Solo Overland Travel - Snaps

Those who've also traveled offshore as long as I have will no doubt have stacks of overland travel snaps collected through the decades. Images captured years ago may have been subpar, uninteresting or just plain boring. Today, some of those images are probably more satisfying and appreciated. They present unique street captures that are impossible to replicate today, no matter the location or what photo gear is used. Those travel timelines have well disappeared. This page is similar to the Overland Transit pages of random street and travel snaps captured through continents. Some snaps are classic dating back to the '80s. The difference between random street snaps and street photography, is subject matter i.e. random don't care shots, soft shots, grainy shots, maybe shots, bad composition, point & shoot shots etc. This website is like an overland travel photographic library containing cluster than order. That's how the real world of overland travel is, chaotic, messy, noisy and unpredictable. 

Note: Using images, modified screenshots of images, data, or maps from this website - even with original source links back to this website is INVALID, without prior permission and consent by the website owner. Website disclaimer website contact Are you a Website image thief?

Switching from roll film to digital cameras was delayed until Nikon produced their first affordable full frame DSLR body — the D700. I had traveled overland with two D700s through three continents having zero issues. The D700 was indeed one of Nikon's top semi-pro bodies that had no shortcuts with its design. Then came the D3 and D3S, which I'm still using in the 2020s. Some may ask why — Reliability.    

A couple of low angle snaps taken with a zoom. And no, you're not seeing double, that duck is out of focus. It;s here because of that reason. User error happens to all of us, a typical slow shutter speed is to blame. The snap was taken @2000 Sec instead of 4000.

Location snaps using photo gear is far superior than narcissistic selfies. Most street photographers know how important it is to position themselves at the right angle for the best result. I was using a 28mm prime lens at this location — Kuki tribe inhabitants, Manipur state.   

Real Travel - Truck : Cargo Vessel : Ferry Boat : Train : Bush Bus : Van : Self Drive : Motorbike : Hitchhike

A commercial jet in transit crossing the sky in central Asia. Many include air travel transit with their travel journeys. This is not travel, it's only reaching destinations to travel. You listen to people chatting about all their travel journeys around the world, but most of their mileage is in the air - not on the ground.  

Classic roll film street snaps captured through central & South America. SLR random snaps like these have been sitting in storage for many decades. At least they now have some exposure on this website.     

Recent street snaps taken with DSLR camera gear. No, I'm not one of those Western males having a photo fetish capturing images of slim chicks offshore. This overland travel website would then just be like toxic Social Media platforms which it isn't. In saying that, street photography is as broad as it is wide. Some take images of cats, others of food, and narcissistic selfies. I take still  images of almost anything interesting catching my eye, these females caught my eye. 

Real world overland travel street photography requires minimal words. Images alone should speak for themselves. The above example snaps are about collecting water for daily survival. Something we in the western world take for granted by simply turning on a tap.   

At times, capturing random street images are without adjusting camera settings. The above snap was one of them, You just take the shot before the subject moves, and she did move a few seconds after taking this image. Nikon D3 DSLR, prime lens.

They say simple is best, the above capture is just that — 1977-81 Nikkor 400mm f/3.5 AI manual prime lens @f/3.5

Where do you capture street snaps like above? Within isolated regions in the Middle East. The image, a long shot,  was taken with a DSLR D3 and AFS 200-400 f/4 VRII lens. Without this lens, this snap wouldn't be here. Traveling solo overland offshore with heavy camera gear probably sounds strenuous to those using lightweight smart phones and point and shoots. I've been down that road of disappointment once never to return.      

Hustle and bustle street scene India. A roll film snap from the 80s. Notice the VW Kombi transporter, India was full of these vans during this time period. The little of what's left today are used as icons in restaurants and for Bollywood movies.

Whether liked or not, American iron has been an integral part of the auto world since the Model T Ford. Worn out used wrecks like above, are found slowly decaying spread through the continents. Some of the best countries outside the USA having piles of classic American autos going or not going are Venezuela, Mexico, Bolivia, Cuba, and Uruguay.  

