Sense of Awe - The Stained Glass of Paris

Opening this Tuesday, August 2 and running through Wednesday, August 31 is my photo show: "A Sense of Awe - The Stained Glass of Paris."  The exhibit is at the Eleven Winery Tasting Room on Bainbridge Island, Washington,  287 Winslow Way in the heart of downtown.  The tasting room is open daily, 1-7 Monday - Friday, 12-7 Saturday, and 12-5 Sunday. 

And advanced notice.  I'll have another show, this one featuring the Spirit of Tango at the Eleven Winery Tasting Room in Poulsbo, Washington beginning October 1.

The Importance of Travel Planning

After a three week hiatus journeying through Holland and Croatia, I'm back in the blogosphere.  I'll be sharing some of my travel and, hopefully, photography, insights with you in the coming weeks.  In the meantime, I direct your attention to an article in today's New York Times on "Planning the Perfect Vacation."  Its generally very high-level, but certainly re-iterates my personal view that the "planning" part is critical in translating into a great travel experience. The article includes the results of an Netherlands study showing that a majority of vacationers were happiest in planning the vacation!  I've certainly noticed this is many a trip I've taken.  While the trip itself was everything I could have hoped for, the anticipation was even better.  The mind works in funny ways, sometimes!  OK, usually.

http://travel.nytimes.com/2011/07/24/travel/planning-the-perfect-vacation.html?nl=travel&emc=tda3

Which also leads me to an upcoming book that I've written on the Vacation Planning process.  Should be available by the end of summer and will provide a much greater level of detail on how to plan for and budget for your next great adventure.  Stay tuned for details.

Creative Quotes

For your consideration:
"Creativity is taking the ordinary and making it extraordinary." Chris Orwig in "Visual Poetry." That's what makes great photography an art.

"Doc was at ease with himself and that put him at ease with the world." John Steinbeck in Cannery Row. This evening, with ease, I print.

"What I am saying is that you need to begin to define what inspires you.  Then you need to dedicate time to that endeavor."  Chris Orwig.

As I'm printing some of my latest "Tango" photographs, I'm reading Orwig's "Visual Poetry" and getting inspired to photography, print and share.  And to focus on my creative side in the way I do best - photography.

Travel Writing and Photography at its Best

I'm beginning to plan a trip this fall to India (yea!) and in looking through back issues of travel magazines (yes, the printed kind), I came across Pico Iyer's article on Varanasi entitled "Maximum India."  Superb prose, accompanied by just awesome (not a word I use very ofter) photography by Peter Bialobrzeski. Makes me want to go all the more or maybe just stay away in the comfort of my own home.  That's the call of India.  http://www.concierge.com/cntraveler/articles/503351

Tango 2011

One of my favorite photo subjects is of the Tango.  A sensual, stylistic dance, accompanied by amazing music (accordion and all!), the Tango is a visual treat.  And so, one again, I attended the Tango Dance at Northwest Folklife Festival over Memorial Day Weekend.  And, one again, watched some amazing dancing, especially the Tango demonstrations by the "professionals."  The lighting in the Seattle Center House changes by the moment, with sun streaming through the skylights one minute and then blocked by clouds the next.  Shadows on the floor one moment coupled with bright sun on the dancers.  And of course, there are the crowds all around that encroach more and more each year, limiting what I view as the "perfect" shot.  But its all part of festival shooting. 

One of my favorite photos this year was of this couple - her teal dress and shoes played off well against his dark suit, and the dance floor just washed out, creating what I think allows the dances to "pop." I then decided to take it one step further and "wash out" the dancers themselves a bit - it becomes more of a drawing - using "fill flash" and some color saturation adjustment in Adobe Lightroom. Such are the possibilities of "fine art" photography!

Don't Let This Happen To You

Veering off the normal topics just a tad, I want to share with you this blogpost on the top five regrets that people have when near death.  It just might make you want to pick up that camera, book that next trip or call that friend. http://thenextweb.com/lifehacks/2011/05/31/the-top-5-regrets-people-make-on-their-deathbeds/.

Slow Travel

You may have heard of the Slow Food movement - locally grown, cooked to order, the opposite of fast food chain restaurants or even the TV dinner (or should I say the Hulu-dinner) at home.  The current edition of Verge Magazine (a volunteer- and youth-oriented quarterly published in Canada, has 7 tips on "Slow Travel," taking your time while traveling to experience the local culture on local terms.  Among the tips are:

Thou Shalt Have No Other Gadgets Before Thy Flip-Flops.
Thou Shalt Not Make Lonely Planet Your Idol, and
Remember the Meaning of Adventure, and Keep it Holy.

Worth checking out.  http://www.vergemagazine.com/news/86-contributing/569-ten-ways-to-travel-slower.html