Bobcock in Vietnam - Part 1 - Hanoi

[Bobcock]

Finally got around to sorting out some of the 3500 shots I took in Vietnam.

Thought I'd start off with some pics of my first destination - Hanoi.

I loved Hanoi, good food and I was suprised by how friendly the people were.

My wife and kids didn't join me until the last day so i just walked and walked camera in hand.

Someone once complained my pics were uploaded too small. hope these are not too big

1-4 - Ngoc Son Temple, on an island in Hoan Kiem Lake.









5 - Shop selling tourist lacquerware. Lit well I always think these shops look wonderful.



6. Since helmets became compulsory last year, they have become the ultimate fashion accessory. Vendor is of course on a small stool eating noodles.



7. another monument to War.



8 - 10. Quanh Thanh temple, near Truc Bach Lake.







End of Part One

[Bobcock]

Part Two.

11 - 13. In the front courtyard of the Quan Thanh temple the Vo Co Truyen Martial arts Team were practicing. I took loads of pics but like most things that crouch and hit, they were difficult to catch. the girl was enchanting to watch, but she laughed through most of and the pics somehow don't work.







14 - 15 A couple more shots inside the temple before departing.





16. Ho Ch Minh's mausoleum.



17. One of the guards outside. you know this kids was no fun in the playground. Snitch guaranteed.



18. Motorcyclists



19. - Hanoi shopping



20. Outdoor Barbers Shop.

[SEA Traveler]

Khun BobC... Let me be the first to comment on the goodness of the pictures presented and a thanks for sharing.

[Bobcock]

Part 3.

21. I love photographing chillis



22. I took loads of these panning shots, I just think they sum up Vietnam and all the motorcycles. This is about the best of the lot, not great but not too bad.



23. Hanoi



24 - 29. The Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre. These pics were taken from the 9th row with a 400mm lens. There are so many near misses, these are the best of about 200 shots.













30. Street Bar - Beer hoi, cheap as chips.

[ChiangMai noon]

some really good pictures there bobcock.

[EmperorTud]

Did you go to the war museum and the air-force museum as I recommended?

Great photo opportunities there.

[Fstop]

Great pics. I was thinking of going over there in April.

[BigRed]

very good, like the barbers shop one with the repitition of the barber and customer in the mirror plus the two motorcyclists on the same diagonal. The darkening around the outside is slightly overdone but still effective.

The panned motorcycles could be cropped to put the heads on the upper third which also removes the bright sky on the upper left, try it by just scrolling the page (sorry, I've got cropping on the brain at the moment).

[JoGeAr]

Nice thread and great pics, Bobcock. Thanks for sharing.

[Bobcock]

Just round the corner from my hotel was a dark dingy little market. I love photographing in markets

[Nawty]

very nice cock

[kingwilly]

Khun BobC... Let me be the first to comment on the goodness of the pictures presented and a thanks for sharing.

Damn there are some good pics there mate. I really like a lot of them, the Mausoleum shot., was that photoshoped at all, looks awesome sky. difficult to catch. and I like the black and white market shot with the colours left in.

Good selection of pics to post as well.

[Wayne Kerr]

Spectacular stuff. Really like number 16 and the haircut shot. Was in Hanoi last week and didn't find time to leave the hotel. Your pics remind me of what I missed out on .

[sunsetter]

pleasure to look at bobcock, i hope to one day take snaps something like yours, any ideas on how to get the motorbike ones? the blurring i love, what settings?

[Bobcock]

KW, the mausoleum shot is incredibly photoshopped. The sky was actually pure white.

[Bobcock]

Here is the original shot.



I altered the White Balance to make the stone look colder.

I've never replaced a sky but this one was so easy I thought I'd give it a try. I've taken some sky shots in the past for this very reason.

I then did some levels adjustment, a slight dark vignette and some sharpening.

[Marmite the Dog]

^ I have noticed that you like your pictures to look 'grey' or cold. It does add a bit of atmosphere to the pics, so I like it.

[melvbot]

I love this one. Very macabre. Is she just deep in thought or planning her next victim?

"poor old grandad, he had to go sometime"

[Nawty]

ya see, thats why photoshop and all the associated cheating software, is considered 'cheating'.

Nothing like what was actually there at the time the photo was taken.

Sure nice art work, but not nice natural photography of what lay before your eyes at the time of taking the pic.

So many cheats around here.

But like I said, nice artwork.

[Marmite the Dog]

thats why photoshop and all the associated cheating software, is considered 'cheating'.

Don't be stupid. People have manipulated their photos to improve them since photography was invented. Yer man Ansell Adams probably wouldn't have had the same respect for his art if he didn't use the darkroom to significantly improve his photos.

Not using post processing is a big reason why so many people's photos look dull.

[sunsetter]

^yep a lil crop and colour works wonders for me, and ive only just started taking pics seriously


right bobcock more pics please

[Nawty]

Did'nt say dont' do it, or its bad, its just cheating.

It is not the original photo of what is/was in front of you, therefore not a true reflection on what you have seen.

Like I sai,d photoshop, manipulate them all you like, but call them artwork, not real phtotos.

Just my opinion and I know BobsKnob values it intimately.

[Bobcock]

Last batch for Hanoi, next stop will be Halong Bay.

41 - 42. The Temple Of Literature.





43. Roof tiles at The Temple Of Literature.



44. I made a second trip to the water Puppet Theatre. I was in a better seat this time, but didn't take so many pictures. Sometimes it's better to just watch.

[sunsetter]

corrr!!! bring on halong bay!

[Bobcock]

To be honest, I'm not very good at landscapes.

They'll be on shortly, just finished them.