Story

Having a Great Workshop Experience!

Published on February 16th, 2013 in Story, Tutorial

Personally, I have been on many photography workshops and without a doubt, the most enjoyable ones are when everyone one who attends gets along really well. How does that happen? How can everyone have a great experience?

My Last Photo Workshop

Last night I sat in on an interesting discussion with a few other photographers who had attended many workshops over the years. Our topic of conversation was; how participants act when attending a photographic workshop. Everyone had a few beers and we laughed hysterically at the stories. Such as; the guy with the Leica who insisted that the trip was not oriented to Leica shooters, but only for Japanese cameras. Or the woman who makes the term; “New York Lawyer” sound like a compliment, when she decided to scream at a Sherpa because he wasn’t going fast enough, he was wearing open-toe sandals while climbing a 12,000 ft high mountain, or the guy who pushed other photographers out of the way so he could set up first.

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Tags: Beginner Photographer, new camera, night photography, photo etiquette, photo tours, photo workshops, social behavior, travel with groups
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My Iceland January 2013 Portfolio is Ready.

Published on February 9th, 2013 in Iceland, Story, Story

My last day in Iceland was in one sense, my most productive in that I made one particular image that is, in my opinion, the best of my trip.

REMINDER: The images in these blog pages are sketches, low resolution versions and in many cases unfinished versions of what will be in the Portfolio when I publish it.

It was at a place we dubbed “Pebble Beach” because the ground was covered with small, smooth stones. There were some amazing natural shapes which, as luck would have it, were complimented by the cloudy skies, the approaching sunset and the ominous shapes of the natural stone formations.

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Tags: Beach, Hallgrímskirkja, HDR, Iceland, Reykjavik, Rocks, Sky, Water
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When it’s Good, it’s Good, But When it’s Bad…..

Published on January 28th, 2013 in Iceland, Story

Miles of Roads, Acres of Sky

Miles and miles of roads to nowhere, skies that never end and clouds that seem like heaven. That’s Iceland. What you can’t see and what affects us heavily on this trip is the wind. Forty MPH gusts and hard, constant winds make opening a car door a very dangerous experience. As I write this, the whistling of the wind outside our hotel sounds like banshees screaming, laughing in anticipation of tossing us around when the sun comes up. Today sunrise is at 9:45 so we get a late start, which after my second day of sleeplessness was quite welcome.

Ice and Sky

Jökulsárlón (Ice Lagoon as it’s most often called) was practically empty, but across the street the black sand beach was incredible. I’d been here many times before but I have never seen so much ice on the beach as we saw yesterday. I looked up and noticed that the ice and sky were reflections of each other.

Today will be a challenge with the wind as it is, the weather report calls for clear skies and “warmer” temperature. We’ll see….

Tags: Ice, Iceland, Jokulsarlon, Sky, Vik, Wind
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Jordan is Done

Published on December 4th, 2012 in Jordan, Story, Story

After 22 hours of travel and sleepless nights, I am finally home from Jordan and reflecting on all that I experienced in those 12 days away.

I had a serious perspective shift from just being away from my life and my work, I had a chance to work with my camera again after months of inactivity, I also had a chance to make a bunch of new friends as part of The Giving Lens (TGL) which is an organization created to meld photography and charitable work into one activity. And it was successful. The time we spent with The Women of Iraq Alameer and the money donated from TGL will go a long way to keeping that organization solvent. I also emerged with a gift of my own, the ability to see more clearly where I am in my own life and what I will do.

Finally, as is the purpose of this site, I have created a new Portfolio: Jordan. Please take a moment to view the new gallery and let me know what you think. I always change the images, the order and the captions as time passes, this time will be no different. But for now, my 1st cut of Jordan photographs are ready for you to see.

Tags: Amman, Jordan, Petra, TGL, Wadi Rum
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The Ancients

Published on November 29th, 2012 in Jordan, Story

Before there was a United States, before there were separate countries dividing the middle east, before there was any form of transportation other than animal, there lived a thriving ancient culture in a place called Petra. Up until it was discovered by the western world in 1812, it lay hidden, unreachable by any but the creatures who roamed the desert sands and the local bedouins who kept its secrets locked up for centuries.

To this day, the Treasury is a sacred place and is celebrated with a special candle ceremony once a week. The Bedouin single-stringed instrument echoed within the stone walls, awakening a hidden presence in everyone who made the 1 mile trek down hill.

The Sacred Candle Ceremony at The Treasury

And for me, for the 1^st time in this lifetime, I found Petra though the lens of my camera and the miles of walking into the layered canyons dropping and rising around 1,000 feet into the air. Maybe the most extraordinary part for me was the peace I felt in the presence of ancient sounds sitting in front of a building carved in stone more than 1,000 years ago, in total dark, in total silence.

