Shoot it! People & Culture in Asian
Geographic Passport Magazine August 2011



Click the image above or this LINK for a
larger view and the pdf file, click on SPREADS.

Asian Geographic Passport Magazine has just published an article on People & Culture, Tips and tricks on travel Photography, for more info and other interesting articles get your copy now. (August Issue 2011)

This will also be one of my last Blog posts before I am leaving for Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar, not enough time while on the road and some areas have non or very poor internet connection. However I try to update everybody via my iPhone on Facebook and Twitter now and then. Of course and this goes without saying, I try my very best to post an update here on my Blog when ever it is possible…the endless Journey continuos.

Shortly we start our last major GD Photo Workshops for 2011 to Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar and for those who could not make it (we're fully booked) check out my report/Blog posts on my return with photos from behind the scenes and selected image by our participants. For previous photos behind the scene, testimonials and photos by the participant click the LINKS.
For information on all our GD Photo Workshops in 2012 use this link.

An exciting Journey just around the corner with some very cool surprises and announcements along the way, not to mention our 5th year anniversary in Cambodia which we celebrate at the Heritage Suites Hotel our base in Siem Reap.

Thanks and welcome to our NEW Partner in Asia EXOTISSIMO,
more information about this very exciting news very soon.

Laos is going to be amazing with its mountains and spectacular scenery and our base in Luang Prabang at the Satri House, in Cambodia we venture into some of the lesser know areas by 4x4 wheel drives, then in Myanmar we have a the full moon with us in Bagan and on the Inle Lake intercepting a very cool Burmese festival along the way.

Thanks again to all my participants for joining this Workshop and I am sure all of them getting ready and excited now to discover the undiscovered.

Our new mini Poster available as pdf upon request.

If I don't find the time anymore for another post prior my departure pls. stay tuned or check your Twitter and Facebook for updates via my iPhone.

GD

Tags: TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY, Adventure Travel Tours, Cambodia, Tips, MYANMAR/BURMA, Tricks, laos, Photo Workshops, ASIAN Geographic Magazine, Techniques, Tutorials

Just in...latest NEWS!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
First Global Underwater Photography Magazine Announced

Scuba Diver AustralAsia, DivePhotoGuide and Edition Fifty Fathoms join forces to launch the first international underwater photography magazine

New York, USA; Munich, Germany; Singapore - June 18, 2011 - Scuba Diver AustralAsia, the premier dive magazine of the Asia-Pacific region, has teamed up with DivePhotoGuide.com, a world leader in underwater photography media, and Edition Fifty Fathoms, the prestigious fine art magazine, to create Scuba Diver Through the Lens, the first international magazine dedicated entirely to underwater photography and videography.

Scuba Diver Through the Lens will be published quarterly in both a print and digital format by Asian Geographic Magazines in Singapore and will be distributed globally through New York and Germany.

Media Press Release - Nikon Singapore -

NIKON announces the release of the following 9 new digital compact cameras – COOLPIX Series that will be available in Singapore soon!
 

• COOLPIX  L23 
• COOLPIX  L120 
• COOLPIX S2500
• COOLPIX S3100
• COOLPIX S4100
• COOLPIX  S6100
• COOLPIX  S9100
• COOLPIX  P300   
• COOLPIX P500   

Latest News from Version Tracker.

Late-Breakers
Friday, June 12 2009 @ 09:12 AM PDT
New Mac Trojan, OSX/Jahlav-C has been discovered
2009 has seen quite an onslaught of malicious software targeting the Mac OS. The siege continues with a new Trojan, OSX/Jahlav-C.
For complete details and information on this New Virus go to:
http://www.macfixit.com/article.php?story=20090612091219496

Another except from macnn
While malware remains uncommon on the Mac, Apple has had to stray from assertions that the platform is effectively immune to problems experienced by Windows users. A high-profile Trojan released this year has been tied to pirated copies of iWork and Photoshop, and it is believed that more malware will debut as Macs gain popularity. Hackers are known to target common platforms for the widest possible impact.
Read the complete article @ http://www.macnn.com/articles/09/06/11/new.mac.malware.circulates/

Like to see YOUR images in print/published, maybe win a nice new Camera all that plus more with the ASIAN Geographic Magazine in 2008, the latest issue is available right now, see below a short intro and the links for YOU to join.

PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION 2008
ASIAN Geographic Magazine...
...calling for entries.

Check out the latest issue of the Asian Geographic Magazine...
available now.

ASIAN Geographic is looking for special photographs from talented amateur and professional photographers who have captured a striking image of Asia's land, people, architecture or wildlife. One winner and runner-up will be selected from each category. An overall Grand Prize will be awarded to the best overall picture as judged by our panel of editors. The top photographs will be exhibited as part of an “Asia Without Borders” photography exhibit scheduled to be held in December, 2008. For more info and complete details click the screenshot above or this link: http://www.asiangeo.com/contest_awb.html

Tags: Photography Competition, Media, Magazines

Congratulation to Marlon Stöckinger
(read the official press release from BMW below my intro)

You might ask what has this got do with Photography/Aperture or Mac? Actually a lot...they are fast... very fast.

I have known Marlon since birth he is the son of my good friend Tom Stöckinger, a few month ago we went through thousands of images from Tom using Aperture and I guess more to come now. At that time Tom had a deadline for some images and ask me to go through them, we imported them quickly into Aperture and an hour later it was done, saving his day and he kept his deadline. (all images had been shot in Raw with a Nikon D200)
Marlon got his first iPod a couple of years ago and last year we set him up with a black MacBook, I think this is very cool a Mac user and now the proud winner of the prestigious BMW Formula Scholarship. Marlon loves speed hence his choice for BMW and Mac, it does not come as a surprise I guess.
By the way Marlons sister Audrey is super talented in music and soon we have her working with GarageBand.
There you have it, I mean the connection between the racing, photography, Aperture and the Mac, speeeeeeeeed.
Congratulations again, we are very proud of you, a job well done. Stay tuned or subscribe to this Blog for more info, Marlons new updated website with the color of BMW will be soon online.
Happy Holidays and a great start for Marlon in 2008!
Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com


Press release:

Formula BMW Pacific Scholarship Trials.
December 21, 2007
 
Wootton, Stöckinger and Moss earn Formula BMW Pacific scholarships.
 
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Nineteen-year-old Australian Chris Wootton, Filipino-Swiss karter Marlon Stöckinger, 16, and South African Simon Moss, also 16, have each earned a Formula BMW Pacific scholarship following exhaustive trials held at Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit from December 13 to 16.  The trio earn the title of Formula BMW Juniors, and will receive expert coaching and tuition throughout the season from BMW Motorsport professionals.
 
A fourth scholarship has been earmarked for 2007 Formula BMW Junior and Rookie Cup winner Kyle Mitchell of South Africa.
 
The Juniors, who were amongst 25 candidates from 12 different nations taking part in the trials, have each been offered 50,000 Euro (approximately 70,000 USD) of financial assistance towards the cost of a season in the region’s premier entry-level single seater series, as well as a full year in the unrivalled Formula BMW Pacific Education & Coaching programme.
 
Should any of the four be unable to take up their scholarships, David Sera from Australia and Calvin Wong of Malaysia are first reserves.
 
The BMW Motorsport instructors who evaluated the candidates were Formula BMW Asia regular instructor Chris Wassermann of Austria, Enzo Mucci of the United Kingdom, and 2007 FIA GT2 Champion and 2005 FIA World Touring Car Championship runner-up Dirk Müller of Germany.
 
Based in Brisbane, Chris Wootton began his motorsport career at the end of 2004 in the Gold Coast Christmas race meeting.  He achieved instant success becoming rookie of the year in two classes in the 2005 Queensland Karter of the Year, as well as notching up several podiums during his debut season.
 
With motorsport very much in his blood, the Wootton family has been involved in Australian motorsport since the 1960’s in both circuit racing and rallying.
 
Manila-based Filipino-Swiss racer Marlon Stöckinger began his career in 2001 and has notched up an impressive record of karting achievements, becoming Asian Karting Champion in 2006 (125 Open Category and Senior Rotax Max Class), and representing the Philippines in the Rotax Max DD2 World Finals in Portugal that year.
 
