LIFE AS A HUMAN

Jack’s Video Sports Bar

Guest Photographer — Tue, 07 May 2024 19:24:03 +0000

Deindustrialization has resulted in widespread social and economic changes. The remnants of Jack’s ornate sign and building architecture serve as a reminder that this fallen neighborhood was once vibrant and alive. It is both fascinating and bittersweet to imagine past times here. Now, a single set of footsteps in a dusting of snow pass by without stopping, in juxtaposition to the workers from the East Cleveland Railroad Power House, visible in the left background, who would have once gathered here after a hard day of making things. In the distance, the top of the modern Key Tower skyscraper shines like a beacon against sympathetic skies, contrasting where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re heading.

Jack’s Video Sports Bar, Cleveland, Ohio, USA, 2015 – © Bret Culp

Photo Credit

Photo is © Bret Culp

Guest Photographer Bio
Bret Culp

Bret Culp is a distinguished fine art photographer known for dramatic black and white photographs that evoke nostalgia, contemplation, and appreciation for the fleeting nature of existence. Additionally, he has gained recognition for his colourful solargraphs, a unique technique capturing the sun’s dynamic movement across the sky over months, transforming the passage of time into mesmerizing, abstract visual records.

Blog / Website: The Beauty of Impermanence – Bret Culp Photography

Follow Bret Culp on: Twitter | Facebook | Linkedin

From Landscape Photographer To Wedding Photographer

Guest Photographer — Sat, 01 Dec 2018 12:00:30 +0000

I began my journey as a landscape, lifestyle and travel photographer, the same way most do. This was partly due to the fact that my subject was laid out in front of me, all I had to do was step outside. There was no pressure and plenty of room for error as I learned right from wrong. Over the next three years I worked hard and put all my energy into learning everything there was to know about this craft.

Knowing that I wanted to pursue photography full-time I began trying to figure out ways that I could earn an income. It was at that point that I decided I wanted to sell my personal work as framed fine art prints. I wanted my prints to be used to decorate the walls of interior spaces. In order to make this happen, my next move was to set up an online print store where customers could buy my work.

Que Dramatic Wind

While I managed to achieve this, I slowly began to realize that I was trying to sell a luxury product which wasn’t a necessity for people to own. That in itself is tough and something which I then knew was going to take time. Unfortunately, time wasn’t something I had on my side as everyday bills began to roll in.

I continued to chip away at my online store but new I needed another line of work to help stay afloat. It was at that point that I turned to the wedding industry in the hopes of offering a service rather than a product. It was this new field where I developed an unexpected sense of appreciation for working with people. I began to thoroughly enjoy capturing these special moments for couples, knowing they would look back on them for years to come.

I soon came to realize that the wedding industry could offer me just about everything I was hoping to get out of selling prints. So I began applying what I had learned in my first three years as a landscape, lifestyle and travel photographer to my wedding photography and I think the results speak for themselves. Now, not only do I have a steady income coming in which allows me to continue my passion for photography but I also get to work on selling my fine art prints when I am not shooting weddings.

I’ll Walk With You

If you would like to get in touch or would like more information, please contact me at Lonely Hunter Weddings.

Photo Credits

Guest Photographer Bio
Richard Johnston

Richard is the owner, creative director and award-winning photographer behind Lonely Hunter. He is one part fine art travel/lifestyle photographer and one part professional wedding photographer.

Blog / Website: Lonely Hunter Weddings

New Johnson Street Bridge by Drone

Guest Photographer — Sat, 07 Apr 2018 16:11:14 +0000

Construction of Canada’s largest single-leaf bascule bridge began in 2013, and opened to the public on March 31st, 2018. Life As A Human Guest Photographer Bob Jestico captured these great images and video using one of his drones.

New Johnson ST Bridge looking from the west to east.

New Johnson ST Bridge looking towards the south (Parliament Buildings).

New Johnson ST Bridge Looking straight down.

Johnson St Bridge opening March 31 2018

Photo Credits

All Photographs Are © Bob Jestico

Bob Jestico Photographer Bio

Drone and ground based Photography/Video enthusiast.

Blog / Website: IslandPhotoDrone

Follow Bob Jestico on: Facebook | Linkedin

Living History: Lexington, Virginia

Guest Photographer — Wed, 14 Mar 2018 21:12:55 +0000

The first president of the United States laid his body down on many a mattress. So many in fact that the saying “George Washington slept here” soon became a useful publicity tool in colonial America and the early years of the United States. We also know the famous river he crossed, the Delaware. But what’s less known but equally fascinating is the location for a daring youthful climb.

