I take half-decent photographs. No phone. Cameras: digital and 35mm. No selfies, either, which I find lazy or narcissistic. Below are a few, with comments explaining my processes.
Sicily
Taken in Agrigento. I positioned Zelda facing away from the camera, tempting the viewer to look where she is looking. Also, I am using her to obstruct scaffolding on the temple front, similar to more in the rear. I’m sure I made her wait several minutes until clouds drifted into the background for more visual interest.
Cambodia
Ta Prohm complex, near Angkor Wat. Again I placed her to obstruct an out-of-place, modern concession stand. Yet again, facing away so one’s eye is drawn to where she is observing.
Peru
Machu Piccu. A rare vertical shot from me. I asked Zelda to descend a number of times before I was happy with perspective and scale. People are often unaware of how many levels, terraces, there are to this layout. How steep the paths, with no safety rails.
Romania
Transylvania Cemetery was closed, gates locked. We, along with a French couple and German couple, stood nearby, pointedly ignoring two teenage boys forcing the padlock. Once open, the boys rushed inside while “responsible adults” shrugged and followed.
I barely caught an image of Zelda as she hurried within. I was studying composition, angles and colors. I was also the nearest to the open gate, and the first soul busted by an irate female guard, who yelled at me in German.
“Oh, everyone out of the pool?” I joked.
“Bitter!!!!”
The guard ushered everyone out, adults sheepish and grinning. The boys got the worst of it.
Later, Zelda suggested we ought to break into the cemetery at midnight, suggesting it would be terribly romantic.
“Transylvania Cemetery at midnight?” I said. “Romantic to who? The ghost of Vlad?”
