Four Boys Ready To Play Some Ball

I ran across these boys while wandering through their Kampung...they wanted a photo with their ball...so there you go...

Skywatch Friday - Mount Merapi Sunrise

A few months ago, scientists thought that Mount Merapi was going to blow big time, so I flew down to central java to get some shots of the possible eruption. It never came, but we sure got a nice sunrise...

Have a great weekend!!

Environment Not So Good

...and then there is the ugly side of living in a city of 30 million people...

Between Boats

As I boarded this small row boat, I couldn't help but think that this scene had changed little since the spice trade centuries ago...These large wooden Bugis Schooners still sail the waters between Java, Sumatra and Sulawesi...but instead of carying nutmeg and other spices, they now carry cement and the occasional illegal shipment of wood...

Nothin' But Net

If you're lookin' for some fishin' nets or just a bunch of rope, go to Toko Bahari...

Back From Fishin'

From our Photowalk last Saturday...

Street Cat

I don't think you want to mess with this cat...

Scott Kelby's Worldwide Photowalk - Jakarta

Today, along with about 7500 other photographers all around the world, I lead a group of photographers on a two-hour walk in the northern part of Jakarta. Jakarta was one of 231 cities around the world participating in Scott Kelby's Worldwide Photowalk to celebrate his newest book on Lightroom 2. The walk was a big success, and we all got some incredible shots in this very interesting part of our city. We started our walk amongst the old Schooners that have really not changed much since the spice trade centuries ago. We then took small row boats up the river to a small Kampung and were able to take photos of the Schooners from the water side...then the walk through the small alley ways of the Kampung...that was the best part, I thought...some great moments mixing with the people, watching life go on, and I was just amazed at the friendliness of the people as 40 some "bules" (white people) tramped through their village snapping photos...it could not have been a better day. At the end of our walk, we all met at Cafe Batavia for breakfast and a chance to talk about our walk and show each other all of our great photos...

The best part is that I don't think this will be our last walk...we all decided it would be a great thing to do again...and again...

Here is most of our group...some missed the group photo as they were wandering around still taking photos...
I added the blue sky as the real sky was just plain white...and I had to add myself in the photo (front left)...

Skywatch Friday - Koh Phi Phi, Thailand

I thought I would do something a little different this week for Skywatch Friday...a black and white image...why not? This is one of my favorite places to visit on vacation...it was completely devastated after the Tsunami in 2004, but has since recovered...

Have a great Weekend, and be sure to take a trip around the world to see other skywatch photos by clicking on Tom's link to the right...

A Jolt to the System

Yes, I used to be a Navy pilot, and I have done my fair share of Aerobatics....but climbing onto this ride, and being totally dependent on Indonesian engineering, somehow was a bit more scary...but fun never the less...

Waiting By The Door

Shark Bait

I couldn't really come up with a good title for this photo...

BUT, I remember thinking when I was taking this shot, that a shark could come by and swoop up the entire school of these small fish in one bite...

So, I will call this Shark Bait...

Jumping on Pillows

My daughter, Kayla, being Kayla...

Becak

Two old Becaks (pronounced Bechak) sitting in a back alley...

Skywatch Friday - Namibia

Sometimes your camera is just in the right place at the right time...

Have a great weekend, and be sure to visit as many Skywatch Friday sites as possible!!
Sunday is Indonesia's Independence Day...so have fun!!

Boat On Shore

There is something about an old boat lying on the beach that makes me want to just grab my camera and get a shot...

Cool Nudibranch

I was actually quite surprised to see such a cool nudibranch out at Pulau Seribu...
Just goes to show that things are improving out there on the reef...a good thing to see...

Abstract Art Underwater

It is amazing how many patterns and textures you can find underwater if you just look for them...

Cardinal Fish

I took a few shots of this small school of Cardinal Fish. They are highly reflective, so it is tough to get the lighting right...I like this one, though...

Soft Coral

Just an hour or so boat ride from Jakarta lies Pulau Seribu (Thousand Islands). It is like one is transferred to another world...

The diving out there is not the best in the world, but the reefs are making a comeback and there are some nice corals growing these days. The visibility was terrible so I only took macro photography out there...

Skywatch Friday - Santorini

One of my favorite places in the world...

Be sure to check out Tom's website for more skywatch photos...
I am off to the islands this weekend...see ya on Sunday...

Oh, and the opening ceremonies for the Olympics start tonight...gonna be great!!

Trekking in Nepal

The nice thing about trekking in Nepal is that all I had to carry was my camera...these porters do all the heavy work...

Underwater Photo With Added Texture

I don't usually do this, but I was bored and started playing with some underwater photos mixed with some textures and then changing the blending mode of the textures to get different effects...It doesn't work with some photos, but I liked the outcome of this one...

Imagine a Day of Work HERE

Sometimes when I think I have a had a tough day at work, I think of the guy who lives on this mountain, and has to walk up and down these terraces...whew....

Nepali Girl

I take photos of people too...

Hornbill

This past week, I have been going through some old photos I took...I can't believe I overlooked this one of a Hornbill. I took this photo while playing golf in Papua. On just about every other hole, a pair of these Hornbill (I believe they mate for life) would fly over us from tree to tree. Each time, I would grab my camera and try to get a shot until I finally got this one...I think I overlooked this photo the first time because my round of golf that day was terrible...

Skywatch Friday - Sunset in Aceh

The beauty of nature mixed with the destruction of nature...

This photo was taken about a month after the tsunami that hit Aceh on the day after Christmas in 2004...