In 1996, Jon left London with a one-way ticket to New Delhi, an inquiring mind, and a passion for foreign cultures. So it all began. He met Ali in Australia, and since then they have travelled together through South and Central America, Europe and Asia. The images on this site are the photographic results of those journeys, and now encompass over twenty countries on five continents.
Our images are displayed in the Gallery, where you'll be able to see them grouped by country. You'll also see a link to the 'About Us' section, where you'll find our contact details and information about purchasing digital prints.
We have tried to reflect the character of a country and its people in the images presented here. We hope that you agree and that you enjoy the images. We would appreciate any comments you may have - you can email us here. All images and text are copyright © Jon Whitear and Alison Beaton 1999-2005.
Inti Raymi, Cusco Possibly the most important date in the Quechua calendar, Inti Raymi, the Festival of the Sun is celebrated at the winter solstice. The week long festival culminates in a ceremony at Sacsayhuamán, the Inca fortress that overlooks the city. In Inca times it was presided over by the Great Inca, the descendant of the Sun. These days it's an elected representative. Our images are here. |
Aoi Matsuri, Kyoto One of Japan's oldest festivals, Kyoto's Aoi Matsuri came around in May. It dates back to the 6th Century, when legend has it that offerings to the gods bought relief from fierce storms. Today, around 600 people parade through the streets in Heian period costume, visiting the Shimogamo and Kamigamo shrines. They wear the hollyhock flowers that give the festival its name. Our images are here. |
Roast Duck and Peanut Sauce. We take a three day trek through the remote highlands bordering Laos and China as part of a UN funded sustainable tourism project. It's a part of Laos that largely managed to ignore the 20th century, which is exactly why we're there. We stay with Akha and Black Thai families, sharing their accommodation and, sometimes unfortunately, their diet. Here is the full story. |
A brief guide to Myanmar. Perhaps better known by its old name, Burma, this is a country that conjures up the romanticism of colonial days, the beauty of an ancient civilisation’s architectural legacy, and more recently, harsh oppression by a military regime. We had four weeks to explore. Here's our brief guide to the highlights of Myanmar. |
Licensing our images. Our images can be licensed for many uses including advertising, editorial, promotional and web use. We can provide image files at a range of resolutions to suit your requirement, either for download or on CD. We have a policy of supporting non-profit organisations in our pricing structure. Please contact us for further details. |
Dragons and Fairies. Several of our images are included in a travelling exhibition titled "Dragons and Fairies: Exploring Vietnam Through Folktales", produced by The Children's Museum of Houston. It uses traditional Vietnamese stories to teach children about the country's rich culture and heritage. You'll find its timetable at the Association of Children's Museums. |