the Photo Tourist

Washingtonian Cover: Balloon by Rick Collier

Rick — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 21:36:49 +0000

Millwood, Virginia

I’m reprising this photo of a balloon lifting off at dawn because The Washingtonian Magazine just published it on the cover of their August 2010 issue. (!)

I was very flattered when the editor contacted me last month, asking for downloads so they could consider some images for an upcoming issue. Since my lovely wife and cheering section Nancy has been a sometime subscriber and regular reader for the entire time I have known her, of course I was happy to help. I was hoping for a publication and photo credit. Washingtonian had published another photo just last month, so it seemed a reasonable hope. The idea of a cover never actually occurred to me — as most regular readers of the magazine can attest, Washingtonian’s cover almost always seems to be a posed shot featuring people. (I read the magazine sometimes, but a greater authority on the subject — Nancy — swears this is the case.) So imagine my surprise when the photo editor asked me to call him “about one of your shots.” All our previous communications had been by email, so I wondered if there was a problem.

Once we made contact, Mr. Hicks asked nonchalantly if it would be ok if they use this image for the cover. I think I didn’t so much say “yes,” as blurt it. Not at all the blase, mercenary professional image I’d prefer to project for The Washingtonian Magazine. He was kind: “Congratulations.” I could hear his smile. Maybe “smooth” will come in time.

This is one of my personal favorite photos. It was taken at the Millwood, Virginia, Hot Air Balloon and Wine Festival at dawn, with the sun backlighting the balloon and the mist in the low-lying fields. I originally posted and blogged about it back in August 2009 in an entry entitled “Dawn Lift.”

(Nikon D200, ISO 500, Nikkor zoom at 35mm, F/5.6, 1/750 sec.)
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Fourth of July Mashup

Rick — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 16:47:54 +0000

4th of July, Reston Virginia, USA

“Fourth of July Mashup“

Every Fourth of July my lovely Nancy and I invite a group of friends and neighbors to cruise on a deckboat on Lake Thoreau at sunset, to watch the evening’s impromptu celebrations of Independence Day. Everyone with a boat, barge, pontoon boat, floating dock, kayak, canoe, or pool float is out on the lake. Pontoon boats and floating decks dine and drink by the light of countless tiki torches, candles, and lanterns. American flags fly from any vertical post or pole. Homes around the lake set off fireworks. Pontoon boats set of fireworks. Kayaks set off fireworks. Actually, the only people not playing with fire are the swimmer on pool floats. Party sounds mix with marches and patriotic country music coming from a hundred different boats and patios around the lake. Kids and adults play with sparklers and small strings of fireworks on the boats and lawns all around. There are periodic splashes as partygoers go into the water (some intentionally, some less so). Enormous, professional-grade starburst shells go off overhead as bottle rockets inscribe arcs over (and sometimes accidentally between) the boats. The whole thing is spontaneous and unplanned. It is different every year. But always inspiring.

Last weekend the weather was perfect. The sky was clear, the air and water warm, and the humidity was low. Everyone was there. The fireworks came from the usual big homes, plus a few we hadn’t seen before. Our music was a mashup of Sousa marches and patriotic country. It’s a giant birthday party for all of us — America’s birthday on the lake.

Early in the evening my group tied up at one bank of the lake and I set up a tripod on dry ground. Sometime around what I guessed would be the evening’s crescendo, it occurred to me to try mixing HDR techniques with time exposures, just to see what would happen: Would the result capture the sense of movement, light, excitement, and celebration? What do you think?

(Nikon D700, Nikkor AF-S 24-85mm zoom at 66mm, on a tripod for multiple ISOs and shutter speeds at f/8 then combined for a single HDR image.)