Hidden in the magnificent landscape of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley is the 215-foot high “Natural Bridge,” a limestone gorge carved out by Cedar Creek. It was here that the future president scaled up one of its sides to carve his name into the rocks – a bit of historic graffiti preserved to this day. The area is now Natural Bridge State Park and has miles of hiking trails. Nearby is Natural Bridge Caverns where visitors can venture into the earth’s surface on guided tours to see an underground landscape of stalactites and stalagmites.

Natural Bridge (left) became one of the most famous natural attractions in the United States in the 1700s. Hikers on the Appalachian Trail (right) near Lexington.

To explore both the natural and cultural history of the area I based myself in the town of Lexington at The Georges, an elegant boutique hotel offering the epitome of Southern hospitality.

Within walking distance of the hotel are a number of historic sites including the Stonewall Jackson House, the only home that Confederate General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson ever owned. Jackson and his second wife, Mary Anna Morrison, lived in this brick and stone house before the Civil War. Since 1954, the structure has been a museum and historic site. In 1979, the house was restored to its appearance at the time of the Jacksons’ occupancy, furnished with period pieces including many of Jackson’s personal possessions. Tours of the house focus on Jackson’s civilian life as a professor, businessman, and husband.

Lee Chapel on the campus of Washington and Lee University (left) and the Stonewall Jackson House (right).

Before the Civil War Jackson taught Natural and Experimental Philosophy as well as Artillery Tactics at the Virginia Military Institute, the oldest state-funded military college in the U.S. The school has two fascinating museums focusing on different aspects of history, the Virginia Military Institute Museum which collects, interprets, and exhibits the heritage of VMI ranging from a Revolutionary War musket to the mounted hide of “Little Sorrel,” “Stonewall” Jackson’s favorite horse. Nearby, the George C. Marshall Museum tells the story of Virginia’s first 5-star general during World War II and its aftermath.

Lexington is also home to Washington and Lee University, a private, four-year liberal arts college where another general, Robert E. Lee, became president (when it was still Washington University) at the end of the Civil War. Lee is buried on the campus grounds underneath Lee Chapel. The school also has the unique distinction for being the location for student George William Crump’s naked campus run, making it into the history books as America’s first recorded streaker in 1804.

“Recumbent Statue” of Robert E. Lee in Lee Chapel.

Visitors to Lexington have a number of options for escorted tours of the town and its environs. Lexington Carriage Company offers a narrated horse drawn tour through its historic downtown and residential areas while Mark Cline offers his Haunting Tales Ghost Tours inspired by London’s Jack the Ripper tours.

Since one cannot live by history alone, Lexington offers a number of great culinary options and explorations ranging from tastings at the Great Valley Farm Brewery and the Lexington Valley Vineyard to homemade ice cream and hand-rolled waffle cones at Sweet Things Ice Cream and artisan creations at the Cocoa Mill Chocolate Company, as well as casual and upscale restaurants including Rocca Bar Ristorante, Bistro on Main, JJ’s Meat Shak, The Sheridan Livery Inn and Restaurant, The Red Hen, and Haywood.

A visit to Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley with Lexington as its cultural epicenter will leave visitors full of great memories, historical knowledge, and great cuisine.

Please visit Lexington Virginia

Photo Credits

All Photographs Are © Mark Edward Harris

Mark Edward Harris Photographer Bio

Mark Edward Harris’ assignments have taken him to 97 countries on six continents. His editorial work has appeared in publications such as Vanity Fair, LIFE, Time, GEO, Conde Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, AFAR, Wallpaper, Casa Vogue, GQ Thailand, Money Magazine, Architectural Digest, The Los Angeles Times Magazine, and The London Sunday Times Travel Magazine as well as all the major photography and in-flight magazines. His commercial clients range from The Gap to Coca-Cola. He is the recipient of numerous awards including a CLIO, ACE, Aurora Gold, and Photographer of the Year at the Black & White Spider Awards. His books include Faces of the Twentieth Century: Master Photographers and Their Work, The Way of the Japanese Bath, Wanderlust, North Korea, South Korea, and Inside Iran. North Korea was named Photography Book of the Year at the International Photography Awards. Mark’s latest book, The Travel Photo Essay: Describing a Journey Through Images was released by Focal Press/Routledge in the fall of 2017.

