Revisited: Less talk, more photos.

Recently, I dug into my hard drive and reprocessed some of my old photos.

Just some old photos I want to give a new look.


Cheers.

Alex

Laos: A travel back in time

Laos is a country as yet untouched by the modern demands.

Its beauty lies in the Lao people, history, culture, nature and the simplicity of a laid back lifestyle.

Arc de Triomphe - Vientiane, Laos. Grand Legacy of Former French Colonization.

Two weeks ago, I was fortunate to have the chance to visit Laos for a few days. Although I was travelling with colleagues and couldn't take as many photos as I would have liked, it was an all-expense-paid trip, so I'm not complaining! Despite the limited opportunities to shoot, I was still able to capture some of the beauty of Laos on the go. Here are a few of the photos I managed to snap during the trip.



Note:I only brought one camera with me during this trip, the Fuji X100. 

Freshly cooked fish from the Mekong River

A good spot beside the Mekong river to enjoy some sumptuous dinner.

Ho Phra Keo

Laos is mostly a Buddhist country.

Pha Tat Luang. A temple at the heart of Vientiane. 

Hanging out beside the great Mekong river.

The capital city of Laos, Vientiane, presents a unique glimpse of an emerging city at its early stage of development. The city's architecture and infrastructure remind me of what my home country looked like 15 to 20 years ago. Vientiane is located at the side of the Mekong River, which also serves as the border with Thailand.

During my trip, I had the opportunity to visit Nam Ngum Lake, which is approximately 90 kilometers from Vientiane. This scenic and vast artificial lake was created when the Ngum River was dammed for hydroelectricity. The lake boasts many small islands, making it an excellent spot for recreational activities like boating and fishing. Below are some photos I took during my visit to Nam Ngum Lake.

Nam Ngum Lake

Nam Ngum Lake

Our lunch was served on a lake cruise. Cool isn't it?

Our next stop was at the town of Vang Vieng, located about four hour bus ride from the capital. 

The town lies at the bank of the Nam Song river, a scenic scene surrounded with Karst hills.

This scene made me feel nostalgic.

Hanging bridge leading to the hills.

Nam Song river                                                                                                                                                              

Beautiful hills at the background

View at the top of a small hill.

Nam Song river

Nam song river

I was absolutely captivated by the natural beauty of Vang Vieng during my recent trip to Laos. I only had a limited amount of time to explore, but I was struck by the stunning scenery and felt a deep connection to the simple, laid-back lifestyle of the locals.

Although I couldn't stay as long as I would have liked, I'm already dreaming of returning to Vang Vieng and experiencing even more of its charm. This trip was just a glimpse of a beautiful country that seems to be frozen in time, a refreshing change from the hectic, stressful pace of city life.

Overall, my trip to Laos was a much-needed break and a reminder to slow down and appreciate the natural beauty that surrounds us. Cheers to more adventures like this one!

Alex

#12 Baby Gian

He`s cute and sweet and so much fun.

This little prince is turning one!

Last week, I was asked to photograph baby Gian for his first birthday celebration.

I always enjoy photographing kids, as much as they are challenging to photograph they are also lots of fun to work with. 

You'll sure be missing a lot of shots and accurate focus and you can also forget about setting up poses and lighting, but it's fun and a breath of fresh air to what I'm used to.


Happy birthday little one.


Cheers!


Alex

Thai food overload

Last week, I had a photoshoot that involved something everyone loves: food.

In the days leading up to the shoot, I had mixed feelings of excitement and uncertainty. It's always thrilling to be paid for something you enjoy doing, but this was my first time photographing food for commercial use. While I've always been interested in food photography, it's not something that necessarily captivates me. When I see food, I think "eat" rather than "shoot."

It wasn't in my area of expertise, so the thought of potentially messing it up was scary. I didn't want to end up with the same type of photos that people take on Instagram right before they devour their sushi.

However, the good news is that I was also able to devour the food that I photographed. Who doesn't love a win-win situation?

Here are some glimpses from the shoot:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Crispy pork in delicious Thai sauce with rice and egg toppings

Mouth watering aren't they?

I know you want to taste it!

Crispy Thai crackers

Finger foods

Enticing!

Doesn't really look healthy. But oh well, try to resist these.

Hypertension, Thai style.

I bet you're feeling hungry now. Thai food is renowned for being incredibly flavorful, although some dishes can be quite spicy and may cause an upset stomach...

Thai cuisine is among the most diverse in the world, offering a vast array of dishes with unique combinations of herbs, spices, and ingredients.

If you ever have the opportunity to visit Thailand, I highly recommend it to fully experience the sights, smells, and tastes of authentic Thai food. Don't settle for the imitations in your own country marketed as Thai restaurants - they are often far from the real thing.

Adding Thailand to your bucket list is a must, not just for the food, but also for the country's rich culture and stunning landscapes.

De Talat Phlu

I would like to thank De Talat Phlu restaurant for trusting me on this one.

And their food are delicious and surprisingly lighter on the pocket.

De Talat Phlu restaurant is located at the 4th floor of Siam Square One bldg.(Across Siam Paragon), Bangkok.

Delicious Thai food at its best. Don't forget to visit the place.


Cheers!

Alex

Of scents and some sense...

After the trip from Philippines, I haven't got much chance to take some new photographs.

Lots of new stuff going on at work and what not.

(In fact, I think I'm just lazy to think of some new projects for now.)

Fortunately,  I got some small things to do at the side keeping my photographic energy alive.

My wife and her friend got into a small hobby of making home-made perfumes for friends and relatives.

I was assigned to take photos of the products.

My task was to make a small DIY (Do-it-youself) studio at home and be a little creative in presenting the products.

Not bad as a challenge.

Home-made perfumes for gift purposes only. 

Home-made perfumes for gift purposes only.

Perfume for gift purposes only

These home-made oil-based perfumes really smells good, last a long time and cheaper to make.

Although I love to do outdoors sessions, this small project at least woke me up from my laziness.

Or did it?

I had a realization, a vision.

Spent some of my weekends shooting outdoors.

Spent nights reading about photography and lighting.

I love what I'm doing. (Except for sitting in front of the PC editing photos)

But I am not a photographer.

I consider photography as just one of my skills.

Something that I still want to improve more.

A  hobby (and some small income) I am enjoying.

No more, no less.

I also have other dreams and goals I want to pursue.

Who knows? Everything is possible in this universe of endless possibility. (Say what?)

My love for photography hasn't faded, it's just that I have other things I decided to prioritize.

I will still accept and do some photography projects from time to time.

Just a little bit less active.

I hope that make sense.



Cheers.


Alex