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Archive for the ‘On the Road’ Category
Chicago Sunset
Posted in Guest Contributor, Inspiration, On the Road, tagged Chicago, cityscapes, orange, Photography, skyline, sunset on November 7, 2010| Leave a Comment »
Monthly Updates: Japan and More
Posted in Guest Contributor, Inspiration, Kitchen Inspirations, On the Road, Photography, Photography Exhibits, Publication Updates, tagged Charles River, Festival of Ages, Fire Festival, flowers, food, guest contributors, Japan, kimonos, Kobe, Kurama, Kyoto, octopus balls, Orion Magazine, Photography, sushi, takoyaki, temples on October 31, 2010| 1 Comment »
First up, Japan! As mentioned in last month’s update, I had the unique opportunity to travel to Japan where I spent three days in Kobe and three days in Kyoto. View images here. Food was a highlight. While there, I was indeed introduced to takoyaki, also known as Octopus Balls. While I admired the satisfied looks on peoples’ faces as they popped the delicacies into their mouths, I decided to abstain until my next trip.
I did indulge in some of the best and freshest sushi I have ever eaten. Just before departing Japan, I saw a Michelin man dancing in front of a bookstore. Here’s why. My favorite food discovery was the art of preparing food for display.
An unexpected visual treat was to stumble upon the Festival of Ages, and to trek to Kurama outside of Kyoto to attend the annual Fire Festival. More pictures forthcoming.
Special thanks to recent guest contributors, friends and family who shared their images, including Lorraine’s Rainbow, Keith’s Sunrise and Frank’s Rose (below).
Publication Updates
- A Boston-based nonprofit serving the homeless has selected one of my photos for its walls, Harbor Rocks.
- Steve’s Kitchen Window appears in the November/December issue of Orion Magazine, in bookstores now.
- Monday, November 1st, visit the Evolving Critic for a guest blog about my photographic adventures along the Charles River.
Upcoming
- Inspired by his years of traveling in Japan, guest contributor Steve will write about sake.
- Photos of New England in autumn.
- Updates on winter sales events, silent auction participation, and other upcoming exhibits before year’s end.
And that’s the scoop, folks. Thanks for reading!
Japan: The Art of Food
Posted in Inspiration, Kitchen Inspirations, On the Road, tagged fake food, food arts, food photography, gyodan, Japan, Kyoto, Photography on October 27, 2010| 1 Comment »
As you walk around Kyoto, you’ll notice in the windows of restaurants or any type of establishment selling food items, the most beautiful displays of freshly prepared delicacies. Shrimp, appearing as if caught just that morning, top noodles and float in bowls of clear broth. Sushi artfully arranged on bamboo platters glistens in the sunlight. In front of the Italian restaurants, calzones spill melted cheese onto white plates. It is amazing as you press your face against the windows to realize that every single dish is a fake. Every scale, every shell, every bit of liquid is synthetic. But the craftsmanship is of such a level as to make the mouth water even after you realize the dishes are plastic!
Japan: Floral Delights
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes, On the Road, tagged flowers, Japan, Kyoto, Photography on October 26, 2010| Leave a Comment »
Japan: Festival of the Ages
Posted in Inspiration, On the Road, tagged Festival of the Ages, geisha, Japan, Jidai Matsuri, Kyoto, Photography, samurai, traditional costumes, warriors on October 26, 2010| 1 Comment »
It was an unplanned treat, traveling to Kyoto just in time for the Jidai Matsuri or The Festival Ages. In this annual event, over 2000 people parade through the streets of Kyoto in traditional costumes from Japan’s feudal history.
Japan Road Notes: Aquired Tastes
Posted in Inspiration, On the Road, tagged Kobe, octopus balls, road trip, travel on October 18, 2010| Leave a Comment »
I think they must be an aquired taste, octopus balls. I have seen them each morning in the hotel buffet. I even placed one on my plate and was encouraged by the golden crispy exterior. It looked like hushpuppies from my youth. Except hushpuppies are just deep fried bits of seasoned cornbread. Pry apart an octopus ball. Then the truth is revealed: pale puffed bread steaming fragrantly and nestled saftely therein , soft pink-gray tentacles. I stared long and hard at the little suction cups imagining how they might feel against my tongue. Not exactly the experience I wanted for breakfast. Though I consider myself a fairly adventurous person, I could not do it. I could not bring the fork to my mouth. I did take a picture. Stay tuned. 😉
Musings: The Missed Picture?
