Category: Travel
Deal or no deal? European Travel post-Brexit
With the end of March approaching fast and the UK still surrounded by uncertainty around its impending exit from the European Union, anyone planning European travel might, rightly so, be a little worried about changes to come. Our partners at Responsible Travel have put together a few very useful pointers around what is likely to be in place post-Brexit – deal or no deal:
- UK-EU flights will operate – the European Commission has confirmed UK airlines can fly to the EU. A cap on the number of flights based on 2018 levels is being contested
- Ferry services and cruises from the UK will sail – shipping rules are mostly international
- UK passport-holders won’t need visas for the EU – an electronic visa-waiver scheme for the Schengen area is due in 2021 but would happen anyway and is nothing to do with Brexit
- Passports must be valid for six months from arrival date. Here’s a useful link which will help you determine if you need a new passport – https://www.passport.service.gov.uk/check-a-passport
- If you are buying a package trip from the UK you will continue to enjoy full financial protection thanks to the EU Package Travel Directive. The UK has adopted the same level of protection and this has been written into UK law. This may help you determine what a package holiday actually is – https://www.abta.com/help-and-complaints/frequently-asked-questions/what-package-holiday
- The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) won’t be valid in the event of no deal. We always recommend that you have adequate travel insurance in place. It is also a good idea to buy your trip with a credit card as this will give you an added level of insurance and it is now illegal to charge you more for paying by credit card.
- UK drivers in the EU will need an International Driving Permit – available from the Post Office for £5.50
- Pets will still be able to travel, but owners should consult a vet in advance about documents and health checks.
Magical China – why we fell in love and want to share it all
A few years ago when we decided to say farewell to the corporate world and start our photography business, we spent a good few months traveling through South-East Asia clearing our heads, taking a break and doing what we love most – capturing the beauty of what we’re seeing and experiencing. We’d been to China many times before but never to this magical region in Hunan, which has always been on our must-visit list. Both UNESCO-protected heritage sites, we spent a few days in ZhangJiaJie national park (famous for being the location where James Cameron and his crew filmed the super-production Avatar back in 2009) and FengHuang, the Ancient City of the Phoenix (one of the most beautiful sites in China where time stood still and picturesque houses on stilts reign over the river). We were so hooked that we immediately decided we’d have to share this with our friends and customers and that’s how our first photography holiday product was born (read all about it here)
We started in ZhangJiaJie where its Avatar connections are cherished – the Chinese even renamed one of its famous peaks ‘Hallelujah mountain’ after its Avatar name. First impressions were really breathtaking, from the spectacular views that really have no comparison to anything you will have experienced before, to the super clean crisp air, one of the cleanest in the world – in stark contrast with whatever intoxicating smog image that thinking of some of the big China cities may conjure in your head.
We stayed local and lived local for our few days, and it is the way we always want to do things – why travel otherwise? Our homely family-run accommodation was within walking distance to one of the park entrances and afforded us spectacular views of the mountains from the comfort of our balcony, delicious home-cooked breakfasts and dinners by the old man of the family who seemed to be in charge of the kitchen (and did a fantastic job – Gordon Ramsey would have approved), all this with all comforts of modern travel, an ensuite bathroom and even a hot and cold air conditioning unit in our room! The 100-years old grandma living on site was an inspiration and with her permission a lovely photogenic subject too! And although we didn’t partake in the local snake-wine, it added to the charm and of course we had to take a photo of it too!
On our first morning up the mountain sharing a cable car cabin with the local ‘commuters’ was a glorious experience: lively women and men heading up to set up ‘shop’ before the tourists arrive (our super-excited and slightly jetlagged selves had a ridiculous early start and were way ahead of everyone else). We soon realised in this part of the world we were far more an exotic sight for them as they were for us (there are only a handful of Caucasian faces to be seen around there). Everything is a new experience and of course, we document it: park entrance is free if you’re short (of course, it is meant for children, and what a nice simple rule); if you’re really tired there will be plenty of litter vehicles to carry you up and down the mountain (we really felt sorry for these guys, but they didn’t seem to mind – guess it saves them the gym fees – and they seemed to use their vehicles to take plenty of breaks and naps) and – for whatever reason, if you’re cold, or you need to keep the sun off your head, a nice tote bag is always handy (and yes she spotted me right as I was taking the picture!).
