asian images

Hanoi Water Puppets

2012-02-09T13:43:00.000+07:00

The Hanoi Water Puppets are a unique form of entertainment combining live music and singing, story telling and dancing and prancing puppets. Thought the stories are in Vietnamese it's visually fun and because the instruments are traditional the music couldn't be more Vietnamese. If you come to Hanoi and don't see the puppets you've missed out on something that is a very traditional Vietnamese art form.

Musicians and Puppets

Paying homage to Le Thai To

The Puppeteers

My second go at Time Lapse

2012-02-05T06:53:00.000+07:00

My second go at time lapse. I have a lot to learn!

You Gotta Check This Out

2012-01-31T17:30:00.000+07:00

A SKEWED VIEW

The tennis has just finished in Melbourne, the Grand Prix is about to fire up, footy will be on again real soon so Melbourne is one happening joint.

Here is unique and fascinating insight into the great city from a completely different point of view.

CLICK HERE

Come & Go Vietnam Blog

2012-01-30T13:45:00.000+07:00

Thanks to Tim Russell from Come & Go, I have been quoted in the Come & Go Vietnam travel blog. Come & Go are a boutique travel company based here in Saigon and if you are ever in the need of trip somewhere these folk come up with stuff that isn't your stock standard pre packaged, off the shelf, outta the box kind of tours. To check out what they do:

Come & Go Travel

And to read Tim's blog on Street Photography in Vietnam just click the link below:

Street Photography

The Little People

2012-01-22T11:06:00.001+07:00

They lurk around bonsai trees they are really just bonsai'd people.

Flower Power

2012-01-21T11:04:00.002+07:00

The annual Tet, Vietnamese New Year flower show is on in one of the parks. Come along and marvel at the bonsai and get you lady to pose sniffing a flower or two. Not recommended for sufferers of hay fever.

Tet @ The Crescent 2012

2012-01-20T14:40:00.002+07:00

The Vietnamese are just about to celebrate the beginning of the Year of the Dragon and have gone all out to decorate the area near where I live. Click on the link below to see a veritable plethora of images taken on the morning of Wed 18th Jan. In the days to come I will also post sunset and night shots of the festivities and if all goes to plan my first time lapse!

CLICK HERE

Vietnam's GIANT Cave by Nat Geo

2012-01-19T15:48:00.000+07:00

Just have a gander at this bewdy! That's one bloody big hole. Nat Geo goes under Vietnam.

CLICK HERE

Cunning Photography

2012-01-18T15:32:00.003+07:00

Whilst hovering in my new jet pack I spied these folk wandering below. I whipped out my trusty 7D and fired off a couple of shots completely unnoticed by the people at street level. Cunning huh?

Between Districts 4 & 1, Saigon

The Sandpit

2012-01-17T08:19:00.002+07:00

Tiltshift Timelapse

Another time lapse but this is also done in tilt shift making everything look like toys.

Click Here

Wikipedia:

Time-lapse photography is a cinematography technique whereby the frequency at which film frames are captured (the frame rate) is much lower than that which will be used to play the sequence back. When replayed at normal speed, time appears to be moving faster and thus lapsing. For example, an image of a scene may be captured once every second, and then played back at 30 frames per second; the result would be an apparent increase of speed by 30 times. Time-lapse photography can be considered to be the opposite of high speed photography.

Temples of Doom

2012-01-16T18:49:00.001+07:00

A short photo essay from 2 pagodas in Saigon. Gloomy joints full of dragons and ghouls.

CLICK HERE

The Crescent, Phu My Hung

2012-01-12T19:55:00.000+07:00

The Crescent is unlike any other part of Saigon, more like Docklands in Melbourne. Dead as a dictator by day it hums to life in the evening. Strolling couples bump in to roller blading bozos, dog walkers march across dragging some poor mutt behind them and elderly folk amble without a care in the world.

It's still a very new development but it is coming together slowly. But if you find yourself in the vicinity this weekend pop into Boomarang and have a look at the Art and Performance exhibit.

