either the XT2 or 3, with the battery grip as they still cannot compete with DSLR’s, power wise. Picture wise they can in certain circumstances, better the comparable DSLR.

I also use the Fujifilm X Pro1,2 & 3 .

If you are looking for a camera that can capture the essence of street photography, you might want to consider the Fuji X Pro2. This camera is designed with street photographers in mind, offering a range of features that make it easy and enjoyable to shoot in any situation. Here are some of the reasons why I love using the Fuji X Pro2 for street photography.

First of all, the Fuji X Pro2 has a hybrid viewfinder that lets you switch between an optical and an electronic viewfinder. This gives you the best of both worlds: you can use the optical viewfinder for a more natural and immersive experience, or you can use the electronic viewfinder for more accuracy and information. The electronic viewfinder also has a magnification function that helps you focus manually, which is great for street photography.

Secondly, the Fuji X Pro2 has a compact and discreet body that blends in with the crowd. The camera is not too big or heavy, so you can carry it around comfortably and discreetly. The camera also has a retro and classic design that looks stylish and elegant. The camera does not attract too much attention, which is ideal for capturing candid moments on the street.

Thirdly, the Fuji X Pro2 has superb image quality that delivers stunning results. The camera has a 24-megapixel APS-C sensor that produces sharp and detailed images with rich colours and tones. The camera also has a wide range of lenses that suit different styles and situations. You can choose from prime lenses, zoom lenses, wide-angle lenses, telephoto lenses, and more. The lenses are also fast and bright, which means you can shoot in low-light conditions without compromising on quality.

Finally, the Fuji X Pro2 has a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to adjust settings and modes. The camera has dedicated dials for shutter speed, exposure compensation, ISO, and drive mode. You can also customize the buttons and menus to suit your preferences. The camera is intuitive and responsive, which means you can focus on your subject and not on your camera.

These are some of the reasons why I think the Fuji X Pro2 is a great camera for street photography. It offers a unique and enjoyable shooting experience that lets you capture the beauty and diversity of life on the street. If you are interested in street photography, I highly recommend you to try out the Fuji X Pro2.

A Trip to Kampot, Cambodia

cambodia, fujifilm, Lenses, opinons, thoughts, photography, pictures, street, Travel, Uncategorized

Kampot is a city in southern Cambodia and the capital of Kampot Province. It is on the Praek Tuek Chhu River southeast of the Elephant Mountains and around 5 km from the Gulf of Thailand. Kampot was the capital of the Circonscription Résidentielle de Kampot under French rule and Cambodia’s most important seaport after the loss of the Mekong Delta and before the establishment of Sihanoukville. Its centre is, unlike most Cambodian provincial capitals, composed of 19th-century French colonial architecture. The region and town are known for high-quality pepper, which is exported worldwide. It is also known for its Kampot fish sauce, and durian. The government and the Ministry of Culture and Fine Art have been preparing documents to nominate The Old Town of Kampot for admission to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list since 2017.

In recent years since 2010s, Kampot has been subject to extensive tourism development with the development of a tourism port worth US$8 million under the Kampot Provincial Tourism Department’s master plan. The development of the tourism port includes the construction of a 42-storey multi-purposed twin tower which will be the tallest building in Cambodia outside Phnom Penh when completed; widening and improvements to National Road No. 3; a seaport that carries passengers to and from nearby Cambodian islands, Thailand and Vietnam

According to the 2012 census, the population of the municipality of Kampot is 49,597. Historically, there has been an important presence of Khmers of Chinese descent in Kampot. Recent years have seen an important inflow of foreigners, European, Vietnamese, and Chinese. A significant part of the population is Cham, a minority Muslim group. The Sa’och tribe, an ancient population group in the province, is on the brink of extinction, however.

Sadly the worse thing about Kampot is the private ZOO situated about 20 km from the center of the city. It house wild animals, as seen above, in very bad conditions, small roughly made cages will little thought to the needs of a living creature. I would advise not to visit this until things, hopefully, change.

The PEOPLE are Kampots attraction as is its the remaining Colonial architecture.

Fun with Nikon

cameras, Lenses, opinons, thoughts, photography, pictures, street, Travel, Uncategorized

Picked up an old but babied Nikon D3s. Could never afford one when it was new but this was going for a very reasonable price so I treated myself for Christmas. I had a few Nikon lenses that I used with my Nikon D2Hs so I thought I would give it a try.

Of course my first love are my Fujifilm cameras and lenses but this camera is still very capable. I have since buying it added a few prime Nikon lenses that again were very reasonable price, older, like the camera, but still excellent.

It took a little time to get it set up the way I wanted for my picture-taking style but now that is done it is very easy to use, if a little heavy, and is capable of some excellent images with a little, and I mean a little, work in post. The lenses I chose and used for the pictures seen here, where the Nikon 50mm f1.8G and the 85mm f1.8D. If I were not a dedicated Fuji user I could see me using this as my daily camera.

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Visit from Cfs to Aogaah School with donations.

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As always a most welcome visit from Cfs, with needed donations of school supplies for the kids and a few treats. Big thanks go out to Ashok and all those who today gave these kids help to get an education.

Photography is not about gear.

cameras, Fujichrome, fujifilm, Lenses, opinons, thoughts, photography, pictures, street, Travel, Uncategorized

To me, photography is not about the gear you use to make an image but about the image you make. Yes, it is nice to use a beautiful camera and a superb lens but if you get stuck on that merry-go-round your pictures may suffer. The old saying ” the best camera is the one you have with you” holds true. I always have tried to use what I think is the best camera, that I can afford because it pleases me, but it does not have to be the most expensive on the market. These days ALL cameras can make good images.

Taking photographs is about the ability to see an image using the equipment you have at hand, be that an iPhone or a Leica or any one of a hundred cameras in between.

Learning to see and anticipate is much more important than the actual camera you may choose to use. Each of the images here was taken with a different camera, either Canon, Nikon or Fuji, can you tell which I know I could not if I did not already know.

Certain types of photography such as sports or wildlife demand the use of certain types of equipment, long prime or zoom lenses, for obvious reasons, it would be next to impossible to shoot these kinds of subjects with a traditional point and shoot camera. These professional genres demand the use of professional equipment but this does not outweigh the skill of the photographer, knowing the game or the animal enables he/she to anticipate shots.

Specialised equipment is not always needed, and is not always available as with the pictures of the surfer which were taken with a Fujifilm X Pro2 mounted with the only long lens I had with me the XF 50mm f2. Placing yourself in the best position (on the pier closest the action) and with a little good anticipation (and judicious cropping in post) you can still make some good images.

Its is not always about equipment or camera but more about the skill of the photographer to know how and when to make the image.

Phnom Penh, Cambodia 2022

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a world without pictures is like coffee without cream and sugar, bitter

Phnom Penh is a great city for colourful photography, it’s big, dirty and in your face. Street photography is a pleasure. The people are generally friendly and rarely object to having their picture taken.