About
I’m an English language teacher with a camera. Originally from Tunbridge Wells in the UK, I’m now living in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) in Vietnam.
I first came to Vietnam for a holiday in 2004, and fell in love with the place. In 2008, I quit my office job in London and moved to Hanoi to teach English, and to improve my photography. This blog will always be a work in progress. I’m not going to pretend to be an expert on life in Vietnam, or on photography, as I’m still learning about both. I just want to share some of my pictures and experiences. I’ll be posting a regular Picture of the Week, featuring my favourite shot from the previous seven days, and longer gallery posts when the mood takes me.
Hi John
Thanks for the ‘like’ on my blog..
Can’t say I’m not jealous of where you’re living..
I’ll be checking your blog regularly for a HCM fix.
Stuart
November 28, 2011 at 11:05 pm
Thanks Stuart, glad you like the blog.
December 6, 2011 at 12:19 pm
Jon,
By the way it’s 9:08 AM
As I noticed the time code
Said it was something like
3 AM….
I was an insomnia sufferer
But no longer……….
DAN DEVINE / HAWAII / 9:09 AM
December 27, 2011 at 2:10 am
Greetings Jon Without,
Like me you may not
Have a middle name Neither …….
Well Jon I just stumbled across
Your blog so I will randomly
Check in to see what there is
2 learn from it…… Aloha
DAN DEVINE / HAWAII
December 27, 2011 at 1:56 am
Great blog you have here, my friend! Keep snapping!
December 27, 2011 at 2:31 am
An inspiration blog that I’m glad I stumbled upon!! Keep up the wonderful photographs.
December 27, 2011 at 4:42 am
it is very great time to know you here. I am Journalism student in Phnom Penh Cambodia. This year , I am second year student of my B.A and this year I have a course about photo skills with American photographer. It is my first start of blogging. Hope to share and learn from you more,
Regards,
Len
December 27, 2011 at 11:30 am
Thank you. I love Phnom Penh, and hope to go back there soon. Good luck with your studies.
January 1, 2012 at 7:06 pm
What camera and lens do you use and why?
April 2, 2012 at 8:11 pm
Like all the picture, would like to know what kind of camera you are using?
Thanks,
Tom.
December 28, 2011 at 10:52 am
Thanks, I’m glad you like the pictures. I use a Canon 5D.
January 1, 2012 at 7:08 pm
Could we chat? I am interested in your experience as an English teacher in Vietnam as that is where my heart is pulling me.
December 29, 2011 at 5:12 am
I would definitely recommend coming here to teach. Vietnam can be challenging, infuriating even, but I’ve met some wonderful people and had some great experiences. There’s such a variety of places to visit and things to see that I feel like I’ve still only scratched the surface, even after a few years. You can live quite comfortably on a teacher’s pay, and Vietnam is a great base from which to travel to other places in South East Asia.
January 1, 2012 at 7:18 pm
Nice job! I loved our time in HCMC! Have fun teaching there! Congratulations on being Freshly Pressed!
Blessings!
December 29, 2011 at 9:02 pm
Jon, fantastic blog and gallery. I”ve added the blog to my list of recommended blogs and your gallery to the :inspirations”section of my blog.
All the best.
December 30, 2011 at 11:10 am
Thank you, much appreciated.
January 1, 2012 at 7:18 pm
Hi I’m a fan of your photos. Great eye and colour.
December 30, 2011 at 9:08 pm
hello, I’m glad to find your blog, it’s accidentally
btw, may i know..why do you name your blog ‘without an H’??? ^^
December 31, 2011 at 1:56 am
Thanks. Whenever I spell my name, I have to say that it’s “Jon without an H” as it’s short for Jonathan. That’s where the blog’s name comes from.
January 1, 2012 at 7:20 pm
I’m guessing it’s because of the spelling of his name (Jon, not John). Just a guess though.
Love the photos, by the way.
January 1, 2012 at 5:42 am
Yep, that’s right!
