by Ewen Bell
A selection of my favourite magazine articles. I've been lucky enough to work with some marvellous writers, who not only expand my horizon for editorial but free my creativity to focus fully on the photography. Have also enjoyed some marvellous editors along the way, pushing my photography and my travel writing.
It is through these magazine commissions that I get to meet some wonderful locals, some of whom have become life long friends. Travel isn't about places, it's about the people.
Food & Travel UK
Luang Prabang
As the world opens up again to travel, there are a few places I cannot wait to return to. Luang Prabang is definitely on my list. Such a great place to slow down and immerse yourself in the best of South-East Asian cuisine.
View PDFFood & Travel UK
Bhutan
An absolute privilege not only to capture this side of Bhutan but then to write 2000 words as well. F&T is a gorgeous magazine and I love seeing 14 pages filled with the best of the Himalayas.
View PDFNational Geographic Traveller USA
Tasmania
Bitterwseet finish to 2019 with a commission shoot in Tasmania for NatGeo and 14 pages filled with this beautiful part of the world, and then finding out this was the final print edition of the magazine. Some good people at NatGeo, there really are.
View PDFNational Geographic USA
Laos
Most of this feature was shot on a little Lumix G85, and seeing that double-page spread in Nat Geo with the sunset over the Namkahn was something special. Don't let anyone tell you that little cameras can't do big things..
View ONLINEFood & Travel UK
Perth
I'll be honest a have mixed feelings about this feature because there were some *stunning* cityscapes in the photo set I delivered to the magazine, and they didn't run. But, they did jam in an immense number of images and went to town on the flowers and birds. What's Perth?
View PDFFood & Travel UK
HIGH COUNTRY
All those years of heading up to the High Country of Victoria finally paid off with a chance to showcase the region to the UK audience. A great story by Michael Harden and a selection of my favourite images from Rutherglen, Bright and King Valley regions.
View PDFLonely Planet UK
CAIRNS
One of the great joys of shooting editorial work is getting to see your own back yard from a completely differnet perspective. And having the resources to photograph it properly. My only regret is knowing all the lovely images that didn't make it into the magazine, some of which are always my faves!
View PDFNational Geographic Traveller UK
SHETLANDS
Have always had a soft spot for puffins but most of my encounters have been from a zodiac in the choppy waves enroute to northern waters of the Arctic. Just for once I wanted to stand on shore and photograph them coming in to land. So I headed to the Shetland Islands, and loved it.
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BHUTAN
This feature was a big deal for me, it was my first writing assignment for F&T and it was one of my favourite places to travel. Naturally I had a great collection of images from nearly a decade of travel in Bhutan, but we in the end most of the images were from my most recent journey. Big thanks to Tshering and Rinzi for their help too.
View PDFGetLost
SWEDEN
Having spent so much time with the people of Northern Sweden in the last decade this was a story I was really excited to get out there. My original title for it was 'The Snow Men' but I think the edit is pretty good regardless. I just would have picked one of the more colourful auroras for the final layout :)
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FIJI
My first big gig with Melbourne based writer Michael Harden, we headed into the wild unknown of the Fijian Islands in search of gourmet excellence. We found plenty to please our appetite and editorial requirements. This is not the Fiji you may have heard of, there are no discount family tickets here, just some amazing food and fabulous chefs.
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MELBOURNE
One of my favourite culinary adventures and one of the best looking magazines in the world. Food & Travel is a true joy to photograph for because they do everything in such delicious detail, in true style and with a passion for the final result. Recently I had the chance to bring FTUK to Melbourne, what an absolute joy to share my home town with the world.
View PDFVacations & Travel
SHETLANDS
Double pages spreads of puffins are pretty much the best thing in the world. Big thanks to Hugh Harrop for being a great guide on that shoot too. The Shetlands are lovely.
View PDFVacations & Travel
Cook Islands
I could publish a hundred photo essays on Cook Islands and still only cover a fraction of it's beauty. Aitutaki is the jewel in the crown, and maybe the most beautiful island in the entire world. Big claim, but not without foundation. #happyplaces
View PDFVacations & Travel
Macau
This was my second story on Macau for V&T and I thank the editorial team for letting me write a story that is rich in the Chinese culture. I don't like what the casinos have done to Macau, and I didn't rate the Portugese dining up against the traditional Chinese cuisine. I loved my wonton soup for breakfast on the streets though, that's my Macau. #happyplaces
View PDFSilk Winds
Tiwi Islands
I've been travelling to the Tiwi Islands for a decade now, going back and seeing the community grapple with social justice and working hard to retain their identity. I was thrilled to have an opportunity to see my photos from Tiwi go into Silk Winds. #happyplaces
View PDFJetstar Magazine
BANGKOK
I never get tired of the Bangkok food scene and it's always a buzz when I get a chance to put together some photography on my favourite things.
