Art Night Print

Tonight being Art Night (see blog from earlier this month concerning Art Night), I worked on a 2008 photo taken in Santa Fe.  Adobe, blue skies, clouds and a white cross with shadows all teamed up for an evocative shot.  I cropped the image a bit to have the cross in the upper third and left third of the image.  What has not adjusted was the placement of the cross in a blue space as though it were separating the clouds.  It was a purposeful composition in terms of its key elements.  Its one of my favorite images and may ultimately be part of a series of "religious symbol" photos.  Or just a nice standalone photograph. 

Refinement

Yesterday, I came across a photograph made earlier this year that I really liked (see yesterday's blog entry).  I've had a print of it on my desk during the past day and while admiring the abstract blue color on the left side of the photo, I realized that it actually distracted from the core image - the two heads as discussed yesterday.  So I've simplified the photo even more - to get to its essence.

Just because you've edit and printed a photo doesn't mean that the artistic effort is done.  If you see a way to improve a photo or view it in a different way, go forth.  It's the wonder of photography!

Today's Print

If you take lots of photographs like I do, you may also fall into the same rut of looking at them once and then "saving" them for some future use. I've been working on a couple of book projects and an exhibition, but also have a lot of other really good photos that don't fit into a specific project.  So, I've decided that I need to relook at two or three of these photos each week and post them to the blog.

Today's photo is of a couple performing a traditional Croatian dance at a special event last spring here on Bainbridge Island.  As you may have gathered for blog entries or from perusing my portfolio, I love dance and taking photos of dancers (and musicians).  I love this photo for its simplicity and color and the look in her eyes.  If the photo had been in sharp focus, I think it would be missing some of the emotion that motion can convey.  And zeroing in on the shoulders and heads simplifies the image - no need to show everything to still convey the meaning.

     

And Now for Animation

There's an interesting new website that allows you to create your own animation of a sort.  Its http://www.xtranormal.com/.  I ran across it recently based on a recommendation to watch a video on "I'm going to be a Travel Writer."  Its one of the most hysterical pieces I've seen in a long time and was produced with the Xtranormal software.  You can watch it at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QN6Khbe_MKM.  Warning: there is some profanity in it.  

I couldn't resist doing my own quick video on the corollary topic: "I'm going to be a Travel Photographer."   A bit more basic, video-wise, but hopefully with a bit of biting humor as well.  (And NO profanity.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64xgSQ4U-AY.

Would Chuck Stay Here Again?

Well, I've finally moved into the video-era, several decades later perhaps, but progress is progress.  I just completed a workshop with Bainbridge Island TV on creating your own YouTube video.  The project I assigned myself was the start of a hotel review series entitled: "Would Chuck Stay Here Again?"  The results are on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WU5rZb9xM0k. 

The workshop entailed learning about the use of video cameras, video techniques, use of iMovie software, and the melding of video, graphics and audio into a cohesive video.  It was really a lot of fun and I'm generally pleased with the result.  With cell phones of the iPhone variety in wide use and with the newest digital SLRs incorporating video capability, its clear that video is taking on a larger role in our photographic life.  If you have the opportunity to take a video workshop in your community, I strongly recommend it.  Enjoy.
 

The Best Camera is the One You Have

This past January, I posted a brief article on how my iPhone was liberating - always having a camera with you means never missing a shot.  Now, admittedly, the quality of an enlargement is not the same as a digital SLR.  But still pretty darn good.  And for web posting, its great. I just went through my first year's worth of iPhone photos - and was really suprised as to see how many decent shots I was able to take with this most basic of cameras.  Here's a sample.  Looking forward to another year with my iPhone by my side (or in my shirt pocket). 

Catching the Train, BART, San Francisco

Sunrise, Mt Rainier from Rich Passage

 The rusting Hyak departing Seattle

Evening Spotlight on Downtown Seattle

Quinessential San Francsico

A Grey, Foggy Morning, Seattle

Rush Hour, or Why I Don't Live in Seattle Anymore

Ocean Bent, Puget Sound, In Camera Believe It or Not

Reflection, Belltown, Seattle

Sunrise from Bainbridge Island Ferry

Port Blakely Cemetery, Bainbridge Island

Art Night

Need motivation to work on your photography?  Given how "busy" our lives are these days, its not surprising that "art" takes a back seat to most other activities in our lives.  And that's just plain sad.  A friend of mine and I have come up with a weekly "Art Night."  We've committed to one another to spend one evening a week pursuing our artistic endeavors and then e-mail each other that evening or the next day with a progress report/update.  Its gentle pressure and usually just enough for each of us to delve into our artistic interests.  Some weeks the night changes, but I don't recall that we've missed a week yet. 

Maybe "Art Night" might work for you too?!
  

Definitely Journey On!

Two acquaintances, one 58 and one 68, passed away from heart attacks during the past 6 weeks.  You just never know when your time will be up.  The obituary for Warren, as published in today's Seattle Times, included a really important insight into his philosophy of life - one that's important for all of us to consider. 

Mr. Argo was born in Fresno, Calif., in 1942, and graduated from Fresno State University with a degree in mechanical engineering. After working for Hughes Aircraft in Los Angeles for two years, he decided to leave the defense industry to play music full-time.  "He said he had been to see some Shakespeare play where they talked about following your heart, and he cried so hard the tears squirted out of his eyes," said Leuba (his partner). "He just went blue sky. He got in the Volkswagen van and drove away. And he never looked back."

Amen.

Its All About the Stories

...and the experiences and the photos and the friendships and the ...

But today its about the stories.  All great trips, as witnessed in the best travel narratives by Paul Theroux or A.A. Gill or Robyn Davidson, are about things that go wrong or at least not according to plan.  I had the pleasure this week of being a panelist at the Meet-Plan-Go event in Seattle and of discussing travel in Japan at an event here on Bainbridge Island.  And what really got my juices going were sharing the stories of travel.

