Engineering : Property Development : Street Photographer : Designer : Scribble Writer : Overland Travel
We weren't born into this world to sit idle, to let life drift by twiddling our thumbs endlessly swiping on smartphones. We are our own destiny, to use whatever knowledge and learning we accept as individuals. Nothing is more powerful than the human mind. A single thought can lead to a path of opportunities. Nothing is impossible to accomplish if you pursue it.
Edge Of Extreme - Overland Travel & Transit
Climbing up live volcanoes is an adrenaline rush, but it's not just the lava gushes, hot ash and the smell of sulfur and brimstone. It's all those spectacular panoramic views, and vistas on the way up and down any volcano that makes climbing them worth the effort. Pallets of cash on the street is rarely seen unless you're in a country that allows it. Imagine cash without banks? Eradicating cash is imminent, a planned agenda by unified global establishments.
I've been clocking up overland travel mileage across, up and down continents for decades. Through the years, my overland journeys have taken me through Africa, central and South America, north, south and central Asia, the Mid-East, and all of Europe. I've also returned through most of these regions many times over using different directional transit routes. Although solo overland travel through continents is exhilarating, not knowing what to expect from one day to the next, dramas and sudden scenarios do occur, some that have landed me in deep water without consciously acknowledging the risk factor involved, until it was too late. On occasions, I had no choice taking certain routes directly through Red Zone regions having higher risk levels of conflict, at my own risk. At times, this cannot be avoided due to certain transit routes directly passing through unstable regions.
Some long overland journeys were more insane than others, while others humbling at the same time. If you think "Banged Up Abroad" is something — Really? How about being dragged off a bush-bus along an isolated dirt track within the Putumayo, by the Colombian FARC, and suddenly arrested on the streets in Tehran, by revolutionary police, shoved inside a vehicle, taken and heavily interrogated, thrown in a jail cell (accused of spying). Surviving through a Cat 5 storm in the Drake passage @60° S, and held by force on an island off the African east coast, not able to leave were actual events. Only the tip of an iceberg of different occurrences though the decades. Below, solo overland 1985 snap of my XT 600 loaded with stuff in 40+ temps, Negev desert.
Freedom to travel was real and taken for granted — The 1980s -1990s were the best decades of overland travel.
Name it, I've probably been there and done it. Self-driving all types of vehicles, vans and motorbikes, hitchhiking, and using anything with wheels on it moving in my direction. Using local trucks, bush buses, slow boats, packed out trains, cargo ships, boats, dugouts, and clapped out vans crossing continents beats flying hands down any day. And I'm still doing this in the 2020s.
Overland travel was alive and well in the 1980's, not like the plastic tacky travel environment seen today.
Real overland travel can feel like a grinder at times, especially when being accused of doing things that were either false or untrue. Through different regions in continents, I've been randomly shot at, bombed at, had guns pointed in my face, accused of being a voodoo doctor, evaded countless corrupt officials, accused of being a mercenary, a gold smuggler, an Israeli spy, a drug smuggler, a biker gang member, an over-stayer, accused of selling passports, insane land border interrogations, accused of being a revolutionary socialist, and even labelled as a ganja smoking long haired hippie weirdo, amongst other things. Even a little wet spring chicken solo female 'travel blogger' couldn't resist gaslighting false accusations. Talk about snake venom, saying I've been on the dark side of the moon on acid has more truth.
No one can predict knowing what's up ahead during any overland journey. Certain locations can become risky at a moments notice. Using common sense, quick reaction time, instinct and judgement can prevent unwanted risk. Maybe there was some truth spoken by, a Colombian military commander, in 1991, at the edge of a jungle "Red Zone", when he said, "You're like a cat that came here with 9 live, but now you only have 8", If that had been true - I’d have certainly run out of lives a long time ago. Nothing has changed, I'm still enjoying overland travel journeys using any available means of transport in the 2020s. Absorbing stimulation of different cultures, lifestyles, landscape, and wildlife, is the best vibrant battery charge a person can get. Many ask what keeps me going? My captured stills shown throughout this website is self-explanatory.
Riding half-tamed Bolivian horses in the middle of nowhere, absorbing closeup views of the world's highest waterfall, and photographing wilderness snow leopards in remote regions of the Himalaya, in subzero midwinter conditions beats laying on beaches all day.
Himalayan highlands fresh clean air, natural vitamin D, snow clad landscape and diverse wildlife - 2020s
Solo Overland Travel - 1980s Onward
This is what a ten day emergency passport looks like, issued from the British Consulate, Istanbul. During the 80s, it normally took two months waiting time for western nationals to receive Iranian seven day transit visas. In 83, it only took one day using an emergency passport to get Iranian extendable transit visa. Pop in visits to British consulates and embassies in and around the Middle East was normal procedure during the 1980s. Presenting official formal request letters from British attaches guaranteed quick visa issues for Iraq, Syria, Saudi, Libya, Sudan and Iran. Arriving into Israel via Allenby bridge across the Jordan in '83 with a Tehran issued NZ passport with used Syrian and Iraqi visas didn't even raise an eyebrow. Actually, the Israelis were more interested with my authentic Bowie knife, but gave that a miss when told it had been previously used in Kibbutzim harvesting date crops i.e. chopping date branches faster than hydraulic operated cutters. Today, there aren't many independent solo overland travelers left from the late 1970s-'80s period, who are still on the road these days. Most have moved on, or taken different paths. The accumulation of visas through the continents have certainly mounted up over the decades. Many are always interested how many different countries I've visited, but it's easier how many countries I haven't visited - which I can count on one hand. If I were to quickly look through my stack of used passports, I can easily count 12+ visits to Chile, 10+ to India, 7+ to Israel, 8+ to Brazil, 6+ to Japan and so on. In the 2020s, nothing much has changed, I'm still offshore enjoying street photography, and taking each day as it comes.
The days of additional passport extension visa pages are well gone. Extension pages were useful for long-term overland travel through the Middle East and Africa where rubber stamp happy immigration officials filled passports up in a matter of no time. NZ passports could receive three sets of additional page extensions making a grand total of 100 pages. I've certainly filled up a few 100 page passports with visas throughout the continents.
I quietly shake my head sideways at the millennial-Gen Z generation traveling today. They seem far more interested in how many countries they have quickly visited, thinking it's some kind of global trophy they're trying to accomplish, in the shortest time period possible. Travel bloggers have the same mindset "I've been to 70 countries", "I've accumulated the most air mileage", "I've visited 85 countries now wow" My used travel visas, shown above breaks all overland travel records. Sorry guys, you'll have to work hard clocking up some serious overland travel mileage spanning a few decades to even get close — Good luck on that mission.
People often ask what is my favorite still subject matter. Capturing people shots from all walks of life is right up there. A close second, bird and wildlife — in the wilderness. Anything else solely depends on location.
I was asked just recently why I shouldn't instead travel with smartphone junk capturing images rather than carrying around bulky camera gear. I wouldn't expect anything else from Gen Z, who constantly clutch and swipe smartphones offshore. Regrettably the Gen Z were born into the smartphone world. My reply was straight to the point, 'Smartphone cameras, no matter the brand, or the amount of built in camera lenses have numerous limitations." Smartphone sensors lack what large full frame DSLR sensors can easily mange'. Smartphone junk also distracts the normal daily routines of what we were all accustomed to — Using our own brains to self-critically think.
Street still photography offshore requires more than using smartphone junk. Try telling that to the smartphone generation.
Since the early 1980s, traveling without photo gear has never happened. Some lenses I still use are classic manual focus lenses. There's something unique taking time to manually adjust and focus for that one shot. Like anything in life, there are moments when the need to rush isn't required. Still photography is proof of just that. Some favorite stills have been captured with manual focus lenses. The 1986 Nikkor 800 5.6 ED AIS prime below, is one of them. The complete opposite of using smartphone junk.
What is real street photography? An ongoing subject that continues being debated, even more so in the 2020s. It's not about having the latest camera gear, achieving positive results. Those believing this hype are fools and dreamers. It's all about timing and location. This is where street photography has always reigned to capture diverse subjects. When excluding touristic beaches, night bar entertainment, food fetishes, and offshore shopping sprees, you begin to see who are real street still photographers and those who are not.
Street still photography has never changed. It's people traveling offshore that have changed. Narcissistic social media created this. One either follows the crowd, like sheep, or learns the art of capturing real time subject matter. Any quality captured image, is able to speak for itself, requiring limited text. Even the below 35+ year old SLR roll film retains why the image was taken — ambience. Nothing changed here.
Life Can Be Short For Some - Enjoy It
The open outdoors enjoying life, travel, nature, wildlife and landscape has always been there. Maybe not by 2030, if Globalists get their way.
Most foreigners traveling through the planet suddenly high-tailed it returning to their home base countries in March 2020. The so called virus certainly slowed down global tourism to a mere dribble by May 2022, I remained offshore enjoying probably more freedom than in most western countries. Programmed propaganda pressure by toxic MSM and government were in lock-step by design. The constant bombardment, driven with fear, caused millions to be mRNA vaccinated. Foreigners, including myself that remained offshore using self-critical thinking skills researching data before this event know what I'm talking about. The simple flue completely disappeared vanishing into thin air for two years, and then suddenly returned — Really? Everything about 2020 was programmed fear, an MK Ultra wet dream. Human submission at the highest level — It worked to plan! Now we can clearly see all those sudden deaths, increased turbo cancer, stroke and heart attacks, mRNA vaccine related injuries that all amazingly began in early 2022. What really caused this? Many who were mRNA vaccinated during this time period now realize they were human lab rats, but won't talk about it remaining silent, afraid of speaking out. Fear has been used as a tool for centuries — It worked 100% effectively in 2020-21. But don't be alarmed, programming global population the 1969 NASA moon landing happened, and sept. 2001 was orchestraed in caves in Afghanistan shows how people can easily be mind-controlled through deception. The sudden switch from climate change to global boiling, caused by decades of chem spraying, ebola outbraeks from the heart of Africa, and bird flue jumping into humans, are nothing more than globalist agendas to supress the human race.
What was the most washed part of the body through the planet in 2020? No not your hands - Your Brain!
Travel will never have the same freedoms, as it was pre-2020. It's going to get expensive to travel. Many people by 2024-25 will end up selling off their properties, their stuff, and everything and anything for survival for food, rent and rising living costs. Best advice — Downsize now, move out from big cities. Learn basic survival skills i.e. grow your own veges, potato patch, learn to hunt for food etc. The global reset mafia are openly playing their hand. It wouldn't surprise me at all, of upcoming mandatory personal ID QR-codes, to move and travel by 2027. The elimination of paper passports and cash, an Agenda 2030 protocol is surfacing. It's as if these elites roll the dice to suit themselves well in advance, for their own power and greed over populations. It is now highly probable Covid was only a precursor plandemic for larger sinister events against humanity i.e. depopulation. We are now hackable animals. Dystopian sheep herding humans into 15-minute smart cities, controlling food, increased vaccine jabbing, and CBDC rattling down the pipeline — more on this in the global live page Below, you can vaguely still see the outline of the moon in this shot. Taken @5% during the Covid plandemic.
The Real World
To capture images like below, one actually has to be at these locations taking them.
These image captures were taken by me at different locations through the continents showing examples of real time reality.
Old fashioned constructed coffins made from local wood supplies is still visible through the Mid East, Africa and Asia.
Travel and transiting through war torn countries in conflict isn't everyone's cup of tea. One can never determine, or know what's around the corner, or further down the road. It could be random sniper fire, an RPG attack, roadside mines, distance heavy artillery fire, or an invasive incoming missile. Above, a mild image of collateral damage in the Middle East. The real world outside safe comfy zones is untamed, as it always has been.
Breeding ocean sea turtles for human consumption is common practice in some countries along the Caribbean and African coastlines. I was in a region for a few weeks where turtle meat and rice was the main staple diet.
There are times on the high road transiting through countries where drought and famine is witnessed taking its toll on humans. This graphic image capture shows human skeletal remains that was completely devoured and finished off by vultures.
Global unrest and rioting has increased mega-fold to unprecedented levels. Instability, debt, coups, government corruption, unemployment, devaluation of currencies, terrorism, MSM globalist manipulation, fear tactics, controlled political correctness, wokeness programming, indoctrinated diversity acceptance, and monthly changing regulations are some of the causes hitting populations around the planet. By 2025, the majority of global population will be forced to accept low socialist wage handouts, high food costs, rationed fuel, and controlled travel - An Orwellian globalist dream in the making!
In Africa, street rioting, protesting and chaotic upheavals have been common practice since the dawn of time. Nothing has changed today, nor will it change tomorrow, next year, or in a decade from now.History repeats itself time and time again. A human's worst enemy are other humans controlling them. Western nations are just as bad, and haven't learnt from their mistakes. They have become full on nanny states using deceptive agendas to pacify their populations to keep power and control. The latest American green new deal, is the icing on the cake. It will destroy America down the path to poverty, if following the UN 2030 socialist agenda plan. The US will be unable to function or self-sustainable, as a nation within a decade. Shutting down any country's energy production auto-creates instant food shortages and supplies. A massive global human die-off caused by limited food production isn't so insane.
Does your country allow the importation of Amazonian or Indonesian lumber/timber/wood supplies? Check your own home out for imported wooden decor products before screaming one-sided biased politics. Outdoor tables and seats, exposed ceiling beams, inner exposed ceiling planks, trendy furniture, wide wooden floor planks, residential custom doors, trendy bars and restaurant wooden decor, desks, dinning tables, outdoor barbecue tables etc. If Brazil stopped using alcohol/methanol for fuel (85% of cars in Brazil run on alcohol), local farmers wouldn't be burning down Amazonian rain forests to plant maze crops to produce alcohol fuel. Brazil has more untapped off-shore oil deposits than the entire Middle East combined. The world is dependent on ground based petroleum products. Without it, there would be no more computers, cameras, smartphones, clothing, carpet rugs, shampoo, solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicle batteries, bicycle tires, car tires, MC helmets, roofing, nylon rope, refrigerators, freezers, aircraft, aircraft fuel, oil filters, air conditioning units, sunglasses, insect repellent, bearing grease, perfumes, lipstick, disposable diapers, electric blankets, trash bags, paint etc.
Global warming climate change indoctrination originates from UN Agenda 21 (1992) as a global political tool used to silence all those who disbelieve it, or who are against it. Agenda 21 suddenly became an evil word when people understood what it meant - every bad ideas require a good marketing plan -Yes? Sustainability suddenly became SMART GROWTH, with connected buzzwords like Biodiversity, Livable 15-minute Smart Cities, Environmental Protection, Going Green, Future Earth etc. Effective execution of Agenda 21 required a profound reorientation global reset of human behavior and control, unlike anything the world has witnessed. Nothing new here, only the angle of brainwashing rhetoric on docile populations.