South African Simon Moss is another youngster with a motorsport heritage.  His father Terry is a legend in South African racing circles being a former multiple touring and saloon car champion, while sister Christine and brother Tristan were both karting champions.
 
Moss, from Port Elizabeth, also has an impressive karting history (his first win coming in 1996 in “baby” karts), and has more recently progressed to car racing. 
 
The four drivers will have until January 11 to complete all arrangements for their entry to the world of professional motorsport and confirm acceptance of their Formula BMW Pacific scholarships.
 
Background:
Formula BMW is the world’s leading entry-level class in Formula racing.  In 2008 the series will be held across Europe, Asia Pacific and the USA.  Up-and-coming drivers as young as 15-years-old are given the opportunity of entering motor racing with the high-tech, standard FB02 race car.
 
This racing car has been seen on the grid since 2002 and has set standards particularly on the safety technology front.  The single-seater is propelled by a 140 bhp BMW engine up to 230km/h and exceeds the FIA safety requirements for its class.  BMW Motorsport has developed the FORS Formula Rescue Race Seat especially for Formula BMW.  The HANS safety system is also mandatory.
 
BMW Motorsport Director, Mario Theissen: “Formula BMW offers talented young drivers more than just a car.  In the Education and Coaching Programme we have designed especially for them, they learn everything they need to know to hold their own in the big wide world of motor racing.  Formula BMW has shot out of the blocks to become the top entry-level class for Formula racing worldwide.”
 
Note to editors: 
Copyright free Formula BMW images for press purposes are now available. Please register on www.formulabmw-images.com.
Press Contact:
Further information on Formula BMW Pacific www.press.bmw.com

___________________________

Oh boy, normally I am not the writing type, I rather let my images do the talking, today however I had to bring up an issue you might find interesting.

If anything I’ve said seems useful to you, I’m glad. If not don’t worry.
Just forget about it.
The Dalai Lama

Like with almost everything… making a decision is not an easy task.
In photography this can get or become a nightmare, how do we decide what is a great shot or a bad one… very difficult indeed.

Let me break it down; but remember I am also not perfect when it comes to editing, however with my experience and working with international magazines the past 35
Year’s I do have a good knowledge in editing images.

Rule number one - if you look at an image and it turns you on from the very moment you see it, then something must be right. Yes?
Then you look at the image more and more, compare it with others you might have seen in the past and start to think… is this really a great shot?
Is it divided properly, can it be for sale with a stock agency, exposure and sharpness… yes, a great shot but not suitable for stock because so many of them are out there and it is just a little over exposed…
Ok. now we make a reject out of it! The next image, real nice and fitting all the criteria’s OK. Let’s use it, but will it sell? “Maybe yes, but not sure.”

There you have it, a very different decision, photography is not easy to judge, there are some amateurs out there who shoot some real nice stuff… let’s not ignore them either.
But if you choose to make a living and survive with your stock images today, it isn’t that easy anymore.
It is not because of the digital age, well sort of, but since we have access to the Internet and can upload images just about from anywhere, yes, it has become more of a challenge today choosing the right images.

If you an editor for a magazine, big company or a stock house, you have to be very good, flexible, understanding and make the right choice,
oh boy not that easy, a tough job.

There are some editors out there today which are not qualified to make these important decisions, the lack of training and experience, not only in photography; we have the net yes, but with a lot of useless images to choose from.
Hey, only my opinion.

Take CNN for example, they ask anyone to submit images from their cell phones and send them in… what do you get in return? Yes, maybe a mention for a few seconds on the hourly news, CNN gets the ratings because of you, where does this leave the real photographers?
What ever happened to the good old days? Serious magazine editors who really knew their stuff, if they decided it was a reject then you accepted this, no worries.
I accepted this many times and gained knowledge from their decission.

I have been fortunately enough to work with some of the very best in the industry, from book, magazine and stock house editors and I always (almost) did agree with them in the end. Even today I work with some young editors who are extremely good and very flexible.
Actually some of them are designers not even editors, as I am watching the trend of today more designers and graphic artist make the final decisions in the end, they prepare the layout, nothing wrong with that. (photographers out there keep in mind and shoot the same subject vertical and horizontal, when ever possible).
But real good editors are hard to come by, it is them who make the final discussion in the end if your image made the cover or not, what happened to them?