January 1, 2012 at 7:20 pm
Absolutely Love the Photography. The colours are stunning- makes you want to jump a flight from grey cold London! Keep it up
January 2, 2012 at 12:32 am
Hi John,
Just ‘discovered’ your photo blog. I worked for the British Council based in Singapore and traveled to Hanoi on business. My passion is also photography. Take a look at http://www.worldlense.com and in particular http://www.worldlense.com/asia.html and you will recognise a couple of ‘pics’ I took in Hanoi.
Like you I love Asia.
best wishes
Roger
January 2, 2012 at 7:35 am
Hi Roger, I like your site. Papua New Guinea is a place I really want to visit one day.
January 5, 2012 at 9:57 am
Oops! Have just read the following comments and realised it’s “Jon” without the “H”. My apologies
January 2, 2012 at 7:37 am
Hi. I love your photography, as friend to two particularly good photographers I’ve started to really appreciate photographs, and can I just say my friend was glad to read that you use a Canon and not a Nikon (she’s a bit of a camera snob).
January 3, 2012 at 1:14 am
Jon, do you have a favorite post-processing program or set of filters? Your colors really pop! Ken
January 3, 2012 at 10:44 pm
Beautiful photos! I also started a photo blog, though I’m nothing close to ‘professional’. Just a girl studying linguistics with a hope to travel and teach English (like you, I see!) who also loves taking photos. Thank you for sharing, I wish you the best of times!
-Else
January 6, 2012 at 1:20 pm
Hello,
I was browsing through your blog and you truly have beautiful work. I especially love you color portraits.
January 10, 2012 at 4:45 am
I never realize that my hometown is as beautiful as it was in your photographs.
Thanks for sharing it with everybody.
January 24, 2012 at 2:15 pm
That’s awesome ^
That was my first thought viewing the photos, but I had no idea where Jon was shooting. We often take our hometown for granted and forget to appreciate the beauty of what we’re surrounded by.
Thanks for sharing Jon
March 27, 2012 at 10:19 pm
Incredible work Jon.
March 27, 2012 at 3:48 am
Your blog is full of awesomeness!! I’m really looking forward to see more of your lovely photographs. Stay awesome! ♥
March 27, 2012 at 3:57 am
Really enjoyed these portraits. Makes me want to come back to Vietnam for a visit. What are you shooting with?
March 27, 2012 at 5:34 am
Jon,
I too was an English teacher (in Japan, mind, not Vietnam), and my husband and I’s trip to Vietnam was, hands down, the most memorable, and life changing one we’ve ever had. I am constantly looking for portraits that effectively capture the magic that we left behind when we moved from Japan, and all of our travels in Southeast Asia….thank you so much for making me smile ear to ear. I cannot wait to see more
March 27, 2012 at 8:35 am
I always think that you would have to be a ‘certain type of person’ to be a portrait photographer, you can approach strangers and get them to agree to letting you photograph them !
I can see by how open they ( the subjects) are to you … that you must be a really nice, easy going guy. The photos wouldn’t be so beautiful if they didn’t soften to you …
Really enjoying your blog/ photos / the slide show on home page ( no clicking required ..) , thanks a lot, Tanya
March 27, 2012 at 10:43 am
I try to be nice and easy-going, but I don’t always succeed. I sometimes think that the camera brings out the best in me though. Thanks for visiting.
March 30, 2012 at 6:25 pm
As a person who is seriously considering quitting his office job and teaching English (albeit in South Korea), you’ve inspired me Jon. Glad I found your work from the WP front page. Keep it up, mate.
Cheers,
Ben
March 27, 2012 at 4:30 pm
Go for it! Life isn’t always easy here, but I can honestly say that I’ve never once wished I was back in my old job.
March 30, 2012 at 6:29 pm
The colours in your images are so rich and beautiful.
March 30, 2012 at 7:26 pm
I love your pictures, very nice. Being new to blogging, I am curious. I noticed the way that you display your tags with font sizes that vary, how do you do that? Thanks.
April 2, 2012 at 9:36 pm
I use the ‘tag cloud’ widget. It might not be available for every theme, but you can find widgets under Appearance in your dashboard menu. Hope that helps, and thanks for visiting.