Above, 35mm SLR roll film, early 1990s — F2AS, Nikkor 200 f/4 AI and TC 1.4.
Witnessing graphic wipe-outs and destruction on any scale can frighten the crap out of you. A massive boulder had rolled bouncing down from a cliff face behind this property smashing through the 2nd level of the dwelling completely destroying it. Beware of where you decide to live. A million dollar view below cliffs, above rivers and along coastal shorelines isn't worth dying for!
The world as we see it with our own eyes, is far less kind to others than most want to realize, unless it affects us individually, that is, until it reaches our own doorstep. Global population has accumulated more poverty, increased more corruption and greed in recorded history. Forget about any quick band-aid hand-outs in the future. Moving migrants into prosperous nations, is the UN Agenda. The UN is corrupt actually, how corrupt is the UN?
Some working environments are outright dangerous. Ship demolition has a high casually rate, due to unseen dangers that may occur.
You know when you're in red zone regions. It's at your own risk and peril getting through these territories without incident.
Any sea rescue during storms is risky. This quick location snap-shot was captured in the Indian ocean of a crippled cargo ship. The rescue ended up positive with all crew members airlifted to safety. I've had a few nasty deep sea experiences on board ships out in the soup. The North sea, Black Sea, Drake passage, and Baltic Sea are a few to mention. Ocean sea storms have a tendency to scare the living daylights out of anyone. When personally witnessing first hand, 2nd captains going out of the bridge to vomit, you know it's rough going.
A now 34 year old roll film snap taken during the FSLN elections, Managua 1990.
Graphic, a vulture eating the remains of a human corpse. Vultures will first devour soft tissue starting with intestines and organs. Below, there are times when the perfect shot shows a completely different lifestyle of what people enjoy doing. This local, who resides on the outskirts of Harar township, shows his interaction skills feeding wild hyena raw camel meat in his backyard — DSLR snap.
Getting There - Golden Decades
Remember when airlines used to issue real flight tickets? Today you get watered down A4 versions that have zero value. Best jet - 747 400. Best long haul flights - London - Buenos Aires, Sydney - Joburg
A classic 1985 CCCP Aeroflot flight. Servings of roasted chicken and Russian vodka. Clocking up air long haul flight through the decades amounts to air mileage reaching Jupiter. The same goes for the massive amounts of overland transit mileage up, down, through and across continents. The majority of flights (and still in the 2020s) were one-way reaching other continents. I have rarely flown internally within any continent, unless it was necessary to do so i.e. border closures and difficult visa issues . Solo overland travel began at an early age. I've been fortunate enough to have clocked up hundreds of thousands of kilometers over landing through continents using basic land transport with zero accidents or injuries.
Above, when one could fly up front in cockpits and freely chit-chat with pilots, drink an ale, eat some snacks, and grab a few snaps. A bygone era shut down, first created and caused by PFLP terrorists in 1970 blowing up passenger jets in Jordan. Some idiots out there still think the word "terrorist" was invented in the 20th century. Below, no doubt the best ever long haul air transport reaching continents from Europe, Aussie and NZ — The Jumbo 747 200-400 series.
Venus Transit - 2012
Did anyone else capture what is named Venus moving across the sun, in 2012? If not, you'll be dead and buried well before the next event occurs. I don't think this is Venus, It's just another unknown space body. Everything about the heliocentric system we have been told, is a pack of indoctrinated pseudoscience hogwash.
Super rapid 90° lunar rotations captured within minutes. Rapid 15° & 90° Lunar rotations in clockwise, anticlockwise directions occur through 24 cycles. This shows you how deep the fake space CGI blue green screen NASA rabbit hole goes. An impossible task Moon landings actually happened. If sudden 90° rotations happened on Earth's globe model, moving its axis a quarter of its diameter — You would feel it! Also, oceans would erratically move wiping out coastal cities and landmass. Lunar trajectory landings and take-offs would be impossible to calculate. Space junk on the Lunar surface would be flung off into deep space. NASA has never been past low Earth orbit — Wet dreams only. For more detailed images of rapid 90° rotations, including original RAW NEF EXIF timestamp data, a recently added page, titled 'A Street Photographers Viewpoint - Hidden Deception & Lies', has more than enough proveable evidence backing up my claim.
My first close visual Orb/UFO experience dates back to 1974, within a remote region in the lower south island of New Zealand. Three other friends had also watched and witnessed the orb, for approximately 20 minutes. It was a midnight goose bump event, especially when the Orb suddenly began darting back and forth sideways, along the front of close-by mountain ranges. The Orb changed into different bright metallic colors in total silence. Although a young teenager at the time, I still remember this event vividly. Below, a snap taken during a moonless night in the middle of nowhere within the Sahara desert. No, it wasn't a helicopter, or anything with combustible engines, it was dead calm, and totally silent. Some may assume this is lens flare, but then, what were the moving objects I was looking at? These Orbs, the two of them produced their own bright metallic colors, and moved using their own energy source following each other across a cloudless night sky. There were no other airborne craft within a 360 degree eye vision circumference. My own conclusion, Orbs and modern designed UFOs, are man made using advanced secret technology. The next greatest global hoax will put the 1969 moon landing hoax to shame.
Alt Om Foto - Denmark
I had submitted a quick story line with a dozen or so snaps to a Danish photographic magazine, Alt Om Foto. They choose four images and had it published in their monthly magazine, as a middle page spread.
Roll Film Folios - Rooftop Japan 1990s
During the 90s, creating quick rooftop portfolios for other foreigners, Japan. Shooting black & white, and then developing negatives to A4 prints with a dozen or so images was sufficient enough to receive modelling work for most.
The difference of aged 35mm roll film compared to digital is apparent. Only dedicated film buffs use roll film in the 2020s — I'm not one of them.
Digital age street photography, rapid fast get the shots , no matter the subject matter. Quick snaps with DSLR photo gear.
No flash, no reflectors, nothing fancy, just whatever natural light was available at the time - 12MP D3, 28mm prime lens.
Still Photo - Portrait Winner
Now and then, we all get the urge entering photographic contests submitting what maybe a winning image. Today, the chances of actually choosing the right image that may reach the top depends on who's doing the judging. This random street portrait made it to number one in the "peoples" category submitted in a global photo-contest. The portrait was taken with a 2007 D3 DSLR.
Great Outdoors
They say patience is a virtue. I totally agree when doing landscape photography. The location above, Fox Glacier, was an example of the need being patient. The early morning overcast grey sky weather had looked as though it was settling in for the day - typical Kiwi weather. Then suddenly the weather cleared an hour or so later revealing the view below.
Late afternoon, Namibian desert. Anyone traveling through the bottom of Africa without visiting Namibia is a fool.
Two regions revisited. Most have their own favorite locations they return to. Any wilderness zone contains ambience.
SLR 35mm roll film days, Torres del Paine, Patagonia — Tri-X pan, F2AS
People ask where are the best landscapes located. An immpossible question to answer.
Mainichi Shimbun - Japan
A three page article was accepted as a freelance submission straight off the street to one of the top magazine tabloids in Japan - The Mainichi Shimbun. The article documents a story line with image captures on the ongoing narcotic and arms trade within tribal territory along the Afghan - Pakistan border. Below original image, a Pashtuni with fresh loads of different varieties of hashish packed in goat skins directly from the fields of Afghanistan. Entering red zones within areas of conflict always contain invisible elements of surprise, or danger when one least expects it. I've experienced transit drama through sensitive regions which do boil over from time to time. I've never had baggage or photo gear confiscated by authorities (touch wood), including two visits during the Iran/Iraq conflict. Following the rules and regulations as a visitor in any country is imperative - especially within the Middle East. Permits to visit or transit through any restricted zones are usually obtainable through the right channels, although some regions (grey areas) have limitations depending on who actually controls the territory. For example, Sudan, DRC, Venezuela, northern Kenya, India, Ethiopia, Somalia, Nigeria, Cameroon, Mali, Libya, Chad, Niger, and Myanmar all have red zones regions that are either classified as sensitive, dangerous, or in a state of conflict. Sensitive regions include structures which are usually military complexes, government buildings, airports, and sea ports where military hardware maybe visibly seen. Iran for example, is an easy country to travel through these days, but taking random snap shots - even with cell phones at sensitive nuclear power plants, or navy and military bases won't be tolerated. If caught, heavy interrogations is automatic procedure, including free accommodation in a jail cell, until deportation procedures are processed, which can take weeks, months, or even years depending on nationality. If anything looks sensitive, avoid even looking at it!
Location - Full Frame DSLR
Location is everything — Hamar group photo - Omo, Ethiopia
India is one country that never fails to impress for random street photography. Each time on returning to India, I already know what's waiting for me - endless random street captures, street portraiture, landscape, and wildlife. That's the beauty of India - diversity in all directions no matter which state and province one travels through. My classic D3 12MP Nikon body is used as a daylight workhorse camera in the 2020s. Why some may ask? because it's 100% reliable. Why replace it if captures great still shots? Foreigners offshore ask why I don't use smart phone cameras instead. I avoid overrated lightweight junk. Cell phone cameras struggle to capture simple stills. I've used different branded smart phone cameras with the same outcome — disappointing. Using cell cameras for time-lapse, location snaps and video is about it. Give me a DSLR and prime lens any day of the week — within any environment.
Tripod - 1st Item Packed Ready To Go.
A must have overland travel item offshore, is a reliable tripod and tripod head, including a robust heavy duty tripod bag. Using tripods guarantees in focus image captures, especially for long shot subjects and night shots. The positives using tripods outweigh the negatives, like extra baggage. The end result of having less wasted image captures using tripods pays off. Above tripod snap locations include regions through Asia, Africa and South America, Don't leave home base without one — tripod page
Ahh, the days of total freedom when one could travel anywhere they wished and photograph anything desired, The 1980s and '90s was like traveling on a different planet compared to the insane crazy controlled 2020s. The camera below was one of two Nikon F2AS's used on this second overland journey through the continent (Argentina to Colombia via the Andean block). The Nikkor 50-300 f/4.5 AIS ED was an excellent constructed lens for still photography (low res snaps above from '91). The same model lens is used today for videography. Maybe someone out there has the above F2AS body as a paper weight collection, or still being used (1979 black #7930897). The other, a 1980 F2AS chrome body #8039572. I also had a third, an F2 #7754374. Contact me if you have one of these bodies.
Relaxing, chilling out on the river banks of the Mekong capturing random snaps can't be easier.
A rustic depleted villa spotted down a dead end side street totally overgrown subdued and abandoned. Around a month later the villa was pulled down and demolished. Discovering properties like this to photograph is usually by word of mouth.
The amount of times neglecting to take quick location shots, like above through the decades is mega-fold. It doesn't matter what's used to take location snaps, even with junkie smart phones is better than nothing. A Fuji X100 point & shoot took the above snaps. Below, a tripod shot with an AFS 14-24 2.8G lens and D800.
Socialism - Broken Promises
Desert sands, Venezuela. I've been through Venezuela twice, both times during the socialist revolution, which is now dead and buried in the sands itself. Marxist socialism destroys any country to ruin on broken promises. Over the decades, I've seen numerous countries overrun by socialist upheavals. They have all failed miserably.
These snaps are not here glorifying Socialism, they show youth celebrating Socialism, and the end result of what Socialism does — Poverty.
Socialist agendas begin, by causing riots using sponsored funded protesters, propaganda graffiti splattered on walls, and left-wing MSM voicing the airwaves non-stop around the clock. Privately owned businesses slowly cease, shutting up shop, they are looted, smashed and torched. Government buildings, historical statues are destroyed, and anti-socialist citizens become targeted victims. Socialist woke mobs have one agenda only. To do the ground work forcing everyone into complete submission that's against them. Marxist indoctrination festers through educational systems, allowing schools and university teachers and lecturers reprogramming youth to hate their own country and historical values — This creates rebellion within nuclear families dividing youth and older generations of family, relations and friends. Forget the Scandinavian socialist model. Sweden, Denmark, and Norway have survived and prospered by free market capitalism, if they didn't, all three countries would resemble DDR (East Germany) when bananas and chocolate were rarer than a hen's tooth. Nations rise nations fall. Any nation divided within itself will not stand. They eventually self weaken to the point of total collapse. America is at these crossroads in 2020s
Which country's population has more prosperity today — Capitalist Costa Rica or Socialist Cuba?
Full Frame DSLRs - 2020s
Capturing stills is with whatever I'm using at locations. If camera gear works the way it should, there's no reason to update it.
Some of my camera gear is well past their use by date, like the above 800mm 5.6 ED AIS prime.The lens was first available in 1986. Nikon had produced some serious lenses during that time period. The 800 5.6 is certainly one of them. Since 2016, the 800 prime has maintained 100% reliability within some of the most extreme conditions at locations that most probably wouldn't believe, unless they were there themselves. For example, the 5.5Kg lens has functioned without issues in subzero temps of minus - 33C @ 4000 meters to plus +50C in blistering heat for weeks on end.
Reaching locations well off the beaten track can be at times a test of self-endurance. Photographing bird and wildlife within remote regions isn't guaranteed, the opposite to safari parks. It's all about how far you want to push yourself using determination to get positive results.
In remote wilderness regions wildlife doesn't come to you. Getting up close is key without startling or disturbing subject matter.
In the wilderness, location, timing and real photo gear (not smartphone junk) are the combinations required capturing wildlife images.
Using basic transportation reaching the Sundarbans, is something every intrepid traveler should experience i.e. packed out suburban train and motor rickshaw. The chances of spotting swamp tigers solely depends on pure luck. Renting a bush boat for four days , sleeping onboard three nights having the vessel to yourself wasn't cheap, but worth every cent. During four days, swamp tigers were spotted and photographed at three different locations. Some have spent seven days through the Sundarbans, and seen nothing. It took 600 hours (25 days), for a BBC film crew to finally spot and film one swamp tiger. A Nikkor manual focus 800 5.6 AIS prime captured all the shots.
Amir Kabir Hotel - Tehran 1983
An original snap of Hotel Amir Kabir, central Tehran during the Iraq-Iran conflict. Amir Kabir was a famous hippie hotel during the mid 1960-70s era, where westerners would congregate hanging out en-route to Kabul, Swat valley and onward to Kashmir, northern India. During the 1980's, Hotel Amir Kabir was operating only with a very small trickle of foreigners passing through Tehran. The city, with 11 million inhabitants at the time, had a heavy anti-western presence in the air. Over half the hotel rooms were badly damaged in need of repair. Some rooms were without doors and missing windows.
