Banff, British Columbia

In the Heat of Battle

Some photos from a Civil War re-enactment at Newmarket, VA.  At times, it gets quite real.

Washington D.C.

 Washington D.C. is right on our doorstep  

The Capitol

White House 

National Cathedral

Great Falls and C&O Canal Panoramas

Great Falls in flood during Winter, 2017

Great Falls at low ebb (taken from same point) during Summer, 2016

Mather Gorge at dawn near Great Falls

C&O Canal downstream from Great Falls

Journey to China

I have sometimes taken photos for my dear friend, Jamaliah Morais, a Chinese brush artist of great distinction.  Several years ago I took a series of photos for an upcoming catalogue.  However, I was so taken with the detail of her work that I took some close-ups.  For me, it was another sort of journey--a journey into the heart of China and its magnificent culture.

A Kingfisher. 

Jamaliah loves all bird life and you almost feel that he will fly off that branch!

 Imperial cranes

 Mandarin Ducks

Walking the Brooklyn Bridge

I walked across the Brooklyn Bridge to Manhattan on November 25, 2013.  It was 2 degrees below freezing but there was very little wind and the sun actually felt warm.  It is one of my favorite walks.

Bryce Canyon, Utah

We arrived in Bryce Canyon, Utah on October 1, 2002.  The next day, we had over 5 inches of snow.  Great for photography but not so good for driving.

Banaue Rice Terraces, Philippines

The Banaue Rice Terraces (in the north of the Island of Luzon, Philippines) are regarded as the eighth wonder of the world.  Some are quite ancient but in and around Batad Village (below) they have been in continuous use for over 500 years.

Fall

Crystal Waters, British Columbia

Crystal Waters is a guest ranch north of Kamloops in British Columbia.  Last year, they had major forest fires to the west and the early morning “mist” above is actually smoke.

The smoke enhanced the sunsets...

...and made the dawn pretty spectacular

Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Snow and Ice

Telluride, Colorado

Florence, Italy

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal, Maryland

The sub-title of this blog is “Journeys Near and Far”.  Sometimes the places nearest you are just as fascinating and beautiful as those far away.

That is certainly true of the C&O Canal that is just 20 minutes from my house.  It runs about 180 miles from Harpers Ferry (of John Brown fame) in West Virginia, through Maryland, to Washington DC.   I walk along the Canal on the Maryland side at least twice a week--usually early in the morning.  These photos were taken between 6.30 am and

8.30 am on November 11--our first really cold morning (25F) in recent months.

A blood red sun rises above the “steaming” water.  This is the widest section of the Canal

Reflection

Islands in the Stream?  These tiny islands remind me of paintings by the Group of Seven in Canada

Life on Batanes

In general, the people on Batanes do not like to be photographed.  So, most of my “life” photos had to be of animals.  You can ask politely for a photo but most people are usually too shy.

Coconuts are good for everyone

On the hoof

Our Fast and Furious jeepney driver, Rey