The Shots

the beaches of thailand

Since work has ended i have been traveling around the islands in Thailand. The beaches iv seen are breath taking and i cant compare them to anything i have seen before. In this group of islands they have a party known as the Full Moon Party, to use the description shit show would be an understatement. This party consist of falaongs = white foreigner. There are so many people here that you cant see the beach. the party takes place at night and the entire strip of beach is jam packed with bars. Bars that serve "THE BUCKET" this is a cheep drink, 100B around 3.00$ that you drink from a bucket, the same bucket you us to make sand castles out of. There are fire shows every 300 yards that little thai men proform with sticks and chains on fire. I don't have any need to show up to this party. In fact i am staying on the furthest beach from it. Yesterday we rented moto bikes and drove down to the south side to catch a glimpse of the beach and I saw that it could get out of control. Loud music people everywhere either trying to sell out shit or a ride in their water taxi, we did get dinner and smoke hookah. But once we got back to our beach all you could hear was the ocean.....

Back from Samed

Hey all, I have just gotten back from Ko Samed and now in Bangkok. I had some really fun nights there with my 2 friends. The beaches were breathtaking and water was so clear. I had a chance to go snorkeling with jessica and saw some cool sea creatures.

I have a few more nights left in bangkok then im taking a night train to the south.

Off the map Dolce

HA HA

I never thought i'd be happy to say this but the summer in finally coming to a end. I am going to Thailand with a friend of mine Somkid and were going to straight chillin. Id tell you all where im going but then it would be to easy for you to find me. So Peace out, Tune out and ima zone out

water ya'll

So yesterday the kiddies and I went to a water fall, Phnom Kol Lin, about two hours outside Siem Reap. By chance there happened to be at least 100 monks swimming and playing, quite a rare sight. I don't know what it is but for some reason I get along with monks very well, maybe it's the tattoo. To achieve some of the pictures I captured I had to tread in the water which had a very, very uneven ground. At times wile I was walking I was submerged up past my head with my right arm extended above with my camera, it was scary and I sure did have a jaws of life clamp on my camera.

Don't worry dad and mom the camera is safe and working.

Ode to the rainbows

For three years these trusty flip-flops have taken me from one side of the world to the other. From the States to Southeast Asia I have treaded on pavement in NYC, river beds of Thaiand, mud roads on a 16 hr drive to the ancient temple of Prevea Hera, dirt roads of Burma, Rice Fields of rural Thailand and Cambodia, boats along the Ton Le sap, high rises of Bangkok, and bamboo floating houses in Cambodia to a lavish house in Burma.

I am always haggled by the looks of these sandals and when I say there only three years old people laugh. These are the most comfortable things I have had on my feet and I would never trade them for any thing else

For of those of you that don’t know Cambodia has been through some illustrious decades and hellish dark ages. At one point the Angkorian people were rulers of Southeast Asia, controlling land West to Burma and East to Vietnam. In more ways then one Cambodia, at one point was more of a power house then America is today. Back in the states there are no century old temples, no almost extinct heritage, and barely any history. Granted USA was built from a group of men, from nothing to what it’s today but Cambodia had a tremendous cultural influence around the countries in SE Asia. Where is Americas culture….? Football? Baseball? Lavish useless accessories. Lacrosse is a sport that that could be considered cultural to the states because it was played by the Native Americans, but its not embraced as a main stream sport. When Angkor Wat was populated it housed 1million people, wile London had a population of a mere 20,000. But with the introduction with Pol Pot Cambodia took a downward spiral that had 20 year span and crippled the development of the country. He Xed off every person that was critical for building a nation, Teachers, Lawyers, Doctors, Police, Construction workers, any one that could undermined him was killed. Teachers write on the board and kids copy and don’t ask questions, Lawyers are pretty much non-existence, Medical practice is a joke, serialization of tools is not a concern, Police will pull you over for lunch money but wont pull you over for reckless driving, The tallest building is 42 floors and it’s a Canadian Bank.

What I’m getting at here is that we think we have it the best but in fact our country hasten seen much. No genocides, which is a good thing, no rich history that spans hundreds of years, no world heritage sights that can tough the temples of Angkor. But we do have stability and a proper government. A former leader of the Khmer Rouge fraction is now a prime minister under the king who refused to leave and if he was forced out he said he would start another coup because the army now was former KR under his control.

There’s a lot of history here for anyone who is willing to explore!

Hey Now!!

Hello strangers. Iv been very busy with the students and without the glory of the internet. Im now in the Hotel lobby munching on pizza, that is comparable to home. So far this week as been great kids are cool and no one nagging me to the point where I'm tired yet.