Peekaboo

Rick — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 21:41:58 +0000

Costa Maya, Mexico

“Peekaboo“

It was a gentle dive — an unexpected treat given surface conditions, which were windy and overcast, throwing up a reasonable swell and surf on the reef. Costa Maya, Mexico, was the last port of call on our western Caribbean cruise aboard the motor ship Ryndam of the Holland America Line. While I had heard of the “Costa Maya” in Mexico, I had never before heard of it as an actual port, so before embarking on the trip I checked out the tourism and sightseeing opportunities there. The reviews* were pretty unanimous: If you can, go snorkeling or diving; don’t waste your time on tourism by land. The ship docks at one of those “manufactured” ports; there is a small town nearby but the cruise ship dock is isolated and mainly consists of an enormous pier attached to a medium-sized duty-free shopping center (albeit with a large pool and several very nice bars and restaurants around it). Most visitors stay around the pool or shop in the stores. There are a couple of bus tours available, and there are diving and snorkeling excursions.

So. Diving. The tour operator was Dreamtime Dive Centre in Mahahual (the small town near the artificial port created by the cruise lines at “Costa Maya”). The staff was friendly, with divemasters hailing from the US and England complemented by an excellent local staff. The dive center stands right on the beautiful white sand beach that runs the length of the town. Highly recommended; check them out if you ever get there.

We boarded our dive boat in calm water at the beach, protected from the rising surf by the reef itself several hundred yards offshore. After a 15-minute ride through a gap in the reef, we were ready to drop in at a site called “the flames.” After a back-roll entry from the boat, we dropped about 45 feet to the top of the reef and then moved out over the gentle terrain to seaward. The visibility was good, the water warm, and the current negligible. We spread out over the reef. Soon I saw a pair of waving antennae under an overhang. I checked camera and strobes, drifted out away from the reef, moved slowly down a few feet, and then edged carefully back towards the reef. My arms were extended in front of me and I did my best not to move either camera or my body, relying on current and fins to move me very gently to the reef. As my camera cleared a small outcropping, I saw this lobster edging tentatively out of a hole in the reef. I moved in steadily and slowly, eye on the prize.

When approaching a Caribbean lobster, one needs to watch its antennae. The lobster will point at least one antenna directly at any intruder. The antenna is shell and comes to a point; I suppose it could do harm if pushed, but more often the lobster will bolt the moment either antenna touches anything. (They are often spooked by incidental contact completely unrelated to the diver — or perhaps a water movement the diver caused.) These bugs can be amazingly fast when they want to escape, and this one already had a hole right there. I got as close as I dared, then fired. The strobes flashed, and the little treat was gone, leaving only a hole with the tips of antennae sticking out of it.

(Canon Powershot G9 in Ikelite case with two Ikelite DS-125 strobes wired for the camera’s electronic TTL control. ISO 80, integrated lens at 10.7mm, f/3.2 at 1/60 sec.)

* Before cruising I usually check a lot of web sites and always also do general Google searches to find other perspectives. If considering diving, I always check the fantastic and knowledgeable community at ScubaBoard.com. For destinations, I always use Tripadvisor.com, and for cruise ports of call there is Cruisecritic.com.
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Quirigua HDR

Rick — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 03:57:29 +0000

Quirigua Archaeological Park, Guatemala

“Quirigua Stelae“

Wow. The colors are vivid in the bright sun; the lawns are brilliant green; and the old trees and surrounding forest tower impressively, casting inviting shadows — pools of respite from the tropical sun. The eye was drawn everywhere at once as we approached the massive stelae standing under thatched roofs in the beautiful lawns of Quirigua Archaeological Park in central Guatemala.

Nancy and I have joined a tour group from our Caribbean cruise (off Holland America Line’s vessel, the Ryndam) for a bus trip and tour of Quirigua. A bus trip of about two hours took us far into the central river valley of Guatemala. Our tour guide was outgoing, friendly, and spoke fluent, unaccented English. Throughout the ride he kept up a steady stream of fun and explanation, pointing out the details and the beauty of the massive fertile plain, then moving to discuss the history of US-Guatemalan international relations before settling into the history of Quirigua as we approached the park.

