:: Buddha's Little Children ::
The children,,always photogenic,,always charming..These images were taken in Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam..
:: Robes and Bowls ::
Monks make wonderful subjects and are very approachable. Monks will often stop foreigners in the street to engage in conversation to hone their English speaking skills.
To Tanti,,I hope your
English is improving. Souk dii der!!
:: Tadlo, a small dot on the landscape. ::
Tadlo is a small village in Salavanh Province in southern Laos.It is a Lao Loum village, is untouched by tourism and off the beaten track.These images are a cross section of daily life,people going about their daily business.
When I arrived the village was all but deserted.It was the children who first came out due to curiousity and once comfortable with me and my camera hammed it up for me.The Lao love children and adorn affection on them.
This gallery is a snap shot of village life.
:: Vientiane Fresh Produce Market ::
Fresh produce markets are an array of colour. I purposely converted these images into mono to give impact to the faces and not the produce.
:: The Glorified Sinh ::
The parsinh has been the traditional attire for Lao women for hundreds of years.. It's colourful, elegant and feminine..Slowly, due to Laos' westernisation the sinh is losing favour, especially with younger women, who are preferring more western style fashions..Please don't allow the sinh to fade from Lao culture..
Here is a light hearted look at the parsinh..
:: Thong Khan Kham Markets ::
Thong Khan Kham Markets are the biggest traditional markets in Vientiane.. An array of colour and a vibrancy which makes for great photography..
Most of these images are candids of people going about their business..
:: Mono ::
I've had a love and fascination of black and white photography since the mid 1970s.. I remember the magic of printing my own black and white prints, watching the tones and textures slowly appear in the print whilst in the developer.. For me black and white photography is photography in its purest form, devoid of colour but relying on textures and tones..
:: Ban Saphangmor Vientiane Lao PDR ::
This is Amanda's and my neighbourhood..These images were taken within 200 meters from our house..Village lifestyle in a semi rural setting..
:: Talat Sao Vientiane ::
Talat Sao or Morning Market is the iconic shopping complex in Vientiane Laos..It is a blend of traditional and new..Slowly the traditional market is making way for a new modern style shopping mall as the old market is being torn down..In my opinion it will lose its character as the new shopping mall is built..
This gallery is more about the people than the building itself,,the vendors and the people who use Talat Sao..
This gallery will be updated regularly..
:: Boun Bang Fai Laos 2011 ::
Boun Bang Fai or Rocket Festival is celebrated towards the end of the dry season in May. Rockets are launched into the heavens to appease the rain spirits in the hope of bringing on the rains during wet season and a bountiful harvest.
These images were taken in Phonmouang, 30 kilometres north of Vientiane. Many happy, drunk people, and a lot of gunpowder.
:: Traditional Lao Wedding Baci ::
Bacis have their roots in Animist beliefs before Theravarda Buddhism was introduced into Laos around 7oo years ago.. Bacis are performed at weddings, funerals, births, homecomings or any event where good fortune is granted towards the recipient..
White cotton threads, the lasting symbol of continuity and permanence are tied around the recipients wrists, should be worn for aleast three days and never be cut off..
The wedding baci is usually held after the official civil marriage ceremony..
:: Pai Sai : Tales From A Bus Station ::
There is no railway network in Lao PDR.. People rely on buses for local and inter provincial travel.. Bus travel can be hazardous especially in the wet season when roads are often washed away..
This gallery is a snap shot of the major bus station in Vientiane..