Kevin German: Vietnam

Photograph Kevin German-All Rights Reserved
Kevin German studied photography and journalism at the Washington State University, and worked throughout the United States as a newspaper photojournalist until 2008 when he traveled to Vietnam to work on social documentaries.

Kevin's photo essays include transgenders in New York City, cock-fighting in Panama, the "Salt People" of Vietnam, and a lovely gallery of South East Asia Portraits. Under the section "Wander" is his travel gallery of Vietnam and the Philippines.

By the way, since I'm such a fan of controlled blurred images, there's one in Kevin's Vietnam gallery which is wonderful!

Kashmir Rumbles

Farooq Khan/European Pressphoto Agency-All Rights Reserved
The New York Times features an article today on the current civil unrest in Kashmir, where it seems that the bitter dispute between India and Pakistan has reappeared. It all started with a dispute over a 99-acre piece of land, which has for more than two months been encouraged by both separatist leaders in Muslim-majority Kashmir and Hindu nationalists elsewhere in India.

It is sad that this festering wound has not healed. During the first few months of the year, tourists were flocking to Dal Lake in Kashmir. Eric Beecroft and I were so encouraged by the improving political and civil situation that we announced a wonderful Kashmir: Paradise On Earth Photo Workshop.

In late April, we decided to postpone it following explosions in Srinagar's main markets, and at the advice of our fixers and agents who believed the situation would get worse. Nevertheless, both Eric and I still hope that calm will prevail, and an accommodation will be sought and achieved between the two sides of the conflict allowing us to schedule the same workshop next year.

Rick Sammon's Travel Photo Tips

Photograph Rick Sammon-All Rights Reserved
Photographer Rick Sammon offers some travel photography tips for getting those images that are frequently (or not) elusive for some of us. There are quite a number of such tips, ranging from Dressing for Success to Drag the Shutter to Create a Sense of Motion.

Most of the tips are aimed at part-time photographers, and I agree with all of them except the final one...and that's the one in which Rick suggests paying a small fee to adults in exchange for their picture. I seldom pay people for photographs unless they are performers who earn a living from their craft, and expect something in return. Naturally, we all have our personal techniques, and there are no absolutes...however I espouse a somewhat contrary view.

You can also read my POV: The Ten Commandments, which is the most popular post on The Travel Photographer's blog in terms of readership numbers.

(Via Imaging Insider)

Barbara Paul: Traditions of India

Photographs Barbara Paul-All Rights Reserved
“Traditions of India,” a photography exhibit by Barbara Paul, will be shown at the Ridgefield Library from September 3 to October 11, 2008.

Barbara Paul travels through some of the most remote regions of Asia and Africa with the goal of capturing and sharing the region’s customs, dress, festivals and way of life. She has a special interest in the fabrics and textiles of the cultures she visits. Educated at Wellesley College and NYU School of Business Administration, Barbara resides in Westport, CT. She has exhibited at the Thomas J. Walsh Gallery at the Quick Center at Fairfield University, Tibet House in New York City, Black Rock Art Center in Bridgeport, and many other venues in Fairfield and Westchester Counties.

The exhibit portrays rich and fascinating age-old traditions, from festivals swirling with color to daily activities in remote villages to religious rituals at sacred sites. All are invited to a reception on Sunday, September 14, from 2-4PM at the Ridgefield Library in Ridgefield, CT. For more information, call (203) 438-2282.

Nat Geo's David Griffin Speaks

A worthwhile lecture by David Griffin of the National Geographic Society on the impact of photography. David, the photo director for National Geographic, knows the power of photography to connect us to our world. In a talk filled with glorious images, he talks about how we all use photos to tell our stories.

I briefly met David during the Foundry Photojournalism Workshop, and he came across as an extremely cordial man, and as befits a National Geographic photo editor, with a deep understanding of the current photographic environment.

Audrey Stein: All Over The Place Too

Photograph Audrey Stein-All Rights Reserved
Audrey Stein tells us in her biography that travel is in her genes, and she's absolutely right. Perhaps like many of us who are peripatetic travelers, her childhood's favorite words were Timbuktu and Kathmandu, and as the far corners of the world have always attracted her, she photographed in Southeast Asia, Central Asia, China, Nepal, India, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand and South America.

She accompanied Nevada Wier to Ladakh, and Phil Borges to Dharmashala, and to Ollantaytambo, Peru. Audrey's images are in the collection of the UCLA Center for India and South Asia.

Her website is Passionate Traveler...I couldn't think of a more appropriate name.

Alex Sievers: All Over The Place

Photograph Alex Sievers-All Rights Reserved
Alex Sievers is a Dutch travel photographer, and an architect by trade. He travels on business but always carries his cameras and a tripod wherever he goes, and as a consequence has built an impressive body of travel galleries from virtually all over the globe.

I've had a hard time deciding which gallery I'd post on TTP, but because of the Olympics I've chosen Alex's China gallery...but titled it All Over The Place which is more descriptive. Do explore the many galleries on his website....A warning though: they're so many that it'll take you a while to go through all of them.

WP: Dying Days of Cockfighting In America

Photograph Carol Guzy/The Washington Post-All Rights Reserved
The Washington Post published a very well-crafted multimedia feature titled Dying Days of Cockfighting In America, with striking photographs by the veteran photographer Carol Guzy. I thought that not only is the feature well-crafted (despite its less than appealing subject matter), but it has palpable atmospherics to it. As a viewer of this feature, I felt transported to Louisiana among the cockfighters, to their homes and their clubs...that's the beauty of this well-crafted multimedia slideshow...very well done indeed.

The multimedia slideshow consists of three parts, and delves in the lives of cockfighters near Baton Rouge in Louisiana. These are the last days of legal cockfighting in Louisiana, and the cockfighters argue that the new law will drive cockfighting underground, like dogfighting rings.

One of the cockfighters, Clarence "Wooly" Bunch, says "I'm a God-fearing man....but this is what a rooster is made for...Dogs are your friend...Not to say I don't like my chickens, but they are not my friend".

Louisiana is the last state to outlaw cockfighting. In 33 states and the District of Columbia, it is a felony. Animal advocacy organizations applaud the closing of the final legal venue in the United States for a blood sport they view as cruel and barbaric.