David Van Driessche: Blog https://www.davidvandriessche.com/blog en-us (C) David Van Driessche [email protected] (David Van Driessche) Mon, 16 Mar 2020 07:32:00 GMT Mon, 16 Mar 2020 07:32:00 GMT https://www.davidvandriessche.com/img/s/v-12/u168683028-o507805496-50.jpg David Van Driessche: Blog https://www.davidvandriessche.com/blog 120 120 Photography Expedition to Madagascar Tour 2019 https://www.davidvandriessche.com/blog/2018/11/photography-expedition-to-madagascar-tour-2019 Join me as we venture to the exotic island of Madagascar for an amazing Photographic trip. Experience the extraordinary natural diversity that Madagascar has to offer, from their various species of lemurs to the exotic chameleons and frogs that reside there. Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world and features over 150,000 unique flora and fauna species which can’t be found anywhere else on the planet!

Nature lovers and photographers must experience this incredible dream destination! We also focus on getting milky way shots on Baobab Avenue (if the weather gods are kind to us) and the Tsingy, a UNESCO heritage site. Additionally we will provide access to some amazing local families to make portraits with flash setup and do some market Photography.

Experience: 

Beginner, amateur, enthusiast and pro photographers. Isalo walk is a bit hard, unfit people can skip this trip and visit some other area near that location.

Travel by private a/c car or minibus Moderate elevation changes and some walking. (*non-photographers also welcome)



>>> Expedition Day 1: May 28 2019: Your destination – ANTANANARIVO  <<<
Meeting at Ivato international airport and transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel

Accommodation: Residence Lapasoa or similar

 

>>> Expedition Day 2:  May 29 2019: ANTANANARIVO – ANDASIBE (140 Km about 3 hour –drive) <<<

Drive to Andasibe through a landscape composed of rice paddies, waterfalls, and scarce forest stations. In Marozevo, stop at the exotic park in order to see a variety of chameleons. Continuation to Andasibe and check-in at the hotel. Before dinner, off for a night walk to see some nocturnal species of animals. Overnight at the hotel
Accommodation: Sahatandra River Hotel or similar


>>> Expedition Day 3:  May 30 2019: - ANTANANARIVO <<<
After breakfast, morning visit of the reserve to see the Indri-Indri lemurs, the largest species of the lemurs, brown lemurs, birds, chameleons. In the afternoon, you will have the visit of the private reserve of Vakona in which you see some crocs, wild ducks, snakes, tortoises and the famous fosa. You will also have the opportunity to feed and even carry some lemurs on your shoulders. After the visit, you will have a road trip back to the Capital City. Overnight at the hotel

Accommodation: Au Bois Vert or similar

 

>>> Expedition Day 4:  May 31 2019: ANTANANARIVO - MORONDAVA MD 702 13.20/14.20<<<
Transfer to the airport for flight to Morondava. Meeting at the airport and transfer to the city. First excursion to the Baobab avenue, and catch pictures of the sunset and the starry sky

Overnight at the hotel

Accommodation: Renala au Sable d’or or similar

 

>>> Expedition Day 5:  June 01 2019: MORONDAVA <<<

In the morning possibility to visit the market and catch some market scenes. Departure to the Baobab in Love and the Baobab Avenue to admire the beauty of the scenery, catch pictures of the sunset and the starry sky. Overnight at the hotel.
 Accommodation: Renala au Sable d’or or similar

 

>>> Expedition Day 6:  June 02 2019: MORONDAVA – KIRINDY (45 km about 2 hours)<<<
You’ll drive first by 4 WD car along some villages and then through the Baobab Avenue. Continue to Kirindy and visit the Kirindy dry forest reserve (to see birds, lemurs, tenrecs and reptiles and birds), a walk of around 1,5 to 3 hours on mostly flat trails. Overnight at the simple lodge of the reserve.

