This palm tree has a golden view of Oahu

Trees are like a magnet to my camera lens.  I find myself capturing trees around the world.  My recent trip to Hawaii was no exception.  The Big Island and Oahu were full of perfect trees ready to model for me!  Here are some of my favorites.

A Tree at the Punch Bowl war cemetary in Oahu

A lone tree sits along the Chain of Craters Road on the Big Island

Oahu coast

Drive from Hilo to Waimea on the Big Island

A complex leaf pattern near Akaka Falls on the Big Island

Trees in front of Iolani Palace in Honolulu

Rugged trees on the hike to Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse

Rain Forest on the Big Island near Hilo

Seeing Times Square for the first time

The last 5 days I’ve been playing tour guide of my favorite city in the US – New York City.  My old home still holds a very special place in my heart, especially for New Years.  My 15 year old niece has traveled with me to NYC for the first time and I’ve been putting all of my effort into showing her the time of her life this week.  She lives in Nebraska and hadn’t yet been to a big metropolis like NYC, so I felt a duty to show her what life in the big, artistic, bustling city of New York was like.

It has been a treat to see her experience NYC  for the first time; with new eyes on things that are familiar to me.  We have rode the subway and walked all over the city to see Central Park, the Metropolitan Museum, China Town, Times Square, Chelsea Market, Little Italy, SoHo, Brooklyn Bridge, Grand Central Station, High Line Park, Rockefellar Christmas Tree, 5th Ave. Shops, MoMA, attended a show, and even took a ride over to Hoboken NJ to see Carlos Bakery.  We have eaten everything in sight, and have nursed our aching feet.  And I even found a little time to take a few pictures of some of my favorite sites in NYC.

For this last post of 2011, you get some of my abstract photos from my week in New York City, for the New Year, with the new eyes of my niece.

Manhattan skyline on a blustery winter day

A golden cupid shoots his arrow in the Met

Architecture of the Gubbenheim

Circling the MoMa

Archways frame Central Park

Headless in the Met

Black and White MoMA

Beauty in Simplicity

Happy New Year!

View all of my New York City Photography

A turtle captured on my Photo Safari

A familiar diesel idle echoed through my ears as the big safari truck pulled up next to me and my little rental car. This truck was my transport to go on safari on the Big Island of Hawaii. However I wasn’t searching for wild game, instead I was searching for good photography.

Photo Safari Hawaii was immediately of interest to me when I started researching my trip to the Big Island. They offer private photo ecotours all over the Hawaiian Islands, creating a custom experience for each client. The Photo Safari guides are experts in their knowledge of the islands as well as photography of the islands. The tour provided an insiders guide to the best places to shoot, as well as fine art photography exercises to enhance your photography.

Even though I have been doing photography for a while now, I always think it’s good to try to improve your skills and get refreshers. I get into bad habits, I get lazy, and I was hoping that this Photo Safari experience would help me brush up on my skills as well as take me to some hidden places on the island. I chose to do the Big Island Light Chaser ½ day tour.

Kohala Coast - chasing the light

Sean picked me up in the early afternoon and we went out to shoot the Kohala Coast and ‘catch’ sunset pictures. Sean clearly loved the Big Island, he came here 10 years prior from the mainland and had never been back! His love was evident also in the amount of knowledge he had about the Big Island. He rattled off stories and facts as I enjoyed the view and asked questions. It was nice to let someone else drive me for once and allow me to look for shots . The whole week I had been juggling the beauty of having complete control of my journey and being able to stop where-ever I saw a great shot, with having to watch the road and figure out where I was going!

Our first stop was the Pu’ukohola Heiau; a sacred rock structure peered out over the Kohala Coast. We stepped out of the truck and I secured my camera and lenses while Sean brought a little laminated notebook full of lessons to help me think about photography in different ways.

Kohala Coast

Sean and I had already talked about my experience as a photographer, but I told him that I wanted to experience the tour as his normal student would experience it. Typically their customers carried SLRs and were beginners or enthusiasts, but he did say that many clients also come with point and shoot cameras and more frequently there are people who simply show up with a mobile phone! He mainly focused on the beginning steps of photography and how we see and process light. It’s a great place to start when it comes to photography, as it’s important to understand the types of light and how our brain processes them.

