Where in the world..?
On my facebook page recently I posted a collection of images, but did not note the locations at time of posting. This wasn’t a mistake nor was it pure laziness.
No sir, this was intentional. Like most grumpy old men, I do take a degree of pleasure in annoying people and, during these lockdown days, pleasure can be something of a rarity. Sour Patch Sweets are another guilty pleasure - I do love those tart little beauties, going through them at a rate of knots just now. As to the photos, hopefully also a bit of fun for anyone looking to have a guess at the locations - there were clues in some of pics.
The clue aspect was something I only noticed after posting, sadly I wasn’t smart enough to think of that at the time of selecting the images. Live and learn, Fatman, live and learn.
Below I will go through each image individually, giving the locations and hopefully some interesting information about each one. Little titbits I’ve plucked from my vast bank of knowledge. Google and Wikipedia, mainly, If I have any personal anecdotes, I’ll chuck them in as well - if I don’t have any of those I’ll likely try and make something up in a vain attempt at being amusing. Again, it’s what we old men do, deal with it.
Before going into the fun bit, one wee favour to ask. Minimal effort, costs you nothing and you won’t get flooded with emails or anything - promise! It would be greatly appreciated if you could subscribe to my YouTube channel - just click the red “subscribe” button. Thanks!
OK, the photos. Background was, I was thinking of blog ideas, couldn’t come up with anything, so posted some random shots on Facebook. Then thought…”AHAAAAAAA! Let’s do a blog reveal”. And here it is. So, with no further ado, let’s get on with it…
This image is Victoria Street in Edinburgh, a short, steep road that connects the Royal Mile to the Grassmarket in Edinburgh’s Old Town. - you can see the “Old Town Bookshop” sign in the image. Anyone vaguely familiar with Edinburgh should know this street and, indeed, there were a few correct guesses on the Facebook post.
Reportedly, Victoria Street was the inspiration for Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter novels. It was also a location used in a 1985 Scottish comedy, Restless Natives. You can see a trailer for it here. I loved this movie - “The most notorious public enemies since Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”. Soundtrack by Big Country as well, doesn’t get much better than that!
This one was taken in Margaret River, south of Perth in Australia. I was walking about looking for kangaroos (genuinely) when the light broke through like this. No location clues in this shot - if only I’d found a kangaroo!
Now, a little trade secret - this shot was edited to accentuate the sunbeams. I’d wager all the shots you see like this have had the same done to them. Personally I’ve no issue with that - all the photographer is doing is presenting their vision of the scene in front of them. Technical term is “dodging and burning”, was used back in the film days, so don’t use the old chestnut of editing being a digital phenomenon. Quite simple, that’s hogwash.
Oh, for anyone interested in Landscape Photography, please check out The Art of Landscape Photography
As well as giving photographic examples of the techniques explained in the book, advice starts from the very beginning of your landscape photography, i.e. equipment basics - worth a look.
From Australia, this next shot takes us to Cambodia. The sculptor in the image works in the Artisans Angkor workshop. It is well worth looking at their website for more information about who they are and what they do - I’d certainly recommend a visit if you are ever in Siem Reap.
Next stop is Vietnam - Hoi An to be precise. Hoi An lies on Vietnam’s central coast and is famed for its well-preserved Ancient Town and canals. The former port city’s melting-pot history is reflected in its architecture, a mix of eras and styles. There are Chinese shophouses and temples as well as colourful French colonial buildings, ornate Vietnamese houses as well as the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge.
In this shot a street vendor is selling Banh Beo, a savoury steamed rice cake. The clothing and language give Vietnam away as the location, the yellow building and lanterns in the background are a giveaway for Hoi An, certainly to anyone who has been there. There was a correct guess on the Facebook post!
This is an older shot from the archives and one that was featured in a calendar produced as marketing material for my workplace. Yay Me, I had become a published photographer! I had to give the image a name, I went for “Happy Feet”. Stupid title in retrospect - not sure any foot would be happy treading naked across tarmac and gravel all day long.
Oh, it was taken in Luang Prabang, Laos. I kinda like the shot although I wish the sharpness was a bit better. I feel it stands up pretty well as a “Travel Shot” and gives a feel for Luang Prabang - there are barefooted monks wandering around all the time.
I have done a blog previously on what I look for in Travel Photography.
For anyone interested in a more professional rundown, I would recommend the following book - Lonely Planet's Guide to Travel Photography
Decided to stay in Laos for this shot - we are looking at the Mekong River. I remember hearing about places like this as a kid in school - never, ever did I that one day I’d actually get to sit somewhere like this with my camera and just watch life go by. I’ve been far more fortunate than I dared to dream. I’ve never really thought about whether I have a “happy place”, but somewhere like this would have to be close to the top of the list.
Sitting in a cafe on the banks of the Mekong, watching local life, taking photos, no pressure of time, no commitments - glorious. The history of Laos is also mind blowing - on a per capita basis, Laos is the most bombed country on the planet. During the Vietnam War(or American War, as it is often called in Vietnam), the Americans bombed the hell out of Laos. This bombing was “part of a covert attempt by the CIA to wrest power from the communist Pathet Lao, a group allied with North Vietnam” (www.history.com).
