Thaipusam: Pre-Workshop Prep
Gavin Gough and I officially start our 2012 Thaipusam workshop tonight, here in Penang. So yesterday met several of the families we have arraigned for our participant to follow and photograph during the festival. We also did a pre-workshop run through with the models we have secured for our participants to photograph. We have found [...]
Empty Nets
I am working on a project for a NGO that is focusing on the peoples of Africa and Asia’s coastal waters. In short, we are looking at issues of over fishing, climate change and natural disasters like the Acheh tsunami and how these factors effect the livelihood of the coastal people. This is from today’s [...]
Is Fear Your Art Director?
This will be a short post. It’s really just a reminder to take advantage of the moment. This morning I went to Georgetown (Penang, Malaysia) scouting out some locations for an upcoming photo walk. As I was walking through Little India, I stopped and went inside a Hindu temple. These temples have always been inviting [...]
2012 Workshop Schedule
I’ve received several e-mails asking about next year’s workshop schedule. Realizing that my workshop page was not as easy to access as I had imagined (I changed the links location in the menu bar and have now made it more prominent.) I thought I would also highlight the current list of workshops I have running [...]
My day with the Fuji X100
Photo of me, my Fuji X100 and my Brent Black Panama – by Hariman Abd Rahman First, let’s get something straight – this is not a review. These photos are not straight out of the camera and put on this blog post (with the exception of one). I imported them into Lightroom and then did [...]
Durbar Square, Kathmandu
Yesterday, we walked a few hours through Durbar Square in Kathmandu. Again, not really like I remembered it. But certainly better than Tamel and it’s hippies. Baktipur is what Durbar Square in Kathmandu could be. Kathmandu is trying, but it is going to take time. Freak Street and it’s hippies dominate and influence Durbar [...]
Thaipusam 2011 Day 1
You might remember a couple years back I posted images from the Hindu celebration of Thaipusam that takes place here in Penang. Last year I was in Iraq and not able to cover it. But this year I am home with camera in hand. To get the full story on Thaipusam watch and read THIS [...]
When Culture Collides With Your Camera
I received this email yesterday from Victoria, a student in my Introduction to Photography class held here in Penang. I thought I should share it with you as a great reminder how traveling photographers need to be aware of the culture around them and always try to be sensitive to the local norms and traditions. [...]
Penang Introduction to Photography
I just finished my first ever Introduction to Photography course here in Penang this morning. I had eight students with varied experience, all gather at my house around my dining table for a look into how to get the best out of their cameras. I must say, three hours seemed more like three minutes. But [...]
QUICK! Worldwide Photo Walk Register Now!
Worldwide Photo Walk – Images by Matt Brandon It’s that time again, time to register for the WorldWide Photowalk. I love these walks. It’s a time when fellow photographers both professional and hobbyist can gather together and just have fun. No pressure, no real rules, other than be safe, a time when photographers encourage each [...]
Friday Wrap Up
It’s Friday and it’s been a long week. I don’t think you know, but my wife has been gone for two weeks to the Philippines. She is arriving back tonight. I’ve been playing Mr. mom, and doing a pretty sorry job at it. I’ve managed to grill the worst steak ever, make the most pasty [...]
Multimedia: The Last Hat Maker
Living in Penang has been fun and compared to Kashmir quite easy. But, the one sad part for me is I feel I’m here just in time to see a lot of the culture that is so rich in Penang disappear. Remember The Last Lantern Maker that I shot pictures of a few months back? [...]
Back Home… for 48 hours
The team left for our respective homes on April 17th. Alou and I returned to Penang and to our daughter Jessie. But almost as quick as I got back I will leave again for America and some meetings. Alou will stay home and spend time with Jessie; I envy her. I always get little side [...]
The Last Lantern Maker
Sometimes there are days that nothing seems to get done. This time that day lasted a whole week. I’ve started 100 projects and finished none. By Wednesday, I’d had enough and decided to grab my cameras and just go out and chase an idea I have had for about six months. There’s an old man [...]
Pushing Yourself
Do you push yourself? Do you admit to your weaknesses and say I want to get better in this area? There are two ways to look at things like this. One way is to say, “I am good at portraits (put what you are good at here.) and I am going to capitalize on this [...]
I shoot for mostly NGOs and nonprofits. I photograph images of the unknown, the forgotten and the helpless. These are often the stories that most people overlook. 