We wandered along the paths and Sean provided a nice mix of history and photography information. He would ask questions about aspects of light and composition and then show examples from his book. Next he would challenge me to find examples of what we were speaking about and shoot them. We didn’t get into the nitty gritty of aperture and shutter speeds very much, yet I know we could have went there had I wanted to.

We changed a bit of our itinerary based on the weather on the mountain; the heavy cloud cover made us stick to the coast for our sunset shots. We made 3 or 4 more stops after the Pu’ukohola Heiau; a mix of beaches and resorts to practice the various parts of composition. We ended on a secluded little stretch of beach where the sun glistened off the still tide pools; a perfect location for sunset. I thought to myself, I doubt I would have found this place on my own.

There's plenty of inviting beaches along the Kohala Coast

Sean spotted a big sea turtle resting on the rocks so we went over as close as we possibly could to get the shot. He advised me on the lighting conditions and I was able to capture the big creature without disturbing it.

We stayed until the sun went down shooting away experimenting with different settings and angles. My light finally disappeared and therefore my photo paintbrush disappeared with it. I packed up my camera and Sean drove me back to my cottage. On the way back I was able to get some great advice on other places to visit for continued photography practice during my time on the Big Island.

Sunset on the Big Island

The Good:
• They pick you up anywhere on the island in a large, comfortable truck with plenty of room for equipment
• You get a ton of information about the island, the history, and the must see places.
• It did reinforce the basics of photography for me and really did get me to think about contrast and light more before I took the shot instead of just dealing with the situation in post –processing. I thought the exercises were effective at getting you grasp the concepts in a non-technical way.
• Even though my experience focused on basics of composition for beginners with light, contrast, lines, and points, the tour has the ability to be more advanced and cover aspects of more technical manual settings too.
• They have cameras you can use – but you do have to rent them as a separate charge. Same for underwater casings and any other specialized equipment.
• They operate on all of the islands and they offer multiday workshops with focus on underwater photography.

The Could Be Better:
• Since this is a half day tour, there is no real review process of what you shot and discussion of what worked and didn’t work. However that type of portfolio review is included in the longer workshop tours.
• The cost is prohibitive for a solo traveler – $550 for 4 hours. This is an investment in your skills, not just a fluff tour, and the price reflects it. The downside about the prices is that it is a private tour and therefore you can’t really be combined with other people if the truck isn’t full. However, if you are traveling with companions and you organize it as a group – then you can fit up to 5 people in the truck and then the cost is reasonable for such a tour. So the key is to find people to go with you and help reduce the cost!
• The website provides information about the tours, but you will likely really have to contact them personally to get additional info that you need regarding details of the tour and the photo instruction. I didn’t find the website very informative for the price of the tours.  On tours with higher price points, I do believe more information is better than less. In addition, there are not many images or reviews of the tours listed on the site. I personally think that a photography business like this should be showing off the great images that their clients have taken, but, what can I say, I’m picky about websites!

Would I recommend it?

I love this concept, especially for the islands of Hawaii where everywhere you look is begging to be photographed! The key is that it is a private tour – so it can be tailored to your needs, and that’s what you are paying for ultimately.
I would recommend this tour for the person who:
• Really wants to invest in learning about the basics of photography
• Someone who wants to learn how to get off of auto mode and start to learn about the more technical side of shooting
• Has a few companions that want to also learn about photography in order to bring down the cost a bit
• The super serious photographer who wants access to the best locations on the island but doesn’t have time to research them on their own.
• Someone interested specifically in underwater photography as they have a special workshop for underwater shooting

To get more information or to book a tour check out
Photo Safari Hawaii – www.photosafarihawaii.com

Disclosure: Photo Safari Hawaii hosted my ½ day Light Chaser tour. However, all of the opinions expressed here are my own – as you know how I love to speak my mind!

This is my favorite team photo to date!  We rolled into this dried out lavender field while the sun was setting and quickly jumped to action setting up camp before we lost the light.  This was our 3rd night of camping in a row and we had the process down.  As you can tell – we are all quite proud of our camping skills! Camping amongst lavender was like Mother Nature’s aromatherapy!

Of course after this Dave fired up the stove and we started cooking, and of course cracked some beers.

Photos taken by Dave Bouskill of Picture the Planet

This bull is taking a little rest in Barcelona

I’ve already taken you to some of the main sites in Barcelona such as the Sagrada Familia and Gaudi’s creative tilework. But Barcelona is a diverse city full of architecture, food, art, and energy.  This week I bring you some of the diversity of Barcelona.    After all – there’s more to Barcelona than simply Gaudi!  To see all photos from Barcelona – please view my Barcelona Photo Gallery here.

