Matt Wright-Steel: Texas Mountain Trail

Photograph Matt Wright-Steel-All Rights Reserved
I ought to post on more domestic photo essays and galleries, and Matt Wright-Steel's new portfolio titled Texas Mountain Trail allows me to do just that...beautifully composed (and large) images of typical Texan landscapes by a very versatile photojournalist. I particularly liked the photograph of the rusty crucifix in the old cemetery. I wonder whether Matt used Lightroom to enhance the images?

Matt uses large images to showcase all of his galleries, joining the ranks of photographers and photography websites that do not shy away from using this format to provide us with a better visual experience.

Matt Wright-Steel is a documentary photographer focused on culture and the human experience, and attended the recent Foundry Photojournalism Workshop in Mexico City.

empress cave

empress cave
12345
(1 vote) only berjarak approximately 200 meters from java seashore that reside in coast tour area tanujung toad (now change name has been maritime tour area lamongan), empress palace cave is one of [the] cave tour object enough famous in indonesia.
empress palace cave location very strategic as tour place to relax rest on the way culture tour pilgrimages cemetery walisongo alongside coast north pulaua java. beside east empress palace cave found cemetery sunana drajat while at south cave approximately 1,5 km found cemetery site sunan sendang duwur that present in mount amitunon, crematorium the period majapahit and singosari.
broadly not how big that is +/- 2500 m2, wanted time approximately half hour to mengitari with follow ladder and footpath that built insides cave and made from cement. in part on cave has been made air passage shaped blower fan menembus stone as thick as five meters. various colourful searchlight braces and clarify these cave sides really full of various also ornament from stalagtit/stalagmite stoney. stalagtit/stalagmite stoney ornament enough unique, there formed resemble king throne there also that resemble flora/fauna. total there tens name that represent a group certain from cave rock.
this empress palace cave is found bot intentionally by a stone coolie nameds sugeng when mengali phosphate rock menempat the work. on thursday 6 augusts 1992, when does the work friends begun rest day because exhaustion, sugeng permanent work without a presentiment whatevers. suddenly the crowbar end menembus a where found big hole mendalamnya. sugen with the friends shakily enter cave that still this virgin with torch illumination. decak amazed to muffle heart that day-pay worker when they stay in chalky soil hole nayat very vast and full of stoney beauty stalagtit and stalakmit that amaze. from torch reflection is seen shining polished diamond diamond basin bright white fleck shine bounces back to face. that's glare flickering limestone at ceiling at floor and -dinding cave, hitted light from outside via bew cave door is made by sugeng and the kith.
two their days keeps this cave invention but afterwards leak also existence message guaindah at akwasan toad cape. forthwith foreman sunyoto soon melapor to chief of a district paciran and sustained to regency government dati ii lamongan about beautiful cave invention by the worker. masyarakatpun begin in great numbers enter cave to see cave contents beauty constructively illuminator petromak. but unfortunately many visitors that botch stalactite ends to brought to go home. for temporary, so made door berjeruji iron in the early second week after this cave invention.
uniqueness happens moment this cave name gift. many people mutual propose names for bew cave is found either from also from society. final by regent lamongan at give empress palace cave name, be name gift from wife sunyoto, based on dream memperolehnya before that cave is found. people say, a day before date 6 augusts 1992, mrs sunyoto dream that merelung stone mend epan this the husband work place new cave is seen a woman canik wear colourful crown. this pretty woman crown shines auriferous shiny bertahta intan-berlian, bermotif rose and dahlia. when mrs sunyoto bagun in clearness evening, feel there whisper that he just see property beautiful crown a queen that is called empress. the queen bermahkota beautiful this is appear in alcove in front of cave door akhri be fact.
empress name or empress palace very fit to appointed, because in this cave is there are a lot of in reality. condition in cave, where found seonggok stoney stalgamit at pelataran cave that resemble daughter king crown (empress queen). empress palace cave room is filled buffer pillars and carved ceiling. really bewitch if enter empress palace cave
source:
http://liburan.info

