Winter Sunset - Death Valley

The Magnificent Majesty of a Desert Turned Cold

We tend to think of deserts as hot places. It might be better to think of them as surprising places.

In the winter months, cold weather prevails. Even in the spring and autumn, nighttime temperatures can drop toward the freezing point and beyond despite balmy daytime weather.

Winter Sunset - Death Valley

If you visit a desert region during the cooler months, please take these potential temperature swings very seriously. You'll need to be prepared for almost any type of weather. If you're exposed to frigid overnight temperatures without proper clothing, you'll find yourself in grave danger. I shot this photo wearing the same clothes that I wear while shoveling snow, and I was very happy when I was able to climb into my waiting car.

But along with that unexpected chill, you might experience some unexpected beauty, some magical light, and the magnificent majesty of a rugged landscape that holds surprises for intrepid travelers all year long.

Happy Winter Solstice, everyone! And safe travels!

Camera:    Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Lens:        Canon TS-E24mm f/3.5L II 

Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!

Copyright 2014 Daniel R. South

www.dansouthphoto.com

All Rights Reserved

Blue Gate - Cinque Terre

Entrance To A Garden in Corniglia

The Cinque Terre ('Five Lands') were once isolated fishing villages situated along a rocky coastline in Northern Italy. Thanks to heavy promotion by the travel industry along with a convenient new rail line, the area now attracts a lot of tourists. 

The area is still charming. There aren't many hotels here, mostly just rooms for short-term rental, and everything closes early. Just don't expect an undiscovered wilderness. 

Blue Gate - Corniglia - Cinque Terre

There are surprises around every corner in the Cinque Terre. If you're willing to take your time and stroll a bit, and you'll discover all sorts of lovely secrets here. 


Camera:    Nikon D800
Lens:        Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED 

Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!

Copyright 2014 Daniel R. South

www.dansouthphoto.com

All Rights Reserved

Columbus Circle

Pulse Of The City

Columbus Circle is in constant motion. It's one of the most dynamic intersections in the city. Life races through here twenty-four hours a day.

Would you like to get a sense of what New York is all about? Do you have only a short time? I suggest that you begin at Columbus Circle. Stand here for a few minutes watching.

Watch the traffic. Watch the shoppers. Watch the taxis, the busses, and the seasoned pedestrians.

Watch the tourists try to negotiate the complex crosswalks. Watch the expensive cars and the guests at the grand hotels. Watch the performers at the edge of the park. 

Columbus Circle At Dusk

Spend some time in Columbus Circle, the ultimate gateway to the New York experience.


Camera:    Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Lens:        Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II

Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!

Copyright © 2014 Daniel R. South

www.dansouthphoto.com

All Rights Reserved

Metéora

Mountaintop Monasteries

Imagine a monastery perched atop a pillar of rock several hundred feet above the valleys below. If you want to visit the monastery, you'll need to be prepared to climb a long series of winding stone staircases.

Monastery of the Holy Trinity - Metéora

Now imagine six such monasteries clustered together in a small area, and you'll have an idea what awaits intrepid tourists at Metéora.

Varlaám Monastery - Metéora

The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Metéora in Northern Greece has a rugged terrain featuring enormous rock outcroppings towering up to 1,800 feet above the surrounding plane.

Towering Rock Formations - Metéora

Hermetic monks began to settle in this area in the late Middle Ages. The challenging terrain discouraged visitors and marauders from disturbing their encampments.

Eventually, the monks began to build monasteries on the peaks of the rock spires. More than twenty monasteries were constructed, but only six remain in existence today.

The Monastery of St. Stephen at Dusk

Metéora is a fascinating destination for any traveler who can manage the stair climbing that's required.

Metéora at Sunset

Camera:    Nikon D800E
Lenses:     Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED
                Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!

Copyright 2014 Daniel R. South

www.dansouthphoto.com

All Rights Reserved

New York - City In Motion - Guggenheim Museum

Honoring An Architectural Classic

Frank Lloyd Wright's "temple of the spirit" was built in 1959 and became an instant classic of inspired contemporary architecture. The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum is one of the most elegant and recognizable buildings in all of New York City.

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum - New York - City In Motion

Tourists and photographers flock to the Guggenheim. It's stunning in every season. Photograph it once, and you'll want to come back and capture it at some new angle or at a different time of day.

This photo of the Guggenheim is my favorite so far. It's the very first photo that I took for the City In Motion collection, and I think that it was a pretty good start!



Camera:    Nikon D800E
Lens:        Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!

Copyright 2014 Daniel R. South

www.dansouthphoto.com

All Rights Reserved

Red Crosses White Chapel - Santorini

The View from Oia

Words can't describe Oia. So when you go, take lots of photographs. Lots and lots of photographs.

Red Crosses on White Chapel - Santorini

Camera:    Nikon D800E
Lens:        Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G AF-S VRII

Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!

Copyright 2014 Daniel R. South

www.dansouthphoto.com

All Rights Reserved

9/11 Tribute Lights - New York 2014

Commemorating the Thirteenth Anniversary

9/11 Tribute Lights - New York

Dedicated to my former colleague, Richard Rosenthal.

Camera:    Nikon D800E
Lens:        Nikon PC-E 24mm f/3.5

Peace for all mankind

Copyright © 2014 Daniel R. South

www.dansouthphoto.com

All Rights Reserved

Bridegroom Abstract

Creativity in a Flurry of Documentation

September is Wedding Season!

Weddings place a lot of demands on the photographer. Every moment on a wedding day is precious, and if you miss one, it's lost forever.

You have to pay attention and be ready for anything. You need to know your camera inside and out. You need to be able to work fast and make the most of any kind of light.

Artistic shots aren't the priority at a wedding. (Beware the wedding photographer who talks at length about his creative vision.) While you fiddle with some fascinating creative opportunity, you can and will miss unrepeatable situations that the family might want to have documented.

But every now and then we get a few seconds to "play around" with our subjects. 

Bridegroom Abstract

I snapped this heavily cropped image of the groom's corsage while capturing the formal portraits of the wedding party. The shot only took a couple of seconds, and then I got back to the business at hand. 

The image doesn't identify any particular person but rather a role, the dapper gentleman who's just said, "I do!"

Now if you'll excuse me, I don't want to miss anything.

Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Lens: Canon 24-105 f/4L IS

Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!

Copyright 2014 Daniel R. South

www.dansouthphoto.com

All Rights Reserved