Secluded Fjord Homes, 2005, Gudvangen, Norway

The main attraction of Norway is the varied landscapes that extend across the Arctic Circle. It is famous for its fjord-indented coastline and its lakes and woods. The mountains are lush and green, and where there are no trees it appears there are perfectly mown grounds because of the low lying grasses that cover the area. The train trips through the fjords are spectacular. Trains run in and out of tunnels along the waters' edge in the lake areas. This image was taken from a train station where we transferred to get down into the fjords where boats disembark for tours. These 4 homes were the only thing in this area other than the station. They jumped out of the lush green landscape and demanded attention for their simplicity.

Courtyard with Flower Boxes, 2009, Smirice, Czech Republic

Smirice is a very small historic farming town located about 75 miles northeast of Prague, with about 3,100 residents. This courtyard was designed as a central open area which is surrounded by a magnificent chateau estate. The distinctive feature of the chateau is the red tile roof and a gorgeous Baroque style chapel which serve as a frame for the courtyard. The owners of the estate added the personal chapel which was finished in 1713. The chateau later was used as a convent in perfect proximity to the chapel. This image was shot in the morning on my last day with my Czech driver. We had come to Smirice to meet my husband whose company has offices and a production plant next door to the chateau. We were a bit early and decided to walk through this historic site. As it turns out two of my favorite images came from that last minute walk. This courtyard image and the "Smirice Church" image both reflect the quiet beauty of this area.

Lone Gondolier, 2009, Venice, Italy

In Venice you can't help but be fascinated by the mode of transportation for every service and amenity in the city. The gondoliers are your "taxi drivers"; the larger ferries are the "buses"; the cargo boats are the "delivery trucks"; and the speed boats are the individuals "sports cars." A gondola ride is a must when you go to Venice, but make sure you shop around and negotiate your price. You will pay more or less depending on the time of day and the mood of your gondolier. This image was shot in one of the back canals that feeds into the Grand Canal. The scene struck me because it's difficult to find a single boat, since most of the gondoliers have routes that they all take....together.

Sunset from Doge's Palace, 2009, Venice, Italy

This image was shot at sunset as I was standing near the Doge's Palace. The Palace and the Basilica of San Marco are the most famous landmarks and tourist attractions in Venice. The best time to visit Venice is May and June. It's cooler then, and the sometimes stagnant water in the smaller canals hasn't heated up. By October and November, we were told that the waters rise so significantly that boardwalks are brought in so people can still safely walk through the alleys and through San Marco Square. We were blessed to come upon this area at the exact time that the sun was producing a spectacular 30-minute show. The color spectrum changed dramatically throughout the sunset with pinks, yellows, oranges, blues and purples. The gondolas with their bright blue tarps had been docked for the day and act as a perfect accent pointing towards the sky.

Gondolier's Pride, 2009, Venice, Italy

Gondolas have been in Venice from the beginning. 200 years ago they were the main mode of transportation with 10,000 boats negotiating the waters. Now there are 400-500 that are mainly used by tourists. Each gondola is different and reflects the character of the owner. Many have beautiful tapestries and are decorated with great pride to attract customers. Our gondolier told us that the front fins very often are marked by the owner, and before another gondola will turn a corner they know whose boat is coming.

Grand Canal, 2009, Venice, Italy

The Grand Canal is the main thoroughfare through the heart of Venice. When you arrive by train you will go through a breezeway and walk out to the bustling traffic on the Grand Canal. To me it appeared as if we had just walked into a fabulous movie set created by someone's colorful imagination. All supplies and people are moved up and down the canal. When supplies are delivered off the boats, they are hand carted down the narrow walking streets to the restaurants, hotels, shops, etc. This certainly has something to do with the higher prices you'll notice while visiting. This image was shot from a bridge overlooking the Grand Canal. The striped colorful poles are distinctively painted for each dock and are almost as important as the address in helping boats navigate to the dock they are seeking.

