Having a Whale of a Time in Baja California!

Having a Whale of a Time in Baja California!
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

Mexican drug cartels! Shootouts in Mexican border towns! Violence toward U.S. citizens!

Yes, a perfect time to take a road trip to Mexico!

Back in 2009 my friends, Randy and Florence, and I decided to drive over 580 miles from the US-Mexico border to the San Ignacio Lagoon to experience Baja California’s friendliest whales.

It was a 14 hour drive from San Diego to the San Ignacio Lagoon. We divided the drive up over two days and along the way enjoyed one too many “cervezas” and delicious seafood along the way.

With my water soaked Canon G10 I captured this moment out in the San Ignacio Lagoon of another “pangas” (Mexican fishing boat) encountering two gray whales.

So what about the hype of the violence in Mexico?

I couldn’t tell you.

We were too busy breaking the speed limits on Mexico Highway 1( also known as the Transpeninsular Highway), eating fresh seafood, shooting (photographing) gray whales, and all the while laughing every minute of the way.

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Brain Freeze in Winter Wonderland

Brain Freeze in Winter Wonderland
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

A pounding blizzard swept through Wisconsin and as a result I spent this weekend indoors. I was budgeting to get a snow blower this winter, but instead I decided to buy some new glass. I literally paid the price for that decision as I ended up shoveling my driveway all weekend.

Photography is not only an expensive hobby, but it is also responsible for sore backs!

So when I wasn’t shoveling or shivering I spent some time in front of my computer going through photos from some great trips I took. Going through my photo browser I stopped at a memorable road trip I took with my friends, Randy and Florence, down to the San Ignacio Lagoon in Baja California.

Many people go whale watching, but at San Ignacio you can touch these friendly whales in their own environment!

In the next couple of days I’ll be posting more photos from that trip and writing about the crazy Mexico road trip we took to reach the lagoon so stay tuned!

In the meantime, this is a sunset shot of Florence doing her yoga pose at the lagoon after a great day of experiencing the whales of Baja. I would write more to describe the moment I clicked this photo, but I’m having a brain freeze from all this cold weather.

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Mission San Ignacio

Mission San Ignacio
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

The site for the future mission was discovered in 1706 by Francisco MarÌa Piccolo at the palm-lined CochimÌ oasis of Kadakaam·n ("arroyo of the carrizos"). The site proved to be a highly productive one agriculturally, and served as the base for later Jesuit expansion in the central peninsula. The impressive surviving church was constructed by the Dominican missionary Juan GÛmez in 1786. The mission was finally abandoned in 1840.

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Devil’s Doorway: Photographs from Hell

Devil’s Doorway: Photographs from Hell
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

Hiking in Devil’s Lake State Park in Baraboo, Wisconsin I came upon this geological formation known as Devil’s Doorway. I don’t know the history behind the name but my assumption is that living in Wisconsin is hell! The freezing winters are hell! Shoveling back breaking snow is hell! The pesky mosquitoes in summer are hell! I think it’s an appropriate name.

I must be in hell because I’m think about returning here in the next couple of weeks to photograph the Devil’s Doorway blanketed in the winter snow.

I have photographed American Southwest icons such as Canyon de Chelly in Arizona, Bryce Canyon in Utah, Cathedral Rock in Sedona and I always wanted to go back there for a winter landscape photo shoot. I won’t be traveling to those places anytime soon so the Devil’s Doorway will have to suffice for now.

Oh hell!

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Mariachis Playing in Ensenada, Baja Mexico

Mariachis Playing in Ensenada, Baja Mexico
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

Environmental portraits are an important key aspect in travel photography as it gives the viewer a "spirit of the place."

Taken at the Ensenada Fish Market in Baja, Mexico.

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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A Balancing Act at Devil’s Lake State Park

A Balancing Act at Devil’s Lake State Park
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

Winter is upon us here in Wisconsin and the thing that drives me crazy is that the snow here is perfect for snowboarding but there are no mountains! Elevation is something that is devoid in Wisconsin.

Devil’s Lake State Park is Wisconsin’s saving grace. The park is blessed with a scenic lake and 500-foot bluffs. It is these bluffs that provide excellent hiking and rock climbing opportunities. Along the way are some unique geological formations.

A short but steep hike will take you to one of those unique formations. Balanced rock has defied logic and the harsh Wisconsin weather. That in itself makes it worthy to photograph.

The fall colors peaked already by the time I got to the park, but you can see there was still some remnants of color.

The rock wasn’t the only one with a balancing act as I precariously walked toward the edge of the cliff to compose this shot.

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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The Return of the Lion King!

The Return of the Lion King!
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

Located in Madison, Wisconsin is the Henry Vilas Zoo which is free to the public.

To my amazement this small, neighborhood zoo has an impressive collection of animals. From their Amur tiger to the grizzly bears to their African lions. As a former longtime member of the world famous San Diego Zoo & Wild Animal Park, I know what a first-rate zoo looks like.

My camera lens has always been attracted to the lions, I guess since they are the top predator of the animal world and thus on the top of the food chain. I could also say I like photographing them because they are the “King of the Jungle,” but that technically wouldn’t be right since they inhabit the savanna grasslands of Africa and not the jungle!

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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