21st Oriental Journey

        David Stout is an enthusiast about both travel and photography, and this came over very clearly in his talk to us on a cold night in Cramlington about a trip he took with his wife, Carol (who is also a keen photographer) in 2019. David explained that they don't go on holidays; they go on photography trips. David is always accompanied on his trips by his Canon camera, a few lenses (although he mainly uses his 24-120 mm lens when travelling) and a monopod.

       Their trip in 2019 (one of many which David has made), was arranged to celebrate a "significant birthday" for David and started in Singapore. They then went to Thailand, a lengthy stay in Myanmar (previously called Burma) , Vietnam and then back for a few more days in Singapore. David conducts detailed research before undertaking his journeys to ensure that he had the opportunities to take the best photographs. His research certainly paid off and his excellent photographs included landscapes, Buddhist temples and striking portraits of some of the locals he came across. In addition to showing PDIs, David also had some prints on display. When it comes to finding photographic opportunities David's philosophy is: " if you don't ask, you don't get" and that it sometimes pays to have "a brass neck". He illustrated this philosophy a few times, including in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam when, having watched for 20 minutes a group of Chinese tourists take selfies and photographs of each other in front of a palace, he very politely spoke to them in a few words of Mandarin and asked them to step back to give him the opportunity to take shots without anybody in front of him. The Chinese group and their guide were somewhat taken aback but accepted his request without quibble and David was able to secure the photographs he was seeking!   

        It was a very enjoyable, entertaining and informative evening of photography and travel from a true enthusiast.  

Ray Barnes
Programme Secretary