It's difficult to beat the rhythm onboard Bolivian buses. This Dodge, a small block petrol powered V8 had recently been refitted, overhauled and resprayed. I wished I had taken more images of these great machines on previous visits back in the 1980's and 90's during the roll film days. The above, a DSLR snap from a recent overland journey.

The horror, the shock of it all. That's what some probably assume looking at this closeup snap. In actual fact, it was the very first time this little local, of Indian heritage had ever encountered a foreigner taking an image of him with a full frame camera. The location was an isolated spot in the lowlands of Nepal that rarely has visitors passing through it. An old Royal Enfield MC was used getting there. Five minutes later after taking the above snap, a positive outcome resulted with a couple of great looking closeups. A DSLR D3S and 28mm prime took the shots.   

Walking canes and a tabletop with an assorted mix of Quranic and Religious books - Somalia  

Photographing police and military in combat with locals offshore should be avoided. In some cases, capturing snaps like above in public areas is on the edge of the grey area. You'll be hard scratched to see a single image through this website of internal violence and clashes showing police and military in action. There are obvious reasons for this. One can easily be arrested with photo gear seized. Even worse, any future visit to certain countries may result with visa refusal.            

Classic 1980s SLR roll film travel snaps may lack the quality compared to digital, but they still hold their own ambience taken decades ago. This is the difference between travel and overland travel websites. The majority of trendy travel websites today struggle to show selections of their own image captures spanning through the 1980s and 90s postcard era. They require to do some serious catch up travel mileage through the continents which has now become more difficult heading towards 2030 - Good luck on that.   

Since 1982, and still ongoing in the 2020s, capturing random street portraits of people is my favorite interest of all street photography. Capturing snaps of locals like above solely depends on how one interacts with them. Positive dialogue with good interaction skills works every time. The above snap was captured with a full frame DSLR and wide angle prime lens.   

Chilean cowboys (Huasos) riding through Puerto Montt. Image snap was taken during the early 1990s with a Nikon F2AS and AF 80-200 f/2.8 ED lens. The AF 2.8 zoom worked well on manual bodies. Like today, '77 up Nikon manual focus lenses function on all Nikon bodies.  

Capturing landscape and nature shots in the middle of nowhere like above are worth those extra minutes absorbing natural beauty. How many instances I've seen landscape that was ignored, due to being in a rush, or spotted from moving transport is unknown. There's been a lot of missed shots through the decades. This is one, a simple snap that made it here.

The days of roll film street photography through the 1980s. I normally used a Nikon F2 with Tri-X pan, one F2AS for both mono and color film and another F2AS for dedicated to slide film. I did use other Nikon bodies, like the FA and FE2, but preferred the F2's. In the early '90s, most street photographers offshore were traveling with expensive F4 and F4S bodies and AF lenses. The term "old school" was already in use during the mid '90s. Nothing much has changed in the 2020s. Anyone using 16 year old DSLR cameras and manual focus lenses in 2023 are deemed old school. But wait a minute, put the brakes on, professional wedding, fashion, commercial photographer — Martin Carstein talks about his best ever camera body.     

Grey sky snap taken in Turkey in the early 1980s. There weren't so many foreigners passing through Turkey in '82. Even in Sultanahmet, Istanbul, the number of foreigners were low. It wasn't till the late '80s, mid '90s Turkey became an overflowing tourist mecca. The echo of Billy Hayes hashish smuggling and 30 year jail term from 1970 kept overland travelers on edge. Turkey was, and still is the travel gateway to Iran, Iraq and Syria. Visas in the early '80s for Iran were restricted, although knowing the ropes to get one was simple enough. Iraqi visas were easily issued in Amman, and Syrian visas were only issued if passports were clean from Israeli stamps. The Syrian embassy in Ankara had flicked through my passport not once, not twice, but five times before issuing a one month extendable visa. 

A typical street snap interacting with locals in the early morning during the cold season. The shot was taken with a Nikon F2AS and zoom lens. It was still the decade when manual rewind and manual focus was normal procedure.     