gong cave pacitan

gong cave pacitan

gong cave is located in pacitan. 2 hrs drive from the nearest airport of surakarta central java indonesia. i am never seen the cave so beautiful like this. if you acres proffesional caver, the acres another cave musical note for public named luweng which horse is much more spectacular. the entrance is a vertical entry.
pacitan – regency one thousand caves
pacitan - ''kabupaten one thousand cave's, ' has many caves between lime ridges group. dry field which actually keeps panorama under soil that amaze.
ridges at pacitan nonarable ridges series at begins from kebumen jateng (ridges sewu), brokened off at wates jogjakarta, continued at mount kidul (yogyakarta) up to pacitan, ponorogo, trenggalek and then to unlucky and jember. bukit2 mewilayah this is cone formed the end, berlipat2, there also yg spt coconut shell of coconut. at nonarable dry soil outspre the surface yg is planted sinkong, cassava and teak tree.
cave at pacitan long the road, stalak tit and mit he is so thin, transparant lamp light and always dribble water. the curtain cloth (shawl drappery) tall stretches, guide you to admire creation very perfect. when do you go down to into earth stomach, you open mouthed, because before very eyes outspre space very vast, kolom2 tall like roman palace. if lamp mempadamkan, you hush, his water points voice impresses so regular and rhythmic, likely the voice twang that send out light magical energy that spouts from darkness.
punung, donorejo, pacitan, 140 km south single city. pass ridges road yg lonely and pure, that location. reachable less than 3 clocks from single downtown. you not will repentant dgn the ticket price yg 2,500 rupiahs per person. especially for a visit at earth stomach yg impressive. from cave visit at various place, cave pacitan this still yg best and most interesting for enjoyed.

lofty cave, religion story loaded nature cave

lofty cave, religion story loaded nature cave

lofty cave is one of [the] regency mainstay tour object tuban, east java. the unique doesn't like nature cave other majority locate in place remote, this cave is even presents correct be people market.
lofty name they say comes from name a tree that grow in front of cave, that is brake tree. brake tree existence, that is tree alive at elbow also causes since long time local society called it brake cave or ngabar. word “akbar” that is now used regency government tuban as the slogan for the regency. lofty abbreviation from safe, creative, clean, beautiful, and neat. but there also that say on the contrary, acronym for that regency appears beforehand, new after begin mempugar year 1996, that cave is given name same lofty cave.
this lofty cave is loaded religious story. several places at trusted lofty cave ever is place sunan kalijogo and sunan bonang do penance. mengantaranya like cleft that given name pasepen koro sinandhi that door place that keeped. this cleft apparently expressly be made very little the door so that to enter must crawls or sekurang stoop. be believed this be meant that in front of god all must humiliate self.
found also a elbow room that called trusted guardian hall before now is used by walisongo to gather. guardian hall if seen accurately resemble with meeting room. holes existence at cave ceiling make sunlight accessible. stalactite and existing stalagmite also sea be room decoration. augmenting with big stones existence located in space frontage that resemble once dais for speaker.
there a stone that called limestone watu nogo trusted as hermitage place sunan kalijogo. be that stone is found pool sometimes bubbles and take outside smoke, sea there dragon in it. this cave has natural water source that is given name kedung tirta great. surprisingly follow guide there, new the water as quick as now after year 1999, when does regent hold syukuran at elbow spring source. by using black chicken, at evening takbiran, water even also direct mengucur quick. up to now, water looked at has merit, good to also for strength.
still many roads not yet mengeksplorasi at this lofty cave, because this is tuban often named city one thousand caves. even like one of [the] the road that is road hawan samudra end trusted at coast north tuban. follow archaeology watchfulness, estimated lofty cave aged more than 20 million year. menemukannya sea animal fossil likes shell at stones and cave wall, up to now visible with baked eye, strengthen lofty cave position as fossil cave.
lofty cave after merenovasi in the year 1996 more makes easy visitor to enjoy the beauty. road stripe insides cave has been made paving block with fence divider besi(sebagian mengantaranya at chromium) expressly installed so that visitor not lost in cave. only enough follow stripe that made automatic entire cave parts can be enjoyed.
in also mempasangi colourful lamps to have helped to show cave texture. existence a reservoir bargains with goldfish mendalamnya give added value aloof for visitor moment visit this tour object. genuinely correct aim to fills your holiday is this.

Digital Photo Pro Mag: Jeff Hutchens

Photograph Jeff Hutchens-All Rights Reserved
Digital Photo Pro magazine has published an interesting 3 page interview with globetrotter photographer Jeff Hutchens titled The Frozen Mood.