Rooms that were available used simple pipes protruding out the walls to wash and take cold showers. Whether this is the same renovated Amir Kabir Hotel advertised online is unknown. If it is, the hotel has been completely restored.
Strolling around the streets of Damascus, Tehran, and Baghdad during the 1980s exposing photo gear was at times risky. Nothing much changed there. It's still the same vibe today with added camera survellence, and undercover police watching your every move. It doesn't matter how old images are, the above 1983 street snap was used in Die Woche 2021. Below, a random street snap in Tehran during the Al Quds march (which I was not part of) — 35mm roll film, 1987.
Red Zone Territory
Grabbing snaps during the 1980s within Red Zone regions was unique. There was limited MSM floating around, not like today's loony media circus, and certainly zero yuppie travel bloggers in sight. Above, a cache of Soviet small arms for sale on the open market in Pashtun tribal territory during the '79 Soviet invasion. Freelance photographers crossing into Afghanistan - no matter the nationality, had $2500 bounties dead or alive. This was a decree issued by Soviet controlled Kabul government. There is still no official death count records of how many freelance photographers died during the Mujaheddin Soviet conflict.
Random Snap Captures
Personally, random street photography hasn't changed. Composition snaps have remained the same today as they were decades ago. The only change was roll-film to digital. Some of those older roll film cameras and manual focus lenses are still capturing great images in the 2020s. Street photography, interacting with total strangers has been an integral part of overland travel.
40 years between shots shows nothing much has changed with composition. I assume that's what is defined as consistency.
Grumman Ag Cats were first designed in the 1950s, this later version was used for crop dusting.
Wild weather can at times be unsurprisingly insane. High voltage strikes captured at 1am. Below, 35mm infra-red film, Machu Picchu
Below, an early morning stroll through the streets of Bogota captured this local using positive interaction.
Tribal Territory
Eventually, any overland travel journey leads to isolated tribal zones well off the beaten track. The above location was situated an hour or so north-west from Mon township. It was only by chance to have met this friendly 100+ year old Konyak headhunter. The positive vibe and open interaction was appreciated from both sides.
Location snap doing what I've enjoyed since the very first time holding a camera. A thanks goes out to Heiko captured this shot showing the ambience and interaction between both sides of the lens.
Above, one of many closeups using DSLR photo gear — AF 85mm 1.4D prime and D3S.
Tiger claws, meerkat tails, hornbill bone, cheetah pelts. Wildlife cosmetic makeup used by tribal communities in Asia and Africa.
Leaving home base without camera-gear is unthinkable. On some occasions roaming through side streets and back alleys, I've regretted not carrying a camera or point and shoot. I know from past experiences, any particular scene, or subject matter won't be there when returning the following day. Some say smartphone cameras are just as good. Sorry, smartphone junk are a last resort.
Full facial tattoo with tiger tooth necklace are historic identities of Konyak headhunters, who scalped their enemies heads up until 1953.
North South Sudan
Both north and south Sudan haven't been spoiled by plastic tourism, or overrun from yuppie travel bloggers. North Sudan, is well worth the time and effort Imagine traveling through a county having it all to yourself. It's virtually impossible, almost rare bumping into other western foreigners in both countries. Even the Antarctica peninsula tip is more overloaded - poor penguins! Visiting Nubian pyramids is the opposite of the over-crowded Giza complex, in Egypt — no fees, no hassles, no other people, no problem - just yourself absorbing the view.
An Image For An Image - Tibet
It was illegal as it is today to hand out images of the Dalai Lama in Tibet. This has been protocol, since Tibet was first opened to foreigners in May 1985. Smuggling a pile of DL images into Tibet from Nepal was actually quite simple. I was the only foreigner crossing the border during the winter month of January '87. At the time, in Kathmandu, I had met other foreigners who also wanted to travel overland through to Lhasa for Tibetan new year festivities. The Chinese embassy had placed a visa ban on all foreigners during that time period. I had planned well in advance getting a Chinese visa in Bangkok, already knowing the difficulty to enter Tibet from Nepal. It had taken two strained interviews of bureaucracy questioning, before being granted a three month Chinese visa. And that was in Bangkok. Transiting from the Nepali-Tibetan border during winter was more than difficult. The average temperature @ -20C had an added wind chill factor of -35C. The lack of transport was like a survival travel journey that included rations of food supplies, and somewhere to sleep at night sheltering from deep freeze conditions. I found myself once again at a Chinese Embassy, this time in Pakistan. Chinese officials in Islamabad weren't so over dramatic, they had issued a 3 month visa entering China through the Karakoram-Xinjiang route to Kashgar, onward to Golmud. The lower route via Mount Kailash was impassable during winter because of heavy snow drift.Try doing the above overland transit routes today, in the 2020s solo, and see how far you get. Maybe 20km to the first checkpoint leaving Lhasa, if you're lucky, or an instant entry refusal at any of the border checkpoints on the eastern, western and northern perimeters of Tibet. Individual travel throughout Tibet shut down in the late 1980s.
Chinese MSM reported Tibetans who have been jailed for up to 18 years displaying or owning images of the Dalai Lama. This is typical Chinese hardcore control on ethnic minorities. By 2022, China will have approximately 600 million functioning AI facial recognition cameras plastered on the streets throughout the country. It makes George Orwell's 1984 best seller a work in progress, especially when the Chinese Government use George Orwell's '84, as a training manual. Think Global Agenda 2030. It's coming to you whereever you are by 2027.
The following is an exact extract from the below 1948 travel document. Some may have to reread it a few times to let it sink in - Tibet was an independent country before the Chinese begun their invasion of Tibet in 1950. The below document was probably one of many reasons China put the brakes on Tibetan self-rule advancement with Western influences. The rest is history of the Chinese crackdown and control of Tibetans in 1959. "The bearer of this letter - Tsepon Shakabpa - Chief of the Finance Department of Tibet is hereby sent to Chine, the United States of America, the United Kingdom and other countries to explore and review trade possibilities between these countries and Tibet. We shall therefore be grateful if the Governments concerned on his route would kindly give due recognition as such, grant necessary passport , visa, etc, without any hindrance and render assistance in all possible ways to him. Seal of the KASHAG (Cabinet of Tibet), Lhasa. Dated this 26th day of the 5th month of FIRE-PIG Year (Tibetan)."
Danish Tabloid - Colombia
A submitted freelance article titled Farlige Colombia (Dangerous Colombia) published in one of the top leading Danish Newspapers, the Politiken. My first visit to Colombia was in 1989, when tourism was at zero percent, and assassination hits were full-on through the streets in Medellin, Bogota and Cali. During this overland journey, an Avianca passenger jet was blown-up by an Escobar suitcase bomb, and shortly after in December, the largest detonated explosion in Colombian history destroyed the high rise building of DAS (dept of security) killing 52 people, and injuring over one thousand citizens. The explosion was powerful enough feeling the pulse and energy where I was staying. The bus bomb blast had leveled several city blocks and destroyed more than 300 commercial properties.
When In Africa
Getting up close to wildlife. If there's a continent worth returning to, it's Africa hands down.
Design - DIY Slab Tables
Early proto styled slab table with 2 single uprights holding the top and moveable seats. Although the solid uprights when positioned held everything in place without a single bolt, later designed 12x12 inch 3 & 2 meter length beams were used instead.
DIY creative design is everything - years ago I was sick and tired of the usual boring outdoor tables on the market, so I designed and made my own. The finished concept was to enable a simple design that was tough, solid, and seat at least 12+ people, and hold its own weight without having a single bolt, screw, or bracket to keep the table stable without flexing or wobbling a millimeter. The timber, aged Macrocarpa, has minimal gum seepage, the opposite of old Man Pine and Gum trees. A finished coating is required to stop the wood from cracking under direct sunlight. Slab top and seat beams are first chainsawed cut forming a unique profile and shape of slabs. Above snap, a freshly coated 5 meter length table.
The following material is required to make your own monster slab tables. Two long thick slabs, one used for the top, the other cut in half used for seats. Two 3 meter 30x30cm ( 9ft 12x12 inch) beams for lower sections. One 2 meter 30x30cm (6.4ft 12x12 inch) beam cut in half for upper sections. A chainsaw, sander with a location working from start to finish out of direct sunlight until protective coats are thoroughly dry.
Thick solid beams holding the top slab with no bolts or brackets with a perfect 70cm (27.7 inch) surface height. Below, slab off-cuts put to good use as outdoor seating.
Making your own designed slab seats from off cuts is simple enough, like these above examples.
A 3.3 meter early version slab table coated with two pot Extec. Macrocarpa timber will eventually crack and split if not coated with some form of protective coating. I've tried all types of different coatings, including transparent formulas with Extec being the best for long term reliability in direct sunlight and harsh winter weather.
Below, an early proto 5 meter slab table made from oldman pine beside my driveway. Ongoing gum seepage is an issue with this timber. A warning to others, steer clear of oldman pine and gum for outdoor tables and chairs — even if coated.
Articles - USA
A brief published article on Big Cube Custom Nostalgia V-Twin engines. Not only were theses V Twins constructed and photographed by me, various other published articles, including front cover and middle page spreads in European and Down Under biker magazines were also written by me - not too bad for an old school dude.
132 cubic inch Knuckshovster by Rick Hemi 120 cubic inch 2 carb shovelhead by Rick Hemi
Riding big cube hardtails has the same experience onboard rough bush bushes through Africa — just a lot faster.
Like anything, one can build and design their own stuff no matter the make or model. It could be Chinese custom lawnmower rebuilds, flathead Ford V8s, or worn out 392 Hemi V8 boat engines. American aftermarket Big Twins are the same. It's all about design, what parts are used, and how projects are assembled to sustain whatever punishment is given to them. Using cheap low quaility parts will dig deep into your wallet. Best advice — buy American European quality made parts.
More cubes than most big twins, bolted into a hardtail frame numbing your bum — a lightweight road rocket!
DIY - Lens Respray
A few years ago, I did some cosmetic refurbishing to old used camera lenses that were badly scratched, or had lost their original protective coatings. Dismantling lenses is actually easy and simple with most lenses having the same basic OEM assembly designs. I discovered an automotive paint mixture that could be formulated into a flat matt finish having positive results guaranteeing a 100% non-chip scratch finish. Since then, I've sprayed numerous lenses, like the below Canon 300mm f/2.8 finished in industrial matt.
Not so long ago, I had sent a Nikon AFS 600mm f/4 lens to Nikon Japan for a full service which already had been matt camo sprayed a few years earlier. The Nikon technicians were amazed by how durable the matt coating was when the lens was pulled down and reassembled without the paint scratching or chipping. Below, courtesy image of the AFS-600 F4, Nikon Japan.
Videnskab Magazine
An image of a supposed 15,000 year old human skull taken in the Copenhagen national museum - Denmark
Hemi Product Design - Rest Bags
Quality designed rifle rest-bags made in various sizes to comfortably fit any caliber rifle from .22 to 50 cal. Filling the bag with plastic bead, or sawdust for on the go, ensures a solid stable rest with minimal movement. Quick heavy duty velcro straps pull the double jointed sections together for a perfect vertical position.
One of my long range rifles perched on a Hemi made rest bag, filled with solid plastic granules. Weatherby Mk 5 rechambered to 338 lapua magnum using 320 grain projectiles. Kickback was reduced with a muzzle break, or using a custom stainless suppressor. The Weatherby Mk 5, 338 mag, was more precise than the Rem 700P 338 mag.
Below, an original Hemi designed rest-bag made in 2006, still being used in the 2020s in high altitude subzero environments. It's said nothing lasts forever. Only supreme made multi-use product designs remain reliable for decades — this is one of them.
The Hemi 2006 rest bag design, is also used for photography when lag-time setting up tripods can miss that one shot, or when tripods are impossible to setup at awkward locations (bustling city streets, heavy snow locations etc). Below, a Hemi rest bag holding 6.5kg of photo-gear. I usually fill rest-bags with sawdust or rice. This is easily sourced locally almost anywhere no matter the country or continent. The rest-bag below was filled and tested with ultra lightweight polystyrene bead. The only substance avoiding is sand!
It's not that difficult designing, making your own product design, and then testing the product for reliability in extreme locations.
Hemi Product Design - Vertical Wine Wall Racks
These heavy duty wine rack holders are made from 4x4 inch (10x10cm) Macrocarpa with pressed alloy inserts holding wine bottle necks in position. I designed the wine holders with square and round concepts. Because of the weight load of 10 bottles, the vertical racks mounting hardware and placement are positioned into the walls vertical and horizontal framing to ensure stability.
Hemi Creative Design - Universal 6 Wheeler
Super lightweight six wheeler : Rear tilt door : Front storage box : 13" wheels : Dual disc brakes
Years ago I was tired of renting different worn out trailers moving stuff up and down the country, I'm sure I'm not alone here on this issue. Creating a design began by scribbling a concept on a half used paper napkin while sipping wine in a restaurant. From there, a six wheel trailer was all but completed within a month. The full rear tilt door was assisted with hydraulic shock rods, easing the door down to ground level. 13" inch wheels made it a breeze towing and gliding highways smoothly and safely. We are all gifted with forms of creativity with many who may not discover their own creativeness through life. It starts by not what you were taught, but by your own self-thought skills.
Print Media
Through the decades, I've had numerous published articles and images in editorial, front cover, and middle page spreads.
An example of a 5 page spread in a reputable biker magazine — I wrote the article, took the images and also built the bike.
Articles that have been republished numerous times over the years, because certain images hold their value.
Image Submissions USA - 2020s
A cephalopod image location shot used in discussion on the Hagman Report by Stan Deyo
Location Submissions USA - 2020s
Two location images chosen for campaign advertising by a reputable US photography platform. Nothing beats being paid for those behind the camera location snaps. Of course, someone else has to be taking location shots of you at these locations with correct angles.
Leather Work - Design Create Make
Learning the art of creating something from leather is no different to anything else. It only requires a piece of tanned leather, some inspiration, a set of needles, thread, and sharp scissors. The rest comes from your own mind, the creative section we all have to make something from nothing. Learning how to saddle stitch takes under five minutes.
DIY hand saddle stitched leather sheath from 1981. That's 43+ years of continuous usage with zero stitching issues.
I've lost count how many people I've met asking where I had purchased the belts they've seen me wearing. The belts construction are unique in design using a mix of bone, beads and leather, with interchangeable buckles. Leather of two belts above are from thick straps from an 80 year old pack saddle. These belt designs may look simple to make. These above belts were made in the mid 1990s, still being worn today. That's handmade quality for you. The finishing touch of handmade belts are belt buckles. Using US, European made buckles is recommended. Wing bling copies from the far east don't last long.
