Travel Photography: Destination tips, Island Portraits from Chuuk - Pohnpei - Yap & Palau, Micronesia.
It can be fun going back in time & digging through your archives…
I found some cool Island Portraits from Micronesia in the process.
High school student Chuuk, Micronesia
Copyright all Rights reserved. Mandatory credit with image use:
© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
A short break from Asia; traveling back in time to some other amazing places like Chuuk, Pohnpei, Yap and Palau in Micronesia.
While going through my archives the other day I thought hey why not share some images from the past, some taken on Kodachrome Film and others digital.
Traditional Chuukese blowing the shell as a welcome, Micronesia
Copyright all Rights reserved. Mandatory credit with image use:
© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Young girl on a rusty Landing Craft, remnants from the IIWW,
Chuuk or also know as Truk Lagoon, Micronesia
Copyright all Rights reserved. Mandatory credit with image use:
© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
These are some of my favorite Portraits of people in Micronesia from the remote Island of Pohnpei with its mysterious ruins of Nan Madol (also called the Venice of the Pacific) or to Chuuk know better as Truk Lagoon where a whole Japanese fleet was sunk during WWII.
Of course then there is the charming and ever so traditional island of Yap with its still intact culture and tradition, very little has changed here over the years.
Traditional Palauan Girl during a ceremony,
Palau, Micronesia
Copyright all Rights reserved. Mandatory credit with image use:
© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Late afternoon sun on this Palauan Boy near the waters edge
where he is playing, he is holding a large rock then jumping
into the water to dive, the rock is his ballast for easier diving.
Palau Micronesia
Copyright all Rights reserved. Mandatory credit with image use:
© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Palau the magical Islands of the pacific needs no introduction…
a sheer paradise above and below the waves, natures awesome creation and for sure a highlight in the pacific.
I have written articles on all those remote destinations before but when I flipped through my archives the other day I decided to select some portraits of people I encountered during my visits.
Traditional Palauan, Palau Micronesia
Copyright all Rights reserved. Mandatory credit with image use:
© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
See below also some useful information and excerpts from Wikipedia and Palautours.com which by the way has a very nice Photo Gallery on Palau.
Yap Village Chief resting against Yap Money,
Island of Yap Micronesia
Copyright all Rights reserved. Mandatory credit with image use:
© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
A young boy during the Yap day festival, the culture
in Yap is thriving and very much alive
Island of Yap Micronesia
Copyright all Rights reserved. Mandatory credit with image use:
© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Excepts from Wikipedia:
Yap, also known as Wa'ab by locals, is an island in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean. Yap's indigenous cultures and traditions are still strong compared to other neighboring islands. The island of Yap actually consists of four continental islands (hence the alternative name of the Yap Islands). The four are very close together and joined within a common coral reef and entirely formed from an uplift of the Philippine Sea Plate.
Yap is notable for its stone money, known as Rai: large shaped, carved disks of up to 4 m (12 ft) in diameter.
Many of them were brought from other islands, as far as New Guinea, but most came in ancient times from Palau. Their value is based on both the stone's size and its history. Historically the Yapese valued the disks because the material looks like quartz, and these were the shiniest objects around. Eventually the stones became legal tender and were even mandatory in some payments.
Women young and old are topless not only during ceremonies and festivals but all year around, you even get greeted at the arrival at the airport by traditional dressed women, for the women being topless is a very normal and cultural part of this island. Island of Yap Micronesia
Copyright all Rights reserved. Mandatory credit with image use:
© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Chuuk — formerly Truk, Ruk, Hogoleu, Torres, Ugulat, and Lugulus — is an island group in the southwestern part of the Pacific Ocean. It comprises one of the four states of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), along with Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap. Chuuk is the most populous of the FSM's states. Geographically, Chuuk is also part of the larger Caroline Islands group. Chuuk means mountain in the Chuukese language and was known mainly as Truk (a mispronunciation of Ruk), until 1990.
It is not known when the islands of Chuuk were first settled, but, based on archaeological evidence, these islands had originally been settled more than 2000 years ago. Based on archaeological evidence, it seems that, after about 200 AD, there was no continuous settlement until about 1300 AD.
Pohnpei "upon (pohn) a stone altar (pei)" (formerly known as Ponape) is the name of one of the four states in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), situated among the Senyavin Islands which are part of the larger Caroline Islands group. Palikir, the FSM's capital, is located on Pohnpei Island.
