To be honest I am struggling to remember this morning but I do have some recollection of this afternoon. We went out delivering prints to the people we have photographed in the last 2 or 3 days. It brings a huge smile to the face of both giver and receiver when the photos are handed over. Such excitement! Far better than only storing them on a hard drive. It meant we did little ‘serious’ photography today but we are back in harness tomorrow. My afternoon task was to use only my 24mm Summilux. This is not the first lens I reach for in my bag. In fact it is probably the last of the four. All the more reason then to learn how to get more out of it.
If the internet allows me to post this you will see one image appears in both colour and monochrome. I am interested in views on which is the stronger image.
The Laughing Muslim Man
The Monk and his Growling Dog
Children in the Muslim Village
Children in the Muslim Village – monochrome
Ladies who have lunched
Naga – the seven serpent heads
Tomorrow we check out and head South on the next phase of our adventure workshop. We are all keen for new experiences and culture shocks to stimulate our photographic juices. I still have a lot of work to do with my 24mm lens. So farewell to Phnom Penh.
Apologies that the comments box is not showing. I have spent ages trying to work out why not but so far without joy. Comments are enabled so I am not sure what has happened.
All downhill from here 
Great set! I normally prefer b&w, but in this case i feel the image seems a little “overprocessed”, and has lost too many midtones. Have you tried processing the top shot in monochrome? That seems like a real winner…
Thanks Alessandro and others – all agreed – over-processed. For the workshop we are supposedly limited to defined presets and this was one of them. I clearly picked the wrong one and I will do a manual processing later. I’ll also have another go at the laughing man in mono. I am really struggling with internet access here hence no posts for a day or so.
Not surprisingly, I’m more fond of the monochrome version – I think B/W just works better with people than colour. Anyway, I agree with some previous posts that the development is perhaps a bit too harsh, especially visible on the face of the left girl. Not sure, but perhaps it comes over like this because the photo does not seem to be pin sharp? The colour version also looks very soft.
I would love to see the old man in the first photo in monochrome!
I’m going with the color version of the children.
Thanks Phil. Colour wins!!
that’s technology for you Andrew, … it takes over and you never know what’s going on sometimes… (I went back to the previous blog, .. heh!! One in the eye for Techno!!) … but thought to comment here too, as the photo’s are smashing.. and I love the last one, reflecting…on reflection… 🙂 Can’t wait to see what you have for us next…. (with comments of course!! 🙂 ) xPenx
Beautiful pictures. The first one is my favourite!
The monochrome for me – it stopped me in my tracks for some reason. I found it a particularly resonant image. Marie Tarrant
I wondered what had happened to my comment yesterday, then I found it on someone else’s blog, which has totally confused them……anyway:-
Some great photos there, I can almost hear the man laughing in the first one.
I love the two ladies pic, such a different culture to the west.
The colour v B/W? I’m usually drawn far more to B/W, but I prefer the colour this time.
I do like a contrasty B/W but this time I feel it makes the background appear too busy and distracts from the subjects.
Great photographs and some great comments too. I tend to agree about the monochrome one of the children. The laughing man is hilarious, how wonderful that you were able to capture that shot. I’ve just watched a documentary about Richard Avedon. He speaks about those unexpected moments. They really are priceless if you are making portrait or street photography.
Can’t wait for the next instalment Andrew and I’m really enjoying your people pictures. What talent! 😀
Thanks Andrew for those lovely photographs. I agree that the B&W is a more telling photo, a starker image. The coloured version is a pretty shot of children but is less thought provoking. I am not sure what ‘the provoked thougts’ would be though. in the B&W, perhaps more of inducing a reflection on their culture etc.
Andrew…these are absolutely superb. It is lovely that you go back and deliver pictures to your subjects, that is a fantastic idea. I remember showing locals in South Africa the photos I had taken of them, just in the camera display, and they absolutely loved it!
I am so glad that you are in Cambodia, I am living vicariously through you. Cambodia is my favourite country in the world, I enjoyed every second of my time there and I can’t wait to get back. In the meantime your photos are filling the void 🙂 happy snapping.
In the parlance of my rural roots growing up here in the backwaters of the Niagara Peninsula,”now you’re cooking with gas”! Some great street images, the laughing man’s image is infectiously funny and I am left wanting to know why he responded(?) so. I think your square crop here is perfect. Reading a couple other comments I agree the b&w version of the children is a little harsh, maybe just overly gritty, suiting perhaps elderly people. It does give it a “pushed” look, as in pushing ISO800 to 3200. Looks to me you are getting so very cooperative subjects, and the results show it. Well done I say, looking forward to more from the next leg of your adventure.
Barry, a fellow photographer had just taken the man’s photo. He showed him the image on the LCD and suddenly he erupted into laughter. I took 3 frames and this was the best. People here are amazingly friendly and tolerant. It helps that we go back and distribute prints. 100 prints here cost US$10 and were done overnight. Decent quality too. I’m going to ditch the B&W version of the kids. Thanks for your thoughts.
Yes, I think it’s important to follow up with prints for people. We had as much fun distributing photos (in Rangoon a few years ago) as we did taking them !
The laughing man is very candid and I like that one very much. The very best is the photo of the children in color. This time I am not fond of the monochrome of the children. The photos are so interesting and I repeat- entertaining. Good work, Andrew.
Glad you have the comments turned on again. First I love the Laughing Muslim Man – wonderful. Now for the children. The B and W is certainly more timeless – and has a certain power, but for me the colour photograph is more delicate and the skin-tones are so much softer and purer. So for a poster about something I’d use the B and W making a statement, for telling the pictorial story the colour takes me there.