Hand made custom leather work is something many people do just like myself. Since the early 80s, I've handmade all kinds of stuff from leather. The vest above, is a good example, cut from old jackets, hand stitched together creating a unique vest. This particular vest was first made in the mid 1990s. The vest has been worn clocking up hundreds of thousands of overland mileage through South America, Africa, the Mid-East and Asia. Amazingly, it's still being worn in the 2020s. Another hand made replacement is in the works. Below, a classic 31K48 semi-industrial Singer sewing machine for leather work. The 31K48 came with enough new spare parts to last for decades.
W49 Bowie - Outdoors Survival Blade
The Bowie has been a part of my personal travel baggage, and has done extensive overland journeys through the Middle East, South America, Europe, Russia, The Pacific, East and Western Europe, Asia and Africa. This leather sheath and blade are still in perfect working condition in the 2020s. If this Bowie could talk, it would easily fill a 100 page non-fiction book on all the adventures, travels, and journeys it has completed overland through the continents.
Classic Overland Journeys - I980s
In the 1980s it was normal to hand scribble out transit routes and share with others - not needed today. There are probably a few still out there who remember pen drawing their own overland travel and transit maps. Personally, Europe was far better off when countries had individual land border controls. My first visit to Europe in 82 was by hitching lifts and using trains getting through the continent. I've passed through Europe many times via the Mid-East and Africa. I had lived in Europe for some years, this made it easier to get around. Europe has lost its charm compared to what it used to have. Historical relics, monuments, and museums may still exist, but European nations have certainly lost their heritage, with feelings of despair, fear, left wing, right wing, political resentment, including triggered rebellion towards their EU handlers and controllers. Travel and hitchhiking through Europe was better off during the west-east block era.
Classic solo overland travel and transit visas during the 1980s. Bush bus, train, truck, cargo vessel, passage ferry, van, self-drive, motorbike.
Traveling with cash dollars during the 1980s & 90s was by folding notes placed inside a money belt worn around the waist.
Most roll film cameras are dead and buried these days, but there are still those who still swear by them. My F2AS bodies ('79 & '80) had never let me down. They were robust camera bodies in their day. They were used through the Americas, Africa, Asia and the Middle East on different overland journeys. Lenses above, 500 f8N, 200 f/4, 135 and 24mm. Image taken with a '77 Nikon F2.
Visas during the 1980s were issued quick and fast. A secondary passport came in handy for Israeli and Taiwan stamps, including other visas issued inside those countries. Crossing certain land borders with a pile of photo gear were hand written in passports, like above entering Peru (3 bodies, 6 lenses & accessories).
Below snaps, Japan was an excellent place to earn cash back then, and still is. During the mid 80s I was earning an average of 350 USD a day six days a week month after month. Lamu to southern Somalia was a peaceful transit location not like today. Old signage along highways were worth stopping for grabbing a snap. In Aleppo, meeting guys from west Africa, Tanzania, and Indonesia, and hanging out together in one of the roughest suburbs in Damascus for a few weeks, is hospitality still remembered. Sleeping in my own tent under a tree pitched in the center of a main avenue in Islamabad wasn't an issue. One could roll up each Thursday at the Aussie Embassy sucking down a few ales, and eating steaks from the barbie, and then move along to the US Embassy till dawn sipping on Budweiser at the pool side bar. That's what I call being spoiled during transit journeys. Paranoia wasn't something to be alarmed about until crossing over into Soviet controlled Afghanistan, although not for females. I did catch peeping tom Pakistanis in Peshawar standing on stacked chairs peering through a thin narrow high hallway window inside a hotel steering down at an Aussie blond. It probably wasn't the first time, and not the last for hotel staff to experience close encounters with western females revealing naked flesh in rooms. Hidden cameras have replaced peeping toms - check your room out before striping down.
Ginza : Lamu : Nanyuki : Damascus : Aussie embassy Pakistan : Moscow : Istanbul : Berlin : Nullabor
Moscow and Berlin during the iron curtain days was a blast and a half. Prague, Budapest, Belgrade and Sofia truly had the rough East Bloc feel of Soviet communism. Hitching lifts from West Germany through DDR to Berlin was normal procedure. The only country I found difficulty hitching lifts in Europe was France. If I was female, it would of have been a different story. Greece, Spain, Morocco, Germany, Italy and Scandinavia were hitching paradises. Selling a multi-band Sanyo transistor on the streets of Prague for 5 times the value paid for train tickets and accommodation through the East Bloc. Istanbul and Ankara during the 80's were the hubs to grab onward visas into the Middle East for Islamic Iran, Iraq, and Syria. Arriving into the land down under buying a $500 dollar '71 Falcon on the same day, for a full on road journey around Australia was more than simple. Try doing all the above today (2020s), and see how far you get. Reflecting back, overland travel during the 1980s & '90s postcard era had more freedom with minimal yuppie woke travelers. Even 747 Jumbo long haul flights were classier. No one cared, smoking, and consuming alcohol, congregating down in the rear kitchen chatting with air hostesses mid-flight - those were the good days of air travel reaching other continents.
Solo overland travel, Jan 88, hiking along the Sikkim-Indian border to the Nepali frontier reaching the highest viewpoint captured these roll film snaps of Lhoste and Everest. It was a time of unrest in north west Bengal. Darjeeling was a ghost town, there were no foreign tourists with many local businesses closed. The GNLF (Gorkha National Liberation Front) wanted a separate state. The hike to Sandakphu revealed the intensity of insurgency throughout the region. The Sandakphu summit was more than basic with one small building destroyed by militants. Camping out @3600m altitude inside a duck down sleeping bag was worth the journey the following morning to get a glimpse of Everest from 144km. Above snaps were taken with an SLR Nikon F2 and zoom lens.
Welcoming signage in the west Bengal highlands enroute to Sandakphu in 88. The pink notice were the demands by the GNLF.
Strolling through Ephesus in '98 without seeing other visitors is rare. All it took was rolling thunder, endless lightning strikes, and continuous downpours. Traveling through Turkey during the early '80s was different compared to the late '90s. There were minimal tourists, locals were super friendly, it was dirt cheap, and hitching lifts was easy. Below, overland travel roll film, Iran 1983 .The Iranian-Iraqi conflict was in full swing. Saddam was busily sucking crude oil on Iranian turf which started the war. I completed a 2nd overland journey from north Asia through Iran five years later. Interacting with locals through Iran, Iraq, Syria, Jordan and Israel during the 1980s wasn't at all difficult. I had even applied for an Iraqi visa with used Iranian visas in my passport. Crossing Allenby bridge, the Israelis weren't even bothered questioning my overland journeys through neighboring countries.
Motorhead Days - Aussie : NZ : Scandinavia
Self-taught rebuilding, designing, modifying V8s and V twins. That addiction began a long time ago in the teenage years of youth. This learning curve of knowledge helped when self-driving across continents of repairing and maintaining vehicles and motorbikes. Some revheads and bikers I've met wouldn't have a clue how to change spark plugs, let alone pull engines down and rebuild them from scratch. Below, my mid-90s workshop garage — Mamiya 6x7 120 roll film snap
Street Selling - Before The Internet Age
1980s snap - traveling through Japan selling pictures earned more cash flow than teaching English full time.
During the early years of offshore travel, most foreigners were always looking somewhere to earn a few bucks. You name it, I've probably done it. Selling Colombian 18ct & 22ct gold in Costa Rica doubled my investment. Designing handmade wrist bangles made from copper, brass and leather sold well in San Jose. All it took were a few quality made pliers, cutters and materials with a good imagination to design unique pieces. In Taiwan, I was offered a few part time jobs teaching English. Better still, in Japan, I shared expenses with a fellow traveler investing in a pile of different framed prints. It was the 1980s, copies of sketched prints of Tom Cruise, Stallone, James Dean, Madonna and Michael Jackson sold like hot cakes. I even went further making stands elevating the larger pictures. It's all about presentation, even with junky framed prints, they looked the part and sold quicker. During the nights we would normally setup two displays at each end on the busiest night club streets. This automatically doubled sales. Driving throughout Japan selling junky pictures made a healthy profit, especially before national holidays and during festival events. An average intake mounted between $500 - $1000 bucks per night! Far more profitable than teaching English on a monthly salary.
There were various pictures that would sell better than others. One idea that worked well, was to display four pictures together of the same subject i.e. four cats, four dogs, four landscapes etc. By doing this, most customers would already be deciding which one they wanted. Another experiment was displaying pictures that I personally favored compared to pictures that I disliked. All I can say, the Japanese had different taste of what they wanted hanging their walls.
Why is this tee shown here? Most tee shirts worn through the continents usually last no longer than two years, if that. This original classic Body Glove tee, first purchased in 1990, has outlasted all other clothing hands down. It's survived wear and tear, long-term overland journeys and transit mileage since first purchased, and still worn in the 2020s - that's over 3 decades and counting. Below, sharing time out with Kingsley at his home residence in South Africa, pre-planning overland journey routes through the continent. Kingsley Holgate is a well known author, and intrepid explorer through regions in Africa.
Hemi Product Design - Custom Ammo Stock Holders
The inspiration designing ammo stock holders began when I had purchased a few cheap multi-fit holders made in China. They didn't fit tightly, an constructed from low grade material with minimal stitching that fell apart over a short time period. Designing and making top quality products yourself beats wing bling junk hands down.
Custom rifle ammo stock holders made with zero Chinese material. Heavy duty neoprene sleeve : Wide band bullet holder : Made to last.
Above, an H&R 410/45 colt with my own concept designs — ammo stock holder, strap, suppressor cover and rest bag.
Creating your own product designs and marketing, begins with the intended market scope within both wholesale and retail. These ammo butt stock holders were a big hit. Why was that? Because people wanted products made and crafted in their own country, even if it cost more. Top quality neoprene material, elastic ribbing and good stitching ensured a guaranteed lifespan of wear and tear. Hemi made ammo holders were custom made to fit each individual rifle stock butt. Not like wing bling universal ammo holders mass produced from China.
Six spare rounds on this rig is more than enough backup. The ammo holder above was put to the test numerous times within bushland and scrub with positive results having no twisting or movement of ammo.
Never loose another bullet — Rim fire ammo stock holders loaded with backup rounds on different Brno semi-auto rifles.
Quality heavy duty wide band keeps ammo in place with zero movement on the go through bushland and scrub.
Brno ZKK 601 .308 with enough backup ammo to last a day out in the field. Below, a Weatherby MK V .338 lapua magnum holding 9 backup rounds ready to go. The added weight carrying 9 extra rounds of this caliber is certainly felt. The half meter long stainless suppressor alone weighed two kilos. A better workout than being in a gym. The ammo holder never failed what it was designed for — A Hemi design.
Hemi Product Design - Creative Business
Above, a full set of Pet Care Fatz Sacs in camo at a reputable gun shop. These camouflaged designs were favored by deer and pig hunters and duck shooters. Thousands of Fatz Sacs were sold throughout New Zealand, because of two major points — quality and made in NZ. Other imported pet bedding struggled to match reliability and comfort Fatz Sacs offered, especially for larger dogs. Fatz Sacs line came in a choices of six sizes and five colors.
German shepherds showing how comfortable Pet Care Fatz Sac are. The XXL, is the perfect size for large dogs.The larger Jumbo ensured enough room and comfort for two large dogs or a great dane. Pet Care Fatz Sacs were a small part of the many other pet bedding designs for both cats and dogs — made in New Zealand.
Hemi Product Design - Bolt Pouch Kits
One design leads to another, a simple innovated rifle bolt pouch that easily fits .22 to .50 cal rifle bolts safe and secure. The heavy duty 600D Kadura material and velcro strapping ensures a reliable lifetime usage. Retail customers also order multi colored inner bolt holders for easier identification for triple and quad kits. Images — camo four bolt kit
Handmade - DIY Photo Albums
Large photo albums for all those classic roll film snaps
If you're anything like myself having thousands of SLR roll film snaps, then making your own photo albums is the way to go. As the images show, these albums were made extra large. Sifting for original negatives from the '80s and '90s and converting them to digital is normal procedure. The rest, the leftover snaps are then randomly sorted into albums, a non-destructible safe place for old images. I used thick cardboard sheets for the covers wrapped with durable fasson. Black Gainsborough sheets and rice paper between sheets were used for internal pages. A local guillotine operator is required to cut the finished measurements precisely. Four screw fittings firmly hold the albums together. Keeping all those worn torn, not so good, scratchy photos in selected albums is far better than having them stuffed in boxes or freely floating around in drawers.
Berlingske Tidende - Editorial Spread
Weapons narcotic trade - Afghan Border
The above freelance article covered the weapons and narcotics trade along the Afghan border. The same article has been published several times i.e. Denmark, Japan and New Zealand. Today, the Afghan Pakistani border is still classified as a Red Zone region, due to the ongoing skirmishes and insurgency from various tribal and militant groups. Going to these regions are at your own risk and peril.
DSLR - Retro Shoot
How do you do a retro photo shoot? Find a collection of clothing, a willing subject, a location and some photo gear.
The above location snaps were taken with a cell phone camera, the subpar quality of cell phone camera snaps are apparent compared to using real photo gear. I only used a 12 MP D3 body with two different full frame DSLR lenses. No reflectors, flash, or other tricks professional photographers use kept it simple.
The fashion industry is huge, retro clothing is a part of it. Retro wear has made a comeback in recent years.
Tall and slim, Kristina from Russia, captured using Nikon's first full frame DSLR — 2007 12MP D3
The Blogger - Snake Oil Venom At The Highest Level.
How to create malicious personal attacks on someone that you've never met or spoken with.
Poor little girl, You gaslighted the wrong person that outflanks you in all directions. While you were still crawling around in diapers, I had already completed numerous overland journeys through continents. Fresh little travel blogger flight puppies do bark a lot having little to no substance. As always, you can judge someone by what comes out of their mouth and what they write about, This so called 'travel blogger influencer' gets a poor 1/10 rating.
Classic V8 4WDs - by Rick Hemi
One of many V8 engines I've owned and rebuilt. This particular Chev 5.7 liter cast iron engine received the full monty. This engine loved sucking gasoline like a tap turned on fed through a 4 barrel Dominator carb. I had my first V8 at 17, a 1939 Ford V8 sedan. V8's were running around all over place in the 70's. Today, the cost of fuel to feed these thirsty engines, is well above the roof, unless residing in a Venezuela, where it was only 1 US cent a liter for 98 octane the last time I raveled through the country some years ago. I've owned and rebuilt numerous American classic V8's, some receiving big cube replacement engines for increased power. Those looking for rare 1965 through '77 coupes going for a dime are in luck. Venezuela has plenty of them. Even peeling off original badges and dash emblems through Venezuelan car junk yards will turn a tea chest of badges into liquid gold! Exporting Brazilian classic VW kombis offshore to the US, Canada, Europe and Japan, is another option earning good profit margins.. South Africa, also has piles of parked up VW popup rooftop kombis lying around slowly decaying rusting away. I was actually very close brokering a deal while based in Europe in the late 1990s exporting approx 90 Shah Harley Davidson bikes out of Iran. A Dutchman ended up getting the lot @ $100 a piece going or not going. Solo overland travel through continents opens up all kinds of doors for business. Not just lying around on beaches all day soaking up sun, knocking back pina coladas, clicking dopamine socail media selfies. Below, the FJ45 flat deck restored with T/A 35's, super-low/overdrive Marks gears, and modified cast iron 5.7 Chev V8.