Pohnpei Island is the largest, highest, most populous, and most developed single island in the FSM. The islanders of Pohnpei have a reputation as being the most welcoming of outsiders among residents of the island group.
Pohnpei is also one of the wettest places on earth with annual recorded rainfall exceeding 300 inches (7,600 mm) each year in certain mountainous locations. Pohnpeian historic society was highly structured into five tribes, various clans and sub-clans; each tribe headed by two principal chiefs.
Young girl playing with yellow price tags along
the road on Pohnpei Island, Micronesia
Excerpts from Palautours.com
The magnificent islands of the Republic of Palau, fondly called Belau by its friendly inhabitants, were named by early explorers and have been known to the outside world at one time or another as West Caroline Islands, the Palaos, the New Philippines, Panlog, and the Pelew Islands.
Notwithstanding Palau's intriguing variety of names, in 1696 survivors of two canoes full of seafaring natives from the Micronesian island of Yap told Spanish priests about the islands' existence after they washed up on the shores of Samar Island in the Philippines. What followed were several determined attempts to reach them, but only in 1710 did Capitan Francisco Padilla – in command of the Santissima Trinidad galleon – finally discover and land on the Palau island of Sonsorol, where they were met with open arms by friendly natives.
The Republic of Palau comprises the westernmost group of the West Caroline Islands, an integral part of Micronesia. The country's local language remains Palauan, despite the many foreign influences ranging from Spanish to Japanese, German and English. Palauan is spoken throughout the island, except in the Southwest Islands where inhabitants speak a Yapese dialect.
Palauan is primarily a spoken language, with much confusion on correct spelling in its written form. In many cases words are “Americanized” so they become easier to pronounce. With an approximate 20,000 inhabitants, the islands are sparsely populated.
Within its composition the populace has a rather big “generation” gap. The older generation, mostly raised during the prewar Japanese era still speaks fluent Japanese, while the younger generation, mostly raised under American influence, speaks English.
Families who can afford to do so send their children to the United States mainland or to Hawaii for their education. Many who finish do not return primarily because of more lucrative job opportunities abroad, resulting in a serious shortage of young Palauans to fill pertinent vacancies.
Thus outside workers have to be hired, and they are conspicuously present among the population in the form of a large foreign workforce, mainly Filipinos. In terms of the public versus private sectors, about 45 percent of the population works for the local government, with the balance involved in either the tourism or fishing industries.
Travel Tip:
If you like to visit some of these amazing places and you happen to be at the Duesseldorf Boot Show in January then you have to check out the Booth of Sam's Tours and the Palau Visitors Authority.
Duesseldorf, Germany - Boot Show -
21st - 29th January 2012
Pls. Note: All images have been processed with Aperture 3 and no manipulation.
Check out also the GD Photo Workshop Calendar for 2012 & 2013.
For more info please Click this LINK.
GD
Aperture 3 Tip: Serial number problems & re-installing the original Aperture 3 from the box
Problems re-installing the original Aperture 3 from the box.
I had recently some people getting in touch with me regarding the re-installation of their Original bought copy of Aperture 3. The serial number was rejected even if the Mac was New or had a completely reformatted Drive and the serial number came from the original Aperture 3 package.
So if you experience any installation issues with Aperture 3 after you have bought a new or moved over to a different Mac then try this:
1. Create a new USER account (you can always delete that one later anyway) and then using your original CD for Aperture 3 and install it here, now the serial number will work.
2. After you have done this you can either keep your newly created account or you can just delete it in the system preference and switch back to your account.
3. Aperture 3 is now installed and the only thing left to do is, perform a software update to Aperture 3.2.1 and you're done, (the update is approx. 675.1 MB)
GD
Travel Photography: Asian Geographic Passport just published a cool article & soon reporting from Laos, Cambodia & Myanmar
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
More on Lion OS X plus Aperture 3 training, six days at Power Mac Center in cooperation with Filipinas Heritage Library Manila Philippines
Digital Dark Room and Aperture 3 plus some more
interesting info on the Big Cat the Lion OS X
Hands on…The Digital Dark Room and Aperture 3, we finished yesterday our first session for this week, (three hours per session) now another 2 more to go and a special advanced one at the Power Mac Center on the weekend. All this week we have Aperture 3 action, and 3 more days next week.
The Digital Dark Room with Aperture 3 has been organized in cooperation with Power Mac Center and Filipinas Heritage Library. Special thanks to my Assistant Arj, Mark, Joseph and Jeoffrey from the technical support team at PMC for helping out behind the scene. And of course thanks for the ever so organized Cecille from the Filipinas Heritage Library.
