Results tagged “Global Eye” from Intelligent Travel Blog

Getting the Shot: Every time I travel for work I carry my camera, and on this particular trip I was hoping to capture some evening shots of the Santa Monica pier and the ferris wheel. It reminded me of the Navy pier in my hometown of Chicago.

The Details: While I was waiting for the sunset and the pier lights to come on, I noticed a group of people swinging on these exercise rings, just like Tarzan. The sun was setting behind them, so I had to squat down on the sand to get the right angle. I later learned that ring-swinging is a huge phenomenon on the pier and some of these superb athletes are known as the "lords of the rings."
 
The Camera: The photo was taken using a D200 in March of 2009. I exposed for the bright sun to capture total silhouette.

We like: The strange silhouette of the gymnast suspended in the air. Think you've got a Global Eye? Add your photos to our Flickr pool.  

Photographer: Ayaz A. Asif  from Lebanon, NH

Getting the Shot: The shot was taken on a drive back from a remote farming village in the Sindh Province of Pakistan.

The Details: This is a restaurant called the BBC Hotel in Dabayjee, (the word hotel is often used to refer to restaurants in Pakistan). The BBC Hotel is located off the National Highway which runs north from the port city of Karachi. I stopped at the restaurant for dinner and was pointed to the one table and chair they had there. Patrons normally sit on bed-like platforms on which the food is served. Familiar with the custom to sit on the floor and eat, I had not heard of or seen this variation, and I was intrigued by how the water was served in large ceramic pots. I liked how the color scheme of the beds matched the colors on the walls and ceiling.

The restaurant was very dimly lit, so I put on my fastest lens and tried to be as discreet as I could be about the photo. I didn't want the subjects to be self-conscious about having a camera pointed at them. I took several shots, the one I ended up picking had the subject in the foreground with an appealing expression in his eyes.

The Camera: Canon 5D Mark II with 85mm f/1.8 Lens; settings: f/1.8 @ 1/50 ISO 3200.

We like: How this captures a quiet moment and an interesting custom in Pakistan. Think you have a Global Eye? Add your photos to our Flickr pool.

"Cold and Wet"

Photographer: Steven Stokan, of Austin, Texas

Getting the Shot: This photo was taken in Austin, Texas at the Liz Carpenter Fountain in Butler Park. The park is located just south of downtown Austin, on the shores of Lady Bird Lake. The fountain is named after noted writer and former press secretary to Lady Bird Johnson, Liz Carpenter. It was shot on September 21, 2008 at 8:04 p.m., just after sunset. Children where playing in the fountain, taking advantage of the warm weather on this late summer evening. I had spent all day shooting in and around downtown Austin and wanted to call it a day, but couldn't resist getting shots of the fountain at sunset.

The Details: The fountains are programmed, and are constantly moving in different patterns of light and color; which are quite unpredictable. I knew timing was crucial. I fired many photos (50-75) using a tripod, experimenting with different shutter speeds and composition, while taking care not to get wet. In the end, it was a matter of getting lucky, and was pleased to capture this composition.

The Camera: My camera is a Nikon D80 with the 18-55mm kit lens. Exposure was set at f/5.3 for 1/2 sec.

We Love: How otherworldly this shot is, it's hard to tell whether the fountains are shooting water or beams of light.

Think you've got a photo worthy of Global Eye? Add it to our Flickr pool, and you could have your photo featured on our site! 

Photographer: Jo Anne D. Villarosa, of California, USA and the Philippines

Getting the Shot: This photo was taken in the Philippines, at the entrance of Muñoz Market in Quezon City, the most populous city in the Philippines.

The Details: I was on my way to catch a bus early in the morning, and I chanced upon the girl sleeping by her fruit stall. Public markets open very early all around the country. Vendors like this girl wake up before the sun to prepare their goods: fresh produce, various items of clothing, or plastic toys and trinkets. Seeing the girl sleeping so peacefully, unbothered by the long and hot day ahead, was a very beautiful scene for me--and a much deserved rest for her.

The Camera: Canon EOS 400D.

We Love: How she looks so peaceful amidst all of the colorful fruit!

Think you've got a photo worthy of Global Eye? Add them to our Flickr pool, and you could have your photo featured on our site!

Photographer:  David Dunai of San Francisco and Budapest

Getting the Shot:  This photo was taken at Angkor Wat in the jungles of Cambodia on a warm day in January.  
 
Details:  Initially, I was drawn to photograph the temples by themselves to represent the isolation of these ancient ruins in the middle of the jungle and show the otherworldly character of the structures built by a civilization long gone.

That however, turned out to be impossible as there was not a square inch free of my fellow tourists. So I changed my approach and decided to go for the quirky by juxtaposing these modern wanderers against the background of the ancient, massive palaces. When I spotted these two Chinese visitors in their fantastic tropical hiking outfit I could not stop clicking the shutter.

We Love: The juxtaposition of colorful, slightly surreal elements.  Despite its unarguable value as a cultural icon, Angkor Wat scored very poorly in stewardship in our 2006 World Heritage Destinations Rated.   

See all of our Global Eye photos, or add yours to the mix by joining our Flickr pool.

Photographer: Jan Reurink

Getting The Shot: Rachu was the starting point for our 16-day trek to base camp Jomo Langma (Everest) and Pedruk to Gara and back. Rachu is in the background, along with some of our yaks and yak drivers.

Details: We had just come back from borrowing the 15 yaks that belonged to several nearby farmers. Afterward, we drove by car to Gyantse, Shigatse, Yamdrok Tso, and Lhasa. The entire set of my trip to Tibet in 2002 can be seen here.

We Love: How the yaks are lined up, ready to set off for the journey.

Think you've got a photo worthy of Global Eye? Add it to our Flickr pool.

Photographer: Luigi Guarino, Italy

Getting the Shot: "This photo was taken in Merida, Mexico, which is located on the Yucatan peninsula."

The Details: "I liked the colorfully dressed people walking past the pastel-colored building."

We Love: How somehow, the iconic Beatles Abbey Road cover seems translated into a Mexican setting.

Want your own image featured on the blog? Add your photos to our online Flickr pool.

Photographer: Susan I Cohen, from Lake Worth, Florida.

Getting the Shot: The photo was taken at the Pushkar Camel Fair in India in November 2007.

The Details: This is a once-a-year event when the tribesmen from all over come to buy, sell, and trade their camels, horses and other livestock. There are acres and acres of "life" happening all around you. We were walking to the arena to watch the beginning of the camel races when I spotted a group of women in their colorful saris and wraps sitting on the wall at the outskirts of the area. This was a "one shot" deal as we continued our walk and I love it.

We Love: The rainbow of colors contrasted against the stone wall. What do you think?

See all of our Global Eye photos, or add yours to the mix by joining our Flickr pool.

Photographer: Iliyan Hristov, Sofia, Bulgaria

The Details: Sony Cyber-shot W1

Getting the Shot: "Shipka is a historical place in Bulgaria; the inspiration to build it came from a famous battle on a peak called Shipka," says Hristov. "The Bulgarian revolutionaries fought to death when trying to free Bulgaria from the Ottoman yoke. There is a special feeling when you get there and know what happened over a century ago. Other than climbing the 1,000 some odd steps to the top of the peak, I did not have any trouble taking the picture."

We like this photo because of the beautiful autumn colors. Think you have photos worthy of Global Eye? Add them to our Flickr pool.