©Ellen Barone.
Town crier, E. Michael Jones in 17th century costume, bellows Oyez, Oyez in historic St. George, Bermuda
©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.
©Ellen Barone.
Young cowboys stay close to the action at the annual Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium, near Ruidoso, New Mexico, USA.
© 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/.
© 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.
©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.
© 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.
© 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.
©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.
© Ellen Barone.
Coming across this photogenic scenic in Mendocino, California, was almost too lovely to be believed - a bit like the town itself. Perched on a windswept bluff overlooking a spectacular Pacific bay, it is easy to understand why the picturesque coastal village is teeming with artists.
©Ellen Barone.
The ever-watchful eyes of Osiris ward off evil and bring good luck to the colorfully painted luzzus, traditional Maltese fishing boats, that line the lovely Mgarr Harbour on the Mediterranean island of Gozo, Malta, Europe.
©Ellen Barone.
One of my most memorable holidays was a summertime heli-hiking vacation in the Canadian Rockies with Canadian Mountain Holidays.
In my younger years, I was willing to strap on a 40-pound backpack and stagger through the long-approach hike necessary to experience the solitude, freedom and timeless beauty of the untamed High Country.
These days, although the longing for remote landscapes and wide-open spaces is still powerful - perhaps even more acute thanks to the usual entrapments of maturity - I'm no longer loath to take the rough out of roughing it.
Initially, I'd been seduced by the unique combination of High Country wilderness, professional guides and, of course, the ease of access that helicopter-assisted hiking offered.
I knew that CMH offered the opportunity to explore the serrated ridges, turquoise lakes, flowery meadows, and blue-tinged glaciers of Canada’s remote, High Country. I also knew that heli-hiking would engage my senses and expand my limits.
What I hadn't realized was that it would be so much fun. It was good, old-fashioned, alpine abundance - offered up with a healthy dose of post-adventure pampering.
©Ellen Barone.
Most travel photographs of Rio's famed beaches boast blue sky, bikinis and unblemished sunshine. The captured drama of a rare overcast afternoon at Praia do Arpoador, in this image, however, makes it one of my favorites.
©Ellen Barone.
New Mexico has long been creative jet fuel for painters and photographers and I, a resident, am not immune. The place just seems to bypass my head and go straight to my heart. Inspiration is everywhere, such as in this lovely Taos vignette of velvety adobe wall and clay pots glimmering golden in late afternoon light beneath a deep blue sky.
© Ellen Barone.
The friendly faces of Myanmar (formerly Burma) are often brightened by a coat of thanaka. Obtained from the thanaka bark and ground into a paste, it provides a natural sun-block and helps keep the skin cool and dry when applied.
Update on 2007-11-27 18:22 by Ellen Barone
Please Note: In September 2007, there were violent clashes between protestors and Burmese forces and the situation in Myanmar remains unsettled. Visitors would be wise to exercise caution, avoid all demonstrations and large gatherings and avoid taking photographs or videos of the military, the police or demonstrations.