Phil Douglis: Travel Photography Archive

Image Copyright © held by Phil Douglis, The Douglis Visual Workshops, pnd1@cox.net

Your Bio

For the past 38 years, I've been teaching photographic communication and pursued my passion for travel photography. I direct The Douglis Visual Workshops in Phoenix, Arizona, offering one-on-one tutorials in digital imaging and photographic communication. These tutorials extend from one to four days, and can be adjusted to fit your own levels or interests. For registration info, send an email to pnd1@cox.net

This site holds my archive of 3,000 travel images produced since 2001. If you want more info on how I made many of the pictures in this archive, I've also posted a 'cyberbook' entitled "Expressive Travel Photography: Communicating with Pictures," featuring more than 2,000 of them at http://www.pbase.com/pnd1. My pbase site teaches expressive travel photography. This smugmug site archives each of my trips as a travel blog.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner of each gallery. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key.

Below, I present an automated slide show of the most recent gallery I've posted here at Smugmug:

Galleries

Northwest Passage, Summer, 2009 : In the summer of 2009, i spent two weeks photographing the Pacific Northwest, starting in Northern California and working my way up through Oregon, Washington, and into British Columbia. As always, I try to make images that offer not only a sense of place, but also convey my impressions of how each place I visit feels and functions. My goal here is not to make a comprehensive documentation of the places I visit, but instead offer a series of interpretive photographs that express the personality and character of places I visit as I perceive them. There are seventy four photographs in this gallery.

These images were gleaned from the more than 5,000 digital pictures I shot during this trip. I used a ten megapixel Panasonic Lumix G1 camera to make most of these images, equipped with a 90-400mm image stabilized telephoto lens, allowing me to use it in low light situations with remarkable clarity. I also used, for the very first time, a 14-28mm wideangle zoom made by Panasonic for the G1 system. The camera's flip-out LCD viewfinder allows easy use at low and high angles, making an amazingly useful tool for travel photography. I also made some images with a Leica D-Lux 4, a pocket camera offering a 24mm wideangle view and a very fast f/2.0 lens. I've edited all of these images with Photoshop to correct and refine the hue, color, contrast and sharpness levels, hopefully making my pictures more vibrant and meaningful. Although all of these photographs were digitally enhanced to some degree, none of the content has been significantly manipulated. The facts are all here, as I captured them. I hope you will enjoy these photographic impressions.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. I welcome your comments and questions. Phil Douglis Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops, Phoenix, Arizona, pnd1@cox.net

Northwest Passage, Summer, 2009

In the summer of 2009, i spent two weeks photographing the Pacific Nor ...

Updated: Jul 03, 2009 4:57pm PST

Arizona, from the bottom to the top : Making pictures in exotic places is always exciting -- a new locale always offers new challenges for photographers. Making pictures in your own state is usually more difficult, because we become accustomed to our environment and often take it for granted. Periodically, I try to travel and photograph within my home state of Arizona in order to force myself to see commonplace sights with new vision and make, if I can, fresh images of what I see and feel. And so in the spring of 2009, I revisited Arizona, this time going from the bottom of the state to the top. I spent an intensive week shooting in places such as Tucson, Bisbee, Nogales, the Grand Canyon, old Route 66 across Northern Arizona, and Kingman. As always, I try to make images that offer not only a sense of place, but also convey my impressions of how this place feels and functions. My goal here is not to make a comprehensive documentation of my state, but instead offer a series of interpretive photographs that express the personality and character of places in my state as I perceive them. There are fifty three photographs in this gallery.

These images were gleaned from the more than 3,000 digital pictures I shot during this trip. I used a ten megapixel Panasonic Lumix G1 camera to make most of these images, equipped with a 90-400mm image stabilized telephoto lens, allowing me to use it in low light situations with remarkable clarity. Its flip-out LCD viewfinder allows easy use at low and high angles, making an amazingly useful tool for travel photography. I also made some images with a Leica D-Lux 4, a pocket camera offering a 24mm wideangle view and a very fast f/2.0 lens. I've edited all of these images with Photoshop to correct and refine the hue, color, contrast and sharpness levels, hopefully making my pictures more vibrant and meaningful. Although all of these photographs were digitally enhanced to some degree, none of the content has been significantly manipulated. The facts are all here, as I captured them. I hope you will enjoy these photographic impressions.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. I welcome your comments and questions. Phil Douglis Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops, Phoenix, Arizona, pnd1@cox.net

Arizona, from the bottom to the top

A city portrait: New York City : This is the first in a series of city portraits I will be adding to my travel photography archive. Just as a portrait of a person must attempt to define personality and character, a portrait of a city must do likewise. I chose New York City as my first urban portrait because we go back in time together. I lived and worked in New York more than fifty years ago, and have revisited the city time and time again and watch it continue to change and evolve over the decades. As a young photographer, I first depicted the city on slide film, back at a time when I still made descriptive, rather than interpretive images. In 1959, I tried to show what the city looked like, rather than what it meant to me, or how I felt about it. In the spring of 2009, I returned to New York. This time, I attempted to define the character and personality of the city in interpretive terms – to offer not only a sense of place, but also convey my impressions of how this place feels and functions. I spent a full week shooting in New York, concentrating solely on the Borough of Manhattan. Manhattan is only one of New York City’s five boroughs – but it is the part that’s most familiar to viewers around the world: the business, historical, cultural, and entertainment center of the USA’s largest metropolitan area. My goal here is not to make a comprehensive documentation of this city. Instead, I offer a series of interpretive photographs that express the personality and character of the city as I perceive them. There are sixty-eight photographs in this gallery. I use both black and white and color imagery to tell my story, and sequence and pace the images so they can add context to each other and produce cumulative meaning.

These images were gleaned from the more than 2,000 digital pictures I shot during this trip. I used a ten megapixel Panasonic Lumix G1 camera to make most of these images, equipped with a 90-400mm image stabilized telephoto lens, allowing me to use it in low light situations with remarkable clarity. Its flip-out LCD viewfinder allows easy use at low and high angles, making an amazingly useful tool for travel photography. I also made some images with a Leica D-Lux 4, a pocket camera offering a 24mm wideangle view and a very fast f/2.0 lens. I've edited all of these images with Photoshop to correct and refine the hue, color, contrast and sharpness levels, hopefully making my pictures more vibrant and meaningful. Although all of these photographs were digitally enhanced to some degree, none of the content has been significantly manipulated. The facts are all here, as I captured them. I hope you will enjoy these photographic impressions.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. I welcome your comments and questions. Phil Douglis Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops, Phoenix, Arizona, pnd1@cox.net

A city portrait: New York City

Touring Tunisia, gateway to the Sahara : In November, 2008, I toured Tunisia for two weeks, starting in Tunis, and proceeding to Sousee, Kairouan, Tozeur, Douze, Jerba, and back to Tunis for a final day before returning home.

As usual, my photographic intentions are focused on interpretation, rather than description. I wanted to make more than just a record of the sights I saw along the way. I want my pictures to express my own feelings about them. Aside from sharing these pictures with you on this website, I also am using many of them to teach the principles of expressive travel photography on my pbase.com instructional website (http://www.pbase.com/pnd1) as well as in the tutorial workshops I give in Phoenix for those desiring instruction in photojournalism, expressive travel photography and digital imaging.

These 103 images were gleaned from the more than 4,000 digital pictures I shot during this trip. I used a ten megapixel Leica V-Lux-1 to make most of these images. It features an amazing 36mm-420mm Leica lens with image stabilization, allowing me to use its long telephoto in low light situations with remarkable clarity. Its flip-out LCD viewfinder allows easy use at low and high angles, making it the single most useful tool for travel photography that I've used to date. I also made some images with a Leica D-Lux 4, a pocket camera offering a 24mm wideangle view and a very fast f/2.0 lens. I've edited all of these images with Photoshop to correct and refine the hue, color, contrast and sharpness levels, hopefully making my pictures more vibrant and meaningful. Although all of these photographs were digitally enhanced to some degree, none of the content has been significantly manipulated. The facts are all here, as I captured them. I hope you will enjoy these photographic impressions.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. I welcome your comments and questions. Phil Douglis Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops, Phoenix, Arizona, pnd1@cox.net

Touring Tunisia, gateway to the Sahara

Return to Yellowstone and the Tetons : In the fall of 2008, I returned to Yellowstone and Grand Teton Natiional Parks to make the images you see in this gallery. This time, I enjoyed photographing these parks just as the colors of fall gave way to the winter snow.

As usual, my photographic intentions are focused on interpretation, rather than description. I wanted to make more than just a record of the sights I saw along the way. I want my pictures to express my own feelings about them. Aside from sharing these pictures with you on this website, I also am using many of them to teach the principles of expressive travel photography on my pbase website (http://www.pbase.com/pnd1) as well as in the tutorial workshops I give in Phoenix for those desiring instruction in photojournalism, expressive travel photography and digital imaging.

These 49 images were gleaned from the more than 2,000 digital pictures I shot during this trip. I used a ten megapixel Leica V-Lux-1 to make most of these images. It features an amazing 36mm-420mm Leica lens with image stabilization, allowing me to use its long telephoto in low light situations with remarkable clarity. Its flip-out LCD viewfinder allows easy use at low and high angles, making it the single most useful tool for travel photography that I've used to date. I also made some images with a Sigma DP1, a pocket camera offering a 28mm wideangle view and a DSLR-sized sensor. I've edited all of these images with Photoshop to correct and refine the hue, color, contrast and sharpness levels, hopefully making my pictures more vibrant and meaningful. Although all of these photographs were digitally enhanced to some degree, none of the content has been significantly manipulated. The facts are all here, as I captured them. I hope you will enjoy these photographic impressions.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. I welcome your comments and questions. Phil Douglis Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops, Phoenix, Arizona, pnd1@cox.net

Return to Yellowstone and the Tetons

From Shasta to Hood: Avenue of the Volcanoes : In the fall of 2008, I spent a week photographing in Northern California and on into Central Oregon, following the string of volcanoes that make up the Cascade Range. As you will note, my photography went well beyond the beautiful volcanic landscape – I enjoyed shooting life in the area’s small towns, some spectacular waterfalls, and a bit of wildlife as well.

As usual, my photographic intentions are focused on interpretation, rather than description. I wanted to make more than just a record of the sights I saw along the way. I want my pictures to express my own feelings about them. Aside from sharing these pictures with you on this website, I also am using many of them to teach the principles of expressive travel photography on my pbase website (http://www.pbase.com/pnd1) as well as in the tutorial workshops I give in Phoenix for those desiring instruction in photojournalism, expressive travel photography and digital imaging.

These 65 images were gleaned from the more than 2,000 digital pictures I shot during this trip. I used a ten megapixel Leica V-Lux-1 to make most of these images. It features an amazing 36mm-420mm Leica lens with image stabilization, allowing me to use its long telephoto in low light situations with remarkable clarity. Its flip-out LCD viewfinder allows easy use at low and high angles, making it the single most useful tool for travel photography that I've used to date. I also made some images with a Sigma DP1, a pocket camera offering a 28mm wideangle view and a DSLR-sized sensor. I've edited all of these images with Photoshop to correct and refine the hue, color, contrast and sharpness levels, hopefully making my pictures more vibrant and meaningful. Although all of these photographs were digitally enhanced to some degree, none of the content has been significantly manipulated. The facts are all here, as I captured them. I hope you will enjoy these photographic impressions.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. I welcome your comments and questions. Phil Douglis Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops, Phoenix, Arizona, pnd1@cox.net

From Shasta to Hood: Avenue of the Volcanoes

Yosemite and California's Gold Country : In the spring of 2008, I spent three days Yosemite National Park (my second visit), and then continued with a week long photographic exploration of California’s Gold Rush Country.

As usual, my photographic intentions are focused on interpretation, rather than description. I wanted to make more than just a record of the sights I saw along the way. I want my pictures to express my own feelings about them. Aside from sharing these pictures with you on this website, I also am using many of them to teach the principles of expressive travel photography on my pbase website (http://www.pbase.com/pnd1) as well as in the tutorial workshops I give in Phoenix for those desiring instruction in photojournalism, expressive travel photography and digital imaging.

These 61 images were gleaned from the more than 3,000 digital pictures I shot during this trip. I used a ten megapixel Leica V-Lux-1 to make most of these images. It features an amazing 36mm-420mm Leica lens with image stabilization, allowing me to use its long telephoto in low light situations with remarkable clarity. Its flip-out LCD viewfinder allows easy use at low and high angles, making it the single most useful tool for travel photography that I've used to date. I also made some images with a Sigma DP1, a pocket camera offering a 28mm wideangle view and a DSLR-sized sensor. I've edited all of these images with Photoshop to correct and refine the hue, color, contrast and sharpness levels, hopefully making my pictures more vibrant and meaningful. Although all of these photographs were digitally enhanced to some degree, none of the content has been significantly manipulated. The facts are all here, as I captured them. I hope you will enjoy these photographic impressions.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. I welcome your comments and questions. Phil Douglis Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops, Phoenix, Arizona, pnd1@cox.net

Yosemite and California's Gold Country

Exploring India: life on the edge : In the spring of 2008, I visited India for the second time. It had been almost twenty years between my visits. This time, I toured in Delhi, Japiur, Ranthambore, Agra, Kajaraho, Varanasi, Cochin, Bombay, and points in between, with an Overseas Adventure Travel group for three weeks. India offers us a glimpse of life on the edge, with its huge population living simultaneously in both yesterday and today. It presents us with surprising and sometimes shocking incongruities that fuels both thought and camera. My photographic intentions are focused on interpretation, rather than description. I wanted to make more than just a record of the sights I saw along the way. I want my pictures to express my own feelings about them. Aside from sharing these pictures with you on this website, I also am using many of them to teach the principles of expressive travel photography on my pbase website (http://www.pbase.com/pnd1) as well as in the tutorial workshops I give in Phoenix for those desiring instruction in photojournalism, expressive travel photography and digital imaging.

These 109 images were gleaned from the more than 8,000 digital pictures I shot during this trip. I used a ten megapixel Leica V-Lux-1 to make most of these images. It features an amazing 36mm-420mm Leica lens with image stabilization, allowing me to use its long telephoto in low light situations with remarkable clarity. Its flip-out LCD viewfinder allows easy use at low and high angles, making it the single most useful tool for travel photography that I've used to date. I also made some images with a Leica D-Lux 3, a pocket camera offering a 28mm wideangle view within a 16x9 frame, a shape similar to a high definition TV screen. I've edited all of these images with Photoshop to correct and refine the hue, color, contrast and sharpness levels, hopefully making my pictures more vibrant and meaningful. Although all of these photographs were digitally enhanced to some degree, none of the content has been significantly manipulated. The facts are all here, as I captured them. I hope you will enjoy these photographic impressions.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. I welcome your comments and questions. Phil Douglis Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops, Phoenix, Arizona, pnd1@cox.net

Exploring India: life on the edge

The essence of Vietnam : At the end of 2007, I visited Vietnam for the second time and Southeast Asia for the fifth time. Vietnam has changed greatly since my first brief visit in 2001. A booming economy has transformed its cities and towns, reminding me very much of China, but on a smaller scale. I toured Vietnam from Hanoi in the north to Saigon in the south with an Overseas Adventure Travel group for two weeks, and then stayed on to travel independently with my friend and fellow worldisround artist Tim May in the Mekong Delta for ten more days. We bid farewell to Vietnam by traveling up the Mekong River to Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- the final six images in this gallery were made on that journey and in and around the Cambodian capital city. If you've viewed the previous galleries of travel impressions I've posted on this site, you'll note that my photographic intentions are focused on interpretation, rather than description. I wanted to make more than just a record of the sights I saw along the way. I want my pictures to express my own feelings about them. Aside from sharing these pictures with you on this website, I also am using many of them to teach the principles of expressive travel photography on my pbase website (http://www.pbase.com/pnd1) as well as in the tutorial workshops I give in Phoenix for those desiring instruction in photojournalism, expressive travel photography and digital imaging.