Africa, the continent that draws many back for future overland travel journeys. Stopping transport for quick piss breaks can sometimes reward you with surprises. These kids rolled up from out of nowhere, and without hesitation were in full swing doing their local jive dance. They received small gifts of chocolate candy and wafer biscuits. Quickly moving on before other locals in the distance reached this spot is unfortunately required. In some instances, one can become overwhelmed with an entire village turning into out of control scenarios.   

Capturing street snaps like above is only by using some form of interaction with the subjects. Having all subjects looking at the lens isn't by chance. This was one from three snaps using a DSLR D3 and prime lens.  

A truck laden with raw fertilizer deposits at 4000 meters altitude heading westward down to the coast. This is one of those quick snaps at the time it was taken with an SLR Nikon F2. 

Above, a street snap rarity difficult seen today of a  local wearing an old military trench coat. Maybe this old timer was issued the coat from decades past, who knows. What I should of done was to ask him. 

DSLR D3 winter snap in central Asia. Lets just say it was in a region where alcohol is totally forbidden.

Certain tribal territories capturing random snaps of locals may require small cash donations. The above location was chilled with no issues of the above. Notice there are no other foreigners floating around in the image.   

Open markets through Asia and Africa are always vibrant locations packed with locals. I normally use a Zoom lens capturing market snaps. The shot above was taken with a DSLR D700, one of Nikon's good semi-pro bodies.  

Remember a penny for your thoughts? Although the above snap was originally color, it looks just as good in black & white.

The perfect high altitude lifestyle paradise well away from big city urban sprawl. The only change I would personally do, is to move or rebuild the dwelling further away from the stream. There's also a high chance of finding gold deposits at this location, including other precious stones. Image was taken with an SLR Nikon FA. 

Eating delicious grilled steaks, sipping on chilled beer with local music mellowing in the background, including live dressage through the center of the restaurant is hard to beat - Colombia.      

This guy was all in for a closeup snap. The great escape trekking and hiking up in the Andes - Peru

A brick layer busy in motion doing what he's good at. This snap was taken in the old quarter of Dhaka - SLR roll film.

Travel bags aren't all the same finished quality. The only bags that have survived wear and tear lasting for years of daily use are handmade designs from Colombia. I had bought my first Colombian mochila bag in '89, and it's still in good condition 33 years on. The above mochila, a gift from a Colombian in 2010, has clocked up some serious overland mileage throughout South America, Africa, Mid East and Asia. The condition is still 100% with no rips, tears or damage - That's Quality.  

Classic random SLR roll film snaps from the 1980s. Both images were captured up in the Peruvian highlands. It was a timeline when the Sendero luminoso (Shining Path) was in full swing. Buses were held up, shot at, bombs were detonated in various regions of the country destroying all forms of infrastructure. Sendero Luminoso was a leftist Marxist Leninist group using barbaric tortures and death equal to Stalin, Mao and Pol Pot. Victims had their throats slit, beheaded, burnt alive, boiled to death with many having ears, tongues and eyes gouged out. The total  death count from 1980-2000 was as high as 70,000. Foreigners who were caught by the Sendero Luminoso were shot in the head, thus sending a message to the Peruvian Government to shut down the countries tourism. During my time in Peru through 1988-89, several foreigners were dragged of buses and assassinated on the spot. The closet incident I encountered in Peru, was a bullet entering the window where I was sitting missing my head by inches on a Tepsa bus - It wasn't my time yet.       

Foreigners today will be scratching to capture street snaps like these. It was during a partial time of serenity of travel freedom throughout Tibet before the CCP shut it all down. Those that have browsed through this website will notice there's zero images of anything of China. Even though I have a collection of images taken in China, they remain  in deep storage collecting dust as they have for decades. 

Tibetan and Han Chinese mingling together through the streets of Lhasa during Tibetan New Year - 1987

A snap from a second overland journey through the Sudan. Nothing much was done on this particular day, it was hitting 50 Celsius. At the time permits were required to pass through the Darfur region onward to Chad.  

Nothing much has changed in Burma since my first visit back in the 80s. People are still open and friendly, and woman are still smoking their daily fix of leaf and herb mixed tobacco. The above snap was taken with SLR roll film.