Of course, the views from the top are spectacular, and what’s great is the pathways are good with paved alleyways and stone steps and the walk not too onerous, you can go at pace and do as much or as little as you want. The heights are not for the faint-hearted if you decide to venture across the glass bridge (we didn’t!) or look down from one of the many viewing ridges and platforms. What’s great is you don’t need to be adventurous to see these amazing sites, and even people who are fairly uncomfortable with heights as we are can get a tremendous experience, as you are literally surrounded by amazing views all around you.
You can read more about ZhangJiaJie and see more images on our China holiday page here, but for now we are moving onto our second location for this China trip which is the ancient city of the Phoenix (FengHuang). The Chinese consider the dragon and phoenix symbolic of blissful relations between husband and wife, another common yang and yin metaphor.
Everything in this perfectly preserved oasis of Chinese ancient culture of FengHuang is filled with symbols and reminders of ancient civilisations and habits. At the same time, as with ZhangJiaJie, all mod cons provide for a comfortable stay and again we choose somewhere within the ancient city walls and within walking distance of all the sites alongside the river. After the bus ride from ZhangJiaJie it is hard to believe that after the many dusty concrete jungles we pass, this place is here and it couldn’t be any more different.
The city is beautiful in the daylight but really comes to live at night, another unexpected surprise to see everything illuminated so spectacularly, but tastefully too. A true show which obviously also affords many night photography opportunities. This is one of the famous bridges crossing the river, during day time and at night, taken on the same day during our first trip.
FengHuang is the perfect place to explore on foot, and make regular stops to sit down, relax and watch the world go by. The many cafes, bars and restaurants dotted along the river, almost inconspicuously hosted in the signature houses on stilts await – as coffee lovers (aka addicts) we were delighted the coffee culture is very much alive in this part of China. There are dozens of street food options, markets, stalls and many historic places to visit and of course take photos of! Just beware, although these places in Hunan are very accessible and friendly for any traveler, you will struggle to find any English on road signs, menus in restaurants or hotels. With Matt’s limited Mandarin we got by just fine on our first trip, and we decided we would have a full-time local guide with us on our photography tours so everyone coming along with us would benefit from round the clock translations, whatever they require (see what we include in our tour here).
We can’t wait to be back later this year. Our first time was in March and it was a little to cold for our taste, therefore we’ve planned our tour for May this time round. We left our heart in Hunan and will be going back for it (ok, we confess – along with other thousand tourists, we too bought the engraved padlock in ZhangJiaJie!). We also occasionally take selfies on our iPhones as you can see.
Come with us?! We’d love to share our experience with any photography and travel enthusiast who loves the idea of joining us and a small group of like-minded people in these two locations. We still have a couple of places left for this year and plenty for next year, plus we are doing a special offer for the Photography Show at the NEC (contact us for details). Here is where to find all info about our China 2018 tour.
Xie-xie-ni (thank you) for reading!
Andreea & Matt
China Photography Holiday launches at Largest Photography Show in Europe
For the first time in the UK, Light and Imagination launch Photography Tours in China – Avatar Mountains await!
Over the years, photographers Andreea and Matt, founders of Light and Imagination Photography have searched the world for the best off-the-beaten-track locations to offer unparalleled photography tour experiences. They are now ready to open their doors to keen photographers who want to experience real China in amazing, authentic and super photogenic settings.
A 10-day Photography tour is being launched at the NEC Photography Show 2017 with a special early-bird price, no single supplements and extra discounts for room sharers.
The first China Photography Tour will take place in May-June 2018 and cover two amazing locations ZhangJiaJie (film set for ‘Avatar’) and FengHuang (step-back-in-time ancient walled city and UNESCO heritage).
With a small group of maximum 10 participants, two UK professional photographers and one English-speaking local guide, this can be a photographic trip of a lifetime. The tour price includes all group and individual tuition and feedback, accommodation, meals, internal travel and entry fees.
For more information and booking enquiries please visit Light and Imagination on stand J35 at the NEC Photography Show between 18th-21st March 2017, contact Andreea on 07950481728 or Matt 07764167943, email info@lightandimagination.com or click here!
How to Photograph the Moon
This year we happened to be in Lanzarote for the 13th and 14th November, when the world experienced a ‘supermoon’ to the delight of all lovers of photography and skyscapes. All photos in this post are taken in Lanzarote. Here are a few words of advice, based on our experience, about how to photograph the moon.
