My site is focused on photographs I’ve taken while traveling. Some flyfishing and backpacking photos, too. Hope you enjoy. -Sam
Please respect the usage of the photographs as all rights are reserved and all images are copyrighted. Thank you.
Antarctica 2016- Photos At Last! Well almost.
Margaret says, “Photos…finally.” I shot over 5,512 photos and videos and edited down to 172 that are now loaded into the Antarctica album. Just did the math. Assuming I spent one minute per photo deciding to keep or not that adds up to 100 hours. I know I put in many minutes for each of the photos that are in the album. Shooting from a moving ship or Zodiac guarantees that the horizon will not be level. So at a minimum there is leveling, sharpening, and perhaps cropping for each photo. The photo album is still a work in progress. But I didn’t want to let perfection get in the way of good enough. Hope you enjoy.
Sunset at Kinsey Creek, Lost Coast Trail, CA
We experienced a visual treat while backpacking California’s Lost Coast Trail. Over thirty minutes of viewing bliss. When compressed into less than twenty seconds it is sheer wonder. Click here to see the time lapse sunset at Kinsey Creek.
Panasonic 4/3 Camera & Lens Firmware Updates
I wasn’t able to update my Panasonic Lumix GX-1 firmware at: www.panasonic.com/support. Tried their chat support but no success there either. Finally tried an internet search for my camera firmware update. Found the Japanese website: http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/download/fts/index2.html.
That site worked fine.
Retiring my Fujifilm S-2 Pro DSLR
Can’t say enough good things about this camera ancient though it is. My first “real” dslr. When my D200 was stolen last year in Quito on my way to the Galapagos the S-2 Pro was the backup. While it was not as capable as the newer D200, it came through and captured some shots that I am proud to have made. It was on its way to be placed in the hands of my daughter and failed to start up when new batteries were loaded up. No blinky lights. No symbols on the LCD. The ghost was given up. I had to make this post to say, “Thank you for going with me and helping me to become a better photographer.” Please take a look at the Galapagos photos to see what a camera bought in October 2002 can do.
Thinking of Reno Balloon Races 2011
I was reviewing 2011 travels and couldn’t believe that I hadn’t posted anything from the Reno Balloon Races. First time for me to attend. Won’t be the last. Challenging lighting situations but great opportunities for unique shots. 
Map of Our Route in Galapagos
GALAPAGOS TRAVEL 11 DAY CRUISE SCHEDULE (Yacht- Tip Top IV)
October 14 -24, 2011
Day 1 – BALTRA – transfer from the airport to the yacht. Visit NORTH SEYMOUR in the afternoon.
Day 2 – TOWER – Darwin Bay (including snorkeling) & Prince Philip’s Steps (including panga ride).
Day 3 – SANTIAGO – James Bay/Puerto Egas in the morning (including snorkeling). Playa Espumilla/Salt Mine/Buccaneer Cove in the afternoon.
Day 4 – ISABELA – Punta Vicente Roca in the morning (including snorkeling), followed by Whale Watching. FERNANDINA – Punta Espinosa in the afternoon.
Day 5 – ISABELA – Tagus Cove (panga ride) and Urvina Bay in the morning (including snorkeling). Panga ride at Elizabeth Bay in the afternoon.
Day 6 – ISABELA – Puerto Villamil in the morning. Sierra Negra Volcano in the afternoon.
Day 7 – FLOREANA – Morning at Punta Cormorant. Snorkeling at Champion. A short stop at Post Office Bay with visit to the Highlands and Black Beach in the afternoon.
Day 8 – SANTA CRUZ – Puerto Ayora – Morning in the Highlands with lunch at a local restaurant. Afternoon at the Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS), followed by shopping time in Puerto Ayora.
Day 9 – ESPANOLA – Punta Suarez in the morning (incl. snorkeling). Gardner Bay in the afternoon.
Day 10- SAN CRISTOBAL –The Center for Interpretation in the morning, and Kicker Rock and Cerro Brujo in the afternoon (including snorkeling).
Day 11- MOSQUERA – early morning visit. BALTRA – Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the mainland.
Galapagos Land Iguana
So many opportunities, on land and in the water, to capture great images. We were there eleven days. Much longer than most cruises but still only enough time to scratch the surface. Time enough to see that this is a special place.
Travel route Sacramento to Quito, Ecuado was via Denver then Houston. Time in route- seventeen hours. Overnight in Quito, then forty-five minute flight to Guayaquil on Ecuador’s coast, and then three plus hours flight to Baltra, one of the islands of the Galapagos- near the equator and close to nothing.
I liked the people of Quito, Ecuador. Except the one that stole my backpack. :(
Got my main DSLR and “walk around lens” along with Micro 4/3rds camera and lenses that I planned to use for video and lightweight kit. Fortunately, I had an older backup DSLR and main telephoto zoom and wide-angle zoom in the hotel room. Wish I had the main DSLR but at least I was able to make the most of the situation. Otherwise, would have had to go back again…right.
Traveling Abroad- Before You Go
Just finished reading Thom Hogan’s blog about his recent photograpy workshop to Patagonia/Chile, “A World Biosphere Preserve gets Closed by Strikers and Tourists held Hostage”
The article prompted me to visit the U.S. Department of States web site and take a look at Travel Advisories. If you are planning to travel abroad take a look at Smart Traveler Enrollment Program and search Google with U.S. Wardens Report and the country that you plan to visit.
First Photo- Yunan Province China
Ready to go back to Lijiang, Yunan Province, China. Margaret and I returned from our China trip last week. A few thousand photos to go through, edit, and narrow down for setting up a web gallery. Maybe done by the end of the year. In the meantime, will put up some oneoffs on this site.