The Tree of Epiphytes

The Tree of Epiphytes

GUAT07D-283

June 7, 2007

Sticking with Guatemala again, that beautiful Central American country.  This was found in Tikal, one of the great ruined cities of the Mayan culture.  I loved exploring the ruins of this country, especially the out-of-the-way ones like Yaxha, but Tikal is not to be missed.  It is the most immense ruin complex, and a lot of it has been reclaimed from the jungle.  However, the trees still abound; and here, right in the middle of the city, was this magnificent tree.  Covered in various epiphytes, mosses and lichens and orchids and bromeliads, the tree was a symbol of the struggle that is evident throughout the jungle, organisms clinging to each other for mutual support and protection.  I loved the complexity of the tree, its ecological importance and meaning.  Enjoy.

Technical notes:

Camera: Sony DSC-W55

Lens: n/a

Focal length:  6.3 mm

Exposure: 1/320 @ f/7.1  ISO 200

Post-processing: Minor tone adjusted with PS 4 and LR 1.4.

NG's Iconic Places to Photograph

Ah, National Geographic.  You always know how to tickle my wanderlust.  Today in my email box up popped a regular message from NG (cause I over-subscribe to them, getting emails on just about anything they can dream up to send me), and lo and behold, out pops their Top 10 Iconic Places to Photograph.  I don't think there is a photographer alive who would not drool over any of these places:

• Antarctica
• Venice, Italy
• Machu Picchu, Peru
• Stonehenge, England
• Taj Mahal, India
• Rapa Nui (Easter Island)
• Ta Phram Temple (Angkor Wat), Cambodia
• The Serengeti, Tanzania
• Pyramids of Giza, Egypt

Looking over that list, I would have to pick out my few favorites.  Machu Picchu would be close to the top if not all the way there.  I would love the long trek up to the mountain, and then to stand amongst the ruins and see the immensity of what the Inca achieved there.  Rapa Nui would be another goal, out in the middle of the Pacific, seeing the moai as testaments to the failed culture.  And then there is the beauty of another ruined culture, the great temples of the Angkor kingdom in Cambodia, now swallowed up by the jungle.  And last, but certainly not least, the Serengeti, with its megafauna (and a lot of microfauna as well), through the Ngorongoro crater, the migrations of wildebeast.  (Though, in all honesty, I would prefer to see the Okavango delta in full flood, but let's not quibble).  Such a great list, I couldn't really narrow it lower than those 4, and in truth I'd love to see any of the 10; they are all such amazing adventure and photographic opportunities.  How about you?  Which would be at the top of your list??  Enjoy.

Final Approach to the Lookout

Final Approach to the Lookout

BHUT10D-88

November 16, 2010

Wrapping up the week back in Bhutan, this country of beauty and mystery.  Prayer flags are habitually left up forever, no one ever takes them down regardless of their age.  These flags were situated near the top of a trail to the point that overlooked the town of Timphu, down in the valley below, with a sight of the river.  These prayer flags were old and tattered, having long blown their good wishes to the valley below, but remained a beautiful scene, serene in its simplicity and still powerful spirituality.  Enjoy.

Technical notes:

Camera: Nikon D80

Lens: NIkon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6

Focal length:  32 mm

Exposure: 1/160 @ f/16  ISO 400

Post-processing: Minor tone adjusted with PS 4 and LR 1.4.

To Plan Worldwide Wanderings

To Plan Worldwide Wanderings
WASH10D-26_pan

August 10, 2010

Taking a break from the nature photography today, to highlight one of my favorite stores ever.  No, this is not REI (though good guess to those who know me, REI is up amid the top of the list).  This is Metsker Maps of Seattle.  This store, which is among a dwindling population of map stores, has such a diversity and abundance of travel-oriented products that you can't help but be impressed.  Travel guides?  Yup.  Map pins?  You betcha.  Topo maps for the Pacific NW?  Why not.  Flags, globes, rare and antique maps, journals, essays... you name it, this place has it.  While this post might seem like a Yelp-ish endorsement, I love the photo, for it shows off the jumbled, dense allocation of things in the store.  The panorama, i discovered this morning, is slightly mis-aligned, and will fix that soon.  But until then, dream of further wanderings, and enjoy.

Technical notes:

Camera: Nikon D80

Lens: Nikon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6

Focal length:  18 mm

Exposure: 1/13 @ f/3.5   ISO 400

Post-processing: Minor tone adjusted with PS 4 and LR 1.4.

Destinations: Wat Si Chum, Sukhothai, Thailand

Destinations: Wat Si Chum, Sukhothai

Thailand
17.0211, 99.7036

This is the first Destinations File that I share where I have been, and would encourage others to go.  The city of Sukhothai, located in central Thailand, is a historical city of the first kingdom of Thailand.  As with most historical ruins, the dwellings of everyday people no longer remain, having long ago been ravaged by the forces of war, climate, and time.  What is left is a beautiful temple complex containing many beautifully restored Buddhist temples, or wats.  Of these, my favorite is Wat Si Chum, and the photography of this post will highlight that particular wat.