At a time when travel photographers are facing a diminution in work assignments and gigs, and existentialistic navel-gazing questions such as "is travel photography dead?", it's refreshing to see an in-depth article and interview with a young but well-established travel photographer.

Hutchens traveled to more than 40 nations in his 29 years and has had plenty of adventures and misadventures. He moved with his family to northeastern China when he was four, after his father was hired to teach English to Chinese students. He and his brother attended a Chinese preschool and learned Mandarin.

I liked what he said on his China photographs: “I always experience China the same way: the cacophony of Mandarin tones; blurring bicycles and black slacks; the barrage of reds turned oddly luminescent by the haze of the polluted sky.”

Jeff Hutchens' website

Angkor Photo Festival: 23-28 Nov 2008

For the fourth time, the Angkor Photography Festival will take place in Siem Reap, Cambodia, from the 23rd to the 28th of November 2008.

The program for 2008 includes six evenings of audiovisual presentations from around the world curated by the festival, the workshop tutors, as well as by two internationally renowned photography editors, Sujong Song and Christian Caujolle.

The 2008 festival will also host a series of free photography workshops, present its outreach programs and hold a fund raising photography auction for the Anjali children’s project.

Press Release with PDF of the Press Photos 2008

Does Size Matter? Yes It Does.

Photograph Joseph Rodriguez-All Rights Reserved
Realizing that viewers/readers are enamored with large photographs, two national newspapers have recently featured large photographs of current events. The size of these photographs are in the range of 1000 x 650 pixels (which is the favored size for displaying my own images on my web galleries, and certainly for my multimedia slideshows). The response to the Boston Globe's The Big Picture is phenomenal, and if you haven't visited it yet, you should.

Interestingly, the staid Wall Street Journal has followed suit with its equally attractive Photo Journal which features a photo essay on Katrina stories by photographer Joseph Rodriguez.

For anyone interested in photojournalism, these two websites ought to be bookmarked. The Big Picture's photographs from the Olympics are just extraordinary.

Bali is Beautiful place

As our Combi van coughed its way up to Kintamani on the northern side of the island, the sky suddenly gave way to torrential rain that quickly inundated the narrow mountain road. Right about then, the Combi sputtered and died. Our driver started and restarted the engine in vain while our guide tried to reassure us that this rain would be short-lived as they usually are in this part of the world. The heavy downpour was now threatening to carry our van downhill with it. Speeding vehicles were passing us, splashing muddy water in their wake. After what seemed like an eternity, the engine sprang back to life and we slowly edged our way to Penelokan for lunch where front and center row view seats of Gunung Batur and Lake Batur awaited us.

We sat impatiently through lunch waiting for the veil of mist that shrouded the volcano to lift. A faint hint of sunlight and we finally caught a glimpse of Mt. Batur with its perforated peak surrounded by the lush valley floor and dark blue lake.

Views like this are commonplace in Bali. Picture green terraced hillsides, temples great and small, fascinating roadside craft shops, and a choice of beaches. These are just a few of the reasons why visitors are returning to the island after the tragic bombings in 2002 that killed so many people. In Kuta where the horrifying explosions occurred, a Hindu shrine stands unscathed while the area next to it has been razed to the ground. Rather than be angry for the desecration of their peaceful island, the Balinese gathered in prayer for those who perished.

Prayer is intrinsic in Balinese culture which is deeply rooted in the Hindu religion. The pura or temple is an important institution in the daily life of the people. This is where they worship, celebrate life and send their dead to the afterlife. Every village has at least three temples, each dedicated to one of the Hindu Trinity - Vishnu, the Preserver of Life, Brahma who is the Creator and Shiva, the Destroyer.

With hundreds of temples in Bali, it is difficult to decide which ones to visit during a short stay. But Pura Tanah Lot has arguably the most dramatic setting. It is well positioned on top of a rocky promontory in southwestern Bali. At high tide, it is practically floating in ocean waters. Tanah Lot means earth and sea, quite apropos given its location. When it is low tide, it is possible to walk to the islet and climb up to the temple. Also at Tanah Lot is Batu Bolong, a rocky outcrop straddling land and sea, like a protective arm cradling a cozy beach. It has an arched opening carved by the ocean over time. Several shrines sit on the edge of the rock.