Asked of my most harrowing experience on a lengthy trip to Europe, I told the story of being on a TAP Air Portugal flight departing the Atlantic island of Madeira and, half way down the short runway having an engine blow (due to a bird strike).  When the 737 came to a shuttering G-force stop and turned off the runway, there was at most 100 feet left before the runway ended and the Atlantic Ocean began (after a several hundred foot drop!).  The truly scary moment was 4 hours later when we reboarded that same aircraft with the same flight crew and blasted down the runway for the second time knowing what could have happened.  Clearly all went fine the second time since I'm still alive to tell about it.   And tell I do!

The stories of travel don't often come out of what was planned but rather out of what actually happened that could not be predicted in advance.  Some stories are scary (see above) and some reflect our willingness to expand our personal boundaries (eating sashimi for the first time in a Japanese Roakan) and some are about bonding (the close bond created by four photographers on a life-altering journey to Guatemala).

Journey On!   

Upcoming Free Event on Bainbridge Island

Cherry Blossoms, Torii Gates and Geishas: A Japan Odyssey

Spring break, cherry blossoms, Geisha performances, frequent flyer miles, Torii Gates.  The combination points in a clear direction - Japan. Join island photographer and travel coach Chuck Kirchner for an evening of photographs and stories on the Land of the Rising Sun, focusing on a family spring break journey to Tokyo, Miyajima Island and Kyoto.

Chuck Kirchner, a photographer and travel coach as well as a transportation and environmental planning consultant, has traveled extensively in the US and abroad for both pleasure and business. And he’s always planning the next trip! His photographs have been published in local and national  publications and have been exhibited at various Puget Sound area venues.

Friday September 17, 7:30pm, Island Center Hall, 8395 Fletcher Bay Rd NE, Bainbridge Island, Washington.

Depends on Your Definition of "Experience"

I've written several times about the importance of "experiences" when it comes to travel.  I just came across an advertisement in Conde Nast Traveler where the tag line reads "Collect Unforgettable Experiences."  Sounds really good so far.  Aimed at the "discerning traveler," the ad goes on to say that travel is "about collecting experiences that bring you closer to the heart of every place you visit."  It then goes on to offer clients a chance to "roam those storied aisles [of Harrod's Department Store] after closing with a personal shopper and then to arrange a "perfect night out to show off your new finery," 

Well, I guess that's a travel experience for some.  Its all a matter of perspective, I guess.  More to my way of thinking is the following:

In last Sunday's Frugal Traveler column in the New York Times, Seth Kugel talks about going "off the grid" in traveling to a town in Mexico for a week's stay - a town not covered in travel books - truly off the tourist/traveler grid."  He discovered that the town "was jammed with intriguing customs, welcoming residents, unforgettable meals, beguiling landscapes and rich history.  In other words, all the things that may travel great."  www.nytimes.com/frugaltraveler

Different experiences for different folks. 
 

Travel As Relationship

“Give a month at least to this precious reserve,” said John Muir when he was trying to tell America how essential Glacier [National Park] was. A month? Who has a month anymore? Our holidays are speed dates, quick hookups with the 1,000 places you need to see before you die.” - Peter Fish, “The Road to Awe,” Sunset Magazine, August 2010

Way too true for many of us. Many have come to view trips as no more than a one night stand or, at most, a casual relationship. There are others view it as a full time all the time continuous journey where travel almost becomes, or is, a job. For proof, watch “Up in the Air” with George Clooney or check out NomadMatt website. In most good and healthy relationships, there should likely be times of intensity and times of apartness (not sure there is such a word, but, if not, there should be).

So it is with travel – a refreshing weekend getaway, then a spring break or summer vacation for a week or two. And then the occasional longer break – to see the “precious reserve,” to see how essential the world is – not just your corner of it. All are part of our relationship with travel – a relationship of learning, trusting, experiencing, and getting to know a sense of place, of others and of self.

A Few Images That Speak of Place

One theme that I stress when talking to folks about photography and travel is the "Icon" photograph.  This is a photo that immediately conjures up a place or event or memory; it can stand alone without text, and is a photo that you are proud of.  They're the photos that you print and possibly even frame and put on the wall.  In Japan, I took three icon photos - Cherry Blossoms in Tokyo, the Miyajima Island Floating Torii Gate and a Geisha in Kyoto. 

Even though I've been to New York numerous times (and lived there for almost 2 years), I'm always called back to Times Square at least once during each trip.  And to a ride on the Staten Island ferry.  This remained a calling during my trip to the TBEX conference in late June.  Of 193 photos I took during the long weekend (most of the time spent at the conference), I narrowed it down to 5 - four of Times Square and one of Lower Manhattan from the ferry - that speak of NYC. 

Taxis and Broadway Plays - what says NY more than that?
 

Plus crowds of people waiting until I said cross!

Speaking of taxis - one of my favorite subjects in NYC - here I tried to get to the essence - no need to show the entire cab - just enough to know what it is and then show motion. 

And then the layers - car, taxi, bicycle.

And finally, the Lower Manhattan skyline from the Staten Island Ferry with another ferry just about to dock.  Given that this photo was taken around 11 a.m. on  a warm, humid day, I was actually amazed that I could get a terrific shot without much in the way of post-processing adjustments.

Not sure whether any of these will make their way to my wall - but am pleased with all of them and getting 5 pretty darn good photos out of 193 is pretty darn good.

Telling A Story

Last weekend, I attended the Pacific Northwest Highland Games in the Cascade foothill town of Enumclaw.  Its was a cool day (until 3, when the sun finally broke through and then temperature sky-rocketed in a matter of minutes), but the crowds were out in force, as were the games participants, the pipe and drum bands, the dancers, the musicians and the vendors of all things Scottish (and Celtic).  Photography at events is one of the more challenging endeavors, with crowds and sky and a multitude of things happening all to contend with.  Having been to the event several times over the years, I had some idea of what to expect and a few "shots" that I wanted to get for sure.  But a lot was being at the right (or wrong) place at the right (or wrong) time and getting THE shot (or not). 

In editing the 338 photos taken that day, I quickly got down to 79, then 28 and then 11.  I was hoping to identify 2 or 3 really good photos, but then realized that the eleven I had whittled it down to represented a good cross section of day's various events. 