Blog / Website: Mark Edward Harris

Follow Mark Edward Harris on: Instagram

Hells Canyon: The Cooler Side of Hades

Guest Photographer — Tue, 16 Jan 2018 17:16:37 +0000

A two-hour drive from Washington State’s Spokane International Airport is Lewiston, Idaho, the western gateway to outdoor adventure in “The Gem State.”

While the well-deserved nickname comes from Idaho’s mountains containing veins of gold, silver, lead, zinc, cobalt and copper, and gems including star garnets, opal, jade, and topaz, its latest jewel might be the grape.

The Snake River, America’s deepest river gorge

While its neighbors to the West – Oregon and Washington – are known for their wine countries, Idaho is delving into the market in style. Fifteen minutes out of Lewiston is Lindsay Creek Vineyards, an elegant winery located on the McIntosh family’s 4th generation farm. With the success of their wines Lindsay Creek is transitioning from growing wheat to growing quality wine grapes.

Another short drive from Lewiston is the Nez Perce National Historical Park. Its visitor center is a must stop for those who want to get a sense of the history of the area’s first human inhabitants. An interpretive trail leads visitors to significant Nez Perce sites along Lapwai Creek and the Clearwater River.

LEFT: A bighorn sheep under Permian rhyolite columns along the Snake River
RIGHT: Buffalo Eddy Petroglyphs along the Snake River

Many visitors to Lewiston come to explore the Snake River with its waters rushing through Hells Canyon, the deepest river gorge in the United States. A great way to experience the dramatic serpentine turns of the river, especially for those with limited time, is on a Snake Dancer Excursions jet boat tour through North America’s deepest river gorge. Its tours depart from the dock for Hells Gate State Park. Unlike the Grand Canyon, it is not possible to drive to the edge of Hells Canyon for dramatic overlooks.

One of the magnificent natural formations along the Snake River

Both natural and written history – with a nice side of culinary experiences thrown in – can be part of an extended weekend to Lewiston.

Visit Lewis Clark Valley Website: Gateway To Hell’s Canyon

Photo Credits

All Photographs Are © Mark Edward Harris

Mark Edward Harris Photographer Bio

Blog / Website: Mark Edward Harris

Follow Mark Edward Harris on: Instagram

Nola Turns 300

Guest Photographer — Sat, 06 Jan 2018 15:22:01 +0000

This year marks New Orleans Tricentennial and the city, affectionately known as Nola, shows no signs of slowing down despite its age.

History is everywhere, from its well-preserved antebellum neighborhoods to The National World War II Museum, ranked as the #1 attraction in the city by TripAdvisor and the #1 “Best Place to Learn U.S. Military History” by USA Today.

The National World War II Museum

I slept in a bit of history, The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery, an elegant boutique hotel on the border of the Warehouse & Arts District and Central Business District. The mid-nineteenth century coffee and tobacco warehouse was converted to a hotel in 1997 and now boasts Chef Nina Compton’s James Beard Award-nominated restaurant, Compère Lapin.

Among the other “must do’s” on any foodies list is lunch at Commander’s Palace in the tree-lined Garden District neighborhood. The historic restaurant dates back to 1880 and combines haute Creole cuisine with timeless Louisiana charm.

Crawfish and a melon martini at Commander’s Palace

I timed my visit to experience the annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. The 2018 edition will take place from April 27-29 and May 3-6. The line up will be announced soon and if the past is any indication of the future, the 49th edition of the festival is sure to be a hit.

Guitarist Walter “Wolfman” Washington at The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

In addition to its music and food scene, New Orleans prides itself on its walkability and its biking opportunities. After putting my legs to work exploring Nola en pied and a two-wheeled tour of the Bywater, my extended weekend was capped off with a bit of renewal at The Spa in the elegant Windsor Court Hotel down the block from The Old No. 77.

Three centuries since its birth, my 72-hour getaway in New Orleans convinced me that the city more than lives up to its denizens favorite saying, “Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler.”

