Articles by: Joe Nafis

Animals of Koh Phayam

I shot this video over 7 weeks in April – May of 2023. It was exciting to focus on only the animals. The bats were specifically interesting as they roosted in just a few trees in one location. In the evening they would all start to get active and finally leave the trees in search for food. The hornbills are pretty much everywhere but you have to be ready to shoot as they swoop in […]

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Hà Giang Cao Bằng Motorbike Tour with Pete Ballentine

  In early August Pete invited me to join his ride through Hà Giang Cao and Bằng Vietnam in exchange for some drone flying and tips and advice on filmmaking. Of course I said yes! I had always wanted to do more motorbiking around Vietnam but never got around to it. Pete had previously done 5 long tours through the Sapa region and in Hà Giang so I knew he would be an excellent person to join for […]

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Neighborhood Block Party Photos

In early July DJ Mizuyo was playing at an all-inclusive block party in nearby Sathorn when the promoter approached me and asked if I could help take photos as they had not hired one themselves. I obliged and had a lovely night with amazing music from Foli Sosso and African food cooked by the event planners. We got lucky there was no rain as the venue was beautifully set up for the occasion. Enjoy the […]

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Koh Tao – Crystal Blue Isle

A tiny island in the gulf of Thailand, Koh Tao is simply stunning. It is considered the best place in Southeast Asia to get certified for diving…

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Khao Lak – Jungle and Sea

Lockdown in Thailand means you get to enjoy your surroundings. Khao Lak is a beautiful place to be “stuck” for a lockdown. While the national parks were mostly closed, the beach was open with surf and there was one stretch of the Lam Ru National Park that was open for the full fare. It is a jungle walk from the main entrance down to Little White Sandy Beach and you come out at the main […]

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Koh Phayam – Magic Island

There is an island where it rains cashews and the sand is millions of tiny seashells. The wind carries the squabbling of great hornbills and salty sea breeze of the Andaman Sea. Rainbows are around every corner and the Milky Way galaxy shines bright in the dark sky at night. This is a real place called Koh Phayam. I went to join some friends who had recently flown into Thailand from Germany and finished their […]

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Thailand 2020 – COVID-19

To most people Covid-19 started in March 2020. For me it was January 2020 when I was in Shanghai, China. We had early reports from Wuhan of some kind of virus outbreak and the city was under lockdown. With no experience of a pandemic we really had no idea what to expect or what it meant. Soon Shanghai and most cities in China were under full lockdown. In my apartment building we needed a “pass” […]

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Anambas Archipelago – Indonesia with Burma Boating

In early October I was invited to join Burma Boating on their exploratory sail in the Anambas Archipelago. They were looking for a new chartering area for their clients and knew of the archipelago in the South China Sea. It is mostly known for vast oil resources but not well-known for tourism despite its incredible snorkeling and diving spots. We climbed aboard the 95-foot superyacht Aphrodite with Australian captain Simon and headed out for 5 […]

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California – Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks

In September 2019 I headed to California for some nature. My mother, ex-girlfriend and I packed up the camping gear and set off. We camped in Yosemite National Park (Hodgdon Meadow), getting very lucky to acquire a campsite without reserving one (we were told they were booked 5-6 months in advance!) We hiked in and around Yosemite Valley for 3 days and enjoyed campfires at night. We hiked the 8.5 mile Panorama Trail from Glacier […]

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Awei Pila Resort Shoot

In mid-March 2019 I headed to Kyun Pila in the Mergui Archipelago, Myanmar to create a video for the luxurious Awei Pila Resort. The concept was to promote the island which currently has only two developments: Awei Pila Resort and a Moken village. The Moken are the traditional inhabitants of the Mergui Archipelago and are sometimes referred to as “sea-gypsies.” They have inhabited the islands for generations and are known for their nomadic lifestyle and […]

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