During the day, Petra is a collection of locations that show the life that once populated this bustling city. What is left today is only what has been found so far, so much more is being excavated daily.

The King’s Tomb

The awe I felt entering this space was overwhelming at first. Finally as I adjusted to the surge of emotions as I opened to the illuminations in this space, some visual some not, I resonated with the tones, the colors, the natural beauty.

The path to this part of yourself is different for all of us, this is the one I have found for myself, luckily I spent this time with others who love to be immersed in the history and environment of far-away beautiful places. I am so glad to be here.

Tags: 5dMkII, Jordan, Petra, TGLJordan
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The Museum

Published on November 29th, 2012 in Jordan, Story

If you’ve ever been to Monument Valley in Utah, you know what it’s like to drive into the visitor’s center and catch a glimpse of one of the most beautiful natural earth formations ever created. No one will deny the power of this place. Until today, I thought it was the only such place in the world. Actually it is, but there’s another that rivals it in splendor and magnificence and I am here to show you what I see.

We stay in tents and we sleep in the cold, only a few hours of electricity to charge our batteries and light to arrange our sleeping space. Then the generator sputters to a halt and the balance of nature is restored for the night. The critters scream, the birds nesting in the stones behind us, all signaling that it’s not our time now, it’s theirs. But before the final cough of the ancient generator patched together with spit and string, the sky once again illuminates both the electric world and the dark side to co-exist in for people to dwell.

Captains Camp, Wadi Rum

Untouched for a million years by man except to briefly rearrange the shallow surface, returned back to what it was by the force of nature: howling winds and occasional driving rains, this place is a literal museum that spans miles. The monuments here, formed eons ago, tell their own story of flow; water, wind and air. Each one leaves a story written in stone, to be read and interpreted by anyone lucky enough to gaze in amazement at the size and scope of this place. It’s a photographer’s dream.

Wadi Rum

Wadi Rum near Mushroom Rock

Sunset at Wadi Rum

It’s night time now, time to sleep if you can, time to dream of those you left behind and all that is happening in the world… or not.

Good night.

Tags: 5dMkII, HDR, Jordan, Sunset, Wadi Rum
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The Cleansing

Published on November 28th, 2012 in Jordan, Story

Jordan is a desert country, dry and arid most of the year. Several time a year and if luck has it more than less, the cleansing takes place. Hard, pounding rains visit and unremittingly clear the physical debris, and calm the soul to make way for life. This was one of those days, our journey between places when The Cleansing was welcome to all but a few visiting photographers who wished for dry but cloudy days.

Sunrise in Amman

To a landscape photographer all skies have a natural beauty. Our stock and trade is contrast and color. So rain is not terrible unless it’s so hard you can’t even take your camera out, but every day brings gifts when you are looking for them. I want to show you a few of my gifts today.

Between the Rain

As our bus spun roadway to a constant drone of the tireless diesel engine, we moved awkwardly, damp but determined to be where there’s beauty. This country for all its strife and hardships is nothing if not magnificent in its grandeur, which she most generously shares with all who appreciate.

Fire in the Sky

Even as today is a travel day, we still made sure to look… and see what was there for us to find.

This day as always ends in a blaze of glory and leaves it’s signature on a perfect canvas; the endless days punctuated by the light show in the sky. Every night, it’s different because every day is too.

Note: I am still behind in posting, this is from last week, I will keep posting until I am caught up.

Tags: Amman, Canon 5d MkII, HDR, Jordan, Rain Clouds, Sky
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The Awakenings

Published on November 27th, 2012 in Jordan, Story

Note: This was written 5 days ago, but being out in the desert has left us all without interent and access. Also note that the images posted here are NOT final images, they are like sketches in a sketch book. The Portfolio for Jordan will contain my final work when it’s done.

Rumor has it that upon awakening in a new place, the spirits of the dead find you to see through your eyes. The amazement itself, of being able to see comes through, enabling visions through the eyes of the ancients. Did you ever notice how familiar things feel, if only for a moment, when you wander in a new place, especially upon awakening?

This morning, the eyes of ancient spirits were mine as I emerged from a deep and silent sleep that only comes after being awake more than 24 hours. That was my gift. After taking care of the body and checking equipment, we drove only for a few minutes and were taken to the Caves of Irac Alameer. On the surface, they were dead and empty, boring to most. By I heard a voice asking me to look deeper, so I did. I watched the walls and saw the lives lived and the people who came and went. The spirits of those past thousands of years in the past.

Caves of Irac Alameer

I also saw the water as it raged through these caves eons ago, violently carving their signature along the way, never lingering, always moving and taking with it the spoils of lives past. All was washed clean and only those beings who loved those caves dwell forever, still.

