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Myanmar // Documentary Street Photographer

Myanmar // Documentary Street Photographer

This year, I took a month to travel around SE Asia. 2 weeks in Laos and Thailand followed by an epic 2 weeks in Myanmar with 3 friends / brothers Kristian Leven, Ross Harvey and Matt Tyler. The trip was organised by Kristian and when he asked me if I was interested in going to Myanmar (Burma), there was no way I was going to say no!

Myanmar Documentary Street Photographer

Documenting the streets, taking portraits, getting to know more about completely different cultures while pushing myself to learn new things and to grow. I love it. It’s great to explore, be somewhere where (almost) everything is new, to see light in a different way, to be challenged.

The 4 of us share a passion for street photography, travel, adventure (and Arsenal). And this common thread brought us together. What I never imagined was how well we would each get along. This was truly a unique group to be a part of, all vibing on the same frequency.

Myanmar is a truly remarkable place. I had an idea of what it would be liked based on conversations with friends who had recently been, books I had read and articles on the news. Huge change is taking place and the doors are open to travellers and tourists. Now was definitely the perfect time to go.

The people of Myanmar are special. And they will be missed the most. Smiles and greetings would always be received returned, usually with a sweet ‘‘Mingalaba!”. I never once felt I wasn’t welcome or out of place (even though I obviously was). Having little access to the outside world, it would be fair to assume that they would have some fear of outsiders but this was not true at all.

A few things from the time in Myanmar with the lads that I won’t soon forget .. Mingalaba’s, red betel splattered everywhere, buying longyi’s and heading to Shwedagon Pagoda, meditating in temples, listening to monks chanting, riding in a hot air balloon at sunrise over Bagan, renting scooters, greasy rice, greasy noodles, fried something and more grease, grease, grease.. cycling across small villages and being instantly welcomed, running through fields to get ‘that’ picture of a goat herder, finding hidden temples full of novice monks studying, then playing football with said novice monks, shooting around building sites, blackouts in Kalaw, boat journeys, cruising past villages with homes on stilts, finally finding and drinking a great cup of coffee, hot springs that weren’t so hot, bumpy car journeys, sharing a taxi for 8 hours with 2 random Burmese women that shared one seat, watching Arsenal matches on terrible internet connection and loving it, sunrise at U-Bein, watching fishermen and plenty of Myanmar beers at sunset.

Massive thanks again to Ross, Matt and Kristian for being awesome and inspiring. I can’t wait for the next trip brothers.

I could write even more about this trip but I’d rather share with you the images below which is a mixture of everything I love about travelling. I hope you enjoy it.

[ Gear used // Canon 5D Mark 3, 50mm 1.4, 85mm 1.8, 24mm 1.4 + Olympus OMD-EM5 w/ 17mm 1.8 ]

First stop // Thailand (Bangkok) & Laos (Luang Prabang)

Bangkok Street PhotographerBangkok Street PhotographerBangkok Street PhotographerBangkok Street PhotographerLaos Street PhotographerLaos Street PhotographerLaos Street PhotographerLaos Street PhotographerLuangPrabang Wedding PhotographerLaos Street PhotographerLuangPrabang Wedding PhotographerLuangPrabang Wedding PhotographerLuangPrabang Street PhotographerOnto Myanmar. First few days in the bustling city of Yangon.

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More street photography and destination wedding photography can be found on my site.

Peace.

Sachin

// sachinkhona.com //

Wedding & Portrait Photographer based in Vancouver

Stay connected with me via the following channels:  Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Google Plus | Tumblr

Comments

Amazing stuff bro, so many crackers. A true pleasure to get to know you properly, and even share a bed. Twice! ;) Manhugs!

Really awesome set Sachin! So many great images, so much variety!

Roger Hur

Great images as always Sachin. Makes me miss travelling.

Dude… Sachin… that was off the hook. I just got lost in that blog post being amazed time and time again. So many beautiful frames I wouldn’t know where to begin choosing favourites. Thanks for sharing so much!

Erik Daniel Ferguson

Great work as usual Sachin.

Khona your voice is so earnest, so passionate. Thank You!

Incredible work bro. So many wall hangers!

Sensational work Sachin. Truly amazing coverage of a fantastic trip. Please take me with you guys next time, ill carry your bags and convert to Arsenal…. well, maybe just carry your bags.

Inspiring stuff Sachin, I think my biggest wow moment was the street photos of the guys with the sacks on their back. Cracking shots

Mike Drofenik

awesome images Sachin! Brings back fond memories!!!

Dom

I love these Sachin. So many amazing frames! Can’t wait to see you this week, it is going to be so awesome! :D

Luke Hayden

Dude, really enjoyed looking through this and you got so many incredible portraits!

These are so cool, Sachin. I love the b&w of the ships!

Amazing mate. So many perfect frames. Trip of a lifetime :-)

Phenomenal work – you have so much talent!!!

Caroline Lima-Benusa

This is really amazing my friend! your photos make me want to hit the road! :-)

tim

Off the scale Sachin. What an amazing trip. Will have to look at this a few times.

What an absolutely incredible set. Blown away dude.

Oh Sachin, I was utterly captivated by these, often finding myself with a wee smile on my face at the humour too. I LOVED every single of one of these. You are, completely awesome … what a trip ! <3 x

Sachin! This looks like such an amazing experience. Your photos are gorgeous. Thank you for sharing xx

Wow – off the scale. SO much to appreciate here Sach. Great to see lots of colour images and some amazing street work.

Jessica Schilling

So amazing, Sachin! Really looks like the trip of a lifetime. Thanks for sharing it through your beautiful images.

Dude, these images are incredible. You have an amazing eye.

Lyn Ismael-Bennett

I love how you documented their daily lives in such an artful way. So many good frames to see here!

Aaron

Sachin – Amazing. It was great to sit down and take some time looking at this set. Your perspective and use of light, it’s beautiful. You should print some (or many) of these!

What an incredible place and experience!! So many wonderful captures. Well done!!

Mind blowing travel photojournalism Sachin, absolute world class bro

Amazing work !!

What a beautiful set of images Sachin! so much movement and calm at the same time x

Duuude, holy, moly….a big part of me is so happy that I’ve had to wait till now to view this set, because its managed to bring all the memories back again. Man, this is such a heart-warming post, been going through this with a big smile and occasional laughter :) Such a pleasure doing this with you dude, and here’s to many more trips my good man

Matt Herrington

Awesome images Sachin! Myanmar looks like a street-photographer’s heaven! Looks like a real inspirational trip! :)

Sarah

Hey! I’m the one you met in the coffee shop, I searched this right when I got home I couldn’t wait. The photos are even better than I was anticipating! Looking at them I feel like I still haven’t left he country, you captured the realest moments. Keep doing what you do!!

Got distracted by your autoresponder with a link to this post…. your street stuff is insane.

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