“The Joy of Tashi”
Production is expected to conclude in March 2027.
Thank you to the following companies who are have generously supported this project
Happy vs Grumpy
High in the Himalayas a young monk is learning the art of photography. And then he met a professional photographer and mentor. Together they start a new journey.
Editorial photographer Ewen Bell has been travelling to Nepal for over a decade, and when he met a monk named Tashi he knew this was the beginning of a very unique story.
This is a documentary about photography, the Himalayas, and Tashi's talent for sharing his joy. It's about how we learn, how we connect and how we find our place in the world.
In a modest temple located on the edge of the Mustang Kingdom is a monk named Tashi. He is a teacher for the temple, respected and admired by the younger novices.
Tashi speaks excellent English, and has also started learning how to drive a camera. His joy with the craft is obvious, and the joy it brings to those around him even more so. He is humble, generous and eager to go far on his journey.
The hero of this production will certainly be Tashi. Behind the scenes Ewen is the architect, but on screen his role is merely offering guidance to our monk. It is Tashi’s words that will carry the story, and Tashi’s charisma that will reach through the screen.
Tashi has been a life-long student of Buddhism and has excelled as a teacher. But he is also enamoured with the beauty of photography and it’s ability to bring joy to others.
Over the course of four weeks we will take him on a journey around Nepal to explore where his photography and culture connect. We want to give him the chance to step deeper into the creative world, and discover how the camera can compliment his life as a monk.
For fifteen years my journeys into the Himalayas have been a source of humility and inspiration. The people, the cultures, and the photography. My time in Nepal has simply made me a better person, and given me guidance in the task of mentoring others.
Nepal is a place that changes people for the better. Not everyone will visit the Himalayas in their lifetime, so I want to make a documentary that can bring millions of others along for the ride, and follow in the footsteps of one very inspiring monk.
For two decades I have shared my travel and photography knowledge in workshops, writing for magazines, publishing on my blog and my YouTube channel. I’m an ambassador for LUMIX and Sigma in Australia.
Ewen has an established treatment style for his video work in Nepal, which leans heavily on his editorial photography style. Realistic and gentle, with a light touch on the sliders. Light and bright plus plenty of warm tones.
Powerful landscapes at dusk and dawn are useful for setting the context of life in the Himalayas. A strong focus will also be on intimate moments with Tashi, dramatic lighting inside temples and the occasional goat herd heading out at dawn. The emphasis is on the beauty of daily life in the Himalayas, not a postcard perfect rendition of hotels.
Expect to see lots of hazy smoke from burning incense, warm glows from butter lamps, and natural light filtering through windows.
Behind the scenes are an amazing group of people. Ewen has worked with a small group of Nepalese guides for the past decade, and they already have experience assisting foreign film crews in addition to running photography workshops. These are long trusted colleagues who understand the demands of a shoot schedule, and the quirks of creative projects.
These are the people Ewen trusts to help him deliver the best possible logistics.
Project Updates
You can help us on our journey to share Tashi's journey. We are building this project with minimal funds with a view to seeking an international audience. The better we can execute this production, the better our chances of getting this wonderful story out into the world. We want to make this production the best it can be, and you can help us do that.