Strawberries & Cyclos

2012-01-11T15:22:00.006+07:00

Whilst wandering through District 4 Saigon we discovered street markets and sleeping cyclo drivers. The back streets of Saigon are where real life happens. On our Saigon Unseen Urban Kaos tours we take folk through the laneways and backstreets. Fantastic fun riding through them on a motorbike but brilliant if you are in to street photography.

Time Lapse that took 2 Years!

2012-01-09T19:37:00.000+07:00

Click Here

Yet another time lapse but this one was 2 years in the making and is narrated by Attenborough so you know it's good.

Slow Motion Lightning Footage

2012-01-05T07:58:00.002+07:00

Time Lapse Photography

I am becoming fascinated by time lapse. I love the feeling of time being manipulated and so much being compacted into such a short space. The time it takes to put this together and the actual playing time are so disproportionate as the filming and editing must take ages. If you know of any great time lapse photography zap it though to me please.

Click Here

The Temple Club

2012-01-04T10:24:00.000+07:00

If you have ever wanted to visit an amazing temple complex where you can have it all to yourself, a place where you can feel as though you have rediscovered a piece of history hidden from view for hundreds of years, then Angkor Wat isn't the spot. On this particular day I estimated that there were at least 13247 people ambling through over and within the temple. Which has me confused as to why there isn't wifi and a good cafe smack dab on top.

Entrance fee: $20 per head.

Heavenly nymphs meet religion.

Angkor Wat, Where, Why, How?

2012-01-03T10:50:00.001+07:00

Times they are a changin'. In my early days of visiting Angkor Wat if you wanted to visit the third level you had to be a thrillseeking daredevil with a head for heights as the steps were worn by a thousand years and as steep as a ladder. Steps that had been climbed by thousands of feet over the centuries all worn and rounded. One slip and you'd tumble down and most likely end up as smear at the bottom, your entirety reduced to pulp - but not these days. Now there are new steps made of timber that are still very steep and have a hand rail. This make the going so much easier but therein lies the problem. In the past you could have the place to yourself but now it is thronged with all manner of nationalities. There is even guys at the base of the steps that enforce some kind of dress code. Soon there will be VIP passes, lady's nites, bingo and I've heard rumours of pokie machines and TAB!

Sssh, this was taken at The Bayon

Traffic in Frenetic HCMC Video

2012-01-03T07:54:00.000+07:00

This is an incredible time lapse of Saigon's traffic. Rob Whitworth has done an amazing job putting this together and for someone like me who drives in this madness most days he has really made us look like a colony of ants. However, I am sure that if you look carefully, maybe go frame by frame sooner or later you'll see a guy on black and chrome 1964 Vespa, that'll be me.

Click Here

Saigon Folk

2012-01-02T15:05:00.009+07:00

This is a huge city sprawled over a massive area. These photos were taken one morning whilst ambling from District 1 through District 4. There is so much happening on the streets that Vietnam is incredibly interesting for walking around armed with a camera.

Feisty Fish Trap

2012-01-01T09:57:00.014+07:00

Look carefully and you will see bridges and fish traps. The locals set these so the fish that are blasted through the falls and survive can then get trapped in these set ups. So, there you are an extreme kind of fish impressing your mates with your derring-do but lo and behold it all gets unstuck when you find your self in a fish trap and shortly after heading as a special guest, off to dinner. That is if the fisherman survives. Imagine this in full flood when there is an amazing amount of water belting through and hardy folk have to go out along slippery rocks to recover their catch where one small misstep for man can then become one giant horror show of floundering, gasping, flailing, smashing and drowning for Mr Fisherman.

Khongphapeng Falls, Southern Laos

Dolphin Spotting Laos

2011-12-31T19:10:00.006+07:00

Sunset on the Laos/Cambodia border, out looking for the elusive Irrawaddy Dolphins. Apparently there are 10 that frequent these waters. For about $3 per person we were out on this beautiful stretch of the Mekong at dusk. Most people saw something, whether they were the rare Irrawaddy Dolphins or not, everyone came away satisfied with just being alive, on a boat, watching a beautiful sunset over two countries. Everyone but me. I really wanted one to do a Flipper like leap over the bow coz I thought it was their porpoise to entertain.

