August 24, 2010
A New Gallery Has Been Added
We just added a new gallery featuring underwater images. You can check out the new images here.
August 20, 2010
Stetson's Account of our Whippoorwill Walk
Stetson wrote an article about our Whippoorwill nature walk which was published by NewCastleNOW.org. You can read it here: http://www.newcastlenow.org/index.php/article/backyard_wonders_sunset_among_wildflowers_in_whippoorwill/
August 19, 2010
Chappaqua Patch Article
David Orr at the Chappaqua Patch wrote up a nice piece about our nature walks. Check out the link: http://chappaqua.patch.com/articles/chappaqua-photographer-leads-nature-walk
August 16, 2010
Backyard Wonders
The first of a series of articles about our local natural hot spots: http://www.newcastlenow.org/index.php/article/index/backyard_wonders_the_great_right-here/
November 25, 2009
Scarlet
I always enjoyed exploring. Even as a child, my parents had a hard time keeping track of me. Every evening they would learn of my epic adventures as I told them over supper. As I grew older I began to travel more, trying to discover more distant and exotic places. I also enjoyed sharing my experiences with others through pictures and stories. The more I traveled, the more it became important to me to preserve my experience, and the camera became an important tool in my quest. I wanted the viewer to feel like he or she is part of the journey. Each of my photographs must capture the viewer’s attention as well as evoke emotions.
My most recent adventure took me to the Himalayas where I explored both Nepal and Bhutan. Trekking in Nepal was surprisingly different than what I was expecting or what I have experienced thus far in other parts of the world. In the trek through the Annapurna Range, we walked not in the wilderness but instead on miles of what seemed like ancient stone paths connecting mountain villages inaccessible by car. We passed homes and shops built, not by machine, but by the hands of its inhabitants. It was humbling to observe people living such peaceful and simple lives relatively undisturbed and unchanged from the way they had lived a hundred years ago. Many villagers have modern conveniences such as electricity (although that is somewhat spotty) and water access, but they lack the luxuries that we often lead ourselves to believe to be absolute necessities. Rice is cultivated by hand with a sickle; food is cooked on an open fire; and if you need to get somewhere you walk.
As I walked, following our guide, to the lodge in Ghandruk (one of the larger villages and also most challenging on the trek given the altitude), I noticed a girl on the porch of her house. She was wearing a striking scarlet sweater sitting on a mud packed floor doing her homework. I must admit, children are my most challenging subject to photograph. Once they catch wind that a camera is pointed at them, anything can happen. You can get a simple smile or a theatrical performance. Normally I prefer to capture my subject in a candid moment. So from a distance I lifted my camera. Before I could take a picture the girl was up and running toward me. It was only when she got closer that I noticed there was a remarkable charm and beauty about her. She approached, dirty and barefoot with ink on her lips. So I clicked the shutter producing one of my favorite portraits from the trip. When I was done, she pointed at the camera, obviously aware of the immediate results produced by a digital camera. Satisfied with the picture, she asked “sweets, rupees?” I laughed and offered a small token of appreciation. Unsuspectingly, her joy alerted all the other children in the village and before I knew it a dozen children asking me to take a picture of them surrounded me. It was a lesson learned…you could never have enough candy with you trekking through Nepal if you want to take pictures!
My most recent adventure took me to the Himalayas where I explored both Nepal and Bhutan. Trekking in Nepal was surprisingly different than what I was expecting or what I have experienced thus far in other parts of the world. In the trek through the Annapurna Range, we walked not in the wilderness but instead on miles of what seemed like ancient stone paths connecting mountain villages inaccessible by car. We passed homes and shops built, not by machine, but by the hands of its inhabitants. It was humbling to observe people living such peaceful and simple lives relatively undisturbed and unchanged from the way they had lived a hundred years ago. Many villagers have modern conveniences such as electricity (although that is somewhat spotty) and water access, but they lack the luxuries that we often lead ourselves to believe to be absolute necessities. Rice is cultivated by hand with a sickle; food is cooked on an open fire; and if you need to get somewhere you walk.
As I walked, following our guide, to the lodge in Ghandruk (one of the larger villages and also most challenging on the trek given the altitude), I noticed a girl on the porch of her house. She was wearing a striking scarlet sweater sitting on a mud packed floor doing her homework. I must admit, children are my most challenging subject to photograph. Once they catch wind that a camera is pointed at them, anything can happen. You can get a simple smile or a theatrical performance. Normally I prefer to capture my subject in a candid moment. So from a distance I lifted my camera. Before I could take a picture the girl was up and running toward me. It was only when she got closer that I noticed there was a remarkable charm and beauty about her. She approached, dirty and barefoot with ink on her lips. So I clicked the shutter producing one of my favorite portraits from the trip. When I was done, she pointed at the camera, obviously aware of the immediate results produced by a digital camera. Satisfied with the picture, she asked “sweets, rupees?” I laughed and offered a small token of appreciation. Unsuspectingly, her joy alerted all the other children in the village and before I knew it a dozen children asking me to take a picture of them surrounded me. It was a lesson learned…you could never have enough candy with you trekking through Nepal if you want to take pictures!