To purchase any photos, simply click on the image for more instructions.

Colorful Barcelona!

Barcelona butcher shop...they love their pork!

Attention to detail in every building

Calella is a short train ride outside of Barcelona - a great beach getaway!

All locked up with no key

Guell Park a quilt of patterns and colors!

Brickwork and heavy doors

The colorful tile of Barcelona is hard to miss

As you walk around Barcelona you can’t help but be memorized with the tile work and architecture thanks to Guadi’s many masterpieces sprinkled throughout the city.  The colorful, intricate and sometimes flamboyant tilework is everywhere bringing the city a warm glow.  Here are some of my favorite colorful works of art!

If you are interested in purchased any photos, just click on the photo for more information.

Gaudi's work

An apartment by Guadi - Casa Batlló

To purchase any of these photos, just click on the image to learn more.

Getting High inside Sagrada Familia

The church of La Sagrada Família (Sacred Family) is a work on a grand scale which was began in 1882 and is scheduled to be completed in 2025.  This religious and architectural masterpiece by Anontio Guadi is a short walk from my Barcelona apartment which means I can easily stop by and shoot pictures whenever I’d like from the outside.  My favorite time is the early morning when I run by the church and not a single sole is around.  Go after 8:30AM though and the big line of tourists is already forming to go inside.

It’s definitely worth a trip inside to get the grand feel of the place.  If you go, take a hat for waiting in line, 15 to 20 Euros for the ticket, and a good camera with a wide angle lens.  For more information on history, architecture, and times to visit check out the official website or the Oh Barcelona Blog

And if you can’t go for yourself, let me take you inside the Sagrada Familia with photography:

The door to the church is a jumble of letters and words

The crucifiction hangs over the crowd

Tourists roam inside all looking upwards

The colorful stain glass windows

To see all of my Sagrada Familia Photography from the inside AND outside – check out my Photo Gallery:

Disclosure: Oh Barcelona Apartments is hosting my accommodation in Barcelona. However, all of the opinions expressed here though are my own – as you know how I love to speak my mind!

The Futuristic Opera House of Valencia

Is this the future of opera in Spain?  I hope so!  Move over Sydney – meet Valencia.  I couldn’t get enough of this fascinating building that reminded me of something out of Tron.   I took a stroll around the Palace of Arts complex yesterday in Valencia and this is just one of the many impressive modern architecture wonders of Valencia.  The buildings are a photographers dream – lines and curves with colorful settings and wading pools. Today I get to tour inside these buildings and will get to photograph it from a new perspective as a part of my trip sponsored by the Valencia Tourist Board.

Nice polka-dots....

This picture pretty much screams “PORTLAND!” to me.  An eclectic mix of laid back and free spirit.  Yet I doubt that this dog picked out the pretty pink polka-dots on it’s own!  The even funnier thing was that the owner of the dog was a big muscle guy – it was quite a site that I couldn’t pass up.

I was in Portland attending the World Domination Summit surrounded by unconventional people, so this dog fit in nicely to the theme of the weekend for me.

So – use this as a reminder to find your inner pink polka-dots this weekend!  Do something surprising, unconventional, and fun!

The Columbia River Gorge in Washington

Not only do you find beautiful views like this in the the Columbia River Gorge in Washington state, you can also find wine.  During our wine tasting one afternoon we wandered around the winery to take in the views.  I’m spending my last few weeks in the US slowly making my way up the West Coast while stopping in and meeting our West Coast Meet Plan Go! Hosts.  Oregon and Washington have been a breath of fresh air!

Halfway to Ella rock, a vision of green

Welcome to Hill Country in Sri Lanka.  It certainly lives up to it’s name.  The hike to Ella Rock is a challenging 3 hour hike known for it’s phenomenal views of the valley below.  The small town of Ella is nestled in Hill Country and is the hiking mecca for tourists looking to get some fresh mountain air.

A Buddha shrine at the base of a tree along the trail

Family homes and fields along the trail

Walking the rails...my Stand By Me moment!

Through the woods....to Ella's Rock we go!

The view from the top!

Tea plants go on as far as the eye can see...

