Markets are always great fun to photograph. There’s plenty of colour and always interesting people. I love to use a fast lens to get some sharp close ups of the interesting fruit, veg and fish. And of course, it’s always useful to pick up some good value food while you’re there!

Shanghai feels about as communist as Bury St Edmunds. It’s a fantastic city full of exciting buildings, bright lights, lovely restaurants and luxury shops. (Shanghai that is, not Bury St Edmunds which is a small market town in Suffolk, UK). 

Karl Marx would be turning in his grave to see the business suits scuttling between their shiny office buildings nattering on their iPhones. Or the expats jumping out of their Mercedes for a quick pancake at the splendid La Creperie in the French Concession.

There is little evidence of the austere grey buildings that dominate parts of Beijing or the smog that blankets the capital city. Shanghai feels like one of the most interesting and modern cities I’ve visited - the only downside is the inordinate number of Starbucks! 

A great city - I’m definitely going back.

This week the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge visited Singapore. The crowds turned out to see them in the sweltering sunshine at the new park, Gardens by the Bay. It was a great occasion for expat Brits to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

The other day I found a great new location for shoots - an old disused railway track. Up until last year this track was the last section of the line from Bangkok to Singapore. The terminal has now been moved to the north of Singapore and most of the track (owned jointly by Singapore and Malaysia) has been sold for development, as has the lovely old station. I took my sister and her family down there a few days ago for an 8am shoot. The light was lovely and I’ll definitely be using it again.

Earlier this year I ventured down to Little India here in Singapore to watch the Thaipusam festival.

This Hindu festival focusses on faith, endurance and penance. Hindus give thanks to their god Lord Murugan and go to different lengths to demonstrate their devotion….some were simply carrying pots of milk on their heads. More dramatically others were pierced with skewers through their arms, tongues and cheeks and some were even carrying fruit attached to their bodies with hooks.

The most devout were carrying huge, heavy elaborate metal frameworks which were attached to their bodies with chains and hooks. These last worshippers were accompanied by groups of younger hindus playing instruments, singing and cheering.

It’s a truly fascinating festival with a great atmosphere and well worth photographing. I shall certainly be heading down to Little India again for Thaipusam 2013.