Accommodation: Relais du Kirindy or similar

 

>>> Expedition Day 7:  June 03 2019: KIRINDY -BELO – BEKOPAKA (160 Km about 7 hours)<<<

Early visit of the reserve, then  drive to Tsimafana at the Tsiribihina river, and ferry transfer for you and the car to cross the river. Drive through the small town of Belo sur Tsiribihina, then to Bekopaka. On the way, you’ll see dry plains with some bush, palm and baobab trees. Before arriving in the village of Bekopaka, you and the car will have to cross the Manambolo river on a small local ferry. Overnight at the hotel.

Accommodation: Olympe du Bemaraha or similar

 

>>> Expedition Day 8:  June 04 2019: BEKOPAKA<<<

Visit of the large TSINGY, rare sharp limestone pinnacles, up to 50 m high, sheltering some species of lemurs, various species of birds and many endemic plants. This walk is sporty and exhausting, you need to be fit, It goes up and down, sometimes steep, you have to climb on some ladders, and will wear for security reasons a harness. This Tsingy of Bemaraha are on the UNESCO list of the world nature sites, and a large part of the park is not accessible for the public. . In the afternoon, optional visit of the small Tsingy with its limestone pinnacles, the Tsingy have been millions of years under water, and so you can also see some fossils enclosed in the limestone. Overnight at the hotel.

Accommodation: Olympe du Bemaraha or similar

 

>>> Expedition Day 9:  June 05 2019: BEKOPAKA – BELO – MORONDAVA (200 km about 9 hours drive)<<<

After breakfast, you and the car will have to cross the Manambolo River on a small local ferry again. Drive to Belo, and after this small town, cross the Tsiribihina river on another local ferry boat, then continue to Morondava through the Baobab Alley again. You may want to experience the sunset there, a magic moment! Continuation to Morondava and overnight at the hotel.

Accommodation: Renala au Sabre d’or or similar

 

>>> Expedition Day 10: June 06 2019 : MORONDAVA – ANTSIRABE (555 km about 10 hour drive)<<<

After an early breakfast, you will be driven to Antsirabe - the "Town of Water": so called because of its numerous thermal springs and the existence of two crater lakes. Overnight at the hotel
Accommodation: Chambres du Voyageur or similar

 

>>> Expedition Day 11:  June 07 2019: ANTSIRABE – RANOMAFANA (240 Km about 5 hour-drive)<<<
After breakfast, drive to Ranomafana. - Stop in Ambositra for the visit of some Zafimaniry handicrafts centres: woodcarving. Continuation to Ranomafana. Check in at the hotel. Night walk along the road to try to see the nocturnal species of lemurs (mouse lemurs) and perhaps fossa (the Malagasy “Puma”). Back to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel
Accommodation: Centrest Séjour or similar


>>> Expedition Day 12:  June 08 2019: RANOMAFANA – AMBALAVAO (141 Km about 3 hour-drive)<<<
After breakfast, visit of the some 40’000 hectares big National park with its lemurs, chameleons, spiders, frogs, varieties of orchids and medicinal plants. Only in 1986 was discovered the golden Bamboo lemurs here, and there are more than 100 species of birds. This walk takes around 3 to 4 hours, and goes mostly on trails, sometimes a bit steep up and down, and sometimes you’ll go off the paths and into the forest to spot the lemurs, it’s a bit exhausting and requires endurance and agility. After lunch, off to Ambalavao - the commercial centre of the southern Betsileo region, renowned for its folks, arts and crafts – to visit the "Antemoro Paper" factory.  Overnight at the hotel.
Accommodation: Tsienimparihy Lodge or similar


>>> Expedition Day 13:  June 09 2019: AMBALAVAO - RANOHIRA (240 Km about 4 hour-drive)<<<
Visit of some shops. This paper is a delicate, handmade, flower-decorated paper made of the fibres of the tree called "Avoha". Another stop 12km south of Ambalavao to visit the Anja park, where you can see on a walk of around two hours on a little bumpy tracks, but not steep, some families of ring-tailed Katta lemurs in their natural surroundings. Continuation to Ranohira. Overnight at the hotel. 
Accommodation: Isalo Ranch or similar