New Orleans Websites

Visit New Orleans

New Orleans Tricentennial

Photo Credits

All Photographs Are © Mark Edward Harris

Mark Edward Harris Photographer Bio

Blog / Website: Mark Edward Harris

Follow Mark Edward Harris on: Instagram

Exploring Kenya

Guest Photographer — Mon, 27 Nov 2017 12:00:31 +0000

As we prepared to embarked on our first game drive in the Maasai Mara I was a little skeptical as to how long it would take before spotting some of the more sought after animals. But I soon learned that traveling with an experienced driver meant we already had an advantage when it came to tracking down these animals. Situated uncomfortably close to our unfenced wilderness camp we spotted our first animal a mere two minutes down the road, a leopard which was resting quietly in some shrubbery. I managed to capture the moment as the leopard got up before walking further into dense bush land to escape the newly received attention.

Leopard

If you haven’t been to this place before, Amboseli National Park is an area famous for its large herds of elephants. Situated at the base of Mt Kilimanjaro, it is an area which consists of dry dusty plains and wet marsh lands. On hot days you will also get to witness geothermal spouts which funnels dust up into the air like a mini twister. With the sun starting to set we embarked on our first game drive after arriving in the national park.

Immediately we came across a herd of elephants walking across the vast plain after spending the afternoon submerged in the marsh. I only photographed the trailing four elephants as the composition was better and allowed me to include the base of Mt Kilimanjaro in the background.

Amboseli Elephants

Another alluring aspect of the Maasai Mara are the traditional Maasai tribes who still live in small villages dotted throughout these lands. The traditional dance celebration is usually performed to mark a right of passage which welcomes young men into the next chapter of their lives. Although on this occasion it was performed for us as they welcomed us into their village.

Maasai Warrior Dance

Photo Credits

All Photographs are © Richard Johnston

Photographer Bio
Richard Johnston

Richard Johnston is an award-winning photographer based in Manly on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Richard runs and operates an online photographic print store under the business name Lonely Hunter. His work has seen him travel to numerous countries as he continually builds and adds to his collection of fine art prints. Richard draws his inspiration from the natural world and the way we interact with it in order demonstrate beautiful imagery.

Blog / Website: Lonely Hunter

Follow Richard Johnston on: Twitter | Facebook | Linkedin | Instagram

Nikko By Day

Guest Photographer — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 11:00:34 +0000

Day-tripping from Tokyo to Nikko and its World Heritage sites is now practical by the new “Limited Express SPACIA” Tobu Railway train that cuts traveling time to less than two hours from the capital’s Shinjuku, Asakusa, and Skytree stations.

Nikko’s World Heritage shrines and temples are a 10 minute bus ride (310 yen one way, 500 yen day pass, covered by optional Nikko passes) from the Tobu and JR Nikko Stations. The Toshogu shrine contains the remains of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan (1603-1867). Toshogu’s most famous carving is of the three wise monkeys, Mizaru, covering his eyes, who sees no evil; Kikazaru, covering his ears, hears no evil; and Iwazaru, who by covering his mouth, speaks no evil.

Nikko’s See No Evil, Speak No Evil, Hear No Evil Monkeys

Lunch, tea or a cocktail at the historic Nikko Kanaya Hotel, the first Western style hotel in Japan (five years ahead of the Fujiya in Hakone), located across the street from the main temples and shrines of Nikko, is a journey back to the dawn of modern Western tourism in Japan. It combines the atmosphere of a classic ryokan with Western furniture and Japanese architecture.

Day-trippers can either start or end their Nikko journey at the 318-foot Kegon Waterfall, ranked as one of Japan’s three most beautiful falls (along with Nachi Waterfall in Wakayama and Fukuroda in Ibaraki). It can be seen from a free observation area at the top of the waterfall or more dramatically from its base from a platform reached by an elevator that descends through bedrock for 550 yen.

Kegon Falls, Nikko

Nikko is approximately 90 miles north of Tokyo but centuries away from the capital, in part because it was spared Allied bombs during World War II. It can be a respite from the humid summers of Tokyo, a showcase of beautiful foliage in autumn, and a mystical destination covered in a blanket of snow in the winter.

For those who have a flexible travel schedule, a night or two in this magnificent part of Japan is well worth the investment of time. Part of that can be relaxing in one of the areas onsens (hot springs) such as the one at the Nikko Astraea Hotel. Its magical waters are high in sulfur, calcium, and sodium, minerals that are good for treating neuralgia and soothing muscle and joint pains. They’re also, and perhaps most importantly for many bathers, sublimely relaxing.

Hot spring at the Nikko Astraea Hotel

Photo Credits

Mark Edward Harris Photographer Bio

Blog / Website: Mark Edward Harris

Follow Mark Edward Harris on: Instagram

Mining for Gold in Banff!

