Baja California, Mexico

© 2008 Kevin H. Martin

I’m recently back from hosting a photo-theme yacht cruise in Mexico’s Sea of Cortez aboard American Safari Cruises’ 22-passenger luxury yacht, Safari Quest, where I had the pleasure of working alongside photographer Kevin Martin. Acting as expedition leader extraordinaire and ship’s photographer, Kevin, captured this powerful portrait  during a shore excursion in Puerto Agua Verde on the Baja Peninsula. From the affectionate arm around the boy’s shoulders to his soulful eyes and mud-splattered face, there isn’t anything I don’t love about this intimate image.

To see more of Kevin’s portraits and story telling photography I encourage you to visit his web site at http://homepage.mac.com/kevinhmartin.

For information about American Safari Cruises’ exclusive yacht adventures log on to  www.amsafari.com.

St. Kitts, Caribbean

©Ellen Barone. Turtle Bay, St. Kitts, with the island of Nevis in the distance.

It’s blowing a gale and freezing here in the mountains of southern New Mexico. So, this image of Caribbean sunshine and turquoise water has me schemin’ and dreamin’ about a winter escape. What about you? Let’s go!

Stalheim, Norway

 

© Hank Barone. 

My husband, Hank, captured this lovely photograph of the Stalheim Skleive (gorge) and the surrounding mountains at sunrise from the terrace of our room at the historic Stalheim Hotel in Norway.  Today ,this favorite photograph hangs on the wall of our home library as a daily reminder of that memorable morning.

Apparently this image resonates with a good number of travelers who have also stayed at the Stalheim Hotel, a stop on the famous ‘Norway in a Nutshell’ tour, as it ranks among our most requested images.  We’re happy to announce that it’s now available for purchase as a fine art print, canvas giclee and a wide variety of photo gifts on our newly launched gallery site.

Tucson, Arizona

 
© Pat Osborne.

This week’s image of colorful La Placita Village in Tucson, Arizona, was captured by photographer and friend, Pat Osborne.

An accomplished musician, teacher, professional astrologer, Reiki practitioner and fine art photographer, this creative mother of three is on the move, ever evolving personally and professionally.

Next up for Pat in 2008 is a new gallery Web  site, The Land of Oz, where you’ll soon be able to view (and purchase) her photography. I’ll keep you posted…

San Antonio de Areco, Argentina

©Ellen Barone.

Gauchos, El Ombú de Areco Estancia.  Just over an hour's drive from downtown Buenos Aires, this historic ranch is located in San Antonio de Areco, birthplace of the gaucho tradition, Argentina, South America. 

Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

 ©Ellen Barone.

Bow Glacier, one of eight valley glaciers that flow from the Wapta Icefield, and Bow Lake, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

Witless Bay, Newfoundland, Canada

©Ellen Barone.
Atlantic puffin, Witless Bay Ecological Reserve, Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland, Canada

One of the most enjoyable aspects of a day cruise in Newfoundland's Witless Bay Ecological Reserve was watching these clown like birds take flight. More suited to the water than the air, the Atlantic puffins that inhabit this scenic region provided a photographic challenge and colorful entertainment  for passengers aboard the many excursion boats that frequent the bay. Running spring through fall, these boat tours also provide opportunities to spot icebergs, whales, and other wildlife.

Snow Canyon State Park, Utah

©Ellen Barone.

I'm just back from enjoying a four-day 'Chick's Adventure Package' at Red Mountain Spa, an adventure haven nestled in the red rock bluffs of Snow Canyon State Park in Southwest Utah.

In addition to featuring a healthy dose of luxurious pampering and gourmet cuisine, the spa also boasts an extensive hiking program, offering a daily menu of independent and guided hikes for all fitness levels. November temperatures - with sunny highs in the mid-70s and crisp nightime lows in the 40s - were ideal for daytime exploration in the surrounding spectacular natural setting and enjoying the cozy warmth of the in-room fireplace each evening.

For more information, visit www.redmountainspa.com or call 800-407-3002.

Sicily, Italy

© Ellen Barone.

Springtime in Sicily is glorious, the fields blooming with poppies and wild flowers. And what better way to immerse myself in its natural abundance than from the seat of a bicycle? For eight glorious days, I left behind the frantic pace of daily life, rejuvenating both my body and soul on a cycling holiday that I came to call the 'Tour de Pasta'.


To learn more about my adventures cycling the Sicilian coast with Italian cycling specialists Ciclismo Classico  click here to read 'Tour de Pasta'  as published in Epicurean Traveler magazine.

Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Arizona, USA.

 

 © Ellen Barone.

Giant patina draperies stain the overhang of ancient cliff dwelling, White House Ruin, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Arizona, USA.