Mobius - A short film by Vincent Laforet

2011-12-31T10:19:00.000+07:00

An interesting short film by Vincent Laforet.

Click Here

Tad Fane Falls

2011-12-29T18:58:00.001+07:00

These falls are called Tad Fane and they tumble about 100 metres down the face of this crater. It has real "lost world" feel to the place. Momentarily I found myself conjuring up circling pterodactyls, and a lazy brontosaurus ambling around the rim in search of the most delicate of vegetation but as I revelled in my imaginary world I was brought back to reality by a tourist describing the view as a "giant dual flush toilet."

Bolavens Plateau, Laos

Anti Human Trafficking Day, Phnom Penh

2011-12-28T18:50:00.002+07:00

I tried to get a nice shot of the flower arrangement but this crowd converged on the scene and I nearly told that tall bird to pull her head in. But hang on, isn't that....

You'll Find Me....

2011-12-27T18:37:00.002+07:00

Buddha and the Nagas, their first album was the best. Here is a promo photograph from his latest CD with the provocative name You'll Find Me in the Lotus Position, a compilation of his early years where he knocked out tunes in a variety of genres. This album tackles the tricky period in the 70's when the band maybe got a little too carried away meditating and the music that came from this period is sort of new age world post punk metal pop with just a tantalizing glimpse of folk.

Southern Laos

Welcome to Laos

2011-12-26T18:19:00.001+07:00

Southern Laos has a wide variety of waterfalls. This one is Tad Lo up in the Bolavens Plateau. A very pleasant spot. A nice place to relax for a few days. You could spend your time wandering around the small village, swinging in a hammock by the river, watching elephants get bathed, monks taking some time out or just waiting for your dinner. I met a guy who had been patiently waiting for 93 hours. Welcome to Laos.

Chilies

2011-12-25T18:10:00.006+07:00

Lying around like the severed botoxed lips of super models the chilies are left to dry out in the sun.

Like Water For Elephants

2011-12-24T18:00:00.006+07:00

Stalking through the undergrowth I heard a rustle followed by a splash. Senses on hyper alert, I slithered over the jagged rocks until I came to the river's edge. As I raised my trusty Remington I realised that my hopes to bag myself an elephant had been thwarted by a couple of young hardy warriors. Judging by their traditional garb I have them pinned as coming from the tribe known as "Bogans."

Tad Lo, Southern Laos

Mekong River, Laos

2011-12-23T17:49:00.004+07:00

The Mekong River is a bloody big river. As a matter of fact it's the 12th longest in the world with the 9th largest volume. Home to 3 metre catfish and various species that look as though they were conjured up by Roald Dahl. But here on this stretch it's a slovenly brown sea crisscrossed by fishermen in these narrow boats. Does it look hot? It certainly was! This photo was taken whilst we putted across on our own little ferry loaded with 2 motorbikes.

The World Cup it Aint

2011-12-23T07:35:00.000+07:00

Blue skies, palm trees and a soccer ball, what more could these young blokes ask for? Wouldn't they be better of with a Nintendo and a iPad so they could update their status and maybe make some real "friends"? Surely they aren't having fun, it's not possible. Mind you the school head office could do with a lick of paint and maybe the roof could be replaced.

School on Don Khon, Southern Laos

The Ferry Man

2011-12-22T17:40:00.004+07:00

Apparently it's bad luck to pay the ferry man until he gets you to the otherside. But the conundrum we faced was the ferry man wouldn't take us to the otherside until we paid him so I have to apologise to all you Chris DeBurgh fans as i know how much that song means to you both.

