Category Archives: Photography

September 12, 2011 · 12:05 am

Nine Days out of Barcelona—Barcelona, Casablanca, and Rabat

Cruising. One of the best travel values for the money out there. Where else can you partake of higher end dining this reasonably, sleep in a private room this cheaply, all the while only having to unpack one time and still get to see different exotic locales almost daily? Then, included with that already low price, comes the nightly live entertainment, movies (on some ships), a library, a card room for bridge, and classes ranging from cooking to photography to lectures on history and everything in between.

And if that weren’t enough, break out your wallet (actually, your room keycard for charges to your shipboard account) and go shopping for everything from jewelry and watches to digital cameras and liquor. Keep that wallet out and you can purchase alcoholic beverages, partake of wine samplings and pairings, or even hit the onboard casino.

Last year, Ursula and I spent eighty-eight days at sea, fifty-four of which were on one cruise alone. On another cruise, nine days out of Barcelona back to Barcelona, we went to Casablanca, Rabat, and Taroudant in Morocco; Las Palmas in the Canary Islands; and Funchal, Madeira. Along the way we visited the Hassan II Mosque, a 12^th Century Kasbah (fort), and went sliding down a steep city street in a wicker toboggan.

Over the course of the this week’s blogs, I’ll be showing you pictures of this grand adventure. Today we’ll view photographs of Barcelona, Casablanca and the Hassan II Mosque, and that 12^th Century Kasbah near Rabat:

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Filed under Photography, travel

September 5, 2011 · 12:05 am

Summer’s Last Day—Don’t Squander It

The vernal equinox is the astronomical end of summer, which this year falls (pun intended) on September 23. It is the first day of September that marks the end of meteorological summer, that point when we expect the temperatures to begin their inevitable decline from summer’s heat to winter’s cold. But it’s the Labor Day weekend that signals like no other event the end of summer for those of us here in the United States. That is because Labor Day represents the symbolic last day of picnics, beaches, and perhaps a long weekend with the promise of travel and leisure before buckling down in school or heading back to work.

Enjoy this day, the last hurrah of summer. Take in the blue skies and bright yellow sunlight. Sit back and watch that softball game, hit the golf course, or visit the local park or zoo. Commune with nature and enjoy the fading sounds of the birds’ final songs before they take flight south. Stop and enjoy the final flowers of approaching fall. Let your nose command your mouth to water at the smell of broiled hamburgers and perfectly prepared porterhouses. Cherish these sights, scenes, scents, and sounds, and let their memory warm you during the coming long, cold winter nights ahead.

Take full advantage of today, for the months ahead will bring you this:

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Filed under Author, Humor, Photography, Writing

August 24, 2011 · 12:10 am

When to Keep the Color—Landscapes

On Monday we took a look at what type of landscape pictures might make good candidates for black and white conversion. All those photographs were taken in Glacier Bay on August 9 of this year, and their common themes were dull lighting, fairly monochromatic color range, misty clouds and, perhaps most importantly, rich textures with high contrast elements.

Today we’re going to look at photographs that aren’t as well suited for conversion to black-and white. These were also taken in Glacier Bay, and on the same day. The first three photographs depict an action sequence showing glacial calving of ice; black and white would have detracted from that action.

In many of the examples, you’ll note that colors play an important role in the visual impact—just the opposite of Monday’s choices. Some are reflection shots, in which what color there is plays an important part in enhancing the reflective effect on the water.

And finally, the last three photographs at first appear to be good candidates for conversion when compared to their misty counterparts from Monday, but you’ll note that because of the distant subjects and hazy conditions, they lack the contrast of last Monday’s offerings. Thus, at least to my eye, they have more impact with what minimal color there is than they otherwise would display if they had been converted to black and white.

But, remember, it’s all a judgment call, and you’re the judge when it comes to making these decisions on your own photographs.

See if you agree with the choices made: