GORM TEPERCon Dao Island
Posted on March 17, 2018
I haven’t posted anything in a while – very sorry. Has been a very busy end to 2017 and a busy start in 2018. I have also changed jobs in that time which was a little intense. The good news, and also a cause to the lack of posts is that Vanessa and I had a good long trip to Vietnam (again). So there should be plenty of new material coming up. As we are also on the brink of spring, I hope to grab some nice spring shots too soon.
The beach in front of our resort. 5D Mark III and 24mm 1.4 lens.
So I have decided to break down our trip is sections, and this part is about Con Dao. These are remote islands about an hours flight south of Saigon. The islands are known for their prisons during the Vietnam War, which is a bit depressing. However, they are also home to Vietnam’s best beaches, nice wilderness, and six senses resort.
We took a flight from Saigon with Vietnam Air Services Company (VASCO). It was a windy landing and one to remember, but the airline is fine and ATRs are always bumpy. We stayed at a Vietnamese 3 start resort just out of town. Con Dao Resort is walking distance from the main town. But the best way to get around is by motorbike. We rented a bike for a couple of days.
VASCO flies regular flights from Saigon to Con Dao with ATR-72s. 5D Mark III with 35mm 1.4 lens.
The islands are pretty quiet, and the people are surprisingly laid back for the Vietnamese. There are not that many roads, and not that much to see, but the place is very relaxing. We checked out the local temples, beaches and the main town the first day.
Roads are pretty quiet on the island. 5D Mark III with 85mm 1.2L II lens.
Local shrine was very picturesque. 5D Mark III with 24mm 1.4 Art lens
The markets in Con Dao are well worth a visit. 5D Mark III with 85mm 1.2L II lens.
The beach just in front of the airport is also quite nice. Its also a good place to see incoming flights which go right overhead. Taken with a 5D Mark III and 12mm 2.8 fisheye lens.
The second day we looked at a lot of the prisons from the war period. Some were built by the French for political prisoners, and some were later built by the Americans. All offer horrific conditions. It was hard to understand why such measures were needed, but good to see them.
Walking above the cells in the French built prison. An incredible place which asks many questions. 5D Mark III with 24mm 1.4 Art lens.
To prevent the prisoners from climbing up the walls and escaping, the guards would break arms and legs. 5D Mark III with 24mm 1.4 Art lens.
The American prison was obviously made on a tight budget with no concern for human life. The clammy, dark, and cramped interior is just a disgusting place to be. 5D Mark III with 24mm 1.4 lens.
The next day we rode up to the start of the national park. You need a special permit to enter the park, but it’s easy to get at the park office. We then took a hike to the other side of the island. On the way we traveled through dense jungle, and encountered a bit of wild life including monkeys. Finally we made it to a very remote little beach. It was quite rocky, but very nice in general. There are coral reefs just off shore.
One of the locals, Con Dao National Park. 5D Mark III with 100-400mm 4.5-5.6L IS II lens.
Somewhere in the national park. 5D Mark III with 24mm 1.4 lens. Polariser.
An interesting fellow, a couple of kilometers from the water. 5D Mark III with 100-400mm 4.5-5.6L IS II lens.
Nice to be off the beaten track. It did not look like there were many visitors to the park. 5D Mark III with 24mm 1.4 Art lens.
The rest of the time, we just hang around town. There are some nice cafes and restaurants. I would recommend Con Dao to anyone visiting Vietnam. It’s a welcome change from the usual rush. I think it has Vietnam’s best beaches, and easy access to nature. There is still not too many tourists there, and the remote parts are very authentic.
Same old fantastic Vietnamese food. 5D Mark III with 35mm 1.4 Art lens.
Sitting on the sidewalk, waiting for our dinner. 5D Mark III with 35mm 1.4 lens.
The mandatory beach photos! Con Dao. 5D Mark III with 85mm 1.2L II lens.
