left our jobs, went to Asia

A quick and easy secret about photography is polarizing filters.
Use one, and you'll get more vivid colours. Additionally, you will get rid of nasty reflections on metal, glass and water surfaces.
To see what I mean, look at two images below.

Green leaves and blue sky, no polarizing filter, Puvociai, Lithuania

This photograph is what you'll get if you don't use a polarizing filter, as most of us do.  READ MORE »

Download the articles below. Right-click and select "Save link as.." or "Save Target As..", save the file to your computer and open it from there. Make sure to select "View > Continuous (Facing)" in your PDF reader.  READ MORE »

Pantip Plaza computer heaven, Bangkok, Thailand

So, you've arrived to Bangkok. You know that photography goods and computers should be relatively cheap here, especially bearing in mind the VAT refund scheme.

Asking around in a hotel reception and during the dinner, reveals that the best place to buy a laptop you've been dreaming about, is Pantip Plaza. The hovering image of a laptop in your mind obscures the wry smiles of your newly met friends at the dinner table.  READ MORE »

If you think careful driving and awareness increase your safety, you are deeply mistaken.

Lucky amulets hanging from the rear view mirror, Bangkok, Thailand

Some simple protective measures (medallions, amulets, statues of deities) are fully sufficient.  READ MORE »

While WIPO sleeps, Thais work.

Manufacturers of fake ID cards, Bangkok, Thailand 

Similarly to many Asian countries, pirated CDs, DVDs, copied global newspapers and even Lonely Planet guide books are abundant in tourist populated areas.  READ MORE »

I've spent too much time in front of computer and in dusty meeting rooms, buried under piles of papers. Far away from the real world.

Thai street vendor peeling mango fruit, Bangkok, Thailand

So when I eventually get myself outside and have a chance to see someone skilled in what she does, it is such a pleasure to watch and admire the speed and efficiency.  READ MORE »

Ahh, Thai food..
A reason good enough to include the country into your travel plans.

Having tasted a good variety of meals and dishes, I came to a somewhat strange conclusion.

The food sold on the street, or eaten on the "street", as is the case with beach restaurants, is generally better than the one ordered in a fancy restaurant.

A lady enjoys her meal bought on the street, Bangkok, Thailand

The latter is often too sterile for me, and I don't know if that's a psychological effect, or our genes send signals with a message - food tastes better in the fresh air.  READ MORE »

"Jeez, this probably won't fit into my new camera bag!"

Bangkok Photo Fair 2007 @ Bitec Bangna, Bangkok, Thailand

Photo fairs are great.

It's so easy to  READ MORE »

Street vendor chose a rough marketing strategy, Bangkok, Thailand

Life on streets is tough
But there's nobody like you,
To survive, you gotta be rough,
Don't let them strike ya!  READ MORE »

They work from dusk,

Two fishermen working on a boat. Sun has just risen, Ko Samet island, Thailand

through  READ MORE »

When swimming in public places, most Asians are shy. It's mostly women that do not show any part of the body exposed, except face, neck, legs down from knees and lower arms.
It is not unusual to see a man dressed up and bathing.

Bathing in sea with style, Ko Samet island, Thailand

Still, I wouldn't make  READ MORE »

One more child mauled by a bullterier or a rottweiler. Face torn to pieces, arm bitten off.
With an approximate frequency of one time per month, I was reading such news while being in Lithuania.

Brown dog relaxedly observing its surroundings, Ko Samet, Thailand

Here, in Thailand, I can't help but  READ MORE »

Over at Istockphoto, they don't need any photographs of sunsets & clouds. The reason: "Very pretty, but...".
I definitely agree. There needn't be any reason at all. Rising or setting sun is probably in 50% of all photographs ever made in this world.
Still, the view is sometimes stronger than a mortal man, and defeats him.
Having written the disclaimer, I can now upload the picture.

Red sunrise over a wooden bridge in Ao Lung Dam beach, Ko Samet, Thailand  READ MORE »

We are settling into a newly rented beachfront bungalow today. Meaning dropping the bags in the middle of the room and going for so awaited swim in the sea.
Coming back to change, I realized that the bungalow is actually quite nice. Hence, decided to make a picture of it.

Beachfront bungalow in Ao Lung Dam beach at mid-day, Ko Samet, Thailand

But the outcome wasn't nearly as  READ MORE »