Pripyat: 21 Years after Chernobyl. A silver birch tree grows through the floor on the terrace of Hotel Polissia. The hammer and sickle is visible atop the distant building. 50×33cm, Edition of 25 + 1 A/P

150 images were chosen for exhibition from Over 2500 individual images were received from photographers representing the six continents. From landscape and portraiture to documentary and fashion and everything in between, the Summershow celebrates the photographic talent of established names and aspiring photographers alike.

The Foto8 Summershow 2010 runs from 26 July to 4 September

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The image is for sale at £355 framed or £295 unframed in an edition of 25

VIEW MORE IMAGES from  Pripyat (Pripiat) 21 years after Chernobyl

Photography © Quintin Lake

Ornate gateway on the Trung Dao (Central path) Bridge, carved with dragons slithering up and down them, leading to Thai Hoa Palace, Hue Citadel / Imperial City, Hue, Vietnam

Yellow enamelled roof tiles of the Thai Hoa Palace, Hue Citadel / Imperial City, Hue, Vietnam

Vietnamese money left as an offering in the ancient bronze cauldron in the courtyard, Halls of the Mandarins

The Throne Palace, also known as the Palace of Supreme Harmony, was the nerve center for the Emperor’s court during its heyday. Built in 1805 by Emperor Gia Long, the Throne Palace was first used in 1806 for the emperor’s coronation. The building is 144 feet long, 100 feet wide, and 38 feet tall, supported by lacquered-red columns entwined with gilded dragons. Over the throne hangs a carved board bearing Chinese characters reading “Palace of Supreme Harmony”.

The insulation and acoustics of the Throne Palace are amazing for a building its age. The Throne Palace enjoyed cool temperatures in the summer, and warm temperatures during the winter season. And anyone standing at the exact center of the Palace – where the throne was normally placed – could hear sounds from any point in the palace. The Throne Palace has been diminished by time and the ravages of war: rains and floods common to Central Vietnam have damaged some parts of the palace, and serious damage was done by American bombs during the Vietnam War.

VIEW MORE IMAGES of Thai Hoa Palace, Imperial City, Hue

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Photography © Quintin Lake, 2010

Royal Library or Emperor's Reading Room (Thai Binh Lau) decorated with ceramic mosaics in the Forbidden Purple City, Hue Citadel / Imperial City, Hue, Vietnam

Royal Library or Emperor's Reading Room (Thai Binh Lau) in the Forbidden Purple City, Hue Citadel / Imperial City, Hue, Vietnam

The Royal Reading room (Thai Binh Lau) was the only building to survive the ravages of the 20th century. Both the French reoccupation and American bombs failed to bring it down.

Thai Binh Lau was first built by the Emperor Thieu Tri between 1841 and 1847. The Emperor Khai Dinh later restored the temple in 1921, and civil authorities continued restoration efforts in the early 1990s. In the old days, the Emperors used to retire to Thai Binh Lau to read books and write letters.

VIEW MORE IMAGES of the Emperor’s Reading Room, Imperial City, Hue

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Photography © Quintin Lake, 2010

Bridge over the moat leading to Ngo Mon Gate with Five Phoenix Watchtower above, Hue Citadel / Imperial City, Hue, Vietnam

The Ngo Mon Gate is a massive structure in front of the Hue Citadel that also served as a royal viewing platform for court ceremonies. Two of the five entrances that cut through the thick stone ramparts serve as entry and exit points for tourists. The largest, middle gate is barred – reserved for the Emperor’s use. The two entrances flanking the Emperor’s gate were reserved for mandarins and court officials, while the outermost entrances were reserved for soldiers and war materiel.

The “Belvedere of the Five Phoenixes”, the Emperor’s private viewing platform on top of the gate, hosted the emperor and his retinue during important court ceremonies. No women were allowed at this level; from this high vantage point, the Emperor and his mandarins observed military exercises and awarded examination passers.

The platform has also seen its fair share of modern history. It was here that the last Emperor of Vietnam, Bao Dai, abdicated in favor of the revolutionary government headed by Ho Chi Minh, on August 30, 1945.

VIEW IMAGES of Ngo Mon Gate & Five Phoenix Watchtower, Hue

VIEW IMAGES of Hue Citadel & Imperial City, Hue, Vietnam

Photography © Quintin Lake, 2010

The Mieu Temple devoted to ten Emperors of the Nguyen dynasty, courtyard and Incense burner. Hue Citadel / Imperial City, Hue, Vietnam

On the death anniversaries of the emperors, the reigning emperor and his retinue would perform the appropriate ceremonies at The To Mieu. The lacquered altars in the main gallery each honor one of the Nguyen Emperors. The altars originally numbered only seven – the French overlords prevented the Nguyen emperors from installing altars to honor anti-French emperors Ham Nghi, Thanh Thai, and Duy Tan. The three missing altars were included in 1959, after the departure of the French.

