Intelligent Travel

Global Eye: Nationality Square, Nanning, China

Photographer: Michael Taylor, New Zealand

Getting the Shot: The photo was taken at Minzu Guang Chang (Nationality Square) in Nanning, Guangxi province, China.

The Details: Opposite the square is the huge poster of Mao, Deng, and Jiang (China's past three leaders) which I used as background to the passing woman.

We love how the depth of field is constantly changing as you look at the photo – the cars seem like toys or the leaders seem like giants. For more photos of China, check out National Geographic Magazine's Your Shot China Map. Think your own photo is good enough for Global Eye? Add it to our Flickr pool.

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Global Eye: Lombok, Indonesia

Photographer: Lee M. Turner, Bali, Indonesia.

Getting the Shot: The image is the result of a quirky convergence of isolation, inspiration, and playful improvisation. The island of Lombok (Indonesia) is situated 25 miles to the east of Bali, across the Lombok Strait. The tropical isolation providing the postcard-perfect backdrop is Lombok's southern coastline, replete with pristine white sand beaches, teal blue surf, few tourists, and an endless procession of colorful bouquets of locally produced tapestries, called ikat, being paraded across the seascape by enterprising local vendors.

The Details: As a photographer, I was captivated and inspired by the contrast of the ikat's bold colors against the backdrop of the seascape's muted pastels. I approached a vendor who was at rest and playfully asked if she would 'model' her wares for me. Perhaps it was the audience, or perhaps it was the relaxed and isolated setting, or perhaps it was the chance to show her beautiful wares while indulging her free-spirit. Whatever the motivation her performance was entertaining as it was persuasive. This particular image captures her as she pauses at the end of her improvisational dance, just before she doffs the yellow ikat in favor of yet another in her dazzling collection. In the end I purchased four ikat's, if not for the beauty of the ikat alone, then surely for the memory of their presentation.

Photo: Lee M. Turner, Shot with a   Canon 5D w/ 35mm 1.4L Canon Lens; 1/200 @ 5.6; ISO 50; off-camera SB 550 strobe.

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Global Eye: Autumn in Bosnia

Photographer: Xavier Ciceron from Lausanne, Switzerland. Shot with a NikonD200, in October 2007.

Getting the Shot: It was late afternoon, the end of a beautiful autumn day during my first visit to Bosnia. My girlfriend took me to Boracko Lake, a popular place in summer near Konjic, the small town where she used to live.

The Details: The place was very quiet and I tried to take advantage of the surface of the lake reflecting the forest colors and capture the serene atmosphere. It was a striking contrast with scars of the war still visible in the villages nearby. Even the country houses on the shore of the lake have not been spared. Yet the atmosphere was peaceful, the landscape beautiful. It was as if Mother Nature was showing the way for healing the old wounds.

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Photo: Xavier Ciceron

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Global Eye: The White Desert, Egypt

White Desert, Egypt

Photographer: Anja Cronenberg from Haarlem, the Netherlands.

Getting the Shot: I don't understand why the White Desert isn't much more famous than it is. With its white chalk rock formations, the White Desert is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. It is located in the Libyan desert, close to the Farafra oasis, in between Dakhla and Bahariya (west-central Egypt). You have to travel off road with a jeep (and a guide) to get there.

The Details: I took the photo just a few minutes before sunset. At that time the light seemed to change the landscape into a pink and blue pastel drawing. Being in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by all those surreal rock formations gave me goose bumps of pure happiness. Believe me, it really did! That night we slept on the sand under a sky with so many stars that I felt like I was in a planetarium.

This particular rock formation is called "The chicken and the mushroom." I've got a similar photo without people in it, but I like this one better because they give scale to those rocks.

The photo is from September of 2002, made with a Canon EOS300 with standard 28-80 lens. At that time I always used Fuji 200 ISO slide film.

We love how surreal the landscape is in this shot, and how the people are so dwarfed by the rock formations. Think your photo is good enough for Global Eye? Add your photos to our Flickr pool and we may feature them on the blog.

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Global Eye: Peru

Photographer: Theodore Scott from Houston, Texas

Getting the Shot:  On November 27th 2007, I was in El Valle Sagrado (The Sacred Valley) of Peru. The village is called Chinchero. Some local Quechua women were dyeing yarn that they had spun from alpaca and sheep wool. Their dyes were from plants and insects they collected and boiled in pots.

The Equipment:  The camera was a basic point-and-shoot Panasonic DMC-FX01.

We love Peruvian knitting, so we were glad to get this intimate glimpse into the work of traditional craftsmakers. To learn more about artisinal crafts, check out Laura Morelli's "The Genuine Article" shopping column. And contribute your photos for Global Eye to our Flickr pool!

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Global Eye: Malapascua Island, Philippines

Name: Jacob Maentz, currently residing in Cebu City, Philippines.

Getting the Shot: This image was taken at Malapascua Island, in the province of Cebu, Philippines. Malapascua is known as the best place in the world for divers to spot thresher sharks, making it a popular dive and travel destination. This shot was taken one evening during a dive trip to the island.