Rooftops After the Storm, 2009, Prague, Czech Republic

Prague is an absolutely gorgeous city with its distinctive cobblestone streets, colorful buildings and church spires jutting above the roof lines. The red tiled roofs, oxidized metal roofs and egg yolk colored buildings help visually unify the city. There are famous towers, bridges castles and churches at every turn. Because the majority of Czechs are atheist, the churches have mostly been converted to concert halls. The acoustics in these old buildings rival many of the opera houses built today. When this shot was taken we had been wandering the city under an umbrella for most of the morning. We arrived at the Powder Tower (which once held the city's stockpile of gun powder) at the exact time when the sun broke through the clouds in the east. We had a beautiful view across the rooftops of the city and out towards the castle before the next storm rolled in.

Cinque Terre's Medley of Color, 2006, Riomaggiore, Italy

Cinque Terre is a name that refers to five small towns clinging to the edge of Italy's northwestern coast on the Italian Riviera. The five towns can be reached by train and are connected by hiking trails that are easy in some areas and get more strenuous in others. The trails offer great views of the Mediterranean and stunning angles and views of the towns as you approach them. They are each unique and all very colorful. There is nothing like hiking along the trails amongst the vineyards, that are meticulously terraced, and coming over a ridge to see the explosion of color that you see in this image. It was a beautiful day in strong afternoon light which seemed to help saturate the colors.

Rooftops Before the Storm, 2009, Salzberg, Austria

Salzburg has Central Europe's largest intact fortress, which offers fabulous views of the city. It is the birthplace of Mozart. His home can be seen on Getreidegasse, which is Salzburg's most popular shopping street. The city seems to hug the cliffs that the Palace rises above. This image was taken while hiking the flower-lined trails up to the Palace grounds. The sun was beaming from the west and drenching the buildings with light which served as a sharp contrast to the backdrop of the storm rolling in. By the time we got up to the Palace the storm was severe but only lasted 30 minutes. Apparently it was a typical alpine storm that bubbles up on the west side of the mountains and releases itself quickly after passing the ridge.

Domes and Towers, 2009, Prague, Czech Republic

Prague is filled with spires, gargoyles, domes, turrets and towers. Finding your way above the roof line is a spectacular way to get the layout of the city, as well as see the patterns that repeat themselves throughout. The color palette is fairly consistent in the city because of the red tile roofs and oxidized green metal onion towers and domes. The best time to see Prague in my opinion is the fall when the leaves turn the same rusts, golds and greens as the city. In smaller towns of the Czech Republic many churches have been abandoned and are no longer in use. But in Prague many of the churches like the one with the dome on the left have been converted into opera and music halls. This shot was taken from the top of Old Town Bridge Tower on the famous Charles Bridge.

Astronomical Clock and Stars, 2009, Prague, Czech Republic

This clock is located on the Old Town City Hall in the Old Town Square in Prague. The oldest parts are mechanics of the clock and the astronomical dial which date back to 1410. It was created in collaboration by a clock maker and a professor of mathematics and astronomy. While the city itself remained one of the least damaged cities in the World War II, the clock was severely damaged when Germans directed incendiary fire from their tanks and burned many of the City offices in the Old Town Square. This image was taken at night and is a combination of two shots allowing for different aspects of light to show up. It creates an illusion that the dials are glowing with the combination of moonlight and streetlight reflections. Tourists will crowd around the clock each hour to see the mechanics at work, which don't turn out to be the spectacle they had hoped for, but at 600 years old... it's extremely special in any case.

Arc de Triomphe at Dawn, 2009, Paris, France

The Arc de Triomphe is the world's largest triumphal arch. Below the arch is the tomb and eternal flame of France's Unknown Soldier. It was in Napoleon's city plans to be directly in line with his Tuileries gardens and a similar arch that is at the end of the gardens and in front of the Louvre (which was originally Napoleons Palace.) My goal the day this image was taken was to get up before sunrise and walk to the Eiffel Tower to get a shot of that as the sun came up. Between our hotel and the tower was the Arc de Triomphe. The moon was a beautiful slice hanging in the sky and as we approached the Arc and the pink in the sunrise had just begun to glow. The lights were still on the tower which turned a rich golden color and complimented the colors the sky. The diversion in our plans that day was well worth the 5:30 alarm.