>>> Expedition Day 14:  June 10 2019: RANOHIRA<<<
Morning  trek inside the Isalo National Park to discover on a walk of around three to five hours on sometimes bumpy tracks, at some parts a bit steep, the massif of Isalo, its ruin like sandstones, canyons, endemic fauna and flora (Lemurs and endemic plants such as Pachypodium , aloes,..) and to swim in its natural pool. Back to the hotel and overnight.
Accommodation: Isalo Ranch or similar

>>> Expedition Day 15:  June 11 2019: RANOHIRA – TULEAR  (240 Km about 4 hour-drive)<<<
After breakfast, off to Tuléar along a straight road. The landscape is composed of high bushes, thick gallery forests and some proudly decorated Mahafaly tombs. In Tulear, visit of the Arboretum with many species of endemic plants. Overnight at the hotel.
Accommodation: Victory Hotel or similar


>>> Expedition Day 16:  June 12 2019: TULEAR – ANTANANARIVO MD713 09.35/11.15<<<

According to the flight , transfer to the airport for the flight back to the capital . Meeting at the airport and transfer to the city. Overnight at the hotel.
Accommodation: Residence Lapasoa or similar

>>> Expedition Day 17:  June 13 2019: ANTANANARIVO – Your destination<<<

Visit of a handicraft market then transfer to the airport for the flight to Bangkok.

 

Including:
-All airport transfers
-Accommodation based on bed and breakfast
-Parks and reserve fees
-Service of local guides in parks and reserves
-Car or bus rental with a driver for the road trip
-Ferry transfers across the rivers
-Road transfers Morondava - Belo - Bekopaka - Morondava in 4 wheel drive cars,
-Fuel and driver's indemnities
-Tourist levy and VAT
- English speaking guide during the whole tour

Excluding:
-Domestic flights with airport taxes: Antananarivo - Morondava, Tuléar - Antananarivo: € 520 per person
-Visa fees 35 €
-International flights and their taxes
-All other meals and drinks
-Personal expenditures
-Personal insurance for eventualities like accidents, theft or damage to luggage, cancellation etc

 

Tariffs are subject to changes, especially if heavy fluctuation in exchange rate and/or fuel prices. All tours and tariffs are subject to changes in case of cancellations or overbooking of flights, changes in timetable, bad weather and road conditions, strike, political troubles, problems with fuel supply, tribal and other war, closing of sites, natural disasters such as earthquakes, cyclones, floods and other acts of God.

USEFUL INFORMATION ON A TRIP

PAPERWORK:

Since our groups consists of many nationalities the first thing to do is well in advance check which documents and visas you need for your destination. Countries like India can take a while to process a tourist visa so don’t wait till the last week to get your documents in order.

We cannot be responsible for any guest being not allowed entry at the destinations for any refund, so please check carefully all needed documents.

PAYMENT:

You can pay by bank transfer or by credit card online. The banks can charge extra fees for online payments or transfers. Take a look here for more payment information.

PAYABLE TO: Asia 4 You Co Ltd, based in Onnut 53 Yeek 1-7, Ket Praweth Bangkok 10250.

Bangkok Bank: Account Number: 232-481172-4

Branch: Seacon Square SWIFT code is BKKBTHBK

Email payment slip to: [email protected]

 

CAMERA MATERIAL TO BRING: (underlined is a must)

  • Your camera body with a medium zoom lens (ex 24-70 or 24-105mm)
  • A wide angle lens for landscape (Prime or zoom) 12 or 14mm
  • A telelens or portrait lens (70-200mm) and 85mm prime
  • Enough memory cards and batteries
  • A storage device (notebook)
  • A sturdy tripod
  • and more: external hard drives, protective gear for rain,

OTHER MATERIAL TO BRING

Good walking shoes, protective gear for rain and sun, anti mosquito spray,

Insurance and vaccinations

It is wise to get a good insurance for your travel period and check with your local doctor or tropical institute if you need any vaccinations for the country of travel.

