QCCP Myanmar 2018 Travel Photography Workshop/Tour

QCCP Myanmar Photo Tour

Alan Coligado Sue Weterings Clare King Helen Moore Fenella Robinson Fiona Huddleston James Ranken Mike Langford Jackie Ranken

Queenstown Centre for Creative Photography Myanmar Photography Tour 29 October - 11 November 2018 This book represents nine photographers’ chosen images from their thirteen day photography tour through Myanmar. Yangon: This is the largest city in Myanmar. Its colonial background and religious legacy make it one of the most genuine and mesmerizing places to photograph in Southeast Asia. The highlight was our time spent photographing local people: on trains, from trains, in stations, on jetties, on boats, in market places, around temples and through a local township called Dhala. Here we travelled through the town by trishaw photographing the fun-loving children, local industry and water collection activities. We also had a sunset cruise on Yangon River and experienced a cultural show with banquet dinner on a replica of the Royal Barge on Kandawigi Lake. The pinnacle of Yangon is the Shwedagon Pagoda (Myanmar's most religious site). At the time, scaffolding was covering part of the pagoda and we could see the effect of the new, 'real' gold layer that was being applied to its surface. Mandalay: This is the second largest city in Myanmar. Previously it was the ancient Royal Capital and its monuments reflect this. Our highlights were photographing Ubein Bridge by boat and watching the late afternoon light create silhouettes of the people on the bridge as they travel home. This bridge is the longest teak footbridge in the world. We travelled across the Irrawaddy River to Mingun where we photographed what would have been the world's largest Paya if it were not for an earthquake that halted its construction. We also photographed the magnificent Mingun Bell and the alabaster Hsinbyume Pagoda. The following day, we visited the Mahagandayon Monastery where we saw over one thousand monks receive their morning meal and witnessed their religious discipline and focus on life. Later in the afternoon we travelled to the world’s largest book that is carved onto thousands of stone tablets. On our final night in Mandalay, we photographed sunset from Mandalay Hill, shooting amongst the kaleidoscope of mosaic mirrored walls that are part of the monument. From Mandalay, we floated down the Irrawaddy by boat to the plains of Bagan arriving at Nyaung U Jetty at the end of the day.

Bagan: The plains of Bagan are scattered with thousands of temples making it one of the greatest archaeological sites in Asia. The “Balloons Over Bagan” experience was certainly a highlight of the tour. Floating over the countryside and getting those amazing views looking straight down to the magnificent monuments below while the sun was rising was unforgettable. Travelling around the plain by horse cart allowed us to feel more connected with the past. We photographed Thatbyinnyu (tallest Temple) and the gigantic Dhammayangyi Temple with its amazing brickwork, and we photographed sunrise and sunset every day from unique vantage points. Amazing! Inle Lake: This lake is 22kms long and 10kms wide. It is famous for its floating gardens, leg-rowing fishermen, villages built on bamboo stilts and its amazing local village industries. We photographed fibre being hand spun from lotus plants (making it one of the rarest fabrics in the world). We also observed and photographed the processes of cigar making, boat building and silversmiths at work. Other highlights included a visit to an architecturally unique teak monastery called Shwe Yan Pyay with its circular windows and travelling by long boat to photograph the ancient crumbling ruins of Indein Pagoda and its local people and market places. Arriving back in Yangon, we celebrated friendship, photography and an amazing life experience with a farewell banquette at a fancy British Style colonial restaurant.

ÂŠ2019 The images within these pages remain the copyright to the photographers. Contact info@qccp.co.nz +64 2767 22788 Cover image by Fiona Huddleston Back image James Ranken

2018 QCCP Myanmar Photography Tour

Alan Coligado, Sue Weterings, Clare King, Helen Moore, Fenella Robinson, Fiona Huddleston, Mike Langford, James Ranken, Jackie Ranken, Guide-Montan.

Fiona Huddleston

Helen Moore

Fenella Robinson

Sue Weterings

Alan Coligado

Clare King

James Ranken

Jackie Ranken Instructor

Jackie Ranken

Mike Langford Instructor

Mike Langford

Inle Lake

Alan Coligado, Guide-Win Win, Clare King, Fenella Robinson, Helen Moore, Mike Langford, Jackie Ranken, James Ranken, Fiona Huddleston, Sue Weterings

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