Li Pi Falls

2011-12-21T17:39:00.001+07:00

It was late afternoon on the island of Don Khon (or is that Don Kong or maybe Don King I'm sure it's not King Kong or Donkey Kong) but anyway it's an island in the south of Laos. "But Laos is landlocked!" I hear you whine. Aha, here is the trick. The Mekong River has created a myriad of islands on the Laos/Cambodia border. This area is known as The 4000 Islands. This is Li Pi Falls an angry torrent of gushing madness that must be ferocious during rainy season.

2011-11-14T22:39:00.000+07:00

Our Orchid

2011-11-09T21:54:00.000+07:00

The Last Train of Borneo - White Water Rafting the Padas River

2011-11-08T22:53:00.000+07:00

A journey up a track and down a river.

CLICK HERE

A video of a train journey on the Last Train of Borneo and White Water Rafting the Padas River.

"Youngster & Mum" by Adam Martin | RedBubble

2011-11-07T13:18:00.000+07:00

"Youngster & Mum" by Adam Martin | RedBubble:

Vicious and Scarey Animals

2011-11-07T12:04:00.001+07:00

Blue Eyed White Tiger

A bunch of photos from a recent visit to Singapore Zoo.

CLICK HERE

White Water Rafting Padas River Borneo

2011-10-28T21:20:00.003+07:00

See photographs of Taren and myself get thrown out of a raft - twice whilst being pummeled by the Padas River in Sabah Borneo.

CLICK HERE

A short film about survival

2011-10-26T20:42:00.000+07:00

EXTREME! Survivalist tips from deep in the heart of Borneo. To survive most guys need a big knife, some handy piece of rope and a bandana but this guy makes it through with his sharp wit.

"This guy makes Rambo look like a blouse wearing Nancy!" Sly Stallone

CLICK HERE

"Animals of Borneo" Calendars by Adam Martin | RedBubble

2011-10-26T09:50:00.000+07:00

"Animals of Borneo" Calendars by Adam Martin | RedBubble:

"He's done it again, this guy is prolific!" - Courier Mail

"It really is amazing that each year is made up of 12 months everytime!" George W Bush

No Smirking

2011-10-20T22:14:00.001+07:00

Big Hands

2011-10-19T22:12:00.001+07:00

Checking Things Out

2011-10-18T22:10:00.001+07:00

A Happy Family

2011-10-17T22:09:00.001+07:00

Hangin' With Mum

2011-10-16T22:07:00.001+07:00

Big Belly, Skinny Legs

2011-10-15T22:06:00.001+07:00

Wranglers Pit Viper Borneo

2011-10-14T22:06:00.000+07:00

"People of the Forest - Orang Utans" Calendars by Adam Martin | RedBubble

2011-10-07T14:24:00.000+07:00

"People of the Forest - Orang Utans" Calendars by Adam Martin | RedBubble:

More Orang Utans

2011-10-06T13:57:00.001+07:00

Big Ritchie and some Babes

All these shots were taken at Semmengoh Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre. The centre is not far from Kuching. We walked from our hotel for about 20 minutes to get to the bus stop, climbed aboard bus No.6 and enjoyed listening to Malaysian breakfast radio at ear splittling decibel levels whilst being snap frozen by the turbo a/c for the 45 minute drive to the drop off.

The bus ride cost 3 ringgit each (about $1 USD) and we had to shell out another 3 MYR for entrance to the park. The walk from the entrance took about 20 minutes along a undulating road and as we approached the carpark some excited folk were pointing at a large lump in a tree top. This turned out to be a big male Orang Utan named Ritchie and to see the bulk of him high in the tree tops was fantastic. We were hoping he'd make an appearance at the feeding platform but he decided to just hang out on his own, not fussed with females and the bananas on offer. Though we'd been snubbed by the big guy we still had lots of action with the females and some youngsters.

As a matter of fact I completely forgot about Ritchie as I was to engrossed watching the others coming in grab a few bananas and climb back in to the forest. The keepers don't want the Orangs to enjoy a feast just enough to tide them over and they keep it bland so the animals learn to go in search of their own food and at this time of year there is plenty of fruit on offer.