Guest Photographer — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 13:52:37 +0000

Say what? Banff is a National Park and protected isn’t it?

Yes it most assuredly is – however the Gold I speak of are the Larch trees. They render in a gorgeous golden yellow orange hue come Fall in the alpine of Banff National Park . Arguably the most sought location in Banff National Park, Larch Valley has a wondrous stand of Larch Trees to see, feel and smell. They literally glow in the light.

Larch Valley – Looming Clouds

Larch Valley is such a stunning part of the landscape. That is because of where it sits, overlooked by the Wenkchemna Peaks and Glacier – also know as the Valley of the 10 Peaks.

Larch Valley and Wenkchemna Glacier

On a grey and cloudy day, the sun obscured and intermittent – the larches can still give of a glow when sunlight falls on them.

Larch Valley – Looming Clouds

Photo Credits

Ron Hallam Photographer Bio

Hi, my name is Ron Hallam. I am truly blessed to be able to live in and work in this stunning location; Banff, Alberta. I closed in and renovated the deck of my condo to be an editing studio. The studio is paneled in Alberta cedar. The main part of the ‘studio’, though, is the Banff National Park and the Canadian Rockies! I chose the name Gita Photos because G.I.T.A. is an acronym for God Is The Artist. No view of the mountains is ever the same – changes in light, perspective, time, weather. I want to engage you to feel and share the experience of unadulterated and uncomplicated moments of beauty to awaken your awe and inner child.

Website: Gita Photos – Blog and Musings

Follow Ron Hallam on: Facebook | Linkedin

The Antidote to Civilization

Guest Photographer — Wed, 01 Mar 2017 14:48:54 +0000

A long weekend getaway gave me the opportunity to test Club Med’s former slogan and my particular favorite, “The Antidote to Civilization.” Their new one is fine, “Where Happiness Means the World,” but I’m already happy enough, I just needed to tune out for a bit.

I choose Club Med Punta Cana, a ten-minute transfer from the Dominican Republic’s largest airport and a main hub for visitors from Europe and the Americas. While packing I had laid out my arrival goals along with my swimsuit, suntan lotion and hat – no cell phones, no shoes, and no wallet on property, the latter, one of the great things about all inclusives.

A palm tree and sandy beach lined-lagoon welcomes couples and families for a stay in paradise, with it’s new Zen Oasis for adults seeking a little more quietude after a day of water sports, yoga, massage and Club Med’s signature cuisine.

Guests can learn the art of the flying trapeze at “Creactive”, a joint venture circus-inspired playground created by Club Med and Cirque du Soleil. While it looked exciting, I kept my feet more planted on the ground and splashing in the water. Having just read Zen and the Art of Archery on the plane trip to Punta Cana, I did head to the club’s range to try the Zen-ish technique of not thinking but becoming one with the target. Bull’s-eye! (Though technically it was on my 15^th arrow.)

A young guest gets a lesson on flying trapeze at Club Med’s “Creactive.”

Over the past 30 years I have taken myself off the grid at Club Med’s in Mexico, the Caribbean, and Tahiti. Each one has had its own unique character and the opportunity to explore the local cultures. While some are more focused on families and couples and others on singles, all give their guests the opportunity to get the most out of a getaway.

A star-filled night above Punta Cana.

Photo Credits

Mark Edward Harris Photographer Bio Mark Edward Harris’ assignments have taken him to 94 countries on six continents. His editorial work has appeared in publications such as Vanity Fair, LIFE, Time, GEO, Conde Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, AFAR, Wallpaper, Casa Vogue, GQ Thailand, Money Magazine, Architectural Digest, The Los Angeles Times Magazine, and The London Sunday Times Travel Magazine as well as all the major photography and in-flight magazines. His commercial clients range from The Gap to Coca-Cola. He is the recipient of numerous awards including a CLIO, ACE, Aurora Gold, and Photographer of the Year at the Black & White Spider Awards. His books include Faces of the Twentieth Century: Master Photographers and Their Work, The Way of the Japanese Bath, Wanderlust, North Korea, South Korea, and Inside Iran. North Korea was named Photography Book of the Year at the International Photography Awards. Mark’s latest book, The Travel Photo Essay will be released by Focal Press in the fall of 2017.

Website: Mark Edward Harris

Follow Mark Edward Harris on Instagram: @MarkEdwardHarrisPhoto