Art photos from Segovia, Spain:

Video from my trip to Spain.

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Apparently it only snows about once a year in Toledo, if that. We were really lucky to stumble upon snow on this trip. Bob and I woke up at 6 am not for any reason but the fact that we couldn’t sleep anymore. It was nice to be up before it was light out and catch some photos of the snow during the night. Snow makes everything magical. Snow also makes everything a bit harder to get around. We tried to take a cab up to this beautiful view of the town of Toledo, only to find midway up that we were unable to make it because of traffic.

Bob snapped this photo of me… I really like it.

This is the street right behind our hotel, CASONA DE LA REYNA, which for under 50 EUR a night it’s a steal!

Snowman!

This was taken in the cathedral, where I guess you aren’t supposed to take photos? whoops?

Bob and I stumbled upon this really cool antique bookstore right across from the Cathedral in Toledo. I am starting to gain a fascination with used book stores. It all started on my trip to DC 2 months ago when I bought 6 books for under $20. This store I spent 20 EUR on one book, but it was worth it. (Someone is getting a book for christmas!)

Here you go KP, this one is for you.

2 naps later, we made it to the other side. Sunset instead of sunrise this time.

Toledo is known for it’s ham. We happened upon this small ham shop in the center of town. I love how they display their ham in the open air, it gives Spain a natural, earthy feel.

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These are freakin’ huge!!! The FedEx guy dropped off these beauties yesterday. I was supposed to receive them on Friday, but for some reason FedEx still doesn’t know where my house is. Oh, how I love UPS so much more. Well, enough about my love for UPS and my dislike for any other postal company, on to canvas speak!

I ordered this canvases last week from my canvas supplier (Simply Canvas, for all of you photographers out there) and boy, am I pleased! Each of the six photos are from the different countries that Dave and I visited on our trip to Europe. Germany, the lucky winner had 2 photos chosen from it’s beautiful countryside. Each photo is a different size that HA! Photography sells. The largest one  of the castle in Germany is a huge 30″x 40″ canvas!

Just look at that! Canvas prints are by far my favorite way to display photos. Finding what exactly to hang in our home has been a challenge. I am pleased with the selection of artwork we have put up.

Here are the photos and where they were taken:

1. 30″x40″ Canvas  -  Bacharach, Germany – This canvas is HUGE! I took this photo of a castle while Dave and I were biking through a nearby town on our travels through Germany. I love the blue sky and the green vines of wine growing up the hill. Wine is big in Germany, most of them being very sweet wines such as Reisling.

2. 20″x 30″ Canvas – Sorrento, Italy – This is my favorite photo of Mount Vesevius that I took on our travels through Italy. Dave, Leslie and I spent the afternoon in Sorrento after seeing Herculaneum. The weather in Italy was absolutely beautiful. I am a sucker for hot, tropical weather.

3. 16″ x 20″ Canvas – Prague, Czech Republic – These buildings tell of a time when Eastern Europe was in it’s prime. This area is very touristy being at the entrance to the Charles Bridge.

4. 11″ x 14″ Canvas – Burg Eltz, Germany – We passed this landscape walking towards Castle Eltz.

5. 8″x 10″ Canvas – Budapest, Hungary – On our walk to Castle Hill along the river, Dave and I passed by what looked to be like an old palace/government building. This old building was clearly not in use and had gates surrounding it. These tiles were part of the ceiling of one of the entry ways.

6. 5″x 10″ Canvas – Vienna, Austria – This is the gorgeous ceiling of St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna. I first visited the cathedral 7 years ago while in Vienna for a day trip from a month long stay in Hungary. This cathedral is one of the most unique and beautiful churches I have ever seen.

Want a canvas print??? I’m sure you do now!

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Pozzouli was originally founded by the Greeks as the colony of Dicaearchia. The Apostle Paul landed in Pozzouli (aka Puteoli) on his way to Rome (Acts 28:13). I think that is pretty cool.

Leslie and I shared a dorm room at Pratt Institute my freshman year. I am sure that if I hadn’t left Pratt we would have roomed together for the rest of our college experience. Leslie was one of those crazy Architecture majors, you know the ones that pull all nighters at least 2 times each week. Architecture at Pratt is the most insane college program I have ever seen! Us photography majors had it easy compared to them.

For some reason this Pozzuoli street scene reminds me of a mix between Miami and San Juan.

See! More stray dogs!

The Bay of Naples has the most amazing food ever. I think I could live here just for the food. Look at those pastas above! The Buffalo Mozzarella from this restaurant along the port was the most delicious cheese I have ever eaten. I am craving some mozzarella di bufala as I write this. Really, my mouth is watering just thinking about it.

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Huge blue skies! Naples (aka Napoli) reminds me of florida with it’s hot weather, blue skies, and palm trees.

Pizza Plebiscito – the largest square in Naples. The Church of San Francesco di Paola is pictured above.