The feeding hour goes very quickly and what I find interesting is the number of people that make the effort to show up and stay long enough to get some happy snaps and then go. Good for them but better for us. On this occasion once feeding was done the tourists began the amble from the feeding area back to the waiting cars and minivans but we noticed a keeper calling up into the trees, yelling out to Ritchie. Would he grace us with his presence or would he remain aloof? There was no way we were going anywhere until we were either kicked out or the big guy showed up.

Then crashing through the trees he came breaking branches with his weight as he swung towards another small feeding platform and within minutes there he was right in front of us and let me tell you that being stared down by an Orang Utan that has been described by the staff as "bad tempered and angry" is intimidating. We had seen photographs of human limbs that had a run in with Ritchies teeth and it didn't look like a whole lot of fun.

Ritchie

Kuching Temples

2011-10-06T11:41:00.000+07:00

Siang Ti Miao & Hong San Si Temples - Kuching, Sarawak

Civet Cat, Monkeys & Monitors

2011-10-04T08:17:00.000+07:00

More photos from the Kinabatangan, Sabah, Borneo.

Click Below.

Photo Essay - Civet Cat, Monkeys & Monitors

Borneo's Pigmy Elephants

2011-10-03T14:58:00.000+07:00

Pigmy Elephants

Pigmy Elephants live in the disappearing forest of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. I have been to the Kinabatangan region of Sabah 3 other times before this journey and I heard rumours the elephants were nearby, I heard "You should have been here 3 days ago!" or they came through just over there only an hour ago, and I have had plenty of elephant dung pointed out to me but up to this point I had never seen them.

However some people we met on a our travels mentioned that they had seen them in the Kinabatngan area so, though I was hopeful, I was doubtful that we would see them.

We chugged up river in the late afternoon and whilst the Belgians behind us kept their eyes peeled for Orang Utans, Probiscis Monkeys and Macaques we scanned the banks in search of small elephants.

Our boat seemed to have devoloped a problem and both myself and Taren were anxious that we might miss any chance of seeing them if they did come down to the river but in the meantime the boat driver got on the phone and requested help, parts or a new boat. So, there we were getting occasional glimpses of Proboscis Monkeys in the tree tops when the guide pointed across the river to the oppostie bank where two small Asian Pigmy Elephants were grazing.

This was, as a moment in time incredible but before long the elephants had merged back into the bush letting loose the occasional trumpet and though it was all too brief both Taren and myself were pretty excited. The boatman started to reverse the boat out of the area and we realised the show was over but then he pointed the nose of the boat down a creek and to our complete amazement came across mothers and babies, males sporting tusks a veritable mass of elephants!

The elephants had come to raid an old local fishing camp and they were there with intent, knocking things over, tearing off the roofing and smashing down poles. We had a sensational view point from the water as the animals were above us looking down. Though our presence agitated them to a small degree they didn't seem to fazed as long as we kept our distance.

Truly an incredible experience!

The Borneo Elephant (Elephas maximus borneensis), a well-documented variety of elephant, is also called "Pygmy Elephant." This elephant, inhabiting tropical rainforest in north Borneo (east Sabah and extreme north Kalimantan), was long thought to be identical to the Asian Elephant and descended from a captive population. In 2003, DNA comparison revealed them to be probably a new subspecies.^[1]^[2]. A 2010 study found that there are an estimated 2,040 elephants in Sabah.^[3].

Wikipedia

Time Lapse & Tilt Shift Photography - by Keith Loutit

2011-09-01T09:09:00.002+07:00

Hulkamania!

I am not really sure why tilt shift photography appeals to me so much but I reckon it's the kid in me. This is bit of fun shot at a pro wrestlemania type event. Be warned though it contains very small men dressed in their underwear jumping on each other and tiny women baring the breasts!

Sorry lovers of Tiny Wrestlers and Bare Breasted Women the previous link didn't work, Try this instead!

Tilt Shift HULKMANIA! by Keith Loutit

Time Lapse Photography Trailer

2011-08-31T22:58:00.001+07:00

Time Lapse by Tom Lowe

To watch this incredible preview for the film TimeScapes: Rapture.