For photos of musicians, I looked for unusual positions, such as this shot taken from behind the stage, or for great facial expressions, such as the photo of the three musicians (members of Golden Bough).

The sporting events were the real challenge, given overcast skies and midday light - bad combo.  And then factor in fences, multiple events occurring simultaneously and crowds. But with a zoom lens and some close cropping, it proved doable.

These two shots of Elite class participants throwing the Braemar Stone (never heard of it, either) show strength and determination and that sports and kilts are not mutually exclusive.

And now we're down to the pipe bands - my real reason for going to the games.  There were at least 14 pipe bands from as nearby as Tacoma and as far away as Denver.  And with all of them participating in the Massing of the Pipes, it was a sight and aural treat to behold (or run and hide from depending on one's preferences). 

Military precision, all playing the same march (as far as I could tell) and the seriousness of the drum major were all components of this photo.  And I couldn't resist the "Hall of the Vendors" sign in the background!

And, thankfully, you just luck out - whether its the side glance of the piper, or the florescent lime sunglasses on a kilted lad.  Or looking at things from a different angle, such as the following shot of drummers drumming.

But after a day of walking and snacking (great corn dogs and Fisher scones!) and taking way too many photos, you come to appreciate the dedication of the athletes and musicians and dancers and pipers.  And are thankful that all you have to carry around is a camera - rather than walking and playing and blowing into the chanter all with all your breathe and all at the same time.

And, yes, I ended up with 9 (not 11) photos for this blogpost - editing continued while I wrote.  It's never ending.

Never Tire of the Road

A great name for a great ballad, a tribute to Woody Guthrie, composed and performed by the Irish ballad singer Andy Irvine.  The call of the yonder which Woody listed to his entire life.  Not a travel tune in any traditional sense, but a tribute to following your calling in life. We all need to never tire of the road!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRg6X1sHBt4&feature=related

Its All About the Experiences

When it comes right down to it in life, its all about the experiences.  Its not about the biggest TV, the largest house, the newest fashion or even the iPhone (well, OK, maybe the iPhone!).  Its really about the memorable experiences in life.  Its not counting the number of countries you've been to or checking off the museums you've entered.  Or even about the number of frequent flyer miles you have accumulated (just ask George Clooney in "Up in the Air").  The greatest travel narratives are usually not chronological - today I saw this, then this, then this, ....  They are about chance encounters, troubles along the way (usually successfully resolved), sounds and smells and feels and tastes and sometimes even sights. 

I'm thinking back of travel taken and would have a hard time thinking of more than one painting in Madrid's Museo del Prado that I can remember (I do remember long long hallways - the experience of walking, I guess).  Its more than a work of art of the wall - its the experience of place - its setting, the other onlookers, locals and tourists.  My most memorable museum experience was in Paris - at the Orangerie, home of Monet's Water Lilies.  I spent two hours in one of the galleries, absorbing the Impressionistic gardens and the architecture of the place and the comings and goings of the other gallery visitors.  The rooms had wonderfully repeating ovals - in the flooring, the ceiling and the room shape itself - which worked well with a curve of each of the Money paintings.  And then the three tourists came by, all walking at an even pace, their cameras aimed.  They entered the room, walked around once, and left. 

Much more effective photo than just of the paintings.  I'm not sure that any of those three travelers remember that painting or that room or even that museum today (but who am I to know!).  But I sure do - I "experienced" the paintings and their setting.  I know there were other works of art in the building - I walked by all of them that day.  But have no real memory of them.  But having truly experienced the Monet's, I'll always remember and cherish. 

Thinking of other memorable travel experiences, they all involve something not stationary, but involving several senses and, often, motion.  Folk Music Festivals - in Butte, Mission BC, Vancouver BC, Seattle, San Francisco, Stornoway (Isle of Lewis, Scotland), Middlewich (England), Llangolan (Wales); the Gamelon concert at the hotel on Lombok Island (Indonesia); the Buddhist Festivals in Bhutan; the concertina concerts and workshops in County Clare (Ireland); photography workshops in Bhutan, Guatemala, Peru and Santa Fe; the late night music and art walk through Mt. Ste. Michel (Normandy, France); the Nocturnes at Notre Dame Cathedral (Paris); the daily Offices at Christ in the Desert Monastery in New Mexico' taking a rowboat trip off the coast of Kotzebue Alaska with local bakers; and operating narrowboats on the canals of Ireland, Wales, England and France.  These are but a few of my favorite experiences. 

As you plan you next journey or the next steps in your life, remember its all about the experiences - those will be your memories - not who won American Idol this week - unless it was YOU!.

State-By-State: My 5 Favorite

I've managed to hit all 50 states in my travels - some more than others, but all nonetheless.  As I was walking today, I started thinking about my favorites - not the 5 you MUST see before you die, but just the 5 that I have I enjoyed the most.  All 50 have their pluses; these have had the most, IMHO.

I'll start with Maine.   Lobster piers, rugged shoreline, lots of islands.  Real summers and real winters.  Forests, off the beaten path.  And a great accent. 

Then we'll cross the country to my home state - Washington.  Lots of water, lots of islands (a theme, OK), big contrasts between Western and Eastern Washington - forests and deserts, water and crops, democrats and republicans.  And, at least in the western part of the state - real Springs and real Autumns.  And Dungeness crab.

Since we're westward-bound, let's keep on going to Hawaii.  Water, islands (the theme continues), international and indigenous cultures, warmth.  Nearly year-round summers, great beaches, snorkeling, big waves.  And plate lunches.

OK, now for a diversion - inland to a state not known for water or islands - New Mexico.  My favorite inland state - pueblos and sand dunes, and the arts and red rocks.  Multi-cultural (another theme), great southwest cuisine.  Shiprock and Acoma.  Santa Fe and Albuquerque and Alamagordo.  And chiles - when I used to be able to eat them.

