- Afternoon Smile -
Every afternoon hundreds of people gather on the banks of the Mekong to do an hour of group exercise just before sunset. The music and the voices of the people echoed in the air, just off the night market is taking shape, everyone seems happy and carefree, the perfect conditions to capture some beautiful smile.
Ventiane - Laos
July 2015
- Daily Duty -
A youth monk just finished sweeping the courtyard and the staircase leading to the Monastery and temple where he lives.
Luang Prabang - Laos
July 2015
- Little Princess -
On the banks of the Mekong River a young mother playing with her beautiful baby girl.
Mekong River
Luang Prabang Province - Laos
July 2015
LAOS
Nestled between Vietnam, China, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar; Laos is the green heart of South East Asia, is the only country landlocked. With a population of less than seven million people it is so different from the crowded nations that surround it. Here, nature, climate and seasons are still the masters.
- During Prayer Time -
This is a classic example of how the explanation of shot can amplify the effect. I will tell you the story of this picture; I was exploring the beautiful town of Luang Prabang, walking in front of a monastery I noticed that the monks were heading in the adjacent temple, I realized immediately that it was the time of the afternoon prayer and I saw the opportunity to attend the ceremony and maybe take home some good shots. As discreetly as possible I set up my equipment for the session inside the temple, the prayer has just begun, the light is not the best but the atmosphere is amazing. After less than two minutes from the start of the prayer he arrived, this blind dog that without thinking twice, lies down right in front of my camera. I thought that whatever I will have some original shot ... and then it happened ... whenever the monks repeated the mantra together this dog seemed to go into a trance, the deep voices repeated in chorus the ancient Sankrit's words, I have to say that the incredible reaction of the dog excited me,
perhaps the religion not only works for humans.
Luang Prabang - Luang Prabang Province - Laos July 2015
- The Night Market -
Are 11:30 pm, sellers are dismantling the stalls set up in the main street of the town that very day from late afternoon form the night market of Luang Prabang. I am a fan of the markets in Asia, I love to browse through the various stalls almost spying on people, in such a short space throngs many people, with different realities and different lives: locals, tourists, children, who are there to buy, who to sell , who is committed to doing business, those who are lost in thought, and even those who takes a nap.
Luang Prabang - Laos July 2015
- The Girl from the Village -
In the area surrounding the stretch of the Mekong River that runs past the city of Luang Prabang there are many villages that are dependent in one way or another by the river. Many local children coming from poor families help the family finances by selling souvenirs to tourists and travelers.
Mekong River - Luang Prabang Province - Laos July 2015
- Giant Butterfly -
In one of the many gardens in the city of Luang Prabang I was looking for a bit of refreshment in the shade of the trees when I came across a very oversized butterfly.
Luang Prabang - Luang Prabang Province - Laos July 2015
- The Shy Little Girl -
During a boat trip I was going upstream of the Mekong River, visiting some villages on the banks of the great river. In one of them a lady was taking care of a vegetable garden. The little granddaughter was helping her, but my voice and more probably my long beard frightened her to the point that she run behind the skirt of her grandmother.
Mekong River - Luang Prabang Province - Laos July 2015
- Rice-paper Umbrellas -
One of the most colorful stalls of the evening market, dozens of umbrellas rice paper placed alongside each other to form a wall of colors.
Luang Prabang
July 2015
- Monk's Attack -
It's early morning, I'm in the courtyard of one of the small monasteries around the center of the city of Luang Prabang. Some monks read in the shade of trees, others are busy in cleaning and sweeping the small square in front of the monastery, peace would reign if it were not for these two active and noisy young monks playing in the yard.
Luang Prabang - Laos
July 2015
- The Driver -
A very very serious tuk tuk driver in one of the narrow streets of Luang Prabang, waiting in the shade of a large tree to bring some tourists on a tour around the city.
Luang Prabang - Laos
July 2015
- Portrait of a Chicken -
In a small village in the countryside of the Luang Prabang Province, a chicken seems to be born to pose in front of the camera.
Luang Prabang Province - Laos
July 2015
- Street Food -
It's almost lunch time, this morning I got up at 5 am to do some photos with the first light, so I'm very hungry! In Asia, the food you find on the street is often the best, small kiosks prepare traditional dishes at very low prices, and often is a great way to exchange a few words and learn more about the locals.
Luang Prabang - Laos
July 2015
- Buddha Cave -
Known as Pak Ou Caves, a group of two caves on the west side of the Mekong river, about two hours upstream from the center of Luang Prabang.
This is the view from Tham Ting (lower cave) .The caves are Noted for the many Buddha sculptures. Hundreds of very small and mostly damaged wooden Buddhist figures are laid out over the wall shelves.
Mekong River
Luang Prabang Province - Laos
July 2015
- Inside the Temple -
This is the inside of one of the magnificent temples scattered around the surrounding area of Luang Prabang. The morning prayer has just ended,
I have decided not to take pictures during the ceremony because sometimes I feel I should experience the beauty of the moment without distraction. I believe that on special occasions, the camera isolates the photographer from the environment where he is. I find it very interesting how sometimes forget the photograph aid to feel more intensely the moment.
Luang Prabang - Luang Prabang Province - Laos July 2015
- Study Time -
It is late afternoon in the monastery the light is scarce, two young monks use the light of a window to read and memorize some of the many mantras that will become part of their long hours of prayer. It is a team effort, one repeats and the other controls the text making sure that it is correct.
Ventiane - Laos
July 2015