Today, we’re excited to introduce you to the work of Gil Kreslavsky, a self-taught street, travel, and documentary photographer with over 15 years of experience, much of it spent across Asia. As he shared with Bored Panda, he spends about six months a year there, where “behind every corner something unexpected is always waiting.”
Kreslavsky’s work is rooted in capturing “real, everyday human moments—small gestures, layered scenes, and the street’s natural chaos that continuously transforms into something else.” He describes his approach as candid and storytelling-based, explaining: “I try not to interfere, allowing everything to unfold on its own.” The photographer also added: “When I’m not out photographing in Asia, I dedicate my time to teaching and helping others grow through photography.”
Scroll down and explore a selection of wonderful photographs we prepared for you—images that are both realistic and artistic.
More info: Instagram | hub.kreslavsky.com | skool.com
#1
Scene from a tea house.
Chengdu, Sichuan
Image source: gilkreslavsky
#2
Looks like diagonals and the rule of thirds work. Or perhaps it’s the magical Varanasi morning light?
Image source: gilkreslavsky
#3
One curious cow posing for the camera.
Image source: gilkreslavsky
#4
I think I haven’t posted photographs from Kolkata for a while.
Image source: gilkreslavsky
#5
The carriers of happiness for children.
You can’t pass unnoticed near these guys.
Image source: gilkreslavsky
#6
Using the primary color blue to draw attention to my subjects. Do you use colors to draw attention? Shot in Varanasi
Image source: gilkreslavsky
#7
Happy to have the opportunity to explore Kolkata again and again.
Image source: gilkreslavsky
#8
One is enjoying the moment, the other is full of fear and worry. That same moment is experienced in such a different way.
Aren’t we the same?
Image source: gilkreslavsky
#9
Happy to be in Varanasi, and while I’m warming up the engines for the upcoming workshop, I want to share some images taken here on previous visits.
Image source: gilkreslavsky
#10
Walking in the puddles.
Varanasi – Kashi – Banaras
Image source: gilkreslavsky
#11
Stories from the street.
Image source: gilkreslavsky
#12
“Transient Encounters” captures the brief, often unnoticed interactions between people and their surroundings during smoking breaks.
Image source: gilkreslavsky
#13
Shutter Speed – The Key to Controlling Motion One of the most important things I teach my students is how to control motion in a photograph. This can be achieved by understanding how shutter speed affects your image. A fast shutter speed freezes action, while a slow shutter speed introduces blur, which can be used for creative effects. Depending on your vision and the scene you’re capturing, you can choose to freeze the moment in sharp detail or introduce blur to convey a sense of movement or abstraction. Recently, I realized I haven’t been using this technique as much as I should in my own work. I encourage you to experiment with it; I will do the same!
Image source: gilkreslavsky
#14
Light and smoke. One of the best visuals for photography.
Image source: gilkreslavsky
#15
In the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, there is a special hour when you can witness the imprint of the window ornament on the church floor. In normal times, the church is full of people, and the effect of that sight disappears among them, but during Covid, that holy place was often empty, with only a few devoted souls.
Image source: gilkreslavsky
#16
Masan Holi.
Image source: gilkreslavsky
#17
A group of nuns on the streets of old Jerusalem.
Image source: gilkreslavsky
#18
Low-angle environmental portrait.
Pushkar, Ajmer, Rajasthan
Image source: gilkreslavsky
#19
Landed in Delhi for another winter session in beautiful India. I almost forgot how beautiful the winter light can be and how photogenic New Delhi is.
Image source: gilkreslavsky
#20
Kolkata lets you play with color combinations like no other place.
Image source: gilkreslavsky
#21
The backstage of a Chinese opera feels like stepping into another world. In small, crowded rooms filled with mirrors and the scent of makeup, performers sit quietly, turning themselves into heroes, villains, and legends. Over the years, in different corners of China, Vietnam, and Thailand, I found myself drawn to these spaces. Watching the slow, deliberate transformation, bringing a character to life.