Narrowing the final 46 down to 1 was a challenge - the 1st four, if truth me told - which it is - came into my mind just like that.  Snap.  The 5th was much more challening - do I go with another coastal state - Oregon, California, Florida; or with another cultural mix - Louisiana (OK, coastal as well), or with a heartland state like Missouri (lived there for 5 years), or with the wild west - Montana or Wyoming.  Well, I finally went with diversity - diversity of landscapes, cultures, cities, beaches, national parks, commerce.  California.  The Bay Area, Yosemite, Mt Lasson, the Redwoods, Death Valley, Santa Barbara, Lake Tahoe.  All in one state, albeit large.  And the Pacific Ocean is always a tie-breaker for me.

So, there.  My 5 favorite states and a quick summary as to why.  In the coming weeks, I'll look at the other 45 as well - all with sights and sounds and experiences worth checking out - whether in this lifetime or next or next or ...
 

Music and Travel

Music is an integral element of many of my travels, whether its a music festival in Butte, or a concertina workshop in County Clare, or listening to a gamelon concert in the hotel's gazebo on Lombok Island.  Listening to folk, concertina, or gamelon music to this day transports me back to those wonderful moments.  Travel is not just about seeing or tasting (though a good meal can make a day!), but about all of the senses. 

As I write this, I'm listening to streaming "Bollywood" movie music from India.  I've never been to the subcontinent, but a journey there is hopefully not too far away and one experience that I'm really looking forward to is to attend a Bollywood movie while in India - experiencing the crowds and sounds and vision and smells - and probably feels.  As well as attending music and dance festivals, of course.  It certainly won't be a Sounds of Silence trip.

A Different Type of Travel Magazine

I've been reading AFAR magazine faithfully and cover-to-cover since its first appearance a year or so ago.  And it has not disappointed me even once.  The bi-monthly magazine is about the journey - not just the destination.  Its about culture and festivals and food. Its about the people who travel and the people you might meet once there.  Its about traveling with a purpose - consistent with my travel philosophy that you have to know WHY you are traveling in order to really enjoy your travels.  Check it out.

http://www.afar.com/

Mount Hood and Portland

We just returned from a 5 night trip to northern Oregon - focusing on the Mount Hood area and the City of Portland.  I wanted to share our hotel booking (and staying) experiences.  When looking to stay in the Portland area, I first check out http://travelportland.com/.  Operated by the City's tourist bureau, the site often offers some amazing deals on stays in area hotels.  It was hear that I found out about the Resort at the Mountain.  Not exactly in Portland - actually 50+ miles to the east - it was nonetheless covered by the site which offered a far lower price than did the hotel's own site.  The rate also included continental breakfast at the hotel and a discount coupon book for Portland area restaurants, shopping and attractions. 

The Resort at the Mountain was really quite a find - nicely designed two-story buildings built around a central garden area with outdoor pool and hot tub.  Breakfast is served in the resort's main restaurant - Altidude.  Apparently few people book this particular package, since the restaurant's waitstaff had a hard time determining exactly what was included in the continental breakfast!  The first morning we received a fruit plate and two muffins, plus juice.  And they charged $7.50 for our daughter since the "special" only included meals for 2 people.  The next morning, we order two of the fruit plate - muffin - juice plates and then an egg-toast-bacon breakfast.  And we weren't charged anything!  Go figure. 

The rooms themselves were great - comfortable bed, nice patio with chairs, flat screen TV and a very nice shower with rainfall showerhead.  Very quiet room as well.  The Resort complex also had a putt-putt golf course, lawn bowling and/or croquet - all at no additonal charge.  There's also a golf course and spa (at, of course, an additional charge).  The Mallard cafe serves lunch and dinner - we loved our dinner there - reasonable prices, though the setting is a bit like a large conference room rather than an intimate cafe. 

As a side note - we had lunch at the Ram's Horn bar at Timberline Lodge - 20 or so miles from the Resort. WONDERFUL food in a great setting with views of the ski slopes. 

Now, when it came to actually staying in Portland, the best deal was NOT through travelportland.com but directly with the Marriott Courtyard-Convention Center website.  They had a bed-and-breakfast deal (not continental but full buffet) that was lower priced even with the $12 per night parking fee.  The hotel is a 5 minute walk from the Max rail line to downtown Portland (and within the free ride zone), making the journey to downtown restaurants and sites a breeze.  Rooms were fine, quiet, though with softer-than-I-prefer mattresses.  And the breakfast buffet was simply great, with made to order waffles, egg dishes, etc. 

Whenever booking hotels, always check out several websites - you never know where the best deal will be found on any given occasion.

Its All About the Light

When taking photographs, the difference between ordinary and special is usually in the light.  This applies whether its a portrait, architectural or landscape.  This is especially true in gardens.  I recently spent several hours at the Bloedel Reserve here on Bainbridge Island.  Most of my photographs from that morning were "OK."  But just as I was getting ready to leave, about 10 am, a full 4 hours after sunrise, I came across "the" shot of the morning.  The light was intense on this single tree, while the background was dark.  The limbs almost float in the air, since the tree trunk was also in the shade.  The resulting photograph is a study of light, and that's what an arresting photograph is all about.  So, be on the lookout for light and contrast, whether at sunrise, sunset or even midday. 

The Alternative Grand Tour of Europe

I recently received an e-mail newsletter from Lonely Planet with their "10 Essential Stops in Europe." The list included London, Paris, Rome and the like. You can find the list at http://tiny.cc/2hptk. It got me thinking about my "Favorite 10 Stops in Europe." None of their 10 made my list - but that's neither here nor there. Your list may be similar to theirs or mine, or totally different. I'm not much for lists of "Bests" or "Musts." But lists of personal favorites can trigger ideas for others. And make be long to return to some as well!

Anyway, here are my recommendations for an Alternative Grand Tour of Europe. Enjoy - and send postcards!

