So I’ve been working on this for a few months now and I’m absolutely stoked to announce it today.

The overland route connecting Lhasa, Tibet with Kathmandu, Nepal is one of the most beautiful and and amazing land routes in all of Asia. Covering a distance of 600 miles, this workshop will take us from the modern Tibetan capital of Lhasa to pristine high altitude lakes, winding ancient rivers, beautiful farming valleys, Everest Base Camp and over the Himalaya Mountain passes to Kathmandu. We will be visiting the most famous monasteries and temples in all of Tibet and will spend 15 days in the unique Himalayan culture. Join us on the Roof of the World to get up close and personal with Himalayan culture and the adventure of a lifetime!

I get to hang out with my good friend Matt Brandon for 15 days travelling from Lhasa to Mount Everest and then finally to Kathmandu over some truly amazing terrain and through some of my favorite cultural spots in the entire world.  This will be my 3rd time through this area, but my first time to cross over into Nepal and enjoy Kathmandu.  Of all the trips we’ve been able to announce in the last 2 years, this is truly the trip that I’m the most excited about.  I’d love for you to join us on the Lhasa to Kathmandu overland tour – I’m serious when I say it will rock your world.

Furthermore, our awesome sponsors, Think Tank Photo and BlackRapid camera straps will be throwing in some pretty cool stuff and we are excited to be partnering with them on this trip.  They are such amazing companies – more on there participation in the coming days!

To get an idea of what we will be doing, I suggest you check out Matt’s site(and here) as well as our Plateau Photo Tours workshop site(more info here soon) to get a full details on this trip.  Also in the coming days my travel partner and I will be covering why we chose this route for our first Plateau Photo Tours trek of 2011.

Also, I’ll be posting here some of the pictures and some cultural points from this area over the next weeks.

I’m surprised at how much I’ve done.  How often do you look back?

In the last six months:

• I have worked more as a web designer than I really want to – a trend that continues.
• I have worked on staff for an NGO doing earthquake relief, photography, and design
• I have had several very close friends die
• I have had way more conversations with my drunk dry cleaner than I wanted
• I have broken one Chinese-made bed.
• I have consistently been 4 times the size of an average Chinese dude.
• I have witnessed the most annoying sandstorms on earth – and eaten sand.
• I have frozen my butt of – more than once.  I am butt-less.
• I have eaten more noodles than…you.
• I have been married to my wife for three freak’n awesome years
• I have been to Hong Kong, China, Malaysia, Thailand, and Narnia
• I have travelled by cab, boat, plane, ferry, train, motorcycle, subway, and scooter
• I have taken two extended trips into remote Tibetan areas
• I have shot three ethnic weddings in less than a month
• I have spoken 3 languages that are no my own
• I have been above 16,000 feet
• I have discovered that Russians like to be naked at beaches in Thailand
• I have broken or bruised at least one rib and bleed more than desired
• I have been amazed at how fast nomads can learn photography
• I have taken close to 15,000 frames
• I have spent significant time in temples, mosques, and monasteries – and KFC
• I have photographed 12 individual ethnic groups and distinct cultures
• I have had serious altitude sickness
• I have tried unsuccessfully to purchase, order, or recreate a white seamless setup on the plateau
• I have had to cancel two Lumen Dei tours
• I have done a lot more than I thought

Alot can happen in six months.  Check out my last 6 months in black and white after the break

Some of these shots were with a shoot through umbrella while others were using a standard diffuser and bounce – I even broke out the Fong Dong.

It was fun to work with a local photographer as well and to see what shots the locals are actually requesting (see the silhouette against the window).  It’s always a learning experience to shoot w/ a photographer from another culture that sees the wedding as an insider.

Take a look.

Last Tuesday I had a meeting in Hong Kong to research possibilities for a future lighting/fashion/city-based workshop there with some awesome instructor(s).  Was an amazing trip filled with good food, some new friends, and just a whole lot of doing what I love – spending time behind a camera.  That being said I had 5 meetings in 7 days discussing some exciting things going photographically in Asia as well as the opportunity to do a quick scouting shoot in Hong Kong for this future workshop that we will help run later this year (stay tuned!)

Some shots from my 3 days in HK last week with Penang Clan Houses and Mosques coming tomorrow!

Matt Brandon wrote an excellent article about culture stress and it’s relationship to a traveling photographer.  I must say, as a photographer working and living overseas, I found this article spot on.  Matt has a wealth of knowledge in this area and well-demonstrates the states that we all go through (I know I have).

Is highly encourage you to take a look @ The Digital Trekker (http://www.digitaltrekker.com)