Location:
Gallery:
Magic of Croatia
Posted on November 12, 2017
Yes, we have been on the road again! We went for some warmer weather in September, and headed to Croatia. Our first trip and certainly not our last. When we were in Slovenia earlier this year we went temptingly close to the boarder with Croatia, and I always wanted to go for the awesome coastline Croatia has. So we took the car and blasted through 4 countries and our first stop was at the Plitvice Lakes National Park. Please check out my post about that part!
Plitvice Lakes National Park, G7X w/ waterproof case.
It rained all the way from Germany, into Austria, and from Austria to Slovenia, and from Slovenia to Croatia, so it was quite a drive, but we found some cosy inexpensive accommodation outside the national park. After a couple days there we headed to the trendy town of Split. A very culture rich city, Split has a lot to offer.
Split, Croatia. 5D Mark III | 14mm 2.8
Finally we took the ferry over to the island of Hvar. A real highlight, Hvar is a great place for a holiday. By this time the weather had also improved substantially! We stayed in a remote kind of nature camp Kamp LILI. Here we could set up our tent right on the edge of the cliff, 20m from the sea, was amazing.
Camp LILI, Hvar Island, Croatia. 5D Mark III | 16-35mm 2.8L II
Had a blast, so check out the full image gallery from our trip here!
Plitvice Lakes National Park – Croatia
Posted on November 11, 2017
Plitvice Lakes National Park was one of the biggest highlights on my recent trip to Croatia. It is simply the most amazing aquatic ecosystem I have ever seen. The scale of the place, and the way that you can traverse this park leaves visitors with a memorable experience.
The park is some 295 square kilometers, and comprises some 16 lakes, all chained together by incredible terraces. There are countless waterfalls, limestone caves, and endless walking tracks. The lakes are all in pristine condition, and the blue green water is amazing.
View down on the amazing network of wooden paths which crisscross the park. Plitvice Lakes National Park, G7X with waterproof case.
The park is located a little inland in northern Croatia, near the border with Bosnia & Herzegovina. It is easy to get to, and there is a lot of parking for all types of vehicles. A day ticket at the park costs 55 – 180 Kuna depending on the season.
Location:
Official Website: http://www.np-plitvicka-jezera.hr/en/
When we were there, it was hard rain. In fact we thought about cancelling our visit, but decided to brave the elements. The rain meant that I had to abandon my 5D Mark III. Luckily I have a waterproof case form my smaller camera, a Canon G7X. It turned out to be a blessing, I could not have taken the images I did if I hadn’t had the waterproof case. The waterfalls were full due to the rain, and also the crowds were light.
Others braving the rain to experience this amazing place. Plitvice Lakes National Park, G7X w/ waterproof case.
One of the many waterfalls in the park, Plitvice Lakes National Park, G7X w/ waterproof case.
Advantage of using a waterproof case, I was able to get a unique partly submerged image from a single exposure. Plitvice Lakes National Park, G7X w/ waterproof case.
We followed one of the standard routes around the park, which included board walks, hiking tracks through forests, a boat ride and finally a bus back to where we started. All in all it took us most of the day. We did stop of lunch at one of the café locations in the park.
National park map. Credit: http://www.croatiatraveller.com
Tips for visiting:
- The park is open all year round, but the famous colours of the water and forests is in Summer.
- Allow a full day for visiting. Best to visit on your own, and not in a group as you would likely miss much of the park.
- Arrive as early as possible to miss most of the crowds and to give yourself as much time as possible.
- Plan for a lot of walking, bring water and snacks, as the cafes are few and far between.
- Bring sturdy footwear, and also a raincoat. There is mud, splashes, flooded paths and mist from the waterfalls to contend with.
- There is plenty of cheap accommodation in the nearby fruit plantations. We had a house for ourselves for 35 Euros per night.
- It is possible to visit in winter when everything is frozen solid. I would like to try this!
Knocking umbrellas at Plitvice Lakes National Park, G7X w/ waterproof case. Tripod.
