For years I have heard about the beauty of Guanajuato, Mexico. Now that I have had the opportunity to visit this lovely city, it has lived up to all of its expectations.
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Guanajuato is a colonial-era city situated in a valley that has a labyrinth of narrow, winding and steep cobblestone streets (there are even streets underground). You are guaranteed to get lost, but that is indeed the charm of the city, to simply wander around to explore the city’s shady plazas, sidewalk cafes, historic monuments and all the while admiring the neoclassical and baroque style colonial architecture.
The University of Guanajuato is located right in the historic center which gives the city a youthful atmosphere (there are over 30,000 enrolled students). At night the city comes alive with its vibrant nightlife and callejoneadas, or walking serenades, led by student musicians who strum guitars, serenade bystanders and recite local tales.
This is a bird’s eye view of the city from The Pipila Monument which can be reached by either bus, hiking a steep trail or funicular. Whatever method you choose you are guaranteed a fantastic view of beautiful Guanajuato!
Happy Travels!
Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography
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Sunday, January 27, 2013
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Being a Good (Great) Artist - Bayon Temple, Angkor Thom
Being a Good (Great) Artist - Bayon Temple, Angkor Thom, a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.
Built around 1190 AD by King Jayavarman VII, Bayon is a Buddhist temple, but it incorporates elements of Hindu cosmology. Located north of the more famous Angkor Wat, Bayon is known for its huge, smiling stone faces and everywhere I went I felt like I was being watched, much like being at a U.S. airport with the Transportation Security Administration looking on.
Being a “good” artist I copied this photo composition from the front cover of Lonely Planet’s Cambodia guide (I did add my originality to it by shooting the opposite side of the face). I took it a step further and tweaked the colors in post production to get a somewhat similar result. I guess that makes me a “great” artist!
Leah seun hai, adios and goodbye for now!
Happy Travels!
Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography
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Monday, January 21, 2013
Jumping for Joy in the Ta Phin Village - Sapa, Vietnam
Jumping for Joy in the Ta Phin Village - Sapa, Vietnam, a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.
A young boy jumps for joy in front of his school room at the Ta Phin Red Dzao ethnic minority village in Sapa, Vietnam.
I spent the day exploring this village while in Sapa which is located in the Northeastern part of Vietnam.
You can read more about my encounter with the Red Dzao by clicking this link.
Happy Travels!
Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography
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Sunday, January 20, 2013
Angkor What???
According to a recent poll, yours truly was voted the top travel photographer of 2012. How did I achieve such excellence? Perhaps it was due to my creativity, my intuitive vision or maybe because I shoot with cool Canon gear.
Or it could be that I travel to places most people have never heard of.
Take for example Angkor Wat. Located in the exotic country of Cambodia, I played Indiana Jones for a day as my local Cambodian guide and I trudged through the steamy jungle for over three hours to find this magnificent Khmer temple.
So there we were in complete solitude admiring this magnificent structure. I put my Canon gear through the paces as I quickly realized I was one of the few photographers in the world to captured this amazing place. It was time of spiritual joy, aesthetic pleasure, and deep contemplation.
I was in photography nirvana.
That was the Angkor Wat of my travel dreams.
This is the Angkor Wat of travel reality.
I photographed Angkor Wat at sunrise over a period of two days and both were a bust. This was taken on my second attempt and it was just a tad better than the first which isn’t saying much. I was there in May which happens to be the hottest part of the year. It was hot, brutally hot. The weather was terrible and the light was flat. With no decent clouds in the sky, I didn’t get the trophy shot of Angkor Wat at sunrise with the stunning morning light reflected off the clouds and a perfect reflection in the pond.
Instead I shared my early mornings with throngs of tourists all aiming to get the same photograph that a million photographers have captured before. Through it all I endured sharps elbows to my lower back as people jockeyed for position, sand flies in my face, the brutal heat with a slap of humidity and the constant harassment from the vendors demanding I have breakfast at their “five-star” outdoor dining establishment.
So this was my view of Angkor Wat...tourists wandering around in the frame, an ugly scaffolding that begged to be torn down and pathetic clouds with a hint of some morning light coming from behind the temple.