We happened to visit during their New Year festival. This celebration takes place more frequently 1552 when the Pawukon Balinese calendar system is employed. (A Pawukon year has 210 days.) It was a lively scene with colorful streamers moving gently in the breeze. Men garbed in white shirts and pants and white turban called "udeng" were praying under one of the tents. Women arrived with their offerings balanced on their head. They wore a sarong tied with a sash, required for all women (including visitors) who enter the temple. A whiff of incense burning and gamelan music playing in the background further heightened the heady and exotic ambience.

There are many deities in the Hindu religion. The Pura Ulun Danu in Bratan is a temple dedicated to Dewi Danu, the goddess of the waters and source of fertility. It has a lakeside setting with Mt. Batur in the distance as its backdrop. It is often cloaked in mist lending it an ethereal appearance. Within the temple grounds are fine examples of meru, a multi-tiered black thatched pagoda. Merus have an odd number of roofs up to a maximum of eleven. The royal temple of Taman Ayun in Mengwi has an impressive line up of merus in its inner courtyard. Together they constitute the "skyscrapers" of the village.

Everyday we discovered offerings to the gods in palm leaf trays in the most unexpected places. Some contained flowers and betel, others fruit and rice flour cookies, and during the festival, we saw more elaborate offerings, all of them attractively arranged. The contents notwithstanding, the Balinese are always trying to please their gods and ancestors. This must be the reason why Bali and its people are blessed with beauty and serenity.

Currency exchange: Be careful with money changers. A money changer in Nusa Dua insisted on changing my $100 with small bills then placed his hand on top of the stack of bills he handed to me and pilfered several bills this way. (The hotel staff accompanied me to the money changer after I complained and helped me recover the amount of money taken from me.) Although the sign clearly states "Authorized Money Changer", this does not mean they are above board. It's best to change your money in the bank even if the exchange rate may be lower. Local currency is Indonesian rupiah.

Bali is Beautiful place

As our Combi van coughed its way up to Kintamani on the northern side of the island, the sky suddenly gave way to torrential rain that quickly inundated the narrow mountain road. Right about then, the Combi sputtered and died. Our driver started and restarted the engine in vain while our guide tried to reassure us that this rain would be short-lived as they usually are in this part of the world. The heavy downpour was now threatening to carry our van downhill with it. Speeding vehicles were passing us, splashing muddy water in their wake. After what seemed like an eternity, the engine sprang back to life and we slowly edged our way to Penelokan for lunch where front and center row view seats of Gunung Batur and Lake Batur awaited us.

We sat impatiently through lunch waiting for the veil of mist that shrouded the volcano to lift. A faint hint of sunlight and we finally caught a glimpse of Mt. Batur with its perforated peak surrounded by the lush valley floor and dark blue lake.

Views like this are commonplace in Bali. Picture green terraced hillsides, temples great and small, fascinating roadside craft shops, and a choice of beaches. These are just a few of the reasons why visitors are returning to the island after the tragic bombings in 2002 that killed so many people. In Kuta where the horrifying explosions occurred, a Hindu shrine stands unscathed while the area next to it has been razed to the ground. Rather than be angry for the desecration of their peaceful island, the Balinese gathered in prayer for those who perished.

Prayer is intrinsic in Balinese culture which is deeply rooted in the Hindu religion. The pura or temple is an important institution in the daily life of the people. This is where they worship, celebrate life and send their dead to the afterlife. Every village has at least three temples, each dedicated to one of the Hindu Trinity - Vishnu, the Preserver of Life, Brahma who is the Creator and Shiva, the Destroyer.

With hundreds of temples in Bali, it is difficult to decide which ones to visit during a short stay. But Pura Tanah Lot has arguably the most dramatic setting. It is well positioned on top of a rocky promontory in southwestern Bali. At high tide, it is practically floating in ocean waters. Tanah Lot means earth and sea, quite apropos given its location. When it is low tide, it is possible to walk to the islet and climb up to the temple. Also at Tanah Lot is Batu Bolong, a rocky outcrop straddling land and sea, like a protective arm cradling a cozy beach. It has an arched opening carved by the ocean over time. Several shrines sit on the edge of the rock.