Reflecting one of the longest continuously inhabited landscapes of North America, Canyon de Chelly also sustains a living community of Navajo people, who are connected to a landscape of great historical and spiritual significance.

Montana, USA

 

 ©Ellen Barone.

Gray wolves, Gallatin Pack, West Yellowstone, Montana, USA.

 

In 1995, the Gray Wolf was reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park after a 50-year absence from the ecosystem. It was at this same time that the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center, a unique not-for-profit wildlife facility located in West Yellowstone, Montana, just one block from the west entrance of the park, was notified of several unplanned wolf births at another facility. Since captive-born wolves cannot be released into the wild, the Center agreed to take the pups.

The wolves of the resident Gallatin Pack have developed strong social ties, allowing visitors the opportunity to view and learn about wild pack behavior and promote discussion in regards to wolf restoration and future management plans for the species.

To learn more visit http://www.grizzlydiscoveryctr.org/

St. George, Bermuda

©Ellen Barone.

 Town crier, E. Michael Jones in 17th century costume, bellows Oyez, Oyez in historic St. George, Bermuda

Colorado River, Arizona, USA

©Ellen Barone.

If it’s whitewater thrills your itching for, then look no further than a Colorado River Grand Canyon rafting vacation. A six-day journey with Western River Expeditions  ranks as one of our most memorable adventures. A once-in-a-lifetime must-do for travelers seeking unparalleled whitewater excitement and scenic wonder.

More…

Lincoln County, New Mexico

©Ellen Barone.

Young cowboys stay close to the action at the annual Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium, near Ruidoso, New Mexico, USA.

Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico

© Ute Hagen

This week's image was captured by artist, photographer, friend and mentor Ute Hagen.

For the past decade, my husband and I have lived part-time in Mexico in the lakeside village of Ajijic, near Guadalajara, Jalisco. Standing out among the many privileges of living South of the Border has been the gift of Ute's friendship.

One the area's most respected and talented artists, Ute, a German native, first came to live in Mexico in the 1970s via Canada. Best known for her vibrant and colorful paintings of Ajijic and contemporary Mexico, most recently Ute has focused her forever restless and inventive eye on photography.

This lovely image "was spotted on my walk around ajijic village"- as only an artist would see it. To see more, check out her ever-evolving and stunning collection of photographs at http://flickr.com/photos/uteart/.

Scottish Highlands

© Ellen Barone.

It was in the Scottish Highlands that my passion for photography and travel first blossomed. With landscapes like this one, it is easy to remember why.

Sebaco, Nicaragua

©Ellen Barone.

Trusting, honest, and friendly, the Nicaraguan people are the real spirit and charm of their country. Stopping to buy some fruit in this roadside market, I spotted this woman nestled among a bounty of fruit and vegetables. When I asked to take her photograph she rewarded me with this lovely shy smile - spontaneous and heartfelt.

Umbria, Italy

© Ellen Barone.

As if the infectious charm of Italy's people, language and way of life isn't enough, the movie-set beauty of the place will seduce your inner shutterbug. At every turn, the elements of an ideal composition seem to present itself, like this charming scene in Montepulciano in Umbria.

Stratford-Upon-Avon, England

© Ellen Barone.

This seemingly idyllic scene of the River Avon in Stratford-Upon-Avon, England, is a powerful example of how deceiving a photograph can be.

Stratford-Upon-Avon was teeming with bus loads of tourists the summer afternoon I created this image. It had been a frustrating day spent dodging pushy tour guides and the trailing flocks of package-tour vacationers that swarmed nearly every inch of the Shakespeare Disneyland a.k.a. Stratford-Upon-Avon. I'd been hustling across a traffic-clogged city bridge to avoid an expired parking meter, when I spotted this scene out of the corner of my eye. A cacophony of chaos swirled about me - the impatient bleat of car horns and the noisy pings of diesel engines - however, when reduced to the silent rectangle of the camera's viewfinder, the image is rendered as anything but.

And here's the truth, today, when I think of Stratford-Upon-Avon, just like the cantankerous uncle who's remembered fondly after death, it's this image that I choose to see in my mind's eye.

Tobago Cays, the Grenadines

©Ellen Barone.

These colorful sarongs for sale at Petit Bateau Beach, Tobago Cays, caught my photographers' eye one dazzling afternoon during a sailing cruise aboard Star Clippers' flagship vessel, Royal Clipper, a gracious 227-passenger, five-masted, luxury sailing ship.

The beaches and reefs of the Tobago Cays, a tiny clutch of four uninhabited islands in a chain of 30-plus that form the Grenadines, are the quintessential escape for snorkelers and yachtsmen. In fact, if you're visiting Tobago Cays - you've arrived by boat.