Brugge, Belgium - a Monet landscape around every corner
Dingle, Ireland - great small town, wonderful pubs, amazing scenery nearby.
Glasgow, Scotland - my favorite city in the UK - vibrant and gateway to the highlands and islands
Krakow, Poland - monumental town square, great castle, and well positioned for day trips to Auschwitz and Częstochowa
Mont Ste. Michael, France - spectacular setting, especially at high tide
Portofino, Italy - picturesque; and strolling through the surrounding vineyards and groves makes it all the more worthwhile
Rhodes, Greece - the good parts of Greece in a small package
Santiago de Compostela, Spain - the Cathedral is probably my favorite in all of Europe
Venice, Italy - an Adult Disneyland - if you like boats and canals and walking, its gets no better than this
Vianden, Luxembourg - small town Europe gets no better than this - medieval feel

Editing Your Photos

I spent yesterday afternoon at the Northwest Folklife Festival, primarily eating, hanging out with a friend, and taking photos at the Tango event in Center House - one of my favorite photo opps of the year.  This morning was spent editing the 380 photosraphs.  I picked up a great editing system from fellow photographers at a recent workshop in Cusco, Peru.  Using Adobe Lightroom's (which is my software of choice in editing and post-processing) starring system, I did an initial edit of shots that showed "some promise."  In this case, I ended up with 146 "**" photos. 

The next round was a more critical examination of the shots and weeding through some near duplicates, ending up with 85 "***" photos.  Still way too many for most purposes, but I was clearly getting down to the better shots.  Now I paid a lot of attention to the edges of the photos and other "extraneous" elements that detract from the subject of the photo.  This edit brought the working total down to 29 "****" images.  These are likely the ones that, over time, I will make color, saturation, and other minor adjustments (even some cropping as needed). 

But there's still one more edit to go - those "best of the best" shots.  Here I did side-by-side comparisons in Lightroom's "Library" mode to narrow the field.  I finally settled on 7 photos, or about 2% of the original photos, for the "*****" rating.  These are the shots I'll start with and will likely print several of these for upcoming exhibitions.  All of this took about an hour and was relatively easy and painless - probably equally divided time-wise since its clearly harder as it goes. Photoshop and other software programs offer similar ways of quickly going through and editing photos in a series of iterations.  Highly recommended! 

By the way, the above photo is one of the "7."  I selected it because its shows both motion and emotion.  (And it's hard to go too wrong with a touch or two of red!)

Church and State: Holy Week in Cusco

My first photography book for general circulation and sale is now available from Blurb.  "Church and State: Holy Week in Cusco" documents the religious processions and events on Holy Week in Cusco, Peru, as well as the strong governmental and military presence that is integral to the observances.  The link below takes you to the Blurb site and includes a preview of the book. 

http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1318592

Peru Travel Narrative and Photographs

Just posted my travel narrative and photographs from Peru - Cusco during Semana Santa (Holy Week), the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu.   http://realtravel.com/u-88521-ever_onward

Great Vacation Photography Workshop

I had a great time the past two weekends leading a Vacation Photography workshop here on Bainbridge Island, Washington.  We discussed how to take great vacation photographs while still enjoying your vacation with friends and family (or even solo!).  The workshop participants were actively engaged and even did their homework assignment!  So did I - though I used my iPhone to take special shots here on the island.  One of my favorite spots to just "get away" (temporarily at this time!!!) is the Port Blakely Cemetery.  This image, with both black-and-white and color elements, struck me as simple yet with a clear story to tell.  While I usually shoot with a digital SLR (Nikon D300), I like experimenting with other tools from time to time, such as the camera phone. 

Anyway, I'm planning on doing another Vacation Photography workshop this fall.  If interested, please send me an e-mail to get on the list!

A Festival About Gelato! Sign Me Up!

Came across notice on the "Dream of Italy" website of the Florence Gelato Festival, May 28-31.  I'm always up for a music festival - but a festival about Gelato?  Count me in!  They even have a daily session explaining ice cream (gelato) to kids.  ?  I don't recall the need to explain ice cream to my daughter!  Anyway, if you find yourself in Florence in late May, consider yourself very fortunate! 

http://www.dreamofitaly.com/public/42.cfm

Make Your Grandkids Proud!

On Julia Dimon's blog, she describes herself as a "Travel Junkie."  She's been around the world several times, visited 80 countries (compared to my 40 - &#^&*$) and obviously loves to travel.  What started her obsession? 

"So what prompted this desire to gallivant across the globe? Strangely enough, it was an inspirational postcard I found at a dingy backpacker bar in Byron Bay, Australia. It read:

“Why tell your grandkids you worked 9-5, five days a week for 40 years and quietly sat in traffic jams while people went to war,      suffered disease and shot their own classmates? Tell them you refused to live in fear. Tell them you crossed the Amazon, saw the Lost Cities of Gold and met your soul mate in Casablanca. Travel to the ends of the earth. Go now and live adventures that will make your grandkids proud.”

Definitiely gets you to thinking, doesn't it?  Especially on a Monday morning.
 
http://www.traveljunkiejulia.com/

Finding Time for Travel and Photography

I know - you'll get to it later, or when you retire or sooner or later or ...  Finding time seems to be our bane - assuming you have enough resources for food, shelter and clothing of course.  But for most of us, its finding the time for ourselves and our passions seems problematic.  In glancing through the April issue of Sunset magazine - not exactly the publication where this kind of article normally appears - I came across Anne Lamont's feature on "Time Lost and Found."  Definitely worth a read. 

http://www.sunset.com/travel/anne-lamott-how-to-find-time-00418000067331/

The Volcano puts it All in Perspective

Eric Weiner, in an article on World Hum, outlines the 7 lessons learned from the eruption of the Icelandic volcano.  I agree with them all, especially - most especially - number 7.
http://www.worldhum.com/features/eric-weiner/seven-lessons-from-the-great-volcano-shutdown-of-2010-20100419

Memorable Travel Moments I

Sometimes the most memorable travel moments arethe simplest.  I had attended my cousin's wedding near Devils Lake, North Dakota.  My next destination was Ireland (via Minneapolis, Chicago and London!).  So when it was time to board by United Express flight to Minneapolis (via Jamestown, ND), a number of my relatives drove up to see my off.  The Captain, seeing the gathering crowd, suggested I do the "Presidential" wave at the aircraft door.  And to the cheers and waves of the crowd, I began the continuation of my journey.  Almost ten years have passed, but its still a profound memory of my travels.  Travel and the stories that travel generates are best when they are personal - and worth sharing!  Journey On!