Posted in On the Road, tagged black lawn jockeys, missed pictures, musings, Photography, race on October 11, 2010| Leave a Comment »
On my mind of late has been the idea of the missed picture. Was there a moment when I should have taken a picture and instead I “wimped out?” It is not a question raised lightly. Usually, if I see something and I happen to have my camera, then great. If I don’t, then I simply have to be present and enjoy that moment. And maybe that’s the key word: enjoy. The incident that I purposefully missed was not one that I think of with joy.
The moment took place when Steve and I were traveling around down south. We entered an establishment through a gate. On either side of the gate entrance stood black lawn jockeys. Now before I continue, let me be quick to state that everywhere we traveled people were welcoming and inclusive, and if I stood out as the only person of color, no one made mention of the fact. As we left the establishment, having had a great time inside, Steve asked if I wanted to take a picture of the lawn jockeys, as an image that I could use to provoke conversation about a topic that people find difficult to discuss. I said no. We drove away.
I have no image captured in pixels, but the moment will remain with me. All the moments remain with me, when I am reminded of the complexities of race in this country and how that complexity has played out over time. And still does.
Fall Update
Posted in Contributing Writer, Inspiration, Nature Notes, On the Road, Publication Updates, tagged autumn, Blackwater Creek, butterflies, Contributing Writer, horses, insects, lady bugs, leaves, musing, Photography, rock climbing, Seneca Rocks, stink bugs, travel, Virginia, West Virginia on October 5, 2010| 5 Comments »
Watching me from a nearby oak tree is a large male cardinal with bright black eyes. My camera is across the room. He will surely be gone before I can grab it and race back to the window. What to do? Just remain still and enjoy my unexpected encounter with a red-feathered friend. Unexpected. There is no better word to describe my life at present. Since my last update, there have been lots of unexpected experiences. Some have been as simple as spotting the cardinal at my window, or the above leaf as I walked to the grocery store. Others instances have been more complex. Their creative impact and outcomes remain to be seen. Meanwhile, here are some brief highlights of experiences from the past month, with a focus on recent travels. Enjoy! 😉
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Virginia
In September I traveled with Steve to Virginia and West Virginia. Virginia is my home state. While there, I visited one of my favorite nature trails along the Blackwater Creek. See the little fish at the bottom of the picture? Other sights along the trail:
And in a neaby national park …
West Virginia
In Virginia, I showed Steve my old haunts. In West Virginia, we journeyed to one of his, Seneca Rocks. There I had several unexpected and memorable experiences, first attempting to climb a mountain, and then riding a horse. When I wasn’t afraid of tumbling, off the mountain or the horse, I managed to snap a few photos. 😉
On the Horizon
Well, one of the most unexpected opportunities is an upcoming trip to Japan. I don’t expect to encounter any horses, but Steve is determined to introduce me to octopus in all its varied culinary forms. We’ll see about that one!
Also, I’m pleased to share that I will be making a guest blog appearance November 1st on The Evolving Critic, A Metro Boston Blog for Art, Architectural, Urban Planning and Community Explorations. I’ll be sharing words and images about one of my favorite Boston sites, the Charles River Esplanade.
That’s the quick scoop from me. Wherever you are in the world today, I hope you are healthy, happy and feeling inspired!
Climbing the Rock
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes, On the Road, tagged outdoor adventure, Photography, rock climbing, Seneca Rocks, shared experiences, West Virginia on October 4, 2010| 1 Comment »
As mentioned in previous posts, my travels this past month took me to Seneca Rocks, West Virginia. Steve and I have determined that when he first climbed Seneca Rocks I was probably sitting in a high chair smearing pink frosting on my face. I would have been celebrating my first birthday while he was celebrating the freedom of being a freshman at college on an outing with the Explorers Club. Over the years he would return many times to the mountain, sharing the experience of climbing with friends and family. He wanted to share the same experience with me.
I’d rock climbed in the past. Once at a gym where there was a climbing wall. Once in the wilds of New Hampshire with a bunch of middle schoolers participating in a summer writing program. All wonderful experiences. Were they enough to prepare me for Seneca?
Steve's Classic Gear
Steve Mapping "Easy" Route
Me All Dressed Up
So what happened?
We climbed. On occasion I swore under my breath. We finally reached a plateau where we could take a short break. Around us, others climbed.
At some point, gently, Steve reminded me that we had our own climb to finish. I tried focusing on what was before me and above, but at some point I made the mistake of looking behind me. And then looking down. And down and down and down. I will never forget the sight of both an eagle and a butterfly soaring above the clouds. We were all above the clouds it seemed. I looked at Steve and said, “I’m done.” I must have had “that look” on my face because he simply congratulated me on the distance I had traveled and then we sat for a bit in the quiet.
We just sat and shared the space, together, though I am sure our heads were in very different places. Eventually, we rose. The climb down was not so bad. All in all, it was a good day.
Words + Images 