New Contest on the Jordana Wright Photography Facebook Page!

Hey folks!  We just launched a fun new contest on our Facebook page!  We are taking submissions of 5/7/5 format Haikus inspired by the image below for the chance win an 8x12 Fine Art print by Jordana Wright Photography!  

Rules and information are available here!

We're really looking forward to reading the submissions!  Get those creative juices flowing and check it out!  

A day off from work... and winter!

Mostly everyone is home from work today, presenting the perfect opportunity to revisit my favorite island paradise... The snow is melting in central Illinois and I keep hoping that the rest of the winter will be mild.  Here is a quick post with a few more shots from our trip last month to the British Virgin Islands to help everyone think warm thoughts...

Footprints in the sand on the beach at Mango Bay Resort...

 A goat is our only company during a sunrise at Coppermine Point.  The rocks all around him are rich with copper deposits (all of the green coloration)...

Various sea birds sun themselves and rest from a full morning of fishing.  The pelican (2nd from the right) had been shaking his head furiously before he started airing out his throat... maybe a little fish-tail down the wrong pipe?

Another of the beautiful views on Virgin Gorda.  This photo was taken at Little Dix Bay, home to some of the most beautiful landscaping on the island.

Every dinner at the Mineshaft Cafe is special... not only is the food excellent and the sunsets beautiful, but a flock of chickens begin a raucous daily squabble at the base of a tree shortly before sunset, below the restaurants outdoor deck.  Throughout the chicken fight, they jump higher and higher in the tree, both to instigate and evade eachother.  Just after sunset, the chickens can be seen nestled in the tree top.  The resident cat of the Mineshaft Cafe (shown above) seems impervious to the daily chicken wars and far prefers going from table to table in search of food scraps and affection.

Thanks for visiting... more pictures of paradise coming soon!

Since it feels like -1* F outside...

it's time for some pictures from paradise!  Unfortunately, our suntans are mostly faded, and the weather all across the United States is less than ideal, but here is the third installment of photographs from our recent trip to the British Virgin Islands to remind us all that spring will be here before we know it (right???)...

 

This is one of my many pelican friends from Mahoe Bay on Virgin Gorda.  Here he is seen mid-dive to snatch a few fish out of the shallow water.  Its hard to spend any amount of time looking at these birds up-close and not see an obvious connection to their dinosaur ancestors.  They are very Pterodactyl-ish... which, I believe, is a valid scientific term...

I took this photograph during our descent from Gorda Peak -- the highest point in Virgin Gorda.  It was a rugged hike, but worth it to see the sensational views from the lookout tower at the top.  Once again, we had the trail entirely to ourselves, with the exception of a snake (all are non-venomous in Virgin Gorda) we saw on the way back down.  He seemed very confused by our early morning appearance.

This image was taken during the first full moon in December.  After a delicious dinner at The Mineshaft Cafe, we drove down to Coppermine Point and took some long exposures of the Caribbean seascape by moonlight.  One of my favorite things about the weather in the Virgin Islands is how isolated the rain showers can be.  This photo was taken in between two heavy downpours.  Shortly after the shutter closed, the cloud in the top of the frame sent us running back to the car.

  These seed pods are from one example of the many varieties of Palm Trees found in Virgin Gorda.  This tree was located just steps away from our room at Mango Bay Resort.

Here is a shot of the impressive architectural design of The Pavilion -- a restaurant at Little Dix Bay resort in Virgin Gorda.  We visited the resort to check out their beautiful gardens and amenities.  It is definitely an expensive choice, but from what we could see, well worth the price.

   For the last image, on this cold blustery day, I'll leave you with a sunset much prettier than the one currently available outside my window in Illinois.  This was taken, once again, from our favorite spot in the islands --  a secret road where the sunsets are always breathtaking, the goats are always plentiful, and a sense of seclusion and peace surrounds you.

Stay warm, and check back soon for more shots from our Caribbean adventures!  Happy New Year!!!

Wish you were here...

...and, to be honest... I wish I was too...

The weatherman is threatening snow, rain, and unsettling windchill all over the country -- overall it sounds pretty unpleasant... so I think it's time for another dose of paradise!

Taken at the Coppermine Ruins of Virgin Gorda at sunrise, I think this picture captures the other-worldliness of this place.  Hiking around with no other company than the occasional goat, we felt as though we had stepped back in time.  There is an amazing peacefulness that is provided by sites like this one in Virgin Gorda -- you aren't in the USA, so you aren't bombarded with litter, caution tape and people.  Moments like this one are part of what make the British Virgin Islands one of my favorite places on earth.

There is no such thing as a bad sunset in the Caribbean.  As a photographer I have never been so impressed by the variation and diversity of colors, cloud configuration, and subject matter in one location.  This was shot from one of my favorite locations in BVI -- a secret road mentioned in our last posting.  In the distance you can see the Dog Islands, Scrub Island and Great Camanoe.

This shot was taken at sunset at The Baths in Virgin Gorda.  I had just climbed up one of the house-sized boulders to get a fresh perspective of The Baths, when I spotted this ray of light down below in the middle of a cluster of boulders.  It took some squeezing through several narrow openings between boulders to get into this little cove.  I snapped a few shots, and within a minute the sun continued on its path and the shaft of light disappeared.

This shot, featuring a lobster trap, tall grass and Beef Island in the distance, was taken at the Yacht Harbor in  Virgin Gorda.  The Yacht Harbor is a fantastic place to relax, take a walk and meet people -- both locals and visitors to the island.  There are many shops and a grocery store to visit, and Bath & Turtle is a fantastic place to grab an informal breakfast while you observe the morning activity at the harbor.  We even made friends with the resident dog, who was happy to receive scratches from us all morning, pausing only to chase a lizard or two.

To help with the winter doldrums, here is a glimpse of my mental happy place...  This shot was taken from my favorite beach in the world -- Mahoe Bay.  Just steps away from our room at Mango Bay Resort, the water was calm, warm, and full of diverse wildlife.  The promise of returning to the peaceful beauty of this place has gotten us through two dreary New England winters, and will get us through the great white empty this winter in Illinois.

Remember, through the snow, the sleet, the rain, the wind, and the bitter cold -- paradise is just a short flight away.  If you can't make the trip right now, or even if you can, check back soon for more pictures of our time in paradise... stay warm, and happy holidays!