Travel Observations

I just returned from a 2 week trip to Peru, attending a photo book workshop (more on that later) and visiting the Sacred Valley, including Machu Picchu.  In the course of the trip, I made several observations which I think are worth passing on.

1. When reclining your seat on an airplane, do so SLOOOOWLY and only as far as you need to.  The person in the seat behind you will be appreciative!  This applies in Business/First class as well.  I experience the guy in front of me reclining his seat as fast and as far as he could at the first possibly moment in flight and then forcing it back even more by pressing his feet against the bulkhead and then bouncing in the seat.  I would almost have rather been in an exit row in coach than in the domestic first class seat.  (Note: "almost" is the operative word here.)

2. Always carry an extra pair of socks in your carry-on bag in case you beat your luggage to your destination.  It was easy to get toothpaste and a tooth brush; not so easy to get a pair of socks during the 30 hour delay in getting my checked bag in Cusco.

3. After an all day and all night flight, avoid a 5-hour layover before your final connecting flight.  'Nuff said.

4. Airport security varies WIDELY among airports.  I went through security screening at Seattle-Tacoma, Lima, Cusco, Lima and Miami on this trip.  Shoes off at SeaTac and Miami, thorough carry-on baggage search in Cusco and Lima, body pat-down on the return flight from Lima.  Never took more than 5 minutes to get to the front of the security line. 

5. American Airlines serves the BEST ice cream sundies in its business class cabin!

6.  The Alaskan Airlines digiEPlayers are an interesting feature - a dozen or so movies, television programs, music, etc.  I kind of prefer the seatback systems that the major airlines use on their trans-continental and international flights, but its a reasonable alternative.  And certainly beats the lack of personal video entertainment systems on the American Airlines 757 fleet.  As soon as they've scrapped their MD-80 fleet, they need to purge their domestic-type 757s.  And, believe it or not, TACA airlines actually had in-flight entertainment on their Airbus 320 planes on the 70 minute flight between Lima and Cusco.  Nice planes too.

7. The check-in agents at American are great; not so great at Alaska suprisingly.  On board, its the opposite - Alaskan flight attendants are THE best, while it was more of a mixed bag at American. 

8. All 8 flight segments were on-time and I made it safely back home.  That's really all I can ask. 

9.  If you want to go to Machu Picchu by train, do so quickly.  The line just re-opened after a two month closure due to floods, mudslides, etc.  The trackbed still looks precarious and its hard to imagine that the tracks can survive another round of torential rains like they experienced earlier this year. 

10.  In spite of delay luggage and other minor inconveniences, the trip was definitely worth it - as are nearly all trips!  So, Journey On!

Its Always the Fine Print

I booked an airline/hotel package this morning for a June conference in the Big Apple (NYC).  Checked Expedia and Travelocity and found identical flights and an identical hotel. Expedia was $743 and Travelocity was $734, a $9 difference.  (And, by the way, an amazing deal - far better than I could have gotten had I booked airfare and hotel separately.)  So did I go with Travelocity?  Not so fast.  I checked the change and cancellation rules on both sites and, to my surprise, they were substantially different!  To cancel my package with Travelocity was going to cost a minumum of $345 and could go up  from there depending on when I cancelled, while at Expedia, the cancelation fee was $100 as long as it was done 24 hours prior to departure!  So, Expedia won. 

But wait, there's more.  Expedia offered an insurance plan, for $35, that would allow one change or cancellation without further penalty.  But in digging deeper, there was a caveat that any airfare involved would not be refunded but be fully credited again a future flight on the same airline.  I concluded that the $100 cancellation fee with full refund of the package was actually the better deal in this instance. In either case, the Expedia deal was clearly better than Travelocity.  That doesn't mean it was be the same next time I (or you) book a trip.  Always check the "fine print" and go with what you think is the better deal in your circumstances.

Vacation Photography Registration Form Now Posted

I'm getting really excited about the Vacation Photography workshop that I'm leading here on Bainbridge Island in April.  We'll discuss how to prepare for the trip (from a photo standpoint), how to take great photos while on the trip, and then how to share them with friends, family and co-workers without boring them to death!!  The registration form is now available for printing - see the link under "Pages" on the right side of this blog.  You can then send it into the Traveler or drop it by their store on Winslow Way.  You can also call The Traveler (206-842-4578) and register by phone.  Details under "Upcoming Workshops" on the right side as well.

Its All About Creativity

Whether you are traveling, taking photos, or just living life, the way to end the same-old, same-old is through creativity.  Do something a bit different, whether its eating sashimi for the first time (which I did and lived to tell about it), zip-lining over and through the jungle canopy (not yet) or getting married on a beach in the South Pacific (highly recommended!).  I came across a Youtube video last evening (already seen apparently by millions - I'm a bit behind) that shows how you can take a special event (a wedding) and, with a little creativity (even without a beach!), make it a truly special and memorable event.  Get the creative juices flowing.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-94JhLEiN0

Video on Coaching, Spring Break and Websites

I'm making my TV and YouTube debut today!  I was fortunately enough to be interviewed by the wonderful folks at Bainbridge Island Television (BITV for short) about travel planning and coaching.  We discussed spring break travel opportunities, some great websites to check out, and what travel coaching is all about.  And its already on YouTube!  It will also be broadcast on BITV channels 12 and 22 at various times over the next 2 weeks as part of their weekly newscast and is archived on their website: http://www.bitv.org/.  Check it out!  And, as always, Journey On!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9EE3NSJqe0

Incentives to Travel

I came upon several great quotes yesterday as I searched the web and looked at the day's "tweets."  Maybe they will provide an additional incentive for YOU to travel!

"Full day today: eat, wander, take photos, eat, massage, nap, wander, eat, beer, sleep."  (by Johnnyvagabond as quoted by David Lee via Twitter 3/9/10)

"Procrastinators put off pleasurable things as well as the un-pleasurable, according to marketing professor Susann Chiu at UCLA Anderson’s School of Management who cites the outstanding hundreds of millions of frequent flier miles that we let expire or unused vacation time collected each year." (from http://yoursabbatical.com/)

I've known folks who have let their vacation time lapse, not because of overwork or tons of pending deadlines but because their work was their life.  Time to expand your horizons and see the world  - or at least your hammock!  An ideal candidate for travel coaching!  Contact me at chuck@chuckkirchner.com.

