Nate is big into abandoned places, so reaching out to him would be a good place to start. I've done some work with abandoned places as well, but I think that part of the reason that you don't see too much out there on this stuff is the danger involved, and it being potentially illegal.
Poor piece that is an advertisement rather than anything of value. At least one of the hotels mentioned is owned by a man who still has sanctions leveled against him by the EU & USA for his shady business dealings with the former military government. Though it is changing, most of the high end accommodation in Myanmar still has shady ties to the junta.
No mention in this "article" (press release).
Shannon's got some great pics here (as usual). I recently spent 2 weeks in Bagan, and I'm working on an indie-guide to making the most of your adventure there.
So then you can go :)
Thank you so much :)
Wow, makes looking at instagram immediately worthwhile!
I always enjoy Michael's work. Another great piece on life in Myanmar
Nice little piece with good images from the author. Makes me want to rush over to Iran!
Thanks Matt. Enjoyed shooting and putting the pieces of the story together :)
One thing I think we can all agree on: most hippies and so-called digital nomads are just lazy. :)
The cream does rise to the top though, and some will succeed, and others will have to get a "real job" back home sooner or later.
Basic rights in your country maybe... but therein lies the bigger problem. It's hard to believe there will be swift changes to a company when an entire country's culture is a certain way.
A little bit of controversy when these images were posted on facebook that is mentioned, and a little bit of insight on the pass that certain religions have gotten over the years (that I haven't had the guts / angle to dissect myself). I'm a big fan of Nate's work and this piece is no different.
Storytelling to me is something that "puts me there." I'm hearing the sounds that are being described. I'm in their shoes. I'm *feeling* the tension that the storyteller is creating.
When I think of storytelling, I think of that film that is on your mind for weeks after you see it. It's that book you can't put down. It's that radio/podcast that you're telling your friends about (Serial!). I'm involved in some way.
As for how it's different from other travel content... I feel that good stories are memorable. These are the pieces that stick with you. As an example, I don't remember anything from that list article I zipped through last week, but I still think about Nate Robert's wild story about getting 'held' at the Armenian border. If he would have just presented some facts, or a few photos, it wouldn't have had the same impact on me.
Storytelling is a tool for adding context (and entertainment) around information. Through storytelling, you're much more likely to be able to engage with a reader/viewer than if you just threw up some stats.
It has become a buzz recently because people are tired of just digesting bland information and they are demanding more. I think we are entering a golden age of storytelling thanks in part to the internet and the low barrier of entry. Your voice can now be carried much farther than the dozen people around the campfire. Want to tell your story with video? Forget the film crew, just grab a digital camera and a laptop.
Here are a couple of short photo stories of mine:
No Matter What, A Man's Gotta Eat
My form is photo stories. The photos are the focus of my work, but I find myself up against a big challenge in the online space.
Over the past few years, through facebook, instagram and the like, we have been conditioned to quickly scan a photo on our tiny screen, then click a like button and move on. It's the photographic equivalent of quickly scanning an essay, and tossing it in the bin. You wouldn't likely head to an art gallery, look at each piece for two seconds, and then head out the door.
So over the past couple of years, I've tried my best to slow people down, and look deeper into the images. How can I get people to take their time and not just scroll past?
The way it has been working for me is a process of mating the words and the images. The images are still the star of the show, but the words are the lead up, so that it's the picture that will hit it out of the park. I actually feel that this particular problem is easier to solve in the physical world (traditional magazine, gallery etc) than online.
More good stuff available, more tools to create it, more forms for it to take, more ways to consume it. Sounds pretty golden to me.
While travel isn't necessarily there yet, I feel that the last few years in radio/podcasting, TV, and film have all been successfully pushing the boundaries of storytelling in their mediums.
It might sound silly, but practice telling it. Tell it to your partner, tell it to your dog. In the case of another human, they'll be able to give you feedback, like "you're boring," or "tell me more!"
In the case of the dog or other pet of choice... just hearing yourself say it out loud can help you whittle it down to the most important parts.
I can say that it would be difficult for your typical travel writer to write much about the human rights issues in the country because:
#1 it's not readily visible to a traveler / tourist
#2 it's difficult to find contacts that are willing to go on the record (fully)
The journalism angle for stories in this country are far more than most travel writers could tackle. Maybe that depends on how you define a travel writer.
or maybe she's just another writer trying to sell more articles :)
I'm actually back in the region now (can't get enough obviously).
If anyone has any tips to add, I'd love to hear them!
@hitriddle Haven't been, but I had heard of the tattoos before. Some great images in here from Matthew!
I had been trying to get my hands on a paper copy, but haven't had any luck :(
Looks like fun, but the daredevil in me wishes I would have had a chance to negotiate it sans security fence. :)
Can't wait to go and check this out :)
@hitriddle the Myanmar govt backpedaled on this the very next day, hah
Great images and a bit of background on exploring the abandoned communist party headquarters in Bulgaria