Shortly after, the visions begin to subside, the walls recede back to the way others see them and I go because my work here is done. Yet the experience never fades and the spirit beings who befriend me are grateful for my hospitality and leave me with the feeling of gratitude that lasts forever.

Castle of the Prince

On to the Castle of the Prince, also in Iraq Alameer, the ancient castle lay in ruins. The tales of lovers and crimes are whispered in the wind and it snakes through the fragile spires, which are all that remain of the now derelict structure. Only the sky can see all of time as the flow of humanity moves through this now silent monument.

This 1^st day in Jordan separates me from my own past, living just in this moment, I see only now. I am happy.

Tags: 5dMkII, Amman, HDR, Jordan, TGLJordan
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“Welcome to Jordan”

Published on November 22nd, 2012 in Jordan, Story

My flights were long but uneventful. The sterile, highly secure space of the airline infrastructure ended abruptly as we left the airport to take taxi to our hotel. I met up with two other women who are also on this trip; Krystal and Heidi. Both were excited to be in Jordan and we exited the airport to the chaos outside. Random people asking : “Cab?” Cab?” It’s how it’s done here. Confusing as it was, we found a young man who appeared to be a working guy shuttling tourists to hotels after long flights.

We piled into his dingy 15 year old Toyota sedan and realized he spoke no english. But wait… We have maps! Except they are in English. It was too late, we realized he had NO IDEA where he was going. He knew really only one english phrase “Welcome to Jordan” and he meant it! Friendly and a little silly, he blasted Arabic and American songs while weaving in and out of lanes and between cars in lanes. NYC cab drivers would have been in awe.

As we approached the city, it was obvious that our driver had no clue where he was, so he stopped at each intersection and … he asked for directions! And he asked and asked. He stopped no less that 10 times, all the while announcing over and over again “Welcome to Jordan!”

At this point we are all so tired that it was actually funny. He stopped when he saw a friend in the street, he had to give him a hug. He tried to teach us words in Arabic but my American tongue couldn’t wrap itself around those words. He seemed to enjoy having Americans in the car, he would call his friends and said “Speak English!”. He saw me with my iPhone out and said “pitur, pitur!? So he abruptly stuck a pose, thank goodness the car was not moving!

Driving Lessons Anyone?

While all this was going on, I felt my rigidity, my armor drop away, as I noticed the world is a gyrating, pulsing, dirty, clean, messy, fun and dangerous place! I had this thought: I am way too white. I think about all the rules I have for myself, not that it’s a bad thing, but wow, lighten up Russo.

Finally we arrived, the hotel was full, we got back in the cab and went to another hotel. Same driver, more directions and stops, intermixed with traffic and strangers coming over to help him find his way. Finally, finally we arrived and we got rooms, we are in! Reflecting on that 45 minute cab ride, I hadn’t laughed that much in a very long time.

Tomorrow morning it’s off on an adventure in a part of the world that’s completely new to me. I can’t wait.

Note to Mitch: Speaking English and knowing where the hotels are is prerequisite to selecting cab drivers in the future.

Tags: Amman, Jordan, taxi
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Anticipating.

Published on November 21st, 2012 in Jordan, Story

As I sit here in the Air France terminal, waiting for my flight to Amman Jordan, I think about everything going on in the middle east right now. While it’s more than likely I will be safe in Jordan, it’s close enough to Israel to be a concern. Yet, I go for a different reason than politics or business, I go to create. I am creation, I make things that satisfy me. I make photographs and I make friends. I make a mess sometimes too, but that’s not deliberate…. or is it?

I was thinking about the irony of taking this trip at this time. My life has stress, who’s doesn’t? It’s filled with aspirations and frustrations, it all seems so real when it’s in your face and yet just 24 hours away, sitting here, it’s almost odd how I can separate myself from it all. Not that I want to escape but I want perspective. This is what having these moments, these days away does for me, it gives me… perspective.

I was exchanging emails with Tony Robbins and he told me his combined charities feed 2 million people a year. Now that’s a perspective I had to wrap my head around. TWO MILLION PEOPLE. My family and I maintain a small charitable organization that feeds about 25 people. It’s a start: http://prosperitythroughprogress.tumblr.com/ It was started by my nephew Jesse and he lives in Vietnam. He visited these people and fell in love. It’s a love that will give him great satisfaction all his life. I hope this plays a big role in his future.

This trip is more than photography, it’s about helping the people of Jordan as well and I will share more about that later in the trip as we make our way though the villages where we will be assisting as volunteers. It feels good to help, particularly on or around Thanksgiving. Maybe that will help me feel a little better about being away from my family.

This will likely be the only post I make on this trip that doesn’t include some photos. It’s just me sitting with a blank screen.

More to come…..

Tags: Amman, Jordan
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