Sri Lanka is not only known for it’s turquoise waters and beaches, it’s also know for it’s green, rolling hills.  Those hills are filled with row after row of tea plants and dotted with workers picking the leaves.  I didn’t actually go to a tea plantation for a formal tour, but instead I captured the tea culture through photography as we traversed Hill Country in Sri Lanka.  This is what I found…

Women pick the tea and then have it weighed and get paid by how much they pick.

A worker dumps her basket and goes back into the fields

A fog blankets the plantation

Women stuff the bags with leaves to be transported by the men.

Women are the primary workers at the plantations

Yesterday you learned about the inside of the trains and their culture, but today you take a peek outside the windows.  The Hill Country scenery appears eerie on this cloudy, rainy day.  However I find that some of the best landscape photography is done on days just like this.  These images were shot while riding the train to Ella in Hill Country.

Hiking through the forest to Ella Rock made me feel pretty small

Happy Earth Day!  What better way to ring it in than with lots of oxygen!

The hike to Ella Rock in Sri Lanka takes you on railroad tracks, over waterfalls, and through tea fields.  But before you get to the top, you must make one last steep climb through a tall forest of trees.  I stopped to catch my breath and looked above me and witnessed this breath-taking site.  I quickly put on my wide angle lens (the love of my life!) and started shooting the sun poking through the trees.  It was a great diversion from what was ahead of us.  Eventually we popped out of the forest and to the top of Ella Rock where we were treated with magnificent views of the lush, green valley below.

Click here to see more photos from the hike to Ella Rock

Click here for information on how to purchase this photo

Angel of Central Park

This week I arrived back in New York City for a short time to work on Meet Plan Go! planning as well as get my visa paperwork ready for the Mongol Rally.  It’s always nice to get back to my old home.  This photo is of my favorite spot in Central Park – Bethesda Fountain.  This was one of the first places I ever started practicing my photography so it has some special memories to me.  For this day the sun placement was just right as it peeped through her arms to make her even more angelic.

View the Best of my New York City Photography

Knock, Knock! Who's there?????

While traveling throughout the Middle East I saw many doors graced with hands.  However I never really got the full story on the hand knockers.  Some people say it’s the Hand of Fatima and it’s supposed to protect your home from evil.  However one of my favorite explanations was that the hands knockers were either male or female hands.  A female knocker had a different sound than a male hand knocker.  Many doors had both at one time (a female and a male door knocker hand).  Visitors were supposed to used the correct gender hand to knock so that people knew if it was a man or a woman at the door.  If it was a man knock, then a woman (presumably Muslim) wasn’t allowed to open the door.  If it was a female knock then a Muslim woman could answer the door.

I honestly have no idea if this was a true story or not…but I liked it, so I chose to believe it!  I’ve tried to do further online research about the history of these knockers, but haven’t come across any real answers.  Regardless – I thought they were beautiful to photograph and it allowed me to use the phrase – “Look at those knockers!”

Hand knockers in Jordan

To purchase these photos, just click on the image and learn more.

Pigeon Rock in Beirut, Lebanon

A stunning set of rocks welcome you to the city of Beirut.  Pigeons’ Rock (also known as the Rock of Raouché) is located at Beirut’s western-most tip, the two huge rock formations stand like gigantic sentinels to the city.  Locals love to walk along the corniche (seaside promenade) at any time of day, but during sunset it is especially busy.  Thanks to terrible traffic (typical in Beirut) I just about missed this spectacular sunset.

However, I never did learn why it’s called Pigeon Rock…if anyone has any explanation, let me know!

To purchase this print of Pigeon Rock, simply click on the image and learn more.

]]> http://www.ottsworld.com/blogs/photo-of-the-week-beirut/feed/ 4 http://www.ottsworld.com/blogs/photo-of-the-week-yella-jordan/ http://www.ottsworld.com/blogs/photo-of-the-week-yella-jordan/#comments Fri, 25 Feb 2011 08:30:26 +0000 Sherry http://www.ottsworld.com/?p=8473

Prayer Culture - You will see these 'worry beads' everywhere in Jordan

Yella means “Let’s Go!” in Arabic – a favorite word of mine.  This Friday I have a few last remaining nuggets of photo goodness from Jordan.  I’m moving on from Jordan…next stop Lebanon!  However, I wanted to share a few of my favorite photos from Jordan which speak to the culture, landscape, and experiences of Jordan.  It was a wonderful country for me to visit and I’m sure I will be back again as I left many things left undone…maybe on purpose!  Thanks to GeoVisions for having me participate in their Conversation Partner Program.  No doubt it made the experience more in depth than I ever could have received as a tourist.

