This morning we were up early for a day-tour to see brown sugar, alcohol and plum juice production; one of my favorite local markets, and an important pilgrimage site called Mount Popa. The drive from Old Bagan to Mount Popa takes a few hours, and passes through rural farms and villages where we stop for photo shoots.
Mid way through our day we took some time for a nice lunch at a restaurant with a wondeful view overlooking Mt. Popa and then headed down to the base of the mountain upon which the Buddhist Shrine is located. My Popa is best know as a famous as a place of pilgimage for Burmese of all walks of life who worship Burma’s Nat spirits.
Several members of our group made the climb up Mount Popa, running the gauntlet of playful monkeys who frolic on the stairways, and passing countless venders selling everything from t-shirts to prayer beads. After visiting Mt. Popa our group returned to Bagan in time for another sunset shoot of the back-lit livestock herders. It was a busy and photographically productive day.
(Since I neglected to include yesterday’s images from our visit to a lacquer-ware production shop, I’m including them here…enjoy).
I’m including several sequences that I made at a local market on the way to Mount Popa. There’s always a lot to shoot at the local markets, and one could wander around and shoot a variety of images, but I chose to stay in only a few locations and “work the shot”. Below you will see two “series of shots”, made in just two locations, only meters apart.
I sought out an area of good light and then remained there in the exact same spot for perhaps 15 minutes each, waiting for shoppers to pass in front of me. Many times I find it more productive to “let the photos come to me” rather than chasing the opportunities around. I end up with a series of similar shots, and I can choose the one I like best. Here are a few of the images that survived the initial edit. (They were all made using a 16-35mm f2.8).
So great, so great, so great! I love how you can always find incredible shots in places you have been many times before. Looking for the light, my goal….you always find it. Also “no trees touching temples”! You must have been first off the bus! 😉
Thanks for the nice compliment…Burma has so many spots with great light that I keep going back to!
hahahaah..”no trees touching the temple”….that’s becoming a “legendary line”. Actually in this case (the herders) I was the last off the bus, but the fastest runner 🙂
Hope you are doing well and I’m looking forward to shooting with you in Vietnam….have a safe flight and don’t forget to bring that new lens and your fastest running shoes!
Cheers, Karl
Great images my friend! I wish I were there.
I just can’t tell you how relieved I am that none of those trees are touching the temple! 😉 Truthfully Karl, the images makes me want to go back and do the trip all over again!
Wonderful stories in every one of these. 110 and 111 are superb – such a painterly quality to the light and composition. Picture perfect!
Hi Karl!
All pictures are colorful as usual. I liked the 1st one 170, 102 and 104.
Like the style to capture the top and bottom view in 104 picture.
Just want to ask that now you moved back to Canon so just update your equipment review so we can read the canon review also. And you used the Nikon D3S the top camera from Nikon so we can read your thoughts about the both top cameras in practical way.
Waiting for new pictures.
Thanks!
Hey Karl,
Did you get my e-mail? I just want to make sure I send to the right address. You can answer whenever you have some time.
Miss you my friend.
Celso
I’m sure I tucked this post away to read later because there were too many good images in it to go through quickly.
Always grateful that you make the time to post when you’re running tours.