Made another visit to Paris, France this year for Spring Break. I went with Andrea Hittle and we stayed with Arnaud Viarouge! We had a wonderful time and saw many great things!
Day 1 we mostly spent at the Louvre. I love that place. There's so MUCH to see there! It reminds of me a little of the Smithsonian, because there's no way to see it all...not on one visit anyway.
Day 2 we went to Versailles and got to see how OVER THE TOP the "other 1/2 lived." ha ha. It is really something amazing! The gardens weren't bloomed out since we were probably there about a month too early for that, but they were still quite impressive to say the least.
Day 3 was spent at the Eiffel Tower, Branly Museum of Pre-Historic Cultures, and the Arc De Triomphe...with many places in between. The sun was out for a part of the day and was greatly welcomed after our first few days of overcast weather. Over all we were very lucky with the weather, only experiencing a slight mist one night while there.
Day 4 took started out with a morning visit to the Notre Dame
Cathedral, then on over to Sainte-Chappel and the Conciergerie...then the Luxembourg Gardens, the Pantheon and a view of the Sorbonne. It was a FULL day to say the least.
Day 5 was the last day I had my Pentax with me. I used up the photo card in it...and had to take pics with me phone the last day. We visited the Paris Opera house, the Cimetiere du Pere Lachaise (Where Chopin, Jim Morrison...and MANY others are buried), and ended the evening with a view of Paris at night.
It was an outstanding trip! I strongly suggest to people to go to one place/city and STAY there and take in all that ONE city has to offer, instead of running from city to city when you go on a trip. I believe it is so much more fulfilling!
My friend Ralph Smith, gave me a yell and asked if I would be interested in going on a "photography trip" somewhere. "SURE!" Then he did some looking around and came up with the idea of going to New Orleans on the Amtrak train from Birmingham, Alabama to New Orleans! I loved the idea. He booked our train tickets and our hotel and off we went.
It just so happened that my friend Ryan Rose was already down there (he drove down right after Christmas) and so we met up with him for New Years Eve in Jackson Square, and around Frenchman's Street. We had a excellent time! I'm including a link of my photos I took using my phone in addition to the photos here from my regular camera. The top pic is from my camera the bottom pic is from my phone (Using the app TripColor).
This year was a fun Christmas with the two Great Nephews, Preston and Landon running around having a big time! Little Carter will have his chance next year. In spite of the fact that most of Eva's clan had some sort of stomach virus (24 hour), it was a good time. This is probably the last year of having Christmas at this house, since we are trying to sell it and get mom and dad into a smaller house in town (Florence).
(Click the pic)
So this is the time of year that I collect my favorite photographs that I have taken for the year and put them all together in one place. I really don't know what makes them my favorites...a new place, a new angle of an old place...a view that I've never noticed before...etc. Color, light, angles, and subject matter all play a part in my liking these.
(click the pic for more)
I've enjoyed having my iPhone for the past year. I've taken more photographs since I've had, but I've taken fewer with my real camera. Not exactly sure how I feel about that. Anyway...here are a few shots I've taken on the spur of the moment over the past 2 months or so...from late October to early December.
(Click the pic for more.)
Another walk along the river in downtown Nashville. There was just a little bit of light left when I got there. I got this shot, and then a few night shots of reflections in the river...one of my favorite things to photograph.
Click the pic for more.
My other favorite place in the FALL is Radnor Lake. I always make at least one visit there during the latter part of October, and early November. The color this year was just unbelievable! It is hard to believe that this beautiful piece of nature is right smack dab in the middle of the city.
(Click the pic for more)