Reaching higher levels of spiritual transcendence by smoking charas using chillum pipes has been common practice amongst Hindu holy men and Sadhus. The subject shows glazed eyes as he fires up another mix of cannabis. Although this is a semi-soft snap taken with a DSLR D3, other images taken of the same subject are perfectly sharp. Because of online image theft, I use low res snaps of certain subjects through this website.       

Two countries, South Sudan and Rwanda with ongoing stabilization reforms funded by outside global sources. Kigali has been a major hub for inbound foreign NGO influencers since the late 1990s. The slaughter of 600k+ citizens taking 100 days in 1994 reflects the weakness and downfall of propped up governments failing safety of their populations. With no doubt, the Rwanda genocide will not be the last genocide on the planet. Although most global funded NGO groups do create positive outcomes, there are certain international groups established under the NGO umbrella with little or no transparency using activism agendas undermining local health institutions and governments i.e. Bill Gates, Soros & UN WEF funded NGOs.

Probably one of the oldest Middle East snaps on this website from 1982. Renting a bicycle getting around the Valley of the Kings during midsummer was a fitness workout. Unfortunately, most of my early travel snaps from 82-'84 were misplaced, lost or trashed. Using original negatives instead of scanning scratched worn out photos to digital, like above, would make a huge difference in quality — F2 & 50mm.   

A 70% crop enlargement from a 3" x 5" inch print taken in Tehran, 1983. Solo overland through Iran during the early 1980s was indeed solo. There were no other foreigners traveling through the country. The hippie "magic bus" had dried out by 1980. The change over to Islamic government and continuing Iran-Iraq conflict shut tourism down to nothing. Swimming pools were turned into flower gardens. Shiraz red grape vines were uprooted, and street signs in English were removed. The only English sign spotted, was an old 1970s neon Canada Dry hanging high above Ferdowsi's statue. 

135mm SLR Nikon F2 roll film snap from the 1980s. Although I did travel with an MD-2 motor drive, it was hardly used or required taking single random stills like above. The only roll film camera of interest in the 2020s, is the 120 medium format Mamiya 7 II with a set of wide, std and tele-lenses. The Mamiya 7 II was discontinued in 2014. Regrettably, I sold my Mamiya 7 in 2004.   

Not the best sunset snap, although it's only a scan from a small print. The original 1983 negative disappeared decades ago. It was taken on board a Turkish cargo passenger ship heading slowly eastward towards Trabzon. There was only one other foreigner on this voyage, a German national who I had met again in West Germany six or so months later. Couch surfing in the 1980s was with whatever contacts one had from meeting other overland travelers swapping contact info during transit. It was simple, straight forward, not like today's mad crazy world we now live in.       

In the 2020s, getting ridiculed by smart phone travelers is common. It's all about traveling as lightweight as possible. The average smart phone travel snapper couldn't careless how their images turn out, as long they get as many likes possible on social media.I have numerous smart phones, and used them for stills, all having the same disappointing results. My old 2007 D3 DSLR captures better street still snaps than my smart phones. The above snap is a quick example of one of them. (D3 & 85 prime 2023)

Everyone is born with certain gifts. Some are able to sing or act their way to fame while others have abilities to paint, draw and sketch. I sat watching this Thai local drawing the above sketch. He began with a blank page without the need of tracer lines or other helpful aids. Just a ballpoint pen and using inner creativity. A  DSLR D3S and prime lens took the snap.   

Even in the days using SLR roll film, I normally took 2-3 images of the same subject. An SLR F2AS took these snaps.

The above snap at Machu Picchu was my first roll film conversion to digital in the early 90s - It made it here.

One street subject that's hard to ignore, are coal fired urns and ovens. I've taken countless images of red hot coals heating various cooking and chai pots. India is still the number one country to capture snaps like above. A DSLR D3 snap.   

Traveling offshore, randomly interacting with children through Asia and Africa captures images like above. These locals came out from all directions without hesitation forming a group snap. It was taken before the invention of image view, so these kids never had the chance of viewing themselves together. Imagine that era, people wanted to be photographed by someone they've never met or known, and probably already knew they'd never see the images taken of them.     