Nissan DC V8 4WD - Green Machine
Auto modifications are a thing of the past. We now live in world controlled by tyrannical globalists. Their reforms conclude, that by 2030, we will all own nothing and be happy about it. What does this actually mean? It's the phase out of owning your own property, your own car, owning pets, growing vegetables, and even owning smartphone junk. Living within 15 minute smart cities will be a rental system only. The globalists will own everything, while the common person will be forced to use globalist CBDC digital to purchase food, and rental products. Leaving 15 minute smart cities will become difficult. What do you call this? Sheep herding populations into open air confinements.
This was a great towing V8 workhorse that didn't miss a beat running on dedicated LPG.
Nissan DC 4WD Chev 350 V8 : 1.5 meter extended chassis : Turbo 400 auto : All terrain T/A 33's : rebuilt by Rick Hemi
Made In Japan - Classic Toyota Hilux
A classic road legal 1982 Toyota Hilux runabout hack. It had enough power and torque with a V6 engine transplant to get through bog holes, and haul along mountain tracks and river crossings. A small block V8 transplant would of been a better chioce.
Smooth Roller - 6 Gear Turbocharged
New Zealand wasn't called the land of the long white cloud for nothing. Rainy days or not. I thrashed this black jet coupe through the country clocking up 4500+ kms. There's more on this road trip journey here.
With dual radars onboard, speeding tickets were never issued — not once. This little 6 peed turbo coupe has a top speed of 270kph.
Having fun cycling on this Pedderson cycle becomes an instant magnet looker. I had two of them, both originally made in Denmark.
Overland Travel - Memorabilia
At times you can come across coins of historical significance. We're not talking about gold coins here. The Morgan 1879 silver dollar was snapped up within a bustling market in Cali, Colombia, in 1989 for $5 bucks. The COS II Caesar was haggled for cigarettes and worn out zippo lighter. I've had suspicion that trade from the late 90s, the coin is a copy. The 1771 Skilling was found inside antique furniture in Denmark. The very worn Byzantine coin was authenticated by Museum officials @4BC.
Above, an original Greek arrowhead that was bartered for a bar of soap and toothpaste from a goat sheep farmer in a remote region in Turkey in the mid '90s. The Tibetan Thogchags was actually being worn around the neck of a rough clad dressed Tibetan, it was battered for two Dalai Lama images.
No, this authentic hand woven belt with rough yak hide and rustic buckle wasn't bought in one of those Nepali tourist shops in Katmandu. In '87, I actually spotted a Tibetan pilgrim strolling through the street in Lhasa wearing the belt around her waist. I grabbed the belt from behind giving it a tug. Laughter from locals including from the female wearing it resulted in the quickest random belt buy I've experienced. The belt holds sentimental value for two reasons, the interaction when purchasing it, and knowing the belt was hand crafted and already well worn and used by a Tibetan in Tibet.
Above, a Soviet belt buckle removed from a deceased Russian solider during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, in 1986. Note: Some of the following images maybe graphic triggering certain people. They are certainly not posted here for the purpose of anti-Semitic viewpoints, or at Iranian, US citizens. The images of the below memorabilia are historical items obtained personally by me on two separate visits to Iran during the 1979-89 Iran/Iraq conflict. In saying this, Israel has lost whatever remaining respect, caused by the latest culling slaughter of continued bombing wiping out thousands of innocent Palestinian civillains, mainly women and children. Until Israel has a dramatic change in government policy, the slaughter will not stop! Every child living on this earth has the right to live. Christian pro-Zionists have backed a dark horse.
Both visits to Iran were during the 10 year conflict between Iran & Iraq. It was a time period when words "Like and Hate" were still in their dormant stage until the internet flourished into global social media dopamine addiction. Those born in the West who think they're in hardship wouldn't have clue of what real freedom actually means until it's completely taken away from them. I've personally experienced this in Iran. The 2016 movie - Septembers of Shiraz, directed by Wayne Blair, based on true events, is a reflection of that time period. The postage stamps above are only a few of the many propaganda stamps that were issued in the early stages of the Islamic Republic. The countries of France, China, USSR, USA, and the UK are visibly seen on the fingers on the UN Veto stamp. The two other postage stamps are directed at the US showing the takeover of the US embassy in Tehran in '79. Even today, the US embassy resembles a decaying structure that looks like something from Prague during the cold war days. The lower stamp above was issued in 1986, commemorating the bungled Embassy hostage rescue by Jimmy Carter in 1980. US navy helicopters collided in the desert region of Tabas - how embarrassing was that bungle? Below, a postcard I had sent from Tehran to another traveler showing proof these stamps are not fake.
Below, in 1983, I had removed a graphic "anti-American-Israeli" poster from a wall that was cluttered with a variety of other propaganda posters inside the Iranian immigration terminal on the Iranian-Turkish border before departing Iran. Iranian officials had actually watched me removing the poster off the wall, but didn't stop me taking it. The fold creases not only shows the age of this original poster, stuffed in a backpack through Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Israel, Cyprus, including most of west and eastern Europe. Postage stamps and street posters are past examples how some governments were promoting their biased hate propaganda agenda against their enemies, well in advance before the internet had arrived. The font pasted across the poster stops anyone using it elsewhere for their own purposes.
Interacting With People - Works Anywhere
Overland travel street still photography hasn't changed a bit through the decades. The enjoyment of getting out capturing random people shots of locals using whatever interaction skills required, is always rewarding.
I've learnt to master the positive sides of interacting with strangers. Using camera gear has worked consecutively, as one of various ways to open up dialogue with complete strangers. Using one's street instinct no matter where, or who it's with plays out an important role with people of different ethnic backgrounds. Automatically interacting with locals has been a great tool (or gift) opening many doors, and also saved my bacon a few times. Giving small amounts of chit chat with street police is also wise - just like in the above image. Personally, interacting with locals through any continent automatically opens to positive dialogue.
Tabi Mag Japan - 7 Page Spread
Publishing freelance work can be difficult and frustrating at the best of times, but today anything and everything is possible. I once had an exclusive story that was rejected by a main Danish tabloid (Politiken), but the article was accepted on the same day, and published as a full spread a week later by one of the Politiken's main rival competitors. Many freelance photographers sell their images to online photo stock agencies, but the rewards are not great - unless one can produce thousands of different images that are in demand. Publishing freelance work is a fierce battleground. A good article with a narrative with images to match may sell as an exclusive.
The Japanese tabloid and magazine market is massive with most publishers preferring to have the advantage of an exclusive article - which also pays a lot more. Never take rejection too seriously, It happens, and a normal occurrence for freelancers. Personally, my advice for street photographers who have been in transit mode over-landing through a few continents i.e. Europe to Asia for example, is to submit articles to the Japanese magazine market. This must be done in person. Japan is well worth visiting anyway. Worthy images with an added story line published in glossy travel mags is a bonus. (original digital raw files are a must). Story lines will require to be converted to Japanese, and proofread which isn't difficult if you have contacts.
Creating e-books is another alternative, but don't think it’s an easier route trying to earn from writing fiction jargon. Non-fiction material is far superior, and always in demand. A lot of thought, time, and energy is required to accomplish any e-book which can have the legs and potential to sell in today's mega online e-book industry.
Publishing A Book? - Choosing The Right Images
Author of I Am Guru, Katrina Wisbey had contacted me to use some of my images for her book which has been published through Lulu publishing, and found in bookstores or online through Amazon. Katrina's book covers a broad spectrum with vision and focus on personal self-discovery, empowerment, with plenty of soul food for healthy living in today's modern age. Katrina is an Australian social scientist and lecturer. For more info, you can go to the following link Cosmic Mindfulness
Random Still Street Photography - Full Frame DSLRs
One of many favorite kinds of street still photography, is being right in the thick of it using a tripod. As long as tripods are placed out of the way, they won't be bowled over, or walked on by locals - which can happen. The above, a street scene within a bustling market where local laborers team up working together lifting and carrying produce. Some single loads weigh up to one tonne, requiring a dozen or so tough-guys to get the load up off the ground to head height. Half a dozen guys share the weight on their heads manually walking and carrying the load together in rhythm. A great work-out for anyone interested building extra muscle. Tripod page here
Capturing random people shots, location snap, by Heiko Gatenberg
DIY Property Development - Rick Hemi
Purchasing - Renovating - Reselling
Purchasing run down properties that have potential to turn around a double or triple amount of the original purchase price is rewarding, if properties are renovated and resold within a short time periods. Choosing rural property a few kilometers out from towns with 5-10 acres of land always has potential and scope developing it into a great looking lifestyle block. I've done this a few times with properties having old classic villas, or homesteads in need of renovating from the ground up. Ripping out and replacing old kitchens, bathrooms, and repainting, rewiring one hundred year old villas, is hard work. This is part of the commitment for positive resale value. Doing all the labor yourself cuts cost considerably. The prime goal with any real estate renovation, is to make profit gain, and then move on to the next project. Above, 10 acre property situated in the foothills. An extra long driveway was cut out, curbed edged laid. A custom gate entrance using large beams milled from macrocarpa finished @ 40cm x 40cm x 3 meters was completed. A clean looking entrance automatically adds value, and the first and last impression of potential buyers entering or leaving properties of interest.
Below, mass planting of large varieties of native seedlings scattered over seven acres. Seedlings had plastic covers as protection from hares snipping tops off. A wide shelter belt of different flowering Eucalyptus Gum trees were planted around the perimeter of this block. This not only helps to protect new seedlings from prevailing winds, but also gives native birds, like Tui, bellbird, and wood pigeon a food source in the future, including a self sustained gum wood supply. My hard work (and enjoyment) planting this property paid off when nominated into the New Zealand environmental awards, by the Greater Wellington Regional Council. I did my bit - I've planted thousands of trees on every lifestyle property I've bought and sold — Have You? Below, bare block property development, native tree seedlings by Rick Hemi
The Same Property - 15 Years Later
They say never return to sold properties. Some new owners will rip out the hard work of previous owners, because of different or new ideas changing and modifying whatever they wish. This property is one exception, still containing what was planted, now a beautiful native bush paradise both for living enjoyment and bird life. Drone images by Hamish —open for larger image.
Above 2021, how this bare block of rural landscape looks 14 years later, now an awesome native bird life habitat.
The first mission to clean up run down properties, is to clear rubbish, and junk accumulated over the decades. Operating a dozer to level and back blade around the dwelling area makes it a fast simple job. This particular villa was originally built in 1905. A previous owner already had the wooden piles replaced with modern concrete piles, a new roof, and had added an extended rear section for the kitchen and bathroom. The electrical wiring was also upgraded All the expensive repairs and additions were already done by a previous owner.
Developing refurbishing old style farm villas, is trendy in New Zealand. The home above, isolated in a rural region in the foothills was in a dilapidated state in need of a make over before reselling. The property was resold for double its purchased value within two months of being placed on the market. The same property, now with an established native bush block would easily sell for more than six times the original purchased price.
Kauri trees are super special. They are slow growers requiring years of patience watching them change from juvenile to massive barrel trunks reaching for the sky. These two Kauri were root bound specimens bought from a nursery for next to nothing. After 18 months in the ground, they both showed healthy signs of growth, including sprouting fresh cone seed pods. I had also planted another 50+ Kauri seedlings (one meter tall) mixed in with other native trees around the property. I can only imagine how they look today, 16+ years from when first planted. Below, a small portion of NZ native tree seedlings I had originally planted in 2007, now in 2021. This was a bare block property.
DIY Property Landscaping - Rural Lifestyle Blocks
Replacing worn out sheep fences on rural properties with wooden four rail fences makes a statement. Planting different deciduous and native evergreen trees should be done through the winter months to ensure the roots have enough time to reestablish themselves in the ground before the summer heat kicks in.
A truck with an overhead hiab was used to get this 10 ton rock to its new location. I did have another 10 tonne round boulder for a short period of time, similar looking to the Moraki boulders in the South Island placed in the same location. It was originally taken from the side of a bush gully where other smaller round boulders were in abundance, and also freely uplifted and removed over the years. The round boulder had to be returned, due to the crazy ownership of it. The one shown above was gifted in replacement of the loss of the 1st boulder. Talk about fuss over a boulder that was neglected until someone had interest in it that gave it some positive exposure. More on the round rock in About 2 at the bottom of the page.
I had asked for a quote from a local landscaper who specialized edge curbing gardens and driveways, but due to the rip-off pricing per meter, I ended up purchasing my own petrol Edgemaster curb machine. This was a good move and investment that paid off big time with the hundreds of meters of curbing it laid on these properties. Finished curbed driveways and curbed gardens automatically lifts the value up of any property.
A finished portion planted with native and deciduous seedlings, including a thick layer of mulch bark which keeps the seedlings root system moist and wet during the hot summer months. The majority of all my outdoor work was done and completed through the winter months.
They say if a property looks good in the rain or during the winter months when everything is bare, then it's more likely to sell quicker during the cold months. This particular 5 acre property was originally the homestead of a large sheep and beef station that was approximately 1200 acres in size. The water bore is one of only a few originals left that has never run dry since it was first drilled in 1938. DIY finished outdoor BBQ area that was originally overgrown grass feed for sheep. Adding unique designs to a run down property will normally increase sales potential to any property. In the end hard work and sweat does payoff.
450kg Mediterranean coal wood BBQ. DIY outdoor chill out space that was originally overgrown grass pasture with sheep. Adding unique designs to run down properties will automatically increase value to any property. In the end, hard work and sweat does payoff.