Image source: gilkreslavsky
#22
Moments from Yangon
Image source: gilkreslavsky
#23
Varanasi diaries.
Harischandra Ghat.
Goats are also people.
Image source: gilkreslavsky
#24
The boss.
Image source: gilkreslavsky
#25
When patterns are the same color.
Image source: gilkreslavsky
#26
One of the most fascinating subjects to photograph in India are the Naga sadhus. Their ritual of smoking the chillum makes for a captivating subject in photography. They are often hard to find, but occasionally emerge during big gatherings and visit cities like Varanasi.
Image source: gilkreslavsky
#27
The last few days were quite foggy so I found myself shooting a lot of portraits. Something I haven’t done for a while, but perhaps should do more.
Image source: gilkreslavsky
#28
Fog is one of the best helpers to layout mystery into the frame.
Image source: gilkreslavsky
#29
Love exploring Varanasi. You don’t really need to search for anything. You stop for a few minutes and a story unfolds in front of you.
Image source: gilkreslavsky
#30
A short post dedicated to the iconic Kolkata Yellow Taxi.
Image source: gilkreslavsky
#31
Around Boudha.
Image source: gilkreslavsky
#32
This morning Pre-Shivaratri vibes in Pashupatinsth.
My head is spinning, the smokes are strong.
Image source: gilkreslavsky
#33
The Buddhist area in Kathmandu.
Image source: gilkreslavsky
#34
Playing with mirrors.
Image source: gilkreslavsky
#35
When you start your journey in photography, one of the first things you hear is that you should shoot only during the golden hour because there is soft light and hard light, and soft light is better. But the truth is that light comes in many variations—some are suitable for the moment, and some are not.
You can shoot at any time of the day; you just need to understand your limitations at that moment.
Image source: gilkreslavsky
#36
Dragons in District 5.
Saigon 2025.
Image source: gilkreslavsky
#37
The country DT 🇺🇸 never heard about.
Well, I did.
Lesotho 🇱🇸 – The Kingdom in The Sky.
Image source: gilkreslavsky
#38
Mumbai patterns.
Image source: gilkreslavsky
#39
Kumbharwada Mumbai
Image source: gilkreslavsky
#40
Did you know that you can use a single bold color to grab the viewer’s attention?
Image source: gilkreslavsky
#41
A morning prayer in a small temple in West Bengal. The light comes from a small doorway.
Image source: gilkreslavsky
#42
Behind the glass.
Image source: gilkreslavsky
#43
Burmese Buddhist nuns, also known as Thilashin, wear pink robes as part of their religious attire. The color signifies their monastic identity and distinguishes them from monks, who typically wear saffron robes. The nuns shave their heads like men and lead lives of simplicity. They also take a set of precepts and live a monastic life similar to bhikkhunis, but without full ordination status.
Interestingly, Thilashin are not considered bhikkhunis (fully ordained female monks), because the bhikkhuni ordination lineage in Theravada Buddhism is believed to have died out centuries ago.
The reestablishment of bhikkhuni ordination has been a topic of debate and controversy within the Theravada tradition.
In Myanmar, the monastic community largely adheres to traditional interpretations, which recognize only monks (bhikkhus) and novice monks (samaneras) as fully ordained.
Image source: gilkreslavsky
#44
Amazing Kolkata.
Image source: gilkreslavsky
#45
From the streets of Kolkata.
Image source: gilkreslavsky
#46
At the market.
Image source: gilkreslavsky
#47
Visiting Kumbharwada.
Image source: gilkreslavsky
#48
I love working with ambient light.
My 3 favorite shots from this morning. Not sure which one I like best. Which one do you like?
From the workshop scouting trip in Sri Lanka.
Image source: gilkreslavsky
#49
You know I’m a big fan of breaking down my work into geometrical forms, and today it’s about circles and oval forms. Although there is a great moment in the photo, I believe that the circles are adding an extra layer of playfulness to the image. Are you using circles in your photography?
Shot on the streets of Kolkata.
Image source: gilkreslavsky
#50
Moment from Cairo.
Image source: gilkreslavsky
