Lots of photos published

I just had a slew of photos in the January – February edition of fah Thai, inflight magazine for Bangkok Airways. Check them out here:

http://www.ink-live.com/emagazines/fah-thai

Let me know what you think of them.

Happy New Year

Brought the New Year in a mellow fashion by staying on Otres Beach in Southern Cambodia. Definitely not off the beaten track as it was 2 years ago when Sue and I first visited it.
At least Cantina Del Mar is still on the beach so we spent most of our days hanging out with the always interesting Hurley Scroggins and downing his fish tacos.
Took a timelapse of the sunset whilst drinking some Tecate beer that he had brought down. Not a bad way to spend the new year.

A trip to Orussey

Took a trip to Orussey market today to scope out some locations for an upcoming shoot for the Post. Got a couple of good shots on the Ricoh but shooting in such a dark environment really shows the limitation of the small sensor.
Anyhoo, some pics from Orussey market

Wedding dresses in Orussey Market

Asleep at the counter in Orussey Market

Soul Satisfaction bag in Orussey Market

Canon EOS Experience at Raffles

Sorry this is a bit late but I haven’t been able to upload photos onto my blog ever since I got my new laptop.
So am on Safari for the first time in years to post this.

I had a chance to play with the new Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro IS L lens at the Canon EOS Experience Seminar at Raffles on Wednesday and Thursday.
Its an impressive lens which deserves the red ring that signifies it as an “Luxury” class lens. I wanted to see if the lens would be good as a portrait lens along with being a top notch Macro lens. The only drawback I experienced on the lens was the very loose focus ring which caused me to lose focus several times while in Manual Focus. It may easily be photographer error because of the very small depth of field f/2.8 allows at 100mm. So I guess I should say that I need to use the Auto Focus if I decide to get this lens!
There was an opportunity on Thursday morning with some models being brought out for the shooters. Here is a shot that really shows the sharpness of the lens.

Tight closeup of a model

I still don’t really understand why they did this as I was the only one of the participants that actually got to use one of the products that they were flogging. When actually thinking about it, I liken the experience of the seminar like going to Guitar World in Hollywood.
Anyhoo, another photo of the event.

Paparazzi at Raffles.

Paparazzi at the pool

Work around for photos

Okay, have used my flickr account to upload some photos until I can figure out why wordpress isn’t working.
So you can check out the new photos here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/blindeyeproductions/

Hope you like them

Its a cold day in the North

In Hanoi.

Its cold…

Its like England cold which is quite appropriate as I have just finished an article in the inaugural issue of the Word (kinda like a Time Out in Hanoi) in which the writer likens Hanoi with England along with comparing Saigon to America.

“If a Saigonese goes to eat street food and the vendor curses at him, you know, for taking too much space or not eating it fast enough, he won’t come back.
If a Hanoian does something and the proprietor swears at him, he will just take it. There is this mindset, “if the seller is that rude, there must be something good about the food”. And the rumor spreads and it becomes the most popular place on the street”

Other than the cold, Hanoi has been great. The service in the Heart Hotel has been top notch. Very helpful and very friendly. And no tours are being offered to us!

For some unknown reason, my wordpress account is not allowing me to upload photos from my new Macbook Pro so photos will have to get those when I figure out whats wrong..

Working in the dome

I have been working on a project with my photo agency documenting the renovation efforts at Central Market.
Along with taking photos, I have been working on a slideshow which will have audio from around the market. So I have been walking around the market for the past few days, audio recorder in hand (thanks Rick for the loan).
Taken while getting some sound of some construction being done in the dome at Central Market.

Construction workers in the dome in Central Market

Thmei Phsar Thmei

One of Phnom Penh’s most recognizable landmarks is getting a makeover. Built in 1937, its Art Deco dome is one of the coolest looking buildings I have ever seen.
It is now being renovated to its former glory by the French Development Agency at the sum of $5.5 million. The first of three market renovations planned by the FDA (Psar Chas and Psar Kandal being the other two), it is estimated to take 18 months to complete.
The first of three stages is now complete and market vendors are now moving back.

Tonle Sap River

We are at the tail end of the rainy season here but there seems to be no let up. Levels have gotten so high that you are able to see the tour boats from riverfront businesses. I have never seen the levels so high.
Taken from Sisowath Quay in Phnom Penh.

A tour boat sits on the Tonle Sap river

A really wide lens

I have been commissioned to shoot an event in Battambang for IDWA. It’s an interesting pilot program where they are teaching mine awareness through hip hop. From what I took today, it is a great program that should get more exposure.
Along with taking photos of the event, I got some great audio to hopefully turn it into an audio slideshow. So to the two or three people that read this blog daily, it will be up in the next few days.
Anyhoo, to the title of the post. I got a chance to shoot with the Sigma 12-24 lens (aka “Popeye” for its huge front lens element). I used to own the lens about 4 years ago when I first bought my Canon 20D but since sold it when I had a chance to buy a 17-35L from an AP shooter in Phnom Penh.
Now that I primarily shoot with a Canon 5D, it was interesting to put the lens to a full frame camera.
For those not versed in the geek camera cabal that I happily belong to, the Canon 20D has an APS-C camera sensor which means it has a 1.6 focal multiplier. What the hell does that really mean?
Well it means that the sensor that captures the image is smaller than regular 35mm film. Which is not good if you are shooting in ultra-wide but is an asset if you are shooting long (or telephoto) which means you effectively have a longer reach for photos.
Now, if you have a full frame sensor and have the Sigma 12-24, you get some pretty interesting compositions.
Big ups to Heng Chivoan from the Phnom Penh Post for letting me shoot a couple of frames with it.

DJ Sidea get the crowd going

Chivoan from the Phnom Penh Post taking a photo