Geotraveler’s Niche

From power outages to giant African snails, head over to the Matador Network to check out a synopsis of my recent trip to Lagos – in numbers.

Currently sorting through the photographs (500+). More soon.

Some quick news while traveling.

[ Photography ]

- As part of its Adventure Photo Challenge, National Geographic Adventure featured one of my shots taken in Fiji on its main page.

- Was one of five winners of the Pikeo “Moments of Togetherness” competition.

[ Writing ]

- In the July/August issue of Budget Travel, there’s a short story in there about a trip to Edinburgh I made in search of “Chippy’s”.

- Head over to the fab blog Wanderlust and Lipstick to read about Krang Yaw.

- Live Unchained reprinted a piece that was written for Brave New Traveler about keeping an open mind while traveling.

One traditional engagement in Lagos down, one white wedding in Sweden to go. The last 9-10 days have been surreal with such a rush of activity. Lots of stories. Lots of photos.

Once I get back to Stockholm next week, I’ll definitely be writing a lot!

I kind of miss my detachable $40 (yup!) fisheye lens used with the old Nikon 40. It attaches itself to the end of another lens, and distorts the view.

Shot during a trip to Oxford for a wonderful wedding, the rotund shape of Radcliffe Camera lends itself nicely to the convex view from a fisheye lens.

Currently looking for a good, affordable fisheye lens for the D300.

Totally excited to see the double page article spread in the June/July 2009 issue of Heart & Soul magazine, which recounts my trek to Machu Picchu.

It was a once in a lifetime trip and I felt blessed to have shared the experience with some amazing ladies as well.

Excerpt - We lay sprawled along the rocky narrow trail, utterly exhausted. Daypacks as pillows, sunhats half covering our eyes from the sun, fatigue had completely taken over.

Our legs were failing us, muscles tensed from such unfamiliar, grueling exercise. My chest kept expanding wildly, trying to suck in as much of the thin air as it could.

I’d done everything I was told to do – from drinking coca tea to chewing coca leaves to help with the high altitude.

Even time tested remedies wane as one’s psyche takes over. Forging on was virtually impossible at this point.

I had mentally collapsed…..

You can read the entire article below:

• Read Page 1
• Read Page 2

It’s that time of the year – well, of the six month period - when I shift base to Stockholm for a couple months, and she’s definitely welcomed me with some fantastic sunny weather.

Also been writing up a storm with a few pitches made during National Travel Writing Month slowly coming into fruition. While this summer is gearing up to be my busiest to date, I do need to stop, reflect, and just be thankful.

Thankful that I get to live another day, grateful that I get to speak to loved ones, grateful for good health, grateful for some stability, and more importantly, grateful for a steadfast God.

Very soon, I’ll be heading to Nigeria for some exciting times and can’t wait to come back with lots of stories and photographs to share.

Stay tuned as always.

After a couple hours along the Inca Trail, our exhausted group finally flopped down for a break on some rocks.

Hiding behind one of the red, dry rocks was a toddler in the most vibrant colors – a blue vest with a stripped shirt and red slacks.

They really don’t come any cuter.

Right on the heels of my spiciest foods piece for Forbes Traveler is The World’s Hottest Peppers—And Where to Eat Them which I penned for Fodors.com.

I’d initially written the hottest peppers piece for Forbes, but it didn’t fit the magazine’s style so I was able to find a home for it on Fodor’s and start from scratch for Forbes.

Luckily the draft was sent before the deadline.

So my take-home advice for writers  is to always send the editor your draft (or at least a snippet) before the final deadline to make sure you’re on track in terms of vision.

More soon. Currently wrapping up a couple work-work projects and some preassigned pieces.

One of my favorite travel portraits, this was captured in Riga, Latvia. I could have easily shot the stunning glass windows and architecture as is, but I waited for at least five minutes, waiting and watching the old Latvian lady as she slowly walked by with her cane.

Bringing her into the frame not only gave it some perspective and a sense of scale, but also brought it all to life.

Grab a glass of water and check out my latest piece for Forbes Traveler – World’s Spiciest Foods.

It was a fun article to write and the process also helped me through a different style of travel writing – beyond the classic travel narrative – mixing in various elements.

After pouring through 35,000 entries from 112 countries, the Fresh M.I.L.K competition, one of the most lucrative has announced its $50,000 grand prize winner.

While the 50 grand went to Victoria Skirutiene’s (from Lithuania) timeless shot,  I am happy to report my image above is one of the 150 winning images also awarded prizes along with the grand prize winner in the new book titled Friendship, Family, Love & Laughter due out in November 2009.

Any true football (soccer) fan knows that West African teams usually display some pretty cool acrobatics on the field after a goal or two.

Last weekend was no different, even though it was a small pick up game played by a group of Nigerian friends who’ve been playing every Sunday for the last 10 years.

The last few weeks have seen me buried deep in work (the bills-paying one), writing (coming soon), and a ton of personal priorities (upcoming nuptials), so heading out to a topiary garden this past weekend was a much needed pause from it all.

Lying in the hot sun on a makeshift picnic blanket, I felt rejuvenated within a few minutes. Away from the laptop, away from the mounting responsibilities, away from it all.

As I’d earlier mused about focusing this year, I’m seeing that coming into fruition but mostly in the personal aspects of life and writing – getting high priority items done and not jetting off on a whim.

Sure there will be some travel this year – Sweden, Nigeria, More Baltic States, the occasional weekend getaway – it will be kept to essential journeys.

Exhibiting paintings and cartooning have temporary taken a backseat for now, and will be revived full force either in the fall or next year.

And that’s fine. There are going to be years like this. The ones where you retreat back home to clean house.

Already looking forward to 2010 with a lot more travel and adventures to be had as I enter that new stage of committment this summer.

Found out a photo submitted into Smithsonian Magazine’s annual photo contest was selected as the photo of the day.

Feel pretty honored – shortlisted or not.