 

 

 

 

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[email protected] (David Van Driessche) https://www.davidvandriessche.com/blog/2018/11/photography-expedition-to-madagascar-tour-2019 Mon, 05 Nov 2018 10:33:04 GMT
The Moken People of the Mergui Archipelago and Surin Islands. https://www.davidvandriessche.com/blog/2017/12/the-moken-people-of-the-mergui-archipelago-and-surin-islands  

The fabulous Mergui Archipelago consisting of 800 stunning, mostly uninhabited islands, and the Surin islands (made up of 5 islands) to the south of Mergui nestle in the Andaman Sea off the west coast between Thailand and Myanmar.

These two locations are where a unique group of people; the Moken tribe can be found. A population of 1-2,000 people, also known as ‘sea gipsies’ live what can only be described as a semi-nomadic lifestyle, surviving from what they can scavenge off the land and sea in very basic conditions on their houseboats called ‘Kabangs’.

The Moken Kabang on Surin Islands, Thailand.

They gather everything they need on a daily basis to exist from the sea and the coastlines of the islands. Anything that can’t be sought from the sea or land is exchanged with goods from local land-based folk using their catch of fish as currency. Despite their small and rapidly dwindling population, they have their own unique dialect; the Moken language, a dialect of Austronesian origin.

The community as a whole consist of several different subgroups, Moken, Moklen, Orang Sireh and Orang Lanta. Many of the small population are now in relationships with Myanmar land-based nationals through which their offspring are further diluting their ethnic DNA. Even though they are often cruelly referred to as sea gipsies, this term doesn't just apply to the Moken, but also to a small number of other Southeast Asian people who live their lives on the sea.

Their intimate knowledge of marine life means that simple foraging methods like spear and net fishing are employed to exploit the local fauna and flora of which their diets consist. During the rainy season, it is often too dangerous to fish on the seas so their time is otherwise consumed building additional fishing boats or kabangs. 

Older moken man on Lampi Island

An extraordinary trait which evolution has bestowed upon them enables the Moken to swim like dolphins in the ocean, dive to extraordinary depths to reach the seabed and hold their breath for longer than any ‘world record’ holding free diver! Another unique genetically inherited characteristic is their ability to see underwater with crystal-like clarity.

Their extreme competency in free-diving is often exploited by industrial land-based fishing companies who exploit their unique diving skills to harvest large quantities of fish from environmentally disastrous (and illegal) dynamite fishing.

This dangerous and often fatal practice has seen many male members perish or become permanently disabled from injuries for which they or their families are little, if at all, compensated for.

Moken kids have amazing underwater sight.

Because of their chosen way of life, this population is content to be marginalized by most of the civilized world. Attempts are underway by both the Burmese and Thai governments to assimilate these people into society.

Their ‘neutral’ status in terms of officially existing is starting to cause issues among their community with both governments trying to relocate various groups into settlements on land.

The island’s forests in which they once had free rein to harvest wood needed for crafting their kabangs are now off limits. Their islands are now classified as national park status and are therefore protected against illegal logging practices. Even the removal of a single seashell from the beach of one of these islands is deemed ‘illegal’ and carries a heavy fine…. or worse.

This legislation is now, unfortunately, making their customary existence all but impossible.

Moken family in their traditional house, the Kabang boat.

Small numbers of Thai Moken can now be found in villages on the Surin Islands, Phuket province and the nearby islands of Phi Phi and Krabi. 

The discovery of oil reserves off the Tenasserium coast in the 1990s expedited the relocation process by the Burmese military regime and it is believed that this was heralded as a ‘success’ by 1997. Thai officials, on the other hand, felt compelled to deal with issues of land ownership claimed by the Moken.

