Night markets (by Joe)

Nearly every town we've visited across South East Asia has had a night market. These set up along the streets in late afternoon as the days cool, and carry on late into the night.

They can be a bit touristy in places, but are often more 'genuine' and - regardless - are always a hub of activity selling clothes, food, ornaments and lots of other stuff. They're also social hubs and a really nice feature of the area.

You tend to come across a lot of good-natured haggling, and the atmosphere usually puts you in mind of the build up to Christmas in the UK: busy shopping in dark afternoons and evenings, though here of course it all takes place in warm evening air.

Night markets have been a real challenge for an amateur photographer - a flash just obliterates the atmosphere so (given the lack of the light) you need to do long exposures - and these are tricky: get it wrong and the whole thing is a jumbled mess; but get it right and the movement can (just about) bring out something of the atmosphere and sense of dynamism.

Here's a few of the better ones (top two, Krabi, southern Thailand; bottom three Loaung Phabang, central Laos):

Joe