We happened to visit during their New Year festival. This celebration takes place more frequently 1552 when the Pawukon Balinese calendar system is employed. (A Pawukon year has 210 days.) It was a lively scene with colorful streamers moving gently in the breeze. Men garbed in white shirts and pants and white turban called "udeng" were praying under one of the tents. Women arrived with their offerings balanced on their head. They wore a sarong tied with a sash, required for all women (including visitors) who enter the temple. A whiff of incense burning and gamelan music playing in the background further heightened the heady and exotic ambience.

There are many deities in the Hindu religion. The Pura Ulun Danu in Bratan is a temple dedicated to Dewi Danu, the goddess of the waters and source of fertility. It has a lakeside setting with Mt. Batur in the distance as its backdrop. It is often cloaked in mist lending it an ethereal appearance. Within the temple grounds are fine examples of meru, a multi-tiered black thatched pagoda. Merus have an odd number of roofs up to a maximum of eleven. The royal temple of Taman Ayun in Mengwi has an impressive line up of merus in its inner courtyard. Together they constitute the "skyscrapers" of the village.

Everyday we discovered offerings to the gods in palm leaf trays in the most unexpected places. Some contained flowers and betel, others fruit and rice flour cookies, and during the festival, we saw more elaborate offerings, all of them attractively arranged. The contents notwithstanding, the Balinese are always trying to please their gods and ancestors. This must be the reason why Bali and its people are blessed with beauty and serenity.

Currency exchange: Be careful with money changers. A money changer in Nusa Dua insisted on changing my $100 with small bills then placed his hand on top of the stack of bills he handed to me and pilfered several bills this way. (The hotel staff accompanied me to the money changer after I complained and helped me recover the amount of money taken from me.) Although the sign clearly states "Authorized Money Changer", this does not mean they are above board. It's best to change your money in the bank even if the exchange rate may be lower. Local currency is Indonesian rupiah.

Nikon D90: Is This The Future?

On the heels of Canon announcing its new EOS 50D, Nikon has revealed details of the D90, which features a video mode.

Nikon claims that the D90 is the first mid-class DSLR to offer a movie function. It allows you to shoot movies in three different motion JPEG formats: 320 x 216 pixels, 640 x 424 pixels and 1,280 x 720 pixels. The video mode is compatible with Nikkor’s range of lenses.

Nobody should have doubts that this is the future for photography. Imagine the possibilities for photojournalists, travel photographers and others to have this function!

Just a caveat: The Nikon D90 link that shows off its video capabilities has a note that the videos shown were taken using D-Movie function, then converted to Flash Video format for ease of handling. Image quality varies from the original.

And if you want to hear the N90's shutter sound, knock yourself out by clicking here.

David Pogue has a friendly review of the D90 on the New York Times, which makes the point that the "era of the video S.L.R. has begun."

Magnum Workshops in NYC

Magnum announced that its Magnum Workshop New York on October 20-31, 2008 will be a five day practice oriented workshop taking place at MILK Studios, a New York photography studio, located in the heart of Chelsea and the arts district. Each workshop will have a maximum of 12 participants.

The following Magnum Photographers will be leading the workshops:

Session 1: October 20-24, 2008
Alex Webb (with Rebecca Norris Webb)
Bruce Gilden

Session 2: October 27-31, 2008
Constantine Manos
Chien-Chi Chang

For further details, visit Magnum Workshops

Joshua Broggi: Mali

Photograph Joshua Broggi-All Rights Reserved
From New England, Joshua Broggi traveled to over 30 countries to photograph and research. He tells us that his "focus is on non-western cultures and their distinct complexities in a post-colonial and globalizing world." I particularly liked Joshua's gallery of photographs of Mali, as exemplified by the above portrait of a young girl.

Due to increasing restrictions imposed by the Chinese authorities on foreign residents of Tibet, Joshua has recently returned to the United States.

New Canon 50D

Canon announced a new camera to its EOS series with the introduction of a mid-range digital SLR. The EOS 50D has a new 15.1 million pixel resolution CMOS sensor (with 1.6x crop factor), and is capable of shooting 6.3 frames per second. It's the first DLSR to have Canon’s new DIGIC 4 image processor.

While many see the 50D as an upgrade of the 40D, Canon says it intends to sell both cameras. The 50D also features Canon's 'Integrated Cleaning System' and a liveview mode, which also allows users to use three ways to auto focus - Quick AF, Live AF, and new Face Detection Live AF.

