Are we here already? Well, don't say I didn't warn you this time last year about how quickly it goes. And it was another exhilarating year of travel, exploration, revelation and most importantly, fun.In January my dear friend Christina hopped over the North Sea for far too brief a visit but we had a wonderful time around London and Cambridge. The spectacular stained glass windows of The King's College Chapel and the river punt in Cambridge were a particular highlight. In March I spent a couple of days in Vilnius, Lithuania, including the island complex at Trakai. Vilnius is a small but colourful little capital that was easy to navigate. The end of that month I took advantage of an invitation to stay at Trump International Tower in Toronto from where I explored a vibrant and cosmopolitan city. I enjoyed many of the city's fabulous attractions, including the CN Tower and Ripley's Aquarium. A bus ride from Toronto took me to Niagara Falls where, as beautiful as they were even from the helicopter, I wasn't as overwhelmed as by other large waterfalls I have seen around the world. Over the course of a day at the falls, however, I captured shots in a variety of positions and light and even had time to visit the Butterfly Conservatory.The Easter break took me to see some friends in Wales, en route to the spectacular Snowdonia, a landscape crossed between Iceland and Colorado. While there we saw the uniquely kaleidoscopic town of Portmeirion and hiked a mountain to see a lake shrouded in fog. In May I enjoyed a relaxing respite in Cuba, a beautiful country of colour and contrasts. Poverty rations a friendly and welcoming population that shares its island with gorgeous valleys, diverse and abundant wildlife and spotless beaches. Havana, in particular, was a riot of colour and character, particularly the old American cars. Some domestic excursions in July included shooting with a Fuji camera loaned to me by my friend Parrish for a session in London; and the typically energetic displays of the Royal International Air Tattoo. In August Natalia and I chased the Perseid Meteors and the Milky Way, only to be partially thwarted by a blinding Moon. Still, being in the middle of nowhere in the dead of night watching the meteors tear through the sky was far more enjoyable than any photography. At the end of that month Natalia and I visited friends in Wales again who invited us to join them at the thrilling demolition derby of Bettws Banger Racing. September had us in the company of seals once again, and the most populated colony I have yet seen.In October we returned to Wales to capture the waterfall, Pistyll Rhaeadr, at sunrise and one of those images has since become a lovely canvas print adorning walls on both sides of the Atlantic. At the end of October Parrish and I executed our planned trip to Croatia where we ambled through the multitude of waterfalls emptying into the lakes at Plitvice. Finally, my final trip of the year was a wonderful trip to Christmas City Gothenburg to see Christina, who surprised me with a lobster safari in tumultuous waters that nearly had our seasick innards for jetsam. But what a thrilling experience.Well, the heart is still beating and the blood is still flowing so I cannot (and would never) complain. My life has been immeasurably enriched, not just by these adventures, but also by the kindness and company of dear friends. I thank them one and all. Photography is not something I need so I have no particular aspirations in that department for the coming year. My soul is not especially poorer without it and yet I do hope to continue encouraging others to enjoy Life, The Universe and everything in it. I suspect I may slow down a little myself but I do intend to experience a few more adventures. Life has been very generous and I want to enjoy it a little longer.I thank all visitors to this blog and from Alpha Whiskey Photography I wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.
Dec 30, 2017Dec 30, 2017Alpha Whiskey PhotographyView from the London Eye.
Dec 30, 2017Dec 30, 2017Alpha Whiskey Photography
A
Upload Date: Dec 30, 2017 06:56 AM
Show Photo Info
Close |
King's College Chapel, Cambridge.
Dec 30, 2017Dec 30, 2017Alpha Whiskey Photography
B
Capture Date: Dec 30, 2017 06:56 AM
Show Photo Info
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Close |
Vilnius.
Dec 30, 2017Dec 30, 2017Alpha Whiskey Photography
C
Upload Date: Dec 30, 2017 06:56 AM
Show Photo Info
Close |
Trakai.
Dec 30, 2017Dec 30, 2017Alpha Whiskey Photography
D
Upload Date: Dec 30, 2017 06:56 AM
Show Photo Info
Close |
The Toronto skyline.
Dec 30, 2017Dec 30, 2017Alpha Whiskey Photography
E
Upload Date: Dec 30, 2017 06:56 AM
Show Photo Info
Close |
View from CN Tower.