Photographing underwater shows the world beneath, Plitvice Lakes National Park, G7X w/ waterproof case.
Tips on photography at Plitvice Lakes National Park:
- It is easy to capture amazing photos from one of the world’s most beautiful places.
- Priority should go to protecting your equipment, as it will be exposed to the elements.
- Bring a few lenses, polarizer, neutral density filters and a tripod.
- Note that it might be impractical to use a tripod if there is a lot of people. You will block the path, and get shaky images from the vibration of people walking by.
- If you have a waterproof case for your camera, bring it!
- Use a polarizer to bring out the colour, and an ND filter to allow longer exposures and create motion.
- Don’t drop your camera in the water…
Gallery
Here are my keepers from the day. Due to the conditions, I had to improvise a little, and use a point and shoot camera. All images taken with a Canon G7X and Canon waterproof housing.
First trip to Slovenia!
Posted on June 11, 2017
So it was long weekend (again) here in Bavaria, aren’t we lucky? We decided to go and see Slovenia, which is pretty close to us. We sent off Saturday morning by car with my camera gear, tent and sleeping bags bound for Bled, Slovenia.
Lake Bled at dawn. 5D Mark III | 45mm 2.8 TS-E | B+W CPL
Unfortunately, we soon realized we would not make Bled early afternoon as planned… the traffic was horrible. All of Germany was driving south. The highways were completely clogged. It took us until 6pm to get there. Note to self – go earlier next time! Anyways, we made it to Bled just in time for some dinner and some evening photos.
Lake Bled at dusk. 5D Mark III | 85mm 1.2L II | B+W CPL | Lee Pro Glass 0.9 ND
Bled is a wonderful area, and we spent a bit of time there, checking out the town, castle and surroundings before moving on to the south of Slovenia to see the world famous caves. The weather was awesome, and it was great to sleep under the stars. Next day we went to Skocjan caves, it cost 21 Euros each for the extended tour. While the cave was pretty awesome, paradise cave in Vietnam is more impressive. The main problem I have with Skocjan caves is that no photography is allowed in the main section.. even without flash. Yet, people can use flashlights in the cave. Lame. So all my photos is from the second part of the caves, where photography was allowed.
Škocjan Caves, Slovenia. 5D Mark III | 24mm 1.4 Art
We just had enough time to also see Slap Savica waterfall and surrounds. All is all it was really a great trip. Very friendly people, great scenery. Would highly recommend!
Chick here to see the full album from Slovenia!
Watch Tales by Light!
Posted on June 1, 2017
I have just finished watching Tales by Light. I must say it was really cool, and very inspirational. There are few films on photography, and even less worth watching. Tales by Light was done by Netflix and Canon Australia. It follows renowned photographers around the world as they chase the shot of their dreams. Its very travel and adventure related, and that makes it very interesting for me. If you like travel photography, culture, adventure and nature, this is a must! The episodes are around 20-25mins each, but are quite feature packed. Watch the trailer below.
It is obviously sponsored heavily by Canon, and there isn’t another camera brand in sight throughout the series. It does not ruin the series, and should be something for Canon fanboys to watch late at night. What I really like about it is the international feel, and the focus on inspiration and the fundamentals of how photography makes us feel. I’m glad there is little gear talk by some “experts” because they usually makes me sick. These photographers are just practicing their craft, and are all very talented and inspirational.
I would highly recommend the series to all photographers. Its not only eye candy, and beautifully made, it was very thought provoking for me, and struck at the roots of what I love about travel and photography. This series is about what photography is, and not what consumerism has made it.
Find out more about the series here! Tales by Light
Season two is coming!
Reflecting on Travel
Posted on May 24, 2017
Hi all! I decided to make a fun photo and use it as a new featured photo in my travel albums landing page. I thought it would be cool if it was a pile of old maps and travel stuff…
My travel junk… or is it memories?
