#TravelTuesday The Caribbean

I thought, as my van was sliding its way along the snow covered roads this morning, that today’s travel post should remind us all that there are places to visit when we grow weary of our current situation. For the past few years my wife and I have visited someplace warm and tropical for a few days in the middle of Winter. I highly recommend this idea to anyone with seasonal blues. I believe anyone living North of the 35th parallel qualifies. I usually give the vacation as a Christmas present and my wife has always been most appreciative. So if I may suggest, if you have been wracking your brain about what give your significant other this holiday season, a few days away from the gloom of Winter, long hours relaxing on a sun soaked beach, island music and fruity drinks make the perfect gift. The bonus is that you get to go along.

Nikon D800 Nikkor 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 40mm f/14 ISO 100 30 sec

Misconceptions of sunset

Sunset for me as a photographer is a magical time of day, but why, is misunderstood by many people. I remember years ago wanting to get pictures of sunsets. I have one of the sun melting away into the Gulf of Mexico from a pier in Key West Florida. I clicked and clicked away, giddy with results on my camera display. Two minutes after the fire ball disappeared, the crowded wharf was evacuated, and my wife and I headed off to dinner. Little did I know that the sun’s light, stretching around the Earth, could spray buckets of colorful drama into the waning blue sky. Now, when I’m stalking photos, I watch as people leave the scene, smile to myself, sit back and soak in the ebbing spectrum of light that washes over the immense palette above me. Click click.

Purple to Dark Blue Sunset

Nikon D800 Nikon 28-300mm @ 28mm f/3.5 IO 100 1/3 sec