Photography Thailand Forum

[Marc Schultz]

I am honored to announce British born photographer Martin Reeves as our guest photographer of the month this month. A collection of 15 of his great images has been assembled within a dedicated gallery on the Forum. The title of his exhibition is "Asia In Black & White" and Martin's main passion is black and white infrared photography. A bit more about Martin:

British-born Martin Reeves embarked on an enchanting personal journey twenty-five years ago, wandering Asia’s ancient cities and hidden realms. Being passionate about photography, Martin chose Kodak infrared black & white film to try to portray an Asia of old. Infrared film captures not only visible light, but also light from the infrared spectrum (that’s invisible to the naked eye), creating its distinctive dreamlike look. Featured twice in ZOOM fine art photography magazine his photos also appear in the book Thailand: 9 Days in the Kingdom and his fourteen-year labor-of-love wandering the ruins of Angkor culminated in his book Angkor: Into The Hidden Realm. Martin continues his personal journeying in Asia to this day.

Click Here To See Martin's Exhibition

Please feel free to post questions and comments for Martin and you can also see more of his work on his web site via the link below:

www.martinreeves.com




Click Here To See All Other Past Guest Photographer Exhibitions

[Gregg Spradling]

I'm a bit of a novice to IR photography. Are there advantages to using IR with a film camera instead of a modified digital camera?

I'm curious, what did you do during the 14 years you were in Angkor? Were you solely a photographer?

Your work is absolutely spectacular. I love how the IR makes the leaves look white and gives everything a heavenly look. It reminds me of the first time I ever saw an IR photo of a Stupa surrounded by trees and how breathtaking it was.

[Marc Schultz]

I just wanted to mention that I know Martin is traveling at the moment and unfortunately does not have good access to the internet at the moment. Thus the reason for his silence thus far. But he will be back very soon I believe and I am certain he will reply to comments and questions in this thread and other left on his pictures in due course.

[Mark Standen]

Martin, your work is spectacular. I could look at some of your images for hours and hours for the emotion and mystery they evoke and the secrets they hold. Your chosen subjects, composition, light and IR effect are simply magical. I also imagine your images in the gallery, without the IR effect and they would be even great without, but you have a talent of using IR for the right scene at the perfect moment that catapults a great shot into a thought provoking masterpiece. Well done.

[Martin Reeves]

Hi Gregg, Thank you for your kind comments. Infrared photography with a digital camera is very simple and takes a lot of the hassle of shooting i.r. images away. However, the film I used, Kodak HIE infrared black and white film didn't have a halation layer - a layer added to most films to stop reflection of light from the backplate. The lack of a halation layer causes bright areas to glow, which for me added something extra special to the image. Also, I prefered shooting infrared film with a 'red 25 filter', which unlike the full i.r. deep red filter (that was almost impossible to see through), the red 25 was like looking through normal red glass. I liked the way I could see the image brightly in red and black through the viewfinder. But mostly for me it made the infrared effect more subtle. I think there are many spectacular digital infrared photos and talented digital i.r. photographers, but personally, I like to include lots of visible red light, which takes the edge off the infrared effect. I also really like the grain of Kodak HIE... and of course the action of loading/unloading film and holding negs to the light to view them!

I have been visiting Angkor since 1992, and since 1996 I have been based in Thailand. Once the border opened from Arunyapratet to Poi Pet in Cambodia, I went to Angkor by bus at every opportunity over a 14 year period. Since 1999 I've been making the odd promo for Discover and History Channel in Singapore.

I'm a bit of a novice to IR photography. Are there advantages to using IR with a film camera instead of a modified digital camera?

I'm curious, what did you do during the 14 years you were in Angkor? Were you solely a photographer?

Your work is absolutely spectacular. I love how the IR makes the leaves look white and gives everything a heavenly look. It reminds me of the first time I ever saw an IR photo of a Stupa surrounded by trees and how breathtaking it was.

[Martin Reeves]

Thanks Marc, yes, you are right. Also I am a bit of a technophobe and cannot access email on the move, so checking email in England is a bit of a hit-and-miss affair:-)

I just wanted to mention that I know Martin is traveling at the moment and unfortunately does not have good access to the internet at the moment. Thus the reason for his silence thus far. But he will be back very soon I believe and I am certain he will reply to comments and questions in this thread and other left on his pictures in due course.

[Martin Reeves]

Hi Mark, Thank you for your kind comments. Your encouragement and words are very much appreciated. Sometimes it's a tough road but reading comments like this uplift me.

Martin, your work is spectacular. I could look at some of your images for hours and hours for the emotion and mystery they evoke and the secrets they hold. Your chosen subjects, composition, light and IR effect are simply magical. I also imagine your images in the gallery, without the IR effect and they would be even great without, but you have a talent of using IR for the right scene at the perfect moment that catapults a great shot into a thought provoking masterpiece. Well done.

[Marc Schultz]

Great feedback for everyone Martin. Many thanks and I know others appreciate it as well. There are also some comments on some of your actual pictures in the exhibition gallery placed there by people as well in case you haven't seen those and would like to comment there too. Great stuff! 

[Khun Hans]

Went through your gallery and only can say it's a pleasure to look at your pictures and the way you do pp.
Hans

[Martin Reeves]

Thanks Hans, i'm happy to know people enjoy my photos :-)

[David Salmanowitz]

Some great images, well done. I have seen many infrared photos where the pic just screams out "Look at me, I am infrared"; same with HDR. Yes your images are obviously infrared but they are not over the top, and being infrared does not detract from the beauty of the image. They are subtly elegant, and after viewing them a few times they still look very good--perhaps even better than the 1st go round.

[aidanshin]

Thanks Hans, i'm happy to know people enjoy my photos :-)

It is a great art and you have that! Great Captures! I have tried a lot to be in this field but not succeed.