These 100 images were gleaned from the more than 6,000 digital pictures I shot during this trip. I used a ten megapixel Leica V-Lux-1 to make most of these images. It features an amazing 36mm-420mm Leica lens with image stabilization, allowing me to use its long telephoto in low light situations with remarkable clarity. Its flip-out LCD viewfinder allows easy use at low and high angles, making it the single most useful tool for travel photography that I've used to date. I also made some images with a Leica D-Lux 3, a pocket camera offering a 28mm wideangle view within a 16x9 frame, a shape similar to a high definition TV screen. I've edited all of these images with Photoshop to correct and refine the hue, color, contrast and sharpness levels, hopefully making my pictures more vibrant and meaningful. Although all of these photographs were digitally enhanced to some degree, none of the content has been significantly manipulated. The facts are all here, as I captured them. I hope you will enjoy these photographic impressions.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. I welcome your comments and questions. Phil Douglis Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops, Phoenix, Arizona, pnd1@cox.net

The essence of Vietnam

Impressions of Indian Country : For six days in November, 2007, I photographed in and around Indian reservations in Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado. We visited the Acoma Pueblo, Cayon De Chelly National Monument on the Navajo reservation, Mesa Verde National Park, and Chaco Culture National Historic Park, as well as Albuquerque's Old Town, and Santa Fe. If you've viewed the previous galleries of travel impressions I've posted on this site, you'll note that my photographic intentions are focused on interpretation, rather than description. I wanted to make more than just a record of the sights I saw along the way. I want my pictures to express my own feelings about them. Aside from sharing these pictures with you on this website, I also am using many of them to teach the principles of expressive travel photography on my pbase website (http://www.pbase.com/pnd1) as well as in the tutorial workshops I give in Phoenix for those desiring instruction in photojournalism, expressive travel photography and digital imaging.

These 48 images were gleaned from the more than 2,000 digital pictures I shot during this trip. I used a ten megapixel Leica V-Lux-1 to make most of these images. It features an amazing 36mm-420mm Leica lens with image stabilization, allowing me to use its long telephoto in low light situations with remarkable clarity. Its flip-out LCD viewfinder allows easy use at low and high angles, making it the single most useful tool for travel photography that I've used to date. I also made some images with a Leica D-Lux 3, a pocket camera offering a 28mm wideangle view within a 16x9 frame, a shape similar to a high definition TV screen. I've edited all of these images with Photoshop to correct and refine the hue, color, contrast and sharpness levels, hopefully making my pictures more vibrant and meaningful. Although all of these photographs were digitally enhanced to some degree, none of the content has been significantly manipulated. The facts are all here, as I captured them. I hope you will enjoy these photographic impressions.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. I welcome your comments and questions. Phil Douglis Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops, Phoenix, Arizona, pnd1@cox.net

Impressions of Indian Country

Asia Again: three weeks, three countries : Once again, I turned my lens on Asia in the late summer of 2007. This time I joined several other photographers to spend a week shooting in Singapore and Malaysia and another two weeks photographing in China. It was my third visit to China -- returning still again to both Shanghai and Beijing, and enjoying my first visits to Nanjing and the ancient walled city of Pingyao. If you've viewed the previous galleries of travel impressions I've posted on this site, you'll note that my photographic intentions are focused on interpretation, rather than description. I wanted to make more than just a record of the sights I saw along the way. I want my pictures to express my own feelings about them. Aside from sharing these pictures with you on this website, I also am using many of them to teach the principles of expressive travel photography on my pbase website (http://www.pbase.com/pnd1) as well as in tutorial workshops I give in Phoenix for those desiring instruction in photojournalism, expressive travel photography and digital imaging.

These 80 images were gleaned from the more than 6000 digital pictures I shot during this trip. I used a ten megapixel Leica V-Lux-1 to make most of these images. It features an amazing 36mm-420mm Leica lens with image stabilization, allowing me to use its long telephoto in low light situations with remarkable clarity. Its flip-out LCD viewfinder allows easy use at low and high angles, making it the single most useful tool for travel photography that I've used to date. I also made some images with a Leica D-Lux 3, a pocket camera offering a 28mm wideangle view within a 16x9 frame, a shape similar to a high definition TV screen. I've edited all of these images with Photoshop to correct and refine the hue, color, contrast and sharpness levels, hopefully making my pictures more vibrant and meaningful. Although all of these photographs were digitally enhanced to some degree, none of the content has been significantly manipulated. The facts are all here, as I captured them. I hope you will enjoy these photographic impressions.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. I welcome your comments and questions. Phil Douglis Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops, Phoenix, Arizona, pnd1@cox.net

Asia Again: three weeks, three countries

In and around San Francisco : I spent a week in the summer of 2007 exploring and photographing the fascinating city of San Francisco and surrounding area. If you've viewed the previous galleries of travel impressions I've posted on this site, you'll note that my photographic intentions are focused on interpretation, rather than description. I wanted to make more than just a record of the sights I saw along the way. I want my pictures to express my own feelings about them. Aside from sharing these pictures with you on this website, I also am using many of them to teach the principles of expressive travel photography on my pbase website (http://www.pbase.com/pnd1) as well as in the tutorial workshops I give in Phoenix for those desiring instruction in photojournalism, expressive travel photography and digital imaging.

These 44 images were gleaned from the more than 2000 digital pictures I shot during this trip. I used a ten megapixel Leica V-Lux-1 to make most of these images. It features an amazing 36mm-420mm Leica lens with image stabilization, allowing me to use its long telephoto in low light situations with remarkable clarity. Its flip-out LCD viewfinder allows easy use at low and high angles, making it the single most useful tool for travel photography that I've used to date. I also made some images with a Leica D-Lux 3, a pocket camera offering a 28mm wideangle view within a 16x9 frame, a shape similar to a high definition TV screen. I've edited all of these images with Photoshop to correct and refine the hue, color, contrast and sharpness levels, hopefully making my pictures more vibrant and meaningful. Although all of these photographs were digitally enhanced to some degree, none of the content has been significantly manipulated. The facts are all here, as I captured them. I hope you will enjoy these photographic impressions.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. I welcome your comments and questions. Phil Douglis Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops, Phoenix, Arizona, pnd1@cox.net

In and around San Francisco

Death Valley Visions: a land of extremes : Death Valley National Park -- three and a half million acres of wilderness, solitude and primitive adventure -- lies on the eastern edge of Southern California, not far from the Nevada state line. I spent a winter week journeying through the park and its outlying areas. I travelled from the lowest point in the contiguous United States to within sight of its highest point. Death Valley is a land of climatic extremes, ghost towns, bleak desolation and glorious vistas. If you've viewed the previous galleries of travel impressions I've posted on this site, you'll note that my photographic intentions are focused on interpretation, rather than description. I wanted to make more than just a record of the sights I saw along the way. I want my pictures to express my own feelings about them. Aside from sharing these pictures with you on this website, I also am using many of them to teach the principles of expressive travel photography on my pbase website (http://www.pbase.com/pnd1) as well as in the tutorial workshops I give in Phoenix for those desiring instruction in photojournalism, expressive travel photography and digital imaging.

These 56 images were gleaned from the more than 3000 digital pictures I shot during this trip. I used a ten megapixel Leica V-Lux-1 to make most of these images. It features an amazing 36mm-420mm Leica lens with image stabilization, allowing me to use its long telephoto in low light situations with remarkable clarity. Its flip-out LCD viewfinder allows easy use at low and high angles, making it the single most useful tool for travel photography that I've used to date. I also made some images with a Leica D-Lux 3, a pocket camera offering a 28mm wideangle view within a 16x9 frame, a shape similar to a high definition TV screen. I've edited all of these images with Photoshop to correct and refine the hue, color, contrast and sharpness levels, hopefully making my pictures more vibrant and meaningful. Although all of these photographs were digitally enhanced to some degree, none of the content has been significantly manipulated. The facts are all here, as I captured them. I hope you will enjoy these photographic impressions.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. I welcome your comments and questions. Phil Douglis Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops, Phoenix, Arizona, pnd1@cox.net

Death Valley Visions: a land of extremes

Morocco Sahara Odyssey : I spent three weeks shooting in Morocco in December, 2006, and found it to be one of my most exotic and productive photographic adventures to date. We visited the cities of Casablanca, Essaouira, Rabat, Meknes, Fez, Tineghir, Ouarzazate, and Marrakesh, as well as two camping sites in the Moroccan Sahara Desert. I was part of a small group tour operated by Overseas Adventure Travel. If you've viewed the previous galleries of travel impressions I've posted on this site, you'll note that my photographic intentions are focused on interpretation, rather than description. I wanted to make more than just a record of the sights I saw along the way. I want my pictures to express my own feelings about them. Aside from sharing these pictures with you on this website, I also am using many of them to teach the principles of expressive travel photography on my pbase website (http://www.pbase.com/pnd1) as well as in the tutorial workshops I give in Phoenix for those desiring instruction in photojournalism, expressive travel photography and digital imaging.

These 112 images were gleaned from the more than 5000 digital pictures I shot during this trip. I used a ten megapixel Leica V-Lux-1 to make most of these images. It features an amazing 36mm-420mm Leica lens with image stabilization, allowing me to use its long telephoto in low light situations with remarkable clarity. Its flip-out LCD viewfinder allows easy use at low and high angles, making it the single most useful tool for travel photography that I've used to date. I also made some images with a Leica D-Lux 3, a pocket camera offering a 28mm wideangle view within a 16x9 frame, a shape similar to a high definition TV screen. I've edited all of these images with Photoshop to correct and refine the hue, color, contrast and sharpness levels, hopefully making my pictures more vibrant and meaningful. Although all of these photographs were digitally enhanced to some degree, none of the content has been significantly manipulated. The facts are all here, as I captured them.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. I hope you will enjoy these photographic impressions. Phil Douglis Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops, Phoenix, Arizona, pnd1@cox.net

Morocco Sahara Odyssey

Exploring the Eastern Sierra : I returned to the Eastern Sierras for the second time in the fall of 2006. I explored several new areas around the towns of Lone Pine and Bishop, as well as visiting Mono Lake for the first time. The highlight of the trip was a return visit to the haunted ghost town of Bodie. This time, we obtained permission to shoot there from before dawn to after sunset, an opportunity adding beautiful light to my images. If you've viewed the previous galleries of travel impressions I've posted on this site, you'll note that my photographic intentions are focused on interpretation, rather than description. I wanted to make more than just a record of the sights I saw along the way. I want my pictures to express my own feelings about them. Aside from sharing these pictures with you on this website, I also am using many of them to teach the principles of expressive travel photography on my pbase website (http://www.pbase.com/pnd1) as well as in the tutorial workshops I give in Phoenix for those desiring instruction in photojournalism, expressive travel photography and digital imaging.

These 51 images were gleaned from the more than 1000 digital pictures I shot during this trip. I used a ten megapixel Panasonic FZ-50 to make most of these images. It features an amazing 36mm-420mm Leica lens with image stabilization, allowing me to use its long telephoto in low light situations with remarkable clarity. Its flip-out LCD viewfinder allows easy use at low and high angles, making it the single most useful tool for travel photography that I've used to date. I also made some images with a Leica D-Lux 3, a pocket camera offering a 28mm wideangle view within a 16x9 frame, a shape similar to a high definition TV screen. I've edited all of these images with Photoshop to correct and refine the hue, color, contrast and sharpness levels, hopefully making my pictures more vibrant and meaningful. Although all of these photographs were digitally enhanced to some degree, none of the content has been significantly manipulated. The facts are all here, as I captured them.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. I hope you will enjoy these photographic impressions. Phil Douglis Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops, Phoenix, Arizona, pnd1@cox.net

Exploring the Eastern Sierra

Utah to Yellowstone: the west at best : In the fall of 2006, I spent two weeks photographing the natural beauty and wildlife in several National Parks from Utah to Yellowstone. In between these visits, I also photographed in Salt Lake City, Jackson, and several smaller towns. These images, covering a broad range of scenic vistas, landscapes, and wildlife iimpressions, speak to the tremendous variety of subjects to be found in this region of the United States. If you've viewed the previous galleries of travel impressions I've posted on this site, you'll note that my photographic intentions are focused on interpretation, rather than description. I wanted to make more than just a record of the sights I saw along the way. I want my pictures to express my own feelings about them. Aside from sharing these pictures with you on this website, I also am using many of them to teach the principles of expressive travel photography on my pbase website (http://www.pbase.com/pnd1) as well as in the tutorial workshops I give in Phoenix for those desiring instruction in photojournalism, expressive travel photography and digital imaging.

These 76 images were gleaned from the more than 3000 digital pictures I shot during this trip. I used a ten megapixel Panasonic FZ-50 to make most of these images. It features an amazing 36mm-420mm Leica lens with image stabilization, allowing me to use its long telephoto in low light situations with remarkable clarity. Its flip-out LCD viewfinder allows easy use at low and high angles, making it the single most useful tool for travel photography that I've used to date. I also made some images with a Leica D-Lux 2, a pocket camera offering a 28mm wideangle view within a 16x9 frame, a shape similar to a high definition TV screen. I've edited all of these images with Photoshop to correct and refine the hue, color, contrast and sharpness levels, hopefully making my pictures more vibrant and meaningful. Although all of these photographs were digitally enhanced to some degree, none of the content has been significantly manipulated. The facts are all here, as I captured them.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. I hope you will enjoy these photographic impressions. Phil Douglis Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops, Phoenix, Arizona, pnd1@cox.net

Utah to Yellowstone: the west at best

Arizona's Route 66: moments in time : In the summer of 2006, I spent three days exploring and photographing the remnants of Route 66 in Northern Arizona. From the 1920s to the 1950s, Route 66 was the main road from Chicago to California – the “mother road” of what would eventually become the US Interstate Highway system. It was the coming of the Interstate itself that doomed Route 66 to oblivion, but traces of it can be still be seen in the northern reaches of Arizona, as well as in California’s Mohave Desert. On this quick photo trip, we traveled along Interstate 40, in search of the living past in places like Winslow, Flagstaff, Seligman, Ash Fork, and Williams, as well as in the existing and former rest stops and souvenir shops that once served traffic on Route 66. Of all of America's roads, Route 66 has become the most popular nostalgic and cultural artifact, celebrated in music, and commercialized for tourism. By using my camera as a Time Machine, I’ve tried here to use photographic moments in time to make the past become the present. If you've viewed the previous galleries of travel impressions I've posted on this site, you'll note that my photographic intentions are focused on interpretation, rather than description. I wanted to make more than just a record of the sights I saw along the way. I want my pictures to express my own feelings about them. Aside from sharing these pictures with you on this website, I also am using many of them to teach the principles of expressive travel photography on my pbase website (http://www.pbase.com/pnd1) as well as in the tutorial workshops I give in Phoenix for those desiring instruction in photojournalism, expressive travel photography and digital imaging.

These 45 images were gleaned from the more than 500 digital pictures I shot during this trip. I used an eight megapixel Panasonic FZ-30 to most of these images. It features an amazing 36mm-420mm Leica lens with image stabilization, allowing me to use its long telephoto in low light situations with remarkable clarity. Its flip-out LCD viewfinder allows easy use at low and high angles, making it the single most useful tool for travel photography that I've used to date. I also made some images with a Leica D-Lux 2, a pocket camera offering a 28mm wideangle view within a 16x9 frame, a shape similar to a high definition TV screen. I've edited all of these images with Photoshop to correct and refine the hue, color, contrast and sharpness levels, hopefully making my pictures more vibrant and meaningful. Although all of these photographs were digitally enhanced to some degree, none of the content has been significantly manipulated. The facts are all here, as I captured them.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. I hope you will enjoy these photographic impressions. I welcome any comments and questions. Phil Douglis Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops, Phoenix, Arizona, pnd1@cox.net

Arizona's Route 66: moments in time

Oregon, from top to bottom : In the summer of 2006, I participated in a week-long photo tour of Oregon. We began in Portland, drove up to Astoria in the northwest corner of the state and then slowly drove down the coastline on US 101, visiting Cannon Beach, Tillamook, Depoe Bay, Newport, Florence and Bandon before returning to Portland. The week long trip brought many special photographic opportunities: the sights of Portland, including Multnomah Falls and Rose Garden; the spectacular rock bound coast line with its villages, light houses, ship wrecks, sand dunes, waterfalls, sea lion colonies, bird rookeries, tide pools, and vistas, as well as special photographic visits to a dairy farm, aquarium, art gallery, winery, furniture maker, and abandoned factories and stores. If you've viewed the previous galleriesof travel impressions I've posted on this site, you'll note that my photographic intentions are focused on interpretation, rather than description. I wanted to make more than just a record of the sights I saw in Oregon. I want my pictures to express my own feelings about them, rather than just describing the appearance of what I saw. Aside from sharing these pictures with you on this website, I also am using many of them to teach the principles of expressive travel photography on my pbase website (http://www.pbase.com/pnd1) as well as in the tutorial workshops I give in Phoenix for those desiring instruction in photojournalism, expressive travel photography and digital imaging.