To be honest, I could have done a better job technically, and used some flashes and stuff, its a bit unevenly lit.. but anyway. I have a heap of travel books, maps and old stuff lying around which I got from my many travels. It turned out to be more about reflection on travel experiences than anything else! You can click on the image to make it larger. Some of the stuff in there includes:
- My collection of travel books… I currently have 40+ Lonely Planet books. I just ordered another one, ‘Great Britain’. Although my favorite which I use for inspiration is Lonely Planet’s ‘The Travel Book’, its super cool and has a couple of pages for every country in the world. Lonely Planet
- Some Polish money which I got from a friend while on university exchange in Norway… Never actually been to Poland yet. Although I’m told I’m going this summer :s.
- A gangster style roll of Vietnamese money. We have been there so many times, and always have lots of notes left over. Due to inflation the roll is worth about 4 bucks… and not worth stealing.
- Some iron-on patches. About 10 years ago I thought it would be cool to have patches from all the places I visited all over my bag.. never happened, and now I don’t like the idea.. Anyone want some patches?
- The Killing Fields of Choeung Ek flyer. This is from Cambodia, where we visited the sights of Pol Pot’s regime. Very chilling, and worth a visit. Thousands of people were murdered here with primitive tools, include women, children and babies. See here for more information. We also went to s21, the school that was converted to an execution processing center. See here for more information.
- Some boarding passes for an Etihad flight. Not a huge fan of Etihad, but its who we used to relocate to Germany from Australia just over a year ago now.
- A trail map of ‘Mueller Hut Route’ in New Zealand. Many years ago, my friend and I hiked up to the Mueller Hut, in the Mt Cook region of New Zealand. We camped on the snow at around 2000m. Interestingly, 30mins from the hut lies Mt Oliver. This was the first peak that Sir Edmund Hillery ever climbed. He would later be the first to scale Mt. Everest in 1953. See here for more info.
- Fraser island map. Fraser Islands has world heritage listing and is one of the biggest sand islands in the world. Located just off the coast of Harvey Bay in Australia, its a magnet for holiday makers, and 4WD enthusiasts. Its great for camping and the interior lakes are crystal clear and incredible for swimming. Info
- Da Lat city map. Da Lat is one of my favorite places in Vietnam. This mountainous village is nice and cool, and has great markets. Its famous for its flowers and fruits, and there are also a number of waterfalls to see in the region. Best way to see it is by renting a motorbike. Info
- Japan rail card. No visit to Japan is complete without experiencing the bullet trains. The train system in Japan is among the best in the world. Its quite expensive, but get a JR rail pass when you visit to have access to anywhere in the country. Info
- My trusty GPS. This is an older one now, but you can still load all kinds of maps to it. Great for exploring. I bought this tax free on board M/S Norröna while in international waters, headed for Iceland. Info
- Faroe Islands bus schedule. Public transport is pretty efficient in Denmark. Even on its extreme territories, there is good public transport. The Faroe Islands has a population of just 25,000 people, and yet taking the bus was a good way of getting around. Info
So whats next?
Well I certainly plan to continue my travels long into the future! There are so many places still to see and experience! This summer I plan to get some short trips in around central Europe. We also plan to visit the UK this summer for a couple of weeks. I really want to see Scotland. In autumn, I have no idea… but I know we are hosting Christmas this year in Bavaria.. Something about a visit to Vietnam in February for Tet, lets see what happens. Here is my ultimate bucket list for the next 3-5 years!
- A visit to Greenland – min 4 weeks
- A visit to Iceland – minimum 2 weeks
- A visit to Borneo – min 2 weeks
- Take the Trans-Siberian railway to Beijing
- A visit to the Pacific Islands – min. 4 weeks
- A visit to Burma – 2-3 weeks
- Visit the Falkland Islands and South Georgia
- Visit North Africa, including Tunisia and Morocco.
- A visit to St. Petersburg
- A visit to Croatia and Greece.
