Or should I say good morning Washington, DC! Actually, The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is only about 1,000 feet from where I photographed this so I wasn’t too far from a “Vietnam” theme.
The ugly looking obelisk with the scaffolding is the Washington Monument which has been under construction since the August 2011 earthquake. If you are planning a trip to the Nation’s capitol soon, be warned that construction will not be completed until sometime in 2014. That’s really a bummer because everywhere you take a photograph in Washington, DC it seems the Washington Monument is always in the background.
I got up early this particular morning because in the spring and summer the sunrise runs parallel to the Lincoln Memorial (rising near the Washington Monument) and bathes the statue of Mr. Lincoln in warm, soft light. As you can see from my photograph that didn’t happen, so I had to settle for this lonely jogger running along the Reflecting Pool.
Happy Travels!
Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography
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Showing posts with label Sunrise. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sunrise. Show all posts
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Monday, August 5, 2013
Reflecting on the Past, Remembering our Veterans, Honoring their Service
Reflecting on the Past, Remembering our Veterans, Honoring their Service, a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.
I had the great opportunity to partake in a moving and patriotic experience earlier this month. Every December an organization called Wreaths Across America coordinates a wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. It is a wonderful way to remember, honor and teach our youth about our fallen veterans.
They also lay wreaths at other memorials such as the Vietnam Veterans War Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The Vietnam Veterans War Memorial is most abstract memorial on the National Mall. It is also, to many, the most profound and emotional. The two sunken black granite walls, dedicated in 1982, are inscribed with the names of the 58,000-plus American service members who died in the Vietnam War. Designer Maya Lin called her controversial design an “anti-monument.”
What was your most moving travel experience in 2012?
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 +
Follow me on Twitter!
I'm over at Pinterest too!
Sam's Photography Blog
Sam's Travel Photography Gallery
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
Sam's Travel Photography Gallery
Monday, July 25, 2011
The Sun Also Rises
A break from my Costa Rica photos as I return to my Coastal Carolina and Georgia trip.
Wrightsville Beach is a beautiful beach town near Wilmington, North Carolina. In perfect solitude I enjoyed this sunrise at Crystal Pier. As someone who was born and raised near the Pacific Ocean, experiencing a sunrise along the Atlantic Ocean is a rare occurrence.
Ernest Hemingway wrote in his classic work, The Sun Also Rises, that “Nobody ever lives their life all the way up except bullfighters.” Well, a close second would probably be photographers who can capture an image in a brief instant and turn it into a lasting moment.
Happy Travels!
Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography
Why don't you join me on Facebook?
Follow me on Twitter!
Sam's Photography Blog
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Sam's Other Travel Photography Gallery
Wrightsville Beach is a beautiful beach town near Wilmington, North Carolina. In perfect solitude I enjoyed this sunrise at Crystal Pier. As someone who was born and raised near the Pacific Ocean, experiencing a sunrise along the Atlantic Ocean is a rare occurrence.
Ernest Hemingway wrote in his classic work, The Sun Also Rises, that “Nobody ever lives their life all the way up except bullfighters.” Well, a close second would probably be photographers who can capture an image in a brief instant and turn it into a lasting moment.
Happy Travels!
Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography
Why don't you join me on Facebook?
Follow me on Twitter!
Sam's Photography Blog
Sam's Travel Photography Gallery
Sam's Other Travel Photography Gallery
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Having a Sweet Time at the Pineapple Fountain
The Pineapple Fountain in Charleston, South Carolina is popular with both locals and visitors. Located in Waterfront Park overlooking the Cooper River, Charleston Mayor Joe Riley has named the park, “this generation’s gift to the future.”
I came to Charleston looking to photograph its beautiful antebellum mansions and to dig deeper with my camera into its rich history. The first day I got into town I captured my “trophy” blue hour shot and now I had to concern myself where I was going to photograph for a sunrise shot.
I spent the first morning along the Battery, Charleston’s most iconic spot, with views of the Charleston Harbor and gorgeous mansions. I didn’t get the sunrise shot I was looking for so I spent the rest of the day pounding the pavement seeking inspiration.