The Round Boulder - Boulder Gully
Boulder Gully was known decades ago for its stash of various sized round rocks embedded in the ground. Many of those round boulders were freely removed over the years, with most of them being used for distinct icon ornaments on various properties through the Wairarapa region. I was told that a large round rock was still present at Boulder Gully. The rock had been laying just off the side of the highway, hidden behind bushes for years. I drove out to the location to see for myself if this was actually true, and sure enough, there it was! A huge large round boulder resting beside shrub bushes obscured from public view along the entrance of an old forest logging track. The boulder was situated in the middle of nowhere, and appeared to be abandoned with no claimed ownership. If it was owned, why would anyone leave such a huge round rock wasting away for years without picking it up and moving it to be openly viewed? Maybe it was just too big, or the hassle of moving a large round boulder, which required a Hiab truck that could lift this amount of weight. After a couple of days, I managed to find a driver operator with a Hiab that could lift up to ten tonnes. We drove out to the location and had managed to lift the rock up after a few attempts. Heading back to Opaki, the rock was then unloaded at its new location in plain view sight, without even thinking there would be any issue with it. A week or so later, all hell broke loose, the local newspaper - Wairarapa Times Age (images above) had a full front page article - "Whole Stole The Rock?" A Don Farmer special creating a Woke Article. It didn't take long for those who knew where the new boulder location was. An abrupt visit from the local police was next. The detective was looking very serious, and tried to pin me on theft of a rock. I replied, "Don't you have anything more important to do than running around looking for a round boulder from the bush? Like meth labs, dope crops, and gangland anarchy". I said, "If you're going to arrest me on theft charges of a rock, then you'll have to arrest all those through the years who also took round boulders from the exact same location". After a brief discussion, the return of the boulder was agreed upon with no charges. I had contacted Bill Maunsell, the apparent "owner" of the rock with a formal apology telling him "Your boulder's coming home, it has now become one of the most famous rocks of all time in the region, why not donate the boulder to be placed at the main roundabout in town for everyone to see?"
Since then, Bill Maunsell has gifted the rock as a memorial to peace, at the entrance to the local Tinui Cemetery. Shortly after the return of Bill Maunsell's round boulder, I was donated a rugged looking 10 ton rock replacement, along with a few truck loads of one ton rocks. The local council gave consent to rock the road stopping yuppie boy racers hooning along this road after dark. Did it work? It sure did.
Property Development - DIY Edge Curbing
DIY property development : DIY self-curbing petrol powered Edgemaster — Rating 10/10
Self-curbing using Edgemaster petrol powered machines isn't difficult. One requires a quality made wheelbarrow (not Chinese made), medium size cement mixer (not Chinese made), stomper compactor (not Chinese made), string line, level and shovel. Curb edging large gardens, pathways and long driveways adds value to urban and rural properties.
Six different curb profiles come with curbing machines. I mostly used the highest profiles with slant and square edge finishes. You can even make your own profiles if necessary. A small magnetic level placed at the front keeps everything in check. Thoroughly washing down curb machines, and oiling moving parts after a hard days slog is imperative for free no hassle maintenance.
A trailer is required for sand mix. On a good day, I'd go through one tonne of sand. The trailer above, a dual hydraulic ram full tilt lift with rear swinging detachable back lid did the mileage carting sand, rocks and bark. It was probably one of the best designed trailers I've owned.
Above left, In the end, double row curbing, red stone chip with macrocarpa beams was used instead of schist rock. A mix of marigold and laurel trees completed the walkway. Using schist rock would of been dangerous to walk on when wet. DIY edge curbing essentials : Edgemaster petrol - zero issues Rating 10/10 : Honda petrol powered mixer - zero issues Rating 10/10 : Honda petrol powered Stomper - zero issues Rating 10/10 : Ezipour wheelbarrow - zero issues Rating 10/10
Rural Lifestyle Living - DIY Firewood Supply
Rural country lifestyle living firewood supply : 100+ year old macrocarpa : DIY felling - ringing - splitting - drying
Personally knowing farmers comes in handy for firewood. I'd usually offer a 1/4 of the take. The other positive of doing your own firewood supply, is the physical fitness one gets. Ringing, splitting. stacking, and then moving re-stacking wood under cover ready to burn, is a good workout. The macrocarpa had a massive barrel, more than enough to make a 5 x 1.5 meter slab table. My own property block at the time the above snap was taken, is in the background.
Rural lifestyle living DIY firewood supply : Top Left native river wood : Top right - Macrocarpa
Firewood in New Zealand was almost free and plentiful in the 1960s. Farmers with back country normally had scrub land full of trees, like Kanuka and Birch. As a young kid, it was compulsive during the summer months to chop and drop trees for the following winter. My short time period back in NZ decades later was no different. Developing run down rural properties were still good investments before the 2008 crash. New Zealand was rapidly becoming far too expensive to reside in. The cost of living in 2007 was already above the ceiling. My offshore overland travel kicked-off once again where it left off. I was correct with my own conclusions. New Zealand has now become an over expensive living hellhole. Decades of mismanaged government policies and borrowed debt has brought the country down to its knees!
Where do you get free firewood? Along the banks of rivers and coastal shorelines. These piles of wood were scavenged at a river close by. Through the winter months most large rivers swell up during heavy rains washing trees downstream. Most wood shown are native logs, with some that have probably been wedged in the river bank for years. I'd use an old chainsaw blade and chain. Waterlogged river wood would normally be coated in sand and stones.
An old B-275 International down at the local river scavenging firewood. The cost of one cubic meter of dry pine firewood delivered has now reached unbelievable prices. Below, the same river in flood.
Jumping into swollen rivers is as dangerous as swimming in oceans with undertow. During the dry season scavenged wood was extracted from the above river bed. A slow day collected reasonable size amounts of matai, birch, kanuka and rimu, including other excellent burning wood, like gum and mac — all for free.
DIY - Custom Driveway Entrances
Designing, creating and making your own rural driveway entrances is simple enough, like the above examples.
Some DIY made items become sentimental, like the above hand chiseled name plaque that moved with me from property to property. Mangohino (Maori) — Shark tooth L. 2.3M
Adding custom main gateway driveway entrances adds value to properties — the first and last thing noticed by potential property buyers.
The above property had a 100+ meter long driveway with no gateway when first purchased. I used double steel frame gates with alloy inserts attached to 8 foot 12x12 inch beams. The custom gateway was positioned well back from the boundary line allowing an added frontal slow tapered picket styled fence on both sides. The front of the driveway beyond the picket fence already had a slight right curve meeting the narrow gauge dead end road.
Get inspired, design and construct your own driveways and entrances. This property ended up with a second entrance further up the drive to keep dogs at bay. The entire drive was also edge curbed. All main 12 inch square beam ends were soaked and heavily coated with creosote and cemented in the ground. Top beam ends were also coated with creosote and protected with 16x6 inch square tops. Pipe gates were galvanized and alloy sprayed. Like anything custom built, random maintenance including a fresh coat of paint ensures long life expectancy. Today, you don't see many driveway entrances built with 12 x 12 inch solid beams. I used six beams for this rural gateway entrance. The pipe gate below wasn't yet completed. Circular designed inserts were later bolted in the upper lugs.
Rural Living - DIY Landscaping & Planting
Creating bird life activity on any property is by planting the correct trees. Planting a numerous assortment of nectar flowering trees will guarantee a variety of different bird species visiting through properties yearly. Above, NZ Tui feeding on Pohutukawa and double flowering Camellia trees.
Above property, nestled up in the foothills had excellent water supply running through it during winter. Too much rain on any property can cause all sorts of drama, flooding and damage. Creating channels following the original swale formations was dug out on this block. The appropriate drainage pipes were necessary to ensure the excess water flow left the property. Ponds flowing into each other were also created, including the planting of thousands of native trees, shrubs, and mixed seedlings giving the property the a real feel of nature surrounding it. Driveway and garden edge curbing mounted to more than a kilometer. The property was sold quickly for this isolated location. Looking at hill side rural properties for sale during the wet months is recommended. This gives a first hand account to see if over-flooding occurs and other related issues before investing. Never invest or live below mountains, on the edge of cliffs, or by creeks and rivers.
Rural bare block development. Planting native trees and shrubs on bare land begins with whatever one can collect and plant during the winter months. Swamp flax, Rimu and Lancewood prefer growing in damp environments.
Above, Sawtooth and smooth edge lancewood. I was fortunate enough to find a massive trove of lancewood seedlings that were moved during a wet rainy winter day. The replanting of 100's of lancewood was a success with no die backs. Below, planting out the entire hillside with native tree seedlings.
Flax is the easiest native plant to move and reproduce. Large flax plants can be split into smaller sections and replanted without issues. During flowering season, flax provides nectar for Tui, Bellbird and waxeye.
Planting flax, is best done through the winter months. This allows root expansion for flax to rapidly grow into healthy specimens like above.
The above list of native tree seedlings is what was planted on this block. In total, 1000s of seedlings were established, including a 10+ row of Ficifolia flowering gums planted on the backside as protection against prevailing winds i.e. north Wester. Ficifolia gums not only creates a wind block, but also produce nectar for native birds, and individually culled for firewood when required. One things for sure, every neighbor residing along this isolated location will always remember the long haired tattooed Maori, who they thought was a dak (gunja) smoking hippie leaving a legacy behind showing hard work and effort. One thing I've learnt offshore, solo over-landing through the planet — since 1978, is to never judge someone by the way they look, or their skin color. Instead, look at what they've accomplished.
Hare, Possum and stoat eradication control, is an ongoing issue with young and older growing native trees. Using poison bait and traps isn't recommended, if dogs and cats freely roam on properties. A .22 cal Brno ZKM 611 suppressed semi-auto & spotlight at night did the trick. Above, hare shot the night before, chopped up shared to pets. Living rural, one requires dogs for increased security for scumbag thieves, and a few cats exterminating swamp rats.
Planting native tree seedlings also involves eradicating hare and possums. Even with protective plastic tubes held with bamboo sticks, hare can still elevate high enough on their back legs snipping off the center tops of tree seedlings. Snipped seedlings are automatically replaced. The best time hunting hare, possum and other critters was usually after midnight. Domestic animals are put inside, in case of being mistakenly targeted. Shooting hare and possum using a suppressed .22 mag semi-auto with mounted spotlight from 50-100 meters distance was normal procedure, at least five times a week.
Living rural has its own issue and problems with thieving of property being one them. Security gates, alarms and cameras are all good, better still are a few dogs. Outdoor alarms, sensors and fixed cameras lack real time surveillance in certain situations. This is where mans best friend fills in the void. Having an established perimeter around dwellings and workshops allowing dogs to freely roam during the night works 100%. These German Shepherds did what they're good at - security.
Above, a young Ficifolia gum in flower, a Rimu seedling with the background of other native seedlings in protective tubes to reduce hare snipping. Below, the end result of planting a mass amount of native and nectar flowering trees, is to establish a large enough land space to accommodate an endless attraction for native birds to remain, breed and multiple without sourcing food elsewhere.
I don't use smartphone junk for still photograhy no matter the subject matter — Nikon full frame DSLR, 400mm prime lens.
Below, Manuka seedlings from seed sprouting up under a lancewood. During the summer months, I would collect thousands of Manuka seeds picked from green and red adult trees. The seeds would be dried and placed in soil around native tree seedlings that were already planted, especially around Rimu, Matai and Kauri. This helps protection through early stages of growth with slow growing native trees. On top of that, Lucerne trees were planted, as a larger protective umbrella during the summer months shading native trees. Lucerne trees may look ugly, but they're an addictive food source for New Zealand's native Wood Pigeon.
Cabbage trees and red flax were planted in clusters in certain areas around the property. I scavenged all my flax from various locations. Removing young cabbage trees replanting them elsewhere can be done if no damage is done to cabbage tree tap roots. It's far easier to purchase bulk lots from nurseries when winter begins. All native trees on this property were planted through the cold season. It allows trees and plants root system to establish themselves. Planting native trees during summer has a risk of sudden die back, which equates to a waste of time and death of trees that could have been avoided. As of the latest official property valuations, this property now has a 1.2-1.3 million dollar price tag.
Below, DIY cut out driveway, edge curbing, upper gateway entrance, native plantings, and large boulders.
DIY Property Development - Planting
Most large established nurseries have selections of 3-5 year old specimen trees. Die backs are common with trees remaining to long within the same barrel causing root bound issues. The above, a Golden Totara had symptoms of die back because of being root bound. Native trees with die back are usually sold at giveaway prices. It can take a year or two for root bound trees to spring back to life with rapid growth rate. The above property was sold shortly after planting this Totara. By now this Totara is probably matured to at least 12-15 meters in height.
DIY - Rural Lifestyle Living
Rural lifestyle living DIY vege garden — Plant and eat non-GMO home grown food — Stock up on seed stocks.
Toiling the ground with a 1947 Howard garden hoe was more intense than riding hardtail harleys.
Has the cost of fruit and vegetables hit your wallet yet? The only way of saving unwanted food expenses, is growing your own supply. One of the first missions of any property is preparing a vegetable patch. Rural property open verge gardens require protective fencing keeping animals at bay. Using netting for certain types of veges is also required, although stand alone hot houses is the better option, especially for lettuce and tomatoes. Depending on soil quality, the addition of fertilizer maybe required. This is easily confirmed using a soil tester. The above snaps are quick examples of two different rural locations preparing and planting vegetable gardens. Three kinds of potato, sweet corn, carrots, broccoli, lettuce, silverbeet, parsnip, radish, cauliflower, tomatoes, baby tomatoes and cabbage were successfully grown and consumed from these gardens.
Rural lifestyle living while developing property is rewarding when each corner of the block is completed and finished. This can be the simple task of planting a variety of fruit, citrus and olive trees and grapes.
Above, a hot house in the backyard with six rows of olive tree seedlings. In total, 40 Manzanillo olive trees were planted which when established would yield approximately 3-4 liters of oil per tree giving a volume between 120-160 liters of oil per year. Bark spread around the base of seedlings kept the ground damp with added bird netting protection.
I enjoy drinking my reds, so I created my own mini vineyard planting 100+ Pinot Noir seedlings during the cold season. This particular property was right smack in the middle of grape harvesting territory. Setting up rows and planting vines is the easy part. Once fully established, adequate water supply and protective netting is necessary. Knowing exactly when to pick the harvest is essential for a quality tasting wine. Sugar and acid levels are measured using refracto and PH meters. Red grapes are usually harvested when showing a 24-28% Brix level. An estimated 8-10 bottles per vine from the 100 vines planted would approximately yield 800 to 1000 bottles of wine.
Above, a layer of stones made sure the vines root system were protected from scorching heat during the summer months. This also saved wasting water from the ground aquifer. A vineyard, olive grove, including a variety of fruit and citrus trees were planted on this particular property. Added additions do pay off when the time comes around selling properties. This rural block was sold within a very short time period from its first listing for sale. Below snap, a midwinter day spreading thick layers of bark mulch around planted shrubs and trees. This helps freshly planted tree seedlings root system to remain damp and protected during the hot summer months.
Trailers come in all shapes and sizes. This dual hydraulic ram tip bin was the perfect DIY landscaping trailer. Probably one of a kind of this design in the country. The hydraulic operating system was later moved to the front of the trailer. Towing was done mainly with 4WD V8s.