 

Due to their unofficial status, it appeared they didn’t officially ‘own’ the land they inhabited for centuries. Developers have now taken advantage of this and have mounted land grab campaigns which have resulted in groups from the community being relocated.

Moken lady, Ma Kyone Galet Salone Village

In 2004, the Moken people suffered a severe blow- the well documented and devastating tsunami that swept through the Andaman Sea on 26 December destroyed many traditional settlements in its path along with the tools of their trade… their fishing boats and kabangs. Fortunately, virtually none of the Moken’s lives were taken by the disaster, the reason being was because of their tight relationship with ‘Mother Ocean’.

 

Tribal leaders foresaw what was going to happen and were able to gather their people and take them to shelter on high ground before the tsunami struck. Hermit crabs retreated from the sea and birds vacated the forests prior to the disaster… even technology from the modern and civilized world did not predict what was going to happen as well as these nomadic people did!

The tsunami, afforded the Thai and Burmese governments to seize the opportunity to try and gather the entire population into settlements with promises of food and other material aid if they stayed… but nothing if they decided to leave. Their settlements weren’t allowed to be built over water as they preferred.

 

The resulting settlements were overcrowded and were arranged in an uncharacteristically organized manner.

Older moken lady fishing squid on the Sampan boat, Mergui Islands.

Fears of a further tsunami prompted the authorities to build the settlements on the edge of forests, ignoring the inherent beliefs of the Moken that spirits reside in the jungle, hence their repulsion to land. Unsurprisingly, the majority of Moken opted to leave the settlements as they missed their nomadic and unrestricted lifestyle too much to stay.

 

For the majority of Moken, the modern world is a confusing and scary place in which they feel they have no place. The frenetic pace of life, the noisy growl of traffic, and urban rush-hour that the civilized world ‘enjoys’ is alien to them!

Moken village at Kanmaw Kyun (Kisseraing Island)

Their natural diets are uninfected with saturated fats, refined sugars, alcohol and chemical preservatives. Members of their community who have been assimilated into modern culture are now facing increased health issues such as obesity and diabetes because their bodies are not attuned to the ‘toxins’ prevalent in modern processed foods that most of us are used to.

This closed group is generally self-sufficient and they don’t have the same materialistic tendencies that many in the civilized world do. They have no word for ‘worry’, they don’t fret about their future existence, nor are they jealous of the creature comforts that life in the city provides. Even their boats are designed in such a way to display their meagre possessions, proving that they have nothing worth stealing by pirates or other aggressors.

The vessel (by david Van Driessche):

In November 2017 I was invited to shoot photos of the Andaman Explorer, an amazing vessel that was built as the MV Atlantic Guard in 1963 in Norway as a 61 meter long Norwegian coast guard boat. Now completely refurbished and with the updated original Rolls Royce engines, the cruise ship sails the calm waters of the Andaman Ocean instead of breaking the Norwegian icecaps.

To be true I did not know what to expect but having photographed (therefore stayed) at many 5 star resorts in Asia, I could see the managing company Pandaw Cruises has had many years of experience in quality service catering to Luxury designed adventure trips.

Looking at the Pandaw website, the concept of having unexplored territory combined on a high class service ship seemed a great concept and a bit new to me.

Having your own working desk with 24 hours electricity, excellent cuisine and friendly service was a great luxury to have in the Mergui Archipelago, as this area only opened up to tourism about 15 years ago, therefore leaving us with 800 islands nearly "untouched by humans" to explore. This also means there are no facilities on the Islands which the Andaman Explorer provides when photographing and exploring the remote areas of the archipelago.

For more information please look at the website: https://www.pandaw.com/expeditions/the-mergui-archipelago/

The photographer:

David Van Driessche, hotel and travel photographer, organizing photo-tours mainly in South East Asia with his company Expeditions in Photography.