This view was one of my first experiences of Naples. The view of Mount Vesuvius is absolutely gorgeous. My very first experience of Italy was on the plane ride from Budapest to Naples, I couldn’t stop gazing out the window of our Wizz Air flight (yes, that really is the name) at the cliff and landscape.

Mount Vesuvius is dormant volcano hovering over the Bay of Naples. This Volcano last erupted in 1944 and you can find some pretty cool photos from the last eruption if you do a google search online. Vesuvius is famous for the destruction of Pompeii and Herculaneum in 79 AD. We visted the destroyed city of Herculaneum one of our days in Italy. Pictures to come.

Me, Dave, and Leslie in front of the colorful blue sea of the Bay of Naples.

Castel dell’Ovo also known as the Egg Castle has a beautiful view of Naples from the top. According to wikipedia, the Egg Castle is a popular place to get married at. Anyone want to hire me to photograph their wedding at Castel dell’Ovo? Pretty please? Legend has it that the poet Virgil placed an Egg somewhere in the foundation of this castle and if it breaks the castle will fall.

These next three photos were taken from the top of the Egg castle.

Naples is busting at the seams with stray dogs. They are everywhere! I think there is some kind of law that they are protected and free to roam.

Leslie took us to Christmas Alley in Naples. Dave and I collected christmas ornaments from almost every country on our trip (we forgot about it in Austria).

We bought one of these little pepper ornaments, the mascot of Naples.

I am not entirely sure what is going on here. Naples is the most diverse city I have ever photographed in. It was literally a photographer’s dream. A mix between rugged, old, dirty, beautiful, tropical.

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These two lovebirds were married a year and a half ago in Sonoma Valley and are still crazy in love. I secretly think they are still on their honeymoon. That has to be the longest honeymoon ever.

Can you say romantic?

We were completely spoiled photographing in Bacharach, Germany. The town is so quaint.

Are you ready for some photos taken in a CASTLE? yes? okay…

Who wants an IN LOVE SESSION?

You know you do…

Info:

Sessions last 30 minutes and include 5 facebook sized images. Each session takes place in either Orlando or Winter Park, FL. Session cost $129.

Book it here:

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This is going on our wall as a 20″x30″ Canvas. Come by and see it in a few weeks!

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Budapest was founded as two separate cities, Buda and Pest that are divided by the Danube River. The two cities became one in 1873 after the construction of the Chain Bridge.  One cool thing about Budapest is that it was the first city in Continental Europe to boast an underground metro system (the first is in London).

Our hostel was right next to the Great Synagogue in Budapest. It is the largest synagogue in Europe built in 1854.

Dave and I stopped by the Market Hall on the Pest side of Budapest to grab some souvenirs. I remember going to the Great Market Hall 7 years ago when I was last in Budapest. The souvenirs that they offer have changed since then. I bought some custom painted wine glasses last time I was here and none were to be found anywhere this time. It’s amazing how much things change in a few years.

Yes, those are pigs feet.

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I can’t wait to get back to work! That must sound crazy. I miss playing around with photos and meeting with awesome couples. I miss photographing people. All of this photographing thousand year old artifacts and ancient ruins was starting to get old.

I have a super awesome portrait special coming your way next week! I wanted to let you know so that you can be prepared… it is that awesome. I can’t wait to photograph you!

I leave you with this, a video that I made with my 5D MKII of our time in Germany.

**I will be back to work on Monday, let the phone start ringing! (but not until then)**

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I will be home on Friday June 12 and returning all emails and phone calls the following week.

Blog posts will resume next Monday. Enjoy!

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We got to Vienna and the rain stopped! Most of our time in Prague was spent dodging the rain or walking through it and getting completely soaked. I already tossed one pair of shoes. My black flats hit the dust after our walking tour in Prague.

We walked around for about 4 hours in Vienna. That is all we did. We hopped the train from Prague which took us 5 hours to get to our Austrian destination and by the time we checked into the hotel we were fatigued. We took a little nap and then headed out into the beautiful weather. 

Vienna is a great city just to walk around in. It is so clean! The city is very well kept up and is definitely a tourist destination. Enjoy our photos from our walk:

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The best thing we did on our trip so far was the FREE walking tour in Prague. Our guide for the tour was a 20-30 something Jewish guy from L.A. who was super funny. It started downpoaring the last half of the 3 hour tour and most of the group stayed with the tour, even in the rain! He was that good. Most of the tours we have been on so far have been educational but lacking in the fun category.

doornobs in Prague

Our tour guide took us to this section of town called Little Town which is right under the Charles Bridge. We passed by this wall with tons of writing and graffiti all scattered about. The Lennon Wall started during communist rule when people would start writing Beatles lyrics on the wall. The Communists didn’t like it too much but the people weren’t stopping. Finally they just made this wall the graffiti wall and is the only place in Prague where you can legally write on a public structure.

Lennon Wall

Apparently there is no smoking in the internet.

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