Event Photos - Its All in the Position

Yesterday was the annual Chilly Hilly bicycle tour on Bainbridge Island.  Considered one of the 4 classic bike tours in the country, the Chilly Hilly draws around 4000 cyclists from all over to ride the 33 mile course.  The "chilly" part was more than a tad absent this year, with temps around 50 degree (F) under partly to mostly sunny skies.  But the "hilly" part remained, with an estimated elevation gain of nearly 2700 feet over the 33 mile course (even more amazing when you consider that you start at sealevel, end at sealevel and pass along the shore several times during the course of the tour.

For a photographer, the event offers lots of options.  One of my favorite spots in the past has been the ferry terminal, taking photos as the cyclists get off the ferry (en masse) and reboard the ferry (again, en masse).  The great spot for this is the overhead passenger boarding area at the terminal (assuming the ferry is using slip 1).  Another spot is on the ferry itself looking down on the riders as they embark or disembark.

Since the tour is all about the hills, I focused my work this year on the granddaddy of all the island's
hills - Baker Hill.  The first place I went was the top of another section of Baker Hill (actually anothjer hill) to get a "full context" shot, showing the cyclists as they slowly (some VERY slowly) made there way up the long hill.  Then I headed to the bottom of the next hill to get the riders as they (kinda) slowed down to make the turn onto Crystal Springs Drive.

Being at a corner provides a great opportunity for head-on shots (and, possibly, head-on collisions which I managed to avoid!), as well as detailed shots as the cyclists turned the corner.  As I am accustomed to do, I like showing motion in my photos as well as context, so getting riders as they turn and others as they still are heading down the straight-away has particular appeal. 

The same thoughts concerning positioning yourself at corners applies to parades, processions and other "linear" events.  Practicing those skills at events near you will pay off when you're traveling elsewhere in the world. 

Overnight at an Airport

Next time you're stuck at an airport overnight (yikes), here's how to make the best of your time - make a video!  Hilareous and inventive.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xv1va9Jdt7g

Go With The Flow 1

Travel is about experiences - good and otherwise.  And in the end, an "otherwise" experience, which leads to a story later, is good as well.  One just needs to go with the flow while traveling and see where the stream takes you.  Here's the first of an occassional series on Going With The Flow.

The dozen or so of us had already made our way through passport control at Siberia's Magadan Airport. Our Alaska Airlines 727 was on the ground ready to take us on the next leg of our journey to Khabarovsk.  As departure time get closer and closer, there didn't seem to be much happening either near the aircraft, which was parked out on the tarmac, nor in our waiting area.  Departure time came and went and finally the Alaska Air agent popped by to tell us that "there was a problem."  Not with the aircraft, but with Soviet customs and immigration.  It seems that the chief who had approved of this flight was out of town on business and his assistant had not been briefed on this most serious of issues - foreigners taking a foreign airline on a domestic flight.  No way.  No how.  Our agent was "working the issue" and told us to relax.  In the meantime, through the bank of windows overlooking the tarmac and runways, we saw "our" Alaska 727 taxi away from its stand and before we knew it, it was airborne.  "Cool" was my first thought - this should be interesting.  "Panic" was the first thought of some of my fellow travelers (no, not in the Communist sense!).  The agent came back a few minutes later and said that our luggage was on its was to Khabarovsk on the Alaska flight and that we would be on our way shortly - on Aeroflot.  The "Panic" folks went into high gear - "We're going to die.  All Aeroflot planes crash.  No way am I getting on Aeroflot.  How dare this happen to us.  I knew we should have taken this tour."  Of course, in the hour or so that of al this transpired, a half-dozen or more Aeroflot jets and landing and taken off, and not one had crashed!  I was getting more excited by the moment - another experience - another airline - another aircraft type!  Yes.  We then noticed a dozen or so folks getting off of an Aeroflot jet.  Our jet!  Basically, Aeroflot kicked off the 12 passengers in the 1st two rows of coach on their flight to Khabarovsk and sold the seats (I'm sure at a greatly inflated price) to Alaska.  We boarded, many reluctently, to the intense stares of the other 150+ coach passengers.  The doors closed, the plane shot down the bumpy runway and 90 minutes later we touch down in Khabarovsk - we didn't crash, we enjoyed (or some of us enjoyed) our snack of a roll and a boiled egg, and our luggage was waiting for us.  And the group, both the panicked folks and the cool folks, had another story to tell when they got home.  Its what traveling is about.  Cool.        

Another Interesting Website

With some 70 million travel websites out there (based on my last Google search), finding a really good and interesting one is like finding a needle in the haystack.  So, here's the latest needle I've found: Uncornered Market.  Audrey and Daniel are roaming the world and reporting back on what they've seen and experienced.  Very professional, nice photographs and a good read besides.  Check it out.

Photo Coleslaw

Jennifer Spelman's photo blog, Photo Coleslaw, combines witty yet to-the-point narrative with great photographs and insights.  I had the pleasure of meeting and working with her at Chris Rainier's workshop in Santa Fe last summer.  She's now leading her own photo workshops at Santa Fe, a well-deserved role.  Check out her blog from time to time for inspiration and a laugh or two.

My 10 Best International Travel Experiences

Everywhere you look these days, you see "Top 10" or "Top 100" or "Top Whatever" lists: places to go before you die, places to see while you can still walk, places to eat before they close, etc.  While they can certainly spark your interest, what is "best" to one person may be of no interest to the person sitting next to them.  I've always kept my own list of favorite places.  What constitues "my favorite" probably relates to the mood I was in, the events happening around me, the weather that day and a multitude of other factors.  Whatever the case, I have vivid - and favorable - memories of these places to this day.  Whether you would find them as interesting and moving and I did is the great unknown.  But so is the best of travel!  So, here's my list of my favorite international travel experiences (in no particular order, since the order could change the time I finish the list!!!)