Thanks to Apple Aperture I was able to bring back to life the beauty and splendor of the heart and soul of the Khmer Empire - Angkor Wat Temple.
P.S. I really was awarded the top travel photographer of 2012. The polling just happened to be skewed in my favor. I was the only one polled and I voted early and often! Hmm? Sounds like the 2012 American presidential election?!
Happy Travels!
Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography
Why don't you join me on Facebook?
Still figuring out Google +
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Or it could be that I travel to places most people have never heard of.
Take for example Angkor Wat. Located in the exotic country of Cambodia, I played Indiana Jones for a day as my local Cambodian guide and I trudged through the steamy jungle for over three hours to find this magnificent Khmer temple.
So there we were in complete solitude admiring this magnificent structure. I put my Canon gear through the paces as I quickly realized I was one of the few photographers in the world to captured this amazing place. It was time of spiritual joy, aesthetic pleasure, and deep contemplation.
I was in photography nirvana.
That was the Angkor Wat of my travel dreams.
This is the Angkor Wat of travel reality.
I photographed Angkor Wat at sunrise over a period of two days and both were a bust. This was taken on my second attempt and it was just a tad better than the first which isn’t saying much. I was there in May which happens to be the hottest part of the year. It was hot, brutally hot. The weather was terrible and the light was flat. With no decent clouds in the sky, I didn’t get the trophy shot of Angkor Wat at sunrise with the stunning morning light reflected off the clouds and a perfect reflection in the pond.
Instead I shared my early mornings with throngs of tourists all aiming to get the same photograph that a million photographers have captured before. Through it all I endured sharps elbows to my lower back as people jockeyed for position, sand flies in my face, the brutal heat with a slap of humidity and the constant harassment from the vendors demanding I have breakfast at their “five-star” outdoor dining establishment.
So this was my view of Angkor Wat...tourists wandering around in the frame, an ugly scaffolding that begged to be torn down and pathetic clouds with a hint of some morning light coming from behind the temple.
Thanks to Apple Aperture I was able to bring back to life the beauty and splendor of the heart and soul of the Khmer Empire - Angkor Wat Temple.
P.S. I really was awarded the top travel photographer of 2012. The polling just happened to be skewed in my favor. I was the only one polled and I voted early and often! Hmm? Sounds like the 2012 American presidential election?!
Happy Travels!
Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography
Why don't you join me on Facebook?
Still figuring out Google +
Follow me on Twitter!
I'm over at Pinterest too!
Sam's Photography Blog
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Saturday, January 19, 2013
The National World War II Memorial - Washington, D.C.
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. The one break I had was when I took this photograph, when for a brief moment the sun peeked out from behind the clouds.
I love the many juxtapositions in this photograph. The World War II Memorial contrasted against the Washington Monument. The warm light shining on Admiral Nimitz’s words contrasted against the dark sky. The group of youthful teens oblivious to the aging veteran (as seen in his shadow) paying his respects to his fallen comrades.
Travel photography is 95% frustration and 5% pure joy. I love it when that 5% comes together!
Happy Travels!
Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography
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I love the many juxtapositions in this photograph. The World War II Memorial contrasted against the Washington Monument. The warm light shining on Admiral Nimitz’s words contrasted against the dark sky. The group of youthful teens oblivious to the aging veteran (as seen in his shadow) paying his respects to his fallen comrades.
Travel photography is 95% frustration and 5% pure joy. I love it when that 5% comes together!
Happy Travels!
Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography
Why don't you join me on Facebook?
Still figuring out Google +
Follow me on Twitter!
I'm over at Pinterest too!
Sam's Photography Blog
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Friday, January 18, 2013
Do you know about "The Three Servicemen" in Washington, D.C.?
Do you know about "The Three Servicemen" in Washington, D.C.?, a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.
Did you know that The Vietnam Veterans Memorial was designed by a 21-year old Yale University architecture student, Maya Ying Lin from Athens, Ohio out of a total 1,421 entries received as part of the design competition.
Did you know that "The Three Servicemen", unveiled on Veterans Day, 1984, was designed by Frederick Hart, who placed third in the original memorial design competition.
Taken with my iPhone 4s.
Happy Travels!
Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography
Why don't you join me on Facebook?
Still figuring out Google +
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