Mind The Gap – London
London Underground
Footsteps
La Gomera, Spain
This shot was taken on the beach of the island of La Gomera, the second smallest of Spanish Canary Islands located off the western coast of Africa
Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp, 30 km North of Berlin
“Work Makes You Free”
Sachsenhausen was a Nazi concentration camp 30 km north of Berlin and was used from 1936 to the end of the Third Reich in 1945. Its close proximity to the capital gave it special status as the place to train camp guards and test new procedures. It was designed as a model camp and became one of the most notorious concentration camps of the Third Reich. It was also the site of the Third Reich’s massive counterfeiting operation, Operation Bernhard, in which inmates artisans were forced to produce forged American and British currency. This was one of the largest counterfeiting operations in history and was designed to undermine the British and United States’ economies during the war. Operation Bernhard was depicted in the Oscar-winning 2007 movie The Counterfeiters. Visiting this camp has the most gut wrenching rip at the soul and it is almost unbearable to bear witness to the absolute atrocities that were committed during this horrible era of the Third Reich.
Prisoner’s entrance, “Tower A”
Death Strip
There were few successful escapes. The perimeter consisted of a 3m high wall. Within that there was a space that was patrolled by guards and dogs. This was bordered on the inside by a lethal electric fence; inside that was a gravel “death strip” forbidden to the prisoners. Any prisoner venturing onto the “death strip” would be shot by the guards without warning. Rewards such as extra leave were offered to guards who successfully shot and killed any prisoner who entered onto the death zone. Ultimately, too many prisoners decided to “escape” by suicide by stepping into the “death strip”, so the guards were then ordered to “shot to maim” rather than “shoot to kill”. The maimed were then further tortured.
Sink in the Pathology Building and Cellar Mortuary.
Execution Trench
Used mostly but not exclusively for execution by gunfire of prisoners sentenced to death by the National Socialist courts. This was also the site of a gallows that could hang three people at a time.
Crematorium Oven
Prison Building
The Prison Building within the camp was built in 1936 and was used as a prison and by the gestapo for additional purposes. The prison was a place of secrets, abuse, and murder. The SS used the building to house camp prisoners but also other special prisoners sent from outside of the camp that the SS wished to isolate.
Early Morning Stroll
Motherland Tour II/ Czech Republic
Very early morning stroller through the empty cobbled streets of Prague. This was a little bonus shot for me that I captured after taking sunrise pictures on the Charles Bridge (check back for them). I think that the leading lines of the white window grates directed straight at the stroller work well to make this simple shot very visually engaging.
Back to the Future: Onion Dome in Valašské Klobouky, Czech Republic.
Motherland Tour II/ Czech Republic
I <3 This WC!
Decorative WC Door
Finding relief at Hätteboda Wilderness Campground in the Småland region of southern Sweden.
The Final Chapter of The Tour of The Motherland
Cefalù, Sicily (Motherland Tour Stop 8)
Finally, we make it to the last stop on the Motherland Tour of Sicliy, Cefalù. Cefalù is a small beach town nestled between a beautiful bay and the rocky granite cliffs of La Rocca. Located an hour east of Palermo on the northern coast of Sicily, Cefalù was a wonderful surprise at the end of our tour. A small town of winding Medieval streets and alleyways full of shops and restaurants serving FABULOUSLY fresh fish. Unfortunately, we only had time for a delicious dinner one evening and a quick dip in the sea the following morning before heading back to Palermo to catch our flight home. This town is definitely worth a one night stop if you have to fly in or out of Palermo, and is a nice alternative to staying in Palermo to begin or end your journey.
Ciao per ora Sicilia! Mi manchi già!
Don Cannoli
Taormina, From Ancient Greece to Modern Day Tourist Magnet (Motherland Tour Stop 6)
(Click here to redirect to Stop #1)
I like to refer to this gentleman as “Don Cannoli”. He is the patriarch of the Laboratorio Pasticceria Roberto , a cute little pastry shop which we found tucked away on a side street in Taormina. We had a quite a few of his cannoli while we were in Taormina, and they left us speechless. By far the best cannoli I have ever had!! The combination of the freshness of the cheese, the crispness of the shell, and ideal degree of sweetness…not to mention that fact that each cannolo is filled to order, guaranteeing ideal crispness. This is the cannolo that I have tried to imitate in my few attempts to make them myself. If you are in Taormina, I highly recommend you hunt this little bakery shop down and sample his delicious sweets!
What is a Sicilian mans second favorite pasttime?
