Photography Walks in KL and Beyond

Assembling dumplings in a Chinatown alley, Kuala Lumpur

EatingAsia's photographer David Hagerman has begun offering photography walks in Kuala Lumpur and -- when we're there -- Penang. The above is an image he shot while walking a photographer around Kuala Lumpur's Chinatown last week.

If you're interested in improving your skills, trying new techniques, and/or getting feedback drop him a line. Walks are private and tailored to your interests (markets, hawker food, street photography).

For a look at more recent photos from Chinatown and to contact Dave, hop over to his photo blog Sky Blue Sky, here. His work is also viewable on his not so up-to-date professional website and on Photoshelter (links are at the top left of this page). Dave's not one to toot his own horn, so allow me to: he's shot food and non-food pieces for, among other publications, Wall Street Journal, Travel+Leisure, Saveur, and the New York Times.

And oh man, does he love to talk photography. He'd love to hear from you.

Comments

[Katy]

I think on some topics, monochrome creates special effects –the nostalgic feel and without the distraction of the colors, the focus on the objects. Like watching black & white film on the storyline, rather than the entertaining colors. But I got to say, that ghost fish in B&W is ghostly and bit off putting on its own for me, without the company of the colored. B&W is effective, but on its own, I wouldn’t have associated it with food, at least I wouldn’t have thought that’s the concept the photographer trying to convey.

I am the sort of ‘press the button’ camera type of person, but I was wondering when you transferred colored to B&W, was it automatic or with levels of adjustments – especially on indoor shots? The contrast of B&W tone in The market and The barber shop is sharp, has it been enhanced?

[Dave]

Thanks for your comments, Katy. I am mostly a color photographer but at times I like the texture that B&W brings out in an image. For food, since all you have is color and texture to work with (I can't seem to get taste and aroma into a photo yet)then I think (at times) B&W does lend itself to food. Not always, but sometimes.

When converting to B&W I try to get the blacks black and whites white. You need to push both up a bit in post since a simple desaturation leaves the image middle gray. I try not to push it too far to retain a more natural tonal range.

[Katy]

I don’t know how you can get taste and aroma into a photo though (without the aid of descriptions) since it’s not visual and it’s also largely relevant to individual experiences of senses? Do you have an example?

I like the dumplings image in B&W a lot – I like that sheet of dumpling skin in the palm, the texture and the tonal range of the folds give it an almost 3D effect more than the colored can convey, I think. The dumplings sort of pop out.

[Moer]

I believe Penang is also a food heaven besides their UNESCO heritage status. Yes, the B&W photo looks more 'classic'.

[Judith Nelson]

This is the most exciting part of being a photographer- to have the opportunity to travel around the globe to take beautiful spots.