The image was licensed via my stock agent, Aurora Photos.

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Taj Exotica Resort and Spa, South Male' (Kaafu) Atoll, Maldives, on the 8 July 2006. © www.thomaspickard.com

What to say?

The Maldives at its absolute best.

View and license more Maldives imagery from the following photo galleries:

MALDIVES | Scenic Photography

MALDIVES | Resort Photography

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At first glance, Male’ may seem to be a bit drab in comparison to the nearby resort islands, but if you take some time and get lost in the maze of streets, you’ll soon realise that Male’ is a unique and interesting city.

The four page piece is below. Unfortunately I didn’t get the opening photo, which is why it is blurred out below. Thanks to the creative team that puts the magazine together each year and continues to publish my work.

 You can view & license imagery from Male’ at these links: Maldives | Male’ The Capital and Maldives | Male’ Fish Market

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Maldives aerial photo used as the cover for Maldives Finder 2011. Image © www.thomaspickard.com Double click on the image to license via Aurora Photos.

One of my favourite aerial images from the Maldives is going to be seen by a lot of people this year. The image above is gracing the cover of Maldives Finder 2011, which according to the Maldives Finder 2011 website is:

“… a first-of-its-kind comprehensive publication on the Maldives’ tourism industry. It is a celebration of the Maldives brand, and an informative guide to the destination. With academic and in-depth articles, the publication is a rich source of information on this unique tourism destination.”

The cover image of a dhoni travelling along a reef edge is available for licensing through my stock agent, Aurora Photos

Special thanks to Shafraz at the design firm responsible for putting together Maldives Finder 2011.

View and license more Maldives Aerial imagery via Aurora Photos.

Links:

Maldives Finder

Related Posts:

Aerial Swirl Maldives.

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Instead of showing my best, I’ve decided to show my favourite photos from 2010. While these images may not be my best images, for what ever reason, they are some of my favourite images I’ve produced this year.

Looking back through my photo archive reminded me of what an amazing year I’ve had. I travelled to ten countries, flew over 50 flights, produced tens of thousands of photos and picked up numerous clients along the way. In between I saw some amazing places and had some great personal encounters, often with total strangers.

Photography as a profession continues to give me an excuse to walk up to total strangers, introduce myself and more often than not, become part of their life for just a short period. I think my mid-afternoon rice wine bender with a group of old men one afternoon in a local noodle shop in Sapa, would be one of my highlight experiences of the year. And not because I enjoy getting drunk, but rather because it was so unexpected. There have been many more (experiences, not rice wine benders!).

A heart felt thanks to the people that I’ve photographed, worked with and met this year.

Love them or hate them, these are some of my favourite photos from this year…

Maldives, 7.17 am. Silhouette of a resort staff member during an early morning sea plane transfer to Lily Beach Resort for a lifestyle shoot. Copyright www.thomaspickard.com

Maldives, 9.07 am. An unexpected gust of wind blows a resort staff's sarong at Huvafen Fushi Resort, Nakatchafushi Island, North Male' (Kaafu) Atoll. Click to license. Copyright www.thomaspickard.com

Maldives, 5.17 pm. Six Senses Resort staff unloading a speed boat on an empty sand bar, prior to resort guests arriving for an evening of cocktails, near Six Senses Soneva Fushi Resort, Kunfunadhoo Island, South Maalhosmadulu (Baa) Atoll. Click to license. Copyright www.thomaspickard.com

Maldives, 6.52 am. Early morning light over a commercial fishing dhoni, Indian Ocean. Copyright www.thomaspickard.com

Malaysia, 9.24 am. People exiting a boat, Georgetown, Penang. Copyright www.thomaspickard.com

Australia, 2.39 pm. Chocolate Easter rabbits set against a cobalt blue sky, Katoomba, Blue Mountains. Copyright www.thomaspickard.com

Malaysia, 3.44 pm. Woman looking up at a bill board containing a photo of Michael Shumacher, Kuala Lumpur. Click to license. Copyright www.thomaspickard.com

Japan, 9.03 am. View from Rebun-to Island to Rishiri-to Island, Hokkaido, Japan, on the 10 June 2010. Rebun-to Island and Rishiri-to island are both popular destinations for wildflower enthusiasts and outdoor people. Click to license. Copyright www.thomaspickard.com

Japan, 1.12 pm. Man walking past an advertising billboard, Tokyo. Copyright www.thomaspickard.com

Monsoon storm clouds over Singapore Airport, Singapore.

Thailand, 7.58 am. Male waiter carrying a tray with beverages along the edge of an infinity pool, Koh Samui Island. Copyright www.thomaspickard.com

Thailand, 5.23 pm. People eating Thai street food on a narrow footpath, Chinatown, Bangkok. Copyright www.thomaspickard.com

Cambodia, 9.28 am. A videographer talks on his mobile phone, while a wedding couple pose for a photographer out of frame, Angkor Wat. Copyright www.thomaspickard.com

Cambodia, 10.51 am. Tourists wearing similar style hats, Angkor Wat. Copyright www.thomaspickard.com

Vietnam, 5.08 pm. Street traffic on Con Dao Island.

Vietnam, 8.03 am. Shoes on the Reunification Express train from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi. Copyright www.thomaspickard.com

Vietnam, 1.02 pm. Young girl looking out of a train window on the Reunification Express. Copyright www.thomaspickard.com

Vietnam, 9.43 am. Portrait of two hill tribe women near Sapa. Copyright www.thomaspickard.com

Vietnam, 6.16 pm. Sapa at night.

Halong Bay, Vietnam.

And lastly, my favourite photo of my good self, courtesy of my wonderful wife, Jane.

