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PHOTOGRAPHY ADVENTURE VACATIONS

Guest Showcase

The World’s Most Creative and Inspiring Photo Adventure Vacations

JOSEPH KOH

PHOTOGRAPHY ENTHUSIAST

AUSTRALIA

Joseph joined us in the magical city of Istanbul, which proved to be the perfect location for him to explore his new found love for street and people photography. He is new to photography, but a quick learner. Joseph enjoys the incredible ability to engage and capture just about anyone on the street, whether it be a child or an old man. He establishes an immediate dialog with his subject and a level of comfort which is a major advantage in street photography. He understands composition, shallow depth of field, and loves to explore and chase light. Like all true photographers, Joseph is quickly expanding his interests to other photographic styles including landscape and cityscape.

© Joseph Koh |  Istanbul, Turkey  |  Photo Workshop Adventures  |  Sony A7s  |  Sony FE 70-200mm f4G OSS  | f4 at 1/3200 sec  |  ISO 100

This photo was taken on the first day of the tour, as we were cruising down the Bosphorus in Istanbul. The whole group was bursting with excitement, and we hardly paid attention to the historical facts that the local tour guide was giving us. We were just too absorbed, taking in the sights of the magnificent city and its bustling harbour, and trying to capture it all with our cameras, as best we could. (see more photos below)

ABOUT JOSEPH

Back around 2005, I thought I’d give photography a go, and got an entry-level Canon DSLR with a kit lens. A few months later, I gave the camera away. My photos were lousy, I didn’t really enjoy the process of taking photos, and I didn’t know what to do with my photos even if I accidentally took some decent ones. It wasn’t until around 2013 that I decided to give photography another go, spurred on by three things: a camera on my iPhone, a simple photo app for creating collages, and Facebook. The iPhone let me try photography again without spending any money, and it was always on hand for me to take photos. The photo app allowed me to do some simple post-processing, and combine somewhat ordinary photos to at least tell a story. Facebook let me share the photos (and more importantly, experiences) with friends. And that was how I got into photography.

A CONVERSATION WITH JOSEPH

Why did you choose Photo Workshop Adventures?

I was looking to fit in a photography tour during a holiday I had planned to Germany and the UAE. In searching the internet, the first thing I checked out were the photos posted by the various tour companies. PWA had great photos. It also had a wide variety of destinations and dates, which provided flexibility around my other travel plans. And the fact that it limited the size of its tour groups was also important, as it suggested that they were concerned about the quality of the experience and their ability to give proper attention to the clients.

What did you enjoy most about the adventure?

I enjoyed the flexibility that the PWA Photo Adventure offered. As a small group, we were able to adjust the itinerary to suit our preferences, and our photographer guide was very accommodating. He came early one morning to help out with shooting the sunrise; another evening he stayed back to give pointers on post-processing. On another occasion, our group stopped in the middle of the tour, and just tried photographing kids chasing pigeons.

What do you enjoy most about photography?

I’m still exploring different types of photography, and enjoy shooting all sorts of subject matters. But travel photography is definitely an early favourite! I love the wonder of exploring new places and the people who inhabit them, and photography allows me to share that wonder with others. The challenge of getting a good shot, of seeing things from an unusual perspective, or discovering the small details, adds to the fun. And photography is also a great excuse to interact with locals, many of whom I would otherwise just pass by – and these encounters are often the most memorable.

What are your goals and ambitions as a photographer?

Well, I’d like to get better! And there are still many types of photography I’d love to try – like macro and astro photography.  But hopefully, in improving my skills and learning about all the technical aspects of photography, I’ll never lose the enjoyment of simply taking photos.

A complete collection of Joseph’s photography can be viewed on his website at https://500px.com/joeywkoh

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