At noon time I was exhausted so I headed for the Blind Tiger Pub (a favorite of mine - sit out in the patio area and order one of their wonderful burgers). After I ordered I pulled out my Moon travel guide for Charleston & Savannah and lo and behold right on the front cover was a photo of the Pineapple Fountain! After lunch I strolled over to nearby Waterfront Park and upon seeing the fountain I immediately envisioned an exceptional sunrise shot.
This isn’t an HDR shot. It is one exposure refined with “Mr. Photoshop,” and with the kind assistance of Mr. EOS “king of the low-light cameras” Canon 5DMKII!
Happy Travels!
Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography
Why don't you join me on Facebook?
Follow me on Twitter!
Sam's Photography Blog
Sam's Travel Photography Gallery
Sam's Other Travel Photography Gallery
I came to Charleston looking to photograph its beautiful antebellum mansions and to dig deeper with my camera into its rich history. The first day I got into town I captured my “trophy” blue hour shot and now I had to concern myself where I was going to photograph for a sunrise shot.
I spent the first morning along the Battery, Charleston’s most iconic spot, with views of the Charleston Harbor and gorgeous mansions. I didn’t get the sunrise shot I was looking for so I spent the rest of the day pounding the pavement seeking inspiration.
At noon time I was exhausted so I headed for the Blind Tiger Pub (a favorite of mine - sit out in the patio area and order one of their wonderful burgers). After I ordered I pulled out my Moon travel guide for Charleston & Savannah and lo and behold right on the front cover was a photo of the Pineapple Fountain! After lunch I strolled over to nearby Waterfront Park and upon seeing the fountain I immediately envisioned an exceptional sunrise shot.
This isn’t an HDR shot. It is one exposure refined with “Mr. Photoshop,” and with the kind assistance of Mr. EOS “king of the low-light cameras” Canon 5DMKII!
Happy Travels!
Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography
Why don't you join me on Facebook?
Follow me on Twitter!
Sam's Photography Blog
Sam's Travel Photography Gallery
Sam's Other Travel Photography Gallery
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Another Perspective on Bosque del Apache!
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Get ready for an experience of a lifetime! Arriving 40 minutes before sunrise, I waited in the cold pre-dawn for the daily ritual of the fly-out of the snow geese. The geese roost in the ponds overnight to protect themselves from predators and then fly-out in mass in the morning just as the sun rises to go to their feeding areas.
Canon EOS 5D, Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM
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Mention the word "Bosque" to any bird photographer and they will instantly know you are talking about the mecca for bird photography in the United States. Every year from November to February, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge is home to thousands of migrating sandhill cranes and snow geese for the winter. Located in San Antonio, New Mexico and a little over an hour drive south of Albuquerque, Bosque del Apache will enliven your senses and put your photography skills to the test.
It is also home to professional and well-funded amateurs photographers who migrate to Bosque for unique photo opportunities. In particular, the breathtaking experience of the predawn fly-out of tens of thousands snow geese.
As primarily a landscape and cityscape photographer I chose to go to Bosque to challenge and expand my photography skills. After my first day of shooting it became apparent I had some shortcomings. Bosque is one place where your camera equipment is as important as the person behind it. This is where top-notch professional camera bodies and fast super telephoto lens dominate. While the Canon 600mm f/4 lens is a popular lens with bird photographers, most photographers I talked with used the Canon 500mm f/4 lens because of its lighter weight and ease of use on the credit card (for the price of one Canon 600mm f/4 lens one can buy 18 iPhones).
The longest lens I was shooting with was with my Canon 100-400mm, but with limitations comes creativity. Most photos you see of Bosque del Apache are sharp portraits of the wildlife. My approach was to portray more environmental portraits of not only the wildlife but also man and nature.
Overall, I had a great time shooting at Bosque minus the cold weather (at dawn it was in the mid-teens). Now if Santa would kindly deliver the Canon 600mm f/4 lens for Christmas I would consider going back and braving the cold!
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