One afternoon last October, my Producer Annette Fausboll, called me with some very exciting news: I had been selected by the prestigious Luerzer's Archive as one of the "200 Best Advertising Photographers Worldwide" (2010/11).  I was shocked.  Sure, (what I thought was) my best work of the past couple of years was submitted to Luerzer's for consideration, but I never thought I'd be selected; it was more of a it's-just-nice-to-be-nominated/what-do-I-have-to-lose type entry.

As quick background, the 200 Best is an international photography competition.  Art directors at ad agencies around the world nominate their most talented photographers and invite them to submit their best work from the past two years.  A jury of prominent publishing and advertising professionals then select the final images for inclusion in Luerzer's biennial compendium, which has become one of the indispensible art-buying tools for agencies around the world.  6,539 submissions were submitted from 48 countries for consideration in 2010/11.

I've kept this award mostly to myself for now, sharing it only with friends and family, as well as some of the art buying and creative people I work with (or aspire to work with).

But this week the honour became official when my copy of the "200 Best" arrived at my studio and three of my images, captured in Bhutan for Persistent Productions, appeared inside.

I am still astounded to have been selected for this honour, and I am humbled to have my work grace the same pages as the immensely creative, talented and influential photographers inside Luerzer's Archive.

See more of the photography I made in Bhutan here.

At more than 4,200 kilometres in length, the Mekong River is just the 12th largest river on the planet.  Yet it’s importance in Asia is indisputable: twisting and turning its way through an incredible six countries -- China, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos -- the mighty Mekong ebbs and flows, like the lives of tens of millions of people who rely on it every day.

A slow-boat journey along the winding waterway is a true cinematic experience, rich in long, picturesque expanses of quiet reflection as traditional life on the river steadily passes by like a Technicolor silent movie.  Life on the meandering Mekong seems suspended in a warp somewhere between past and present, steadily drifting to an enchanting rhythm, much like the muddy waters that envelop it.

I was fortunate enough to shoot an assignment along this splendid river early last year.  From wooden bumboats to luxury cruisers to speedboats, I spent nearly four weeks drifting on the Mekong River.  I started in southern Vietnam and floated through Cambodia and Laos before eventually ending in Thailand.  It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience, enjoy and photograph traditional river life on this magnificent waterway.

The July/August 2010 issue of Fah Thai, Bangkok Airways' inflight magazine, features this short photo essay of imagery I captured during my time on the Mekong in Laos.

Visit here to see more photographs I made during my month-long journey on the Mekong River in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.

Earlier this year I purchased a Diana F+ DSLR adaptor for my Nikon D3x, along with the Diana+ 55mm Wide Angle and Diana+ 110mm Telephoto lenses.  To some, it might seem like blasphemy to attach a $25 piece of plastic to the front of a $7,000 digital body.  However, to me it provides a whole new way to make creative photography.

I thoroughly enjoy experimenting with this marriage of hi-fi and lo-fi, and I love the soft, dream-like feel that the Diana lenses give to my digital imagery.

I have also found that this is a fantastic little combination to bring along with me on holiday.  So many times I have lugged my huge camera bag on a vacation overseas, filled with two (or more) digital bodies and multiple glass lenses, only to lug the bag all the way back home unopened.  However, the D3x and Diana+ 55mm combo is both lightweight and fun to play with, so I have found myself packing less gear, and bringing out my camera to play more often when I am on holiday.  And that's just good for the soul.

See more of my Diana Experiment imagery on Flickr.

In August 2009 I visited the ruggedly beautiful country of Timor-Leste to document The Chain Reaction Project (TCRP) as they competed in the inaugural Tour de Timor adventure mountain bike race.

TCRP is a non-profit philanthopic organization comprised of four women from Singapore who search for unique sports- and adventure-themed opportunities to help change lives.  Their mantra is to be catalysts for social change through sport, and inspire others to take up a physical or mental challenge for a good cause.

The Tour de Timor was a personal initiative by Timor's President, Jose Ramos-Horta, to help raise awareness of the plight of this fledgling state on the 10th anniversary of it's independence from Indonesia.  More than 300 cyclists from across the globe raced for a grueling 5 days/450km across nine of Timor’s 13 districts.

The women of TCRP raised USD$35K in private donations and corporate sponsorship which, at the end of the race, was donated to HIAM-Health, a Dili-based malnutrition rehabilitation and education centre for parents and children.

My personal contribution to TCRP was to accompany them on this cycling adventure and document their journey; the result is the slideshow of my photography presented here.

In a few days, TCRP will once again be returning to Timor-Leste to participate in the inaugural Dili City of Peace Marathon, running 42 kilometers up mountains, through native villages and along pristine coastlines of this country that not long ago was ravaged by civil war.  Like last year, the four women of TCRP -- this time accompanied by a group of 50 "catalyst" runners -- will be competing to raise awareness for the poverty-stricken country of Timor-Leste and its people, as well as to once again help raise funds for HIAM-Health.

I will also be returning to Timor-Leste to photograph TCRP's adventure.  However, this time I will be accompanied by my close friend and documentary filmmaker, Mike Rogers, who will join me to film the journey, as well as HIAM-Health and the impact that TCRP's monetary donation is having on the facility.

More of my photographs of Timor-Leste and her people can be found here.

To view this video in HD, click here.

**If you are having trouble viewing the video, please download the latest version of Adobe Flash Player here.**

My Assistant, Zam, and I spent last week in Shanghai shooting an advertising campaign for a yoga club.  The shoot called for making a mix of indoor and outdoor photography, which was an enjoyable brief to work on, as we were able to share our time working in a studio and out exploring the amazing city of Shanghai.

I visited Shanghai once more than five years ago, but that was a whirlwind week end that didn't really give me a chance to properly experience the city.  This time, however, we spent the better part of three whole days walking, exploring and shooting on the streets of Shanghai, and I soaked up every minute of it: the remarkable fusion of historical and modern/post-modern architecture, the hornet's nest of frenetic energy and (seemingly controlled) chaos on the roads, and the sheer excitement that comes from spending a few exhilarating days amongst 20 million people in one of the fastest growing cities on the planet.

I am not sure I can say that I fell in love with Shanghai. But I can say that I developed a bit of a crush on her.

Photography is one of the most accessible and democratic forms of artistic expression there is.  The ubiquity of cameras -- on mobile phones or small digital point-and-shoot cameras in our pockets, all the way to large, powerful digital SLR cameras -- makes it ever easier to capture fantastic images.

But making great photographs has little to do with owning the best and most expensive equipment.  The real secret behind original photography is in how you see a moment and interpret it in a still frame.  Are you able to make something ordinary appear extraordinary by showing it differently?  Are you able to make the viewer feel a physical emotion when they look at your photograph?  Are you able to transport someone with you to a moment in time simply by pressing your shutter?

Jointly inspired by this artistic and photographic philosophy, as well as by my good friend Mike Sargent (the Photo Editor at the Straits Times newspaper in Singapore), who is never without his digital point-and-shoot camera, and Chase Jarvis (a Seattle-based photographer) and his "The Best Camera Is The One That’s With You" project, I've taken to shooting a lot more often with my iPhone.

It's free.  It's fun.  It's easy.

And it makes walking to get lunch more than just about food; its now a daily photography assignment.

See more of my iPhoneography on Flickr.

Or better yet, share some of yours with me.

**EDIT** An article about the point-and-shoot cameras used by a handful of well-known professional photographers, including Pulitzer Prize-winner David Hume Kennerly, can be found here.