TODAY'S IMAGE: JUNE 12, 2012

THE FORBIDDEN CITY by Trey Ratcliff

 Please enlarge this amazing photograph.

Early one morning I decided to hike up the biggest hill in the middle of Central Axis to get a shot of the Forbidden City.

Once up there, it was an amazing view of the old city.  There’s not many cities in the world that have kept such a huge area so well preserved.  It’s about as close as you can get to time travel in the real world (so far).  And then, when the light is right in these strange hours, it is a completely transportive experience.

TODAY'S IMAGE: MARCH 14, 2012

I'VE REACHED THE EDGE OF THE WORLD by Trey Ratcliff

I started on one edge of these rugged peaks and moved around to this side, to get the view from the glacial lake. 

The spiked mountains there are Cerro Torre, and I was very lucky to see them without cloud cover. I understand they are covered up 90% of the time, so to have crystal clear air was fortunate. 

The glacier there, which presents on the right but really goes back behind many more mountains, is called “Glacier Grande.”

This was taken on a very cold morning as I was nearing the end of a 40km hike with a bunch of tough ex-Soviet military guys that ate borscht every meal. ~ Trey Ratcliff

TODAY'S IMAGE: MARCH 2, 2012

THE LONG ROAD IN NZ by Trey Ratcliff

Absolutely breathtaking. Please enlarge.

No wonder few people leave NZ!

TODAY'S IMAGE: FEBRUARY 17, 2012

By Trey Ratcliff

MAN AT A HEZBOLLAH RALLY

THIS IS AHMED by Trey Ratcliff

Ahmed's dream is to see Israel wiped off the face of the map. With dark eyes, he stares out across a sea of men yelling "Praise Allah".

It's also worth noting that many Israeli PMs have had the dream of wiping Palestine off the map, and sadly it seems they have largely succeeded. Curiously, many people seem oblivious to these sentiments, though they are all too aware of extreme statements from the other side.

In this photograph, taken in Paris, July 19, 2006, Ahmed is attending a Hezbollah rally holding a poster of a burned Palestinian child.

ITALIAN NUNNERY

 

A nunnery somewhere in Naples by Trey Ratcliff

Please enlarge, the colours and designs are amazing

INNOCENT ISLAMIC PEACE

 ISLAMIC PEACE by Trey Ratcliff

I have loved this photo for years but I only just found out it is by Trey. 
There was no information on where he took it but my feeling is he took it during his ramblings through Indonesia perhaps. 
Are these not just the sweetest and purest smiles ever?

TODAY'S IMAGE: NOVEMBER 25, 2011

THE GENTLE PATH TO THE BEYOND 

By Trey Ratcliff

Please enlarge this gorgeous shot to capture the full delicacy of the leaves.

This exact location was a little path not too far from the city center. I was unable to pinpoint exactly with the GPS, but if you show this photo to any local, they can point you in the right way with a nice Japanese-gesture.

The little train that carried me into Hakone started winding through misty mountains. The trees were thick and a fog was rolling in. I had a feeling that it would stay wet, moody, and fairly perfect.

It had that heaviness that made you feel like it would remain like that for a few days, and it did.

Before I get on train rides, I have a wonderful but dangerous habit of loading up with pastries.

Train stations seem to have nice little selections of all sorts of foreign twists on the usual subjects.

And, since I consider myself an explorer, I thought it would be good to get a TON of pastries and try them all. It's very nice... sitting there... looking out the train window at a new land... rain falling... eating pastries... (And I'm only a little ashamed to say that, upon arrival, my pastry bag was empty.)

From the blog at www.stuckincustoms.com

HORSE

The Gentle Eye of the Beast by Trey Ratcliff

Please enlarge.

THE ASY-SYRAKIRIN MOSQUE

THE ASY-SYRAKIRIN MOSQUE in Kuala Lampur 

By Trey Ratcliff

Please enlarge this calming beautiful photograph 

Trey entitled this photograph "Bare feet prayer"

OLD CHINESE FISHERMAN AT DAWN

THE OLD FISHERMAN AT DAWN by Trey Ratcliff

Please enlarge this thumb for the fine details.

This is an ancient way of life in China that is fast disappearing. The lantern is placed to lure fish to the surface and the cormorants dive and catch them. However, around their necks is a noose that prevents them from swallowing the catch. The old man relieves them of their burden and the process begins again. At the end of the session, the birds are well compensated for their efforts and the old fisherman has produce to sell or feed his family.

