Time Travel …

Layers of color, light, and structure

Years ago I wrote in my profile somewhere, “Photography provides a way to capture time and then travel back there whenever you wish. Every time you look at a photo, it can transport you back to that moment, allowing you to relive and remember.”

Recently, I was browsing through some of my old photos and came across a series I took in 2004, back in my Canon days with the 10d.  About a week after I retired from flying airplanes for Delta Air Lines, I struck out on a solo photo journey through part of the great American southwest.  The main points of interest on my itenerary were those awesome national parks:  The Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, and Canyonlands.

I started very early at The Grand Canyon, and spent several hours roaming the rim and shooting the canyon.  

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Visit Myanmar with National Geographic Photographer, Michael Yamashita

I don’t write posts like this very often, however there’s a very special opportunity to travel to an exotic location and shoot under the guidance of a National Geographic photographer, and I thought you might be interested. 🙂  AND a price break is on the horizon – I’ll explain more about that in a minute.

The exotic Location is Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) in Southeast Asia, and the photographer is Michael Yamashita, who holds the esteemed record of having shot for National Geographic longer than any other photographer.  This November, Michael and fellow adventure travel photographer Jock Montgomery will be leading a photo expedition to this picturesque country rich in history and devotional beauty.

There are three things that make this event noteworthy:

1)    Unlike most tour groups, this event is organized to accommodate the unique (some say eccentric) needs of the photographer – places will be visited when the light is good, pre-sunrise excursions will be planned to make sure you’re in the right place at the right time.  You’re free to roam around and explore.  
2)    Unlike most internationally famous photographers, Mike Yamashita is one of the most down-to-earth and approachable human beings you could ever hope to meet.  Plus, for you Sony shooters, that’s what Mike shoots with, too!  🙂
3)    This a supportive environment for doing serious cultural documentary photography.  There won’t be any family members rolling their eyes and saying “Hurry up – how many pictures do you have to take of that?”. 

The trip will occur from November 9th – 21st, with an optional 5-day extension from Nov 21.-25th.  You can read more about at one of these two links:

For web browsers: http://www.compassroseexpeditions.com/Photo_Tours/2014-11/Myanmar_Photo_Tour/#p=1

For other platforms like mobile phones: http://www.compassroseexpeditions.com/Photo_Tours/2014-11/MYM-NOV2014.pdf

Now, about that price break…

The pricing of the trip is structured so that the more people sign up, the less it is for everyone.  For example, the price for the basic package drops from $7200/person to $6800/person after 9 people sign up.  AS OF THIS WRITING, EIGHT PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED UP so if you sign up now you’ll be very, very popular with the rest of the group (and you’ll save yourself some money as well.)

That’s it.  If you’d like to learn more here are some sources for you:

•    Images from a similar trip in January:   http://www.compassroseexpeditions.com/slideshows/2014-11_Myanmar/ 
•    http://www.compassroseexpeditions.com/slideshows/Myanmar_Portraits/ 
•    http://www.compassroseexpeditions.com/slideshows/Myanmar_Inle_Fishermen/ 
•    Want to sign up?   Send Jock an email at jock@jockmontgomery.com and tell him “Mike Hendren sent me!”

And if you go … you have to promise to write a guest post (with photos) to share with the readers of Thru Mikes Viewfinder.  🙂

Others WILL be Crushed

The Sedalia Grill in Sedalia, Colorado, is a well known hangout for “bikers”, especially on those warm Colorado weekends that just beg for a ride. They serve good food, cold beer, and some live music at times.

If you do decide to come to the Sedalia Grill and you’re NOT driving a motorcycle, just be careful where you park! The bikers get priority up close, next to the building. 🙂

This sign is on the side of the building: “Biker Parking Only – All Others Will Be Crushed”. I think they’re kidding… but you never know for sure, so I won’t be the one testing it.

*(Note the motorcycle reflection in the window.)

The other thing I like about this place is their east exterior wall. 

As you can see, it’s been painted top to bottom in the American Flag and must be at least 15 feet high and 30 feet long! Now, there is some good old fashioned American patriotism on display!

Old Shack

I found this old shack on a hill, not too far from Crested Butte, Colorado. Actually it’s near Taylor Park Reservoir, situated about equi-distance from Crested Butte, Gunnison, and Buena Vista.

At the time, I was just too lazy to walk up closer so I used a telephoto lens for this shot. The “unplanned” result was this compression of distance, making the clouds look like they’re right on top of the shack.

This is a single-image HDR using Nik HDR Efex Pro.  The processing in HDR Efex is what helped to really bring out all of the texture in the image, especially the clouds.

Hope Town Lighthouse – A Beacon in the Dark

The Hope Town Lighthouse is located on Elbow Cay near the island of Abaco in The Bahamas.

It is one of the few operational kerosene powered light houses in the world. It is also one of only three “manual” lighthouses in the world, requiring someone to use a hand crank to rewind the spring that drives it.

Besides being an important safety beacon for sailors in the area, it is obviously also very picturesque. Plus, you can tour the lighthouse and go clear to the top where the view is pretty amazing!

The lighthouse sits next to a very protected harbor that offers a great place for sailors to weather that next storm.

So, what are you waiting for? Head to the Bahamas for some “fun in the sun”!

Redstone

Redstone, Colorado, is a tiny little town just a ways outside of Aspen. The whole town is only 3 or 4 blocks long and about 1 block wide, yet here is this sign showing directions to each little shop in town. Kinda cool, actually.

At one end of town is the Redstone Inn – a great place to spend New Year’s Eve. They throw a fun party there and serve a fine meal, too, all in a spectacularly scenic setting.