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The trip to the Kingdom of the Thunder Dragon – Bhutan by Leo Lam
The last Himalayan kingdom, a place where Gross National Happiness ranks higher than its GDP. A mountainous country where environmental preservation takes priority over reckless economic development, the Kingdom of Bhutan is still one of the most isolated countries on Earth. Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to visit this remote place, the land of the Thunder Dragon. Planning for a trip like this can be difficult even for a world traveler. It is challenging enough logistically just to get there, let alone taking into account the specific photographic needs. For me, in order to successfully complete each assignment, I would take a three-step approach: define goals, consider specific difficulties and pick tools around the goals and difficulties. As I researched further, my photographic goals became more specific; I wanted to capture the atmosphere, the culture and the happiness inherent in the people of this magical country. The trip was going to involve plenty of major hiking at high altitude and below freezing temperature, which automatically dictated minimal equipment and weight I should carry. The lens that fits all of the criteria above was the Tamron 28-300mm lens, and I used it with the Canon 5D, with a 10D as the backup and “extra zoom” due to the crop factor. This lens provides the range and sharpness I needed and it weighs very little. I was very fortunate to have one of the best tour guides in the country for the whole trip. He brought me much needed new perspectives and understanding to the place, beyond what all the guide books could give. It is important to me to be able to see beyond the surface in order to get the mood or the underlying emotion of a place. Bhutan’s architecture is a mixture of Tibetan, Nepalese with some Indian influence. The fortress monasteries (called “dzong”) are dramatic sights to behold, and the amount of detail in its architecture is fascinating. With the Tamron lens, I could easily capture both the grandeur and the intricate details without switching lenses.
As one of the most isolated countries, Bhutan has a variety of beautiful and rare birds and wildlife, like the unique Bhutan Takin seen here. Many of them are still human-shy and seeing them is a matter of serendipity. The extensive zoom range allowed me to quickly react to the sudden appearance of these rare animals while I was photographing other interesting subjects. Without this lens, I would not have captured the pictures of the rare black-necked cranes when they decided to take off and do a close-range fly-by.
As a fashion photographer, I am particularly interested in the people and culture of the country. My working method on set has always been focusing on building connections with the team and the models. Photographing the local people there was no exception, and I always applied the universal language for friends: the smile. I also managed to learn multiple Dzongkha (the official Bhutanese language) phrases like “hello”, “how are you?”, “can I take your photographs?” There is no sweeter sound than a foreigner attempting to make contact with ones’ own language. Let them know that you are genuinely interested in them, and the photographs will emerge by themselves. It is also a good idea to ask your guides first about some social customs at the place, and plan the interactions accordingly. With the children, who were so genuinely interested in making communication with me, I welcomed them with open arms, literally, and became part of their circle. Having earned their trust, either by a little touch, or by showing them some photos on the camera screen, they became natural. The amount of photo opportunities is proportional to the amount of trust you have between you and them.
Some parts of the trip involved long hikes, particularly the one going up to the famous Tiger’s Nest Monastery. Combining the steep hike with the high altitude, I knew I would want to carry as little weight as possible; and the Tamron lens fit the bill beautifully. The monastery has also been photographed many times, and my goal was to attempt to see it in a different light. Trying different angles and perspective was easy with the extended zoom range.
Overall, I am very pleased with the photographs I brought back from Bhutan, and some have already been published. Even though there is no comparison to actually being there, I think I have been able to capture at least the essence of the visuals and the rich colors of the country, thanks to the versatility of the Tamron 28-300 XR lens. |