For more information please look at the website: http://expeditionsinphotography.com/

The author:

Mark Freeman, travel writer, editor, proofreader and freelance English tutor.
For more information please look at the website: www.121englishtutoring.com

EXPLORE SOME OF THE PHOTOS TAKEN ON THE ANDAMAN EXPLORER TRIP IN NOVEMBER 2017 HERE

 

 

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[email protected] (David Van Driessche) archipelago burma davidvandriessche gipsys mergui moken myanmar nomads sea travel https://www.davidvandriessche.com/blog/2017/12/the-moken-people-of-the-mergui-archipelago-and-surin-islands Mon, 18 Dec 2017 08:26:38 GMT
Boulder Island Bay Eco Resort https://www.davidvandriessche.com/blog/2017/5/boulder-island-bay-eco-resort Boulder Island Bay Eco Resort

"This absolutely stunning resort is situated on the western side of the Mergui Archipeligo off the Andaman coast of Myanmar and has only very recently opened."

As the name of the resort suggests, it has been built entirely out of eco-friendly and renewable materials and is barely visible from the luscious turquoise-green sea surrounding the island. The resort blends into it’s natural surroundings as the utmost of care has been taken to preserve the local ecosystem. Even though all of the materials used in its construction have been locally sourced and are natural, no detail has been spared on providing everything to make your stay there as comfortable as possible.

The natural exquisiteness of the resort cannot be underestimated or matched with anywhere else in the world and the selection of the islands four main beaches; Boulder Bay, Eagle Beach, Moken Beach, and Coral Bay provide a unique paradise, host to an array of activities. Speaking of activities, as you would expect from a resort in a location like this, there is a wealth of different activities to choose from; whether it is sea canoeing in the crystal clear, calm waters surrounding the island, a boat trip where you can view the stunning coastline from a short distance, an eco-discovery walk where you can take a closer look at the natural wildlife of this untouched paradise or trekking to discover the inner beauty of the islands forests and plantations.

Snorkeling or diving is of course a must and you don’t even need to dive deeply to catch sight of the stunning sea creatures that reside on the ocean floor (the visibility of the water is amazing!). Launch yourself into the water from a large barge located in Boulder Bay. For budding photographers or models, there is ample opportunity to be pictured against some of the most amazing backdrops that you have only ever seen in movies or on the pages of glossy magazines featuring the lifestyles of the rich and famous. For those interested in practicing yoga in the serenity of an isolated cove…. This is the place for you!

Expel your stress and inhale the pure clean air that can only be found in a place like this. If you want to get up close and personal with some unique sea-life, why not let your underwater camera accompany you on a dive and capture some truly stunning examples of marine wildlife, who knows- you may even discover a new species of coral or see anemone!  And just when you thought your day couldn’t get any better…. sunset is there to take your breath away night after night!

Accommodation at Boulder Bay Eco Resort ranges from ‘standard bungalows’, constructed within natural clearings with ample room space and a veranda to chill out on, to ‘superior bungalows’. At the top end, there are ‘suite bungalows’ which are suitable for accommodating a small family or group of people. All bungalows and suites have high ceilings and are furnished with everything you could possibly need. All food and drinks (non-alcoholic) and excursions are included in the resort price.

The sheer natural grace of this island that is home to Boulder Bay Eco Resort is truly amazing and is one of the last remaining places on earth that appears as if it has been untouched and unspoiled by human civilization for millions of years…. The water is so pristine and is host to such a wide variety of wildlife that researchers are arriving daily to discover its diversity which may provide the key to prolonging the life of some of the worlds more populated archipelagos. As well as a perfect base for marine biologists, the island has a host of tropical birdlife and an array of insects to fascinate the insectologists amongst us.

If you want to be one of the first to witness nature in it’s purest form then don’t leave this island off your list. Getting to the Eco Resort couldn't be simpler with a transfer from Kawthaung airport to Kawthaung Jetty where a boat takes you Boulder Bay every Saturday and Tuesday at 12:00 noon, returning to Kawthaung Jetty at 6am on Fridays and Mondays.
 

