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!.