Wat Si Chum (The Temple Of The Bodhi Tree) is believed to be dated back to the 13th century. The Buddha statue sits 11 meters high, surrounded by walls that are 15 meters in height, also known as a Mandapa.  The width of the Buddha means that it dominates the small enclosure, and now it is open to the sky, though once there was a roof overhead. 










The temple was re-discovered by the archaeologist Louis Fournereau in 1891. Wat Si Chum is one of the most historically significant temples in Thailand, and is apparently the most studied of any Thai Temple. King Rama VI wrote about Wat Si Chum in a book written while he was the Crown Prince.





The walls are  about 3 meters thick, and conceal a small entry way with stairs to a corridor that rings about the small wat.  Inside the corridor ceiling are more than fifty engraved slate slabs, dating back to the mid 14th century, illustrating scenes from the Jataka tales, stories of the Buddha’s previous lives.  Unfortuantely this passageway is closed to normal tourists, I would have loved to get a peak inside. 

The hands of the Buddha are also covered in gold foil, put there by worshippers as offering to the Buddha.  Youc an see the squares on the hands, though since these photographs were taken on black and white film (pre-digital for me), you'll have to continue to imagine how they would look in real life.  Better yet, go see for yourself!  Enjoy.

Serene Cave

Serene Cave

THAI10D-32

November 23, 2010

On the outskirts of Khao Yai National Park, in Thailand, there is a certain cave under a monastery.  This cave was a refuge for Buddhist priests for centuries, as they would go down into the depths to be removed from the influences of daily life, to sit and meditate in the dark and reflect upon the teachings of the Buddha.  We were able to visit this cave and wander through the caverns for a short while.  The final room was this, where a 8-10' tall statue of the Buddha sat in lotus position, with an opening to the outside world above and to the side.  I like how this image has a luminous quality to it (the only lighting used was that which came from the open sinkhole) and how the Buddha, with his patina'd background, seems to be singularly lit by the light from above.  Enjoy. 

 

Technical notes:

Camera: NIkon D80

Lens: Sigma 10-20 mm f/3.5-5.6

Focal length: 10 mm

Exposure: 12 sec   f/16 ISO 400

Post-processing: Toning and curves adjustment in PS4

Stupas of Bangkok

Stupas of Bangkok

THAI040205

June 12, 2004

Continuing with the Thailand theme this week, another image from my first sojourn to that nation.  In fact, this was probably on the first day of adventure, after landing in the capital.  Wandering through the main tourist areas, the Palace and Wat Po, This stupa struck me.  These are small shrines (though sometimes not so small, you can see it towering over the roof tiles of the palace) where the remains of holy men are kept.  They are intricately designed and decorated, and are beautiful to admire.  I remember looking at this slide when it first came back from the lab, and immediately fell in love with it.  The wide angle approach, the off-center view with the storm clouds in the background (storm clouds are never far away in Thailand in the summer).  All of it spoke to me,  I hope you enjoy it as well. 

 

Technical notes:

Camera: NIkon N80
Film: Velvia 50

Lens: Nikon 28-105 mm f/3.5-4.5

Focal length: 28 mm

Exposure: 1/60   f/2.8 ISO50

Post-processing: Scanned on a Nikon Coolscan 5000, toning and curves adjustment in PS4

Photo of the Year - Samuel Aranda

A short post of the world of photography... Samuel Aranda's photo from Yemen won the World Press Photo of the Year.  It is a striking image, taken of a woman hugging a wounded relative within a mosque-turned-hospital.  I would say 'enjoy', but it is more haunting than enjoyable.  Still, it is a vibrant photograph, with great lighting and spontaneity.  So admire.

 

Photographs of Phamous Photographers Holding Photographs

I saw this over at Wired Magazine,a great little collection of photographs of photographers holding photographs.  Some of these are iconic images, such as Marilyn Monroe in bed, the towers exploding on 9-11, and Ali standing over Liston.  My three favorites, however, have to be Steve McCurry's portrait of a young girl in Afghanistan in 1984, the funeral procession for a murdered silverback gorilla, and the infamous line of tanks confronting a protester in the 1989 Tienanmen Square uprising in China.  These three are beautiful, haunting pictures that resonate with me especially strongly, and to see these images in the hands of their creators puts a personal perspective on each, seeing the artists who live behind the lens.








McCurry's image of the girl has consistently been thought of as National Geographic's most recognizable and outstanding image, his portraits are wonderful creations that are as beautiful as they are honest.  

The gorilla funeral is so sad, not only as it is a reminder of how few of these animals are left in the world (and highlighting the plight they face against poachers and land encroachment), but it shows how much empathy these animals can inspire in others, and how closely related we are.  

The tanks in Tienanmen Square need no real introduction, it is one of the most famous images of individuals standing up for their rights against oppression and demanding rights, even at the sacrifice of their own lives.

Enjoy the entire gallery at Wired.