Rural Living - DIY Custom Workshop
Designing a good custom workshop area inside a large enough garage automatically adds value to any property when it's placed on the market. The above and below images show the end result of a fully functional workshop on a property that was completely renovated from ground up and resold for double the purchasing price within a very short time period. Any extra additions will increase the chances to sell properties quickly. The same workshop bench design layout has been used multiple times on numerous properties. I've had up to 8 Harley engines spread along this table top design with no issues.
Rural Living - DIY Maintenance
Anything's possible if you know how to use a hammer, string line, plumb bob, level and handsaw. Manually digging holes and pounding dirt in and around posts isn't art, it's psychically hard work that pays off in the long term. DIY property development usually starts by cleaning up the previous owner's mess, or their half pie unfinished projects. As the saying goes, if you're going to start something, at least finish it, or nothing will be finished through you're entire life. Below, constructing numerous 4 rail fence lines — 2.4M H3 half rounds.
Rural lifestyle living and property development is about being self-sustainable in the best way possible. Having reliable generators (excludes Chinese made junk) is not only a necessity, but worthy investments supplying backup power when required. Forget about solar energy unless living in regions with 300 days of sunlight. Deep cycle batteries also have use by dates that commonly fail well before their proposed expiry timeline. DIY rural property development requires a portable generator for electrical tools i.e. router, band saw, welder etc when working on isolated projects around rural properties. The small petrol Honda Elemax 6Kva above, purchased 2nd hand, worked its guts out without missing a beat, and then resold for the same price I originally paid for it.
On one occasion, I was fortunate enough to find a mint condition Lombadini 220/380v 25Kva diesel generator with only 9 hours run time for under 1/4 of the retail price. The one tonne generator came with bonus custom solid beam supports and a large stainless steel fuel tank. Driving a thousand kilometers turnaround was well worth the effort, an investment that was later resold with double profit gain. Below, enjoying the landscape view en-route back to home base. Below, DIY repair, maintenance and service has it benefits. You self-educate yourself how to fix almost anything on your own with requiring someone else to do it. A quick example below of backup spare parts for an Anderson 253 piston pump. The pump had probably been operating sucking water from the same water bore for many decades. What I do know, the original water bore had been first drilled in 1939. Servicing the 253 pump every three months kept it operating perfectly. Spooling the bottom of the water bore using an air line with an attached pointed air nozzle hooked to a compressor cleaned out all sediment.
Hemi Product Design - Low Profile Lens Rest Bag
There are times when tripods can't be used within bustling urban city over spills at certain spots. This includes inside wildlife parks when using a rented vehicle, because of the risk level of being devoured by a big cat if hopping out of a vehicle. I designed this particular soft lens rest bag for quick mounting on car doors (window down), which gives any heavy lens a cushion of stability with minimal vibration while grabbing captures of subjects. It can also be used on sidewalk cafe tables, or resting on anything that's solid enough to position a heavy lens when there's limited space and room i.e. on top of road/pavement safety rails, busy overpass walkways, or within any condensed area where a tripod is impossible to place. In Red Zone regions, the lens rest comes in handy capturing images from ground level without getting shot at. In regions of conflict, the low profile rest bag can be placed anywhere avoiding detection, and still capture long distant images without the necessity of using tripods. Holding, man-handling 6 kilos of photo-gear without the aid of a mono/tripod can only last a few minutes at a time. The lens rest bag gives multiple options of capturing tack sharp images, and protects heavy lenses from collateral cosmetic damage from ground scraps and surface bashing.
Wilderness Wildlife - DSLR Territory
Using some form of camera gear in the wild is a must — Rhino Africa : Jaguar Pantanal : Primates central Amazon
Capturing random stills, a baboon troop that suddenly appeared coming out from bushland - Southern Africa
Wildlife and bird life photography has become part of my photographic interests. Capturing stills of animals and birds within their habitat at isolated locations contain the same ambience — peaceful. People loaded with daily stress can get rid of that strees by just being more connected to rural suroundings. Best advice — shut down smartphone swiping relacing it with real time visions using your own eyes.
The 800 Nikon 5.6 prime lens mounted and ready to go on location randomly capturing Himalayan griffon vultures within their own habitat. Below, a steppe eagle from Mongolia devouring a carcass. The razor pointed talons on these birds will rip deep into your skin.
American Biker Days - Mid 90s
Custom HD construction - Engine renovation - Drop ship distributor - Freelance writer
Rebuilding worn out thrashed Harley engines is big business. Constructing new custom projects from the ground up is even bigger. Renovating Harley engines was one of my favorite workshop attractions. It doesn't matter what model HD engine, or what year it was manufactured. They're all basically the same design to strip down and rebuild, from 1931 up. Special tooling, is required for Twin Cam engines. The basic construction of HD and aftermarket engines haven't changed over the decades. New project constructions are always interesting to build. Below, loud noisy enjoyable day, up close using a Mamiya RB67 medium format 120 roll film camera at the biker drags.
Big Twin World - Design : Create : Make Stuff
The Right Stuff - only quality reliable parts make V2 engines work the way they should when the time comes around to rebuild them. American billet machined CNC ductile iron cylinders, billet forged pistons, titanium valves, and Carls Speed Shop billet CNC machined Typhoon carbs are certainly proven aftermarket Harley parts that can be trusted. Using copy Chinese wing bling parts is cheaper, but don't cry when your engine blows to bits. Above images — 6x7cm medium format roll film.
Bike building projects are only as good by the person building them, including the selection of parts being used. I've seen some pretty shoddy bike builds that could of been built better, if they were completed using quality premium parts. Cheap made junk from China aren't worth the wrapper they come in. I've been down that road with different clients running on tight budgets. The above Evo 5 speed hardtail 230 rear, is an example using quality made parts, from Europe and USA. Stock OEM 1340 engine and tranny with a selection of compatible aftermarket parts from Holland, Germany, Italy and Sweden were used for this project. Quality stuff may cost more, but guaranteed to out last builds assembled with wing bling junk. Best advice for others out there building their own rigs — Use American and European made parts, or suffer endless issues and highway breakdowns.
The most important thing of any design, is reliability hands down. The above V2 Hardtail battery holder, is one out of many custom designs I've constructed proving anything properly made will last for decades. I've never trusted wing-bling made products. Shoddy workmanship, and cheap second hand grade material will always end up failing! Batteries for V Twin rigid frames are usually hidden inside the center of oil tanks. The majority of Hardtail frames have a dead space area between the front of the rear fender and transmission. I wanted to design something simple enough to hold large batteries with plenty of cranking Amps without straps, or battery box covers, which are both ugly. First, I used a thick chunk of billet alloy plate. Approximately 2cm was milled out to fit a battery. Four holes were drilled on one side of the plate and tapped with 3/8-UNC threads for adjusting stainless steel set-screws. An added loose drop-in thin titanium plate with industrial grip type rubber glued to one side fitted directly inside against the battery. The simple task of screwing and tightening the four set screws until the loose plate gripped the battery totally secured the battery in place to handle any vibrating thumping journey along highways. A single drop of blue Loctite on each set screw kept the screws from unwinding out. The billet alloy battery plate was seated on four welded lug tabs, and bolted down from underneath using 3/8-UNC S.S. 12 point bolts. The finished design without having any cover, or ugly straps, or other clutter to hold batteries in place gave a super clean finished look. Most of all, a solid reliabily design when at peak revs, including no movement from tensional vibration that rigid hardtails are well known for.
I was fortunate enough to have the right contacts who owned and traded large inventories of second hand workshop machinery. They had some quality machinery passing through from time to time. The German Deckel FP1 above, could mill non-stop all day. I also managed to score a Swedish Strand floor drill press (gearbox model), including a Weiler LZD 220 lathe with a ton of milling drill bits and lathe accessories at super bargain prices — Quality made old stuff works!
Old school custom hardtail Harley Davidson projects have never faded out, they still keep that classic nostalgia look alive in the 21st century.
One of my private workshops with Evo, and Shovelhead engines all receiving individual custom retro fits and make-over for clients. The six month winter in Scandinavia gives plenty of time to complete, and finish a multitude of engines ready for the short summer season. Below, another replica HD workshop I designed in NZ which also had a milling machine (Dekel), lathe (Wieler), floor drill press (Strand) including Tig and welding gear.
A totally clean spotless biker workshop with reliable machine gear and quality made tooling (Stahlwillie and Armstrong) for building, constructing and renovating HD engines is imperative for new customer projects. In the end, it pays-off big time with excellent feedback and plenty of new orders rolling in.
HD Evo V2 : 5 speed : Etalon frame : Fat Katz tank : OMP rims : 12" inch over SJP forks : 230 rear tyre : Billet alloy parts : stainless hardware
A classic rigid project in the making. An Evo with a 5 speed box was the drive train choice for this bike. It usually takes one thousand man hours to complete a bike project from start to finish. Nostalgic "old school look" Harley Davidson projects are always in demand in Europe and Asia. The below snap of a German Walz frame on the workbench waiting for its powerful payload - a 144 cubic inch mega bore engine and 6 speed transmission.
Not the most typical Scandinavian biker garage. It just had enough room to build one bike at a time. The eight meter length workbench could hold seven engines. My favorite tooling machine, an FP1 Deckel miller had its place in the corner. Stop dreaming, build your own biker garage.
An automotive MC workshop isn't complete without reliable machine tooling. This 1961 German Deckel FP1 milling machine gets 10/10 for precision work and design. The above and below images show the raw and finished concept of a rear brake bracket to hold a 6 piston PM race caliper.
As the saying goes, if you can't find what you want — design and make it yourself.
A Biker associate had made a few prototypes handlebar concepts that caught my eye. We got together redesigning a few versions that were more beefy and solid for the American market. The bars are constructed with 40mm stainless tubing, and tig welded and polished to perfection. This particular design were named Ram Horns. There are many copy-cat designers floating around out there, who busily search the net copying other people's designs, and reproducing the same item in bulk using cheap Chinese labor. Those wanting to sell their own designed concepts should already have some form of patent, and marketing products, as soon as possible when stocks are ready made and available. This gives an approximate 2 year window to earn full profits from products before those designs are recopied and mass produced in China.
Waltz rolling chassis, Knuckshovster, and Harman rigs. Below, an example of custom made engine parts designed and made be me.
Got Noisy Neighbors? Straight Pipes Kohler Twin
When my distant neighbor made too much unwanted noise, this Kohler twin cylinder horizontal engine running straight pipes bolted in a wood chipper was started drowning out unwanted racket within the entire region. The Kohler operated at full peak revs mulching 100mm branches without hesitation.
When In Europe - Antiques & Collectibles
People have the habit looking at others placing judgment of certain people into box frame categories they think fits their logic. Snobby antique dealers, and car yard salesmen share this narrative. Purchasing antique furniture in mainland Europe has its positive and negatives. Strolling through antique shops looking for stuff can become tiring, if you don't know what you're looking at. I personally got through that dilemma, by spending time with friendly antique dealers showing me what to look for in regards to item identifcation and valuation. Antique furniture from the 16th-19th century are just like classic cars. They can be repaired with loads of new wood, molded, repainted and oiled without even noticing it. Many have been ripped off buying borer filled furniture. Best advice — ignore the outside finish. Instead, inspect everything inside. Pull drawers completely out, turn furniture upside down, use a torch, a magnifying glass looking for hidden camouflaged bog and repairs.
One of two brass Matador kero lamps, both from the 1880s, and still working perfectly. A pack saddle from the 1930s. I've made bone belts from one of the very thick leather straps. I first spotted the above French chandelier hanging in full view inside an antique shop in Roskilde. The owner had little interest selling it, due to the countless years of owning it. After five visits over six months the owner let it go for what I had first offered. A typical late 1800s Scandinavian well pump found on a rural property still intact.
Classic aged furniture through different periods are recognized from their distinct design style. The opposite of Ikea furniture, that's been fashionable through Europe for decades. I've also used Ikea lego assembled junk before replacing it with original hand made furniture. At the end of the day, It's about personal taste and preferences.
This small table and chair set was handed down through the same family from the time it was originally made. The young owners let it go because it didn't blend with their modern furniture i.e. Ikea. Since its purchase, from the late 1990s, this unique table has had memorable after dinner conversations, and has moved with me across oceans.
There's nothing like sitting relaxing on a very comfortable sofa now over 150 years old.
The above mint condition 1849 chatol had sat in a back room of an antique shop for years with little to no interest. With a reasonable offer under the asking price, the antique dealer let it go. The same for the above four section 1880s Swedish commode.
Original drawer locking systems are the easiest method of identification. Many do still work while others have seized up centuries ago. In saying that, there are cabinet craftsmen who can forge replica locks looking similar to originals.
The above cabinet locking system probably hasn't worked for countless decades, and was better just left in that condition.
An original rough straight sawn drawer backside front panel from a 1740s Baroque chest with original locking system still working. Notice the bottom drawer boards on this particular piece were fitted in breadth position instead of length position.
Dovetail placement distinguishes whether original facial panels have been replaced. It's difficult matching the same grain panels to older furniture without leaving traces of swapping. Front panel replacement is usually done due to excessive borer or rot.
Above, lower section of a five split drawer chest showing authentic dovetail groove design — 1870-1880s time period.
They really made solid locking systems on movable trunks through the 16th-17th century. This three tongue design is better than what most use on household front doors in the 2020s.
A monster marriage chest from 1750 that sat inside a barn for decades. It was unwashed, dusty and ignored. No one wanted this original Baroque chest, because of its massive size. The thick top planks alone shows the wood was probably from an aged 15th-16th century tree. I had paid the equivalent of $150 bucks for this beauty.
Unique original craftsman design is what we look for today, no matter what it is. The above, a 1742 Baroque, shows this cabinet maker new what he was doing. All joints are still super tight with zero movement. No borer, rot or replacement timber after 260+ years of daily usage tells you something positive about aged furniture by its maker and reliability.
Nothing flash here, just affordable antique Baroque furniture that will survive through another 200 years of daily usage.
Rough and raw unpainted 1740 Baroque. Since the first day this moved in, the drawers were filled with stuff, and opened and used daily with no issues. Even each locking system works. You can still find these old classic drawers, just like above within small villages in Scandinavia.
Wrought iron designs shaped and molded in various ways for decoration purposes, including strengthening brackets and hinges.
Top left, Danish dressed oak chatol from the mid-1850s, top right, raw Swedish oak bureau from 1730.
A similar designed early 1700 chatol up for action probably handcrafted within the same region as the one shown further above.
Occasionally, date timestamps can be found on original untouched unaltered furniture, jut like above.
