Vietnam Street Photography

Street Photography Vietnam

Flickr allows much higher quality photo uploads than Instagram and Facebook. The old Vietnam Street Photography group has been inactive for years, so I just created a new one at it would be great to see some of your shots on https://www.flickr.com/groups/vietnam-street-photography/

Anyone can join and there are no limits to the number of photos at the moment. Please just keep them related to street photography in Vietnam. Ideally with people in, candid, color or monochrome, whatever you like. I hate butting boundaries on street photos, but lets keep it mainly "street" please.

Hanoi

Hoi An

Street Photography in Vietnam on Facebook

As we have been based in Hoi An for a few months and could be a lot longer I updated the Facebook page to include Hoi An: https://www.facebook.com/chiangmaiphotography/

To add your own street photography in Vietnam visit this very large group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/vietnam.streetlife.photography/

Hoi An

Hoi An

I have recently updated my Adobe Portfolio website at https://mat-mayer.myportfolio.com/

Makati in Manila Street Photography

This is where it all began for me last year. I started with my phone on the first day and then took the Panasonic G7 out with the 12-32mm kit zoom the next day. I was hooked on street photography immediately and bought a black permanent marker to blacken my G7's Lumix branding to be more stealthy.

It was the best time of the year to be in Makati, the Philippines central business district, because it was Easter's Holy Week and nearly everyone was out of town. If you need to visit Manila this is the time to go.

I was nervous on my first day doing street photography in Makati, hence the wonky image and motion blur

This is my favorite from the set, love that attitude hehehe.

Street selfie

B&W felt right for my first couple of days, this place is rarely this quiet. 

Street Photography in Vientiane Laos

We have to go and get our visa renewed in a few days, so I am scheduling this post with some photos from our last trip. Now that I have just bought a Fuji camera for street photography I will be taking full advantage whilst in Laos. We even booked an extra night so I can explore more of the less touristy spots.

Street photography in Vientiane is very rewarding with interesting local dress and culture

The heat seems to be worse in Laos in May, making many tuk tuk drivers want to curl up in their hammocks in the middle of the day.

Vientiane is never short of unique street scenes

The tuk tuks are shaped like this in Vientiane. Aiyah is to the right snapping away.

We shall get some more photos added from our forthcoming Laos trip very soon. We are staying farther away from the river this time to experience more of the "real" Vientiane.

Relaxing Nature Video Filmed in Koh Kood

We filmed this lovely sunset scene whilst visiting Koh Kood in Thailand recently. It is one of the best islands we have ever been to with amazing white sand. It is well worth the hassle to get there. The beaches are quieter than places like Koh Tao, Koh Samui and Phuket.

Koh Kood Sunset AKA Koh Kut from a Secret Beach

Koh Kood, or officially Koh Kut to many people, is an oasis and a nice break from busy beaches with too many people and vendors. It is great to explore on a scooter (moped).

The video above was filmed from a deserted secret beach at the north of the island facing a mini island which is probably swim-able at low tide, but it is risky with currents. There are lots of little tours which will stop there for snorkelling.

Videos like this are one way of making your lounge look and feel better cheaply. 

Moon Photo from Chiang Mai

Moon photo Chiang Mai

I got a new toy this week from Film Camera Shop Chiang Mai , who has a good selection of old lenses and cameras. Its a Pentax f4.5 80-200mm. I would have stopped it down a little to at least f5.6 for this photo and this is fully zoomed in (400mm full frme equivalent) and I still needed to do quite a big crop. I guess a moon shot needs a lens more like 800mm FF eq. ?

Very happy with the sharpness of the lens, it was a good deal for 1,500 Baht. There is another seller in Chiang Mai for those interested, whose Facebook is Retro Photo Gear. He has a smaller collection and just rents out some of his cameras and lenses, so you know he is a real enthusiast.

Loy Krathong Yee Peng 2017 Buddhist Monks Ceremony with Candles Video

Here is a video I finally got around to editing from last year's Loy Krathong festival here in Chiang Mai. It is a simple scene of young Monks praying with candles and lanterns surrounding them. Unfortunately there are lots of flashes from tourists, so that's one reason I won't mention the temple as I don't want it to get even busier next time. 😁

 

This is a Uscenes video, which means it is available for download as an MP4 video or as a computer screensaver. 