View all of my Jordan photography from my month long stay in this amazing country.

To purchase any of these photos, you can simply click on the image for more information.

The landscape can be harsh, but it's easy to find beauty in it. Location: Wadi Feynan

A one day old baby camel with it's mother...some 'kid guides' showed me to the newborn while hiking around the remote areas in Petra

A veteran's memorial near the West Bank in Jordan

This man was selling bananas in the market and begged for his picture to be taken. The people of Jordan exceeded my expectations tenfold!

Petra captured my heart and lens

I loved the old gritty downtown Amman area best - it definitely had the most character(s)!

But like the sun, we all must go. Only to come back and visit again someday.

View all of my Jordan photography from my month long stay in this amazing country.

To purchase any of these photos, you can simply click on the image for more information.

Making Faces...in Jordan of all places...

I’ve taken a lot of pictures of people around the world.  But this young man surprised me.  He was the first who actually had a sense of humor and wasn’t afraid to show it to the camera.  I was shocked when I looked through the lens and saw him ‘pose’ for his picture which he agreed to.  The whole bakery in Wadi Musa erupted in laughter; including myself!  This bakery in Wadi Musa was my favorite for many reasons, but this young man was one of the main reasons.  I think it says a lot about the Jordanian culture and sense of humor.

View all of my photography from Jordan

Hussein Mosque in the heart of old downtown in Amman

In the heart of the old downtown of Amman you’ll find the famous Hussein Mosque.  Built by King Abdullah I in 1924, and restored in 1987, the King Hussein Mosque is in the heart of Downtown.  The mosque is more interesting as a hive of activity than for any architectural splendor; the precinct is a local meeting place and exudes an altogether Arab flavor.  It’s surrounded by fruit and vegetable souks, clothing vendors, roman ruins, and a lot of traffic and noise, but it still remains one of the focal points of downtown.  Amman is a growing city who has managed to hold on to it’s old town amidst many new modern changes.   Even though west Amman was shiny and new, I still preferred the grittiness of the old downtown and the history of the roman ruins scattered around the 7 hills of the city.

View all of my Amman photography:

Petra Remains a Mystery

Petra Time Machine - Purchase this Photo

This could be the most famous entrance in the world; walking down the Siq to see the first view of the Treasury will give you goosebumps.  This shot provides a little mystery and captures the rush of excitement as I walked through the Siq.  I spent 2 days in Petra with my camera exploring this hiking wonderland.  Next week I’ll be covering it thoroughly on Ottsworld AND sharing the photography…and trust me, there’s lots of it!  Another photographer on twitter, Peter West Carey, challenged me to try to get a different take on the often seen photos of Petra which really put the pressure on me!  However, after editing photos for a week, I feel pretty happy with my take on Petra.  Stop by next week and be the judge yourself!

To see more photos from Jordan – check out my Tree of Life photo from Wadi Feynan at Briefcase to Backpack’s Photo Friday!

Jordan isn't just a desert

On my drive from Wadi Feynan to Wadi Musa my Bedouin driver kindly stopped for me every time I motioned at my camera.  I personally think he enjoyed getting the occasional smoke breaks while I snapped away in awe.  This photo just goes to show you how stunning and surprising this country is.  The mountains are spectacular and it all feels untouched.

This drive with my non English speaking Bedouin guide was one of my highlights – especially when he stopped in the desert at a store and motioned that he had to go inside.  He came out with 2 cans of Fanta and two chocolate prepackaged cakes, sat back down in the truck and gave me one of each.  I was stunned – such a nice gesture; but then again, in Jordan these nice gestures don’t surprise me any longer.

He would try to point things out and he clearly knew the word for camel.  I liked him; he smelled like my late grandfather – a mix of cigarettes, sweat, and old clothes and that made me smile.  The drive took about 1 1/2 hours and climbed from the desert floor to these magnificant heights with no guard rails on something that occasionally resembled a road.  And we did it all in an old pickup truck (just like my grandfathers), slowly chugging along the steep inclines.  He kindly delivered me to Wadi Musa – the home of Petra, took my bag out of the back of the pickup, I said”Shakrun” (Thank you) and he turned around the left; I was actually sad to see him go.