The moon will be at its biggest size immediately after it rises or just before it sets. Scout good locations well in advance – you want to be as close to sea level as possible and get unobstructed views of the moon just as it rises or sets.
If the sun sets after the moon has risen (as in the photo below) the moon will have a nice orange glow to it and the sky and clouds around it will benefit from the beautiful light just before sunset, usually known as golden hour. Check the sunset times in conjunction with the moon rise times and pick a day when the moon is up before the sun sets. This will give you a balanced exposure and allow you to shoot the moon in a setting or context to give it more drama and impact. There are plenty of free apps and websites that give you these times well in advance so you can plan your shots.
Focal length 140mm, F5.6, 1/25, ISO 100 (on a tripod)
When shooting the moon set, again it is good to check sunrise times because if the sun had already risen, the moon will not be visible for much longer afterwards and you will not benefit from its greater size given by the proximity to sea level as it sets. In the photo below (yes that is the moon!), the sun had not risen yet by the time the moon set so there was a lovely twilight illuminating the sea and the clouds, while it being dark enough for the moon to appear large and bright.
Focal length 400, f5.6, 5”, ISO 100 (on a tripod)
Remember sunrise / moonset and sunset / moonrise lag times can vary significantly from one day to the next so there will be many days when it is simply not possible to achieve these images because the sun will have set long before the moon rises, or risen well before the moon sets. Planning of locations is fundamental as well. You only have very few precious moments to see the moon rise or set, and, if there are clouds in the sky, the window of opportunity will be even shorter. So you need to be in the right place at the right time, with camera and tripod set and staring in the right direction!
Shooting the moon while it’s bright, big and high up in the sky is also a potentially rewarding task, and not as daunting an endeavor as some may think. Remember that the moon is much brighter than you imagine and much, much brighter than anything else in the night sky. If you are trying to shoot the moon well after sunset, then you must expose for the moon manually and ensure you compensate your exposure correctly or else you will just end up with a blurred white circle. Usually you need to set your shutter speed to a fast setting as the moon moves fairly quickly across the sky in an arc (also helps if you are shooting hand-held which is perfectly possible). Then pick an aperture to suit and ensure you get enough detail in the moon. All this is done in manual mode on the camera and if you’ve not attempted it before, there is nothing wrong with trial and error! It will help if you put the camera on a tripod and use live view so that you can see the detail in the moon’s surface.
Focal length 400mm, F8, 1/320, ISO 100 (handheld)
Things get trickier when you try to expose for the ambient as well as the moon once the sun had set so there is no more sunlight to illuminate the surroundings (we are talking here of non-urban environments). Then you need to get creative with your lighting and remember that only objects that are well illuminated will appear in the photo if you are also trying to expose correctly for the moon. In the instance below, once the sun had set we headed to the hilltops of Lanzarote’s Haria mountains to get a good vantage point over the sea, which was illuminated by the bright moon. While the moon was obviously illuminated by itself, the sea and the clouds were illuminated by the moon, and everything else was in relative darkness. We used our car lights to illuminate the top of the Martian-looking Lanzarote hilltops, used a relatively long exposure and further compensated for the brightness of the moon by using a graduated ND filter. The long exposure also gave us some nice cloud movement and smoothed out the sea water.
Focal length 90mm, f16, 20”, ISO 800 (on a tripod)
In an urban environment you benefit from street lights and other artificial lights which can be used to illuminate other elements you may want in your composition, as they will provide a relatively balanced exposure compared to the moon. In this example below we got a little creative with a minimalist composition including just the top of a lamppost and the moon, leaving everything else in darkness. In this scenario, one thing to be aware and mindful of is depth of field – while this is irrelevant when just shooting the moon, as soon as you add an object closer to the camera you need to adjust your f-number to ensure all desired elements are in focus.
Focal length 140, f16, 1/160, ISO 100 (handheld)
We have deliberately not specified what camera or lenses we used because people get far to hung up on talking about equipment – when settings such as the ones outlined in this blog post’s photos can be achieved with a large variety of equipment and lenses, and are brand-agnostic. We gave an indication of focal length rather than lens used as this can be achieved with different lenses and crop / full-frame cameras.
If you are interested in learning more about photography, check out our training courses available for all levels:
For Kent – www.lightandimagination.com
For London – www.photoion.co.uk