Eyes wide open without twitching or flinching looking into the lens. A super closeup snap taken in tribal lands. A Nikon D800 and 28mm 1.4 wide angle prime captured the shot. This is an example showing certain subjects have no issues with full frame cameras pointing at them under half a meter by complete strangers. Using positive interaction skills with subjects beforehand and courteously showing captured images to subjects is automatic procedure within the real world of street portrait photography.        

Children offshore have always been the easiest to photograph. They're intrigued like the most of us are taking snaps of them. The above image is one from several street snaps of these Burmese twins. On that particular day I was out and about using a Nikon full frame D3S and prime lens. The best portrait shot of them is another in color with both staring into the lens with less DOF.

Capturing outdoor market street snaps through the decades has rarely changed. Street photographers will normally use the same type of focal length lenses they've been using to capture images. Zoom lenses are best within bustling congested locations. Since 2010 till now, I've personally been using an AFS Nikon 200-400mm f/4G VRII two touch zoom for all kinds of random street shots. Although a heavy lens with 24/17 optics weighing 3.5Kg, this is one of Nikon's finer quality designs. Depending on what I'm carrying on any given day, the lens whether it's manual, auto focus prime or zoom, it is used to get the shots. Decoupling interchanging lenses outdoors is something I've avoided with digital photo gear.            

D3 DSLR snap. The 2007 D3 full frame 12MP sensor body has now become hip for many. Personally, the D3 has been a reliable daylight workhorse for many years, and still used for capturing random street stills in the 2020s. Many images scattered through this website were taken with D3 and D3S bodies. If camera bodies still work and functions the way they should - why replace them? Using quality lenses makes a difference. Other Nikon DSLR full frame bodies good for still photography - D700, D3S, D800, DF, D4S, D850. A full review on all Nikon full frame bodies here      

Shallow DOF street snap portrait, Nikon D3, 85mm f/1.4 lens @ f/1.8, 1/400 Sec, ISO 200, spot focus was on the right eye. 

Three images, three different decades. South America, a continent of dark past, socialist regimes, corruption, greed and coverups. This is the raw truth no matter how one wants to sugarcoat it. Travel bloggers have the habit of selling South America using common themes "so wonderful", "how amazing", but in reality it's the opposite of whatever click bait material they all use - follow the money.

Every country in South America contains elements of old and new revived cobwebs. Just recently in 2022, Peru, Chile and Colombia have joined together at another great leap into left socialist controlled government. All three nations above will eventually end up like Venezuela - all by design i.e. Agenda 2030. 

Reflections, captured in an estuary of a local in a dugout. The snap was taken with a full frame DSLR D3S and zoom lens mounted on a tripod. The above is a magnified enlarged crop from the original image file. 

Sadly, slightly out of focus semi-soft shots happen. This is one of them, that's why it's here. User error is to blame not the camera. The probable cause was either slow shutter speed, or focus adjustment, or both. Above snap, Hanna lake, Quetta.

The days of solo overland travel during the 1980s, another soft shot probably taken with a zoom lens on an F2.

Dugouts from the Amazon. It was still possible for foreigners to slowly float down stream in various Amazon rivers using dugouts and rafts in the 1980s. There were no restrictions. Two common river routes were from San Francisco, Peru through to Belem, and Coca via Iquitos to Letica, Manaus onward to Belem. Brazil banned unregistered boats due to increased narcotic smuggling. Peru, Ecuador and Colombia are still full on drug smuggling havens.    

Early morning Andaman Sea snap, the image was recently captured with a Nikon DSLR D3. 

More colorful than lethal, a wasp spider hanging out in the Okavango Delta. Bites from these multi striped critters should still be avoided. Image was taken with a full frame DSLR D700.   

Sometimes street snaps are deceiving. This is one of them. The rustic ambience, the subject and cluster of liter looks more like an abandoned location on the outskirts of town.  It's actually a recycling spot operated by the local in the image. 

