Sunday, 27 March 2011

The Little Stage At The End Of The Universe

Most tourists to Hanoi visit the water puppets; and so they should, given that it's a cultural, theatrical gem sustained and protected by their patronage. But they should also go to the traditional theatre performances held bi-weekly (Thursdays and Sundays) at the Hong Ha theatre on Duong Thanh. Enactions of three folk tales are threaded through with traditional music, and the actors pour their hearts and souls into each. The final, intense scene, depicts a woman who has had a spell cast upon her, turning into a fox. It's disheartening to see that this small and comitted troupe play to a virtually empty theatre, so please change that by going there.

Recent Tearsheets

From the nightlife shoot for Nam Magazine. Thanks again to Ly for the assignment.

Wednesday, 23 March 2011

The Hanoi Triangle

There's a classy triangle of town near to the Opera House. Pretty much every door is manned by one or two black-suited figures either ensuring their patrons don't strain a muscle on their way in or perhaps bracing themselves against the handles to keep the scruffs out. Bentleys line the kerb, the pavements are clear and clean, and Hanoi's wealthy elite stroll or totter past and through the doors to throw their dong away.

A New Ideology

Yesterday I began the day by looking through some of my old photos for a local stock agency, and in the afternoon I went into the centre of town to photograph an area populated by Gucci and Moschino shops, the Sofitel Metropole. While I was photographing stuff like this:

Mixed Drinks / Mixed Feelings

Cocktails: after recently tasting most known to humanity I have decided that I like only very few of them. Bloody Mary, yes. Manhattan, yes. Wasabi Martini, yes. Long Island, yes. The rest, nein danke. But I like watching them made, and I enjoy looking briefly at the finished product before its consumption by a wide-eyed cocktail-drinker. So, a shot from one of The Word tasting nights and a selection of the best-looking cocktails which weren't chosen by the tasters as the kindest to the palette.

Monday, 21 March 2011

Install A Beak In The Heart That Clucks Time In Hokkien

A couple of weeks ago, I went with mine olde friend Debbie to Singapore to see one of my favourite bands, 65daysofstatic. Debbie is also their booking agent so she secured me a photo pass and we hung out with the band and their crew before and after their gigs; and not only do they make incredibly beautiful, complex music, but they're also all really lovely people. So that's the cherry on top of that particular cake. Musical cake.
And after waiting for years to see them they didn't disappoint, playing two intense, storming sets back to back, carpeting the capacity crowd (none of whom spilt their drinks, though I think they wanted to) with fractured beats, loops and melting globules of distorted feedback. Carpeting? Globules? Hang on...I'm not a music critic...best you go and listen to their music here, or better yet go to one or some of their shows, or do both. Yes, do both. Highly recommended. So far they're the hardest band I've photographed; no-one stays still for long and they have a magical ability to duck and dodge around the spotlights.

Wednesday, 16 March 2011

See You, Singapore

One of my favourite bands, 65daysofstatic, played the Mosaic Festival in Singapore so for the last few days that's where I've been. Singapore is as clean, as modern as I expected it to be. The people are friendly, the food delicious, and I had a great time. If another band I love were to play there, or I could afford tickets to the Grand Prix, a night at the Marina Bay Sands and a dip in their infinity pool, then I'll be back. I'll be posting some pictures of the 65days shows here in the near future, but until then here are some shots from a rainy outing to the Sands Skypark.

Recent Tearsheets

From March edition of the magazine. Thanks as always to all at The Word for the assignments.

Monday, 14 March 2011

Nam Magazine

Young Jenga-loving Vietnamese smoke shisha in Dragonfly - from a recent shoot at for Nam Magazine. Thanks to Ly for the assignment.

Dominic Blewett Photography

Tuesday, 8 March 2011

Sound Related

Last week saw the debut screening of my videographer friends Isaak Le and Vincent Baumont's new film at the Goethe Institut. The film is about the work that a German NGO, DED, is doing to help young people with disabilities in Hue. I made the soundtrack for the film, and you can see it here or here.