Photography

and video.Film & Equipment. Mongolia is a very photogenic country. Major brands of print and even Polaroid film are available in shops in Ulaanbaator (but nowhere in the countryside), though prices tend to be high, and you should always check the expiry date.Several places around Sukhbaatar Square will process print film cheaply, but the quality may not be great; it's best to wait until you get home.Technical Tips. If you do a jeep trip on an unsurfaced road, you can expect plenty of dust, so keep the camera well sealed in a plastic bag. Keep your film out of the Gobi's summer sun and Mongolia's winter freeze, when your automatic cameras and batteries may not work properly. Bring a spare camera battery, as these can stop working because of the cold, even in summer. Restrictions. Photography is prohibited inside monasteries and temples, although you may photograph the exterior building and the monastery grounds. Also you can sometimes obtain special permission to take photographs in exchange for an extra fee. In most museums it is the best to have a look first before you decide whether to fork out the extra tugrik for photographs. Remember that monks and nomads are not photographic models, so if they do not want to be photographed, their wishes should be respected. Always ask before taking a photograph. Be careful about photographing potentially sensitive areas, especially border crossings and military establishments. Photographing People. Mongolians are not especially enthusiastic about having their photos taken. The days of state surveillance are a recent memory, and some Mongolians are ashamed of the shabbiness they and the whole country have been reduced to. Many westerners don't seem to care what the locals think, and poke camera lenses into the face of whoever looks interesting. This has led to arguments and even fist fights. On the other hand, people in the country-side are often happy to pose for photographs if you ask first. If you have promised to send them a copy, please do it, but explain that it may take several months to reach them - some nomads believe that all cameras are (instant) Polaroids. If you promise to send them pictures please fulfill this promise and don't disillusion the nomads.Ask them to write their address in Mongolian on a piece of paper. You can then glue the address on an envelope, and add the word 'Mongolia' in the roman alphabet to ensure that it gets to the right place.

Time.

Mongolia is divided into two time zones: the three western aimags of Bayan-Olgii, Uvs and Khovd are one hour behind Ulaanbaator, while the rest of the country follows Ulaanbaator's time. The standard time in Ulaanbaator is UTC/GMT plus eight hours.

Дата добавления: 2015-07-10