Details: The sun was setting on a January evening, and I was watching one of the many bancas (narrow outrigger boats) unload its cargo to shore. These banca boats transport passengers and goods from the main island of Cebu to Malapascua. I was searching for a subject to shoot in the late evening sun when I noticed a group of about eight boys and girls were jumping off of the boat into the water and using the anchor rope to climb back up. I decided to get a little wet and wade out into the water, so I could get closer. I was able to get a series of silhouette shots off while the sun was setting. This particular image is one of my favorites, because I see in it the true spirit and joy of Philippine children.

We love the sun-kissed silhouette of the children, and kind of feel like going for a swim. Think your photos are worthy of Global Eye? Add them to our Flickr pool.

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Global Eye: Eiffel Tower, Paris

Walking shadows

Photographer: Mojca Vilfan from Ljubljana, Slovenia

Getting the Shot: The shot was taken from Eiffel Tower in Paris, looking down from the first floor 'through' the tower itself on the people passing by. I should add that the photo is actually turned upside-down.

The Details: I was just descending from the tower and stopped on the first floor to take some pictures. Looking at the ground I noticed the long shadows, although I could hardly see the people, they were just small dots. When taking pictures, I often try to see the 'obvious motive' from a different perspective. I try not to just walk around but rather stop and try to grasp the detail and the whole. I look around me, look straight up...and in this case, I looked straight down! Taken with a Nikon F70, 28-70mm, Kodak Elite chrome 200, scanned.

We love this shot of the Eiffel Tower because it makes you do a double-take and wonder for a moment where you are. If you think your photos are worthy of Global Eye, add them to our Flickr pool.

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Global Eye: Rainy Day at Shibuya Crossing

Photographer: Pat Cahalan from the San Francisco Bay Area.

Getting the Shot: The photo was taken late in the afternoon, on a rainy day at the beginning of rush hour. I noticed this crowded intersection from a window at Shibuya Station in Tokyo, which I now know is the famous Shibuya Crossing. This particular vantage point is now out-of-bounds, and the view is obscured by a heavy-gauge metal screen.

I dashed out in the rain several times, synchronizing my dashes with the signal lights of the intersection. I could get about two or three clean shots each time I dashed out. During one of the shots, the video board at the top of the image happened to be showing a bird in flight.

The Details:  This shot was taken in May 2006. I used a Canon 5D and a Tamron 28-75 mm lens. The focal length was set at 42 mm. The aperture and shutter speed were f/8 and 1/250 sec.

Do you have photos that are contenders for Global Eye?  Submit them to our Flickr pool.

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Global Eye: Wisconsin

On Wisconsin

Photographer: Ralph Grunewald, Düsseldorf, Germany

Getting the Shot: I am originally from Germany (where I live now), but I spent the last year in Madison, Wisconsin where I studied and taught at the University of Wisconsin. One of the must-not-miss spots in Wisconsin is the Milwaukee Art Museum right at Lake Michigan. One part of the museum, the Quadracci Pavilion, was designed by architect Santiago Calatrava and is a light and structurally compelling hall that faces the lake. The large window front provides for wonderful backlight that transforms whatever moves in front of the windows into silhouettes.

The Details: I have been to shoot at the museum a couple of times and my archive is full of people and photographers pointing their cameras in all directions. I got back to the museum in March 2006, and I knew I had an opportunity when a class of students got up and moved from one corner to the other. I waited until they were in my frame and pushed the trigger. I knew this would be intriguing because of all the tired students dragging their feet. However, it was pure luck that I caught the moment when the boy pointed his arm up with one of his fingers extended. I looked at the screen of my camera and immediately thought "On Wisconsin" -  the first line of the official Wisconsin state song. If you look closely you can also see the light in the glasses of (I assume) one of the teachers.

We love how this shot makes the typical class trip into an artful experience. Want your own photo in Global Eye? Add your pics to the Intelligent Travel Flickr pool.

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Global Eye: The Great Wall

Not Something You See Every Day, by Ken Douglas

Photographer: Ken Douglas from Hertfordshire,  England.

Getting the Shot: This shot was taken on a week-long charity trek along the Great Wall. Mutianyu is one of the most accessible and touristy sections of the Wall, in fact there is a cable car that takes tourists up there. The Great Wall is the most stunning of human undertakings. The scale is awe inspiring. We walked for a whole week - from horizon to horizon - and barely scratched the total length.

The Backstory: By the time we got to this section we were already hot, tired and (to be honest) sweaty, so it was all the more amazing to find a Chinese bride and groom up there, looking as fresh and cool as if it was an early spring day. From what we could gather, this wedding day “pilgrimage” was about blessing their marriage with the symbolism of the Great Wall – strength, endurance, and solidity. The couple were so obviously in love and delighted to be there.  We wished them all the very best for their future (as best as we could through translators) and one of their party suggested they jump in the air. I took a shot at the right moment. I never did get their names but I have not given up hope!

We love this amazing twist to the traditional tourist photograph, plus it makes for a fabulous story. What do you think? Want your own photos on Global Eye? Add them to our Flickr pool.

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