These 70 images were gleaned from the more than 1,000 digital pictures I shot during this trip. I used an eight megapixel Panasonic FZ-30 to most of these images. It features an amazing 36mm-420mm Leica lens with image stabilization, allowing me to use its long telephoto in low light situations with remarkable clarity. Its flip-out LCD viewfinder allows easy use at low and high angles, making it the single most useful tool for travel photography that I've used to date. I also made some images with a Leica D-Lux 2, a pocket camera offering a 28mm wideangle view within a 16x9 frame, a shape similar to a high definition TV screen. The subjects of each of these images were best defined within such a frame. I've edited all of these images with Photoshop to correct and refine the hue, color, contrast and sharpness levels, hopefully making my pictures more vibrant and meaningful. Although all of these photographs were digitally enhanced to some degree, none of the content has been significantly manipulated. The facts are all here, as I captured them. I hope you will enjoy these photographic impressions.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. I welcome your comments and questions. Phil Douglis Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops, Phoenix, Arizona, pnd1@cox.net

Oregon, from top to bottom

Back to China: four cities, four regions : I visited China for the second time in two years in the spring of 2006. My journey took me to four cities, each in a different quadrant of this vast and populous country. Starting with a revisit to Beijing in the North, I traveled again to Shanghai in the East, and then toured Lijiang in China's Western province of Yunnan, and Guilin in the South for the first time. If you've viewed the previous galleries of travel impressions I've posted on this site, you'll note that my photographic intentions are focused on interpretation, rather than description. I wanted to make more than just a record of the sights I saw in China. I want my pictures to express my own feelings about them, rather than just describing the appearance of what I saw. Aside from sharing these pictures with you on this website, I also am using many of them to teach the principles of expressive travel photography on my pbase website (http://www.pbase.com/pnd1) as well as in the tutorial workshops I give in Phoenix for those desiring instruction in photojournalism, expressive travel photography and digital imaging.

These 100 images were gleaned from the more than 2,000 digital pictures I shot during this trip. I used an eight megapixel Panasonic FZ-30 to make all but three of these images. It features an amazing 36mm-420mm Leica lens with image stabilization, allowing me to use its long telephoto in low light situations with remarkable clarity. Its flip-out LCD viewfinder allows easy use at low and high angles, making it the single most useful tool for travel photography that I've used to date. I made the other three images with a Leica D-Lux 2, a pocket camera offering a 28mm wideangle view within a 16x9 frame, a shape similar to a high definition TV screen. The subjects of each of these images were best defined within such a frame. My revisit to China was made in conjunction with a two-week cruise on Oceania Line's "Nautica." We started the cruise in Beijing, and visited Shanghai along our route. My visits to Lijiang and Guilin followed the cruise. I must give special thanks to my friend and student Jen Zhou who diligently guided my wife and I through Shanghai. You can see Jen's own brilliant photography on her pbase website at http://www.pbase.com/angeleyes_zyl/root

I also am greatly in debt to two other friends, nature photographers Allister and Allie Benn in Lijiang. Allister and Allie drove me all over Lijiang and its surrounding villages, and Allie was kind enough to coordinate all of my private travel arrangements in China. In addition to visiting China on this trip, our two week cruise on the Nautica took us to Seoul, Korea; Hiroshima, Kobe, Kyoto, Okinawa and Ishigaki, Japan; and Keelung and Taipei in Taiwan. I've edited all of these images with Photoshop to correct and refine the hue, color, contrast and sharpness levels, hopefully making my pictures more vibrant and meaningful. Although all of these photographs were digitally enhanced to some degree, none of the content has been significantly manipulated. The facts are all here, as I captured them.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. I hope you will enjoy these photographic impressions. I welcome your comments and questions. Phil Douglis Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops, Phoenix, Arizona, pnd1@cox.net

Back to China: four cities, four regions

Asian Glimpses: Korea, Japan, & Taiwan : In the spring of 2006, I enjoyed a 15-day East Asian cruise on the Oceania Lines ship "M.S. Nautica" that started in Beijing, China, with visits to Seoul, Korea; Shanghai, China; Hiroshima, Kobe, Kyoto, Okinawa and Ishigaki Japan; Taipei, Taiwan; and ending in Hong Kong. We preceded this cruise with a three day stay in Beijing, and following the cruise, we travelled back into the interior of China for nine days, visiting Lijiang in Yunnan Province and Guilin. This gallery is devoted to my impressions of a series of six brief one-day port stops in Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. If you've viewed the previous galleries of travel impressions I've posted on this site, you'll note that my photographic intentions are focused on interpretation, rather than description. I wanted to make more than just a record of the sights I saw in these Asian cities. I want my pictures to express my own feelings about them, rather than just describing the appearance of what I saw. Aside from sharing these pictures with you on this website, I also am using many of them to teach the principles of expressive travel photography on my pbase website (http://www.pbase.com/pnd1) as well as in the tutorial workshops I give in Phoenix for those desiring instruction in photojournalism, expressive travel photography and digital imaging.

These 60 images were gleaned from the more than 2,000 digital pictures I shot during this portion of our trip. I used an eight megapixel Panasonic FZ-30 to make all but five of these images. It features an amazing 36mm-420mm Leica lens with image stabilization, allowing me to use its long telephoto in low light situations with remarkable clarity. Its flip-out LCD viewfinder allows easy use at low and high angles, making it the single most useful tool for travel photography that I've used to date. I made the other five images with a Leica D-Lux 2, a pocket camera offering a 28mm wideangle view within a 16x9 frame, a shape similar to a high definition TV screen. The subjects of each of these images were best defined within such a frame. I've edited all of these images with Photoshop to correct and refine the hue, color, contrast and sharpness levels, hopefully making my pictures more vibrant and meaningful. Although all of these photographs were digitally enhanced to some degree, none of the content has been significantly manipulated. The facts are all here, as I captured them.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. I hope you will enjoy these photographic impressions. I welcome your comments and questions. Phil Douglis Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops, Phoenix, Arizona, pnd1@cox.net

Asian Glimpses: Korea, Japan, & Taiwan

From Canyon Country to the Mother Road : Within the space of single week in the winter of 2006, I brought my cameras to bear on two strikingly different American environments. For three days, I photographed in Utah's Zion National Park, a feast of visually stunning scenery found nowhere else on earth. I then traveled southwest to the Mohave Desert of California to visit the historic remnants of US Route 66, known as the Mother of American Roads. On my way between these contrasting landscapes, I briefly explored Nevadas Valley of Fire State Park and the massive Hoover Dam. If you've viewed the previous galleries of travel impressions I've posted on this site, you'll note that my photographic intentions are focused on interpretation, rather than description. I wanted to make more than just a record of the sights I saw in Zion and in the Mohave. I want my pictures to express my own feelings about them, rather than just describing the appearance of what I saw. Aside from sharing these pictures with you on this website, I also am using many of them to teach the principles of expressive travel photography on my pbase website (http://www.pbase.com/pnd1) as well as in the tutorial workshops I give in Phoenix for those desiring instruction in photojournalism, expressive travel photography and digital imaging.

These 58 images were gleaned from the more than 2,000 digital pictures I shot during this trip. I used an eight megapixel Panasonic FZ-30 to make all but five of these images. It features an amazing 36mm-420mm Leica lens with image stabilization, allowing me to use its long telephoto in low light situations with remarkable clarity. Its flip-out LCD viewfinder allows easy use at low and high angles, making it the single most useful tool for travel photography that I've used to date. I made the other five images with a Leica D-Lux 2, a pocket camera offering a 28mm wideangle view within a 16x9 frame, a shape similar to a high definition TV screen. The subjects of each of these images were best defined within such a frame.

My friend and fellow photographer Tim May accompanied me on this adventure. You can view his own striking travel galleries at http://www.pbase.com/mityam . For the Mohave Desert segment of this journey, Tim and I joined 18 other photographers in an Image Quest workshop led by Dave Wyman and Ken Rockwell. You can read about this workshop at: http://www.davewyman.net/iqtours.html I've edited all of these images with Photoshop to correct and refine the hue, color, contrast and sharpness levels, hopefully making my pictures more vibrant and meaningful. Although all of these photographs were digitally enhanced to some degree, none of the content has been significantly manipulated. The facts are all here, as I captured them.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. I hope you will enjoy these photographic impressions. Please post any comments at the end of the article, or ask me any questions you might have via email. Phil Douglis Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops, Phoenix, Arizona, pnd1@cox.net

From Canyon Country to the Mother Road

Zambia Safari: evoking nature's essence : I spent the first two weeks of 2006 on safari in Zambia, deep in the heart of central Africa. It was my fifth wildlife safari, and by far the most productive photographically. For thirteen successive days, I explored Zambias most spectacular and game reserve, South Luangwa National Park, during its lush emerald season -- the time of the rains. In this gallery, I offer 100 images that I hope will convey the feeling of a return to Eden, the natural world in its most basic form. If you've viewed the previous galleries of travel impressions I've posted on this site, you'll note that my photographic intentions are focused on interpretation, rather than description. I wanted to make more than just a record of the animals I saw in the South Luangwa. I want my pictures to express my own feelings about them, telling a story about their lives, rather than just describing the appearance of what I saw.

Aside from sharing these pictures with you on this website, I also am using many of them to teach the principles of expressive wildife photography in a special wildlife gallery on my pbase website (http://www.pbase.com/pnd1/safari) as well as in the tutorial workshops I give in Phoenix for those desiring instruction in photojournalism, expressive travel photography and digital imaging. These images were gleaned from the more than 5,000 digital pictures I shot during this trip.

I used an eight megapixel Panasonic FZ-30 to make all of these images. It features an amazing 36mm-420mm Leica lens with image stabilization, allowing me to use its long telephoto in low light situations with remarkable clarity. This long lens is ideal for photographing distant animals -- it can be extended to over 500mm by reducing the resolution (size) of the image, and even to more than 600mm or 700mm by reducing it further. Its flip-out LCD viewfinder allows easy use at low and high angles, making it the single most useful tool for travel photography that I've used to date.

None of these images could have been made if not for the encouragement and knowledge of Rocco Morelli, a veteran of many Zambian safaris, who convinced me to embark on this wet-season adventure via the Africa Discussion Forum at Fodors.com. The challenge of putting this trip together was made so much easier by the help of Barry and Tara, owners of Luangwa River Lodge, and by the hospitality of Paul and Sonya, managers of Star of Africa's Puku Ridge Tented Camp --my bases of operation. Both of these camps were able to offer me private game drives, creating opportunities for the thorough and patient photography necessary to make images as these. I shall always be grateful to them, and to my guides, Victor and Abel, who knew the habits and often the locations of the lions, elephants and, in Abel's case, even the elusive leopard in these images.

I've edited all of these images with Photoshop to correct and refine the hue, color, contrast and sharpness levels, hopefully making my pictures more vibrant and meaningful. Although all of these photographs were digitally enhanced to some degree, none of the content has been significantly manipulated. The facts are all here, as I captured them.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. I hope you will enjoy these photographic impressions. I welcome any comments or questions. Phil Douglis Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops, Phoenix, Arizona, pnd1@cox.net

Zambia Safari: evoking nature's essence

Guanajuato to San Miguel: Mexico's pride : In the fall of 2005, I spent eleven days photographing in central Mexico's 400-year-old colonial cities of Guanajuato and San Miguel de Allende, culminating in the fascinating celebration of the Day of the Dead. In this gallery, I display 83 travel impressions of this pair of neighboring historic cities where Spain once mined for gold and silver, and Mexico launched it's long and painful quest for independence. If you've viewed the previous galleries of travel impressions I've posted on this site, you'll note that my photographic intentions are focused on interpretation, rather than description. I want my pictures to express how I feel about what I see, rather than just recording what I've seen or where I've been. Aside from sharing these pictures with you on this website, I also am using many of them to teach the principles of expressive travel photography on my pbase website (http://www.pbase.com/pnd1) as well as in the tutorial workshops I give in Phoenix for those desiring instruction in photojournalism, expressive travel photography and digital imaging.

These 83 images were gleaned from the more than 3,000 digital pictures I shot during this trip. I used a new eight megapixel Panasonic FZ-30 to make most of these images. It features an amazing 36mm-420mm Leica lens with image stabilization, allowing me to use its long telephoto in low light situations with remarkable clarity. Its flip-out LCD viewfinder allows easy use at low and high angles, and a 24mm wideangle conversion lens will hopefully be available shortly, which will make it the single most useful tool for travel photography that I've used to date. I've edited all of these images with Photoshop to correct and refine the hue, color, contrast and sharpness levels, hopefully making my pictures more vibrant and meaningful. Although all of these photographs were digitally enhanced to some degree, none of the content has been significantly manipulated. The facts are all here, as I captured them. I hope you will enjoy these photographic impressions.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. I welcome any comments or questions. Phil Douglis Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops, Phoenix, Arizona, pnd1@cox.net

Guanajuato to San Miguel: Mexico's pride

Gems of the Dalmatian Coast and Greece : In the fall of 2005, I made my first visit to the Dalmatian Coast, enjoying brief but memorable stops in Croatia, Montenegro, Albania and Greece, much of it on an eleven- night cruise in a 40-passenger yacht. Eight Unesco World Heritage Sites were on our intinerary. In this gallery, I display 86 travel impressions made in these places. If you've viewed the previous galleries of travel impressions I've posted on this site, you'll note that my photographic intentions are focused on interpretation, rather than description. I want my pictures to express how I feel about what I see, rather than just recording what I've seen or where I've been. Aside from sharing these pictures with you on this website, I also am using many of them to teach the principles of expressive travel photography on my pbase website (http://www.pbase.com/pnd1) as well as in the tutorial workshops I give in Phoenix for those desiring instruction in photojournalism, expressive travel photography and digital imaging.

These images were gleaned from the more than 3,000 digital pictures I shot during this trip, which was capably managed by Overseas Adventure Travel. I used two digital cameras, a five megapixel Panasonic FZ-20 and a seven megapixel Canon G6. All of the Canon photographs were taken with a Canon .7x wideangle converter placed over my zoom lens, which provided me with the equivalent of a 24mm wideangle lens, a focal length that I feel is essential for effective travel and landscape photography. As usual, the most heavily used camera on this trip was the Panasonic FZ-20, which features an amazing 36mm-432mm Leica f/2.8 lens with image stabilization, allowing me to use its long telephoto reach in low light situations with remarkable clarity. I've edited all of these images with Photoshop to correct and refine the hue, color, contrast and sharpness levels, hopefully making my pictures more vibrant and meaningful. Although all of these photographs were digitally enhanced to some degree, none of the content has been significantly manipulated. The facts are all here, as I captured them. I hope you will enjoy these photographic impressions.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. I welcome your comments and questions. Phil Douglis Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops, Phoenix, Arizona, pnd1@cox.net

Gems of the Dalmatian Coast and Greece

Cities and canals of Belgium and Holland : In the early summer of 2005, I spent two weeks in Belgium and The Netherlands, gathering visual impressions in the great cities of Brussels, Antwerp, and Amsterdam, the ancient Flemish towns of Bruges and Ghent, as well as in the Dutch towns of Gouda and Leiden. For seven of those nights we lived on an old barge, which slowly took us from Bruges to Leiden. In this gallery, I display nearly 100 travel impressions made in these places. If you've viewed the previous galleries of travel impressions I've posted on this site, you'll note that my photographic intentions are focused on interpretation, rather than description. I've continued to do this in these galleries on this trip through Europes Low Countries. I want my pictures to express how I feel about what I see, rather than just recording what I've seen or where I've been. Aside from sharing these pictures with you on this website, I also am using many of them to teach the principles of expressive travel photography on my pbase website (http://www.pbase.com/pnd1) as well as in the tutorial workshops I give in Phoenix for those desiring instruction in photojournalism, expressive travel photography and digital imaging.

These images were gleaned from the more than 2,000 digital pictures I shot during the two weeks I spent in these places. I used two digital cameras, a five megapixel Panasonic FZ-20 and a seven megapixel Canon G6. All of the Canon photographs were taken with a Canon .7x wideangle converter placed over my zoom lens, which provided me with the equivalent of a 24mm wideangle lens, a focal length that I feel is essential for effective travel and landscape photography. As usual, the most heavily used camera on this trip was the Panasonic FZ-20, which features an amazing 36mm-432mm Leica f/2.8 lens with image stabilization, allowing me to use its long telephoto reach in low light situations with remarkable clarity. I've edited all of these images with Photoshop to correct and refine the hue, color, contrast and sharpness levels, hopefully making my pictures more vibrant and meaningful. Although all of these photographs were digitally enhanced to some degree, none of the content has been significantly manipulated. The facts are all here, as I captured them. I hope you will enjoy these photographic impressions.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. I welcome your comments and questions. Phil Douglis Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops, Phoenix, Arizona, pnd1@cox.net

Cities and canals of Belgium and Holland

Following the Mekong through Laos : This is the first of two galleries covering my visit to Southeast Asia in 2005. This gallery offers 104 impressions of Laos, a small landlocked country squeezed between Thailand, China, Cambodia, Myanmar (Burma), and Vietnam. We sailed its lifeblood -- the Mekong River -- exploring towns and villages along its banks, visiting the fascinating cities of Luang Prabang, Vientiane, and Pakse. We also toured the far south of Laos, at one point crossing over into Cambodia in search of the elusive Irrawaddy dolphins. We found Laos to be relatively unspoiled by commercial tourism. Most visitors seem to be traveling there as individuals or as members of small tours. Its facilities range from elegant to humble, its transportation is relatively reliable, and food at times can be remarkable. Its sights are varied and surprising, and most important, its people are open, hospitable, and curious. It might lack the glamorous amenities of neighboring Thailand. Its temples are not as spectacular or as energetic as those in neighboring Myanmar, or as historic as those at Angkor Wat in Cambodia. And it might not have the energy of Vietnam. Yet Laos offers a unique charm - particularly in its well preserved second city of Luang Prabang -- that is makes it well worth a visit. Judge it from these images and come to your own conclusions. (The second gallery covering this trip offers 100 visual impressions of mystical Myanmar.) If you've viewed the previous galleries I've posted on this site, you'll note that my photographic intentions are focused on interpretation, rather than description. I've continued to do this in these galleries on my 2005 Southeast Asian adventures. I want my pictures to express how I feel about what I see, rather than just recording what I've seen or where I've been. Aside from sharing these pictures with you on this website, I also am using many of them to teach the principles of expressive travel photography on my pbase website (http://www.pbase.com/pnd1) as well as in the tutorial workshops I give in Phoenix for those desiring instruction in photojournalism, expressive travel photography and digital imaging.