Quirigua is not considered a large or particularly impressive Mayan site. The park does have some impressive stairs leading up to a palace compound, but it lacks the massive pyramids and temples of better-known sites elsewhere in Central America. Still, Quirigua is a world heritage site and home of a significant collection of Mayan stelae and zoomorphs of the Mayan classic period.

As soon as I started to shoot, I realized my Nikon D300 DSLR was not going to be able to capture the fantastic beauty that I was seeing. The day was too bright and the shadows too dark (and did I mention, inviting?): I could choose to properly expose the bright sunny areas or the shadows, but not both. I played with the settings, changing f-stop, ISO, shutter speed, and filters: No luck. For all my purism, the camera simply could not handle the dynamic range alone to capture the incredible vibrancy and light that my eye so effortlessly enjoyed. Time to try something new: High Dynamic Range (HDR).

I have long been a fan of real masters of the HDR craft. (For a great example check out Trey Ratcliff’s work at his web site, www.stuckincustoms.com.) Here at Quirigua it was worth a shot. HDR involves taking multiple exposures over a very wide exposure range and then later digitally combining them to best capture the vivid scene that the eye perceives but the camera cannot capture. I set the camera to automatic bracketing, nine shots covering the widest range it could handle. I forgot my tripod, so stability for my HDR attempts was challenging: I managed my breathing, adopted careful body positions to minimize vibration and body shake, and braced against solid objects or laid on the ground. My camera periodically ripped off bursts as we wandered through the park: snap-snap-snap-snap-snaaap-snaaaaaapp-snnaaaaaaappp-snaaaa-aaaappp-snaaaa-aa-aaaaaappp! My fellow travelers were curious and I did my best to explain: Smiles and curiosity led to shaking heads, nods, and skeptical head-shakes as people wandered away.

“Quirigua Steps HDR“

(Top image [Quirigua Stelae]: Nikon D300, Nikkor 18-200mm zoom at 26mm with circular polarizing filter, ISO 200, f/5 at 1/250 sec. Nine images bracketed at total range of +4EV to -4EV, combined for HDR.)

(Bottom image [Quirigua Steps HDR]: Nikon D300, Nikkor 18-200mm zoom at 27mm with circular polarizing filter, ISO 200, f/3.5 at 1/1000 sec. Nine images bracketed at total range of -4EV to +4EV, combined for HDR.)
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Toad Ugly

Rick — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 02:17:49 +0000

Turneffe Atoll, Belize

“Whitespotted Toadfish“

That is one ugly fish. One can easily see how it got named “toadfish.” They look almost virulent … nasty. Certainly, not something you would want to bite your finger…. (Though I think they don’t really bite — that is, unless you actually stick your finger into its mouth.) Still, we were excited to find this fish on one of our two dives at Turneffe Atoll, Belize.

We were about half-way through a very nice dive. The water was warm and visibility about 80 feet. Conditions were calm and there was very little current. The divers in my group had spread out in a loose line straggling across the reef, approximately following our divemaster, Henry. Henry is young and enthusiastic, friendly and engaging. He’s also a very good guide, and had already found several sights that the casual tourists in our group might not have noticed without his help.

Suddenly Henry stopped. He looped around in a very aerobatic maneuver and hovered, frozen in place, his face just inches from the reef. Then he drew back and pointed eagerly into a dark hole underneath a coral head. He rattled his noisemaker and tried to get everyone’s attention. I was among the closest and just happened to be looking at Henry when he went through his “found something” display. Finning over quickly, I approached the reef cautiously: What could it be? I certainly don’t want to charge in too quickly if Henry was point out a curious moray eel (with needle-sharp teeth)….

There was something in there; I could just about make it out. Some sort of bulbous fish, covered with spots, and with barbels on its mouth. Maybe a toadfish? I had never seen a toadfish, but I had seen pictures and this ugly thing might just be one of those. I had my camera, with two strobes attached. It took some adjusting and fiddling to get the strobes in close enough and at good angles to get their light into the hole. I took a few shots, trying different angles to get the lens close to the fish without blocking the strobes. A couple of the pictures worked out.

