Paradise, lost... - Los Angeles Travel Photographer

This medieval town stole my heart.  Yes, it took a hair-raising journey to get there. Yet, in a matter of two days, I was in love.

I was in love with being waken up by the melodious sound of the sheep jingling by our window in the morning, the galloping horses grazing in a scenery that can only come from a set in a movie, the mountains that move in lines that dance, and the mystical play of light and the ever-rolling-and-ever-dispersing clouds...  

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On the morning of our departure, when I put away my camera one final time and turned around, tears rolled down my cheeks.  I thought I was sad from the good-bye.  My heart longed to come back to be close to this paradise again, soon.

Two weeks ago, when the earthquake struck central Italy, I was in a country with restricted access to news in the world.  When I finally got back to free land, my heart trembled at what had happened - The town was reduced to rubble (in face, the ground is now as much as two feet lower), the already difficult road was shaken to be almost impossible to drive on, and the Apennine Mountain surrounding the Grand Plane (Piano Grande) showing crack line running across it.  

Castelluccio di Norcia, may you rise above the shambles and be rebuilt with more charm in your heart.  May your people stay strong and, hello, horses and sheep of this beautiful land, may you stay safe and resilient in the sub-zero temperatures.  I wish to see you all again soon, in the town that appears to be perched above the cloud!    

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Let There be Light, the Northern Lights - Los Angeles Fine Art Photographer

In less than a week, many of us in the US will have a very important decision to make.  It won't be an easy one.  But hopefully, our guiding principles will help us see the north in our heart when casting the consequential vote.

The dance of lights in this image reminds me of something I've shared on this site.  Oh well, there's no point in competing with nature.  It's the best creator of all things magical.

Let there be peace, stability and (northern) lights.    

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What Not to Do as a Photographer's Assistant (2 of ...) - Los Angeles Travel Photographer

To make great images when traveling in unfamiliar turf is never easy.  Photographing in Iceland has its extra set of challenges, such as coldness (winter temperatures in summer months), heavy rain, and gusty wind.  As many have eloquently summed up, Iceland has got "unpredictable weather".  But, nothing compares to a unique challenge that I have at hand.

I thought I'd debut my series of Iceland stories with one of its icons, the Icelandic horses.

Approaching northwestern Iceland made me giddy as that part of the island has always been noted for its horsemanship.  I was looking forward to recreating a classic like this image made in Italy.  However, when my eyes finally met the viewfinder, this is what I got:         

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I could get upset.  But I have no one to blame but myself.  Since the last time I wrote about this issue with my assistante, I have not done anything other than laughing about it here.  And, I continued to have him along, without pay.

Well, moments do not repeat and horses don't stay in one place for long.  So I chose to rise above the situation and make the best images that I creatively and professionally could.

Do you want to see what turned out?  I mean, do you want to meet the Icelandic horses without the "blocked view"?  Raise your hand below in the Facebook comment box.