6 Good reasons for hiring a local guide when travelling

When in Laos over Christmas I was fortunate to have an excellent guide, Soun. his knowledge and understanding of his country was so good that it made the trip and photography seamless. This article from Lightstalking adds 6 reasons why this is a good idea

“Travel and photography go together like cheese and wine. But as any traveler will know, there are certain things that can make your life a lot easier while you’re on the road. Photo-journalists have known for years that getting a “fixer” makes things go more smoothly – especially in developing countries. But what about us normal old tourists? Well, a local guide can make things a lot easier for us too. Here are some things that a guide will bring to the party when you’re on your next photographic excursion overseas.”..…..MORE

all images Laos 2012 ©Keith Barnes

Click Here: Why You May Need a Guide for Travel Photography

19 Of The Greatest Driving Roads On Earth

This is a bit of a diversion, sorry for the pun, and the pictures are not especially photographic but the roads do look magnificent, and if you love driving and carry a camera you will find this interesting.

“Here’s a rundown of what we believe are 19 of the most beautiful and challenging roads in the world.  If you’re a fan of negotiating challenging bends, with great views, long fast straights and little to no traffic – then it might be time to dig out your passport and book some time off work!”...……..more

Forgotten Detroit – 100 Abandoned Houses

You may already know of the decline of Detroit, from a once vibrant industrial city it is now being abandoned by large numbers of the population which is leaving many house empty and falling into decay. This is a worrying story of post industrial decline and it must ask the question; where else and where next. This article discusses that decline if you are interested in learning more. But these pictures of houses, falling to decrepitude are a haunting site and more can be seen here where there is a link to the hundred images of the title.

In Detroit, the number of abandoned houses is around 12.000, encompassing an area of 138 square miles ! People are leaving Detroit and soon people will rename the city with the name : Forgotten Detroit ! The news this week that Detroit’s population plunged more than 25% to just 714,000 in the last decade shouldn’t be surprising. The city’s collapse is as well-documented as it is astonishing – the population peaked at nearly 2 million in the 1950s, driven in part by a post-World War II auto industry boom now long gone.