These images were gleaned from the more than 4,000 digital pictures I shot during my three weeks spent in these places. I used three digital cameras, a Leica Digilux 2, and a Panasonic FZ-20 -- both five megapixel fixed lens cameras, as well as a seven megapixel fixed lens Canon G6. All of the Canon photographs were taken with a Canon .7x wideangle converter placed over my zoom lens, which provided me with the equivalent of a 24mm wideangle lens, a focal length that I feel is essential for effective travel and landscape photography. The Lieca Digilux 2 offers an incredibly sharp f/2.0 28mm-90mm zoom lens, and an oversized sensor, which creates images with extra fine detail. It also functions without noticeable shutter lag, allowing me to stop action as desired. I used the Leica Digilux 2 very rarely on this trip. The most heavily used camera on this trip was the Panasonic FZ-20, which features an amazing 36mm-432mm Leica f/2.8 lens with image stabilization, allowing me to use its long telephoto reach in low light situations with remarkable clarity. I've edited all of these images with Photoshop to correct and refine the hue, color, contrast and sharpness levels, hopefully making my pictures more vibrant and meaningful. Although all of these photographs were digitally enhanced to some degree, none of the content has been significantly manipulated. The facts are all here, as I captured them. I hope you will enjoy my photographic impressions.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. I welcome your comments and questions. Phil Douglis Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops, Phoenix, Arizona, pnd1@cox.net

Following the Mekong through Laos

A Wondrous Week in Mystical Myanmar : This is the second of two galleries covering my visit to Southeast Asia in 2005. This gallery offers 100 impressions of Myanmar, known to history and legend as Burma. We spent only a week within its borders, visiting its capital Yangon (formerly known as Rangoon), its city of ancient temples Bagan (formerly known as Pagan), and the colorful area around Mandalay. Myanmar is a reticent host -- it welcomes foreign tourists but does not go out of its way to entice them. The archaic Yangon airport is grimly depressing, and the country is still repressively ruled by generals. Most visitors seem to be traveling there as individuals or as members of small tours. Facilities range from luxurious to basic, and its internal air transportation is remarkably efficient, featuring new airports in Bagan and Mandalay. Its sights can be breathtaking, and its people are open, kind and distinctive. Myanmar might lack the western amenities of neighboring Thailand -- even credit cards are banned. Yet Myanmar's temples and monasteries are as vibrant as any in Asia. Enjoy these images and draw your own conclusions. (The first gallery covering this trip offers 105 visual impressions of neighboring Laos.)

If you've viewed the previous galleries I've posted on this site, you'll note that my photographic intentions are focused on interpretation, rather than description. I've continued to do this in these galleries on my 2005 Southeast Asian adventures. I want my pictures to express how I feel about what I see, rather than just recording what I've seen or where I've been. Aside from sharing these pictures with you on this website, I also am using many of them to teach the principles of expressive travel photography on my pbase website (http://www.pbase.com/pnd1) as well as in the tutorial workshops I give in Phoenix for those desiring instruction in photojournalism, expressive travel photography and digital imaging. These images were gleaned from the more than 4,000 digital pictures I shot during my three weeks spent in these places. I used three digital cameras, a Leica Digilux 2, and a Panasonic FZ-20 -- both five megapixel fixed lens cameras, as well as a seven megapixel fixed lens Canon G6. All of the Canon photographs were taken with a Canon .7x wideangle converter placed over my zoom lens, which provided me with the equivalent of a 24mm wideangle lens, a focal length that I feel is essential for effective travel and landscape photography. The Lieca Digilux 2 offers an incredibly sharp f/2.0 28mm-90mm zoom lens, and an oversized sensor, which creates images with extra fine detail. It also functions without noticeable shutter lag, allowing me to stop action as desired. I used the Leica Digilux 2 very rarely on this trip. The most heavily used camera on this trip was the Panasonic FZ-20, which features an amazing 36mm-432mm Leica f/2.8 lens with image stabilization, allowing me to use its long telephoto reach in low light situations with remarkable clarity. I've edited all of these images with Photoshop to correct and refine the hue, color, contrast and sharpness levels, hopefully making my pictures more vibrant and meaningful. Although all of these photographs were digitally enhanced to some degree, none of the content has been significantly manipulated. The facts are all here, as I captured them.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. I hope you will enjoy my photographic impressions. I welcome any comments or questions. Phil Douglis Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops, Phoenix, Arizona, pnd1@cox.net

A Wondrous Week in Mystical Myanmar

Capturing the Autumn Light in Yosemite : As the late, great nature photographer Galen Rowell has said, "There is only one Yosemite on the face of the earth." Stretching along the flank of California's Sierra Nevada mountain range, Yosemite's scenic wildlands have been preserved in their natural state as a national park for more than 100 years. A spectacular 750,000 acre landscape, Yosemite is the result of 500 million years of geological history. Featuring some of the worlds oldest trees, flowering meadows and majestic granite cliffs, Yosemites unique beauty has stimulated the imaginations of millions of visitors, including tens of thousands of photographers. I visited Yosemite for the first time in the fall of 2004 as part of a two-day, ten person photographic workshop led by David Wyman and sponsored by the Yosemite Association. As a photographer, I relished the low angled shadows of the autumnal sun, which brought a strong sense of shape, form, and texture to bear on everything we saw This is the first of two galleries covering my photographic adventures in the Sierras. This one shows how I interpreted the natural splendor that is Yosemite through the lens of my cameras. In the next gallery, we will leave this great park and head over the mountains to the tiny California town of Bridgeport, our base for a two day exploration of the spectacular eastern side of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Our Eastern Sierra trip featured a visit to Bodie, the last great mining ghost town in the west, where 500 structures still stand as a monument to guns, gold, and glory. If you've viewed the previous galleries I've posted on this site, you'll note that my photographic intentions are focused on interpretation, rather than description. I've continued to do this in these galleries on my adventures in the Sierra. I want my pictures to express how I feel about what I see, rather than just recording what I've seen or where I've been.

Aside from sharing these pictures with you on this website, I also am using many of them to teach the principles of expressive travel photography on my pbase website (http://www.pbase.com/pnd1) as well as in the tutorial workshops I give in Phoenix for those desiring instruction in photojournalism, expressive travel photography and digital imaging. These images were gleaned from the more than 2,000 digital pictures I shot during my six day visit to these places. I used three digital cameras, a Leica Digilux 2, and a Panasonic FZ0 -- both five megapixel fixed lens cameras, as well as a seven megapixel fixed lens Canon G6. All of the Canon photographs were taken with a Canon .7x wideangle converter placed over my zoom lens, which provided me with the equivalent of a 24mm wideangle lens, a focal length that I feel is essential for effective travel and landscape photography. The Lieca Digilux 2 offers an incredibly sharp f/2.0 28mm-90mm zoom lens, and an oversized sensor, which creates images with extra fine detail. It also functions without noticeable shutter lag, allowing me to stop action as desired. The Panasonic FZ-20 features an amazing 36mm-432mm f/2.8 lens with image stabilization, allowing me to use its long telephoto lens in low light situations with remarkable clarity. I've edited all of these images with Photoshop to correct and refine the hue, color, contrast and sharpness levels, hopefully making my pictures more vibrant and meaningful. Although all of these photographs were digitally enhanced to some degree, none of the content has been significantly manipulated. The facts are all here, as I captured them. I hope you will enjoy my photographic impressions.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. I welcome your comments and questions.. Phil Douglis Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops, Phoenix, Arizona, pnd1@cox.net

Capturing the Autumn Light in Yosemite

The Eastern Sierra: Old West at its Best : Leaving Yosemite, we crossed the snow-swept Sierra Nevada mountains and spent three days exploring and photographing the towns, villages, deserts, and forests sprawled along their eastern flank. The highlight of this visit was a morning spent in Bodie, the last great mining ghost town of the west, where 500 structures still stand in a state of arrested decay. Between the Civil War and World War II, the Bodie Mining District produced close to $100 million in gold and silver, and when the mine finally was shut down, the town withered and died. Only five per cent of what once was Bodie still remains. But what a five per cent that is! This is the second of two galleries covering my photographic exploration of the Sierras. This first expresses the splendor of Yosemite as I saw it through the lenses of my cameras. If you've viewed the previous galleries I've posted on this site, you'll note that my photographic intentions are focused on interpretation, rather than description. I've continued to do this in these galleries on my adventures in the Sierra. I want my pictures to express how I feel about what I see, rather than just recording what I've seen or where I've been. Aside from sharing these pictures with you on this website, I also am using many of them to teach the principles of expressive travel photography on my pbase website (http://www.pbase.com/pnd1) as well as in the tutorial workshops I give in Phoenix for those desiring instruction in photojournalism, expressive travel photography and digital imaging.

These images were gleaned from the more than 2,000 digital pictures I shot during my six day visit to these places. I used three digital cameras, a Leica Digilux 2, and a Panasonic FZ0 -- both five megapixel fixed lens cameras, as well as a seven megapixel fixed lens Canon G6. All of the Canon photographs were taken with a Canon .7x wideangle converter placed over my zoom lens, which provided me with the equivalent of a 24mm wideangle lens, a focal length that I feel is essential for effective travel and landscape photography. The Lieca Digilux 2 offers an incredibly sharp f/2.0 28mm-90mm zoom lens, and an oversized sensor, which creates images with extra fine detail. It also functions without noticeable shutter lag, allowing me to stop action as desired. The Panasonic FZ-20 features an amazing 36mm-432mm f/2.8 lens with image stabilization, allowing me to use its long telephoto lens in low light situations with remarkable clarity. I've edited all of these images with Photoshop to correct and refine the hue, color, contrast and sharpness levels, hopefully making my pictures more vibrant and meaningful. Although all of these photographs were digitally enhanced to some degree, none of the content has been significantly manipulated. The facts are all here, as I captured them. I hope you will enjoy my photographic impressions.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. I welcome your comments and questions. Phil Douglis Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops, Phoenix, Arizona, pnd1@cox.net

The Eastern Sierra: Old West at its Best

To Falmouth, Guernsey, Cork, and Dublin : The old maritime city of Falmouth, England...St. Peter Port, capital of Guernsey...Cork and Dublin, Ireland's two largest cities. They offer a cross section of European history spanning three thousand years, arrayed along a crescent of turbulent water linking the English Channel to the Irish Sea. I passed this way in the summer of 2004 with my cameras, and offer you this interpretation of what I found there. This is the first of three galleries embracing a cruise to European ports. In the next gallery we will visit the French side of the Channel. In the final gallery of this trip, we will cruise into the Bay of Biscay around the top of Spain, and then move into the Atlantic, ending in Portugal. The second gallery will offer my interpretation of the Normandy Invasion Beaches, as well as Mont St. Michel and St. Malo in Brittany. The third gallery features images of Bilbao and Santiago de Compostella in Spain, as well as Guimaraes, Braga, and Lisbon in Portugal. If you've viewed the previous galleries I've posted on this site, you'll note that my photographic intentions are focused on interpretation, rather than description. I've continued to do this in these galleries on my European adventures. I want my pictures to express how I feel about what I see, rather than just recording what I've seen or where I've been. Aside from sharing these pictures with you on this website, I also am using many of them to teach the principles of expressive travel photography on my pbase website (http://www.pbase.com/pnd1) as well as in the tutorial workshops I give in Phoenix for those desiring instruction in photojournalism, expressive travel photography and digital imaging.

These European images were gleaned from the more than 2,000 digital pictures I shot during our entire trip. I used two digital cameras, a Leica Digilux 2 and a Canon G5 -- both five megapixel fixed lens cameras. Most of the Canon photographs were taken with a Canon .7x wideangle converter placed over my zoom lens, which provided me with the equivalent of a 24mm wideangle lens, a focal length that I feel is essential for effective travel photography. Others were made with a Canon 1.75x telephoto converter, which is the equivalent of a 245mm telephoto lens. (Only a few of these photographs were made using just the G5's 35mm-140mm zoom lens.) The Lieca Digilux 2 offers an incredibly sharp 28mm-90mm zoom lens, and an oversized sensor, which creates images with extra fine detail. It also functions without noticeable shutter lag, allowing me to stop action as desired. I've edited all of these images with Photoshop to correct and refine the hue, color, contrast and sharpness levels, hopefully making my pictures more vibrant and meaningful. Although all of these photographs were digitally enhanced to some degree, none of the content has been significantly manipulated. The facts are all here, as I captured them. I hope you will enjoy my photographic impressions.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. I welcome your comments and questions. Phil Douglis Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops, Phoenix, Arizona, pnd1@cox.net

To Falmouth, Guernsey, Cork, and Dublin

French treasures: Normandy and Brittany : In the summer of 2004, I visited Normandy and Brittany, the most distinctive among France's historic provinces, for the first time. Our cruise ship called at Le Havre, France's second largest port. From there we were able to experience a moving visit to the World War II D-Day Invasion beaches along the Normandy Coast. We sailed on to St. Malo, the City of Corsairs, and birthplace of explorer Jacques Cartier. From there, I visited Mont St. Michel, an ancient fortified abbey rising 500 feet out of the sea. Over a thousand years of history unfolded before my cameras in these treasured places. Here are my photographic interpretations of what I discovered there. This is second of three galleries embracing our 2004 cruise to European ports. In the first gallery we visited English and Irish ports. The third gallery features our visits to Bilbao and Santiago de Compostella in Spain, as well as Guimaraes, Braga, and Lisbon in Portugal. If you've viewed the previous galleries I've posted on this site, you'll note that my photographic intentions are focused on interpretation, rather than description. I've continued to do this in these galleries on my European adventures. I want my pictures to express how I feel about what I see, rather than just recording what I've seen or where I've been. Aside from sharing these pictures with you on this website, I also am using many of them to teach the principles of expressive travel photography on my pbase website (http://www.pbase.com/pnd1) as well as in the tutorial workshops I give in Phoenix for those desiring instruction in photojournalism, expressive travel photography and digital imaging.

These European images were gleaned from the more than 2,000 digital pictures I shot during our entire trip. I used two digital cameras, a Leica Digilux 2 and a Canon G5 -- both five megapixel fixed lens cameras. Most of the Canon photographs were taken with a Canon .7x wideangle converter placed over my zoom lens, which provided me with the equivalent of a 24mm wideangle lens, a focal length that I feel is essential for effective travel photography. Others were made with a Canon 1.75x telephoto converter, which is the equivalent of a 245mm telephoto lens. (Only a few of these photographs were made using just the G5's 35mm-140mm zoom lens.) The Lieca Digilux 2 offers an incredibly sharp 28mm-90mm zoom lens, and an oversized sensor, which creates images with extra fine detail. It also functions without noticeable shutter lag, allowing me to stop action as desired. I've edited all of these images with Photoshop to correct and refine the hue, color, contrast and sharpness levels, hopefully making my pictures more vibrant and meaningful. Although all of these photographs were digitally enhanced to some degree, none of the content has been significantly manipulated. The facts are all here, as I captured them. I hope you will enjoy my photographic impressions.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. I welcome your comments and questions. Phil Douglis Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops, Phoenix, Arizona, pnd1@cox.net

French treasures: Normandy and Brittany

Along the coasts of Spain and Portugal : Our summer 2004 European cruise concluded on the Bay of Biscay and the Atlantic Ocean. Our cruise ship stopped at Bilbao, Spain, where we visited its most prominent sight -- the Guggenheim Museum. We then sailed on to La Coruna, not far from Santiago de Compostela and its Romanesque Cathedral, said to contain the bones of St. James. Following our visits in Spain, we moved on to Portugal, stopping first at Oporto, jumping off place for excursions to the historic cities of Guimaraes and Braga. Lisbon marked the conclusion of the cruise, where I spent two days photographing along the hilly streets of the Portuguese capital city. This is third of three galleries embracing our 2004 cruise to European ports. In the first gallery we visited English and Irish ports. The second gallery featured visits to Frances Normandy invasion beaches, as well as Brittany's Mont St. Michel and St. Malo. If you've viewed the previous galleries I've posted on this site, you'll note that my photographic intentions are focused on interpretation, rather than description. I've continued to do this in these galleries on my European adventures. I want my pictures to express how I feel about what I see, rather than just recording what I've seen or where I've been. Aside from sharing these pictures with you on this website, I also am using many of them to teach the principles of expressive travel photography on my pbase website (http://www.pbase.com/pnd1) as well as in the tutorial workshops I give in Phoenix for those desiring instruction in photojournalism, expressive travel photography and digital imaging.