Yesterday afternoon Aperture 3 and the Digital Dark Room at
Power Mac Center Makati, Manila Philippines
We show you the ultimate way of editing your photos with Apple's Aperture 3 software, creating proper back ups, how to add music to your Aperture 3 slideshow using GarageBand plus a lot more. The technical staff from Power Mac Center is also around to help with technical questions and trouble shooting on Apple's latest operating system the OS X Lion.
Very busy for the next few weeks, plus one more advanced course on Aperture 3 in September at PMC, all this before I have to get ready for my GD Photo Workshops to Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar.
See below some additional and interesting info on the OS X Lion
There is some good news and bad news, some older Mac's don't support Airdrop so if you installed Lion and can't find the AirDrop Icon then most likely your machine does not support AirDrop. However you can always use DropCopy and that works fine a cool little application, very useful also for your iPhone and iPad (Mobile DropCopy) to transfer files, OK on OS X Lion.
Read below specs by Apple re AirDrop...
OS X Lion: Can I use AirDrop with my computer?
AirDrop is one of the great new features of Lion that provides a really easy way to share files between supported, Wi-Fi enabled Macs, without having to connect through the local Wi-Fi network.
AirDrop will automatically discover all the other Wi-Fi-enabled Macs running AirDrop that are near your computer (this may take a few seconds). To make sure you’re in the Finder, click the desktop (the background area of your screen), or click Finder on the Dock.
Note: If AirDrop isn't listed under the Go menu or doesn't appear in Finder window sidebars, your Mac doesn't support this feature.
Macs that support AirDrop in OS X Lion
If your Mac is the same as, or newer than, the models listed below, then it supports AirDrop.
- MacBook Pro (Late 2008 or newer)*
- MacBook Air (Late 2010 or newer)
- MacBook (Late 2008 or newer)*
- iMac (Early 2009 or newer)
- Mac Mini (Mid 2010 or newer)
- Mac Pro (Early 2009 with AirPort Extreme card, or Mid 2010)
Additional Information
For assistance with identifying your Apple product, refer to the Tech Specs website.
Tips & Tricks for Aperture 3 and OS X Lion, better performance on new and older Mac's.
Aperture 3 and OS X Lion, better performance on new and older Mac's.
Some useful tips...
I have been getting some reports that Aperture 3 is performing somewhat sluggish with the new OS X Lion installed particular on older machines.
So I done some additional test driving, using the latest MacBook Pro i7 with Lion installed and pushing Aperture very hard.
Most important if you install OS X Lion on an older Mac perform a new and clean install this will save you a lot of headaches later, remember the good old saying… there are no shortcuts.
But before all of this exciting re-installing of Lion you better have a very good back up of your whole system and files, actually Time Machine done an excellent Job when I did my Lion Installation and I did not loose anything.
Everything was there with the exception of the odd software serial number, but that was easy, just type that in later. It is also a good Idea to have your serial numbers from your previous softwares on hand so you don't have to look for them later. BTW Aperture 3 is one of those that will prompt you to type it in again after installation.
Most problems occur during installations of a new operating system, a little preparation prior install can go a very long way and is time well spend.
In the Preference panel go to General and Energy Saver.
Marked with Red to deactivate the auto switching of the Graphics card
Marked with Red the Restore Windows when quitting and re-opening apps
Yes, at first it seems a bit slow in response but other than that it is running very smooth, of course from past experience I switched of the Graphic Card automatic switching and now also in the System Preference the Restore Windows when quitting and re-opening apps. See the screenshots above.
I also recommend whenever you're doing some serious hard work in Aperture 3, Final Cut Pro X, Motion 5 or other Pro softwares that uses a lot of the Graphic Cards to turn of all other applications unless you have 8 Gig of Ram installed.
The new Lion is actually a super cool cat, but is also very hungry when it comes to Ram…I guess the name LION says it all, a big Cat with a good appetite but ever so majestic and powerful.
Soon I am leaving for my GD Photo Workshops to Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar but prior my departure you can join me this August and the first part of September at Power Mac Center for some serious sessions on Aperture 3 and the Digital Dark Room, in cooperation with the Filipinas Heritage Library and Power Mac Center in Greenbelt 3, Makati.
For the dates and schedules please click the LINKS above.
Now do a clean installation of Lion and the let the Cat Roar…my Lion and Aperture 3 running already very cool and smooth.
