7 miles walked and up till 3am

Another successful Photowalk!  My time in LA was incredible.  Mark Esguerra was an amazing host/tour guide!  We had loads of talented photographers attend the walk from all over LA, and a special guest or two.  Fun times were had by all.  After about seven miles of walking, shooting, hanging out, and laughing, we parted ways -- long after the sun went down.  I really enjoyed exploring LA over the past few days!

Here are a few shots that I took yesterday during the photowalk!  Thanks again to everyone who attended.  I had a great time shooting with you all!  Don't forget to tag your favorite photo #abrcontest to enter to win a Gorillapod Focus with Ballhead X!

Los Angeles!!!

Yesterday I visited two Los Angeles icons -- The Getty Center and The Griffith Observatory.  It was a beautiful day... bright sunshine, clear skies, great light and shadows.  Today I'm off to Santa Monica!  Tomorrow is the LA Photowalk with Mark Esguerra.  We'll be starting from Union Station at 3:00.  You can still RSVP on the America By Rail website!

On the road again...

After an amazing photowalk in San Antonio on Wednesday, I took at 2:30am train to El Paso.  It's amazing how this trip is flying by... so much Texas in so little time!

Here are a few shots from Wednesday in San Antonio, and Thursday on the train to El Paso!  Today I'm off to White Sands National Monument in New Mexico, and tomorrow is our El Paso Photowalk.  More photos soon!

New Orleans summarized in photos

First of all, I love New Orleans.  There are so many things going on in so many directions.  There is literally something for everyone.  I was really lucky to have a private tour guide for my stay.  I don't think I would have gotten as much out of my time in NOLA without the wealth of historical background information provided by Dawn Carl (my hostess and the leader of our photowalk on saturday).  Dawn's background in genealogy really helped bring the architecture, culture, and history of the city to life.  We had a whirlwind tour -- I visited two plantations, a gigantic cemetery,  two parks, several bars, and restaurants known only to the locals.  I drank local beer, ate my first and second Po-Boy, and tried alligator and catfish.

I left New Orleans today with a smile on my face and a promise to myself to return soon.  There is so much more to see!

It's been a couple of days since my last blogpost, so here are a LOT of photos to reward you for your patience!  

Group photo from Saturday's excellent NOLA Photowalk coming soon :-)

The incredible 300+ year old oak trees of Oak Alley Plantation -- we waited 40 minutes to get a shot without people in it!

The dining room at Houmas House -- one of the most beautiful houses I've ever seen.  

The gorillapod comes through again...
10-22mm lens + gorillapod focus with ballhead x = epic levels of winning at spiral staircases

Looking up at a chandelier at the Roosevelt Hotel in New Orleans

One of the many gorgeous homes in the French Quarter

Looking toward a private courtyard in the French Quarter

The windows of the Roosevelt

Gorgeous scroll work on a gate in the Quarter

Hey look, its me!!!  This is my fake smile because an old man was telling me that my camera is too heavy and carrying it will hurt my back.  He then showed me his little point and shoot and told me it was just as good.  Yeah right, dude.  At least he didn't see me carrying my 50lbs. pack :-)

Do you think Oak Alley Plantation will let me build a tree house and set up shop?  I'll pull up my rope ladder during the day if its a liability thing...

It wouldn't be a trip to The Big Easy without a shot of a Mardi Gras mask!

Many many thanks to Christine at the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau, to Hillary at Oak Alley Plantation, and to the lovely Dawn Carl for her amazing leadership on the photowalk, her wealth of historical knowledge, and for letting me try her gator bites.

I'm on the way to San Antonio for my first of two photowalks this week.  Join me and Lotus Carroll for Wednesday's Photowalk, or tag along on Saturday for Photowalk El Paso!

It's Photowalk Day in New Orleans Day

Day 2 in New Orleans was just as incredible as Day 1!  Dawn showed me around the cemeteries, the Garden District and City Park.  The depth of the history in this area is impressive!  There is so much to learn about the ways the different cultures interacted and influenced each other, the food, and the architecture for the past three centuries.  

Today is our New Orleans Photowalk!  We'll be meeting in Jackson Square and heading out from there to get a whirlwind sampling of New Orleans history and architecture.

Check back tomorrow for photos from the G+ New Orleans Photowalk!

Memphis, its been amazing!

I'm almost out of time in Memphis, but I've had a blast!  


This afternoon I toured the Gibson Guitar Factory.  They don't allow photos on the tour and I had to sign a non-disclosure agreement about what I saw there, but I'll say that it was definitely impressive.  After the tour, I spent some time checking out the guitars in their store with a brand new respect.  These are some serious instruments!  Fortunately, I was allowed to take pictures in the store... so here are some snazzy guitars!

So many guitars... if only I knew what to do with them!

The striping costs more because it's pretty. :-)

After some joyrides on the Memphis trolleys (which I took every time I wanted to just rest my feet for a while) I went back to Rendezvous for an interview with my favorite waiter Robert Jr. and some grub.  Robert Jr. has been working there since 1981 when he was in highschool... so he definitely had some amazing insights about one of the city's most popular BBQ restaurants.

People with ADD will go wild at Rendezvous... there's just so much to look at!

After my delicious dinner (Chopped Chicken sandwich with baked beans and slaw) I took a quick photo with Robert Jr.  He guaranteed me that if I send him a copy he'll put it on the wall next to all of the other celebrities.  :-)  I'll have to go back and check if it's up!

I'm hoping I'll replace Justin Timberlake as Robert Jr.'s favorite customer.

Beale Street at night is insane.  There are just crowds and crowds of people.  I took the opportunity to take some photos of the incredible neon signs and crazy awesome bikes that decorated the street after dark.  


Because I was going to have a long, hot day in the city, I didn't want to schlep my massive, full-size tripod around, so I packed my Gorillapod and hoped for the best.  Once again I was impressed with its performance.  Over the past few days I've had several people strike up conversations with me about the Gorillapod.  Non-photographers always ask me what it is.  I tell them it's a tripod, but in truth, its a life-saver.  Who wants to carry around a bulky tripod in 90* heat?  The Gorillapod has allowed me to shoot video from trolley windows, stills in low light situations, and it serves as an AMAZING conversation starter.  I've never felt so confident about leaving a tripod at my hotel.  I can't wait to see all the other ways the Gorillapod will come in handy on the trip!

When the sun goes down, the party shows up!

Tomorrow is a crazy early morning for me -- its time to catch a train to NOLA for the next stop along America By Rail.  It's bedtime over here, but I'll leave you with an epic/baller shot of a gorgeous motorcycle in an amazing place.  Thanks, Memphis!  It's been incredible!

Oh hi, gorgeous!

Check back tomorrow and every day after that 'till June 12 for my exploits on the road!!!

Memphis - a city filled with history

As with  many of the stops along America By Rail, this is my first time in Memphis.  To get acquainted with the city, I walked along the Mississippi River, visited the shops on  Beale Street, took a ride on the Main St. trolley, ate delicious BBQ ribs (more on that tomorrow), and explored The Orpheum Theatre.

Its been a very long day -- I've been going since I got off the train at 6am so I'm going to call it a night, and leave you with some photographs of the incredible Orpheum and fill in all the details about my time in Memphis tomorrow!

Thanks for following along on America By Rail!  Tomorrow -- more Memphis, and then on to New Orleans!!!