These European images were gleaned from the more than 2,000 digital pictures I shot during our entire trip. I used two digital cameras, a Leica Digilux 2 and a Canon G5 -- both five megapixel fixed lens cameras. Most of the Canon photographs were taken with a Canon .7x wideangle converter placed over my zoom lens, which provided me with the equivalent of a 24mm wideangle lens, a focal length that I feel is essential for effective travel photography. Others were made with a Canon 1.75x telephoto converter, which is the equivalent of a 245mm telephoto lens. (Only a few of these photographs were made using just the G5's 35mm-140mm zoom lens.) The Lieca Digilux 2 offers an incredibly sharp 28mm-90mm zoom lens, and an oversized sensor, which creates images with extra fine detail. It also functions without noticeable shutter lag, allowing me to stop action as desired. I've edited all of these images with Photoshop to correct and refine the hue, color, contrast and sharpness levels, hopefully making my pictures more vibrant and meaningful. Although all of these photographs were digitally enhanced to some degree, none of the content has been significantly manipulated. The facts are all here, as I captured them.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. I hope you will enjoy my photographic impressions. Phil Douglis Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops, Phoenix, Arizona, pnd1@cox.net

Along the coasts of Spain and Portugal

China's North: Imperial Beijing and Xian : China, the third largest nation in the world and the largest in population, offers a virtually limitless range of photographic opportunities. I made my first visit to China in June and July of 2004 experiencing many of its greatest cities and most historic sights. I have organized nearly 200 of my China images into four separate galleries. This is the first of them, concentrating on Beijing and Xian, the two great imperial cities of China's North. Xian, now a city of nearly eight million, was once the largest city in the world. Over a thousand years of Chinese history, it was the seat of the fabled Tang and eleven other Dynasties. Beijing eventually came to rule China in the 13th Century, and today it is a booming capital city with over twelve million inhabitants.

If you've viewed previous galleries I've posted on this site, you'll note that my photographic intentions are focused on interpretation, rather than description. I've continued to do this in these galleries on my Chinese adventures. I want my pictures to express how I feel about what I see, rather than just recording what I've seen or where I've been. Aside from sharing these pictures with you on this website, I also am using many of them to teach the principles of expressive travel photography on my pbase website (http://www.pbase.com/pnd1) as well as in the tutorial workshops I give in Phoenix for those desiring instruction in photojournalism, expressive travel photography and digital imaging. These impressions of Beijing and Xian were gleaned from the more than 2,000 digital images I shot during our entire trip. I used three digital cameras, primarily a Leica Digilux 2 and a Canon G5 -- both five megapixel fixed lens cameras. Most of the Canon photographs were taken with a Canon .7x wideangle converter placed over my zoom lens, which provided me with the equivalent of a 24mm wideangle lens, a focal length that I feel is essential for effective travel photography. Others were made with a Canon 1.75x telephoto converter, which is the equivalent of a 245mm telephoto lens. (Only a few of these photographs were made using just the G5's 35mm-140mm zoom lens.) The Lieca Digilux 2 offers an incredibly sharp 28mm-90mm zoom lens, and an oversized sensor, which creates images with extra fine detail. It also functions without noticeable shutter lag, allowing me to stop action as desired. I also used a tiny four megapixel Canon S-400 Digital Elph for some of these images, allowing me to keep my camera virtually out of sight at times and even out of mind. I've edited all of these images with Photoshop to correct and refine the hue, color, contrast and sharpness levels, hopefully making my pictures more vibrant and meaningful. Although all of these photographs were digitally enhanced to some degree, none of the content has been digitally manipulated. The facts are all here, exactly as I captured them.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. I hope you will enjoy my photographic impressions. Phil Douglis Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops, Phoenix, Arizona, pnd1@cox.net

China's North: Imperial Beijing and Xian

China's Center, from Sichuan to the Sea : China, the third largest nation in the world and the largest in population, offers a virtually limitless range of photographic opportunities. I made my first visit to China in June and July of 2004 experiencing many of its greatest cities and most historic sights. I have organized nearly 200 of my China images into four separate galleries. This is the second of them, concentrating on the Center of China, from Sichuan's capitol of Chengdu, through the spectacular gorges of the mighty Yangtze, to China's most vibrant city, Shanghai on the sea. If you've viewed previous galleries I've posted on this site, you'll note that my photographic intentions are focused on interpretation, rather than description. I've continued to do this in these galleries on my Chinese adventures. I want my pictures to express how I feel about what I see, rather than just recording what I've seen or where I've been. Aside from sharing these pictures with you on this website, I also am using many of them to teach the principles of expressive travel photography on my pbase website (http://www.pbase.com/pnd1) as well as in the tutorial workshops I give in Phoenix for those desiring instruction in photojournalism, expressive travel photography and digital imaging.

These impressions of Chengdu, the Yangtze, and Shanghai were gleaned from the more than 2,000 digital images I shot during our entire trip. I used three digital cameras, primarily a Leica Digilux 2 and a Canon G5 -- both five megapixel fixed lens cameras. Most of the Canon photographs were taken with a Canon .7x wideangle converter placed over my zoom lens, which provided me with the equivalent of a 24mm wideangle lens, a focal length that I feel is essential for effective travel photography. Others were made with a Canon 1.75x telephoto converter, which is the equivalent of a 245mm telephoto lens. (Only a few of these photographs were made using just the G5's 35mm-140mm zoom lens.) The Lieca Digilux 2 offers an incredibly sharp 28mm-90mm zoom lens, and an oversized sensor, which creates images with extra fine detail. It also functions without noticeable shutter lag, allowing me to stop action as desired. I also used a tiny four megapixel Canon S-400 Digital Elph for some of these images, allowing me to keep my camera virtually out of sight at times and even out of mind. I've edited all of these images with Photoshop to correct and refine the hue, color, contrast and sharpness levels, hopefully making my pictures more vibrant and meaningful. Although all of these photographs were digitally enhanced to some degree, none of the content has been digitally manipulated. The facts are all here, exactly as I captured them. I hope you will enjoy my photographic impressions.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. I welcome any comments you might wish to leave. Phil Douglis Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops, Phoenix, Arizona, pnd1@cox.net

China's Center, from Sichuan to the Sea

Hong Kong: Building China's wealth : China, the third largest nation in the world and the largest in population, offers a virtually limitless range of photographic opportunities. I made my first visit to China in June and July of 2004 experiencing many of its greatest cities and most historic sights. I have organized nearly 200 of my China images into four separate galleries. This is the third, concentrating on China's great economic engine, Hong Kong, which returned to Chinese control in 1997. If you've viewed previous galleries I've posted on this site, you'll note that my photographic intentions are focused on interpretation, rather than description. I've continued to do this in these galleries on my Chinese adventures. I want my pictures to express how I feel about what I see, rather than just recording what I've seen or where I've been. Aside from sharing these pictures with you on this website, I also am using many of them to teach the principles of expressive travel photography on my pbase website (http://www.pbase.com/pnd1) as well as in the tutorial workshops I give in Phoenix for those desiring instruction in photojournalism, expressive travel photography and digital imaging.

These impressions of Hong Kong were gleaned from the more than 2,000 digital images I shot during our entire trip. I used three digital cameras, primarily a Leica Digilux 2 and a Canon G5 -- both five megapixel fixed lens cameras. Most of the Canon photographs were taken with a Canon .7x wideangle converter placed over my zoom lens, which provided me with the equivalent of a 24mm wideangle lens, a focal length that I feel is essential for effective travel photography. Others were made with a Canon 1.75x telephoto converter, which is the equivalent of a 245mm telephoto lens. (Only a few of these photographs were made using just the G5's 35mm-140mm zoom lens.) The Lieca Digilux 2 offers an incredibly sharp 28mm-90mm zoom lens, and an oversized sensor, which creates images with extra fine detail. It also functions without noticeable shutter lag, allowing me to stop action as desired. I also used a tiny four megapixel Canon S-400 Digital Elph for some of these images, allowing me to keep my camera virtually out of sight at times and even out of mind. I've edited all of these images with Photoshop to correct and refine the hue, color, contrast and sharpness levels, hopefully making my pictures more vibrant and meaningful. Although all of these photographs were digitally enhanced to some degree, none of the content has been digitally manipulated. The facts are all here, exactly as I captured them. I hope you will enjoy my photographic impressions.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. I welcome any comments you might wish to leave. Phil Douglis Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops, Phoenix, Arizona, pnd1@cox.net

Hong Kong: Building China's wealth

China's West: Tibet, Roof of the World : China, the third largest nation in the world and the largest in population, offers a virtually limitless range of photographic opportunities. I made my first visit to China in June and July of 2004 experiencing many of its greatest cities and most historic sights. I have organized nearly 200 of my China images into four separate galleries. This is the fourth, focusing on Lhasa, Tibet, which has been under the control of China since 1950. If you've viewed previous galleries I've posted on this site, you'll note that my photographic intentions are focused on interpretation, rather than description. I've continued to do this in these galleries on my Chinese adventures. I want my pictures to express how I feel about what I see, rather than just recording what I've seen or where I've been. Aside from sharing these pictures with you on this website, I also am using many of them to teach the principles of expressive travel photography on my pbase website (http://www.pbase.com/pnd1) as well as in the tutorial workshops I give in Phoenix for those desiring instruction in photojournalism, expressive travel photography and digital imaging.

These impressions of Lhasa, Tibet were gleaned from the more than 2,000 digital images I shot during our entire trip. I used three digital cameras, primarily a Leica Digilux 2 and a Canon G5 -- both five megapixel fixed lens cameras. Most of the Canon photographs were taken with a Canon .7x wideangle converter placed over my zoom lens, which provided me with the equivalent of a 24mm wideangle lens, a focal length that I feel is essential for effective travel photography. Others were made with a Canon 1.75x telephoto converter, which is the equivalent of a 245mm telephoto lens. (Only a few of these photographs were made using just the G5's 35mm-140mm zoom lens.) The Lieca Digilux 2 offers an incredibly sharp 28mm-90mm zoom lens, and an oversized sensor, which creates images with extra fine detail. It also functions without noticeable shutter lag, allowing me to stop action as desired. I also used a tiny four megapixel Canon S-400 Digital Elph for some of these images, allowing me to keep my camera virtually out of sight at times and even out of mind. I've edited all of these images with Photoshop to correct and refine the hue, color, contrast and sharpness levels, hopefully making my pictures more vibrant and meaningful. Although all of these photographs were digitally enhanced to some degree, none of the content has been digitally manipulated. The facts are all here, exactly as I captured them. I hope you will enjoy my photographic impressions.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. I welcome any comments you might wish to leave. Phil Douglis Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops, Phoenix, Arizona, pnd1@cox.net

China's West: Tibet, Roof of the World

The Caribbean, from Curacao to the Canal : Curacao, Aruba, Costa Rica, and the Panama Canal were the first four destinations on a five week adventure that would take us from the Caribbean to the end of the world -- Antarctica. Sailing on Orient Lines' Marco Polo, we spent part of December, 2003 exploring these colorful ports in the Netherland's Antilles and Central America. Just before Christmas, we would pass through the great canal, make a sharp left turn into the Pacific, and steam down the Western coast of South America to cross the Equator and visit tropical ports in Ecuador and Peru, and then move on to Chile as 2004 dawned. On the final, and certainly the most unique portions of this cruise, we would leave civilization behind us and sail to the magical white continent of Antarctica, and finish the trip with a visit to Argentina. As usual, my primary travel goal is to turn what I see and discover into photographs. If you've viewed the previous galleries I've posted on this site, you'll note that that my photographic intentions are usually focused on interpretation, rather than description. I want my pictures to express how I feel about what I see, rather than just recording what I've seen or where I've been. Aside from sharing my pictures with you on this website, I also use some of them to teach the principles of expressive travel photography through my galleries on pbase (www.pbase.com/pnd1)in my tutorial workshops in Phoenix for students of digital photography.

These impressions of the Caribbean were gleaned from the more than 3,000 digital images I shot during our entire trip. I made most of them with a compact Canon G5 five-megapixel digital camera. Most of these photographs were taken with a Canon .7x wideangle converter placed over my zoom lens, which provided me with the equivalent of a 24mm wideangle lens, a focal length that I feel is essential for effective travel photography. Others were made with a Canon 1.75x telephoto converter, which is the equivalent of a 245mm telephoto lens. (Only a few of these photographs were made with just the G5's 35mm-140mm zoom lens.) I've edited these images with Photoshop to correct and refine the hue, color, contrast and sharpness levels, making my pictures more vibrant and meaningful. Although all of these photographs were digitally enhanced to some degree, none of the content has been digitally manipulated. The facts are all here, exactly as I captured them. I hope you will enjoy my photographic impressions.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. I welcome any comments you might wish to leave. Phil Douglis Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops, Phoenix, Arizona, pnd1@cox.net

The Caribbean, from Curacao to the Canal

Cruising the coasts of Ecuador and Peru : Ecuador has the Galapagos, and Peru is known primarily for Machu Picchu. I visited both of these wonderful places many years ago -- their fame is fully justified. The second time around, I was a passenger on a cruise ship headed south out of the Caribbean and bound for Chile, Antarctica and Argentina. This return visit to Ecuador and Peru would feature the colorful and fascinating coastal areas of Manta, Trujillo, along with a second visit to Lima, the Peruvian capital. My impressions of the Western coasts of Ecuador and Peru were gleaned from more than 3,000 digital images I shot during our entire month long trip. I made most of them with a compact Canon G5 five-megapixel digital camera using a Canon .7x wideangle converter placed over my zoom lens, which provided me with the equivalent of a 24mm wideangle lens, a focal length that I feel is essential for effective travel photography. Others were made with a Canon 1.75x telephoto converter, the equivalent of a 245mm telephoto lens. (Only a few of these photographs were made with just the G5's 35mm-140mm zoom lens.) I've edited these images with Photoshop to correct and refine the hue, color, contrast and sharpness levels, making my pictures more vibrant and meaningful. Although all of these photographs were digitally enhanced to some degree, none of the content has been digitally manipulated. The facts are all here, exactly as I captured them. If you've viewed the previous galleries I've posted on this site, you'll note that that my travels are geared to photography. My intentions are focused on interpretation, rather than description. I try to express how I feel about what I see with my images, rather than just recording what I've seen or where I've been. Aside from sharing these pictures with you on this website, I also am using many of them to teach the principles of expressive travel photography on my pbase website (http://www.pbase.com/pnd1) as well as in the tutorial workshops I give in Phoenix for those desiring instruction in photojournalism, expressive travel photography and digital imaging. I hope you will enjoy these photographic impressions.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. I welcome any comments and questions you may wish to leave. Phil Douglis Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops, Phoenix, Arizona, pnd1@cox.net

Cruising the coasts of Ecuador and Peru

Chile, from Top to Bottom : Chile is the narrowest major country in the world -- a thin band only about 100 miles wide between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes Mountains, yet extending 3,000 miles down the left-hand edge of the South American Continent. It was my first visit ever to Chile, the sixth South American country I've visited over the years. We had been cruising on Orient Line's Marco Polo for nearly two weeks, already having been in the Caribbean, through the Panama Canal, and in Ecuador and Peru. We would spend the next eleven days visiting Chile itself and cruising Chilean waters, calling at six ports from the very top of this country to the very bottom. We would explore Chile's great desert and its mountains, and ultimately cruise through its spectacular fjords, straits and channels. My only regret is that there was not adequate time to also visit Santiago, Chile's great capital city. The two hour drive each way was too much of a time investment, given our brief one day stay in Valparaiso, Chile's major port. It was more productive to use that full day exploring Valparaiso, than spending only a couple of hasty hours in Santiago. (I've heard that Santiago is worth several days in itself -- maybe next time!) After Chile, we would turn south to Antarctica, and then turn north once again to finish our cruise in Argentina and spend a extra couple of days enjoying Buenos Aires.

