It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)

It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine), a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

UPDATE: May 9, 2013 (10:39 Eastern Standard Time in the United States) - The Mayas love a good joke. Cheerio then all, thanks for reading. Until the next Apocalypse.

UPDATE: December 21, 2012 (3:49 Eastern Standard Time in the United States) - The world has not come to an end...for now.

Are you ready for the December 21, 2012, apocalypse when the Maya's "Long Count" calendar marks the end of a 5,126-year era?

Chichén Itzá, located in the Yucatan of Mexico, is the apex of Maya archaeological sites. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988, it is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

The Kukulkan Pyramid (also called “El Castillo”) is the architectural highlight of the ruins. This structure is famous for having various Maya calendar cycles represented in the number of steps, platforms, sides, and levels, all of which are aligned with the equinox sun, such that on those days only, a serpent-shaped shadow descends the steps. The pyramid has four stairways, each with 91 steps and a platform at the top, making a total of 365, equivalent to the number of days in a calendar year.

When I was in Chichén Itzá last month I had the opportunity to talk with the local Maya people to asked them if the world was really going to end on December 21, 2012. They all responded with a laugh and said no.

When I mentioned to one gentleman that my birthday coincided with the end of the Maya Long Count calendar he looked at me sternly and said, “You’ll be one year older, so my friend you’ll be fatter, slower and gray hairs will appear on your head. Your world will be ending, but not the Mayans!”

To all my Flickr friends may we all live to see December 22, 2012!

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Five Reasons why I prefer Photographing Sukhothai, Thailand over Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Five Reasons why I prefer Photographing Sukhothai, Thailand over Angkor Wat, Cambodia, a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

Photographing Angkor Wat in Cambodia last year was a dream come true. It is an amazing place, but I found the ancient capital of Sukhothai, Thailand much more enjoyable to photograph. Maybe it had to do with the name when translated, “The dawn of happiness.”

Sukhothai was the first capital of Siam founded by King Ramkhamhaeng during the 13th Century. The province's temples and monuments have been restored and is now the Sukhothai Historical Park and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Here are five reasons why I enjoyed photographing Sukhothai Historical Park over Angkor Wat.

1) Cost: Cambodia is a very budget friendly country, but admission to Angkor Wat is expensive ($20/day USD). I found Sukhothai ($4-8/day) a much better value.

2) Crowds: Angkor Wat is Southeast Asia’s top destination so be prepared for the hordes of crowds even in the low season (when I visited). Most tourists visit Thailand’s other ancient capitol, Ayutthaya, since it is only an hour from Bangkok. Sukhothai is about a four to five hour bus ride from Bangkok so it doesn’t see as many tourists.

3) Cleanliness: With Angkor Wat’s steep admission price you would think it would go toward the upkeep of this magnificent place. Unfortunately that’s not the case. It was sad to see trash around most of the temples. On the other hand, Sukhothai, with its meticulous manicured grounds, is Disneyland with a Southeast Asian twist (hot and humid).

4) Conveyance: At Sukhothai I was able to rent a motorbike and take it in the park. In the city of Siem Reap, where Angkor Wat is located, they do not allow foreigners to rent motorbikes. As an independent travel photographer I find having a motorbike allows the maximum flexibility for taking photos.

5) Clerks: I was trying to think of a word that starts with the letter “c” that is similar to hawker and clerk was the only word that came to mind. The vendors at Angkor Wat bring persistence to another level. Little girls and boys will besiege you to buy bracelets, water or postcards. At Sukhothai the very few street vendors kindly ask for your business and a simple “no” will signify you’re not interested and you both can walk away with a smile.

This may seem like a bit of a rant against Angkor Wat, but it is not. If you have a chance to visit the temples please do so because you will be amazed.

Just be sure to dispose of your trash properly.

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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The Real Voyage of Discovery

The Real Voyage of Discovery, a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.” - Marcel Proust

Taken at the Bac Ha Market, Vietnam.
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Canon 5D Mark II
Canon 70-200 f/4 L
Big smile

Happy Travels!

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Goodbye Mr. Green Square, Hello Mr. Aperture Priority!

Goodbye Mr. Green Square, Hello Mr. Aperture Priority!, a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

The day I left the green square behind was the day I started to get serious with photography.

You know the full auto mode on Canon cameras that is indicated with a green square or what I call the dummy mode. That may sound harsh, but why spend hundreds of dollars on a DSLR camera so you can operate it like a simple point and shoot? That is why we have smart phones with cameras.

I soon discovered other modes like “AV” (aperture priority) and “TV” (shutter priority) which would open the creative flood gates.

The AV mode led me to the expressive world of “blue hour” photography, that certain time of the day that creates a surreal environment with natural light. The blue hours provide photographers with fantastic overcast lighting across a scene, giving your photographs deep saturation of colors and great detail. The time just before sunrise or after sunset, also known as twilight, gives off a blue/purple hue that is truly unique.

I started to photograph cityscapes during the “second” blue hour. I love it when the light in the sky would balance out with the light of the office buildings. To get longer exposure times and depth of field I had to say goodbye to Mr. Green Square and hello to Mr. Aperture Priority.

I always wanted a clean composition so I hated it when people would walk into my frame or refuse to get out of it. Most of the time it wasn’t a problem since I would shoot at long exposures (20-30 seconds) and they would “disappear” into the night, but there were always those people who for some reason would stand still and end up in my frame.

Annoying.

Many years later I would find myself standing on the edge of the South Rim of the Grand Canyon freezing and waiting for the sunrise. I finally hit a brick wall with landscape and cityscape photography and wanted to try something new.

Photographing strangers on the street always frightened me, so of course that was the direction I wanted to go!