April 3, 2012 at 8:13 am
I love your blog and I nominated you for the WordPress Versatile Blogger Award!
http://greenboxgarden.wordpress.com/versatile-blogger-award/
April 4, 2012 at 4:46 am
Thank you! (belatedly)
May 16, 2012 at 6:56 pm
Hi John, I have nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award – https://colorodyssey.wordpress.com/2012/05/04/versatile-blogger-award-living-singapore/
Cheers!
Ritu
May 4, 2012 at 3:39 pm
Thanks!
May 16, 2012 at 6:56 pm
G’day Jon
I somehow stumbled upon your site a few days before I went to Vietnam, and you made me even more excited of the photographic journey that lay ahead of me. Wow, what an amazingly beautiful place (and people) to visit. I’m already thinking about returning.
Great people portraits, Jon. I wish I’d had the time to get some of the intimate and relaxed portraits you’ve shown. What’s your favourite lens?
I have some of my results online, many of which were taken using my 70-200 f4 . Please have a look at http://www.mcvitty.net/travel
Making a big assumption here, but do you have a favourite Lightroom preset, and/or would you be willing to share?
Regards,
Paul
May 7, 2012 at 11:48 am
Hi Paul, looks like you had a great trip. I used to live in Hanoi before I came south, and your pictures of the north made me quite nostalgic, even though I was only up there last weekend for a quick visit.
I use a 50mm and a 24-105mm lens (on a Canon 5D). Today, my 50mm is my favourite, but I’m very fickle, so that could all change. I find it’s great for street portraits – I can get in close for a tight head and shoulders shot, or step back a bit and include some context. It helps to create that intimacy you mentioned, because it forces me to get in close and interact with people.
I don’t really use the Lightroom presets, except for sharpening. But I do have a simple preset of my own, which I tend to use as a starting point – this just increases the contrast with the tone curve, and lowers the saturation.
Thanks for the support,
Jon
May 16, 2012 at 7:29 pm
I nominated you for the Liebster Blog Award! Check it out here: http://omnomnombakedgoods.wordpress.com/2012/05/10/liebster-blog-award/
By accepting the award, it would be nice for the blogger to:
1. Acknowledge the person that gave the award and link back to their blog.
2, Copy and paste the award to your own site.
3. Share the award with 5 blogs of your choice and let them know by commenting on their blog.
May 11, 2012 at 6:15 am
Thank you!
May 16, 2012 at 6:56 pm
Amazing photographs Jon. Love all of them!
May 23, 2012 at 3:18 pm
Hi Jon, I have nominated you for the ‘One Lovely Blog Award’. Please come by to collect the award here – https://colorodyssey.wordpress.com/2012/06/21/blogger-awards/
Cheers!
Ritu
June 21, 2012 at 10:05 pm
Beautiful, beautiful photos of the people and street life of Viet Nam. I look forward to seeing more.
June 27, 2012 at 6:31 am
BEAUTIFUL–love the connection you portrait!
July 2, 2012 at 7:50 am
Hi John,
I just came across your blog and thought I would take a minute to say hi, thanks for sharing and wow, your work is cool and your blog certainly worthy of a follow:)
If you have time, please stop by my photo blogs http://reflectionsofchina.wordpress.com and http://moreimagesfromme.wordpress.com and let me know your thoughts as I’m always looking for inspiration and critique on my work.
Thanks again, Regards Mark
July 2, 2012 at 5:11 pm
Thanks Mark, I appreciate the kind words. Really like your images from China, especially the black and white ones, as I’m in a bit of a black and white mood myself at the moment. Looking forward to your pictures from India too.
July 11, 2012 at 6:11 pm
Hi Jon, I just wanted to let you know that I have nominated you for the Sunshine Award. I love your photography…beautiful images! You can check out my blog post about the award for more info. Congratulations!
July 11, 2012 at 1:04 pm
Thank you Cheri.
July 11, 2012 at 6:26 pm
I have nominated you for the Sunshine Award. Details on my blog http://mycoignofvantage.wordpress.com/
July 17, 2012 at 8:13 am
Hi
I have come across your blog via a nomination from ‘mycoignofvantage’. I like your style of photography and the wonderful colour in your photos. You have a great blog and I will be dropping by often.