These photographic impressions of Chile were gleaned from more than 3,000 digital images I shot during our entire month long trip. I made more pictures in Chile than in any other country, since we were in Chile for longer than anywhere else on this month long adventure. I made almost all of my pictures with a compact Canon G5 five-megapixel digital camera using a Canon .7x wideangle converter placed over my zoom lens, which provided me with the equivalent of a 24mm wideangle lens, a focal length that I feel is most useful for effective travel photography. Others were made using a Canon 1.75x telephoto converter on my G5 camera, the equivalent of a 245mm telephoto lens. (Only a few of these photographs were made using only the G5's 35mm-140mm zoom lens.) I've edited these images with Photoshop to correct and refine the hue, color, contrast and sharpness levels, making my pictures more vibrant and meaningful. Although all of these photographs were digitally enhanced to some degree, none of the content has been digitally manipulated. The facts are all here, exactly as I captured them. If you've viewed the previous galleries I've posted on this site, you'll note that that my travels are geared to photography. My intentions are focused on interpretation, rather than description. I try to express how I feel about what I see with my images, rather than just recording what I've seen or where I've been. Aside from sharing these pictures with you on this website, I also am using many of them to teach the principles of expressive travel photography on my pbase website (http://www.pbase.com/pnd1) as well as in the tutorial workshops I give in Phoenix for those desiring instruction in photojournalism, expressive travel photography and digital imaging. I hope you will enjoy these photographic impressions.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. I welcome your comments and questions. Phil Douglis Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops, Phoenix, Arizona, pnd1@cox.net

Chile, from Top to Bottom

Antarctica: To the End of the World : We spent three full days cruising through the channels of the spectacular Antarctic Peninsula, threading our way between its huge icebergs, circling the towering cliffs of its cloud-shrouded islands, and studying the colorful behavior of nesting penguins -- three days crowded with awe-inspiring, never to be forgotten experiences, and the photographic opportunities of a lifetime. Much of what we were able to do and see was influenced by the weather, which was constantly changing. We were there at the height of Antarctica's "summer" -- the temperatures were in the 30s and 40s -- but the skies were never as blue as the travel brochures and promotional videos would have you believe. We experienced frequent wind, snow, rain, sleet, fog, choppy seas, and gray skies -- along with a few welcome but scattered calm and sunny interludes. No matter the weather, wonderful images were there for the taking -- all of the time. We never saw the Antarctic night -- since there was not very much of it in January. The sheer scale of the craggy cliffs and the misty peaks of ice and snow the lined the Lemaire Channel was unlike anything I've ever seen before or may see again. The afternoon spent walking among thousands of nesting penguins at Paradise Harbor, was also an unforgetable experience, as was circling the rookeries of Cuverville Island in a Zodiac boat, and steaming into the flooded caldera of Deception Island in the blowing snow. And even crossing the Drake Passage, the most forbidding body of water on earth, was an unforgettable adventure. Armed with the advantages of having the instant imaging capability of a digital camera, I was able to shoot and reshoot until I was satisfied that I had done the best I could do under the circumstances. (I could not imagine shooting the challenging subject matter Antarctica offers with a film camera, and not knowing whether or not I had captured what I wanted until I had returned home.)

There were advantages and disadvantages to seeing the Antarctic Peninsula from a medium sized cruise ship such as the Marco Polo, as opposed to a smaller expedition ship. The Marco Polo was a floating hotel, enabling us to go into that hostile environment in relative comfort. The unusually deep hull of our heavy ship allowed to us to plow through the wild turbulence of the 600 mile Drake Passage crossing from Argentina and back with much pitching and rolling but relatively little seasickness. It was a rough ride but not a wretchedly miserable one, as it might well have been on a smaller, lighter expedition ship. On the other hand, the 450 passengers on the Marco Polo had to take turns shuttling back and forth from the ship in Zodiac landing craft, meaning much less time off the ship for each of us.

Our three-day visit, which was exactly ten per cent of our entire month-long cruise, gave us only a relative taste of Antarctica, rather than the in-depth experience which could be gained from a ten day or longer expedition devoted entirely to the Antarctic Peninsula and its surrounding islands. Such are the compromises one faces when choosing where to go and how long to spend there. Sometimes we have to simply make the best -- and the most -- of what we can see and do within a limited amount of time. And that's what I tried to accomplish in this Antarctic segment of our cruise. Unlike an expedition dedicated solely to the Antarctic, our own cruise featured Antarctica as just one of its many destinations, part of a month long cruise beginning in the tropical waters of the Caribbean, and then taking us down the entire western coast of South America, before bringing us into Antarctic waters. However the Antarctic portion, in my view, turned out to be the most exciting and stimulating part, by far, of the entire journey. It was what travel should be all about -- going to places and seeing and learning things that are entirely different from anything we have experienced before.

These photographic impressions of Antarctica were gleaned from more than 3,000 digital images I shot during this entire month long trip. I made more pictures during my three days in Antarctica than at any other single place. I made all of them with a compact Canon G5 five-megapixel digital camera, most of them with a Canon .7x wideangle converter placed over my zoom lens, which provided me with the equivalent of a 24mm wideangle lens, a focal length that I feel was most useful for effective Antarctic photography, including my images of penguins. Others were made using a Canon 1.75x telephoto converter on my G5 camera, the equivalent of a 245mm telephoto lens, which was useful when shooting birds in flight and a few distant whales (far too distant for effective imaging). I've edited all of these images with Photoshop to correct and refine the hue, color, contrast and sharpness levels, making my pictures more vibrant and meaningful. Although all of these photographs were digitally enhanced to some degree, none of the content has been digitally manipulated. The facts are all here, exactly as I captured them.

If you've viewed the previous gallleries I've posted on this site, you'll note that that my travels are geared to photography. My intentions are focused on interpretation, rather than description. I try to express how I feel about what I see with my images, rather than just recording what I've seen or where I've been. Aside from sharing these pictures with you on this website, I also am using many of them to teach the principles of expressive travel photography on my pbase website (http://www.pbase.com/pnd1) as well as in the tutorial workshops I give in Phoenix for those desiring instruction in photojournalism, expressive travel photography and digital imaging. I hope you will enjoy these photographic impressions of Antarctica.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. I welcome your comments and questions. Phil Douglis Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops, Phoenix, Arizona, pnd1@cox.net

Antarctica: To the End of the World

Argentine Gems: Patagonia & Buenos Aires : Everyone who visits the Antarctic Peninsula returns via Argentina, cruising up the Beagle Channel to Ushuaia, which bills itself as the "Southernmost City on Earth". Ushuaia is located in an area generally known as Patagonia. It is in Argentina's most southern province, Tierra del Fuego -- the "Land of Fire." The Orient Line's cruise ship Marco Polo, our floating home for a month, carried us to Ushuaia -- the final port on our long and varied cruise. We began the cruise in the Caribbean, passed through the Panama Canal and down the entire coast of South America to Ecuador, Peru, and Chile, and then down as far south as one can go in this world -- to the Antarctic Peninsula. I spent a few days shooting in the Ushuaia area before flying a few thousand miles north to Buenos Aires for a two-day post-cruise visit. It would be my second visit to Buenos Aires -- the previous year, the very same ship had taken us from Mombassa, Kenya, to the Argentine capital. My second shoot in the "Paris of South America" was every bit as rewarding as my first, and in some ways, even more so. I revisited some of my favorite places, such as the colorful La Boca, and explored new ones as well.

These photographic impressions of Argentina were gleaned from more than 3,000 digital images I shot during our entire month long trip. I made almost all of my pictures with a compact Canon G5 five-megapixel digital camera using a Canon .7x wideangle converter placed over my zoom lens, which provided me with the equivalent of a 24mm wideangle lens, a focal length that I feel is most useful for effective travel photography. Others were made using a Canon 1.75x telephoto converter on my G5 camera, the equivalent of a 245mm telephoto lens. (Only a few of these photographs were made using only the G5's 35mm-140mm zoom lens.) I've edited these images with Photoshop to correct and refine the hue, color, contrast and sharpness levels, making my pictures more vibrant and meaningful. Although all of these photographs were digitally enhanced to some degree, none of the content has been digitally manipulated. The facts are all here, exactly as I captured them. If you've viewed the previous galleries I've posted on this site, you'll note that that my travels are geared to photography. My intentions are focused on interpretation, rather than description. I try to express how I feel about what I see with my images, rather than just recording what I've seen or where I've been. Aside from sharing these pictures with you on this website, I also am using many of them to teach the principles of expressive travel photography on my pbase website (http://www.pbase.com/pnd1) as well as in the tutorial workshops I give in Phoenix for those desiring instruction in photojournalism, expressive travel photography and digital imaging. I hope you will enjoy these photographic impressions.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. I welcome your comments and questions. Phil Douglis Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops, Phoenix, Arizona, pnd1@cox.net

Argentine Gems: Patagonia & Buenos Aires

Moscow to St. Petersburg by River Boat : A river cruise is a picturesque and convenient way to visit Russia's two most important cities and also include several historically important provincial towns that lie between them along the waterways of the Czars. Sailing with Viking River Cruises, I spent ten days and eleven nights in July, 2003 exploring the historical, political and spirtual core of the largest country on earth. Over the last 300 years, Moscow and St. Petersburg have each governed Russia. Today, the Kremlin in Moscow calls the shots, but there is some talk of eventually moving a few government agencies back again to St. Petersburg where Peter the Great got things going exactly 300 years ago this summer. We spent two and a half days exploring Moscow at the beginning of our trip, and three full days enjoying the sights of St. Petersburg at the end of our visit. In between, we cruised the rivers, lakes, and canals that link the two metropolises. It is impossible to see any country in just ten days, let alone a country that spreads halfway around the world. But ten days was enough to sample the places I have always longed to see: Moscow's incredible Kremlin, the colorful towns along the Volga River, the splendid palaces and museums of St. Petersburg. I also wanted to see for myself how Russia is making the difficult transition from 75 years of Communism to an open, democratic, capitalistic society. We accomplished all this and more during our brief but fascinating visit. My primary travel purpose is to turn what I see and discover into photographs. If you've viewed the previous galleries I've posted on this site, you'll note that that my photographic intentions are usually focused on interpretation, rather than description. I want my pictures to express how I feel about what I see, rather than just recording what I've seen or where I've been. Aside from sharing these pictures with you on this website, I also am using many of them to teach the principles of expressive travel photography on my pbase website (http://www.pbase.com/pnd1) as well as in the tutorial workshops I give in Phoenix for those desiring instruction in photojournalism, expressive travel photography and digital imaging.

These 99 impressions of this small portion of Russia were gleaned from the more than 1,000 digital images I shot on this trip. I made all but five of them with a compact Canon G5 five-megapixel digital camera. Most of these photographs were taken with a Canon .7x wideangle converter placed over my zoom lens, which provided me with the equivalent of a 24mm wideangle lens, a focal length that I feel is essential for effective travel photography. A few were made with a Canon 1.75x telephoto converter, which is the equivalent of a 245mm telephoto lens. (Only a few of these photographs were made with the G5's 35mm-140mm zoom lens.) I've edited these images with Photoshop to correct and refine the hue, color, contrast and sharpness levels, making my pictures more vibrant and meaningful. Although all of these photographs were digitally enhanced to some degree, none of the content has been digitally manipulated. The facts are all here, exactly as I captured them.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. I hope you will enjoy looking at them, and I welcome your comments and questions. Phil Douglis Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops, Phoenix, Arizona pnd1@cox.net

Moscow to St. Petersburg by River Boat

Santa Fe: pictures from a workshop : Digital photography may still be in its infancy, but in just a few short years it has already become a major factor in travel photography. More and more travelers now carry compact digital cameras, and are finding them incredibly useful in documenting and interpreting their journeys. Not only is electronic film "free" for life, allowing us to shoot as many pictures as we want to without guilt, but these cameras also allow us to actually see what our pictures are going to look like both before and after each shot. We can keep shooting until we get exactly the picture we want, pictures that can be incredibly clear, sharp, and brilliant. Later we can share our images with others via email or on websites such as this one. We can even print our own pictures on our desktops -- no darkroom needed. We can also take them to photo-finishers, ordering only the pictures we want to print and saving hundreds of dollars a year in film costs and trashed prints. All of this comes at a price, however. These cameras cost more initially, although film and processing savings can eventually make up this expense. However there is another cost involved -- the learning curve in digital photography is steep. It takes time, practice and knowledge to get the most out of any digital camera. One of the best places to get such knowledge is at a digital photography workshop, but the major photography workshop centers have ignored the phenomenal success of the compact digital camera. They offer extensive training to film photographers and to those willing to spend thousands of dollars on digital single lens reflex cameras, but until now they have overlooked the training needs of travel photographers who carry compact digicams.

In September 2003, the Santa Fe Workshops, one of the world's major centers for education in creative imaging, offered the first workshop ever designed specifically for travel photographers carrying compact digital cameras. Nevada Wier, one of the world's leading travel photographers, taught the six-day course. I was one of thirteen travel photographers participating in this landmark workshop. It was my third visit to the Santa Fe Workshops. In 2002 I spent a week there learning Photoshop, the complex but amazing computer program that instantly improves the colors, contrast, and exposure of our pictures. In March of 2003, I spent still another week in Santa Fe, learning the ins and outs of digital camera technology from George Schaub, editor of Shutterbug Magazine. Nevada Wier's workshop completed the digital training cycle for me in Santa Fe, and offered many insights into the creative use of compact digital cameras in travel situations that I can put to use in my own pictures, as well as pass on to those who will learn about digital photography from me in tutorials at my Phoenix home. I spent many hours at Santa Fe in the classroom, discussing issues involved in digital travel photography. I spent even more time shooting class assignments in various places in New Mexico. Nevada is a remarkably effective teacher. Our class included a mix of levels, ranging from beginners to professional photographers, including a photography teacher -- myself. Yet Nevada was able to speak to the needs of every one of us, teaching with patience, passion, and compassion. When the workshop ended, the beginners had made some splendid travel images and were ready for more. The pros had knowledge they did not have before. And everyone's vision had been substantially refined and refocused. In this gallery, I'll share with you some of the digital travel images I made during our workshop assignments.

If you've viewed the previous travel galleries I've posted on this site, you'll note that my photographic intentions are usually focused on interpretation, rather than description. I wanted the pictures I made on these workshop assignments to express how I felt about what I saw. Aside from sharing these pictures with you on this website, I also am using many of them to teach the principles of expressive travel photography on my pbase website (http://www.pbase.com/pnd1) as well as in the tutorial workshops I give in Phoenix for those desiring instruction in photojournalism, expressive travel photography and digital imaging.

I used a compact Canon G5 five-megapixel compact digital camera to make these photographs. (Nevada Wier owns the G5 as well, and finds it a remarkable tool.) Most of these photographs were taken with a Canon .7x wideangle converter placed over my zoom lens, providing me with the equivalent of a 24mm wideangle lens, a focal length that I feel is essential for effective travel photography. A few were made with a Canon 1.75x telephoto converter, which is the equivalent of a 245mm telephoto lens. (None of these photographs were made using only the G5's 35mm-140mm zoom lens.) I've edited all of these images with Photoshop to correct and refine the hue, color, contrast and sharpness levels, making my pictures more vibrant and colorful. Although all of these photographs were digitally enhanced to some degree, none of the content has been digitally manipulated. The facts are all here, exactly as I captured them.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. I hope you will enjoy looking at them, and I welcome your comments and questions. Phil Douglis Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops, Phoenix, Arizona pnd1@cox.net

Santa Fe: pictures from a workshop

Cruising through the center of Europe : Spring comes to the Danube, the mighty river that has defined the borders of Central Europe for centuries, and is home to the historical and artistic treasures of the great Habsburg Empire. We cruised its waters for a week in April, 2003, visiting the exquisite Abbey at Melk, the Hungarian capital of Budapest, and Bratislava, capital of the Slovakian Republic. We spent five days exploring and photographing magical Vienna, Austria's capital and greatest city. We also drove to Prague, spending four days visiting the spectacularly preserved Baroque capital of the Czech Republic along the banks of the Vltava. Our sixteen-day adventure was sponsored by Elderhostel (www.elderhostel.org), and operated by IST Cultural Tours (www.ist-tours.com). (Following this trip, we visited the Dutch capital of Amsterdam for an additional four days. If you've viewed the previous galleries I've posted on this site, you know that my photographic intentions are focused on interpretation, rather than description. I enjoy using a camera to express how I feel about what I see, rather than just recording what I've seen or where I've been. Aside from sharing these pictures with you on this website, I also am using many of them to teach the principles of expressive travel photography on my pbase website (http://www.pbase.com/pnd1) as well as in the tutorial workshops I give in Phoenix for those desiring instruction in photojournalism, expressive travel photography and digital imaging.

