Lester Ledesma's PhotoTreks

The last day of our Singapore PhotoTrek ended spectacularly, with big guns and big explosions. I worked extra hard to show home to my guests, and I hope they now understand why this little island is so special 🇸🇬.

No flag waving tour guides or hordes of shutterbugs all shooting the same thing. Because experience matters 🥰.

Seek and ye shall find photo spots and street food 😁👍🏽.

Happiness is showing our American friends the Singapore melting pot of races and cultures 😊

PhotoTrekking with my daughter 🥰👧🏻.
Then we had pizza 🍕😀

On assignment in Vigan, Philippines.
Busy with my “other” job as a travel photojournalist and I’m not complaining.

But yeah, I sometimes miss travelling with my PhotoTrekkers - especially during sunset beer moments. Waiting for the chance to organize another one soon!!! 📸🍻

Travel + Leisure Southeast Asia is back in print!

Two years of closed borders in Singapore will make you damn good (or desperate) to find things for the kids to do. And what Joanne and I discovered is that this tiny island has many opportunities (both STB-approved and STB-ignored) for family time :)

Check out my story on this month's issue of this damn good-looking magazine! 😁

Art mirrors life along the streets of Little India’s north side, which has seen the emergence of a lively street food scene in recent years. As much as we love to take pictures, your PhotoTreks host also loves to munch and graze on the neighborhood fare. Be it a puchka, a mughlai prata or sinfully sweet jalebi, street eats like these are part of the PhotoTreks experience 😛👍🏽.

Deepavali is just around the corner, and last night’s bunch of PhotoTrekkers wasn’t about to let it pass without giving it a delightfully long, hard look. We braved traffic and the season’s crowds to capture Little India in all its mind-blasting glory.
And then afterwards we had chaats 😁👳🏾‍♂️👍🏽.
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After last night’s grand fiery sendoff, this intimate burning of offerings marks the end of this year’s ghost month coverage. Penang was among the first places I visited when I first backpacked through Asia as a budding travel photographer in 2003. Since then I’ve seen it grow from a dusty old town to a tourist-savvy UNESCO World Heritage site. But its great to know that, despite progress, its traditional soul remains 😊.

Day two of a private PhotoTrek to the UNESCO World-Heritage City of Georgetown in Penang. Depending on my participants’ appetite for photography, I can make it free n’ easy or I can make it intense. But this Danish trio wants a balls-to-the-wall photography experience so I’m dishing it out bigtime ☝🏽😎

Shooting till past midnight tonight. Hello RedBull! 👍😁

PhotoTreks was conceived at a streetside bun cha eatery in the heart of downtown Hanoi, during a lull in magazine cover shoot. That was eleven years ago, and since then we've embarked on so many memorable journeys to some of Asia's most exotic places.

TImes have changed, though, and we feel the need to rethink our way of sharing awesome travel experiences with our participants. Yes, we're doing a reboot of PhotoTreks, and we'll soon be back with a lineup of fun, intelligent, creative and culturally sensitive new trips. In the meantime, your PhotoTreks host is busy with his *other job* as an award-winning travel photojournalist. Rest assured we'll give you a new look into this fascinating region, so stay tuned to our page!

We regret to inform you that, due to a perfect storm of travel conditions, we are unable to push through with PhotoTreks: Beyond Angkor. To our valued participants – we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.

Like you we still crave for that kickass shooting adventure, but will only do so when we can guarantee the best possible experience and value-for-money 🙂🙏

Waiting to say hello!

Theres plenty of warm and sunny Khmer smiles in store fpr our PhotoTrek participants in July 😊

PHOTOTREKS: Beyond Angkor
A travel photography adventure
25 July – 1 August 2023

For the full details, visit https://lesterledesma.com/index.php/phototreks-msite/

Yes we hear you!

Due to popular demand, we are moving our Cambodia PhotoTrek back a week. Our new trip dates are now 25 July to 1 August – that’s more time to prepare for this awesome travel photography adventure!

PHOTOTREKS: Beyond Angkor
A travel photography adventure
25 July – 1 August 2023
For the full details, visit https://lesterledesma.com/index.php/phototreks-msite/

We do much more than just shoot.

Photography guides are great, but try going around with an award-winning travel journalist. We’ll show you little-known views of Cambodia, and give you an immersion like no other in this beautiful and exotic land. You’ll get a life-changing adventure – and the photos to prove it!

PHOTOTREKS: Beyond Angkor
A travel photography adventure
11-18 July 2023

For the full details, visit https://lesterledesma.com/index.php/phototreks-msite/

The Wrong Way to Use a Filter

Your ever-contrarian PhotoTreks host likes to play with equipment in ways they’re not supposed to be played with. Like this grad ND filter that had no idea what it was doing. But hey, whatever works, right?

