Back in Africa

Sometimes, you're given an opportunity to capture an image but you don't have the best tools. That's when you just have to rely on the strength of the image fully express itself. I think that's going on here.

Back in 2004, I took a trip to The Gambia, in West Africa. I joined a photographer to record video that was to be used in promotional pieces. I don't think the project was ever finalized, and the trip changed my life, but not for the obvious reasons.

Anyway, we were documenting events being attended by the President of The Gambia, one Dr. Jammeh. Some of the events were rallies, held at various schools. I had creative license to roam around and record what I thought was worthwhile. I also had my first digital still camera with me, an old Nikon Coolpix.

At one school, I saw a group of women preparing food, and I was able to grab this shot of the kids eating from a common bowl, right in the school yard. I'll bet that most of us have seen an image like this before, but having the real thing right in front of me was both humbling and revealing. Most of all, it was a reminder that we extremely fortunate to live in the US, or in another advanced nation.

Image Conscious

I'm working on becoming a better photographer. Image-making was always a big part of my life, and both sides of my family contributed to that interest. I love the photo (posted on my Facebook page) of my grandfather's photo studio -in a Displaced Persons Camp in Austria, from the late 1940's.

On occasion, I'll post a photo that I consider compelling, and commentary -especially remarks that help me improve-are welcome.

This photo was taken during my trip to Anchorage, Alaska about 5 years ago. This was my computer wallpaper for the longest time.It was shot with a Canon Digital Rebel XT, Sigma 18:125 lens, manual focus, and auto everything else. I really liked the multiple layers in the photo. From the water, to the glacier, the woods, the fog, and the mountain just poking through the mist, this shot was largely the result of good timing.

I took a glacier cruise on my last day in Alaska, where I snapped an awful lot of photos. This next photo is my current wallpaper:

Again, there's a lot going on within the frame. There were three things that I hoped to see when I was in Alaska: a bald eagle (check), salmon in the wild (check) and a glacier (multiple checks just in this photo). I was in Alaska just after Labor Day in 2007, and it was still sweltering back home. In Alaska? Not so much. Pro tip: Glaciers are cold. Wear something warm.