Camel Crossing before we started climbing into the mountains

Beginning the Climb

Our road ahead

I thought we were going to drive off the end of the world

Coming down the other side to green fields

To see more Photos of my time in Jordan and some first photos of Petra – check out Photo Friday at Briefcase to Backpack

FYI – Wadi means valley – it took me a week to figure that out!

See all of my photography at Global Photography by Sherry Ott

This man knows hummus...

In a little alley you will find one of the best hummus and falafel restaurants in the Amman – Hashem.  There I had the Breakfast of Kings…literally…the King has eaten there before!  Plates of hummus are prepared by this stern looking man…but don’t worry – he was quite a kind soul.  As I was leaving he asked if he could pose for a picture…yet I still couldn’t get him to smile!

To view of purchase more photos from Amman – visit  my photography site – Global Photography by Sherry Ott

For this Photo of the Week you get a special treat…many photos because I couldn’t choose just one!

I recently spent 4 days in the Milan area traveling with a local friend.  This part of Northern Italy was new to me.  We traveled around Piacenza, Lake Le Garda, and Milan – a great mixture of small farming villages, impressive lake towns, and the fashionable big city.  Here are some of the highlights in pictures – enjoy!

To purchase any of these photos, please visit my Photography site Italy Album

Milan's Magnificent Duomo

A scantily clad Napoleon at the courtyard of Pinacoteca di Brera,

The home of Prada in Milan

Inside the massive duomo in Milan

The intricate ceiling of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele

The eerie view of Lake Garda from the town of Desenzano

A Stroll around Lake Garda on New Years Day

The town square of Cremona

The courtyard of Pinacoteca di Brera - an art college in Milan

Roasted chestnuts a Milan winter treat

Offerings of Light at the duomo in Milan

To purchase any of these photos, please visit my Photography site Italy Album

View all photos of northern Italy

Young Monks – Luang PraBang, Laos

Purchase this print

As I walked with the morning alms procession in Luang Prabang and took photos, I eventually came to a temple where the monks were finishing their procession. One of the monks said that it was ok if I came in as it was a good chance for them to practice their English. I respectfully went in and sat below the monks and talked to them about their lives in the temple, the procession of alms in Luang Prabang, their educations, their families – it was a wonderful exchange.  Plus – I was able to capture some moments that most tourists don’t get to see.

View the complete photo documentary on Giving Alms

Everyone can use a hug.  Especially at this time of year.  This summer New York City celebrated fleet week and sailors invaded the island of Manhattan.  I found this guy handing out free hugs in Times Square.  He was pretty popular!

To see more travel photos, check out Photo Friday on Briefcase to Backpack.

Valley of Light

The Tibetan Buddhist Monastery named Songzanlin is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan and one of the most famous in the region. The monastery was constructed in 1679 and looks like a Kasbah – with houses stacked on top of each other on a hillside. Approximately 700 monks live in those houses in this monastery community. The halls were colorful and ornate – and the Buddha statues were enormous!

The monastery was located near the fabled town of Shangri-la China.  A beautiful part of the country near the border of Tibet.  Yaks graze as the morning light paints the valley.

View more photos from Shangri-la China

Pantheon in a Glass – Rome, Italy    |   Purchase

For all of you wine lovers out there, this one’s for you.  This week I purchased my ticket to Italy for New Years, so in honor of my upcoming trip, I thought I’d pull out one of my favorite Italy photos.

This picture came about when sitting at a little cafe table outside the Pantheon.  I looked down at my wine glass and there it was, the Pantheon…looking back at me upside down.  Don’t worry, it didn’t stop me from finishing the wine.

To see and purchase more of my photography, please visit my portfolio at  Global Photography By Sherry Ott

Twist and Turn – the Great Wall, China

November is quickly coming to an end – and so the cold winter is beginning.  However I have fond memories of my fall in 2007 spent in China traveling with my father.  We explored this section of the Jinshanling Wall.  It undulates through the steep mountaintops, and it is approximately 8 miles from Jinshaling to Simatai via the Great Wall.  It will take anywhere from 4 to 7 hours to complete it depending on your fitness, and your knees! The two sections of the wall connect and there is a woman at that connection taking tickets to move on to the next section – if you don’t have a ticket, then you can ‘tpass through to Simatai.

We had a beautiful day to hike, and for photography.  View my photography of the Great Wall.

If you’d like to see more travel photography – check out Briefcase to Backpack’s Photo Friday and be sure to check out my post from this week on photography with a wide angle lens.