Cityscapes aren't just about buildings, but also the people who inhabit the city, besides National Geographic says photos are always more interesting with people in them. Who’s going to argue with National Geographic? I now photograph cityscapes with people in them to tell more of a complete story.

Now that I want people in my cityscape photos I can’t get seem to get them in my shots. In Guanajuato, Mexico I wanted to take a blue hour photo of the city cathedral, but I also wanted to portray the nightlife of this exuberant colonial town.

I set up my camera tripod at this sidewalk cafe hoping to get people in the foreground with the city cathedral in the background.

Easier said than done.

Every time people would walk by they would either stop and stare at my camera or duck down and apologize for walking in my frame and then quickly run off. It took ten shots to finally get this one.

The waitress in the doorway was courteous to stand still long enough to “freeze” her in the frame. Once she turned around and saw my camera she apologized for disrupting my photo and went back inside the restaurant.

Putting my camera in aperture priority, the exposure was set just long enough to take in those saturated colors and to blur the passing people to give a hint of the vibrant nightlife of Guanajuato, Mexico.

Now take your camera off that green square and take some blue hour photos.

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Reflections on Washington, D.C.

Reflections on Washington, D.C., a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

On my last night in Washington, D.C. I returned to the Lincoln Memorial, not necessarily for photography, but to reflect on my journey.

When I was a political hack many years ago I would frequent the Lincoln Memorial steps at night to take in what I believe, in my humble opinion, is one of the most inspirational views in the United States of America. From the memorial steps you can take in the views of the entire National Mall: the Reflecting Pool, The National World War II Memorial, The Washington Monument and The U.S. Capitol.

The last two years I visited the memorial the view from the steps were to say the least very uninspiring since the Reflecting Pool was undergoing structural improvements, which meant it was drained of all its water and a big, hideous fence enclosed the entire area. Without any water in the pool the iconic shot of The Washington Monument reflected in the pool was not possible. It was here at the pool that one of the most famous scenes in American cinema was filmed. Remember when Forrest Gump and Jenny ran across the Reflecting Pool to embrace one another? Now that the water was gone so was the magic.

In the two weeks I was in Washington, D.C. I would always walk past the eyesore formerly known as the Reflecting Pool. One day I was doing research for photo locations around the city when I came across a news report that the construction on the pool was done and they would start refilling the pool with water on the day before I would depart D.C. The speed of the U.S. federal government moves slower than a handicapped snail, so likewise I was not expecting them to meet their deadline.

On my last evening in D.C., I took a stroll across The National Mall toward The Lincoln Memorial. To my surprise the fence was taken down and the pool was partially filled up with water.

I sat there just enjoying the views when suddenly a tour group of high school girls approached the memorial steps and were taking pictures. I overheard one of them say, “Why is there a swimming pool there?”

“Well, like, you know, it gets hot in D.C. during the summer,” replied one girl.

I had to take this photograph just to remember the huge laugh I had that evening.

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Oh Duck! National World War II Memorial - Washington, D.C.

Oh Duck! National World War II Memorial - Washington, D.C., a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

I was all over the place last year, from Bangkok, Thailand to Chicago, Illinois to Dalat, Vietnam to Penang, Malaysia to The Crazy Horse Memorial in South Dakota to San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico to Washington, D.C.

So it is with my blog too.

I still have tons of photos to process from my South East Asia trip from last year and now that I have returned from Mexico, more photos have been added to my ever dwindling hard drive space.

I have been adding photos from my recent journey into Mexico, but I am going to interrupt that with some photos from my Washington, D.C. trip I took a couple of months ago.

I had a tough time photographing the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. due to the weather. The day I was photographing the memorial it was overcast and raining. I had just removed my gear from my Think Tank Shape Shifter backpack and set up my Canon 5D Mark II on my tripod when it began to rain. I ran and “ducked” under one of the memorial’s arches to wait out the downpour. When the rain let up momentarily I ran out to this spot before the crowds could assemble around the pool.

There are so many memorials in Washington, D.C. that I love to combine them into one shot if possible. I did that here with the World War II Memorial, the Washington Monument and a duck all in one frame!

The duck is a great symbol of Washington, D.C. since many politicians love to “duck” the important issues facing America in favor of spending other people’s money!

Happy Travels!

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The Dead Come Alive in San Agustin Etla!

The Dead Come Alive in San Agustin Etla!, a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

One of the highlights of photographing El Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) in Mexico was visiting the small town of San Agustin Etla about ten miles outside of Oaxaca. The town is known for their wild celebrations, outrageous costumes and nonstop Banda music.

Most of the world is familiar with Halloween since it is a huge commercial enterprise, especially in the United States. While death is treated as something to be feared in Halloween tradition, the exact opposite holds true with the Day of the Dead where death is looked upon as a source of celebration.

The Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday and is celebrated throughout Mexico. Family and friends get together to pray and remember their loved ones who have passed away. The celebration takes place on November 1–2, in connection with the Catholic holidays of All Saints' Day (November 1) and All Souls' Day (November 2).

The Day of the Dead celebrations are embodied in the town of San Agustin Etla where my five senses were duly assaulted by outrageous costumes, deafening music, enticing street food and a boisterous party atmosphere.

The evening’s festivities culminated in a friendly town rivalry in which the neighboring town paraded over to San Agustin’s central square to begin a face to face show down. I knew the atmosphere was going to be unhinged when I saw a security squad of men with batons form a human barricade between the two towns.

For a good hour or so the two towns partied on their respective sides of the street trying to outdo one another with flamboyant costumes, riotous dancing and piercing Banda bands. Of course, I happen to be right in the middle of all of it.

I set my camera on a low ISO setting and fired my Canon 550 EX Speedlite flash to “drag the shutter” which gave this scene a sense of motion to convey all the commotion that was happening around me.

After experiencing the Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico, Halloween will never be the same.


Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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