 With all apologies for not posting this sooner, but I’m almost out of breath. I just arrived at LAX after a three week European shoot, which was a great opportunity to connect with some amazing photographers, visit some old haunts, and explore an incredibly colorful Spring bloom in the heart of tulip country. This wasn’t my first trip to Holland, but the past couple of weeks at Keukenhof Gardens will surely be the most memorable. Keukenhof is 79 acres of impeccably groomed tulips that absolutely dazzle the eye. The trick is to arrive just as the gates open, well before the tour busses show up. Pursuant to my obsession with capturing those “nailed it” shots—that moment when you quickly scour all your camera’s settings to make sure f-stop, focus, and exposure are precisely as they should be and you press that shutter button knowing that you’ve got a truly memorable shot—I worked hard to get several images with multiple speed/exposure/focus settings on this trip just as insurance. Call me paranoid, but I’m in the right place at the right time, as I was many times on this trip, I was determined to not only “nail it,” but to hit the nail firmly! I’ve learned the advantages to knowing my equipment well and appreciating the potential for ever-changing light conditions during a shoot; I work hard to consider my subject from all angles because the first shot may be exactly what you hoped for, but subsequent shots have a way of helping the subject evolve in your lens. It’s a fascinating process, one shared with me on this trip by my daughter—herself a superior shooter—on what was truly a remarkable creative adventure. The first stop on this sojourn was Barcelona, where we spent the day at the Picasso Museum. If Picasso’s work has eluded your genuine appreciation, a day at this fabulous museum will bring an understanding and an unexpected intimacy with the work of a legendary master. Then we were off to Mallorca where I was intrigued to hear so much German spoken, and a stay with friends in Esporles, a small town with its own unique economy and culture that is truly a photographer’s dream. I’ll be sure to share those images here on the website just as soon as I manage to unpack. Speaking of which, I probably won’t do much unpacking for now. By the time you read this, I’ll be airborne and headed to Coos Bay, Oregon, for my annual show at the Black Market Gourmet Restaurant. I’ll be there in person on May 7th from 2-4 p.m. I’ll be spending time with old friends and would love to make some new ones, so please stop by! Comments are closed.
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