The 50D will be available at the end of September. The price is said to be $1400...not bad.

For a listing of the specifications, go to DPReview.com. The Wired blog also has a post.

Rubin Museum of Art: Bhutan!

My favorite museum in New York City, the Rubin Museum of Art, will be featuring Cham ritual dances in public spaces in and around New York City. These events will be free to the public, and a schedule will be posted shortly on the museum's website. As soon as I receive notification of the schedule, I shall post it.

The Cham dances will be performed in New York City by 13 monks from the monastery fortress of Trongsa in central Bhutan. Depending on the locations, these dances will be spectacular! Will one be at the Rockefeller Center? I hope so.

Here's my very own multimedia sideshows: Dancing Monks of Prakhar and The People of Druk Yul.

This is tip for your honeymoon in Bali

Bali is the Paradise for Honeymooner that many pairs such would like to spend a special opportunity on the island. It' s mesmerized various views such as ; Beaches, mountain, rice catch and romantic place, and romantic place to stay like : Bali hotel, Resort, Villa, Bali private Villa does not make disturbance, no loud clay/tone, really Serenity, for you possible, perfect honeymoon, fair clay/tone too receives to nature. Fresh atmosphere refresh your mind and body. Bali rich culture would contribute, to make your honeymoon the unforgettable one, finds you something, which is singular, beautifully, memorable and fun , the experience of a lifetime, which cannot be gained at other places.

Bali is a tiny island but has so much wonderful things to offer. Many travel agents / tour operator provide worldwide choice of honeymoon ideas.

Here are some tips to get comfortable honeymoon in Bali:

- Schedule your departure day two days after the wedding to give you ample time for rest after the activities and the celebrations. If you must travel immediately, remember to leave in the middle of the day and not the early morning so you’ll get a good night’s sleep.

- Ask your travel agent for Honeymoon Packages, these usually offer the best destinations for honeymooners, not to mention discounts and freebies.

- Never, ever overbook day trips, you’re not just traveling, you’re with your new spouse, better save up some energy for the night’s fireworks.

- Don’t be afraid to ask questions, ask about certain perks, events.

- In addition to the above, don’t be afraid to request extra stuff, like a big bathtub, a double bed, or a romantic view.

- Don’t forget to bring your marriage certificate along with you, especially if the name of the bride is already under her husband’s name.

- Pack your camera and lots of film; you won’t want to miss anything. You might also want to pack a disposable underwater camera and extra batteries, these are absurdly pricey in tourist spots, and you wouldn’t want to overspend.

- Mention to anyone, especially in the café or in the tour boat, that you’re on your honeymoon, yes this may sound a bit embarrassing, but some restaurants give extras like free drinks or gifts for honeymooners. This also works for birthday celebrants.

- If you want an active honeymoon, research and prepare for water sports; the tropics are a great place, to learn them, always remember to consult hubby before you try one though.

- Stock up on sun protection. The higher the SPF the better, as you’ll probably be spending whole days out in the sun; you wouldn’t want to get skin cancer after just two weeks of marriage.

- Some travel agencies include island-hopping trips, these are great ways to explore, and enjoy. This is especially good because you’ll get a change in scenery, and won’t easily get bored, especially if you have an extended honeymoon.

- Even if your valuables are inside your hotel room, keep them under lock, and if you decide to bring them with you, always watch out for stray pickpockets.

- Bring with you a stock of candles and massage oils that you can place inside your hotel room for that romantic evening after touring and swimming.

Remember that the entire objective of a honeymoon vacation is to have an unforgettable romance. Follow the quick tips above and you can head your way to a memorable honeymoon in Bali.

This is tip for your honeymoon in Bali

Bali is the Paradise for Honeymooner that many pairs such would like to spend a special opportunity on the island. It' s mesmerized various views such as ; Beaches, mountain, rice catch and romantic place, and romantic place to stay like : Bali hotel, Resort, Villa, Bali private Villa does not make disturbance, no loud clay/tone, really Serenity, for you possible, perfect honeymoon, fair clay/tone too receives to nature. Fresh atmosphere refresh your mind and body. Bali rich culture would contribute, to make your honeymoon the unforgettable one, finds you something, which is singular, beautifully, memorable and fun , the experience of a lifetime, which cannot be gained at other places.