I found the above cabinet stored inside a large workshop shed amongst cars and machinery. The roof had blown off the shed leaving everything vulnerable to Scandinavian winter weather. On finding the owner, he just wanted everything out. The 1880s walnut finished cabinet was bought for under $60 bucks. Not one borer hole and no rot — that was a bargain.
The above drawer chest is typically Scandinavian, probably locally made in southern Sweden or Denmark. The assembly design places it around 1890-95. The chest had no signs of borer, and was haggled and purchased for a song.
Wedge lock pins were used for all different kinds of furniture. Back in the mid-90s, I was looking for a cheap dinning table with wedge lock pins. I found one in Copenhagen for $25 bucks (top left). Even though the table was in good condition for its age (1920s), It recieved a Rick Hemi chop down, turning it into a large chill out coffee table. Everyone that came to visit asked where I bought that table. You ever have flair making stuff out of stuff or you don't.
Furniture dowel pins are still being used today. The above dowels are from 15th & 19th century furniture.
Chandeliers wooden or glass. You either like them or not. All I can say, chandelier lighting adds superior ambience far better than cheap tube and LED junk when hung in open-plan lounges.
Brass wall lamps from 1870. The glass tubes that came with these lamps were thick as sliced bread. Top right, an original Ehrich & Graetz wick assembly. These are still being used in the 2020s.
The world is still full of people using kero, paraffin and spirit fuel lamps used daily. Candle backup power has also made a come back.
The majority of consumer products pre-1900 were designed to function and last for decades with little or no maintenance. Think about that for a second. Most junk made today won't see beyond 20 years. It's designed that way — not to last! Top right, tall heavy brass candle holders from Eastern Europe gifted by an old friend.
A mantle clock that never missed a beat or chime. That ugly wallpaper doesn't give the clock any credit. I got the clock for free as a bonus with another antique item purchased in the same shop. It was serviced for any wear and tear in the late 1990s by an antique clock-smith. He knew who designed the clock and what internal parts were originally used — French designed, Swiss internals, made in Paris 1880.
Collectables, crystal decanters and enamel jugs found in small village Sunday markets in Sweden and Denmark.
Real silver forks will have impregnated stamped markings. Any silverware with no trademark, no-matter where its from will most likely be silver nickel plated. These were bought to be used as fork bangles.
Barn finds are many, especially with discarded bottles. The above were found on a property in a shed stacked in a box with decades of dust.
Probably still the best light power source outside government controlled electricity. The above Petromax was gifted by an old friend.
Typical trademarks found on crockery and ornaments. The above are from kitchenware plates and dishes.
Royal Copenhagen miniature ornament showing the design list number and quality production of each item — 5 stripes is top quality.
This Aggenberg holds its own story. I had spotted it stacked on top of junk at an industrial storage complex where I occasionally bought secondhand workshop machinery and tooling. I asked the owner if it was also junk, and if so, would let it go for a dozen ice cold Carlsberg ales. I received a straight out no, with family heritage connections related to the chair. On a forth and fifth visit, any mention of the chair was still a big no. Apparently, this chair had been passed down through the family from when it was first purchased in the 1880s. His grandfather personally knew Aggenberg.
On a later visit, I sat down with owner and asked if he would ever actually use that chair. He replied "it's been sitting in the same place for over 25 years, and have no intention of using it". I replied "then sell it to me, give me a price instead of it wasting away" That's all it took, a positive nudge and push to get it. The Aggenberg only required a repaint and new slats. It's the most comfortable cast iron outdoor chair I've sat in. The slat roll and back arch curvatures were designed for pure outdoor comfort.
A long bench Rimu table from the 1950s purchased before it was going to auction. Compared to mainland Europe, scouting for original antique furniture and collectibles pre-1900 in New Zealand, is difficult and costly. Iceland is similar to NZ, with both countries relying on imported products and stuff. Those interested in real antique adventure require self-scouting throughout central and northern Europe. Time duration can easily take six to 12 months. Splitting sharing 20-40 ft container costs with other interested antique buffs will reduce freight costs. The best shipping container service out of Europe to Aussie & NZ, is the Berlin Express, out of Rotterdam or Hamburg. I've used this line in the past moving 26+ tons of stuff with no damage of contents. Setting up base with European friends residing close as possible to the above sea ports is recommended. This allows time self-packing everything at your own pace. Every item should be photographed and listed on the bill of lading. Insurance of stuff on the high seas is optional. I personally don't use insurance unless it's compulsory to do so. One not only enjoys extended overland travel through Europe, it also allows the opportunity to purchase your own antiques in real time. High end Aussie & Kiwi antique shops import products reselling items for quadruple the price. Below snap, down to earth vintage chill out lounge. And the cat, an American maine coon, who was more like a dog in quick pursuit when culling hare and possum with a .22 LR.
Overland Through Continents - With Photo Gear
Clocking up 4600 km overland using trains, buses, vans, and 4x4 transport with photo-gear without damage is an art I've become used to over many decades. My classic Nikkor 800mm f/5.6 AIS lens was recently put to the test within extreme sub-zero temps @ -20C. It passed with flying colors with no cracked elements or seized internal womb-gear grease for periods of up to five hours per day for 3 weeks at altitudes between 3600m - 4500m during the peak of mid-winter in the Indian Himalaya. That's what I call reliability - Kudo points for Nikon.
There's never a dull moment carrying around photo-gear no matter what country or continent it is. Random street photography, landscape, portraiture, wildlife, and cultural snaps are always within reach. A part of the enjoyment with photography are the actual locations themselves. Images from a late summer journey up in the Himalaya.
The benefits of carrying long prime lenses in isolated wildness regions does pay off with image captures like above. The disappointment of only having junky cell cameras or point & shoots, is still something that's not understood or comprehended for those using them, until trying to capture long distant shots. It's virtually impossible to reach out in isolated wilderness terrain with small devices expecting good satisfactory results — I've tried that path.
Through the continents I've met a few friendly enthusiastic locals offering their help and assistance carrying some of my photo-gear to certain locations. Most foreigners probably wouldn't dream of trusting strangers with camera equipment, but like this young local above, he was more than happy strolling around with me for a few days helping out. Since 1979, I've never dropped a single lens, or had a camera body failure. The only time I've ever smashed a camera body was once done on purpose to prove a point. The humorous event had happened in Managua, Nicaragua. I was doing my own thing through the country. I had met, and joined a group of foreign journalists sitting together around an outdoor bench sipping local ales. One American journalist had his camera on the table. It was one of the latest Nikon bodies at the time. I was still using Nikon bodies from the 70's era, an F2 and 2 F2AS's. After guzzling a few drinks and chit chat, I had asked the dude how his new Nikon body performed. He replied and said "it's awesome." I pulled my old F2 photomic out from my bag on the ground (it had no lens attached) and threw it on the table. There came sudden laughter and chuckles from around the table, because of the age of my camera. So for fun, I made an ultimatum with the owner of the new Nikon body. I said "what I'm about to do will prove a point that the F2 is one tough tank that your newer Nikon body probably won't match." He smirked and replied "hey go for it", So, I upped the anti, and made a deal that if his camera could survive the same test of what I was about to do, I'd give him my camera for free (he didn't expect something like the following) There was a wooden pole just beside me that had a nail protruding out an inch or so above head height. I grabbed my F2 like a hammer, and then bashed the nail into the pole without mercy. I then wound off a few clicks to show the F2 passed the test. It didn't even receive any dents on the bottom side. Everyone just freaked out, especially the dude with his new Nikon camera. I said, "it's your turn, find a nail and bash it in with your camera, and let's see if it still works." He abruptly stood up finishing his beer, calling me a crazy loco at the same time. He grabbed his camera and disappeared. After a few minutes of laughter around the table, another American asked me if I wanted to sell the camera. Well, I had 2 other reliable F2AS bodies, so I replied "Why Not" $500 bucks with a 50mm lens - its yours. The cash was on the table and my F2 was sold on the spot. I asked the dude why the interest in the F2? He replied, " What you did is something I'll never forget for the rest of my life."
Well, without photo-gear this overland travel and transit site wouldn't exist, so at least a couple of snaps are appropriate to complement the various image captures through the website. Carrying a variety of lenses, and a couple of camera bodies through continents has been somewhat normal procedure through the decades. Today, this is classified as old school, most use over rated cell phone cameras instead. There aren't many solo overland travelers left from the 1980's era, like myself, that's still alive and active on the road traveling with a pile of photo gear. The majority of the millennial and Gen Z generation I meet these days prefer using lighter mirrorless cameras, or just snap away using wing bling smart phones. Maybe some of the image captures through this site may influence others towards street and wildlife photography rather than just selfie snaps for social media - who knows?More on overland travel photo-gear here
Long powerful quality made tele-lenses rock. A location snap on the roof tops viewing across the Lima skyline in Peru with an AF-S Nikkor 600mm f/4 lens. Updated versions of the AFS 600mm lens are now lighter weighing only 3.8 Kg.
The classic 5.5kg 800mm f/5.6 manual focus lens still captures quality images. I'm positive those who are using the same lens would agree. It's clocked countless hardcore overland transit mileage offshore without issues. The 800 will still be used for some time yet. A mixture of example low res snaps taken with this lens can be seen here
Capturing closeup images in the wild like above can only be done using long reach prime lenses - Not smart phone junk!
Setting up a tripod with an 800mm f/5.6 AIS lens in Varanasi - Going to India? If so, this page has more than enough images and info to wet your appetite. Below, street portraits captured with the DSLR D3. The D3 just keeps on going, it won't die, a truly reliable full frame DSLR daylight workhorse even in 2020s.
Hangi - Natural Earth Oven
Above, images of a prepared Maori earth oven — Hangi. The bed layer of rocks are pre-heated, until blistering white, and then placed in position in the bottom of the hole. Large potato hemp sacks are pre-soaked in water, for 48 hours.The food is sorted into wire made baskets with the meat placed at the bottom before adding layers of vegetables on top of the meat. Once the food baskets are in position, linen bed sheets are wrapped completely over the food trays sealing them to stop dirt from entering. Covering the entire earth oven with dirt ends up looking like like a mound. This particular hangi had over 40Kg of prepared food. Allowing more time ensures the food will be completely cooked. Earth oven food will never burn, but if the food is pulled out too early, the chances of having half raw cooked food may result. As soon as the dirt seals the top of earth ovens, the process begins. The soaked damp hemp sacks laying on top of hot stones automatically creates steam, this then cooks all the prepared food slowly like a pressure cooker. The taste of earth oven food can't be described. The cooked lamb becomes tender soft and falls apart, including chicken and fish. The cooked vegetables end up having a mixed blend all of their own with a taste that melts in your mouth. Approximately 40 guests with most being European devoured themselves to bits, and couldn't resist having second and third servings. This was the largest hangi my friends and I have completed together in Scandinvia. From preparation to completion, is what makes an earth oven event worth its labor time. Below, two New Zealand lamb, ten chickens, 10kg fish, mixed vegetables, all ready to be cooked on heated hot rocks and soaked hemp sacks. Food is wrapped in linen sheets — approx cooking time six hours.
Is Everyone's Future Timeline - Already Predicted?
Maybe one can never foretell or predict their future unfolding until looking back realizing that it was meant to be. This classic school snap below from the late 60's was taken with a world map backdrop. It didn't have any importance at the time it was taken. Four plus decades later, I re-discovered this photograph, which correlates to the last 40+ years living off-shore with the majority of that time over-landing, and transiting through countries across continents. It does make one wonder if in fact, if everyone's timeline future has already been archived at an early stage within their own history records - Coincidence?
The completion of endless solo overland travel journeys through Africa, Middle East, Asia and South America has spanned over 4 decades. Some of the best journeys were on board bush buses, bush trains, hitching lifts, on cargo ships and self-driving through countries crossing continents. Images, classic snaps during the '80s postcard era.
Offshore travel during the '80s wasn't complicated as it is today. One only had to plan which continent, jump on board a 747, land, and go from there. There was no fuss, no wokeness liberal left mindset indoctrination — it wasn't yet hatched, no one gave a crap about it. People back then used their own self-critical thinking skills deciding what they wanted to freely believe without peer pressure. Maybe that's why in the 2020s, I still hold those values without interference from MSM, social media, TV, and other propaganda controlled outlets. Nothing, but myself decides how I think, what I voice and what I do. Chucking out my last TV in 2008 was well overdue. Switching off from social media was even better. Netflix got the boot from the laptop years ago. Wasting energy being indoctrinated viewing liberal wokeness movies — No thanks. Freedom still exists, but one has to decide for themselves how to find it. Loosing contact with so called circles of friends will certainly have negative effect with some trying to detox away from social media platforms. T.V. — Tell A Vision, when turned on, you get a list of Channels. What;s on those channels? Programs — You've been programed your whole entire life — Channeling & Programing the human mind — Got it?
Since the late '70s, I've done the hard yards transiting solo crossing through continents. I've been fortunate to have completed so many journeys through the decades without any major incidents. The covid years slowed overland travel down to a trickle, but hey, I'm still out there, offshore doing what's possible. Any kind of travel will never be as it was. The world has drastically changed at rapid pace becoming more politically ugly. In saying that, getting out and about doing random street photography, landscape, wilderness wildlife, and street portraits still continues on in 2023.
Freedom to travel to any destination one pleases — enjoy doing it while you can before all freedoms are taken away. Most will not believe what's coming down the pipeline, even when all the signals forewarn what is going to happen. It's called ignorance. In the name of climate change, the majority of global airport hubs will shut down. It will begin within western nations and roll out from there. The UK has already given signs of this event to begin and be completed within ten years. People freely moving around on their own free will to travel, fly and self-drive will become non-existent by 2030. Globalist tyranny has more spider webs than what most assume — beyond the reset Below, a mid-1980s roll film snap during a midwinter solo overland journey through Tibet.
What's down the pipeline in the mid-2020s? Maybe building a log cabin within a secluded spot in Asia, maybe a chill out travel lounge filled with a selection of my own travel images in canvas on the walls, maybe building another V2 project powered with a hydrogen H20 cell, maybe nothing at all, who knows. One things for sure, having zero debt burden, is imperative in the world we live and travel today.
Hey - Don't Tell Me About Vaccines!
I've probably taken more vaccine jabs than most people out there through the decades, because of solo overland travel journeys through the continents. Yellow fever, tetanus, typhoid, polio, cholera, hepatitis A, and gamma globulin are a few to mention since the early '80s. Keeping it short, experimental mRNA, is about profit. August 2022 - Leaked video Israel ministry of health hides devastating report on mRNA vaccine injections
Zinc : Vitamin D : Vitamin C : Fish Oil : Iron : Red Meat : Salmon : Eggs : Bio Honey : Fresh Vegetables : Garlic : Magnesium