Cat Cafe Video in Chiang Mai

Cat Cafe Screensaver

These beautiful cats and kittens were recently filmed inside the Old City of Chiang Mai at Cat Brothers Cat Cafe. It is located in the north east corner on the northern part of the inner ring road.

It is available as a Windows screensaver or loopable MP4 video from Uscenes. Makes a nice relaxing scene. Hopefully there will be more of Chiang Mai's cat cafes added in future.

Side note: I am currently in Vietnam (Hoi An) and have discovered various reports of cat and dog theft in Hoi An. This is due to the dog and cat industry in Vietnam. A report was publish mid August 2020 after an investigation by Four Paws, an international animal welfare organization. You can read the report at https://dogcatmeat.four-paws.org/the-truth/a-report-on-the-cat-meat-trade-in-vietnam . When we get back to Chiang Mai it is certainly something I will be looking into there too.

Mae Sa Waterfalls in Mae Rim just north of Chiang Mai

This video is of one of the 10 or so waterfalls at the site called Mae Sa in Mae Rim. Mae Sa falls are about 30 minutes away from Chiang Mai. It is an easy route which you can go via a scooter or Songthaew. There are various other attractions in Mae Rim, so best to make a day of it with the 2 ends of the spectrum being a butterfly garden and a shooting range.

Mae Sa waterfalls are not the best falls in the world but there are plenty of them. Go early to avoid the heat and there will also be less tourists earlier. It is a decent walk in the heat to reach the last one. You can hire a picnic mat and buy cooked food when you arrive. Don't forget drinking water and your swimwear to cool off in one of the pools of water.

This is Aiyah's debut video for Uscenes:

Loy Krathong Lanna Festival Yi Peng Lanterns Chiang Mai

At the full moon every 12th Thai month, you can witness amazing scenes such as these lanterns floating into the sky. Literally, thousands of lanterns are let off across the city. Many around Buddhist temples with monks participating in ceremonies to celebrate Loy Krathong.

An old photo so excuse the quality, but I just had to share this amazing sight from the Yee Peng event at festival time. Breathtaking!

This year (2017) this event may not be happening although it is always very hush hush. There is a tourist event which is similar to the south of Chiang Mai. Once is enough however, as the crowds are unbelievable and it is very easy to lose your companions.

This year the festivals take place between the 2nd and 5th of November. The place to be should be along the River Ping for candles in the water and lanterns being let off into the air. It is a thrilling sight and the concept behind the letting off of the lanterns and water candles is well worth reading about.

Basically, the floating water candles are your worries flowing away and you can make a wish for a better future for others and yourself. The lanterns are for making "merit" and it is best that you read up on this subject to understand it better: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loi_Krathong .

I highly recommend learning about the Thai religious traditions which make far more sense to me, compared to the medieval and ancient religions of other parts of the world. Buddhism is less of a religion and more of a philosophy; a logical way to lead a better life through compassion and understanding the truths of life.

The elderly are respected and rightly so for being wiser. Whereas in the west we tend to have a more arrogant outlook as youths, leading to more mistakes and lack of progress mentally. Buddhism is a religion which can work in harmony with science, unlike most others who contradict it.

The events take place when there is a full moon. There will be street processions and beauty contests, plus dancing and many more traditional activities to celebrate. But more importantly, the festival is about celebrating the beauty of Thai Buddhist culture and learning how to improve yours and others lives by letting negativity go and positivity in. I shall be sure to post many photographs in early November and fingers crossed I will be able to capture a relaxing video or two for Uscenes too.

4K Lake Nature Window - at Chiang Mai University

This peaceful setting is a relaxation video for the Uscenes website. We make simple "nature windows" and "virtual aquarium" videos to use on any screen. This is the reservoir at CMU, a lovely place to chill out for a while.

Huay Kaew Waterfall in Chiang Mai, Thailand 4K

The closest waterfall to Chiang Mai lies at the base of Doi Suthep, which is the mountain next to Chiang Mai. This peaceful spot is a nice place to relax and unwind with plenty of shady areas and rocks to sit on. Please be careful with the steep rocky area towards the waterfall, especially if it has been raining. Children should not attempt to climb that part.