- A visit to Costa Rica
- A visit to Patagonia.
Looks like I’ll be busy! Happy shooting and hope you enjoyed my memories!
Oh yes, nearly forgot! Here is where I used the photo! Travel Photography
Eibsee, Bavaria
Posted on May 17, 2017
Its finally getting warm and nice here in Bavaria. The grass is green again and the flowers are blooming. Most people who visit here come in Summer, and most people visit the castles, beer gardens, and perhaps see Zugspitze, Germany’s highest mountain. One little place thats very near to Zugspitze is Eibsee, a lake at the foot of the mountain, and about 10mins from Garmisch. I’ve been meaning to check it out, so yesterday I finally did!
Eibsee, Bavaria. 5D Mark III | 16-35mm 2.8L II | B+W Polariser
The lake is about the same size as Alpsee near Schwangau, where you will also find Neuschwanstein. Eibsee has got crystal clear water which appears green in the shallows, and number of very cute islands in the middle and great montane forest surrounding it. The backdrop of the lake on two side is towering mountains.
Eibsee, Bavaria. 5D Mark III | 50mm 1.4 Art | X4 Polariser
Eibsee, Bavaria. 5D Mark III | 180mm 2.8 Macro
We arrived early in the morning when the water was completely flat. It was such a reward! We saw perfect reflections of the mountains above on the lake. The weather was completely clear, and I used a polarising filter to enhance the colour in the sky and in the forest.
Eibsee, Bavaria. 5D Mark III | 16-35mm 2.8L II | B+W Polariser
Eibsee, Bavaria. 5D Mark III | 16-35mm 2.8L II | B+W Polariser
Despite the nice colours, black and white conversions have also worked very nicely. Although it is almost a shame to remove the rich colours in scenes like the one below.
Eibsee, Bavaria. 5D Mark III | 16-35mm 2.8L II | B+W Polariser
Eibsee, Bavaria. 5D Mark III | 180mm 2.8 Macro
I also brought along my 180mm 2.8 Macro lens, which I only do on occasion. Eibsee is a great place to get some close up images. The one above is water droplets stuck in a spider’s web at 1:1 magnification (life size). There are also many nice wild flowers to photograph.
Eibsee, Bavaria. 5D Mark III | 180mm 2.8 Macro
Eibsee, Bavaria. 5D Mark III | 70mm 2.8 Macro
Finally, the surreal scenery is also a good place for portrait photography! The ‘beach’ is kind of small stones, and is a nice stage! Here is one with the 135mm f2L lens.
Eibsee, Bavaria. 5D Mark III | 135mm f2L
If you find yourself in the area, its totally worth a visit. We finished up with lunch at a cafe on the lake, very nice!
Location:
Photography Tips:
- Bring a few different focal lengths, its a cool place to be creative.
- You need a polariser!
- In summer bring your swimmers and a waterproof case!
- You can hike up to a look out if you want a view of the whole lake.
- If you want the best images you should bring a tripod.
- You can hire boats which might be good for photography as well!
Gallery
Hallstatt
Posted on May 7, 2017
I had seen a lot of cool shots of Hallstatt, and decided that we needed to check it out. Our first stop was Salzburg (click for photos!). We then headed for our overnight halt near Hallstatt. We thought we would use the tent, and do it backpacker style. Sleeping under the stars was really nice, but it was a pretty cold night! That evening we thought we would check out Hallstatt even if there wasn’t much going on, at least we could get dinner and a few long exposures.
Hallstatt, Austria. 5D Mark III | 24mm 1.4 Art
Hallstatt is a very cosy village perched on the steep banks of Hallstätter See. It is a very popular spot for tourists, so much so that the Chinese have made a scale replica back in China apparently. I can understand why as the town is really quite charming. Should be mentioned that you can’t actually drive into the town, you need to part a little outside the village.