Graffiti snap on the streets of Bogota. A carved name at the ruins of Karnak, Luxor. There are those who can't help engraving or spraying their initials and names at historical sites 1 — Irish tourist Rome : 2 — American tourists Rome :  3 — Chinese tourist Luxor : 4 — Canadian, British tourists — Chiang Mai : 5 — Americans tourists Pisa : 6 — 3 tourists China : 7 — 2 tourists Guatemala : 8 — Italian tourist Malta : 9 — Canadian tourist Rome : 10 — Israeli tourist Rome : 11 — Bulgarian UK tourist Rome

Sprayed graffiti in the Middle East usually contains negative overtures at government.   

One of those classic travel snaps trying to get the most of it. Perspective composition is subpar, What did you expect when getting through Iran during the 1980s? Everyone was watching you just in case you were photographing sensitive subjects — Nikon F2, 24mm lens.    

There is such a thing as temple fatigue. Visiting to many temples within short time periods will end up with symptoms of temple brain fog. The image above is off the beaten track. I had to drive on dried up riverbeds and dirt road tracks reaching this isolated location. The place had dens of snakes, some slithering across the ground without a care in the world. This 1983 snap was taken with a Nikon F2 Photomic.

Photographing bird life in the middle of nowhere is relaxing. One requires to get to locations during migratory seasons. The above snaps are quick examples with more image captures on the Nikkor 800 5.6 AIS page  

A purple heron wading through swamp wetlands stalking for fish. A DSLR Nikon D3, 800 5.6 AIS manual focus shot. 

Have you ever tried cropping long shot images taken with point and shoots and smart phones? 99% of them turn out pretty crappy and unusable showing soft grainy results. Above, original NEF snaps, captured at distance with a 1986 manual focus 800 5.6 AIS & D3S with an 85% crop example below from the top left NEF file.

Only stupid people travel to isolated wetland and wildlife regions with point & shoots and smart phones expecting the same results that DSLRs with lengthy tele-primes and zoom lenses easily capture.   

A 50% crop from the original NEF file with a D3 and 800 5.6 AIS lens — Both body and lens are still capturing great snaps in the 2020s.

Kites in flight circling in motion, is a sign of fresh carcasses below. Reaching those ground locations can be difficult depending on terrain. 

A painted stork troweling through wetland for grub. The original NEF file size is 75% larger — Not to shabby for a 2007 12MP D3 body. 

Photographing closeups of alpha baboons that are in control of their own troop group in the wild is more difficult than what most think. Many alpha images seen online are actually not alpha males. They are lower ranked males within the hierarchy structure of baboon entitlement.

The above DSLR snap, an alpha male was the leader of a large troop when this image was taken. He was rarely spotted remaining in seclusion within bushland. In real time getting up close to alpha males is an impossible task. Like stags, older aged alpha baboons are evasive creatures that prefer to show themselves only when they feel the requirement of doing so. In general, baboons do avoid eye to eye contact staring directly at humans unless dark sunglasses are worn.

Rest and relaxation in Colombia isn't in trendy bars. It's at isolated spots scattered along the Caribbean coastline with a selection of local ales. And yes, I guzzled down these beers before the ice melted.  

Random street still photography in the 2020s using old and new stuff together — Nikon D780 & zoom Nikkor 80-200 f4 AIS. Honestly, I prefer using Nikon's older DSLR bodies, like the D3, D3S and D800. Over half of the DSLR images through this website were taken with these bodies. I'm still using  all three bodies with no issues.

When in Africa, getting out on the streets capturing random street shots with DSLR photo gear is fun, rewarding and addictive.

I'll leave it to the imagination where this snap was taken. Cable mania and colonial styled buildings can't get better.

Random long shot enlargement cropped 60% from the original NEF file - full frame DSLR D3 in DX mode @600mm  

The DSLR D3 has limitations like any other camera. This image is pushing the D3 beyond its expectations. I normally use the classic D3 for daylight snaps only.

The planet is overflowing with guns. Some for good purposes, others for carnage. This snap is an enlargement crop taken at distance with with a DSLR D3S and zoom lens on DX mode @ 600mm.