I have been involved more than half of my life with editors and designers; I guess I know a little of what is going on.
There is a real saturation of very good and very bad images out there, turn on your computer and check with Flickr or Picasso not to mention all the others who sell or offer images for a Dollar or two.
The real dilemma is that pro photographers do and have to make their living from photography the others don’t, it is that simple.

I am not saying at all that these other guys or girls out there shoot bad, not at all, what I am trying to say is the pros have some serious competition now, due to the net.

I am not worried about this, time will tell and why don’t we let the images do the talking… remember the old saying… an image speaks a thousand words… or have we forgotten about it already.
Good photography will never change or been less appreciated, but please, please don’t forget our masters from the past, the real guys, never forget them, looking at their images, I have learned so much and I admire them, years to come.

Does the “younger” generation (editors and designers) know about the Helmuth Newton’s, Erving Penn, Elliot Erwitt, Bert Stern, Ernst Haas, Pete Turner, Eric Meola, and so many others…
Here is a very good example; I recently had one of my images rejected I was told it was to saturated… I guess the editor at that time though this must have been tweaked in the computer… wrong is was shot on Kodachrome 25 and scanned afterwards, besides I love strong colors, this is me, my style, my photography.
Not every image today (at least non of mine) are enhanced with software.
If I do mess around with images in the Computer then I state this on the image later.
(Composite image)

Today we rely on computers and downloading more images than ever before, hey nothing wrong with that, except the editor or at least some of them have to learn how to choose. The majority maybe did a little schooling in photography, marketing etc.,etc., did they really look at the editors from the past, I guess not.
Or is the photography market really changing now?
I sincerely hope not!

As an editor you have to have passion (not just a job) and almost think like a photographer, this is not a 9 to 5 job this is a commitment and a big responsibility.
You are telling the person who took that image how good or bad the images are.
We do need Editors, there is no question about it, but fair and good ones who can contribute fast amounts of knowledge for the individual photographers and even improve the skills of some. Good and constructive critics are very healthy, but it need’s to be fair and honest. Only then can we learn from each other.

I feel there is a lack of responsibility in some editors today, hey not all of them, but there are lot of them out there who don’t have a clue and this has nothing to do with the new age and digital photography.
We dont tell them how to do their job. No we don’t! We have to accept their decision, it is about time we have the same right to criticize them and that is what I had to say today. In the end we are only human, let’s learn from each other and stop being so ignorant and pretend we know everything. Because I don’t!

For more info please go to: http://www.deichmann-photo.com/
Stock images available via PhotoShelter @ http://www.photoshelter.com/c/gdeichmann


I am open for discussions any time, if you feel you have to say something,please let me know, exchange of knowledge is vital in photography and can only improve our skills and marketing.
GD

_____________________________________________

Che Che Lazaro, Gunther Deichmann and George Tapan,
Photo: © Hermes Singson

MEDIA IN FOCUS hosted by Che Che Lazaro at ABS CBN on the ANC Channel featured a 1 hour on Photography. The topics during the interview where Photojournalism, Travel, the past and future and the art of photography, the show was a live broadcast at 6:00 PM local time, on ABS CBN and is broadcast also outside the Philippines on Cable TV. A replay will be screened at 11:00 PM.

The image above clockwise: Che Che Lazaro, Host and Newscaster, Gunther Deichmann Australian Photographer and George Tapan Philippine Photographer during the interview.
Thanks to ABS CBN for inviting me and a special thanks to Che Che Lazaro for being a wonderful host.
For more images by Gunther Deichmann please click here.

A Marine Scientist- a German TV producer – well myself and one of the best evenings/mornings for a very long time. Kristina just finishing her Masters in Marine Biology, and did some of her research at Club Paradise in Palawan.


1:00 Am things are still normal, Kristina, Martina and Gunther, checking out some critters on the screen, Nudibranchs, Frog-fish and an expert opinion from our
still sober Scientist Kristina. Photos by no other than Hermes Singson, who lasted until about 4:30AM, thanks my friend for hanging around, but how could you
refuse, surrounded by such great company.