Back on the dive boat, Henry explained it was a spotted toadfish. (Aha, at least I guessed that right. Good for me.) He was excited. He said over and over, “That one — only in Belize. You do not find it anywhere else.” We divers looked at one another skeptically. My dive buddies and I discussed in on the boat ride back to our cruise ship (the Holland America line’s Ryndam): Of course Henry would want us to think we had a unique experience. Good for him. It was fun and he was a good dive master. But a fish found only in Belize? Not likely. Belize is a little place and there is a lot of temperate Caribbean reef, most of which is connected. Why would a particular fish evolve and stay in only one little part of the Caribbean’s reef system?

I looked it up when I got home at the end of the trip. It turns out, Henry was right. According to the book “Reef Fish Identification: Florida Caribbean Bahamas” (the seminal fish identification guide by Paul Humann and Ned Deloach, considered by many the most authoritative of such books) the Whitespotted Toadfish is found only off Belize. “Not reported elsewhere.” Son of a gun.

About the dive: I have visited Belize as a port of call on two Caribbean cruises: one with Carnival lines and one with Holland America. Both cruise lines use Hugh Parkey’s Belize Dive Connection. Hugh Parkey’s does a great job. The dive boat picks up the dive group from the ship at anchor, returns to the dive shop for filling out forms, equipment rental, and so on, and then takes the group to Turneffe for two dives. After diving, the boat returns to the resort dive shack for equipment return, logbook signing, and perhaps a beer or souvenir shopping, after which the same boat will return everyone directly to the ship in early afternoon. The divemasters and staff at Hugh Parkey’s are knowledgeable and friendly; the boats are large, comfortable, clean, and well-appointed; there is plentiful water to drink, and a snack is served. Finally, of course, they have a large selection of truly marvelous dive sites nearby on Turneffe Atoll.

[Canon Powershot G9 in Ikelite underwater case with two Ikelite DS-125 strobes, wired for TTL. Integrated lens at 9.9mm, ISO 80, f/5.6 at 1/60 sec.]

At the End of the Rainbow

Rick — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 01:51:09 +0000

The Cruise Ship Anchorage, Belize

“Rainbow Cruise“

Today is the first day of spring. Spring: A (?young?) man’s fancy turns to … TRAVEL! (OK, yes…among other things….) Finally, after our relatively harsh winter here in the US mid-Atlantic states we are having a nice, sunny, warm weekend. I have started our taxes with dreams of a travel budget emerging from the returns. What better thing to imagine at the end of the rainbow than a floating hotel, serenely exploring a lovely, warm tropical destination?

Last fall Nancy and I took a cruise in the western Caribbean. At anchor in Belize, I left the ship on a bright and sunny morning to spend a warm, sunny, sunburnt day on a dive boat. (Dive photos will come in a future post.) Returning the ship, our boat motored into a rain squall that seemed to cover the entire anchorage. We were once again wet. Without the sun, we were cold, too. After a few minutes waiting in the rain, our boat was allowed to approach the ship and we got back under cover. Back in the cabin, I rinsed my dive gear, took a shower, and then casually went to the window to check on the weather.

My timing was perfect. The clouds were moving off, leaving a sparkling, sunny late afternoon. Gradually the clouds lifted and moved, and another ship at anchor emerged from the curtain of rain, brilliant and white, with sun reflecting from the water still covering it. And then, a rainbow. No; Two rainbows. I grabbed my camera and ran out on deck. The humid air immediately fogged every glass surface — lens, filters, and viewfinder.

Frantic effort with a microfiber lens cloth cleared the lens. It fogged again. A sequence ensued: Polish, extend to the warm sun, polish again …. Finally, I got a couple shots. And then the ship turned and the rainbow was gone.

Nancy thinks I should sell this to Norwegian American lines. The ship in the photo is theirs, the Norwegian Jewel.

[Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16mm ultra-wide zoom at 13mm, ISO 200, f/11 at 1/1000 sec.]

Rehoboth Under Snow

Rick — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 02:53:42 +0000

Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, USA

“Rehoboth Under Snow“

(Yes, the picture is a pun. Sorry… Not.)

It was very relaxing and enjoyable being “snowed in” for the very dramatic “Blizzard of 2010.” Opting for something new to us, Nancy and I spent the long weekend at our house in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. We had good friends and neighbors around our “main” home in Virginia, who we could trust to look after things and maybe even shovel out our heat pumps if it got that bad. (And it did — Thanks for the shoveling, Doug!) We had never been in Rehoboth for a snowstorm before, so why not? We got an early start on Friday and made it to Rehoboth before the snow. I brought two cameras: the Nikon D700 DSLR for best quality and artistry and the “little” Canon G9 that I could stuff in a pocket for protection if we went out amongst the weather. We got there in plenty of time; unloaded a month’s worth of food, drink, and supplies; and got a nice, roaring fire going in the fireplace. Our house was warm and we had a spectacular view outside so we could watch the snow while enjoying not being out in it.

Except that we did not stay inside. People who know us will not be at all surprised to learn that despite having plenty of food, drink (both alcoholic and non-), toilet paper, milk, and firewood, we were just compelled to go out. As soon as the first snowflake appears (and LONG before we’re actually “snowed in”), our home is positively flooded with what can only be described as sudden-onset hysterical cabin fever. We simply MUST go outside. The very idea of snow piling up and making it hard to maneuver fills us with an irrepressible malaise that can only be exorcised by leaving the house. So we leave. Repeatedly. We trudge, cold and wet, through the town looking for somewhere other than home where we can have a drink and a bite. Apparently, we were not alone; some bars and restaurants were open and a few people were out and about. We ate breakfast and dinner out every day of the storm. This is far more eating out than we would do if NOT “snowed in,” but what can I say? It’s a compulsion. I guess there’s a reason we don’t live in Alaska or Minnesota ….

There really was a “blizzard” in Rehoboth. For several hours on Saturday the blowing snow really did cut off visibility and coat every object. Road crews struggled but just couldn’t keep up during the worst of the storm. Finally, the storm cleared out in a very orderly manner exactly as the weather-guessers on TV had predicted. We had a wonderful walk though a winter wonderland just as the storm stopped Saturday night. Sunday dawned bright and clear, with an irrepressible, bright, clean, 18-inch (or so) blanket of snow over “our” beach town. It was lovely. While the city crews completely cleared the roads, Nancy and I walked. I took pictures; Lots of pictures. I posted way more photos that usual at www.RickCollierImagery.com, just in case anyone might want shots of that historic storm.

“Against the Storm“

(Top image ["Rehoboth Under Snow"]: Nikon D700, Nikkor zoom at 85mm, ISO 200, f/14 at 1/200 sec. using circular polarizing filter.)

(Bottom image ["Against the Storm"]: Canon G9, integrated lens at 12.7mm, ISO 200, f/4 at 1/200 sec.)

Isn’t It Spring Yet ?!?

Rick — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 03:55:05 +0000

Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, USA

“Spring Flowers“

I am tired of winter. Isn’t it time for spring? I’m in that kind of mood, so I thought I’d trot out a couple of spring images. Flowering trees, flowers, blue skies, flags, new leaves …. You get the picture. Right? (Also, I’m celebrating the new website for The Photo Tourist, so some flowers symbolizing new starts and growth might be appropriate today.)

Here in northern Virginia it is raining and foggy outside. And cold (but not freezing today). Several inches of snow from the recent unusual snowstorms are still on the ground — though now a lot of it is in the form of piled dirty, off-white slush and solid ice. Many storm drains are blocked, so the rain water is forming dirty, slushy puddles. The temperature is just a bit above freezing; just warm enough to make sure what is falling now will be wet, so it can freeze tonight when the temperature drops. So the droppings and leavings from the winter weather that the press dramatically dubbed “snowmageddon” is still with us. (Speaking of which, how dumb is that rubric, “snowmageddon”? Is it reasonable to compare 20-ish inches of snow with the Biblical battle at the end of the world, which is after all what “armageddon” means? Surely nobody really believes the snow was that catastrophic. Have we all become so illiterate that we really need to be entertained by television halfwits mangling our language, such as it is? Just sayin’….)

