Last night, the finalist exhibition of the Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year 2015 was held at The Mall Galleries in London. Unfortunately I couldn’t attend this year’s prestigious event but I am pleased to say that I was awarded third prize in the Politics of Food category.

The prize-winning image above was taken in north west Laos and shows table of wild food openly onsale in the market. One of the first things you see when entering the airport at Vientiane is a huge sign about wildlife trafficking. Wild food always has been a part of the diet in Laos, especially with the rural communities of the north. Although a table of python, civet cat, bamboo rat and an assortment of other jungle creatures may look gruesome, the real issue is not local consumption but mass smuggling of anything that moves to feed the voracious appetite of China. Corruption and incompetence ensure that little is being done to address the problem.

I also had another image on show at The Mall Galleries in the Politics of Food category. The “Highly Commended” shot, “chickens on a bike” was taken in Yangon, Myanmar and shows the indifference to animal suffering that is frequently encountered in Asia.

Shortlisted but not making it into the final selection were these “Commended” images:

“Man versus manta ray” – an enormous ray cut up on a quayside in Myanmar which was in the Politics of Food category.

“Crabs for somtam”, an image taken in Phuket Town, Thailand was shortlisted for the Cream of the Crop category.

“Just one more spoonful” of a mother feeding her daughter in Kompong Cham morning market, Cambodia…

…and “street-side lunch” from Yangon, Myanmar – both from the Food for the Family category.

The above photographs and my extensive library of food and food culture images are available through my agency, StockFood.

You can see all the finalist images online here or can pop along to The Mall Galleries, just of Trafalgar Square in London. The exhibition is free and open to the public until the 10th of May.

One of my favourite places to photograph daily life is Yangon.

The city has some excellent street markets.

As you would expect for a coastal city and one close to the delta’s many rivers, there’s no shortage of fish in the markets.

Each day a fresh catch of sea and freshwater fish hit the markets and is quickly snapped up by Yangon’s home cooks.

Nothing goes to waste. Heads and bones are sold for making curries and stock.

You can see more of my market shots from Myanmar and elsewhere in the region at www.stockfood.co.uk Follow @mickshippen and @stockfood_UK

Two young novice nuns collecting alms in downtown Yangon.

Well before daybreak, young girls in Yangon are working hard filleting a haul of freshwater fish from the Ayeyarwady River.

Sunday morning in Yangon is a relaxed affair.

For the guys it’s all about reading the Sunday papers.

Newspaper stalls on street corners provide plastic stools for their customers.

Others opt for a tea shop where they can enjoy a brew while they catch up on the news.

For its palpable energy, vibrant markets and cornucopia of street food, Yangon knocks Bangkok into a cocked hat. Since I started visiting more than a decade ago it has remained one of my favourite cities.

I happily spend all day wandering around photographing street food vendors and markets, and hunting out tasting local dishes.

In the early morning and late afternoon, markets are packed with shoppers looking for the best fresh produce.

Chicken and pork are the most popular meats but there are Muslim butchers specialising in beef and mutton.

There is an abundance of small neighbourhood markets to explore.

As Thailand, pickled and sour fruits with a chilli dip are popular.

Food stalls selling rice and curry, the ubiquitous mohinga noodle soup, and tea abound.

Eating out has always been popular but since the country opened up streets stalls and small restaurants have flourished. There are some excellent places to eat and some very interesting regional dishes to discover.

In the evening you can enjoy a version of hotpot, simply add stock and simmer.

Most cooking in the streets is still done of charcoal stoves.

My working day in front of the computer is usually punctuated by cups of freshly ground coffee and the occasional brew of Earl Grey tea.

In Myanmar, it is tea that fuels the nation; that and betel nut of course. Tea stalls and tea shops abound, and no meal or snack is complete without a cup of tea.

It is particularly popular in the late afternoon and early evening when the tables are set out in the streets and people gather for tea and a chat after work.

 It is usually served black or milky with a liberal splash of tinned milk.

Snack foods such as samosas are often served and there’s always a plate of fresh or dried chillies to spice things up a bit.

More often that not, the large tea kettles are brought to the boil on charcoal stoves.

I’m part way through editing a vast amount of food images from Yangon. The shot above was the first of a couple of thousand, and was taken almost the moment I stepped outside the hotel door. It seemed to be a good omen.

Riding on a wave of optimism and investment, Yangon is flourishing. Since my last visit just over a year ago, the markets have become even more vibrant and crowded, and the street food and restaurant scene has grown.

It’s a great city for a culinary adventure, and even better if you love documenting all things foodie with your camera. Everywhere you turn there is a food shot wanting to be captured. For sheer visual excitement, it knocks Bangkok into the shadows.

Earlier this month I spent five days snapping market scenes and street food, and I might add, munching my way through an incredible variety of Myanmar cuisine. Delights included regional Shan, Kachin, and Rakhine dishes.

Myanmar has the potential to become renowned for its cuisine, which at the moment is relatively unknown, and Yangon to be a truly great food city.

There’s a bit of work to do though. Street food hygiene is pretty diabolical and many traditional dishes use a ridiculous amount of oil, but for taste and sheer variety, it’s a fascinating place to eat your way around. There is simply no better way to discover a city and its culture than through its food.

I’ll try and post a few more shots over the weekend. I might just add that the live yoghurt made in the earthenware pots below is superb. In fact I bought some of the pots and have been making it at home in this way since I returned. It’s not quite on a par with the outstanding buffalo curd yoghurt you get at the roadside in Sri Lanka though…

Sometimes it’s not always good to know what is going on around you; especially in you are a chicken in Yangon.

I’ve had  some feedback from the Wanderlust Travel Photo of the Year 2013 competition which was held last night at Earls Court in London.

The event included a presentation of each image in the show with input from  Simon Calder, Senior Travel Editor of The Independent newspaper, and the editors of Wanderlust magazine.