To quote, “From 1964 to 1973, the U.S. dropped more than two million tons of ordnance on Laos during 580,000 bombing missions—equal to a planeload of bombs every 8 minutes, 24-hours a day, for 9 years – making Laos the most heavily bombed country per capita in history”. The total number of bombs dropped exceeded the total number dropped, by all sides, in WW2.
I find that astonishing. Even now, unexploded ordinances are a significant problem in Laos.
OK, let’s go somewhere more peaceful. Scotland and Wales were guesses on Facebook - not bad guesses at all.
There is a general belief that much of the world was modelled on the beauty of Scotland and this location, New Zealand, is a good example of that. Rolling hills, sheep, low lying mist - the blue skies giving the clue that this is perhaps not Scotland.
From NZ, back to Europe - and the chic little town of Montreux on the shores of Lake Geneva. This pic was taken using a drone. Lot of fun, drones - but rules everywhere have tightened up on their usage, largely due to misuse by the idiots. Same in many walks of life, I guess. Ah well.
Anyway, Montreux. Charlie Chaplin saw out much of his life near here - his home is now a wonderful museum, a “must see” if in the area, I’d say. Freddie Mercury has a statue on the waterfront, Queen recorded their last album here - and, I believe, six albums in total.
Very cool place, lovely waterside walks and you can get a train ride to the top of a mountain with some cracking views. Montreux also has a Chinese restaurant. I went. Big mistake, bloody awful. Food was about as Chinese as I am.
Let’s go back to the Southern Hemisphere - here we are overlooking Hout Bay, about 20km south of Cape Town. I was in Cape Town to talk at a conference, would you believe? Quite right to, I have things to say and the world deserves to hear them. Wasn’t on photography, though - no one wants to hear me talk about that. One day, though….one day…
As you can see, the coastline here was stunning. Like Scotland, but warmer.
Back up to the Northern Hemisphere and back to a country already visited in this blog I should have planned this better, in retrospect. But that’s me, crashing ahead, no plan, no structure and just hoping for the best. See, I could have said that I planned it this way to throw you all off the scent. But no, I’m too honest for my own good sometimes.
So where are we? Vietnam, that’s where. Some clues from the signs and the bike culture. This was from a good few years ago - I was struck by the lack of bike helmets and by the number of kids riding like this one, standing in front of her parents. Health and Safety would have had a field day.
Rules have changed over the years, but back then helmets were a rarity. The mother has a face mask on though - now there’s foresight, good on her. Put herself before her wee girl though. Pfffft. Nice of the dad to give me a greeting - very welcoming, but should have kept his eyes on the road, not on the fat, sweaty white guy.
Maybe a little bit of a curve ball here - this image was taken in Singapore. The normal images of this City State are of gleaming hotels and skyscrapers, Formula 1 races and beautiful people. But Singapore does have another side, the older generation who, at times, have been left behind by the rapid progress this amazing Little Red Dot has made over the years.
In non-lockdown times I do a lot of street photography, often with a focus on the older generation.
Sticking with street photography, this time in Tokyo. Tokyo is a very fashionable city, but I think coordinating your clothes to match the road markings is a step too far.
Spotted this lady hanging around the lines, had to wait a wee while until she moved to a decent spot for a shot. Not entirely sure who she was calling here, but a few minutes later some police turned up and started chasing me, yelling “stalker”. But I’m Scottish and therefore have good experience of running from the rozzers, so I made a decent escape.
Staying in Tokyo, this incredible structure is the Tokyo International Forum, a convention and exhibition centre within walking distance of Tokyo Station. You can freely wander around the building and photographically it is a joy - lines, reflection, plays of light - it’s a great place to spend time and take some snaps.
I love Tokyo as a city, might do a dedicated blog in the near future.
Well, that finishes this little photographic journey. I’ll start to close up with a little bit of self indulgence, apologies.
I have put some images on the Picfair site, available for sale - available as downloads or prints.
Various items such as mugs, water bottles, stickers and goodness knows what else can be seen on Zazzle
There’s an iBook of my NC500 Trip around Scotland available on the Apple store. 66 pages of images and stories for six quid, there’s a bargain if ever I saw one!
Also available as hardback on Blurb
Sorry, that was embarrassing, but needed to be done. Every penny helps these days. OK, moving on…
Thanks so much for looking at my images and reading my nonsense - it really does mean a lot when I get some kind comments on the blogs or on Facebook. So, sincerely, thank you!
Until the next time, stay strong, stay safe, be kind!
Fatman xxx
Oh shoot, let’s do one last pic..
This is them.
The little sweet and sour wonders that are Sour Patch Kids. Highly recommended. No artificial colours or flavours, that’s a health food in my book.
For the record I am in no way, shape or form sponsored by the makers of these things. But I’m open to offers, if anyone has any contacts..?
OK, done now
Fatman xxx