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On the balloon ride over Old Bagan, I used a fisheye lens to capture the artistic landscape.

I used three cameras during the Balloon Rides:
–Sony A7Riii with 24-105mm lens . (full frame)
–iPhone 11 Pro Max for videos and wide angles
–Sony A6400 with 7Artisans 7.5mm aspherical fisheye lens
These images were captured on my amazing crop sensor Sony A6400 with the 7.5mm fisheye lens. This is a super-wide lens that captures a unique and distorted angle that curves lines. It is an artistic approach and you get some awesome angles right out of the camera! You can even see Andy Beales taking photos as he is leaning out of the opposite side of the basket. What do you think?
This 7Artisans 7.5mm lens for mounting on Sony crop sensor cameras is only $139 on Amazon and a lot of fun! You can get one like this for a crop-sensor Canon or Nikon… search for Opteka 6.5mm aspherical fisheye for Canon… or Nikon. Have some fun!

Hot Air Balloon Ride – The Views

Hot Air Balloon Ride – The Setup

This was one of the highlights of my Myanmar adventure, with an amazing view of 2100 ancient temples! I will now be sharing several posts of this unforgettable experience. We felt totally safe with the top hot air balloon pilots from Europe. I am afraid of heights so this was a breath of fresh air to see and enjoy the view from above without being afraid. Being in that large basket felt as solid as being on hard ground and I was pleasantly surprised in every way…Unbelievable experience!

MYANMAR – Best travel photography experience I have ever had. What an amazing place!

Almost all young men in Myanmar spend time as a novice monk to learn more about Buddhism. The people are very devout in their faith and they practice what they believe. This is the safest I have felt in any country. After 17 days, no one in our group had anyone try to pick their pockets or grab their phones. Most of the men wear a longhi skirt with no pockets so their phone and wallet just stick out the top in the back of their skirts. And even in the crowded markets and streets I did not see any problem with theft even though the temptation was there everywhere.

It only takes a few minutes to adjust your white balance (add warmth or coolness to your image) and dodge and burn (lighten and darken) to accentuate your focal point and make your images pop…
If that’s what you prefer!? First and foremost capture the best image your camera can get, but don’t get discouraged when it comes out lackluster. Cameras can not capture the same levels of exposure our eyes can see. Just take a minute and “balance the light and color.” First is the light balanced image, then the original. Which is your favorite and why?

Photography Video Tutorial: Unique Angles
ENLIGHTEN TOUR – MYANMAR!

Once you get the traditional shots of your subjects and the scene… look for unique ways to frame your subject. Most people here in Myanmar are very willing, cooperative and curious. I simply showed a phone shot of the setup I wanted and asked! Turn volume up for tips in this video-

TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY – Video Tutorial:

— Use this special off-camera flashlight to add a “kiss” of light across the face! I used to carry a flash with me… but people do not respond well to being “flashed.” (haha)
— Watch this video to learn how to use a flashlight (aka “torch”) to light your portrait on-the-go!

1. Find a shady spot outside or go indoors
2. Use a daylight white balance flashlight (4500-5500 Kelvin) to cast a natural light from the side of your subject… as if the sun was coming in from a low angle.
— This is called “off-camera” light and it is flattering because it leaves natural shadows.
Here is a link to pick up this light for $19…

https://www.aliexpress.com/i/4000109911385.html?fbclid=IwAR2PX-_PbIbj7KrJseV-gfAm06F-x-wJez_DmB_x2WTnsfeIlMD6R0YlY1Y

Old Bagan – Monks and nuns of all ages are around every bend in Myanmar.

It is so fascinating to explore the ancient pagodas and find new Buddha statues in each one. Monks and nuns of all ages are around every bend in Myanmar. The people here are much more devout and open with their faith. Because so many of the young people spend time as novice monks or nuns, the photo opportunities are plentiful… and I am loving it! There is something so fulfilling about studying new cultures. This is what my Enlighten Project is all about. Discovering, capturing and sharing new cultures, landscapes and people. Thank you for following this journey. We still have one more week to go! And then for quite some time while I sort and post the images I am capturing. It will take a while because we literally capture about dozens of winners every day!

-Buddhist Nunnery School near Mandalay-

Turn up your volume to hear the nuns singing at the breakfast ceremony with offerings for Buddha. People come to bring donations before breakfast.

Last night the light was beautiful in Old Bagan and the dusty roads were spreading the light as the buggies and carts carried people to the ancient pagodas to enjoy the sunset.

PHOTO TIP: Drive a car back and forth across a dirt road to stir up the dust when the sun rays are just right to get the golden light rays to spread across your scene. In this case… a few tourist buses, fortunately, blasted down this road just before these two buggies passed through.

The people, culture and landscapes of Myanmar

Two young monks worship by candlelight in an ancient Bagan, Myanmar, pagoda with unique double Buddha statues.

PHOTO TIP: Look for leading lines and interesting shadow patterns for a fascinating composition. Also, note how the white book pages reflect ambient light on to the face of your subject, as in this example. This is definitely in the top three places I have visited. It may be my very favorite for photography. If you enjoy seeing other cultures then this is the best! Contact me if you want information to find the best guides in the world for this location. Thanks to Andy and Mia!

The people, culture, and landscapes of Myanmar