MUMBAI BEAUTY

 

THIS IS SECRET by Trey Ratcliff

I found her walking with her hooded silk around the back streets of Mumbai. Usually when I see a cadre of the enshrouded, they are accompanied by Muslim man that is glaring at almost everyone. 

This time there seemed to be no alpha around, so I asked her for her name. She looked at me and smiled (I think) and then looked furtively around to see if anyone was watching. 

I got the distinct impression that since I was a white oddity who actually spoke to her that she wanted to talk, but then thought better of it and made a slight bow before gliding away.

This comes from my portrait series here:  

www.flickr.com/photos/stuckincustoms/sets/721575942039392...
 

from my daily photo blog at www.stuckincustoms.com

TODAY'S IMAGE: OCTOBER 4, 2011

Trey Ratcliff captures the Great Wall of China in a brilliant photograph. The man seems to have such an eye! And his colour work is beyond compare. Please enlarge this beauty 2X for such exquisite detail that you can almost count the leaves on the greenery.

TODAY'S IMAGE: SEPTEMBER 25, 2011

THE SOFITEL POOL in Beijing by Trey Ratcliff

Such serenity and peace as only the Chinese can create. I can hear the echo of the pouring water in this lovely room. What a place for a swim!

Once again, please enlarge for exquisite detail.

TODAY'S IMAGE: SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

The sun rises over the Valley of the Kings in Egypt. The tomb is that of Queen Hapshetsut, an extraordinary woman who ruled Egypt from 1479 to 1458 B.C. and is famous today less for her 22 year reign of prosperity and peace during the golden age of Egypt's 18th dynasty than for having the audacity to portray herself as a man.

This is just an awesome photo and, as usual, needs to be enlarged for fine detail. I do not know the photographer because I picked it up long ago but the delicacy, the unusual positioning of the camera, the capture of the air balloons makes me think it might be Trey Ratcliff.

The original tomb was brightly painted and covered with highly maintained vegetation and was not as stark and plain as it seems today. The photo below is what those in the balloons above would be fortunate to view.

TODAY'S IMAGE: SEPTEMBER 20, 2011

Farewell India ~ Trey Ratcliff

Enlarge the thumb to delight in the fine detail of this most serene of photographs by Trey Ratcliff.

I had a truly wonderful time in India and I can't wait to return. After spending most of the day exploring the Taj Mahal, I found a car to take me across the river. The bridge was over 100 years old and crowded with every type of locomotion ~ from donkey to pull cart to bike. 

After working my way down to the river, I found I could not quite get low enough to take the photo I wanted. 

So, reluctantly, I took my camera off my tripod and buried it in the mud, about half an inch above the water.

I spent all night in the bathroom saying I was sorry to the camera... cleaning her up back into her old self once again.

TODAY'S IMAGE: SEPTEMBER 18, 2011

Please click this thumb. What is lovely about Trey's work is it can be blown up huge and the details just get sharper and more focused. This image will triple in size and clarity.

Lucky for you I have refound a cache of photographs by my very favourite photographer, Trey Ratcliff. 

For years I have used his work as my desktops because one can never see enough of his work or tire of the richness of his art. The man seems to be everywhere on the globe taking photographs that are of astounding beauty. This one is probably the simplest one I have found yet, but the concept of what this room is for... well... read and enjoy.

It is where euro-Googlers come to nap when they need a brain-break. I don’t know for sure, but I imagine them slinking around in here while wearing trendy euro-clubbing clothes. There were soft water-sounds wafting about, and everything was very zen. You can choose whatever sleeping arrangement you like: the porcelain tub filled with red foam cubes, the leathery massage chair that doesn’t ask questions, or many more..

Oh heck, get a taste of his out doors work. The following is from Versailles. Trey always adds commentary that brings the scene even more to life. 

Again, PLEASE enlarge for detail. This is a wonderful photograph of Marie Antoinette's little play farm, Le Petit Trianon.

So, Versailles is a monstrously huge place. I’m not sure how you could see everything in a day. I chose to concentrate this trip out in the royal gardens, and a confusing walk got me into this place. It’s not exactly secret, but I didn’t know about it until I walked up upon it!

It is called “The Hameau de la Reine”, and is generally known as the Queen’s Hamlet. It was built for Marie Antoinette between 1785 and 1792. It is lovely, and this is only one of the many little places I captured there… more soon!