Udaipur, India – Whirling Women

In honor of the Passports with Purpose Fundraising project, I’ve chosen one of my favorite photos from India this week.

A last minute decision to go to the nightly cultural show in Udaipur yielded great photographic results.  I arrived late and they sat me right up front, but it was perfect for taking photos.  Women in brightly colored saris whirled around me as if they were floating on air.  A night to remember.

I spent a week in and around Udaipur having one of my most memorable weeks of solo travel.  Cooking lessons, palaces, temples, a local birthday party and more.  View all Udaipur photography

Remember to check out the amazing prizes you can win by simply donating $10 to Passports with Purpose.  That $10 goes toward the $50,000 effort to build a village in India.  And hopefully in that village there will be lots of colorful dancing!  Ottsworld has donated a luxurious travel bag from CAMENAE, and Briefcase to Backpack has donated a space in our ground-breaking Career Break Bootcamp – helping you move your travel dreams to reality.

Floating Through Fall

The weather forecast in Minnesota this weekend is for snow.  I thought I would give Fall one last hurrah.  This photo was taken on my recent hot air balloon ride near Minneapolis.  The balloon ride was a  present for my birthday last February – but I’m happy I waited till these spectacular fall colors to grace my lens in October!

It was my first hot air balloon ride and it was spectacular, right up until our ‘crash landing’ (the captain called it an ‘engergy disapation landing’…tomato…tomaaato).  We never went very high up which I preferred from a photography standpoint, but when we did come down we were caught in some strange wind sheer, crashed through some tree tops and hit the ground hard and dragging us and our basket full of 5 people along for a ways.  I walked away with some bloody bruised knees and a bit freaked out!  At least I protected my camera!

Here’s the rest of my photos from the spectacular ride slightly hovering above the fields of corn and amber waves of grain!

View Fall in Minnesota Photography

To see more travel photography – check out the career break Photo Friday at Briefcase to Backpack!

Rock Cemetery - Zion

Each of the national parks in the Utah/Arizona region has a personality all of it’s own. Zion is one of my favorite parks, for it’s texture, color, and towering peaks. Unlike the Grand Canyon where most people view it from the top, Zion is viewed from the bottom. You get the feeling of walking through towering boulder buildings of the Flintstone’s home town, Bedrock. These ‘skyscrapers’ have beautiful designs painted on them thanks to wind and water erosion leave this feeling of no two peaks being alike.

I couldn’t choose just one…but I think these photos represent the grandeur of Zion!

To see more photos this Friday – check out our career break photos at Briefcase to Backpack’s Photo Friday

View all of my photography from Zion National Park

An eerie, dead tree sits at the edge of the most grand canyon in the world.  During my recent photo trip to the Grand Canyon, I decided to try some black and white photography since I couldn’t seem to capture the greatness of the canyon in color.  I wondered if the black and white photography would give it a different feel.  I really enjoy switching to black and white photography occasionally, it reminds me how important it is to know where your light is.

If you’d like to see more travel photography hop on over to Briefcase to Backpack and see our career breakers photography!

A black and white look at the Grand Canyon

SmugMug.com – Serving up crisp, clear photos – without the side of Spam.

October is the busy season for trekking in Nepal.  The weather is perfect, the locals are out harvesting, and there are no monsoon rains!  One year ago I was hiking the Annapurna Circuit with my father; having one of my most memorable travel experiences.  We met a myriad of local children and adults along the trail; everyone loved to have their photo taken, even the dogs!  See more photography from the Annapurna Circuit or download my free ebook, Tiger Balm Tales, chronicling the trek with my father.

To see more travel photography – check out Briefcase to Backpack’s Photo Friday!

Shelter from the Storm

I loved the subtle differences in these beach cabins in Knokke Belgium.  Knokke is a beach town filled with people on sunny days of summer, and completely empty for the other 11 months of the year!  This wraps up my writing about my summer in Belgium.  However I have provided the Best of’ Belgium photography below…so stick around, relax, have a cup of coffee, and see what Belgium has to offer below.

Best of Belgium Photography

If you’d like to see more photos, stop by Photo Friday at Briefcase to Backpack and see what our career breakers are up to!

And if you sat and enjoyed this slide show of Belgium and thought – “What stunning photography!” – then consider purchasing some of my work at Global Photography by Sherry Ott – the holidays are just around the corner…

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