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AUCKLAND
Auckland is a unique gem, a modest city that is graced by immense natural beauty and surrouded by some stunning travel and gourmet experiences. Somewhere I really want to go back to.
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COOK ISLANDS
A good friend of mine has been telling me about Cook Islands for years... but now I understand. Pacific Island culture with Kiwi Dollars and the best of both worlds. I love it.
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TASMANIA
Tasmania is home to some of Australia's most inspired gourmet experiences, and loveliest people. I run a workshop in Hobart every year and it never fails to deliver on everything that makes food great. Shooting this series for FTUK was an absolute joy.
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NELSON
One of the lesser known treasures on the South Island, Nelson is rich in charm and gifted for great gourmet treats. The highlight of this trip for me was watching one of the locals create a 20m wide work of art on the low-tide sand. All things are impermanent.
View PDFSilk Winds
KAKADU
One of the great charms of Silk Winds as a publication is that they still do photo essays, and usually really really beautiful ones. So I didn't blink at the chance to share a collection of Australian wildlife from the Top End.
View PDFSilk Winds
NEPAL
As a photgrapher I always like to see my work in print, it's a buzz even after all these years. Silk Winds is one the prettiest inflight magazines around and I was chuffed to have a gentle moment from Nepal featured as a double spread. They're jsut two school girls about to head off through the rice fields, but for me it's everything you need to know about Kathmandu Valley. #happyplaces
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ARNHEM LAND
Everybody raves about the wilderness of Kakadu but if go keep heading a little further off the map you find an even more precious place to travel. Arnhem Land hides some of the most remarkable rock art in the world, and has all the wild creatures you'll find in Kakadu and possibly a few more.
View PDFAustralian Traveller
ARNHEM LAND
Everybody raves about the wilderness of Kakadu but if go keep heading a little further off the map you find an even more precious place to travel. Arnhem Land hides some of the most remarkable rock art in the world, and has all the wild creatures you'll find in Kakadu and possibly a few more.
View PDFAustralian Traveller
ANTARCTICA
The journey south into the Australian Antarctic regions is not for the faint hearted. Dramatic ocean currents slam into an underwater ridge and toss our little ship in all directions. The rewards are magnificent, time on the beach with penguins. Royals, Kings and Adelies feature in this photo essay of life deep down below. Flipping fantastic.
View PDFVacations & Travel
BOURGOGNE
Anyone who lives in Burgundy know their grape-growing slopes in remarkable detail, and they credit the land with much of the character in the finished bottle of wine. The word they use is Terroir, which encapsulates the qualities of the soil, the impact of micro-climate on the terrain and the consistent character imparted to the wines over many decades. So important is Terroir to the wine connoisseurs of France that only a fraction of the "personality" attributed to a vintage is credited to other factors. The wine makers job is to simply let the Terroir speak.
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LUANG PRABANG
There is no place in Asia quite the same as Luang Prabang. Once the spiritual centre of the Lao people the town has retained its dedication to the monks and their traditions. As dusk approaches on the Mekong the smoke filled horizon causes the sun to turn orange, flooding the golden temples and their saffron robed residents awash with colour. This is my favourite place in Asia.
View PDFAustralian Traveller
VICTORIA
Deep in the heart of Central Victoria the Ovens Valley is home to European traditions, fine cuisine and locally inspired produce that need not travel far to go from farmgate to dinner plate. I interviewed three of the best chefs the Ovens has to offer and met some of their home grown producers who keep the kitchen pantry fresh with flavour.
View PDFVacations & Travel
KENYA
Africa is a special destination for any photographer, but some places stick in your memory better than others. Samburu is home to one of Africa's more modest game parks that has not the fame of the Serengeti, has not the drama of Victoria Falls or the romance of Okevango Delta. But it has some of the most beautifil species of Zebra, elegent antelopes and sweet little deer called dik diks. It's also named after the Samburu people who have a special connection withe land and its wildlife.
View PDFRex Inflight
ECHUCA
In recent years I've been lucky enough to work with Tourism Victoria on a range of villages and destinations. One of my favourites has been Echuca and the lovely paddle steamers on the Murray River.
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