Shimmering Eiffel Tower, 2009, Paris, France

The Eiffel Tower was erected for the Paris Exposition of 1889. The original plans were controversial and refuted by many of the great architects in that day. It is a spectacle that has defined a city and can't be missed even if you don't actually go there. This image was taken at night before the closing of the viewing platform at the top of the Arc de Triomphe. On our way back to our hotel we decided to go up for the night lights of the city. We were admiring the city lights and I was taking pictures in all directions when on the hour the Eiffel Tower lights woke up and began to perform. The tower sparkled with electric confetti and a blue beam started sweeping the night sky. It seemed to last about 5 minutes and then went back to sleep in it's beautiful white glow.

Evening at Rialto Bridge, 2009, Venice, Italy

The Rialto bridge is one of the most famous bridges over the Grand Canal in Venice. It is filled with small shops on both sides that run the length of the bridge. We had been seated for dinner at a cafe with our table right along the rails of the canal. The sun had just set and the sky was still winding down to darkness. The moon can be seen faintly behind the haze that produced the fabulous sunset earlier in the evening. While waiting for dinner I could not help but steady my camera on the rail next to my seat and capture the excitement, lights and action of the city.

Billowing Sky over Leaning Tower, 2006, Pisa, Italy

The Leaning Tower is the campanile, or freestanding bell tower, of the cathedral of the city of Pisa. The tower was constructed over 177 years in stages. When construction started, the tower immediately began to lean due to poor foundation design and the swampy subsoil that plagued the city. When visiting Italy in August you will find that shops have closed for the month and Italians have left for "holiday". There are however no lack of people at sights like the Leaning Tower. This image was shot from the south end of the cathedral grounds. To allow my image to capture the architecture without the distraction of the people, I sat very low and shot at a severe angle. The backdrop of the bright blue sky and billowing clouds make the white tower and fountain appear polished and new.

Hidden Palace Garden Gateway, 2009, Versailles, France

The Palace of Versailles was a royal chateau that was built when Versailles was a country village outside of Paris. In it's day it was the center of political power. Today Versailles is considered a suburb of Paris and a fabulous tourist destination. We were there in the early fall, and the majority of the fountains had been turned off for the winter. The gardens were still amazing to walk through and to me more fascinating than the palace itself. This shot was taken through the locked iron gates in one of the hidden gardens. The trellis created wonderful arching shadows that gave interest to the foreground. The round pool in the center has a golden god struggling to break out of the earth and water. There were four matching gates in this round garden and one can be seen on the opposite side

Arch of Constantine through Colosseum Portal, 2006, Rome, Italy

Arch of Constantine was built to commemorate an important battle won by Constantine's army. The success came after years of civil war and brought some peace to Rome. It is the most recent of three remaining Triumphal arches in Rome and was dedicated in 315 AD. It stands just outside of the Colosseum which is just south of the ancient city of Rome. We walked from our hotel and were some of the first people to enter the Colosseum that day. This shot was taken through one of the many portals and about two stories up inside the Colosseum.

View from Borromeo Palace, 2006, Isola Bella, Lake Maggiore, Italy

Isolla Bella is an island in Lake Maggiore, which is in northern Italy. The island at one time was a small fishing village until Carlo III, of the influential House of Borromeo, began the construction of a palazzo to dedicate to his wife. When arriving it looks like a fantastical place with walls running right into the water. This gives the illusion that the island is a highly adorned ship with flowers and greenery dripping off its sides. This shot was taken inside the palace through one of the windows that opens directly up to the waters edge. The pebbled mosaic floor is an example of the what covered every surface throughout the palace. The small island in the distance supports homes and a church whose rooflines beautifully mirror the ridges of the Italian Alps in the background.

Arched Facade with Warm Patina, 2006, Bologna Italy

Bologna is a city known for its cuisine, its porticoed streets and for housing one of the oldest universities in Europe. Bologna is a great tourist destination - especially if you like people and food. The famous porticos were built out of necessity to house the students of the university. The buildings that existed before the university was established occupied all of the land in the city. To solve the housing problem engineers built the arched passages to allow people to walk under and enter the shops while creating space for students to be housed above. This image was taken in the afternoon in a section of town that was abandoned and being refurbished. You can't help but love the rich patinas in the peeling stucco, the rusted iron supports and the heavy iron doors.