GD
Just one more… can't help myself
You know this little Apple on the top left hand side, where you find out all these things about your Mac including your serial number, check out the new addition in Lion, I think this is very cool and slick.
Click on the little Apple and you see cool new features.
New slick look with all the info displayed, very nice.
Apple: OS X Lion installed & test driving now… so far I am impressed & doing some very good lap time.
Burning Midnight Oil…Installed OS X Lion and test driving…
So far I am doing some very good Lap times.
Don't know why this happen to me all the time…a coincident maybe, I mention in my last post on Sri Lanka that my next post would be from Thailand, but then came Lion OS X last night. Now I am test driving…mind you half a sleep so please forgive me for any grammar and spelling mistakes…I need another coffee.
Like before, every time I have to go on a trip, just days before (it happen with Aperture 3 and others) a major update got released, so last night I burned midnight oil and installed Lion OX.
Lucky I had a good internet connection and the downloading only took 3.5 hours plus another 45 minutes for installation and checking the system, I was done by 4:12 AM. I just realized this is the entire flight duration from Manila to Bangkok.
Most of us in the Philippines and in Asia general going to have some difficulty with good connection speed, the only draw back when downloading huge files.
You might ask why going through all this trouble and burning midnight oil, (BTW I love the Band) but I am a Certified Apple Pro Trainer for Aperture and have classroom session and workshops I need to know if there are any issues so I can trouble shoot when needed.
But now to my first observation and some tips for you to move over to Lion, first of all; Make sure you have a back up of your previous system and you updated Snow Leopard prior installation. Making a good back up is absolutely crucial, you never know what can go wrong, Time Machine is a good choice but you can also clone your hard drive via another software if you wish to do so, but make sure you BACK UP!
Lion OS X is only available via download for the Apple App Store and it is about 3.5Gig this is a big Baby for downloading, so a very good connection is important, don't try this with a dial up, which brings me to the next issue, there are some rumors that Apple is going to supply some Memory sticks for some US$ 69.00 with Lion OS X but they want be available until August and this is not sure either.
If you must get Lion now go to a friends place buy some wine and sleep on the couch over night, or ask your Boss if you can do it at work, a good connection and healthy relationship in this case with your Boss is important to.
Compatibility, I am still test driving but so far have not encountered any major issues and the Lion is doing just fine except for some minor issues and getting use to an all new experience.
The scroll bar is gone, well not quiet, it only shows now when you move the mouse or scroll on the trackpad then it will show, the new interface is slick and responsive very quirky, nice one.
Of course there are some 3rd party softwares which do not run and below is a list of some I encountered, not a big deal I can either do without them or a fix will be available soon.
Aperture 3, not a glitch running very cool, Motion 5 is also not a problem, as a matter of fact almost everything I am running from before is fine.
Mail is now very slick just like on your iPhone or iPad, love this new look, but you might have to get use to the new way of scrolling and if you don't like it then you can always set it up to your preference.
Older versions of Stuff it Expander is not running, very old version of Microsoft Office like Word are also not supported, Drop Copy has an issue but no need for that any more since Lion has now Air Drop build in and that works within 30 feet, perfect.
For some 3rd party software you might need to install the serial number again but other than that, all is fine.
A bigger issue is fotoQuote: OSX Lion and Cradoc fotoSoftware programs and an Update pre-announcement
| Apple is releasing Mac OS Lion (OSX 10.7) today. The part of this email about the operating system pertains only to Mac users but we've sent this to both Mac and Windows users because of the fotoQuote Pro pre-announcement below that is in the works.
Apple has dropped its Rosetta support for many older programs and features in the Lion operating system conflict with many new programs as well. Because of this we suggest that you wait as long as possible to update to Lion. |
Peach Press announced some good reading material, like how to Tame OS X Lion, if you really get deep into it check it out @ http://www.peachpit.com/index.aspx
Rapid Weaver running perfect as matter of fact this is the very first post from OS X Lion, no problems.
I am still testing some other 3rd party software and if you don't hear from then all is good, however if I come across some issues I shall report them to you. Lion is so far super cool and very snappy indeed, lots of new and cool features.
But Remember…before any installation, Back Up and look for a very good connection!
BTW - if you do run into trouble and living in Manila talk to one of the trainers at Power Mac Center they are only to willing and help you out.
Now I have to run…my next post will be for sure from Thailand.