BOULDER BAY ECO RESORT BOOKING DETAILS:

BOULDER BAY DOWNLOADS: MAPS, PRESS RELEASE IN TXT FILE, HIGH RESOLUTION PHOTOS FOR PRINT

 

 

 

 

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[email protected] (David Van Driessche) Boulder Island Eco Resort asia eco resort ecotravel myanmar travel https://www.davidvandriessche.com/blog/2017/5/boulder-island-bay-eco-resort Sun, 14 May 2017 20:22:30 GMT
In the sanctuary of the face-tattooed Chin women @ Mount Victoria. https://www.davidvandriessche.com/blog/2016/8/in-the-sanctuary-of-the-face-tattooed-chin-women-mount-victoria Many generations ago, the tribal villages of the Chin State, located around Mt Victoria, the area of  Mindat and Kanpetlet the young women were tattooed on their faces with many different patterns of closely set lines using blue pigments, to protect their woman from the royalty of other villages, who were allowed to marry whoever they wanted.

So the parents started tattooing the faces of their daughters to protect them from being "kidnapped" into wedding by surrounding villagers men hunting for their next bride.

The daughers of the Shin Tribes, mostly located in the south of the state were tattooed between the ages of 15 and 20. In the 1960s the practice was banned by the military government of Myanmar and discouraged by shocked Christian missionaries seeing this as a sign of evil.

The government mostly banned it in their effort to control ethnic minorities at those times. 

The area to explore are the Mindat and Kanpetlet villages, which are best visited in the dry season from November to March, as you will need a 4 wheel drive from Bagan, a popular touristic area in Myanmar known for it's amazing temples and pagoda's and the balloon rides that go with them.

You can leave bagan around 5 AM to arrive at Mindat in the afternoon, dont expect 4 or 5 star properties there, the area only gets 6000 tourists a year so the accommodation is limited to some guesthouses and small eco lodges. However, the nature, mountain area and National Park is an amazing sight to see, combined with the original tribal life, I would recommend it as an amazing experience in Myanmar.

Locally you can either make some trekking in the National Park, visit some remote villages and explore the nature of Mt. Victoria, which is the highest point in the Chin State.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[email protected] (David Van Driessche) face-tattooed Chin women Mindat Mount Victoria Myanmar tattoo Tattoo faced ladies in Myanmar Tattoo ladies of myanmar tribes https://www.davidvandriessche.com/blog/2016/8/in-the-sanctuary-of-the-face-tattooed-chin-women-mount-victoria Fri, 19 Aug 2016 23:53:12 GMT
20 Daylight BW and special effects Presets by Serge Ramelli https://www.davidvandriessche.com/blog/2016/8/20-daylight-bw-and-special-effects-presets-by-serge-ramelli The new Landscape Masterclass by Serge Ramelli is a course I recommend for every beginner, intermediate and even advanced photographer to check out. It gathers 12 years of Serge's experience and knowledge about post processing landscape photography. A complete review will be posted here next week about the course, this time I would like to show you the amazing presets for Lightroom that you get for free as an extra with the course: the Daylight BW and special effects Presets.

1. Used for: Cityscapes and details of city, areal views of cities, any landscape shots, even hotel rooms and portraits (BW and Urban Look). Although these presets cater mainly for photos taken in the daylight, to give your photos that special punch when you have an overcast day or boring colours, they seem to work also on some of my blue hour photos when the city lights come on. 

NOTE ON THE PRESETS: When you buy the course you will get instructions on how to install them in Lightroom, then the fun starts at looking at some of your old content that you thought was boring light, click on the presets and see the magic happen. Or download this file here.

Not all presets will work for some of the photos, its a trial and error as you surf along your catalog on lightroom. But in a second you will see many results and amazing editing and effects happen in one click, that takes you less than a second to see the results.

