I have some short interviews for you with photoNepal 2012 participants.

I have recorded these videos on our last day after breakfast at AWC Bagmati in Kathmandu.

As you can see Sue, David and Mark had  a great time discovering Nepal with us. They have also provided us with valuable feedback that will enable us to make photoNepal 2013 even better!

I have updated our Gallery with new photos, make sure you’ll have a look!

All the best,

Seb

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It’s been a while since we have updated our website. After coming back to Nepal we had to concentrate on different things:

Johnny left the army and is now working full time as a photographer. Make sure you will check his website:

www.johnnyfenn.co.uk

What about me? Well, on 13th January I became a father! I now have a lovely girl Julia and she is just the sweetest thing I have ever seen.

I have also updated my website. Feel free to visit me at www.sebastianbober.com

So after few weeks of dealing with personal affairs, we sat down to discuss the next photoNepal adventure. We have a new date!

photoNepal 2013: 15-24 November 2013

The programme is not ready yet but after listening to great feedback from previous participants we are confident that we will deliver something really special!

The places will be strictly limited as we found that doing it in a small group is so much better than leading 15+ group. By keeping it small (8-10) we will make sure that you will all have the best photo opportunities and individual approach to teaching photography. It can’t get better than that!

ALSO: From today I will be posting photos and videos recorded during photoNepal 2012. We have some amazing photos and stories behind them to share with you so make sure you will check your blog on regular basis.

And remember: we are now taking bookings and reservations for photoNepal 2013. If you want to secure your place or ask a question about ANYTHING: please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Speak soon,

Seb

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In October 2011 two friends sat down to have a chat about an idea of photography workshop in Nepal.

After months of preparations, difficulties and excitement: here we are, doing last checks before flying to Kathmandu!

Me and Johnny are travelling to Nepal tomorrow evening to double check everything and prepare a warm welcome for our students.

We have a great bunch of people coming with us this year. All with different levels of experience, different background and different gear.

But we all want the same: to have a great time photographing this amazing country and raise some money for The Gurkha Welfare Trust.

Our access to the Internet might be restricted, but we will do our best to upload some photos and news  from the road.

I will be taking plenty of photos and videos and will post them on our website after our return to show you have you can expect from… photoNepal 2013!

We will soon let you know more details, but we can already confirm that we will do another workshop in Nepal next year.

All the best and see you soon!

Seb

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After few weeks of consultations and risk assessment, Johnny had a chance to create a new draft version of photoNepal 2012 programme.

There are few elements there that might change, but the core should remain the same. We will notify you of any changes.

You can find the programme here:

http://www.photonepal.co.uk/programme-2012/

All the best,

Seb

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As some of you already know, the political situation in Nepal required us to modify photoNepal 2012 workshop plan, the new version will soon be available on our website.

We would also like to confirm that Chris won’t be coming with us to Nepal this year.

All of his lectures and tasks will be reassigned to me and Johnny.

All the best,

Seb

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Nervously waiting for the passport check

Today is the very first stage where Potential Recruits turn up just to register for further selection tests later in the year.

The Passport check

It is not that straight-forward though!  Because of the huge amount trying to get into the Brigade of Gurkhas each year, some are “selected out” even at this stage.  Mainly through missing or incorrect documents; including passports.

Form filling

Or just because they are not nearly fit enough at this point to go forward.

Must complete 8 heaves

Then, a further documents check…

After the heaves; the document check

And all through, anxious parents and family wait patiently to see if their boy has made it to the next stage.

Potential recruit's mother waiting anxiously

It must be the toughest of all selections into the British Army, but the Brigade of Gurkhas has a reputation to uphold, and the standards are very high.

Not quite photoNepal, but there will be opportunities to see potential recruits during photoNepal 12 and 13.  See you there!

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Evening sky over the Annapurna range

Guy contemplates Machhapuchere

This one of Guy is with the legendary Major Rick Beven who, a couple of years ago walked right across Nepal – from Darjeeling in North-East India to Dehra Dun in North West India.

Maj Rick Beven and Capt Guy Norton

Now that I have seen his images, I am desperate to go – so when I am back from Brunei, I will try to find a window to get up there.  The weather might be a problem at this time of year, but I will give it a go.  Therefore, if anyone wants to add a week onto their photoNepal course, we could arrange a guide to get you up there during the best time of the year.  Next year’s photoNepal 2013 might even incorporate this 5 day trek for the hardy among us!

Sunrise over Annapurnas

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Holy Man at the Goorkha Palace

The weather was not very kind because, although it didn’t rain, there was significant haze so no mountains to be seen – you can see most of the Annapurnas, Lamjung and Ganesh mountain ranges normally – and November this year should be the best time to see them in all their magnificence.

The town of Goorkha in the haze

I also used the opportunity to call in on one of our pensioners – and lovely old man who despite his age (92 years old) is still healthy and mobile, although totally reliant on the welfare pension he receives from the Gurkha Welfare Trust.

Welfare Pensioner

I was also trekking with Dr James Cave who conducted a small medical clinic at the ex-Gurkha Area Welfare Centre run by the Gurkha Welfare Scheme.

Dr James Cave OBE at the GWS Welfare Centre

The town of Goorkha is beautiful, with a magnificent and tasteful museum and old cobbled streets.

The small palace

I can’t wait to get there when the mountains are providing the backdrop!

Potential Gurkhas

Girl Carrying water

Carrying Water

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As you all know this year we are hoping to make a significant donation to the Gurkha Welfare Trust.

We are happy to see them mentioning our workshops on their official website.

You can read about us HERE

The Gurkha Welfare Trust logo

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Johnny & Joanna

On Wednesday, I took her up to a small village called Tiplyang (about 5 hours to get to by road from my house, but we only took 20 minutes to get there!)

The HLS in Tiplyang

Tiplyang is hugely important as it is the village where Lt Tulbahadur Pun VC lived; and he died last year.

Joanna’s father, Maj Jimmy Lumley, was Tulbahadur’s Officer Commanding when he won his VC; so it was lovely that she was able to be at the opening of the memorial in the village.  The family of Capt Michael Allmand were also present (He won his VC posthumously in the same action).

The UK Defence Attache reading Tulbahadur's VC Citation

Not only that, Joanna contributed a significant amount of money, along with the Allmand family, to the Gurkha Welfare Scheme so we could build a much needed new secondary school, and the villagers all turned out to thank us.

Villagers from Tiplyang

It was a blisteringly hot day, and Joanna was simply excellent – such a good ambassador for us, and was clearly very moved by the day.

Joanna entertaining the crowds with her Nepali

The weather for photoNepal 2012 in November will be just as bright, sunny and clear, but thankfully not nearly as hot!

Welcome to our new photographers who have signed up – watch this space for further updates…and for the rest of you; don’t leave it too long, the places are going!

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