Amber Church Face, 2009, Smirice, Czech Republic

The Chapel of the Revelation of the Lord is located in the small town of Smirice approximately 75 miles outside of Prague.

The Chapel was designed and built to personally serve the original 18th century estate owners of a chateau that is physically connected to the chapel by a red-tiled roof enclosed passageway. This magnificent - and miraculously still existing - Baroque building was designed in 1699 and completed in 1713. The severe upward angle was chosen deliberately for many reasons, including the ability to omit the chapel's foundation constructed of rusticated bare stonework. The diagonal angle of the composition adds energy. What you'll notice is that it is not the pinnacle or steeple that ultimately attracts your attention, but rather the fascinating drama and delicate undulation of the architectural elements.

Aged Fresco in Afternoon Sun, 2009, Verona, Italy

Verona is a beautiful Roman city located approximately 70 miles west of Venice. It is the home of the Shakespeare fabled character Juliet. The walking streets and squares are paved in ancient marble that make it hard not to imagine the Romans strolling by with their sandals on the very same route you are taking. This image was taken in the Piazza delle Erbe which used to be the Roman Forum, but is now a wonderful open air market surrounded by historic buildings with frescos and peppered with sculptures. You'll notice strong contrasts in the image and how it is visually divided in half. The right boasts freshly painted stucco, clean lined windows and balcony railings. The left draws attention immediately to the rich worn frescos and curved lines in the windows and balcony. The strong afternoon sun adds shadow detail to the left of both iron balconies filling otherwise empty space with interest.

Giardino Giusti and Regal Edifice, 2009, Verona, Italy

The Giardini Giusti is located in Verona and is a distinctive Renaissance garden that has been visited by Kings and Emperors and for four centuries. It has a geometrical outline of hedgerows, mythological statues and flower beds. Beautifully maintained to this day you might find yourself in a shaded hidden grotto one moment and navigating your way out of a large living labyrinth the next. The main gardens occupy a large rectangular flat area that is behind a beautiful tile roofed villa. In the back of the gardens a hill rises and supports terraced walking paths, hanging gardens and shaded balconies. This image was taken from the back of the gardens looking directly up the center of this fascinatingly symmetrical living art.

Manzanillo, Mexico

The city of Manzanillo, which serves as Mexico's largest shipping port, arches gracefully along a large crescent shaped bay located on the Pacific Ocean. The city is well known internationally for deep-sea fishing and the green flash phenomenon during sunsets, as well as the warm waters of the ocean. In Mexico the days are lazy.

I'm typically out early to catch the sunrise and watch as light begins to wash over the white buildings and carve provocative shapes in the shadows. While this area is stunning in full color, I've found it's very intriguing to photograph it in black and white to catch the form rather than the color. Once the sun gets too high and hot I am provided with a perfect excuse to enjoy the beaches, cafes and sea breezes. My camera is with me all day, so when afternoon light orchestrates changes, I am off again.

The very same buildings shot in the morning take on a completely different character with fresh shadows on white in the afternoon. All twelve of the images were taken originally with black and white film that was then converted to a digital file before printing.

Arched Passage, 2004, Manzanillo, Mexico

Wind Swept Waters, 2004, Manzanillo, Mexico

Passageway, 2004, Manzanillo, Mexico

Canopy Gargoyles, 2004, Manzanillo, Mexico

Flowing Staircase, 2004, Manzanillo, Mexico

Twin Palms, 2004, Manzanillo, Mexico

City Blocks, 2004, Manzanillo, Mexico

Rooftop Light, 2004, Manzanillo, Mexico

Skyward Spiral, 2004, Manzanillo, Mexico

Tropical Silhouettes, 2004, Manzanillo, Mexico

Carved in Light, 2004, Manzanillo, Mexico

Palm Tower, 2004, Manzanillo, Mexico