Town Square, Krakow, Poland.  Huge, medieval square with the market building in its midst, sidewalk vendors, people going about their daily lives, and a great restaurant on the corner.  My hotel was a block away and across from a "nunnery" where the angelic chants awoke me each day.  The full experience package deal.

Fish Condos, Moorea, French Polynesia.  The dock at our resort ended at the edge of an underwater ledge.  Entering the water with snorkle gear on, you you could see fish darting in and out of the porous wall as far down as the eye could see - like a huge condo complex.  Unforgettable.  Oh, and the water was warm.

Town Square, Antigua, Guatemala.  Whether it was the sounds of silence at night with the glow of street lights, or the All Saints Day/Day of the Dead processions around the square, it was always enticing.  And the bars were memorable too.

Skellig Michael, off the coast of the Ring of Kerry, Ireland.  It was just the two of us on this tiny island rock outcropping on this bracing fall day.  The wind was blowing and there was a slight mist.  Just us and the spirit of the monks who inhabited this desolate spot 1000 years earlier.  Wow.

Isle of Barra, Outer Hebrides, Scotland.  Maybe it was the hot dog stand that caught fire during the island's Highland Games.  Or the B+B proprietor, a sea captain, who had fresh-baked treats each evening and lots of stories to tell.  Or maybe it was the tour of the castle in the bay (thus the name of the island's only town - Castlebay) by one of the hereditary descendants of the former rulers.  Or all of these and more - yes, there were pubs, too!

Kaustinen Folk Music Festival, Kaustinen, Finland.  My first trip to Europe was to Finland (don't ask why) and the highlight was the long weekend I spent in this small town in west-central Finland listening to music, dancing with the locals, and just hanging out.  My favorite music festival ever! 

Miyajima Island, Japan.  The floating torii gate off of Miyajima Island was the draw; the experience of staying in a traditional Japanese Inn, complete with multi-course Japanese dinner was the equally enchanting memory.  And the fact that no one was allowed to die on the island (its sacred, after all) made it a place where I could live forever!

Bhutan.  Yes, an entire country.  Festivals, scenery and wonderful people in traditional garb made it like walking through a copy of National Geographic each and every day.  Talk about 3D!

Bali.  Yes, an entire island (OK, so was Barra).  Festivals, scenery and wonderful people, puppet theater, gamelon groups, even a cremation ceremony.  Didn't even make it to the beach, that's how good it was.

Venice.  An adult Disneyland, no kidding!  Boats and bridges and gondolas and water and old buildings and more boats and narrow carless streets.  Oh, my.

OK, that's my list.  Hopefully it gives you a few ideas and triggers in your mind your favorite places.  Journey On!        

New Photography Portfolios On-Line

I've added a link today to my new on-line photography portfolios (see the right side of this blog for the regular link to Photography Portfolios).  The portfolios include dance, ritual, landscapes, portraits and travel.  I will be added photographs on a regular basis, so check it out often!

http://chuckkirchner.photoworkshop.com/

Plan Ahead and Adapt

Last week featured several of the more amazing sunrises I have seen in many a year.  One morning in particular I remember red skies and the cloud cap atop Mt Rainier and the calm waters of Puget Sound.  I was on a bus heading off to the ferry at the time and could not even grab the iPhone in time for a quick photo.  Some moments are just that way.

This morning featured fog and the potential for some amazing skies yet again.   And this time I was prepared with my Nikon D300.  Setting out a bit before sunrise, I drove to the spot where I had witnessed the red sky/Rainier view the previous week.  The fog was of varying intensities and shrouded a passing ferry.  Mt Rainier was clearly blocked by clouds or far distant fog.  So the image I had planned for was clearly not going to materialize.  But there were other photo opportunities that presented themselves, for instance a ferry passing through the fog.  I'm partial to ferries and fog (witness my blog "header"), so this was a natural shot for me. 

But my favorite and most unexpected shot of the morning for the march (or float) of the ducks.  There was little color due to the fog; I went even further and de-saturated the image in Lightroom and then cropped it into more of a panaroma to strengten the horizontal layers of the photo.  It becomes almost a compostional study, rather than a wildlife or landscape.

         

There was a reason that I went out this morning, camera in hand. To take photographs. Only the subject was different than I had planned. Adapt! And, maybe next time, a red-capped Mt Rainier may be the subject. Or not.

iPhones and Camera Liberation

Advise usually given to those striving to be a "Photographer" with a capital "P" is to carry a camera with you at all times - you never know when THE image/scene/event will come into view.  Easier said than done, especially when your camera is an SLR (single lens reflex) that doesn't fit in your briefcase and weights more than you would like to carry to and from and within everywhere. 

Point-and-shoots have been the "back-up" option, usually much smaller and lighter, often fitting into a shirt pocket or purse (no, I'm not into purses personally).  Resolution and lens quality suffer, of course, but sometimes better than no camera at all.  I've never been too thrilled with the results of my shots using a point-and-shoot, even when I've post-processed the digital files in Photoshop or Lightroom.  Too much effort for too little results.

Then I discovered the iPhone.  OK, lens quality, when compared even with point-and-shoots, basically sucks, as does the 3mp resolution.  But, since some/many/most photos these days are shared via e-mail or blogs or via Facebook, the smaller images and file sizes are just fine.  And with the amazing ease of exposure adjustment (such touch an area of the screen to darken or lighted the exposure), the results can be suprisingly good.  And using a program such as PS Mobile (a free Adobe app!), other simple and creative adjustment can be made.  And then sent off to the 4 Fs (friends/family/fans/followers) with suprising speed and ease.

"Sunrise Through Downtown Seattle"

Will I rely on my iPhone for travels and fine art creativity?  No, of course not.  I still want the multitude of adjustments (shutter speed, aperture, white balance, ISO speed, etc.) and lens options that my SLR gives me.  But as the carry-at-all-times option, I don't leave the house without my iCamera.  Oh, I mean iPhone (I think I can make calls on it - need to check!).