Category Archives: Travelling

07 Jun
Peruvian Culture – Arequipa

After booking a trip to the Colca Canyon (arguably the deepest canyon in the world, twice that of the ‘Grand Canyon) just north of Arequipa, we were picked up from our hostel at 2am to start the long drive up to see the Condors at ‘Cruz del Condor’. After about 1 hour of driving in the pitch black in the middle of nowhere on the side of a mountain, our driver decided to fall asleep and slowly drift over to the edge of the road.

Thankfully it wasn’t the edge of the mountain, but the side of the upwards slope that the driver was pointing towards, and with a massive sudden jolt of the wheel, and a minivan full of gringos snapped out of their sleep, I forced myself to stay awake and watch the driver for the remaining 4/5 hours of the journey.


After booking a trip to the Colca Canyon (arguably the deepest canyon in the world, twice that of the ‘Grand Canyon) just north of Arequipa, we were picked up from our hostel at 2am to start the long drive up to see the Condors at ‘Cruz del Condor’. After about 1 hour of driving in

01 Jun
Train Graveyard – Uyuni

First stop on the tour of the Uyuni Salt Flats is usually this place, the Train Graveyard.
Construction on the network was started in the late 19th Century but abandoned before work was completed, leaving the train lines to fall into disrepair.

Technical and geographical difficulties, disputes with neighbouring countries over lost territory, and more recent Western interests have all taken their toll on Bolivia’s rundown railways. This wasteland, bereft of guards or fences is the cemetery where Bolivia’s once proud locomotives have found their final resting place.

First stop on the tour of the Uyuni Salt Flats is usually this place, the Train Graveyard. Construction on the network was started in the late 19th Century but abandoned before work was completed, leaving the train lines to fall into disrepair. Technical and geographical difficulties, disputes with neighbouring countries over lost territory, and more

27 May
Cobra Show – Thailand

I cant say I’m the biggest fan of HDR processing in the world. In most cases I think people see it as an easy win or an easy way to make a photo look dramatic without much effort. I always find myself looking at terrible examples of over use, but people still seem to love the ‘wow’ effect it can give to a photo.

That said, there are also some very impressive uses of the technique by some of the pro’s, and I think like most things moderation is the key. Not just using HDR processing on an image, but to using it to compliment your other post processing techniques I believe is the answer to the best use.

This is an example that I created in CS5 using the new HDR features combined with some other filter, blur, curve & level tweaks.

I cant say I’m the biggest fan of HDR processing in the world. In most cases I think people see it as an easy win or an easy way to make a photo look dramatic without much effort. I always find myself looking at terrible examples of over use, but people still seem to love

26 May
Marching Powder

I any of you have had the chance to read Marching Powder you’ll no doubt have heard of the infamous San Pedro Prison.

Renowned and notorious as being on of the most dangerous and yet bizarre prisons in the world, San Pedro Prison is home to cocaine factory’s, market stalls, restaurants, hair dressers and even a hotel. Being in La Paz late last year, I had to go there, but I didn’t feel totally confident in taking lots of photos in front of the shotgun wielding Bolivian guards, so I could only get a couple of shots from the outside.

Apparently if you leave your passport with the Bolivian police & pay them some money you can get hold of a visitors pass to go inside, but I was feeling like a bit too much of a Gringo that day so I passed.

I any of you have had the chance to read Marching Powder you’ll no doubt have heard of the infamous San Pedro Prison. Renowned and notorious as being on of the most dangerous and yet bizarre prisons in the world, San Pedro Prison is home to cocaine factory’s, market stalls, restaurants, hair dressers and even a hotel. Being in La Paz late

25 May
Lost

With the LOST Season 6 Finale just aired, and the internet rattling with confusion and unanswered questions….
I put in my own image entitled ‘Lost?’
Photo Taken: Salar de Uyuni

With the LOST Season 6 Finale just aired, and the internet rattling with confusion and unanswered questions…. I put in my own image entitled ‘Lost?’ Photo Taken: Salar de Uyuni

10 May
Queenstown border, NZ

Had my first play on the new Photoshop CS5 trial today…
Attempting to create a look that doesnt look too over-worked. I dont think I fully succeeded with this image, but Its certainly worth posting for progress sake.
Comments welcome…

Had my first play on the new Photoshop CS5 trial today… Attempting to create a look that doesnt look too over-worked. I dont think I fully succeeded with this image, but Its certainly worth posting for progress sake. Comments welcome…

06 May
The wrong people to f*%k with…

Spotted in: Valparaíso, Chile.

Valparaiso probably has the most decorated streets, walls, alleys & coast lines that I’ve ever seen. I think its pretty much legal to paint on the walls there, so the place has turned into a global graffiti/street art mecca. It’s also home of Pablo Neruda, one of the worlds greatest and best known poets. I was lucky enough to visit 2 of his houses in Valparaiso high on the hills, and they were both spectacularly eclectic gold mines of nick-naks and antiques.

Spotted in: Valparaíso, Chile. Valparaiso probably has the most decorated streets, walls, alleys & coast lines that I’ve ever seen. I think its pretty much legal to paint on the walls there, so the place has turned into a global graffiti/street art mecca. It’s also home of Pablo Neruda, one of the worlds greatest and

02 May
Like a Bat out of Hell

This dude is rocking one of the best looks I’ve seen in ages…what a bicycle
Spotted these guys at: New Brighton Beach, Christchurch, NZ

This dude is rocking one of the best looks I’ve seen in ages…what a bicycle Spotted these guys at: New Brighton Beach, Christchurch, NZ

29 Apr
Survivors

It doesn’t matter where you go in the world, you can always guarantee one thing…Pigeons.
Photos taken: Santiago, Chile.

It doesn’t matter where you go in the world, you can always guarantee one thing…Pigeons. Photos taken: Santiago, Chile.