Recently in Global Eye Category

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: 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.

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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.

Photographer: Manuel Atienzar, Albacete, Spain.

Getting the Shot: This photo was taken on a road near Jorquera, a pretty town in Albacete, Spain.

The Details: I was traveling in my car when I saw an old man on his donkey carrying some persimmons (a charming, rare and anachronistic scene in the present-day Spain). We passed each other on the way, and I quickly stopped the car, grabbed my camera, and shot...just to capture this funny decisive moment with the man on the slow donkey, looking at the traffic poster, which read: "caution, sliding ice sheets."

The Camera: Nikon D70 and a Sigma 70-300 lens

We like this photo because it reminds us of a peaceful, simpler life.  Think your photo should be a Global Eye? Join our Flickr pool.

Photo: Manuel Atienzar

Photographer: Gunther Deichmann, Vientiane, Laos

Getting the Shot: I spotted these Buddhist monks on their way back to their monastery near Pha That Luang stupa after their morning food collection. It was already 9 a.m., and the sun was still trying to break through. It was the time of the year when everything is covered in an almost magical, mysterious heat haze. At the end of the dry season, around April or May, this phenomenon happens due to Laos being landlocked. It is also the time for pi mai, or the lunar New Year celebration.

The Details: In the background sits Pha That Luang, the great Buddhist stupa in Vientiane, built in the 16th century under Setthathirat the Great.  As with most stupas, a monastery is usually close by, since it is believed that relics of the Buddha are contained inside - either left behind by Buddha or placed there by early Buddhist pilgrims centuries ago.  You'll be hard pressed to find someone, even a monk, who knows the exact location of these artifacts, as they usually are buried deep within the stupa, which keeps the mystery within its walls.

For me, the mystery had already started outside during one of these mornings shrouded in heat haze.  The atmosphere alone during this time of the year makes a visit to Vientiane worthwhile, even if the heat can be unbearable.  During the pi mai celebration, however, you can cool off with the locals and join them in their water splashing activities. But you better make sure to keep your camera out of harm's way; you never know if the next bucket of water is meant for you.

The Camera: Shot with a Nikon F5 w/ 20mm lens; 1/30 @ F:8; Kodachrome 25.

We love the eerie stillness that this photograph evokes, and the silhouette the temple makes against the sky.  Think your photo should be a Global Eye? Join our Flickr pool

Photographer: Michael Taylor, New Zealand

Getting the Shot: The photo was taken at Minzu Guang Chang (Nationality Square) in Nanning, Guangxi province, China.

The Details: Opposite the square is the huge poster of Mao, Deng, and Jiang (China's past three leaders) which I used as background to the passing woman.

We love how the depth of field is constantly changing as you look at the photo – the cars seem like toys or the leaders seem like giants. For more photos of China, check out National Geographic Magazine's Your Shot China Map. Think your own photo is good enough for Global Eye? Add it to our Flickr pool.

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Photographer: Lee M. Turner, Bali, Indonesia.

Getting the Shot: The image is the result of a quirky convergence of isolation, inspiration, and playful improvisation. The island of Lombok (Indonesia) is situated 25 miles to the east of Bali, across the Lombok Strait. The tropical isolation providing the postcard-perfect backdrop is Lombok's southern coastline, replete with pristine white sand beaches, teal blue surf, few tourists, and an endless procession of colorful bouquets of locally produced tapestries, called ikat, being paraded across the seascape by enterprising local vendors.

The Details: As a photographer, I was captivated and inspired by the contrast of the ikat's bold colors against the backdrop of the seascape's muted pastels. I approached a vendor who was at rest and playfully asked if she would 'model' her wares for me. Perhaps it was the audience, or perhaps it was the relaxed and isolated setting, or perhaps it was the chance to show her beautiful wares while indulging her free-spirit. Whatever the motivation her performance was entertaining as it was persuasive. This particular image captures her as she pauses at the end of her improvisational dance, just before she doffs the yellow ikat in favor of yet another in her dazzling collection. In the end I purchased four ikat's, if not for the beauty of the ikat alone, then surely for the memory of their presentation.