Where are we? 5:07 AM at Gunther place of course. Sunrise, just about there, the first light… approaching my windows and Kristina has taken away my Mac, Oh boy, well … shit just happens.

Great friends, good wine and some real cool music at the virtual office of the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance.

Read Kristina’s story below, unedited typed on my Mac,
at 4:55 AM.

About 5:30 AM, now the trouble starts, lost my Mac to Kristina, used my
cellphone for the images and the wine kept on flowing and the sound got
better too. By the way, not so sober any more.

Well, yes now I remember, after 5 bottles of red wine we are sitting in Gunther’s office in the middle of Manila. A city of smoking angels.
A German TV producer, a marine biologist and our friend Gunther, the photographer. What it comes to is an evening of drinking lunatics bringing creative minds together.
Like every human being each one of us has their own story and melting that into one pot on a reunion like this turns the moment into a bestseller, a blog or even a podcast. The world will know soon. For myself, as a scientist, I just can’t turn my scientific lens from these big goggles in front of me, looking around the room, coming out of a head with furry extensions on the back of it’s head. These critter is even still sitting on it’s nesting area having its good night supper the red wine glass in the one extremity and the smoke in the other. Might it really be a blenny or even Gunther?

Wait, what is that, just let me have another sip…wow, that is unreal; it’s the TV producer Martha. She is spreading out her antenna, no, there are rhinophores. Look at that, right up her forehead there are, chemical receptors, sensing more of the good wine stuff. She is getting up, snuggling around the room and finally finding the bottle. She might even be a sap sucking sea slug regarding her uptake of more wine-sap. And now there a popping up pimples all over her but their are no pimples there are glands, toxic glands. Is that for real or is it the 8th glass of wine? However this might be my story, seeing humans turning into marine animals or marine animals turning into humans…. or are we even equal?
For now I get back to my friends independently they are human or animals.
Hey. Kristina you just called me an Animal, well she is right, what about our German TV producer, Ok. Martina when are we going to be on TV, Martina you better make sure on that one. Okaylang: although my instructor gave me five diving points out of ten – compared to Dirk who got a ten – I am loosing my buoyancy. Unfortunately I forgot my BCD tonight. Is it because of the red wine? One thing is for sure: if I bring a wonderful anihuminals on television this planet would have a magnificent chance to change into a better place.
Are we going to bed, no bloody way, he, he Dirk and Norbert did not last that long, the girls did you in…. they had a great time.

Kristina, Martina (the German TV) and Gunther. One hell of a good evening in Manila with some real good friends, who I love dearly, until our next Blog, but make sure you stay awake.

Good morning Vietnam??? No, it is good morning Manila, 6:05 AM, you have guessed right the sun is up, now the closing words from our TV Producer Martina.
Here she is:
Gunther was almost shooting me down. But what he said is:
Going to bed forget it, why?? Because I say so.

Life is so good but I think with friends like this, it only gets better.
Love you all, over and out.

GD

Dear Gunther,
 
Please allow me to thank you and Ms. Sheila Go of MAC Power center in Greenbelt Makati for excellent service rendered!
Bad enough that my Wife's i-book broke down (and was to expensive to be "rehabilitated"), the agony of not having a Computer (and waiting for parts) was much more a burden... To the rescue came Gunther Deichmann - a few phone calls to the MAC center - one phone call from my end with Sheila to explain what is needed and voila, 2 days later a brand new 13" i-book with all the old files (from the damaged one) was handed over. Over and above, all the parts that had been replaced on the old (none functioning computer) were reimbursed and deducted from the bill of the new computer. Now that's what you call service.
Thanks Gunther & Sheila.

Guenter Taus

Exclusive images of Imelda Marcos, former first lady of the Philippines.
"12 hours with Imelda"
Last month I was shooting for Globus Magazine, Croatia, an exclusive about Imelda Marcos, what an experience this has been, I was lucky to find out a lot more about this still amazing lady.
I am not political at all, no I am not, I am just myself a Photographer/Journalist doing a Job.
For more images please use this link below:

For my Aperture Gallery please click here