GD
Tip: iLife including Aperture 2 using the Themes from iDVD plus a little help from Snapz Pro X…of course the ever so cool GarageBand with iMovie, creating simple 15 and 30 second Video clips on the fly…or just having fun on the Mac
I only used a couple of Themes but in iDVD you have so many to choose from…try experimenting and you find there are a lot of cool things you can do. The Titles are: The Commercial - Our Marine Life - Tropical destination
Please note: You might have to refresh your Browser to see the new Video Clips. Click the link or the image below and View the three (3) 15 and 30 sec. Clips., or go to Music/Video Podcast
© Gunther Deichmann - Composite, Mumbai India April 2008
How to do it…open iDVD choose a Theme go to your Media Browser and here you have your Aperture 2 library.
Pick a couple of images drop them into your iDVD Theme and you almost there, if you using Snapz Pro X choose the Movie option and record your iDVD theme.
Make sure you have the Drop Boxes enabled otherwise they become part of your recording.
The rest is pretty much automatic, once Snapz Pro X has finished the recording (depends on the lengths of the clip) it prepared also a QT file for you, I usually save them on my desktop easy to find later. (This file can be from 50MB plus in size)
The only thing left to do is drag the Movie clip into iMovie open your Media Browser for the Music and pick anything you have created on to the timeline.
Fine-tune and make your soundtrack fit, add a fade in and fade out, or what ever you like (lots to choose from) now you can export everything to many different file formats.
You have different options for exporting your Movie file, there is also Share available. If you have Quick Time Pro even better there you have all the conversions you ever going to need, plus you can do some editing too, but you have to have QT Pro.
How long does this take…not very long at all, I guess the hardest part is the Music, which I created from scratch in GarageBand, but since I had already a good selection of soundtracks the whole operation took only one hour for all three clips.
Of course you can create more than one recording/clip with Snaps Pro X and join them together later in iMovie creating a short presentation or demo, great for the web.
PS. I kept these files very small for easy viewing on the web, however you can leave them in their original size that is good enough for your desktop and TV.
GD
Fresh APPLES and APERTURE 2… they had a lot in common recently …a simple shot from inside my Hotel Room in Mumbai India…plus one more Black & White…using the Monochrome mixer.
APPLES + APERTURE 2 = MUMBAI INDIA
© Gunther Deichmann - Fresh Apples in Mumbai India
View GD images on India at his PhotoShelter
archive or collection @
http://www.deichmann-photo.com/stock.html
It is amazing what you find or have forgotten when you do some more editing in Aperture a few weeks later. Remember my recent trip to Mumbai India for the Apple Aperture 2 World Tour. During my stay at the Hotel I noticed these Apples on this small Table, I thought…hey not bad, the light, the reflection and I guess the relationship between the words Apple and Apples, I shot this scene right in front of me using only the available light from the window.
Then in Aperture 2 I used only the Raw conversion, the straighten tool, a little cropping and applied some sharpening.
So there you have it…real fresh Apples from Mumbai India.
© Gunther Deichmann - Apples and window
This shot was taken few minutes later while sitting on my bed and looking towards the window, a straight shot I might add…and I didn’t move the furniture either, no manipulation in Photoshop, again using only the Raw converter in Aperture 2, the straighten tool, a little cropping and some sharpening.
The Black & White image below…
© Gunther Deichmann - Mumbai India April 2008
I saw this women sitting outside her home in a small alley in central Mumbai, the original image was color but converted to Black & White in Aperture 2 using the Monochrome mixer.
GD
APERTURE 2 Tip...where do I find my Camera info...this is nice if You like to compare DATA...very cool & not only for the Pro's...
A cool little Aperture 2 Tip...
Where do you find at a push of a button YOUR Camera Info when you like to compare your shots after the shoot in Aperture 2.1
See the provided screen shot below, the small drop down menu (small red circle) is where you find ...Show and Hide Camera & Color info...the red oval shows you the data, you have to be in the adjustment mode/panel.
This is very useful when comparing shots, what might have gone wrong or right...You can also move your Cursor over the image to get the color Value in between the images, the grey area will show you the Camera info. Play around and you find this is a very useful addition in Aperture 2.
You can also move your cursor over your Thumbnails... for those of you who are still in the early stage of Photography this command is great for analyzing your images quickly.
Try it out and have some fun...Aperture is not only great for the Pro's but it can help you to take better images by quickly finding out what went wrong or right.
GD
Visit Gunther Deichmann's website @
http://www.deichmann-photo.com/home.html
