Hoi An Panorama. My first book published!

September 30, 2015

I'm thrilled to have had my first book published and in bookstores in Vietnam from this week.

Hoi An Panorama is a 150 page photo book of panoramic style images made in and around the Unesco World Heritage listed town of Hoi An in central Vietnam earlier this year.

I was only just off crutches from a broken ankle sustained in an accident when I went to Hoi An to photograph the book. It was blisteringly hot at the time and my ankle swelled to a remarkable size after only a couple of hours on the go each day. The entire exercise was character building to say the least but having a physical artifact to hold and read makes it all worthwhile and super exciting.

Special thanks to my Art Director Paolo Maling for his patience and good advice and to the team at Artbook Vietnam. Many thanks also to my long suffering girlfriend, Nhu Lanh, who assisted mightily and tirelessly in Hoi An during the shoot over many long and hot, but happy days.

I have uploaded a small representation of images from the book under the "Books" menu item on the home page. Please take a look, I would love to hear any comments that you may have.

A walk on the wild side. Long Bien Bridge, Hanoi.

September 16, 2015

I was in Hanoi last week finishing up on one project and doing some research for another. As part of my location scouting I took a wander across the Long Bien Bridge late one afternoon.

Completed in 1902 the bridge was designed by Gustave Eiffel of Eiffel Tower fame. The bridge was a favorite target for American B52 bombers during the American (Vietnam) War and became famous for being bombed by day and repaired the same night.

An iconic Hanoi landmark, the bridge connects Hoan Kiem and Long Bien districts and provides stunning views of the Red River, at the right time of day. Not open to car traffic, it is motorbikes, pedestrians and trains only. A walk across the bridge provides an insight into more varied activity than you would think.

Working without a net and 50 feet up with zero safety gear workmen carry out repairs to the top of the cantilever bridge.

And now for the news. A young and typically "easy on the eye" reporter pauses for a quick portrait before doing a cross for the nightly news.

The weight of afternoon peak hour traffic give both the bridge and the photographer the jitters.

Despite a long and hot days work on the superstructure this guy still has the good nature to stop and smile for a portrait.

Above and beyond the call of duty. If I was directing this model my first advice would have been "if you hear a train whistle and see me running, kick off your heels and try to keep up".

A not so stunning view of the Red River from the mid section of the bridge.

Three Monks on a bridge.

August 24, 2015

I made three new friends recently while on assignment in central Vietnam. Out at dawn to capture some early morning shots I was crossing a small bridge when three monks happened along. We stopped and said hi and chatted for a few minutes. It turns out that these were vacationing monks and one reached under his robe, produced an iPhone and asked if I would take a group photo of the three of them. I love photographing monks so of course I happily agreed. I asked them for a portrait and asked them to all look in a different direction but not at the camera. I was partly successful and this frame was the result. I like the intensity of my new friend in the middle of the frame. Hands were shook and we headed off in different directions to go about our day and our lives.

Into the light.

July 12, 2015

I have just returned to Saigon from a great two weeks photographing in central Vietnam for a project to hopefully be released later this year. More details soon.

Even an end has a start

June 06, 2015

I spent a few days last Week at the Grand Ho Tram Strip Resort, two hours south of Saigon. The trip was an opportunity to escape the confines of my apartment where I have been holed up with a broken ankle for almost two months following a motorbike accident. I needed a room with a view and a swimming pool to work my ankle in. The Grand delivered with a beautiful and spacious ocean view room and a great swimming pool in which I spent a good part of each day. I returned to Saigon feeling much refreshed and ready to tackle some upcoming projects that I am very excited about. I will be walking without crutches from the end of next week and while it might be a while before I am performing Swan Lake at the Saigon Opera House I am really looking forward to getting back to my photography. Below are a few frames from The Grand.

Atmospheric late afternoon scene shot from the room.

Light in the tunnel

May 21, 2015

By way of an update it is five weeks since my accident. I am still on crutches but am now able to put some weight on my broken ankle and I feel a lot more stable and a bit less of a cripple as a result, I have also started physiotherapy which is helping a lot. I hope to be walking again in about a months time and can't wait to get my hands on my camera and get back to work and get on with some of the projects that have been delayed because of the accident. Watch this space :)