So this trip was almost two months already… I’ve been caught up with all sorts of stuff since then, good and bad and everything in between. Other than Nong Khiew I only spent about half a day in any of these other towns.
Each of these towns is completely different: Houay Xai is insanely overpriced, to take advantage of all the tourists just arriving in the country from Thailand. Muang Sing is a charming little town, but has a curious lack of transportation, unless you do the smart thing and rent a motorcycle in Luang Namtha and drive there yourself. Luang Namtha has about as much charm as a Chinese industrial town, although I had a lovely massage and herbal sauna in a bamboo hut in the middle of a freezing cold rain storm. …And Nong Khiew is a dream. Definitely what I had in mind when I decided to roam around northern Laos. Stunning little town on two banks of the slow-moving Nam Ou River, connected with a great big bridge, and surrounded by mountains and jungle. Most of the guest houses are huts overlooking the river with amazing views. Mine was sort of full of bugs, but smelled really good for some reason. Then I jumped in the river and got an ear infection and couldn’t take the boat ride to Luang Prabang because there wasn’t enough people for the boat so I got stuck on another bus. The End. Here’s the pictures.
guanhui - hey! love your photos!! are you using 50mm f1.4 for your food pictures and 105mm f2.8 for the people/candid shots?
thanks!
Carlina - @guanhui.. thanks :) a lot of the portraits in this set were with the 105mm 2.8 VR. The rest were mostly a mix of that, 24-70mm 2.8 and 50mm 1.4. Unfortunately somewhere between Laos, BKK, Singapore and Vancouver I managed to lose my 105mm macro :( so sad
guanhui - hey thanks for the reply!
shit! thats a huge lost! hope you get a replacement soon :)
Carlina - I know right… lost that AND over 50gb in CF cards. Sometimes I hate myself :( Not sure I’ll replace the lens, considering picking up a 60mm macro again and 135mm f/2 DC when I can justify spending the $
Igor - Beautiful series, you really have a great eye(s) and technique. Should get this published in a travel magazine.
Igor - Wonderful series. You have a great eye and technique.
Should get this published.
Magalie - Darn you, now I want to go back! Seriously, people (eg., me) would love to travel with you and get loads of photo tips!
PS. You were right about the squirrel / rat question: point proven! :)
Carlina - I didn’t want to have to post the dead squirrels, but I will do what it takes to win an argument… you left me with no choice ;)
blogmulo - Carlina,
What a magnificent set of travel images!
I am planning to visit Luang Prabang in january myself, so I would have a closer look at your flickr stream ;)
Best,
Romulo
Carlina - Thanks Romulo~ I’ll be posting up the full set from Luang Prabang soon… almost done processing them :) I Can’t wait to see your laos set! Your photos are incredible… the one of the dunes and dead trees you posted on flickr today is mind-blowing! My colleague and I were drooling all over your flickr stream today
Heather - Wow. I love this set of images. I have been a fan of your travel photography for a while following your stuff on flickr. I was just wondering, when you travel, what gear do you usually take? Lenses, bags etc. I’d love to plan a photography trip to Asia soon and I have a habit of packing too much… just in case!
Cheers
Carlina - Hey Heather~ Thanks for saying hi! I don’t travel light, that’s for sure! I pretty much take everything I think I might want. My theory is that I don’t buy thousands of dollars of gear to use it at home shooting monkeys in the park. The bag thing is a completely different issue. I HATE camera bags, I hate everything about them. they’re ugly, uncomfortable and always too big and not big enough all at the same time. Right now I’ve got a lowepro slingshot bag and a crumpler 7 million$ home. I don’t like either, but I use the 7mil more. There are some companies that make travel backpacks with built in and removable camera bags, which I’m contemplating investing in, but they’re kinda expensive. This is one of them that looks pretty good
Stefan - Hi Carlina
Have been following your Flickr stream for some time. Not only do I love and admire your style of travel pfotography with the sense to spot so beautiful details of your environment. I also love your funny, ironical and partially sarcastic comments and stories.
And I would really have at least a part of your post processing capabilities.
Last but not least I would like to know the background of your obesession to dead fish :-) Any bad previous experience with live fish?
Hope you travel soon again to see more of your fantastic images.
Carlina - ahahaha… one of these days I’ll do a post dedicated to the dead fish habits :) My collection’s just not yet complete.
I hope I travel again soon too! Probably not until October though
Souvik - Hey Carli, amazing pictures as always. I had one quick question for you, do you use any filter, or more specifically, did you use any circular polarizer for your shots above?
Thanks
Souvik
BLOGMULO - Hi again!
Your Laos set on flickr is wonderful, but I do love this album on your blog.
Your pictures are fantastic! I am a huge fan! ;)
Take care