We won’t just show you how to take a good photo – we’ll take your creativity out of the box and keep it there. Find out how professional travel photographers get the job done (with beer, great coffee and sensitivity) – slots for our Cambodia photo workshop still open!

PhotoTreks: Beyond Angkor
Travel Photography Workshop
11-18 July 2023

For the full details, visit https://lesterledesma.com/index.php/phototreks-msite/

The Humans of Phnom Penh

We’ll show the streets in all its gritty glory, a target-rich environment where the photographic workflow is all about your people skills. Over here things move fast, and your nose for a situation (and not that ND filter) will be put to good use. Our street shooting sessions will immerse you in the sights, sounds, smells and tastes (yes, tastes) of the Cambodian capital – join us for a photographic adventure like no other!

PhotoTreks: Beyond Angkor
11-18 July 2023

For the full details, visit: http://lesterledesma.com/index.php/phototreks-msite/

The ancient shrines of Khmer kings, on a mountaintop high above the Cambodian countryside. Up here the only sounds are from the wind, the birds, the praying devotees – and the quiet clicking of our cameras as we capture the beauty of this stunning locale.

PHOTOTREKS: BEYOND ANGKOR
Photography workshop and tour
11-18 July 2023

3-day and 8-day options available!

For the full details, visit http://lesterledesma.com/index.php/phototreks-msite/

Announcing our next PhotoTrek for this coming July!

From the proud era of an ancient empire to the carnage of nation in turmoil, the story of Cambodia is anything but ordinary. PhotoTreks: Beyond Angkor will be a photographic exploration of Khmer history and culture. Go beyond eye-candy photography and learn to take telling, culturally sensitive travel imagery of real subjects in real-life situations.

Check out our website for the full details: http://lesterledesma.com/index.php/phototreks-msite/

Witness spectacular mountain ruins, ancient royal burial grounds, hidden temples and even a little-known island in the middle of the mighty Mekong. PhotoTreks: Beyond Angkor is a deep dive into beautiful and exotic Cambodia!

Spirit of Place: We’ve meditated long and hard, and have discerned the place where we’re going to next. History runs deep into this ancient land, with its stunning views and exotic people. Where going much, much further than we’ve ever been to this country, and you’re welcome to join us every step of the way.

Our next PhotoTrek happens this coming July – stay tuned for the big announcement!

Behind the Lens: Shooting with kids is always an eye-opening, mind-bending experience as we learned yet again from last week’s Junior PhotoTrek through Singapore’s Chinatown. These not-so-little ones burst with creativity, and its always a joy to see our world through their curious and unfiltered eyes 😍

WHERE TO NEXT?

As the dust settles from our recent Palawan PhotoTrek and the trip hangover gives way to everyday life, we can’t help but wonder where the road to adventure leads next. There’s greater Cambodia and its mist-shrouded mountains, the Mekong Delta with its bustling river markets, or Big India and its baffling, bewildering, beautiful vistas. Wherever our next PhotoTrek may be, rest assured we won’t be heading to just another tourist trap ☺ Stay tuned to our Instagram and pages for updates!

During our Phototrek evening photography discussion, B**g. Tiaoqui showed us this eye-catching line of giraffes from Calauit Nature Reserve. Their lovely repeating patterns set against the savannah landscape made for a shot that just begs to be printed huuuuge 🖼️.

During our photo-discussions at Coron Natural Farms, Arlene Donaire showed us this quirky pic of Tatang with a matching bike. It’s not his, of course 😛 but these two matching subjects made for an unlikely and humorous pair 😊.

During our photo discussions at Coron Natural Farms, Bien Bacarra showed us this intense look at a local weaver. The black and white tones, coupled with strong lines and textures, resulted in this striking portrait of working hands. Muy Bien!!!

Our bags are packed, shopping carts loaded, hearts and memory cards full of awesome new experiences. We’re so happy we visited this beautiful place, but also sad we have to leave so soon. But hey, there will always be another PhotoTrek 👍😊.

Our last evening in the Calamianes was a magical one spent with stars and fireflies at a nearby mangrove forest reserve. Our tripods were standing high, of course, and between minute-long exposures, we looked up and marvelled at the beauty of nature 😍 PhotoTreks day 3 was awesome!

Last night’s photography discussion revealed some photographic gems, like this candid portrait of a gamecock farmer shot by . The man’s relaxed pose and easy smile made us want to chat with him some more. We’re still burning pixels as we speak!