Once you are happy with a preset on your photo, take a look at the Radial and Graduated filters that sometimes are in the preset, as you might need to adjust these a bit according to your composition (take extra notice of the exposure, contrast and clarity for these filters).

Then to finish the image, recheck your sharpening, luminance and masking as each camera is different on these settings and you are done, but sometimes the result is already spot on from the first click, depending on the light of your exposure.

So get ready to finetune some of your old boring photos and turn them into amazing images you would have never expected to have.

Here are 20 examples I did in a couple of hours going to my older files from 2016. 


1. BANGKOK VIEW FROM ABOVE 11 SKYBAR

ORIGINAL JPEG FROM RAW FILE

METALLIC 4 PRESET


2. ROMANCE ON THE ROOFTOP @ 260 BAR HILTON BANGKOK

ORIGINAL JPEG FROM RAW FILE

THE BW preset


3. MORNING VIEW ON MUU CAN CHAI VILLAGE, VIETNAM

ORIGINAL JPEG FROM RAW FILE

BW Basic Preset


4. RICE TERRACE NEAR MUU CAN CHAI, VIETNAM

ORIGINAL JPEG FROM RAW FILE

BW Drama Radial Circle Light Preset


5. BANGKOK VIEW FROM ANANTARA SATHORN HOTEL SKY BAR

ORIGINAL JPEG FROM RAW FILE (Panoram of 4 photos stiched in Lightroom)

The Hollywood Blue Preset


6. BANGKOK VIEW FROM ANANTARA SATHORN HOTEL SKY BAR PART 2

ORIGINAL JPEG FROM RAW FILE

Hollywood Green Preset


7. RICE FIELD FORMATION NEAR MU CAN CHAI, VIETNAM

ORIGINAL JPEG FROM RAW FILE 

Hollywood Green Preset 


8. VIEW FROM THE 360 BAR, HILTON BANGKOK

ORIGINAL JPEG FROM RAW FILE 

The Hollywood Green Preset


9. BANGKOK SKYSCRAPER DETAIL

ORIGINAL JPEG FROM RAW FILE 

Metallic 2 Preset


10. LOCAL HOUSE NEAR HANOI, VIETNAM

ORIGINAL JPEG FROM RAW FILE  

Metallic 2 Preset


11. CENTRAL EMBASSY BUILDING, BANGKOK

Left: ORIGINAL JPEG FROM RAW FILE  | Right: Metallic 4 Preset


12. 360 BAR BANGKOK HILTON

ORIGINAL JPEG FROM RAW FILE  

Hollywood Green


13. THE EIFFEL TOWER PARIS

ORIGINAL JPEG FROM RAW FILE   

BW Basic 2 Preset


14. HONDA BAY ISLAND, PALAWAN, PHILIPPINES

ORIGINAL JPEG FROM RAW FILE   

 

Hollywood green preset


15 BICYCLE IN MACAU, CHINA

ORIGINAL JPEG FROM RAW FILE   

Urban Look Middle


16. GATE IN MACAU, FORMER RED LIGHT DISCTRICT

ORIGINAL JPEG FROM RAW FILE   

Urban Look Middle


17. VICTORIA PEAK, HONG KONG

ORIGINAL JPEG FROM RAW FILE   

Metallic 4 preset


18 VIEWPOINT PARIS FROM TOUR MONTPARNASSE

ORIGINAL JPEG FROM RAW FILE 

BW Drama Radial Circle


19. HONG KONG ISLAND

ORIGINAL JPEG FROM RAW FILE 

Metallic 2 Preset


20. OLD QUARTER IN MACAU

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Left: ORIGINAL JPEG FROM RAW FILE  Right : Hollywood Green 2 Preset


  

Details & Requirements


Length: 7 Hours 27 Minutes

Experience Level: Beginner

Tags: Most Popular Lightroom

You can get these presets and much more when you buy the Landscape Masterclass by Serge Ramelli - Click here.

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