Bali is a tiny island but has so much wonderful things to offer. Many travel agents / tour operator provide worldwide choice of honeymoon ideas.

Here are some tips to get comfortable honeymoon in Bali:

- Schedule your departure day two days after the wedding to give you ample time for rest after the activities and the celebrations. If you must travel immediately, remember to leave in the middle of the day and not the early morning so you’ll get a good night’s sleep.

- Ask your travel agent for Honeymoon Packages, these usually offer the best destinations for honeymooners, not to mention discounts and freebies.

- Never, ever overbook day trips, you’re not just traveling, you’re with your new spouse, better save up some energy for the night’s fireworks.

- Don’t be afraid to ask questions, ask about certain perks, events.

- In addition to the above, don’t be afraid to request extra stuff, like a big bathtub, a double bed, or a romantic view.

- Don’t forget to bring your marriage certificate along with you, especially if the name of the bride is already under her husband’s name.

- Pack your camera and lots of film; you won’t want to miss anything. You might also want to pack a disposable underwater camera and extra batteries, these are absurdly pricey in tourist spots, and you wouldn’t want to overspend.

- Mention to anyone, especially in the café or in the tour boat, that you’re on your honeymoon, yes this may sound a bit embarrassing, but some restaurants give extras like free drinks or gifts for honeymooners. This also works for birthday celebrants.

- If you want an active honeymoon, research and prepare for water sports; the tropics are a great place, to learn them, always remember to consult hubby before you try one though.

- Stock up on sun protection. The higher the SPF the better, as you’ll probably be spending whole days out in the sun; you wouldn’t want to get skin cancer after just two weeks of marriage.

- Some travel agencies include island-hopping trips, these are great ways to explore, and enjoy. This is especially good because you’ll get a change in scenery, and won’t easily get bored, especially if you have an extended honeymoon.

- Even if your valuables are inside your hotel room, keep them under lock, and if you decide to bring them with you, always watch out for stray pickpockets.

- Bring with you a stock of candles and massage oils that you can place inside your hotel room for that romantic evening after touring and swimming.

Remember that the entire objective of a honeymoon vacation is to have an unforgettable romance. Follow the quick tips above and you can head your way to a memorable honeymoon in Bali.

POV: What Is SEO?

Photograph Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved
An interesting post appeared on Rob Haggart's blog, A Photo Editor (if you haven't been visiting his blog, you ought to!) dealing with Search Engine Optimization.

Haggart's post is very well thought out (don't forget to also check out the comments on his post), but reading it more than once to make sure, I was struck how my own entry about 18 months ago into the world of branding, blogging and website maximization followed his post's worthwhile recommendations. I only wish it had been written before...it would've saved me many hours!

For instance, blogging is now a must-do for photographers who seek to maximize their chances of being seen (and contracted) by photo editors, buyers and the public. Haggart goes so far as saying :"Who cares if no humans read your blog. The search engine benefits alone are worth it. "

Absolutely!

Most of the buying requests for my photographs in the months since I've started The Travel Photography blog have been made by buyers reading (or having seen) it, which they land on through Google. In fact, many of the new clients for my photo expeditions are readers of this blog...and since I've placed a subscription box for my email newsletters on it, subscriptions have jumped at least ten-fold.

More suggestions by Rob Haggart are: link the blog to one's website, and vice-versa, to exchange links with 2-3 peers in your specific industry (travel photography for me), and to make sure that the title of the blog reflects one's interest and specialization. Perhaps these are basic and fundamental to me now...but did I know all this some 18 months ago? No, I didn't.

As I said, a must-read post.

La Santa Muerte

Photograph Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved
While participating in the Foundry Photojournalism Workshop in Mexico City this past June, one of the projects that my class was interested in was the cult of Santa Muerte.

The cult of Santa Muerte is unusual because it's the cult of the drug lords, the dispossessed, and criminals. There are many shrines to Santa Muerte in the capital city, but Tepito is where the most popular shrines are. Tepito is an infamous barrio and its tough reputation dates back to pre-Hispanic times. The neighborhood is a warren of mean streets and alleys, lined with auto-body shops and small stores. It's here that the prostitutes, drug dealers and petty thieves come to pay their respect to the saint. It's also where the common folk; housewives, cab drivers and street vendors come to make their offerings...tequila bottles, candles, money and flowers.

La Santa Muerte