Dec 30, 2017Dec 30, 2017Alpha Whiskey Photography
F
Upload Date: Dec 30, 2017 06:56 AM
Show Photo Info
Close |
Ripley's Aquarium.
Dec 30, 2017Dec 30, 2017Alpha Whiskey Photography
G
Capture Date: Dec 30, 2017 06:56 AM
Show Photo Info
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Close |
Niagara Falls.
Dec 30, 2017Dec 30, 2017Alpha Whiskey Photography
I
Capture Date: Dec 30, 2017 06:56 AM
Show Photo Info
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Close |
Butterfly Conservatory.
Dec 30, 2017Dec 30, 2017Alpha Whiskey Photography
J
Upload Date: Dec 30, 2017 06:56 AM
Show Photo Info
Close |
Snowdonia.
Dec 30, 2017Dec 30, 2017Alpha Whiskey Photography
K
Upload Date: Dec 30, 2017 06:57 AM
Show Photo Info
Close |
Portmeirion.
Dec 30, 2017Dec 30, 2017Alpha Whiskey Photography
L
Upload Date: Dec 30, 2017 06:57 AM
Show Photo Info
Close |
Cadair Idris.
Dec 30, 2017Dec 30, 2017Alpha Whiskey Photography
M
Upload Date: Dec 30, 2017 06:57 AM
Show Photo Info
Close |
Havana.
Dec 30, 2017Dec 30, 2017Alpha Whiskey Photography
N
Upload Date: Dec 30, 2017 06:57 AM
Show Photo Info
Close |
Vinales, Cuba.
Dec 30, 2017Dec 30, 2017Alpha Whiskey Photography
O
Upload Date: Dec 30, 2017 06:57 AM
Show Photo Info
Close |
Hummingbird, Cuba.
Dec 30, 2017Dec 30, 2017Alpha Whiskey Photography
P
Upload Date: Dec 30, 2017 06:57 AM
Show Photo Info
Close |
Classic Cars, Cuba.
Dec 30, 2017Dec 30, 2017Alpha Whiskey Photography
Q
Upload Date: Dec 30, 2017 06:57 AM
Show Photo Info
Close |
Evening in London.
Dec 30, 2017Dec 30, 2017Alpha Whiskey Photography
R
Upload Date: Dec 30, 2017 06:57 AM
Show Photo Info
Close |
Royal International Air Tattoo.
Dec 30, 2017Dec 30, 2017Alpha Whiskey Photography
S
Upload Date: Dec 30, 2017 06:57 AM
Show Photo Info
Close |
A Night Under The Milky Way.
Dec 30, 2017Dec 30, 2017Alpha Whiskey Photography
T
Upload Date: Dec 30, 2017 06:57 AM
Show Photo Info
Close |
Bettws Banger Racing.
Dec 30, 2017Dec 30, 2017Alpha Whiskey Photography
U
Upload Date: Dec 30, 2017 06:57 AM
Show Photo Info
Close |
In The Company Of Seals.
Dec 30, 2017Dec 30, 2017Alpha Whiskey Photography
V
Upload Date: Dec 30, 2017 06:57 AM
Show Photo Info
Close |
Pistyll Rhaeadr.
Dec 30, 2017Dec 30, 2017Alpha Whiskey Photography
W
Capture Date: Dec 30, 2017 06:57 AM
Show Photo Info
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Close |
Plitvice Lakes.
Dec 30, 2017Dec 30, 2017Alpha Whiskey Photography
X
Upload Date: Dec 30, 2017 06:57 AM
Show Photo Info
Close |
Christmas City Gothenburg.
Dec 30, 2017Dec 30, 2017Alpha Whiskey Photography
Y
Upload Date: Dec 30, 2017 06:58 AM
Show Photo Info
Close |
On the Lobster Safari.
Dec 30, 2017Dec 30, 2017Alpha Whiskey Photography
Z
Upload Date: Dec 30, 2017 06:58 AM
Show Photo Info
Close |
|
StephenDec 30, 2017 11:24 AM
Wow what a year and some of the best pics ive seen for the year as well.Thnx for sharing
Alpha Whiskey PhotographyDec 30, 2017 11:35 AM
Thank you Stephen! Happy New Year! :)
All fields are required.
Comment successfully added.