Photo: Lee M. Turner, Shot with a   Canon 5D w/ 35mm 1.4L Canon Lens; 1/200 @ 5.6; ISO 50; off-camera SB 550 strobe.

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Photographer: Xavier Ciceron from Lausanne, Switzerland. Shot with a NikonD200, in October 2007.

Getting the Shot: It was late afternoon, the end of a beautiful autumn day during my first visit to Bosnia. My girlfriend took me to Boracko Lake, a popular place in summer near Konjic, the small town where she used to live.

The Details: The place was very quiet and I tried to take advantage of the surface of the lake reflecting the forest colors and capture the serene atmosphere. It was a striking contrast with scars of the war still visible in the villages nearby. Even the country houses on the shore of the lake have not been spared. Yet the atmosphere was peaceful, the landscape beautiful. It was as if Mother Nature was showing the way for healing the old wounds.

Think you've got photos that catch our Global Eye? Join the Intelligent Travel Flickr pool.

Photo: Xavier Ciceron

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White Desert, Egypt

Photographer: Anja Cronenberg from Haarlem, the Netherlands.

Getting the Shot: I don't understand why the White Desert isn't much more famous than it is. With its white chalk rock formations, the White Desert is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. It is located in the Libyan desert, close to the Farafra oasis, in between Dakhla and Bahariya (west-central Egypt). You have to travel off road with a jeep (and a guide) to get there.

The Details: I took the photo just a few minutes before sunset. At that time the light seemed to change the landscape into a pink and blue pastel drawing. Being in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by all those surreal rock formations gave me goose bumps of pure happiness. Believe me, it really did! That night we slept on the sand under a sky with so many stars that I felt like I was in a planetarium.

This particular rock formation is called "The chicken and the mushroom." I've got a similar photo without people in it, but I like this one better because they give scale to those rocks.

The photo is from September of 2002, made with a Canon EOS300 with standard 28-80 lens. At that time I always used Fuji 200 ISO slide film.

We love how surreal the landscape is in this shot, and how the people are so dwarfed by the rock formations. Think your photo is good enough for Global Eye? Add your photos to our Flickr pool and we may feature them on the blog.

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Photographer: Theodore Scott from Houston, Texas

Getting the Shot:  On November 27th 2007, I was in El Valle Sagrado (The Sacred Valley) of Peru. The village is called Chinchero. Some local Quechua women were dyeing yarn that they had spun from alpaca and sheep wool. Their dyes were from plants and insects they collected and boiled in pots.

The Equipment:  The camera was a basic point-and-shoot Panasonic DMC-FX01.

We love Peruvian knitting, so we were glad to get this intimate glimpse into the work of traditional craftsmakers. To learn more about artisinal crafts, check out Laura Morelli's "The Genuine Article" shopping column. And contribute your photos for Global Eye to our Flickr pool!

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Name: Jacob Maentz, currently residing in Cebu City, Philippines.

Getting the Shot: This image was taken at Malapascua Island, in the province of Cebu, Philippines. Malapascua is known as the best place in the world for divers to spot thresher sharks, making it a popular dive and travel destination. This shot was taken one evening during a dive trip to the island.

Details: The sun was setting on a January evening, and I was watching one of the many bancas (narrow outrigger boats) unload its cargo to shore. These banca boats transport passengers and goods from the main island of Cebu to Malapascua. I was searching for a subject to shoot in the late evening sun when I noticed a group of about eight boys and girls were jumping off of the boat into the water and using the anchor rope to climb back up. I decided to get a little wet and wade out into the water, so I could get closer. I was able to get a series of silhouette shots off while the sun was setting. This particular image is one of my favorites, because I see in it the true spirit and joy of Philippine children.

We love the sun-kissed silhouette of the children, and kind of feel like going for a swim. Think your photos are worthy of Global Eye? Add them to our Flickr pool.

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