Hey, here’s another reason for springtime shots: The new web sites and blog site have finally been launched! A few days late, but still. Metaphorically, could we say it’s like springtime for The Photo Tourist? A time of new creativity and fruit? “Springtime for The Photo Tourist ….” OK, you’re right: Worse than “snowmageddon.”

But still. When you get a chance, check out the new sites (RickCollier.com, RickCollierImagery.com, and this site, thePhotoTourist.com). Let me know what you think!

“Dogwood“

(Top image ["Spring Flowers"]: Canon Powershot G9, integrated lens at 8.2mm, ISO 80, f/3.2 at 1/2000 sec. with -2/3 exposure compensation)

(Bottom image ["Dogwood"]: Canon Powershot G9, integrated lens at 8.2mm, ISO 100, f/7.1 at 1/250 sec. with -1/3 exposure compensation)

Season’s Greetings!

Rick — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 03:24:00 +0000

Christmas, USA

“Christmas Tree”

Merry Christmas and Season’s Greetings! I and everyone in my home wish you and yours the very best of this magical season, followed by a wonderful and prosperous New Year! Many religions celebrate this season; One does not have to be Christian to feel the warmth, peace, and good wishes that so many offer in this season of celebration.

I have been out of touch for several weeks now. First a cruise at Thanksgiving, then we rolled into the Christmas season. Somewhere in there, I had an equipment failure leading to an overdue upgrade in camera and lenses and then needed to replace Nancy’s laptop computer. In a week Nancy and I will take our annual pilgrimage to somewhere warm — this year, the Caribbean.

I am hoping to get photos from the Thanksgiving-time cruise posted soon. If I don’t make it before the upcoming trip, they will be posted when we return in January. And those will be followed by shots from Bonaire and Curacao. The current posting pause will probably continue for a couple more weeks. I’ll try to post again before we leave, but even if that fails I will be back in January.

Until then … Stay warm and please enjoy this special season!

“Season’s Greetings”

(Top photo ["Christmas Tree"]: Available light with a tripod, Nikon D700, 50mm prime lens, ISO 200, f/14 for 10 sec.)

(Bottom ["Season's Greetings"]: Available light handheld, Nikon D700, 50mm prime lens, ISO 200, f/1.4 at 1/13 sec.)
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Nor’easter Redux

Rick — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:41:00 +0000

Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, USA

“In Thin Air”

Here are a few more photos from Rehoboth Beach and the neighboring beach community of Dewey Beach, Delaware, in the aftermath of the nor’easter spawned by the remnants of Hurricane Ida in the US mid-Atlantic seaboard. Nancy and I walked the beaches both in the mist and wind as the storm was clearing and then the next day, as the sun emerged.

On the first day the weather was bad. We found a few other visitors surveying the situation, but there were also a number of treasure hunters wielding the modern tools of the trade, seeking finds uncovered or washed up by the preceding three days of pounding surf.

“Treasure Hunters”

By the second day after the storm, the wind was gone and the sun emerged. As the day warmed, the newly widened beach filled with walkers and beachcombers, and the beach towns returned to normal.

“After the Storm”

(Top ["In Thin Air"]: Canon PowerShot G9, integrated lens at 8.2mm, ISO 100, f/8 at 1/250 sec.)

(Middle ["Treasure Hunters"]: Canon PowerShot G9, integrated lens at 18.9mm, ISO 100, f/8 at 1/250 sec.)

(Bottom ["After the Storm"]: Canon PowerShot G8, integrated lens at 29.2mm, ISO 80, f/8 at 1/320 sec.)
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