Archive for the Category ◊ travel ◊

07 Sep 2010 Keep that camera handy
Author: Arnie Lee |  Category: events, travel  | Tags: , ,  | Leave a Comment

At times when I’m on the job, I dutifully carry a camera and accessories so that I am ready for the shoot.

Most often though, when I’m off the clock, I leave the photo equipment behind. One incident from 1989, changed this habit. I was in West Berlin in early November of that year. To the surprise of much of the world, the East Germans started to dismantle the infamous Berlin Wall. At this historic time, I was regretfully camera-less.

This lesson nudged me from this time forward to carry a small camera so that I wouldn’t miss those “once in a lifetime” photo opportunities.
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03 Sep 2010 Again and again and again…
Author: Arnie Lee |  Category: tips, travel  | Tags: , , ,  | Leave a Comment

First a little background.

As an avid picture taker, I learned early on that unless I had a way to organize my pictures, I would find it increasingly difficult to keep track of my growing collection of photographs.

Although I’ve been taking pictures on film since the 1960’s, it wasn’t until 1998 that I began my digital collection. I discovered a software program called Thumbs Plus for the PC and have been using it regularly to catalog and manage more than 100,000 of my digital photos. By adding keywords to an individual photo, I am able to easily and conveniently locate and retrieve photos from the past. Thumbs Plus has dozens of other useful features but for my purposes, organizing is its most important feature. For the past decade Thumbs Plus (and 3 or 4 upgrades) has been one of the most used programs on my computer.
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15 Feb 2010 Landscape Tip #8
Author: Arnie Lee |  Category: composition, landscapes, stills, tips, travel  | Tags: ,  | Leave a Comment

One technique for turning an ordinary landscape into a more interesting landscape is to use the ground or ground covering as a way to emphasize distance.

Getting Down (to business)


This beautiful historic building, adorned with bright gold trim sits in the center of Brussels. This photo shows the structure’s intricate detail.

To add a different twist, I placed the camera close to the ground so that the cobblestones become part of an added perspective.
11 Jan 2010 Action Tip #3
Author: Arnie Lee |  Category: action, travel  | Tags: ,  | Leave a Comment

There’s beauty at 30,000 feet and 600 miles per hour. Here’s how I’ve been able to capture some of this beauty when I’m flying way up high.

Up, Up and Away Suggestions

  1. Ask for a window seat on left side of the aircraft. Approaches to landing are most often made with left hand turns.
  2. Turn the camera’s flash off.
  3. When the light is dim, set the ISO to 800 or higher.
  4. Avoid shots when the sun is shining directly at the plane’s windows.
  5. Rest the camera lens gently against the window.
  6. For takeoffs and landings, you’ll need to use a shutter speed of 1/250 or faster.

    At cruise, you’ll be able to use a shutter speed of 1/125.



On an early morning flight we passed over the Rockies. The snow capped peaks make for a great contrast to the dark mountain base.

Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft passes through the lower layer of clouds on the way to open skies. The sun is starting to peak through the upper layer.

Here’s another attractive formation in the Rockies. I was lucky to have the warm color of the morning sunrise shed its even light on the mountains.

There’s beauty closer to the earth too. Here’s a shot of a picturesque river on approach to the Munich Airport.
20 Dec 2009 Travel Photography Tip #1
Author: Arnie Lee |  Category: informational, travel  | Tags: ,  | Leave a Comment

Since my job often requires me to be on the road quite often, I’ve learned to travel light using only carry-on luggage. However, traveling light doesn’t mean that I leave the camera behind. In fact, I always travel with a camera just in case that great photo opportunity pops up.

Traveling Light


It’s a buyer’s market with such a wide variety of high quality, reasonably priced digital cameras available. For everyday use, I bought a compact camera with a high optical zoom lens. Perfect for travel, it’s small and fits in my coat pocket so is always near at hand.

On a recent trip, I spotted this iconic sign as I was driving. Knowing that I had a camera in my coat pocket, I stopped the car, pulled out the camera and shot using its no flash mode. Without the camera, the sign would remain only a faint memory.

It was still dark when we landed at the airport in Denver. It’s a beautiful sight with the terminal decorated as lighted mountain peaks. The small camera in my coat pocket was conveniently at hand allowing me to shoot this photo from my window seat.

Hungry, I searched for lunch and found a 50’s style restaurant. However, it was pouring rain as I ran from my car and found this old fashion gasoline pump at the entrance. Luckily, my camera was in my pocket and still dry .