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Hmong New Year ’s Celebration

By on 27. November 2014 in Laos

A Photo-Essay

Hmong New Year's Celebration - Phonsavanh, Laos

Hmong New Year’s Celebration – Phonsavanh, Laos

We arrived in Phonsavanh in the midst of the Hmong New Year’s celebration – to our great surprise!  This event seems to be widely unknown amongst Western visitors. On the first evening we missed the Bull Fights, so the next day we were determined to see the Festival on the edge of town. After a rough 12 kilometer drive, we reached what seemed to be a fair-ground, with various games going on, like throwing darts. Needless to say that serious karaoke singers were trying to out-do each other, a must at every social gathering in Laos. Again, no lack of food stalls serving cheap and delicious local food. Continue Reading →

UXO – The Aftermath Of America’s “Secret War”

By on 26. November 2014 in Laos
UXOs or Unexploded Ordnances, Phonsavanh, Laos

UXO or Unexploded Ordnances, Phonsavanh, Laos

UXO stands for “UneXploded Ordnance”. Of the estimated 2 million tons of bombs, including 280 million cluster bombs dropped onto Laos between 1964 and 1973, about 30% did not explode! These have killed no less than 14.000 people in Laos in the last 30 years and crippled 44.000. The province of Xinuang Khoung, with its capital Phonsavanh, was especially targeted during the bombing raids. The USA suspected this northeastern province to be the hiding place of the communist Pathet Lao. Continue Reading →

5 Things To Do in Vientiane

By on 24. November 2014 in Laos
Pha That Luang, Vientiane, Laos

Pha That Luang, Vientiane, Laos

Vientiane, Laos’ very relaxed capital city, has changed in many ways since my last trip in 2008. Though still a very chilled and somewhat slow-moving place, the center is now bustling with a new well-off middle class, driving expensive cars and enjoying themselves in trendy restaurants. Looking at their menu it could be any place in Europe. A few years back it was mostly NGOs and government officials that frequented such places… Continue Reading →

Travel Guide To Malawi

By on 17. November 2014 in Malawi

A Great Place To Relax On An Overland Trip Through East Africa

Fish Eagle Lodge in Nkhotakota, on the shores of Lake Malawi - Paradise found!

Fish Eagle Lodge in Nkhotakota, on the shores of Lake Malawi – Paradise found!

Itinerary And Time Of The Visit

In August 2014 we traveled Malawi, named after the Maravi, an old name of the Nyanja people that inhabit the area. We crossed the border coming from the south, from Tete in Mozambique. These are the places we visited: Blantyre, Liwonde Natonal Park, Chongoni Rock Painting Area, Lilongwe, Nkhotakota, Nkhata Bay, Livingstonia and last but not least South Viphya Forest Reserve. Continue Reading →

Malawi – A Selection Of 30 Pictures

By on 15. November 2014 in Africa – Photos, Malawi, Malawi – Photos

In August 2014, we spent 2 weeks (self-)driving through Malawi and covered some of the highlights this country has to offer: crossing from Mozambique, we started in Blantyre, then headed towards Liwonde National Park for a Canoe Safari & a Jeep Safari, Chongoni Rock Art Area & Lilongwe. From there, we focused on Lake Malawi: laid-down Nkhotakota, the backpacker heaven of Nkhata Bay, and finally scenic Livingstonia in the far north, testing our Offroad driving skills. A pleasant stop we made on the way back to Lilongwe in South Viphya Forest Reserve – Here you find a selection of 30 pictures of Malawi Continue Reading →

Stock Image Agencies

By on 1. November 2014 in Selling Your Pictures
Gilles in Kashan, Iran

Gilles in Kashan, Iran

What is Stock Photography?

Stock photography is the business of licensing pictures and granting someone else the right to use it for a defined and delimited purpose. The most important point is that the photographer does not sell the property rights and remains the only owner of the image – which means he can still use or sell the same pictures for other purposes. Continue Reading →

Microstock Or Not Microstock – That Is (Not) The Question…

By on 1. November 2014 in Selling Your Pictures
Gilles & Yann spoting Ladakhi wildlife, Tso Kar, Ladakh, Indi

Gilles & Yann spoting Ladakhi wildlife, Tso Kar, Ladakh

What is Microstock?

Microstock Agencies are Stock Agencies that:

  1. Source their images exclusively via the Internet,
  2. Accept pictures from a wider range of photographers than the traditional Stock Agencies (including Amateurs)
  3. Sell the pictures at very low rates (generally less than 1 or 2 USD for a royalty-free image).

Continue Reading →

Selling Pictures Directly?

By on 1. November 2014 in Selling Your Pictures
Malawean Kwachas - Approx. 280 €

Malawean Kwachas – Approx. 280 €

Selling pictures directly is surely the most time consuming, but also probably the most profitable and rewarding way of monetizing your pictures. We had no time to do this in the past, but will definitely go in this direction in the future!