These 99 impressions of Central Europe were gleaned from the more than 1,000 digital images I shot on this trip. I made them all with a compact Canon G2 four -megapixel digital camera. Most of these photographs were taken with a Tiffen .75x wideangle converter placed on top of my zoom lens, which provided me with the equivalent of a 26mm wideangle lens, a focal length that I feel is essential for effective travel photography. Others were made using a Canon 1.5x telephoto converter, which is the equivalent of a 153mm telephoto lens. (None of these photographs were made with the camera's normal 35mm-102mm zoom lens.) In editing these images with Photoshop, I was able to correct and refine the hue, color, contrast and sharpness levels to make my pictures more vibrant and meaningful. Although all of these photographs were digitally enhanced, none of the content has been digitally manipulated. The facts are all here, exactly as I captured them.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. I hope you will enjoy looking at them, and I welcome your comments and questions. Phil Douglis Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops, Phoenix, Arizona pnd1@cox.net

Cruising through the center of Europe

Celebrating Amsterdam : We arrived in Amsterdam, capital of the Netherlands, on a rainy, boisterous Sunday afternoon in May 2003. Thousands of raucous residents had taken to the city's narrow streets and canals to celebrate the birthday of their Queen, making for vibrant, if somewhat soggy, picture opportunities. This giant birthday party was the first of several photo-adventures I experienced in this watery city. Over the next four days, I spent a lot of time watching fast moving clouds play tag with the sun. I visited many of Amsterdam's unique art museums (with the exception of the biggest of them all, the huge Rijksmuseum, which was shut down the day before we arrived for environmental reasons). In between, I photographed its colorful street markets, a glorious art deco theatre, and visited the homes where Rembrandt and Anne Frank once lived. (Preceding our visit to Amsterdam, we spent three weeks on the continent touring the great cities of Central Europe and cruising the Danube.) If you've already viewed any of my other galleries on this site, you know that I use my camera to interpret, rather than just describe, what I see. Aside from sharing these pictures with you on this website, I also am using many of them to teach the principles of expressive travel photography on my pbase website (http://www.pbase.com/pnd1) as well as in the tutorial workshops I give in Phoenix for those desiring instruction in photojournalism, expressive travel photography and digital imaging.

Here are 45 impressions of Amsterdam gleaned from the more than 500 digital images I shot in this city. I made them all with a compact Canon G2 four -megapixel digital camera. Most of these photographs were taken with a Tiffen .75x wideangle converter placed on top of my zoom lens, which provided me with the equivalent of a 26mm wideangle lens, a focal length that I feel is essential for effective travel photography. Several others were made with a Canon 1.5x telephoto converter, which is the equivalent of a 153mm telephoto lens. (None of these photographs were made using the camera's normal 35mm-102mm zoom lens.) Editing these images with Photoshop, I corrected and adjusted the hue, color, contrast and sharpness levels to make my pictures more vibrant and hopefully, more meaningful. Although all of these photographs were digitally enhanced, none of the content has been digitally manipulated. The facts are all here, exactly as I captured them.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. I hope you will enjoy looking at them, and I welcome your comments and questions. Phil Douglis Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops, Phoenix, Arizona pnd1@cox.net

Celebrating Amsterdam

Images of Santa Fe : Santa Fe, New Mexico is a unique city. History, art, fashion, cuisine, and natural beauty converge at 7,000 feet only an hour away from urban Albuquerque to provide a feast for the camera's lens. I've visited Santa Fe three times. On my third visit in March of 2003, I spent a week at the Santa Fe Workshops, one of the world's leading centers of photographic education. I took a workshop in digital photography, learning as much as I could about this exciting new medium so that I can become an ever more knowledgeable digital photography teacher. While in the workshop, our class of 13 photographers from all over the US had a chance to photograph in and around Santa Fe, including two spectacularly scenic national monuments within an hour's drive of the city.

Here are forty five of my favorite Santa Fe images, all made with a compact Canon G2 four megapixel digital camera. Aside from sharing these pictures with you on this website, I also am using many of them to teach the principles of expressive travel photography on my pbase website (http://www.pbase.com/pnd1) as well as in the tutorial workshops I give in Phoenix for those desiring instruction in photojournalism, expressive travel photography and digital imaging. Most of these photographs were taken with a Tiffen .75x wideangle converter placed on top of my zoom lens, which provided me with the equivalent of a 26mm wideangle lens, a focal length that I feel is absolutely essential for effective travel photography. We also learned a great deal about enhancing our digital images with Photoshop in our workshop classwork, much of which I was able to use in editing these images. I was able to correct and refine the hue, color, contrast and sharpness levels to make my pictures more vibrant and meaningful. Athough all of these photographs were digitally enhanced, none of the content has been digitally manipulated. The facts are all here, exactly as I captured them.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. I hope they will give you a taste of this very special place, and I'd very much appreciate any questions or comments you might wish to leave when you finish looking at them. Phil Douglis Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops, Phoenix, Arizona pnd1@cox.net

Images of Santa Fe

Africa: from Kenya round the Cape : Imagine a herd of African elephants rushing past you at sunset, lion cubs at play, rhinos looking you in the eye, giraffes grazing above the trees. Picture rare lemurs just an arms length away, the snows of Kilimanjaro hanging in the evening sky, a Cape embracing the water of two oceans, a total solar eclipse overhead, and a visit to one of the worlds most remote islands, a place that once imprisoned an emperor. Now do justice to all of these subjects with a camera. It was a photographers challenge that I gladly embraced in November and December of 2002. We flew from the United States to Nairobi, enjoyed a brief safari in Kenya's Amboseli and Tsavo National Parks, and then boarded the Orient Lines cruise ship Marco Polo at Mombasa for a three week cruise that took us down the East African coast to the island of Madagascar; the South African cities of Durban and Cape Town; KwaZulu-Natal and its Hluhluwe-Umfolozi and Tala Valley game reserves; Port Elizabeth's Addo Elephant Park; the Cape of Good Hope; the vast Namib desert of Namibia, and the isolated historic island of St. Helena, site of Napoleon final exile and death. We also had an opportunity to see a total eclipse of the Sun on December 4, 2002. The Marco Polo sailed to a perfect viewing position off Mozambique, placing us in the shadow of the Moon for several minutes to experience the eerie midday darkness, and the sudden appearance of the Suns corona. This cruise was arranged through Great American Travel of Phoenix, Arizona. It continued for another two weeks beyond St. Helena, as we crossed the South Atlantic Ocean on the Marco Polo to spend Christmas and New Years in Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina.

In this gallery, I share 100 of my favorite African images with you. They express my feelings about what I saw and experienced during my three weeks of shooting in Africa and cruising its waters. Aside from sharing these pictures with you on this website, I also am using many of them to teach the principles of expressive travel photography on my pbase website (http://www.pbase.com/pnd1) as well as in the tutorial workshops I give in Phoenix for those desiring instruction in photojournalism, expressive travel photography and digital imaging. On this portion of the trip, I made about 2,000 images on my Canon G2 four megapixel camera. I also used wideangle and telephoto converter lenses that greatly expanded the range of the G2's zoom lens. Unlike film photography, digital imaging allows me to shoot virtually without limits. Every picture becomes a step in a process. I shoot each subject until I can produce a picture thats as good as I can make it. I have kept only ten per cent of the pictures I made -- about 200. You will view half of them in this gallery. With the help of Adobe Photoshop, I have enhanced all of these pictures, but I have not altered any of the subject matter in the pictures themselves. I cropped some of the images and improved color, contrast, sharpness and exposure as necessary.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. I hope you will enjoy them, and that you will share your own impressions of these pictures with me by leaving your comments. If you have any questions about either this journey or my pictures, I would be happy to answer them. Send your email message to me at pnd1@cox.net. Thank you. Phil Douglis Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops, Phoenix, Arizona

Africa: from Kenya round the Cape

Rio de Janeiro to Rio de la Plata : Rio de Janeiro, Brazil's second largest city, is a place of contrasts, spectacular vistas, dazzling beaches, and the persistent beat of Samba drums. Florianopolis is a thriving Brazilian provincial capital, filled with vividly colored colonial buildings, among them one of the strangest palaces I've ever visited. Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay, has its own proud history and bittersweet memories, as well as what has to be one of the most energetic gathering places in Latin America. Just across the muddy Rio de la Plata from Montevideo is Buenos Aires, capital of Argentina -- a somewhat tattered city throbbing with vitality, color, and European elegance in a country struggling to barely stay afloat. These cities on South America's Southeastern Coast offered me, as a photographer, an amazingly varied range of subjects: sunbathers and gauchos, tango and samba dancers, urban energy and haunted memories. For a month, I traveled half way around Africa, and then sailed across the Atlantic to South America on the Orient Lines cruise ship "Marco Polo" -- a trip expertly arranged through Great American Travel of Phoenix, Arizona. We wrapped up our 40 day odyssey by spending the last eight days of 2002, and the first day of 2003, devouring the colorful sights and sounds along the South Atlantic coast of Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina.

In this gallery, I'll share 100 of my South American images with you. I offer you my own interpretation of the people and places we saw on this holiday visit. Aside from sharing these pictures with you on this website, I also am using many of them to teach the principles of expressive travel photography on my pbase website (http://www.pbase.com/pnd1) as well as in the tutorial workshops I give in Phoenix for those desiring instruction in photojournalism, expressive travel photography and digital imaging. On this final leg of our 40-day trip, I shot more than 2,000 additional images with my Canon G2 four megapixel camera. Once again, digital photography allowed me to see my pictures as I made them, encouraging me to keep on shooting until I had made as good a picture as possible. You will see 100 of them in this gallery. Later, using Adobe Photoshop, I cropped many of these images, and improved the color, contrast, sharpness and exposure as necessary. I did not manipulate content or significantly alter any of the subject matter. When you are finished looking at them,

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. I hope you'll leave a comment on what you've seen. I will also be glad to answer any questions you might have. Send your emails to me at pnd1@cox.net. Thank you. Phil Douglis, Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops, Phoenix, Arizona

Rio de Janeiro to Rio de la Plata

Alaska images: in backcountry & beyond : Alaska is vast, often uninhabited, staggeringly beautiful, and richly diverse in photographic subject matter. During the summer of 2002, my wife and I explored this largest state in the United States for the first time. I photographed in such places as Talkeetna, Denali National Park, Tangle River, Chitina, Wrangell-St.Elias National Park, McCarthy, Kennecott, Valdez, Prince William Sound, Whittier, Seward, Kenai Fjords National Park, and Hope. I enjoyed these unique photographic opportunities as part of a week-long, ten person van tour with Hope's "Adventure Alaska", which began and ended in Anchorage.

Next we traveled on to Nome and the Bering Sea, where we boarded the expedition ship "New World Discoverer" to photograph nature and wildlife subjects on frequently fog shrouded Alaskan islands such as the Diomedes, St. Lawrence, St.Matthew, Hall, the Pribilofs -- all the way out to the islands at the very end of the vast Aleutian chain -- Kiska and Attu. The New World Discoverer, operated by Society Expeditions, was a small but elegant ship. (This cruise line is no longer in business.) Unlike most Alaskan cruise ships, this one carried just 150 travelers. It went to places where tourists seldom visit -- places that were hard to reach, difficult to land on, often obscured by the fog and mist. Few of our Alaska destinations offered piers or ports. Donning high boots and waterproof pants, we were carried to "wet landings" via motorized "Zodiac" pontoon rafts. Our particular sailing was also unique in that it would be the first time that any cruise ship has circled the vast Bering Sea. Not only did the New World Discoverer cruise to some of Alaska's most far flung island outposts for a week -- it also continued on to explore the islands and bays of Siberia's seldom seen Kamchatka and Chukotka peninsulas for two additional weeks, eventually winding up back in Nome after three weeks of sailing the storied waters of the Bering Sea. Accompanying us were anthropologists, biologists, historians, and botanists, whose lectures and insights illuminated the meaning of what we were seeing and photographing. (To see the gallery I made during the New World Discoverer's two weeks in Russian waters, you can view "Kamchatka & Chukotka: Russia's Far East."

Making this adventure even more valuable to me was an on-board three week nature photography workshop put together by Wilderness Travel, the company that arranged this cruise for us. The workshop was open to 40 of the ship's most avid image makers, and proved to be a very intensive and productive experience. Not only were we blessed with abundant wildlife and nature subjects in spectacular settings, but we were working under the guidance of two of the best known nature photographers in the world, Frans Lanting and Galen Rowell. Sadly, this would be the last of Galen's valuable contributions to the photographic community. He and his lovely wife Barbara tragically lost their lives in a small plane crash while flying home from our workshop -- a shattering loss for all of us on this cruise, as well as to all who value nature photography. I dedicate both this gallery, as well my gallery on the Russian portion of this expedition, to their memory. I shall always cherish the knowledge and insights that both Galen Rowell and Frans Lanting offered us in their shipboard lectures and while shooting in the field. Their workshop has forever enhanced my photographic vision.

As a photographic workshop director myself, I am sure that this experience will also have significant impact on my own teaching abilities. In this gallery, I am sharing 91 of my favorite Alaskan images with you. They represent my feelings about what I saw and learned while traveling through the back roads of the state's interior as well as cruising among it's often haunting and mystical islands. Aside from sharing these pictures with you on this website, I also am using many of them to teach the principles of expressive travel photography on my pbase website (http://www.pbase.com/pnd1) as well as in the tutorial workshops I give in Phoenix for those desiring instruction in photojournalism, expressive travel photography and digital imaging.

During two weeks of shooting in Alaska, I made about 1,500 images on my Canon G2 four megapixel digital camera. Digital photography, unlike film photography, offers us the chance to use each image as a learning experience. As such, I shot most of my pictures as small steps along the road to my ultimate results. I chose to keep only about ten per cent of what I shot - - 150 pictures -- and you will see a just over half of those in this gallery. I also made frequent use of Photoshop -- not to "manipulate" my photographs, but rather to simply enhance them.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. Enjoy, and if you have any questions or comments, I'd appreciate it if you would share them with us here, or send them to me via an email message. Thanks. Phil Douglis Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops Phoenix, Arizona, pnd1@cox. net

Alaska images: in backcountry & beyond

Kamchatka & Chukotka: Russia's Far East : Russia's Kamchatka and Chukotka Peninsulas were among the last secret outposts of the former Soviet Union, and have been forbidden territory to travelers for most of this century. Geographically isolated, these peninsulas are two of the least known places on earth. In the summer of 2002, my wife and I joined 150 adventure travelers on Society Expeditions' New World Discoverer as it became the first passenger ship to completely circle the Bering Sea. Departing and returning from Nome, Alaska, the cruise spent the first week exploring Alaska's Bering Sea Islands. The World Discoverer spent the next two weeks cruising through the bays and islands of Kamchatka and Chukotka. We saw spectacular Siberian scenery, viewed wildlife that can be seen in only a few places, and had fascinating encounters with native peoples, including the Chukchi and Koryak.

The expedition cruise experience on the New World Discoverer, which has since ceased operation, was quite different from ordinary cruises. The ship anchored at places that tourists seldom see, places with no roads, no air service, and often, no habitation of any kind. We always traveled between ship and shore on motorized Zodiac pontoon rafts. To disembark from the Zodiacs, we had to wear high boots and waterproof pants and wade through the surf. We were accompanied by anthropologists, biologists, historians, and botanists who offered insightful lectures on board and guidance in the field. Because of the unpredictable Bering Sea weather, we often were unable to land at places we had hoped to see because of heavy fog or rough water. Expedition cruising requires flexibility, and we would simply move on. We had skilled Russian guides aboard, and they were always able to find suitable alternatives for us.

Making this adventure even more stimulating was an intensive three week nature photography workshop. Approximately 40 passengers, including myself, had an opportunity to work with two of the world's outstanding nature photographers -- Frans Lanting and Galen Rowell. Tragically, our workshop was Galen's final contribution to photography -- he and his wife Barbara were killed in a small plane crash while returning home. I dedicate both this gallery, as well as gallery on the Alaskan portion of this expedition, to their memory. Both Frans and Galen gave us much knowledge and inspiration during their shipboard lectures and while shooting in the field. My own photographic vision was substantially changed, and as a photo workshop director myself, I am sure this workshop experience will have significant impact on my own teaching.

