I took this photo last summer. The sky was looking pretty dramatic so I hopped over the hedge from my house and walked about twenty steps to get to this little bridge in the formal gardens within Bermuda’s Botanical Gardens.
Feb 262012
Feb 242012
Washington Square Park does not list amongst the usual tourist attractions of New York City, but it’s well worth a visit – at least in summer. There’s just so much going on there. Entering from the shady Northwest corner I was met by a three-piece jazz band. Moving on it seemed like there was a new band jamming away every twenty feet. Upon arriving in the middle, the fountain became the center of attention. A portly gentleman was stood in the middle getting soaked while people sat around the edges watching.
Then, to the left I saw what I thought was an amazing chalk drawing. Upon closer inspection I realized that it was a sand painting, a really big sand painting. This was the work of Joe Mangrum. He’s created a huge number of sand paintings in New York. You can see more of his work here.
Behind him, under the arch, a street performer was doing something I’ve never seen a street performer do. He was sitting on a bucket and playing a baby grand piano. I have no idea how he got the piano there and wonder if it stays there overnight or if he has to take it home every day.
***Edit: Joe just e-mailed me and directed me to this video, I now know how the piano gets there***
Feb 232012
This is actually the first photo I took in Wenceslas Square, but the third that I’ve published. Weird really, it wasn’t planned this way. As you’ve probably noticed I felt that this elongated square required symmetry. The cobble stones in the foreground of this image seemed perfect for this goal.
Feb 222012
This is the entrance to the Old Town of Prague. It’s called the Powder Gate because this is where gunpowder was once stored. This intersection may be one of the worst designed in the world. There’s three one-way roads filing into one single lane, and from what I could see no one has the right of way.
Feb 202012
Victoria Falls at low water lets you really explore the falls. They have a real untouched feel about them. On one side there’s a simple path leading you past views across the Batoka Gorge. On the other side you can leave the path to walk across the top of the cliffs. There’s nothing to stop you walking right up to the edge, as you can see in this picture.
I’ll be visiting Niagara Falls in March and wonder how it will compare. I’m expecting a lot more attention to be paid to safety, distancing you from the falls. I’m also expecting there to be buildings visible all around the falls. Maybe I’ll be pleasantly surprised. It’ll certainly make for great photos either way.
Feb 192012
I took three photos on my walk through Wenceslas Square, Prague. This was the second of them.
Feb 182012
When you’re told you have to stay 15 feet away from the gorillas unless they approach you, you think that sounds reasonable. In reality though, once we were there I don’t think there was a moment that I wasn’t within 15 feet of a gorilla. The silver backs are particularly intimidating. But in a moment like the one captured here you can see their soft side, playing with one of the little ones.
Feb 172012
One of the many shots I’ve taken of the Vitus Cathedral, Prague Castle, and Charles Bridge. It’s pretty difficult to pull yourself away from shooting these three structures the whole time you’re in Prague. I was just constantly finding new angles on them.
Feb 162012
After yesterday’s difficulty getting inspired to process any photos I came home over my lunch-break and decided to work on a photo that I’ve attempted and failed at a few times in the past. Finally, I think I’ve cracked it. Incidentally, does anyone know what the flowers in this photo are called?
This is another photo from the Paradis Malihide. Rising early, in the hopes of capturing the sun as it peeked over the horizon, I discovered that it was, once again, completely overcast. I never figured out where the sun rose and where it set while there because the cloud cover was so thick. Nonetheless, it was still a beautiful spot and I wasn’t going to let the clouds stop me. So, I went in search of photos where the sky didn’t have to be a prominent feature. I came across this scene and thought it was a great subject for HDR. It’s almost like two images, allowing your eye to wander over the flowers in the foreground before moving on to look at the boat and the hills in the distance.
People would arrive on package tours and pile into this little boat to cruise off down the lake. Navigate here to get ready properly for such a cruise. It was amazing how many people they stuffed into this thing. It was an interesting contrast watching the tourists in their bright orange life-jackets motoring back in for a nice dinner while the fishermen in dark rain jackets, t-shirts or shirtless plied their oars and sang their songs on their way for another chilly, wet night out on the lake.
I’m not a package tour person, probably because I don’t like being herded around. We spend enough time in our working lives getting told what to do. Why go off on holiday and do the same? I met a couple of Californian guys while in Prague who had embraced this concept. They’d decided they needed a break and managed to negotiate three weeks off – supposedly no easy feat in the US – to head for Europe. When I ran into them all they had planned was their flight home from Amsterdam. I spent about an hour eating lunch with them as they tried to figure out their next destination. They’d narrowed it down to Germany when I arrived, and hadn’t gotten much further when I eventually left. Once I ran into them later, at about 9pm, it was sorted. They were leaving at 6am on their way to Hanover. It’s a great way to travel, waking up in one place, not knowing where you’ll be the next day.
Feb 152012
I’ve tried to work up four different photos tonight. None of them would work for me. So, I reached into the reserves and pulled out one of my early attempts at HDR. This sunset may look surreal, but that’s what it actually looked like! Truly amazing.
The wall in the foreground encloses my friends’ neighbor’s backyard in Spanish Point, Bermuda. It’s a great spot, and perfectly flat. I’d really like to set up a croquet set over there. I do wonder how long it would take for someone to have to go swimming after their ball though.
It’s odd how sometimes you just can’t get inspired to process any pictures. I’m sure I’ll return to the same photos in due course and be happy with the results. They probably won’t even look much different than they did tonight. I think I need to get out taking some more photos of Bermuda. It’s always easier to work on photos I’ve just taken. Any suggestions for shooting locations? You can let m know in the comments here or on my Facebook page.
