Welcome to the November 2008 issue of The Travel Photographer Newsletter.

Tewfic El-Sawy

New Bhutan Photo-Gallery & Updates on 2009 Expeditions

Other Quick Links

The Dancing Monks of the Tamshing & Thangbi Mani Tsechus:

I'm pleased to have finished the task of reviewing some of the photographs I returned with from my October 2008 Bhutan photo~expedition. There are many that I haven't seen yet, but I finally uploaded some made during the Tamshing and Thangbi Mani tsechus onto a gallery.

If you're expecting "pretty" travel photographs in this gallery, don't. Most of these were chosen based on my current stylistic preference for more photo-journalism and documentary photography. During the photo-expedition I've photographed the stereotypical smiling Buddhist novitiates, and other similar "cookie-cutter" images, but these are destined for adventure travel catalogs, not for my web galleries. I also recorded a lot of ambient audio at various locations, and I shall soon start work on a multimedia feature.

Here's the gallery: The Dancing Monks of Tamshing & Thangbi Mani

Photo Expeditions 2009:

The Theyyams of Malabar photo-expedition is specifically structured and timed to allow us to photograph and document some of the most spectacular ritualistic dances of Northern Kerala. Final arrangements are underway, and those who have joined it will receive information very soon.

The Gnawa Festival! photo-expedition is scheduled during the Essaouira June music festival. I've received an email from the festival organizers that the dates of the event should be announced in December. My agent and I are waiting for this information to work out the details and costs. I shall advise those on the expedition's list as soon as I have that information.

The third photo expedition of 2009 will be to Bhutan , and is scheduled to start on the last week of October 2009. I'm in discussions with my travel agent to include interesting (yes, non cookie cutter!) add-ons to the itinerary...perhaps departing from the linear route that most trips to Bhutan follow. Those who are already on the 2009 Bhutan list will be advised as soon as I have the information. The government of Bhutan has announced that prices for travel within the country will be increased in 2009.

Finally, I've been chosen again to be an instructor at the Foundry Photojournalism Workshop. This time the workshop will be held in Manali (Indian Himalyas) on July 26-August 1, 2009. If anyone is interested in more info, drop me an email or visit my blog.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. We have much to be thankful for this time!

Tewfic El-Sawy