Taormina, From Ancient Greece to Modern Day Tourist Magnet (Motherland Tour Stop 6)
(Click here to redirect to Stop #1)
All over Sicily I found older men practicing there second favorite pasttime…. sitting around and enjoying the company of old friends.
Rainy Night Shadows in Piazza Armerina, Sicily
Piazza Amerina (Motherland Tour Stop 4)
(Click here to redirect to Stop #1)
Happy New Year!
Visiting The Center For The Cult Of Venus.
f/3.5 ISO 400 1/125 Nikkor 50mm
Eeerie Erice, Sicily (Motherland Tour Stop 2)
Next stop on the Motherland Tour of Sicily was Erice, a small medieval town situated high atop the legendary mountain of Eryx. This village supposedly has fabulous views looking west over the port of Trapani, but we were caught overnight and the next morning in the thickest and eeriest fog I have ever seen, and we were lucky to not bump into walls as we toured the streets. We were, however, able to locate the world-famous pasticceria “Maria Grammatico“, who is Siciliy’s most famous pastry chef and the subject of Mary Taylor Simeti’s book Bitter Almonds. I have to admit, though..although her cannoli were heavenly, the best cannolli were yet to be had until we reached the east coast of Sicily (check back for details!!).
Modernista Flavor in Barcelona
ISO100 f/10 1/100 Nikkor 10-24 mm @15mm
Modernista Lamp Post designed by architect Pere Falqués for the city of Barcelona in 1906. Gaudí’s Casa Milá can be seen in the background. Image converted to B&W with Silver Efex Pro, touched up with Aperture, decreased noise with DFine 2.
Hot Nuts in Zurich
f/4 ISO 200 1/100 -0.33ev 50@50mm
The advent of cold weather in Switzerland brings with it the numerous Hesse Marroni vendors. These delicious fire-roasted chestnuts are a favorite of my families, and it is always a sad day when Spring rolls around and the vendors close up shop for the season. But don’t get me wrong, I am ready for Spring!
Repairman on Bahnhoffstrasse
f/4 ISO 400 1/250 -0.33ev 50@50mm
Beret
f/4.5, ISO 400, 1/125, -0.33ev, 50mm@50
Selling Apples
f/4, ISO 200, 1/500, -0.67ev, 50mm@50
Crazy Dancer
f/4, ISO 800, 1/320, -0.33ev, 50mm@50
Penny for your thoughts…
f/4.5, ISO 400, 1/400, -0.67ev, 50mm@50
Street Wonder..
f/4 ISO 400 1/125 -0.33ev 50mm@50
This was from my second day “on the street” fulfilling my New Years Resolution. I finally grabbed this shot after hours of failures (I am learning the “street” has a steep learning curve). I saw her walking the street, approaching an intersection, and raced across to capture her as she approached me. This was one of those times when you smile inside because you know you captured a great shot even before you review the image.
Doin’ (tryin’) Street II
f/4 ISO 400 1/500 -0.33ev 50mm
I wanted to make a New Years Resolution that involved photography this year. At first I thought about focusing on motion and long exposure photos, than I came across a blog by Lindsay Thomas whose title exposed to me what I think is my biggest weakness in photography, photographing people. With this in mind, I set a new resolution…
I then discovered a genre of photography called “Street Photography“, and became really excited to give it a go. The biggest online inspiration came from Thomas Leuthard and his webpage, 85mm: Street Photography (check it out). So I set out yesterday and today on the street of Zurich to give it a shot. WOW…exciting. I was very nervous and apprehensive at first (did I mention my xenphobia?), but somewhat settled down after a bit and really had fun. It is definitely harder than I anticipated, especially close-up shots, which I have yet to really attempt. Here are a few from my first two outings, stay tuned for more.
Doin’ (tryin’) the Street…
f/3.2 ISO 400 1/250 -0.33ev 50mm
I wanted to make a New Years Resolution that involved photography this year. At first I thought about focusing on motion and long exposure photos, than I came across a blog by Lindsay Thomas whose title exposed to me what I think is my biggest weakness in photography, photographing people. With this in mind, I set a new resolution…
I then discovered a genre of photography called “Street Photography”, and became really excited to give it a go. The biggest online inspiration came from Thomas Leuthard and his webpage, 85mm: Street Photography (check it out). So I set out yesterday and today on the street of Zurich to give it a shot. WOW…exciting. I was very nervous and apprehensive at first (did I mention my xenphobia?), but somewhat settled down after a bit and really had fun. It is definitely harder than I anticipated, especially close-up shots, which I have yet to really attempt. Here are a few from my first two outings, stay tuned for more.
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