Photo Essays by Ewen Bell

Two weeks in the frozen north chasing the light and missing out on sleep. This was one of our most remarkable Norway trips, so filled with sunshine day after day that we almost couldn't believe it was winter. And at night the skies were clear, and filled with Nordlys. Be sure to check out the video at the end of the collection.

Tamshing is a small temple in the central Bhutanese region of Bumthang. This is a small temple with just a handful of monks, but each year the community gathers to celebrate the spirit and traditions of Bhutan. Cham dances are performed during the Tamshing Tsechu over the course of three days, with monks dressing in the black-hat and other cham costumes.

This essay has been curated from my Kimberley Coast voyage with Heritage Expeditions. They are presented here in a square format to highight how presentation can make such an impact on how an image is received. So many of the images here are ones I'd love to hang on a wall.

It's been 20 years since my last visit to Hanoi, and thanks to Bamboo Airways I got a chance to return in 2023 and reconnect with one of Asia's great destinations. Local markets, sassy scooters and beautiful bun-cha ladies reminded me of what makes Hanoi special.

Winter is wonderful in the Himalayas. The days are rich in sunshine and the weather is dry, both in Kathmandu Valley and in the Annapurnas. It's always a surprise to our travellers just how warm the mountains are. We're surrounded by snow-capped peaks, but in the valleys of the Kali Ghandaki we are baking in the sunshine. The nights are very cool but comfortable, especially with a good curry in our guesthouses. Have a look at what two weeks in Nepal looks like :)

This small island in the Chukchi Sea is best known for it's remarkable concentration of Polar Bears. When the ice melts the bears need a safe haven to wait out the summer. The bears may be hungry during these months but the foxes and owls are not, because they have the Lemmings. In fact the entire ecology of the island is driven by these little creatures and their ability to survive in the Arctic tundra.

The rural landscape of Victoria has been a haven for me and my photography in recent years, and my most recent trip to Rutherglen has reminded me of what makes the North-East of Victoria so special. Very old families making very good wines, but in a modern context and complimented with great cuisine and produce. Rutherglen also offers a beautifully flat horizon at sunset, with uninhibited access to the last gasp of light. Long shadows and deep reds, and some real gems for visitors who want a little pampering.

Meeting this group of Maasai Warriors was a truly special part of our Kenya journey. To come and visit them in their home, in their country, was wonderful. You gain a unique appreciation for the depth of culture from spending a few days learning from the men of the Maasai. The camp is very basic, and very wonderful. The comfort goes down a little but the experience goes up a lot. A big thank you to Tianguali ole Ntutu and Parsaloi Nguruma especially for sharing your songs and joyous spirit up in the hills.

Zhongdian means the 'middle valley', a place below the snow peaks but above the grassland where the growing season is very short and only half-breed yaks can survive in the meadows. Beijing has renamed the town Shangri-La, the famed oasis in the novel 'The Lost Horizon'. Only they can't say the name in English, so they officially call it Xiangelila. This is a cultural centre for Kham Tibetans, and the towns surrounding the city are rich in the living traditions of the Kham. They drink Yak Butter tea take care of their monasteries.

The ethnic minorities of Guizhou have a simple recipe for enjoying the holidays. Drink enough rice wine to drown a chicken, kill a pig and cook it for your friends, and round up the meanest water buffalo in the village and let them fight it out. In between the chaos and cheers a few fine dances are put on display by the prettiest girls in town.

Dancing monks. Smiling lamas. Bhutanese farmers dressed in their finest. We were guests at a couple of festivals in Bhumthang this week. Moments like these are rare and treasured.

The town of Litang is not easy to reach. After two days on public buses that rattle along mountain roads, clearing high-passes at 5300m and stopping every few hours to buy more cigarettes, our driver finally pulled into the town of Litang. My guesthouse was named Pokhara Palace, but was not as glamorous as the original in Lhasa. At night the wild dogs roam the streets and bark incessantly. Litang sits at 4100m, and a mile out of town the monastery sits a little higher, casting a paternal watch across the valley. The monks here are known throughout the Tibetan world, because three Dalai Llamas have been schooled here and today they continue to practice sky burials. Litang is where the sky meets the earth, where the wind-horse is carried by the breeze.

The colours of the Outback are usually pretty subtle, a landscape washed of nutrients over millions of years. This trip I got a craving for B&W instead, inspired by the winter sunshine and endless textures of the land. Most of all the people of the Outback inspire me, from the Tiwis to the Tanami.

The spiritual capital of Laos is home to thousands of monks, hundreds of temples and an endless supply of beautiful sunsets. Life along the Mekong comes to a gentle halt at the town of Luang Prabang, and when it comes time to leave we're all reluctant to move on. This photo essay from a decade ago expresses what I love about Luang Prabang.

The historical treasures of Bagan's ancient ruins provide a backdrop for farmers and villages that struggle to grow crops in the parched landscape. The Irrawaddy rolls past the temples and carries away silt and sand, but in amongst the stonework are goat herds and ox cart, fields of wheat and cheeky children.