All smiles atop Niseko Annupuri with Yotei-zan mountain in the background. Japan. Copyright Jane Edgar.

Related Links:

The Big Picture 2010 Part 1 of 3

Best Environmental Photos of 2010 National Geographic

Reuters Best Pictures of the Year

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Pole & Line Fishing Feature in Issue One of Island Aviation Vara Magazine Maldives.

Vara is the new in-flight magazine of Island Aviation in the Maldives. I’m happy to say I have a 6-page feature article in the very first issue on pole and line fishing in the Maldives. Thanks to my editor and the graphic design team for an aesthetic layout and a great double page opening spread. Love it!

The magazine should be hitting the back seat of Island Aviation planes this week or early next week.

This photo and many others can by licensed via my stock library at this link – Maldives Commercial Tuna Fishing | Thomas Pickard Stock Archive

Related Posts

Published in Bangkok Airways Magazine – Huvafen Fushi Resort

Published in Afar Magazine

Published in Hospitality Maldives Magazine

Published in Qatar Airlines Oryx Magazine

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If you have stayed at Huvafen Fushi Resort and would like to purchase one of my images as a print, please:

- Browse this gallery of Huvafen Fushi Resort Images.

- Note down the Image Name of the photo you would like as a print.

- Email me – info [at] thomaspickard [dot] com - to arrange payment and your preferred shipping address.

Huvafen Fushi Prints ship in three sizes

- 12 x 18 inches ($199 US)

- 16 x 24 inches ($299 US)

- 20 x 30 inches ($399 US)

Shipping is generally an additional $25-$40 US depending on your location.

If you would like a different size, just email me to discuss your requirements!

As a working photographer, I stand by the quality of my work. If you aren’t happy with your print when you receive it, I’ll refund your money.

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Published in Bangkok Airways Fah Thai Magazine, 1st September 2010.

I don’t know why, but I still get a kick out of seeing my work in print. Especially when the design team produces such a great layout.

The article is about Huvafen Fushi resort in the Maldives and some of the unique design aspects of it. The images I produced in a quick day-a-half visit earlier in the year.

I won’t lie to you – Huvafen Fushi resort is one of my favourite resorts in the Maldives (and no, I don’t get paid to say that!).

Why you might ask?

Well, here are a few things that I love about the place:

1. I proposed to my wife in a private overwater plunge pool looking out over the ocean on a postcard perfect day back in 2006 (read: strong emotional connection).

2. Everything about the resort, from the overwater bungalows to the infinity pool, to the shaded lounge on the beach, to the hammocks under the tree are just right (read: the ying-yang of Huvafen is spot on).

3. Huvafen is big enough not to feel crowded and small enough to feel totally secluded (read: perfect sized tropical island resort).

4. The staff are just good, friendly people who don’t mind having a chat (read: approachable).

5. The food at any of the three restaurants is amazing. Ditto for the service.

And last of all, Huvafen Fushi Resort is about 35-minutes by speed boat transfer from Male’ International Airport, yet the resorts location makes you feel like you are in a remote corner of the Maldives. It just doesn’t get much better than that.

Related Posts:

Buy a Print of Huvafen Fushi Resort in the Maldives.

Huvafen Fushi Resort, Maldives

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School lunches from around the world, May/June 2010 issue of Afar Magazine. My photo is the white plate on the red table cloth, bottom right.

If there is one thing I really love about the world of photography these days, it is this: it is easier than ever to connect with Photo Editors’ and for them to take advantage of where you may be travelling to.

Let me explain.

In late December 2009, an email popped up in my inbox asking for shots of school lunches from around the world. The PE at Afar Magazine wanted to assign the job to multiple photographers, in multiple countries. With my January/February trip to the Maldives already booked, I put my hand up for the Maldives and was assigned it.

Now to be honest, this wasn’t the most glamorous of assignments, but it was actually a lot of fun. In the Maldives I hooked up with my Maldivian friend and fellow photographer, Ahmed Zahid. Together we went to the boys school in Male’ and after explaining what I was after to two different people, we were given permission to do the shoot (well, take two photos – shoot is a bit of a stretch!).

The photo taking bit took about 8-minutes. The getting permission bit took about 22-minutes. That night I uploaded the hi-res images and sent them to my editor.

In June of this year I was killing some time at Bangkok airport waiting for my flight to Japan. What did I spot in the newsagency? None other than the May/June 2010 issue of Afar. Flicking through I found the double page spread and let me tell you, it looks great!

If you haven’t seen Afar magazine yet, then make sure you get a copy. One of the things I really like about it is the print quality and colour reproduction. I’m not sure what paper they use, but it has a great pearly type feel to it. As for the colour reproduction, it is fantastic. The content is great too. Grab a copy and have a read.

Thanks to Tara from Afar Magazine for assigning me the Maldives.

Afar Magazine

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One of my funniest memories of being on the boats, is the time when I was sleeping on the outside top deck. Using my lightweight Goretex jacket as padding I was sleeping straight on the fiberglass upper deck, when I was woken by a friendly kick in the ribs. Bleary eyed I lifted my head up to be faced by seven of the Maldivian crew members in the pre-dawn light. The guy that jabbed me in the ribs indicated that I had to move to one side as I was sleeping in the spot where they prayed each day.

I shuffled out of the way and my Muslim crew members went about their business. As for me, I went straight back to sleep.

License the image by clicking on it.

Embed and share at your own site by clicking the triangle in the lower right hand corner.

Related Posts:

Maldives Fishing Part I

Back on the Commercial Fishing Boats, Maldives

Commercial Fishing in the Maldives Part II

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