Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Dreaming of our next Africa Safari


This is a photo of one of Kenya's famous Brothers...a famous cheetah family that prowls the Masai Mara.  Lynn and I have been on four African safaris and we look forward to our next adventure to the Dark Continent.


Of course the photographic opportunities were the first reason that we decided to take an African safari.  But, I will never forget the words of Sarah Taylor of the Africa Adventure Company who designed our first trip to Africa (South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana) in 2004.  She said "There is something spiritual about an Africa wildlife safari that will cause you to return again and again."  She was so prophetic.  We always return to the States thinking about our next trip.  And, not just for the wildlife, but for the spirit that is there...the people, the energy..Capetown!


Daily I dream and plan about our yet unscheduled trip to Tanzania to return to the Serengeti (The Tanzania side of the Masai Mara) and the Ngorongoro Crater.
Hopefully, soon.
   

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Antique Autos

1929 Mercedes Benz SSK

Recently, I have been fortunate to have been able to visit some of the finest private collections of early and exotic autos in the U.S.  Earlier, I reported on my finds at the incredible Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum in Auburn Indiana.  Last weekend I was privileged to see the wonderful collection of cars at the Revs Institute/Collier Collection. I have chosen to display a few of my photos here.

Bobby Unser's Jorgensen Eagle

The Revs Institute does not allow any flash photography.  The museum is so well lit aesthetically that it isn't an issue.  Additionally, there are no ropes...very little distractions.  There are many black and white auto photos on the wall which you can clone out..or not.  All of these photos were taken at IS0 3200.

 Rolls Royce

The camera was my tiny Panasonic Lumix DMC-LF1.  This camera is smaller than my iPhone.  I brought this camera into the museum since I was informed earlier that no photography was allowed in the museum.  I left my Olympus OMD-EM5 in the trunk of the car.

Duesenberg

My heart leaps when I come up on the elegant Duesenbergs. What an era the 20s and 30s must have been for the auto industry.  Of course, you had to be wealthy to own any of these cars, but even the Model T Fords were stylish...and affordable for the masses.

Packard Twelve

With car photography I prefer clean backgrounds so I usually clone out distractions...or even better I will build a Gaussian blur behind the vehicle in Photoshop. Thanks for coming along for the ride!