Closeup street portrait with the D3 and 28mm 1.4 prime lens. Most street portraits with the 28mm prime are taken @5.6 in aperture mode. I use single spot metering pointed at the eye i.e. snap one left eye, snap two right eye. Depth of field is just adequate enough to have the subject's nose to the ears in focus. Every closeup street portrait capture requires interacting with subjects first. Every subject requires different methods of interaction. Without knowing interaction skills, forget about taking shots like above. People are normally in a rush somewhere, some are shy, others evasive, or even afraid. Taking closeup street portraits of total strangers, one must already have their camera settings all correct ready to go.  There is limited time to get the shots. It's the total opposite compared to taking staged portraits with people we associate with.

Sun up, reflections good, shadow OK, take the shot. DSLR DX and zoom lens. If a small amount of interaction was used before hand, this image would of looked better having the subject looking at the lens - next time. 

Solid architecture construction like above is a bygone era. Today, we accept cheap shoddy workmanship that ends up failing with all kinds of issues. With a small amount of labor, this building could be renovated to pristine condition and survive another 100 years. DSLR D3 snap.

Traveling overland offshore, one meets some amazing artists. These musicians, a South African couple could play their guitars singing in perfect harmony giving goosebumps of ecstasy to anyone hearing them. A few weeks later I heard them play at a packed out live venue. Image snap - point and shoot, campground central South Africa.  

Inca rock design is unique in it's shape and form. The only close resemblance I've seen was the above top right in northern Ethiopia.

Absorbing  the view at Sascayhuaman, Cuzco. The best time to have peace and quiet at any funded UNESCO site, is when heavy downpours occur. Most people run for cover, or return the following day. 

I still remember where this classic 135mm SLR roll film street snap of a Dalat was taken 35+ years ago, Stuart Lane, Newmarket, Kolkata.   

This dude may look as if he was gangster, or working for the local mafia. As the saying goes "never judge someone by the way they look." A DSLR D800 snap.

A classic 1980s SLR long shot with an F2AS and 50-300mm f/4.5 ED-IF AIS lens. The original image size is 4x larger. Both subjects are carrying Nikon gear, one with an F2 Photomic. My first ever Nikon was an F2. It was used through the early years of overland travel '82 up across the Middle East, central and south America central and south east Asia. The F2 never missed a beat. It was finally let go, sold to an American dude in Nicaragua with a 50 1.4 lens. I still had 2 F2AS bodies.

Capturing washing snaps of woman in public solely depends on the subject if they allow it. Forget about trying this anywhere through the Middle East, and parts of central Asia and Africa. You'll be screamed at, rocks thrown, camera smashed and possibly arrested and deported. Have I ever encountered such actions? No, but I've met idiots that have. Crossing the grey area in Muslim communities is just asking for trouble. 

There's times when one regrets of not taking more images at certain locations of individual subjects. This was a normal occurrence that happened during the roll film days after months, or even years leaving those regions. The lack of not capturing more snaps like above, a Peruvian taxi driver with his well used VW on slicks is one of those regrets. The reasons why I didn't take more street images during my first stay in Lima in '88 was probably due to the lack of safety. Foreigners were being robbed left right and center. A day didn't pass by of hearing another traveler, or a couple being robbed out on the street. Jumping in the wrong taxi and held up a few blocks away happened. Potato sacks slid over backpacks was normal procedure when transiting on buses through the country. Hopping down every time buses stopped during the night made sure baggage in the hold wasn't stolen. Highway bandits were alive and well. Bus stations back then were notorious locations for thieving. Actually, Peru during the late 80s was a thieving paradise. My baggage and camera gear made it through the entire continent overland from Puerto Williams to New York city with no loss - That's a feat on its own.        

Random street snaps like above are plentiful through Asia, mostly found on the outskirts of towns and large cities.

Some of the best locations to go for all those rustic snaps are dumping grounds full of classic autos.

No brainer snaps happen. Most street photographers know this very well, I'm one of them from time to time. As you can clearly see, the grain in this image is all over the place. Using the correct lenses attached to camera bodies that are notorious for subpar low light captures end up with this kind of finished result. In color the image looks even worse. DX Nikon D300, @ f/5.6 400mm ISO 1000.