Hallstatt from the lake. 5D Mark III | 35mm 1.4 Art
Next day we came back and took a 50min boat trip which was a good way of seeing the town from the water. I think it was about 10 Euro per person. 35mm seemed to be a good focal length from the boat. There is lots of see the do in the village, and when we were there there was a marathon on.
Best flower pots I’ve seen. 5D Mark III | 35mm 1.4 Art
Coolest tree I’ve seen. 5D Mark III | 14mm 2.8
Like many villages like this, there are walking tracks throughout the town, and it takes a while to learn your way around. We eventually made it to the church which over looks the town. From there you have a look view of the lake and surrounding mountains.
Vistas from the church. 5D Mark III | 14mm 2.8
All in all a nice place to see if you are in Austria!
Here are some of my favorite photos from the two days:
Gallery
Salzburg
Posted on May 7, 2017
View of Salzburg from the Fortress. 5D Mark III | 24mm 1.4 Art
Last weekend my wife and I decided to have a short road trip to Salzburg and Hallstatt in Austria. Salzburg is just 2:15 from where we live, and we had not been there before, but heard a lot of good things about it. I ended up with a lot of photos from the two days, so I”ll split the posts – so here is Salzburg!
Salzburg souvenirs! 5D Mark III | 45mm 2.8 TS-E
Salzburg was pretty amazing, but lots of tourists… After a while I get people phobia, so if you are like me, make sure you arrive early! Salzburg has lots of rich history, and its wealth came from salt mines in the region. Salt was used extensively in the past as a food preservative. Today Salzburg is a vibrant city, with cool markets, a lovely river and cosy cafes. The main reason tourists come here however is to get a glimpse of the Salzburg’s glamorous past, which is easy. The city has many wonderful old buildings, small alleyways and imposing courtyards.
Streets of Salzburg. 5D Mark III | 85mm 1.2L II
A nice way to get around is by horse! 5D Mark III | 85mm 1.2L II
You can spend days in Salzburg, but we only had one. We strolled around on the cities many steep paths and eventually made it to the fort, over looking the city. You can take a tram up to the fort, but you should walk up, as you will see a lot on the way. The fort was built to protect the city and its wealth in salt from its enemies. The fort was expanded many times, and never breached.
The fortress from the city. 5D Mark III | 85mm 1.2L II
The city has lots of nice shops to look at. Some are still trading salt today, like to cool and trendy place below. Some good places for coffee too, and if you don’t feel like walking, but can take a horse carriage around the city instead.
Trendy salt shop. Used the super wide 12mm 2.8 Fisheye to maximize the effect of the cool ceiling. 5D Mark III | 12mm 2.8 Fisheye
Posing nicely for the camera. 5D Mark III | 85mm 1.2L II
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Here are some more of my favorite photos from the trip to Salzburg!
Going to Hallstatt
Posted on April 28, 2017
Its the long weekend here in Germany, and we going going to Salzburg and Hallstatt in Austria. Will be spending two days checking out the area. Looking forward to it, looks good from photos, see below example by Thomas Straubinger! It will also be our first camping trip this year, which will be interesting because its currently snowing outside…..
Hallstatt, Austria in winter. Photo credit: http://www.placestoseeinyourlifetime.com (Thomas Straubinger)
Salzburg is also supposed to be really nice. Actually I don’t need more photos, as I’m behind as it is on processing! But when you got a 3 day weekend, and Salzburg is only 2 hours away…. can’t really say no. I look forward to seeing what I can get! Since we are going my car ill bring all my equipment, and certainly:
- 5D Mark III
- 16-35mm 2.8L II for landscapes
- Tripod and landscape filters
- 24mm 1.4 Art
- 35mm 1.4 Art
- 45mm 2.8 TS-E
- 85mm 1.2L II
- 135mm 2L
- 100-400mm 4.5-5.6L IS II
Hoping to do some good landscape photography, a bit of architecture and some general travel shots as usual.
Stay tuned for the results!
GORM TEPER 