Sorry folks the previous link didn't work, try this one instead.

Click Here To See Amazing Time Lapse

NEW! Vietnam Swans Poster

2011-08-31T21:53:00.000+07:00

Vietnam Swans Grand Final Poster

Ross Mc Crea from the Vietnam Swans took one of my photos of a Swan in flight in mortal danger from a Cobra and turned it into the poster for this year's Grand Final Bash.

Nice work Ross!

Streets of Saigon Video

2011-08-26T17:52:00.001+07:00

Streets of Saigon Video

I wonder if the Vietnamese ever ponder,

" Why did the chicken cross the road?"

When it's obvious that a chicken never has.

Click Here

Photographers

2011-08-17T12:11:00.000+07:00

Photographers

I have been looking at other photographers work to check out the competition and there are some people out there capturing amazing images. I have been searching for photographers in the Vietnam region and here is a selection of some to check out.

AJL Photo

So, as I seek inspiration and at times overawed by others work I realize the talent of photographers in Asia is amazing. We are spoilt for choice as amazing scenes surround us everywhere we look.

Views Over Saigon

2011-08-15T15:49:00.000+07:00

Saigon Evening from the 23rd floor of The Sheraton Hotel

Looking down Le Loi St and Saigon Centre

Sunwah Tower & the Bitexco Financial Tower

Rex Hotel & The Peoples Committee Building

Notre Dame & The Peoples Committee Buildings by Night

2011-08-09T16:46:00.000+07:00

Notre Dame Cathedral

The Peoples Committee Building

Boomarang

2011-08-08T08:31:00.001+07:00

Boomarang Restaurant, District 7, HCMC, Vietnam

All photographs by Adam Martin

Press Release

Boomarang Opens Stunning New Restaurant in Vietnam

Aussie restaurant brings its fresh, authentic cuisine to Ho Chi Minh City 16 October 2010 (Vietnam) – Australian inspired and Singaporean grown restaurant Boomarang Bistro & Bar, recently opened its second restaurant and cafe „Boomarang Bistro Saigon‟ in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. As Vietnam‟s retail and consumer lifestyle sector is set to grow into 2011, the community, expatriates and tourists can enjoy Boomarang‟s Australian culinary delights at HCMC‟s forefront lifestyle location, Phu My Hung, District 7.

With its fresh, authentic Australian cuisine plus high level dining experience and take home offer, Boomarang Bistro Saigon emits universal appeal to tourists, expatriates and the wider community.

Located at The Crescent, the new commercial and residential centre in Phu My Hung, Boomarang boasts a stunning two story restaurant and cafe with scenic waterfront views, contemporary eco-design furnishings - inspired by Boomarang Singapore‟s LEED® Award winning restaurant (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design), customized signature boomerang shaped wine cellar, earthy Australiana tones plus private dining room.

Mark Carroll Photography and Film

2011-08-07T22:18:00.000+07:00

Outerside - Mark Carroll

Recently I had the pleasure of meeting and working alongside Mark Carroll and Heeth Grantham whilst they were shooting the Floating Village of Cong Dong in Bai Tu Long, North Vietnam. Click on the link below to see some of Mark's sensational work.

These images come from a guy who describes his work as "Just a job." Have a look at this and see if you think (like me) it's a pretty cool job!

Outerside - Mark Carroll

Photographs from the Vietnam War

2011-08-07T21:49:00.000+07:00

I have just discovered these images from photographers during the Vietnam War. Here in Vietnam it is known as the American War. Being the first war where photojournalists could easily travel to the front lines on a daily basis some of the images capture some incredible moments of the horror of the day.

Some of these pictures are pretty harrowing and some are just incredible shots.

Click Here

Photographs from Lone Wolf/National Geographic Project

2011-08-04T13:33:00.000+07:00

Bai Tu Long

This link will take you to another site where you'll be able to view images from my time with Mark Carroll & Heeth Grantham from Lone Wolf Productions whilst they shot footage for an upcoming National Geographic series on the "Oceans".

CLICK HERE