That's a high jump, a quick snap of a local Bolivian doing his thing at 4855 meters altitude. Maybe one day he'll find this image online and have a good chuckle to himself. DSLR full frame snap Altiplano. 

Recent random night street snaps captured with a Nikon D3S and 85 f/1.4 prime lens. As normal, 2-3 images were taken.  

A local strolling in slow motion staring directly at the lens. Some people enjoy being photographed — Nikon DSLR D3 snap.

Manual focus street snap — Zoom Nikkor 80-200 f4 AIS wide open @f4 , Nikon D780 

Tribal snaps hold their power year in year out. It doesn't matter which region around the planet they're from. Others out there heading or passing through tribal territory should at least try taking as many images as one can. Wear yourself out, the chances of returning to certain locations may never arise again.

The majority of tribal lands throughout the planet have been heavy tourist destinations since the 1970s, Only the isolated Sentinelese tribe on North Sentinal Island has been out of bounds totally prohibited to visit. An Instagram travel blogger found out the quickest way of being killed by arrows in a canoe even before landing  - A warning to narcissistic travelers looking for fame. This idiot really wanted to die, this was his second attempt reaching the Island that caused his fate.

Within tribal lands, locals freely roam around semi-naked. They use their own customary laws which are very different compared to outside their territorial boundary. Taking closeup portrait snaps like above is openly accepted and permitted. Refraining from taking full or semi-nude images of children and youth in these territories should be avoided. Exploration of children in any form or matter is a criminal offense. This includes taking digital images of naked children in tribal lands even though there's no restrictions to do so. Sharing or posting naked images of children online no matter where they've been taken is classified as pedophilia. Street photographers traveling offshore crossing the grey line is at their own peril.  

A snap stepping back in time, if I remember correctly, the image was taken with a Nikon F2 and 200 AI lens. Notice there's no barrier around the statue when this snap was taken. Actually, there were zero barriers at the San Augustin site in 1989. The 1980's traveler mindset was a different breed of people. They weren't narcissistic addicts like today, who can't help themselves leaning on anything that can be used for promotional fame on toxic social media platforms. Instagram travel bloggers are the worst culprits. In the 2020s, we do live within societies of totally dumb downed sick people. The above stone relic depicts forms of child sacrifice, also commonly seen at other ancient sites scattered throughout the planet.     

Don't disturb we're eating. Now and then within the right environment, capturing group shots of people busily snacking through meals can be achieved. We're not talking about friends, relatives or partners here. By using various interacting skills with total strangers anythings possible. The locals above, Bangladeshis, is an example of just that. DSLR snap.    

A random closeup street portrait of a Burmese local using my favorite daylight workhorse - The DSLR D3.

These snaps weren't taken by me, they were captured by a local tribal Himba female just like in these images. Now and then, I'll give a DSLR camera to locals to take a few snaps. Watching this Himba casually strolling in and around her group taking random images created positive vibes all round. It was her first time holding and using full frame DSLR gear. It's a shame I didn't grab my own snaps of her using the camera, although she did get me in the below image.

Below,, a street seller clutching my D3S with a Nikkor 105 f/1.8 AIS lens attached - 2023

Below, point and  shoot snap on the move, fresh delivered chai during a dusty two day transit journey through the middle of nowhere.

Random People Shots - DSLR D3

As mentioned in the home page, I'm just like any other street photographer getting the best out of using whatever photo gear is used on any given day no matter the location. Interacting on the street capturing closeup images of people has and still is part of overland journey. These examples of the same subject show how positive interaction works with strangers capturing images in quick succession. Street photographers use different methods getting their shots. What I've learned over decades, is the art of using rapid interaction with subjects. In most cases, the results are 99% positive, like this local. Showing subjects the shots taken of them is priority and always appreciated. Images were taken with a classic 2007 Nikon D3 and prime lens.     

Random street photography through the 1980s up to the mid 90s, were commonly street snaps captures like below. No one back then, including myself, didn't really care about perfect composition, so long as the subject was in focus. The example snap below was taken with a 200mm f/4 Nikkor lens, F2 body, and Tri-X 400. (low res digital scan image)