In this gallery, I am sharing 66 of my favorite Siberian images with you. In my pictures, I tried to interpret what I saw before me. I wanted to do more than just show you what Siberian wildlife, and people look like. I also hope that my pictures will help you understand more about what this unique place is all about. During our two weeks in Russian waters, I shot about 1,500 hundred images -- about 100 pictures a day. I use a Canon G2 four megapixel digital camera, which gives me the chance to learn from every image. Most of my photographs were small steps along the road to my ultimate results. I chose to keep only ten per cent of what I shot, about 150 pictures. You will see just over 40 per cent of these in this gallery. All of my pictures were later enhanced in Photoshop. I do not manipulate my photos electronically, but I try to do whatever I can with Photoshop to make them clearer, sharper, and true to the colors I saw with my own eyes. You can view my pictures in three different sizes, including a large size that should fill your screen with all the details.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. If you have any questions or comments, I'd appreciate it if you would share them with us here, or send them to me via an email message. Thank you, and enjoy. Phil Douglis, Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops, Phoenix, Arizona pnd1@cox.net

Kamchatka & Chukotka: Russia's Far East

Indochina: a digital journey : In January of 2001, we took a 21 day group tour to Indochina. After a week of touring in Thailand, we boarded the Swan Hellenic Lines cruise ship Minerva in Bangkok for a two week cruise to ports in Cambodia and Vietnam. I shot over 2,500 digital pictures on this trip. I learned a great deal from what would be my very first experience of making travel pictures with a digital camera, a three-megapixel Kodak DC4800. Aside from sharing these pictures with you on this website, I also am using many of them to teach the principles of expressive travel photography on my pbase website (http://www.pbase.com/pnd1) as well as in the tutorial workshops I give in Phoenix for those desiring instruction in photojournalism, expressive travel photography and digital imaging.

To view my images at their best, just click the "slideshow" button in the top right hand corner. To end the slide show at any time, press your "escape" key. I welcome your comments and questions. Phil Douglis, Director, The Douglis Visual Workshops, Phoenix, Arizona (pnd1@cox.net)

Indochina: a digital journey

Most Popular Photos

Welcome to the Winter Palace - Visitors to the Hermitage Museum climb the vast Jordan Staircase in the Winter Palace to get to the collections. Designed in 1762 by Bartolomeo Rastrelli, this opulent space is considered one of the most impressive entrance halls in the world.

Best of the Baroque at Melk Abbey Church - The lavish gilded embellishment of Melk's Abbey Church creates a textbook Baroque church.

Village portrait, Khajuraho

Entering the Abbey of Melk - The Abbey of Melk, where Umberto Eco's novel "The Name of the Rose" begins and ends, is one of the most extravagant complexes of Baroque buildings in the world. Once they pass through this entrance, it offers visitors one surprise after another.

Medieval Moscow on display - The gilded medieval domes rising above Moscow's ancient churches have witnessed six hundred years of history. These crown the Kremlin's Cathedral of the Annunciation.

Cowboys at work, Henry, Idaho - A trio of cowboys drive a herd of cattle right past the open door of our van.

Face in the window, Mekong Ferry - There was a distant caution on this child's face, peering out at me from the back seat of a van being hauled across the Mekong River on a ferry boat.

Rainbow, Bridalveil Fall, Yosemite

Photographers, Zabriskie Point - Every morning, photographers set up their tripods on this rock to shoot the effect of the rising sun on the rocks of Death Valley's most famous lookout. I made this image just before sunrise.

Asleep on the streetcar, Hiroshima - This young boy is sound asleep on his mother's lap. Like many Japanese women, she wears a mask as health measure.

Blue Caves, Cuverville Island - Icebergs surround Cuverville Island, including this one featuring two deep blue caves in it.

Remembering Strauss at Central Cemetery - Nowhere in the world can the graves of so many great musicians be found together as in Vienna's Central Cemetery. Beethoven, Brahms, Shubert, and Schonberg are buried here. And so is Johann Strauss II, who rests at the foot of this profoundly musical monument.

Red Panda resting outside Chengdu - Chengdu's most famous attraction is its Panda Breeding Research Facility, located four miles outside the city. Here a rare Red Panda enjoys the view from a tree.

Timeless Guanajuato - Except for the vehicles moving along the brick road below Guanajuatos Peace Plaza, this image could well have been taken 100 years ago. I used a wideangle view, back lighting and black and white photography to make time seem to stand still.

Surrounded, Jaipur

Albuquerque Old Town - Fronting Albuquerque's historic Old Town Plaza is San Felipe de Neri Church, built in 1793.

In Buddha's Image: the essence of Burma - Eighty percent of the Burmese people are Buddhists. If there is to be a universal symbol for this country, it would be the mystical Buddha image. This one is at Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon.

Old Ice, Lemaire Channel - We came within a few feet of this iceberg floating in the Lemaire Channel. Blue ice means old ice -- and this one shows off its blue underwater ice as well.

Marco Polo in Ice, Paradise Harbor - The Marco Polo, surrounded by icebergs floating in Paradise Bay, prepares to depart for Cuverville Island.

Past is present, Knights Ferry

Living history, Yosemite

Yosemite dawn

Native Alaskan sculpture, Anchorage - The best place to start a trip through Alaska is by visiting the Anchorage Museum of History and Art, the state's largest museum. One of the ten most visited attractions in the state, this museum offers startling insights into 10,000 years of history, and displays a magnificent array of art, such this wonderful piece of Native sculpture.

Guard, Karen Blixen Museum - A guard makes a notation outside of the former home of Karen Blixen, author of "Out of Africa". Her home, known as Karen Estates, is now a museum, located just outside Nairobi, Kenya.

African craftsmanship - A stylized African carving of a hunter/warrior incorporates both spear and necklace. For me, it became a study in light and shadow.

Lapataia Bay, Argentina: End of the Road - This is as far as the road runs -- Argentina's Route Three stops here at Lapataia Bay, in Tierra del Fuego National Park on the Beagle Channel. On the other side is uninhabited Chilean territory.

Rounding Cape Horn, Patagonia, Argentina - Cape Horn is an island, the final upward burst of the Andes Mountain Range at the very tip of South America. It is here that the Atlantic Ocean meets the Pacific, and winds deflected down the Andes are free to bend and race past the Horn like a snapping whip. Bad weather is what makes this part of the earth terrifying, yet also special. My precarious vantage point -- hanging on to a railing with one hand and shooting with the other -- features the blowing and churning seas, and the distant but distinct shape of Cape Horn in the misty background. We had arrived in Argentina -- the final country on our itinerary. You can follow, at: http://www.worldisround.com/articles/30202/index.html

Garments of the dead, Phnom Penh - As we walked the Killing Fields where Pol Pot's executioners once worked, we stepped over piles of rotting garments that had come to the surface from the mass graves that covered this area.

Floating Dream, Gerlache Strait - Because Antarctica is so other-worldly, a visit is often likened to a dream. This bizarre blue and white iceberg seems to bear a figurehead at its front, as if the ghost of an 18th Century ship came sweeping past us -- a reminder of those who came through these very waters during the great age of polar exploration.

Amber Fort, Jaipur

Conversation, Beijing - I thought that I had already made my last shot on this trip as our taxi crawled through Beijing's rush hour traffic on our final evening in China. I was wrong. We were stalled opposite a bus, and we saw in its window this conversation taking place between a young child and an older man, perhaps his grandfather. This is one of those images that asks viewers to supply their own dialogue, and a fitting way to bring this photographic journey through Asia to a close.

Odd man out, behind Zabriskie Point - Instead of following the crowd shooting the effects of the rising sun, this lone photographer turns in the opposite direction to shoot the massive rock formations behind Zabriskie Point in softer light.

Devils Golf Course - The floor of Death Valley is a vast evaporating dish covering 200 square miles. Here it is crusted with lumpy salt pinnacles, the residue of a lake that evaporated 2,000 years ago. In the summer, the ground temperature here approaches 200 degrees (F).

Powerlines, Furnace Creek - Furnace Creek is one of three tourist centers within Death Valley National Park. It is home to the Park's visitor center, a pair of hotels, a museum, shops and restaurants. An oasis on the barren valley floor, Furnace Creek originally provided crew quarters for Brorax miners. The coming of tourism brought electrical power to the area in the 1920s. Outages, however, are still common.

Eureka Gold Mine - The last great American gold rush occurred in Death Valley in the early 20th Century. The Eureka Mine was built in 1909. Today, the tunnel into the mine is a place of broken tracks and ghostly dreams.

Camel herd, Erg Chebbi - The sight of a camel herd moving past our camp in the Saraha was startling. It seemed like a scene out of a movie. These particular dunes, in fact, have been the setting for many films, including "Lawrence of Arabia" and "Sahara."

In the heart of the souk, Marrakesh - Originally located on the Saharan trade routes, Marrakesh was a convenient staging post for caravans and developed into a major craft and trading center. Today, its souks carry on the trading tradition. The medina is an intricate maze of narrow streets, often protected from the sun by slated awnings. By mid morning, the Souk Smarine, the busiest street in the souks, is ablaze in shafts of light.

Decisive moment, Marrakesh - This is a very special photograph, a spontaneous moment of pleasure caught in a very Moroccan environment. I was walking through the souks of Marrakesh when I saw a shaft of sunlight illuminating an ancient wall within an archway at the end of a dark and narrow street. I heard the distant voices of children at play, getting closer and closer. I framed the shot and waited, and within a few seconds a kid came flying into the arch. I squeezed the shutter button and caught him just as he landed. The magic of photography will always keep him in this spot, framed in fiery red, a symbol of youthful exuberance. This image offers fitting closure to this exotic and fascinating photographic journey through Morocco.

Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park - These dunes are just outside of Kanab, Utah.

Shanghai Railroad Station - We took a fast train from Shanghai to Nanjing. The vast new station at Shanghai made it easy to find our train, even thought we did not speak Chinese.

Stairway to heaven, Laguna - A mural on the back of San Jose Mission Church at the Laguna Pueblo near Albuquerque mysteriously extends its influence upwards along a glowing wall.

Visitors, War Remnants Museum, Saigon - This image offered a personal antidote to the sobering reminders of the horrors of war. I had just finished touring the cell blocks where the French once held and tortured Vietnamese "colonials." I had once again studied Nick Utt's horrifying Pulitzer Prize winning image of the naked child burned by napalm and fleeing for her life. And yet here at the same museum was another child, nearly the same age as that terrified little girl, seeking shelter from a drizzle under her mothers umbrella and none the worse for wear for it. It offers us a metaphor for what the world should be, but is not.

Bewildered, Chandbaori

Tomb attendant, Fatehpur Sikri

Temple facade, Khajuraho

Sacred light ceremony, Varanasi

Multi-tasking, Hanoi - A fast-food worker chats on her cell phone while cleaning her restaurant's front door. She is squeezed between reminders of her job -- a huge hamburger -- and the holiday enticement that stands just beyond the glass.

Craftsman, Hoi An - Much of Hoi An is a well preserved 400 year old city. People such as this man have helped do this with their own hands and knowledge. He is a craftsman, now in his 80s and takes great pride in his ability to keep the spirit of Hoi An's old buildings alive. When I made this portrait, he had been refinishing the old building just behind him.

Thu Bon River, Hoi An - The Thu Bon River flows inland to Hoi An from the South China Sea. From the 16th to the 18th century, it made Hoi An an international trading port. Today Hoi An is a World Heritage site.

Boy at Lat Village, near Dalat - The Lat people are a Central Highlands hill tribe. They are practicing Christians. I made this photograph just outside of the village church.

Cell phone on a motorbike, Saigon - Saigon, the largest city in Vietnam, is home to eight million people. Most of them seem to ride motorbikes. This woman is trying to make a call over the din of revving engines at a stop light.

Colors of dawn, Bryce Canyon, Utah - Bryce is a geologic fantasyland. Ten million years ago forces within the earth created and moved massive blocks of stone. Ancient rivers carved the tops and exposed the edges of these blocks. In time, tall and thin ridges called fins emerged. Fins then eroded into pinnacles and spires, called hoodoos. Bryce is a canyon of richly colored hoodoos, a feast for the eye and the camera, particularly when struck by morning and evening light.

Mesa Arch, Canyonlands National Park - A mile hike from the road, but worth it.

Flowery crown, St Peters Port, Guernsey - A French policeman (or soldier?) hiding behind a basket of flowers in a British town? Only one of a number of incongruous sights along the old streets of St. Peters Port.

Riding the Drake Passage - Perhaps the most turbulent wind driven waters on earth are the 600 miles between the southern tip of South America at Cape Horn and the Antarctic Peninsula. In 1578, England's Francis Drake rounded South America in the "Golden Hind" and was hurled backwards into these waves, discovering what we now call the Drake Passage. Winds and waves fly around the globe unhampered by land and pour into this chute. You don't sail the Drake Passage, you ride it.

Petrel in Hand - Some of the smaller Petrels flew hit our ship and fell stunned to the deck. Chris Wilson, our Ornithogist, asked a passenger to hold one while he photographed and then released it.

Waterboat Point Station, Paradise Harbor - The only people who live and work in Antarctica are researchers employed by various governments. At Waterboat Point, we visited a Chilean research station and the thousands of Gentoo Penguins and Blue-eyed Cormorants swarming over its grounds and buildings. Shot from the distant deck of our cruise ship, this research station is dwarfed by the frozen landscape that surrounds it. I waited for one of our Zodiac landing boats to reach a spot halfway between the iceberg in the foreground and the stations landing area before I made this photo.

Welcome to Paradise Harbor - A Gentoo Penguin awaits the visitors from the Marco Polo.

Nesting, Paradise Harbor - We could get very close to the nesting Gentoo penguins. To make this picture, I came as close as a foot or two away from them.

At the Iceberg, Paradise Harbor - A "two-headed" iceberg drifts close to the Gentoo penguin rookery in Paradise Harbor. The body language of the pair of standing penguins in the center of this picture echoes the unique shape of the iceberg behind them.

Checking the Nest, Paradise Harbor - Surrounded by nesting penguins, this Gentoo seems very much involved in what was going on.

The Lone Gentoo, Paradise Harbor - I found this lone Gentoo standing near an inlet in the harbor. It has plenty of company, however -- dozens of penguins are nesting in the bare area in the snow just across the water.

Old figurehead, Falmouth - Figureheads were carvings mounted on the prows of ships. They were often considered the guardians of the ships they graced. This 19th Century figurehead, now mounted over the door of a marine supply company in Falmouth, probably once hung on the bow of a British merchant ship.

Entering Laos at Huay Xai - We entered Northern Laos by crossing the Mekong River in canoes from Thailand. The border checkpoint is at the end of this sleepy street in the village of Huay Xai.

Promenade, El Jardin, Guanajuato - The Jardin is the heart of Guanajuato. It comes alive at night as couples take over the benches, and visitors stroll the sidewalks of this small triangular park defined by perfectly square cut trees. In the middle of the triangle is a bandstand, erected in 1883. I braced my camera on one of its railings and held its shutter open for a quarter of a second to turn these passing figures into ghostly blurs. This was among the final images of our three-day visit to Guanajuato. The next morning, we departed for an eight-day visit to nearby San Miguel de Allende.

Antelope at sunset, Antelope Island - Antelope Island State Park, a few miles from Salt Lake City, is a wonderful wildife sanctuary. Not only are there 700 bison but many Pronghorn Antelope and birds as well.

Windswept Meteor City Trading Post - 50,000 years ago, a meteor slammed into the desert not far from Winslow, Arizona. Tourists visiting via Route 66 would often stop at a trading post built in 1938. It is still in business, featuring the world's largest dream-catcher looming high over Interstate 40.

Vanished Museum, Meteor City - At one point during its nearly 70 year run, the Meteor City trading post offered a museum. Today, its signs and skulls are stored within a fence. I shot these relics through a crack in the wall.

At Tiananmen Gate: portal of power - Beijing's Tiananmen Square may be the people's stage, but the 15th Century Tainanmen Gate that borders it has always been the focus of China's power. It was on this spot that Mao declared the founding of the People's Republic on October 1, 1949. He has never left this rostrum -- his portrait crowns the door once used exclusively by China's emperors.

Palace guardsman in Seoul - Korean traditions are kept alive through such pageantry as the changing of the guard at Seoul's Toksugung Palace.

A-bomb Dome, Hiroshima, Japan - Hiroshima's former Industrial Promotion Hall was gutted by the firestorm triggered by the world's first atomic bombing. Its ruins are preserved as a memorial.

Memories of Hiroshima - As we sailed from the Hiroshima port, the sky turned fiery red -- a stirring sight, to say the least, considering the emotions involved in this visit. Hiroshima is extremely moving to those who visit the Peace Memorial Museum or who have any memory of World War II. The sky seems to be telling us to never forget what happened here.

Twilight, South Luangwa National Park - A wet-season safari in Zambia offers photographers abundant sightings of African wildlife in an emerald green setting under cloud streaked skies.

The Muddy Luangwa - The Luangwa runs with muddy water during the wet season. It makes up the Eastern border of South Luangwa National Park. Hippos, crocodiles, and large catfish make the river their home. During my visit to Luangwa River Lodge, we had to cross the river by boat to reach our game drive vehicles.

The Great Cliffs of Cuverville Island - Cuverville Island may be small in size but it is staggeringly high. Just how how high it is can be seen by comparing it to the size of one of our Zodiacs heading its way.

Available Feeds | What are feeds?

Recent Galleries:

Atom |

RSS

Recent Photos:

Atom |

RSS

Popular Photos:

Atom |

RSS