One day with the students I did bear witness to a horrific sight. We were driving back from a temple and in the distance there was a black mushroom cloud rising high into the sky. As we came closer to the scene that was a car engulfed in flames. I knew something went horribly wrong because a car accident in Cambodia is much bigger then one that would happen in the states, on multiple levels. As I approached the accident on foot I could a flat bed truck flipped over still on fire with a burnt body laying aside it. The body laying there was frozen in time with an distraught expression. The story was 15 people where in the flat bed of a truck with one driving. The car had a blow out and thrown its cargo of people into the rice fields killing them instantly. For some reason one body was left behind and the driver life was sparred which is the usual case. The feeling that came over me was nothing that I have felt before and most likely wont for some time. In a way I am glad to say I experienced this, I know have a slight feeling what its like to be in the field.

My tiny Apsara Dancer

This is the traditional Khmier dance. This style of dance has been around since the Angkor period, about 2,000 years ago. It was almost wiped out during the regime of Pol Pot as he tried to "sterilize" the country and start over. Wile i am here in Siem Reap i plan on hiring a Apsara Dancer to photograph in the Angkor Temples. I'd like to take advantage of The Golden Hour. This is the hour in the day when sunset is happening and the quality of light is incredible at the temple grounds. I will be able to explore my limits, testing my capturing skills and direction of light in the temples will be a feat.

Keep posted for photos soon!!

A Roller staking jam named saturday

Oh Mr. Sprinkler, Mr. Sprinkler

Wet me for one, Mr. Sprinkler
I'm heatin' high-five in a daze, no split
With a yawn I trip to the dawn

-Da La SOUL

for real its HOTT!

Its been a wile old friends

I'm now in Battambong, north west Cambodia. A local staff Yi and I are setting up for a trip that will run next week through this town. I have a few friends that I plan to see, haven't been around these parts in a wile. My photography passion hasn't been fueled in the past few days. Its hard to photograph these places that I have been coming to so often and photographing the same places its has been proven difficult to capture new scenes.

Im going to use my lighting skills to experiment and create new environments. I have my equipment at my disposal; grids, snoots, color filters so I am able to do a lot.

ANND Were Off

Tomorrow is the date! My first group arrives tomorrow in Phnom Phem then the summer starts off.When I'm traveling with the group I will be hitting three major cities; Phnom Phem, Battambong, and Siem Reap. Before I know it will be week 5 then week 10 then I'm home and into the real world. Its so nice to be here in Asia and away from my norms but it always nice when i get home to my local deli.

MILLBURN DELI have my sandwich ready!!!

Welcome to Thailand

Finally I made it! After after 48+ hours of layovers and 5 flights i made it to Unon Thani Northeast Thailand. I am now at the country's HQ, I should be here for only a few more days then I think I'm going to Cambodia. The way this company operates is very last minuet but it keeps everyone on their toes.

This photo is from Bangkok's commercial district, this particular mall is Central World... or it was. The red shirts burnt down a section of the mall during the protest. The owner of the mall allowed the red shirts to sleep and use the bathrooms durning the protest but when they were forced out by the police/government they thought it would be fun to start a fire. I talked to some people who were red shirts and "Though is would be fun" were the exact words they choose.

The Layover

Hello from Vancouver, I have been in a 24 hour layover here in Canada and enjoyed every taxi ride. Its about a 20min ride to the city center which reminded me on NYC but a lot more greener. I made it to a island park that had a beautiful view of Victoria island, I was able to see puddle jumpers take off and do a loop around the surrounding area. The landscape here was of a forest island meeting modern city. Too bad on my way back I don't have the same layover

Last Minute

The date to travel was on June 1st. Last week I was told June 3-4 was my departure date and today (June 1) I find out that I'm leaving tomorrow (June 2ed). I like the last minute scheduling because it keeps me on my toes. So to those I said i would grab a drink with it will have to wait till I get back.

Im Leaving on jet plane

So today I packed everything I need for my trip coming up. Consolidating my clothing and gear has been a challenge for me the past few years. This summer I am traveling with two bags; a small duffel and a backpack. I stopped in at REI, an outdoor camping store and invested in quality clothing for the humid weather of Southeast Asia this season. I am also very brand loyal, Canon to name a few! a wile back I bought a Mountain Hard Wear rain shell and have loved it even since, probably my most valued jacket.

The Packing List

June 1^st is coming up soon, so today I made sure I could carry everything in the 2 bags I will be taking. One bag is my camera bag and the other is a small duffel. Traveling and being on the go it is necessary to consolidate what your bring... in what your bringing. Your camera gear must go with you on the plane and any other essentials. This way no one else is at fault if you gear becomes lost or stolen. This is all in my new think tank shape shifter bag... that is awesome!

In my carry on I will have;

Canon 5D Mrk II

24-70mm

50MM

2 Speedlights

2 snoot/reflector

2 speed light soft box

1 grid

lap top

i pod

batteries

wireless transmitters

card reader

extra CF cards

color swatches

and buddha

Hello every one,

Hey guys. So I'm about to graduate and head over to Thailand. With the current turmoil I hope I'm still able to go. Ill be in South east asia for 4-5 months and I cant wait to get back.