VIEW MORE IMAGES of Mieu Temple, Imperial City, Hue

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Photography © Quintin Lake, 2010

Hung Mieu Temple, Hue Citadel / Imperial City, Hue, Vietnam

Floating landscape sculpture, Hung Mieu Temple, Hue Citadel / Imperial City, Hue, Vietnam

Located north of the Mieu, Hung Mieu was devoted to the woship of King Gia Long’s parents (Lord Nguyen Phuc Luan and his wife). It was constructed in 1821 by King Minh Mang. Hung Temple as seen today was re-constructed in 1951 by lady Tu Cung (the last queen mother of the Nguyen dynasty), but it’s not according to original architecture.

VIEW MORE IMAGES of Hung Mieu Temple, Imperial City, Hue

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Photography © Quintin Lake, 2010

Gateway to Hien Lam pavilion, Hue Citadel / Imperial City, Hue, Vietnam

Nine Dynastic Urns, Hue Citadel / Imperial City, Hue, Vietnam

The Hien Lam Cac Pavilion (Pavilion of Everlasting Clarity) was built in 1821-22 in memory of the mandarins who served the Nguyen dynasty. At 13m in height, this is the tallest building in the citadel. In front of the pavilion stand the nine dynastic urns, which were cast in bronze in 1835-37 and which each weigh between 2 and 2.5t. Each urn is dedicated to an emperor, symbolising one of his qualities.

VIEW MORE IMAGES of Hien Lam pavilion & the Nine Dynastic Urns

VIEW IMAGES of Hue Citadel & Imperial City, Hue, Vietnam

Photography © Quintin Lake, 2010

Flag Tower (Cot Co) flying the vietnamese flag above a man in canoe, Hue Citadel / Imperial City, Hue, Vietnam

Looming over the Citadel at a height of 120 ft (37m), the Flag Tower or Cot Co has dominated Hue’s skyline since 1809, when Emperor Gia Long erected it over a big 59 ft brick redoubt. On Jan 31 1968, during the Tet Offensive, Cot Co achieved international recognition when the communist forces seized the Citadel, hoisting the National Liberation Front’s yellowed-starred banner on the Flag Tower’s mast.

VIEW MORE IMAGES of Flag Tower or Cot Co Hue, Vietnam

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Photography © Quintin Lake, 2010

Entrance courtyard of Thien Hau Temple, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Porcelain dragons and figurines expressing themes from Chinese religion and legends on the roof of Thien Hau Temple, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

The pink tissue paper prayer flags, contain the names of people who have made donations for the upkeep of the temple, Chua Thien Hau Temple, Ho Chi Minh City, Saigon, Vietnam

Smoking conical incense coils and urns at Chua Thien Hau Temple in Cho Lon, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Conical incense coils hanging on wires below the roof at Chua Thien Hau Temple in Cho Lon, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

A family lighting conical incense coils and sticks at Chua Thien Hau Temple in Cho Lon, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

The roof is decorated with small delicately fashioned porcelain figurines expressing themes from Chinese religion and legends. Lanterns and wooden models of Chinese theaters hang over the entrance.Chùa Bà Thiên Hậu (The Pagoda of the Lady Thien Hau) is a Chinese style temple located on Nguyen Trai Street in the Cho Lon (Chinatown) district of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. It is dedicated to Thiên Hậu, the Lady of the Sea (“Tian Hou” as transcribed from the Chinese), who is also known as “Mazu”.

VIEW MORE IMAGES of Thien Hau Temple

Photography © Quintin Lake, 2010

Carved stone dragon pillars by burning incense, Ha Chuong Hoi Quan Pagod

Burning incense cauldron, Ha Chuong Hoi Quan, Fijian Pagoda, Ho Chi Minh City

Detail Ceramic relief of the roof apex of Ha Chuong Hoi Quan, Fijian Pagoda contrast with modern towers, Ho Chi Minh City

The typical Fujian Ha Chuong Hoi Quan Pagoda  is dedicated to Thien Hau, who was born in Fujian. The four carved stone pillars, wrapped in painted dragons, were made in China and brought to Vietnam by boat. There are interesting murals to each side of the main altar and impressive ceramic relief scenes on the roof.

VIEW MORE IMAGES of Ha Chuong Hoi Quan Pagoda

Photography © Quintin Lake, 2010