July 17, 2012 at 2:25 pm
Hi Jon, I just came across your blog and am enjoying it. Great photography from one of my favorite places. I particularly like your b&w.
July 27, 2012 at 9:56 am
Những bức hình rất đẹp. Thật vui vì cảm nhận được rằng anh rất yêu Việt Nam, cảm ơn vì điều đó.
Thích bức hình người nông dân ở Hội An, rất ấn tượng.
August 17, 2012 at 1:23 am
Alo Jon
I shared with my readers one of your blog posts using one of your shots here: http://www.vietnam720.info/blogs/2012/8/25/vietnam-blogs.html
Hope you are cool with it. Will remove immediately if you prefer not.
Thank you in advance for your permission and keep giving us good blogs on Vietnam please?
Best Regards,
Ben
August 25, 2012 at 9:20 am
Hi Ben, that’s no problem at all, I appreciate the link. Thanks!
August 26, 2012 at 5:27 pm
That is great you are following your dreams. I look forward to following you.
September 14, 2012 at 10:55 pm
Stumbled upon your website, in total awe! Stunning pictures and the overall feeling… Was amazing to flick through pictures of a faraway Saigon, when stuck in London.
September 16, 2012 at 2:40 pm
What caught my eyes was your Gravatar… cause i’ve got a similar one LOL [P.U.R.E. COINCIDENCE ?!?]
September 17, 2012 at 12:11 am
It’s so great to finally meet someone in the blog-sphere that knows how to spell ‘Jon’ the right way. We don’t need no stinking H’s. Good job with the blog too. Keep up the good work.
September 17, 2012 at 11:57 am
Hiya Jon – I nominated you and your awesome blog for the One Lovely Blogger Award! For more details:
http://saresknipping.wordpress.com/2012/10/27/one-lovely-blog-award/
October 27, 2012 at 6:25 am
You really have amazing pictures!! Super inspiring..! We went to Vietnam last year..amazing environment. Greets from Holland!
October 29, 2012 at 7:27 pm
Great photos! Love how you have captured the people, the culture, the colors …a feast for the eyes.
November 1, 2012 at 5:41 am
i really like your lovely pictures of my people and my country and would like to follow your blog, if you don’t mind. (:
November 2, 2012 at 8:31 pm
love love love your blog and would like to nominate you for the Inspiring Blog Award!!! I just got one and thought I would pay it forward to you!
http://thelifebus.com/2012/11/11/the-very-inspiring-blogger-award-wow/
November 12, 2012 at 1:39 am
Hello! Just saw your blog, and love it already
you have lovely pics and your career change is very inspiring!
Cheers from London
November 20, 2012 at 12:17 am
Hi Jon,
I’ll be in Vietnam for the first time in 2 weeks. Can’t wait! 2 weeks of nothing but photography for me. I’ll keep your blog in mind while I’m there.
Mark (with a K)
December 1, 2012 at 10:24 pm
I’ve nominated you for an award over on my blog today, nothing you have to do if you choose not to, I just wanted to bring your fantastic blog to other peoples attention. http://angelinem.wordpress.com/2012/12/17/christmas-gifts/
December 18, 2012 at 11:19 am
Thank you!
January 9, 2013 at 6:26 am
Surely it takes guts to just stand up and leave one country for the other. I have done that once in my life, but I’m not so brave now. Admire people who do so though! Great blog, keep it up, best wishes from London.
January 9, 2013 at 1:53 pm
I love your pictures!!
March 25, 2013 at 7:09 pm
Thanks, Uday!
March 30, 2013 at 12:32 am
Gorgeous shots! Love your spirit and tenacity! http://www.gustatori.com
April 5, 2013 at 9:36 pm
Hi there Jon. I really enjoy your people photographs. Will be waiting for more.
Regards. Dawid
May 4, 2013 at 2:43 am
Fantastic photos Jon! Love it!
May 9, 2013 at 10:45 pm
I look forward to seeing more of your photography and your journey in life.
May 12, 2013 at 12:11 am
Your work is absolutely astounding. Makes me miss southeast asia so much!! Blessings on your journey of creation and beauty!
May 14, 2013 at 11:14 pm