Cuba part II

Some more faces and scenes from Cuba...


        

                      

Ambleside Ramble

Great sunset In Vancity a few nights ago...


 

CUBA

CUBA

It's been awhile since I've had a good street photo session. I guess I haven't felt the vibe lately in Van city. Usually a trip to a new country helps jump start the creative process.

I'd heard great things about Cuba and was excited  to see for myself what Cuba was all about.  Interesting people, vibrant colours, great music, and a unique cultural history all helped provide a great backdrop to photograph my experience.

Here's a small selection of my photos from Cuba...

      
 

    

      
 

 

Phil and the cup...

It's been awhile since I've added to my blog. I guess I needed the post Stanley Cup blues to wear off so I could enjoy sports again! That being said, although the Canucks may have fallen short in their quest to grasp the cup... I'm glad I didn't!

A good friend of mine called before the big Game Seven and offered me a chance to visit and photograph the Stanley Cup. Quite simply... an offer I couldn't refuse! There it was!!!! It was resting in a large case inside a small hotel room in downtown Vancouver.  Crammed inside the room with the cup... was Phil Pritchard, one of the official "Keepers of the Cup".

How amazing to be that close to an iconic piece of Canadian culture. The Cup had a look and smell of an old piece of jewelry that had been boxed up in an attic for years. The body of the Cup was less than pristine;  the dents and scratches told of crazy nights with great hockey legends of the past and present. I have to admit... It was pretty RAD!

Hopefully the Nucks will get their chance to meet Phil and the cup this year!!!

Phil and the cup!

California

Dedicated

     I learned a good lesson in dedication while on vacation in California. I stopped at a little town called Niland on the eastern side of the Salton Sea. Niland is a town I might normally drive right through, a place where I'd fill up with gas and hit the road. However, on this occasion, I made it my purpose to explore further because I was on a mission to find Salvation Mountain and Slab City...

     About 5 minutes from Niland is Slab City, a community of winter-time, sun-seeking snowbirds on wheels. And, immediately adjacent to Slab City is Salvation Mountain a man-made structure consisting of  adobe mixed with straw which holds it all together. Salvation Mountain is the result of a lifetime of work by a man named Leonard Knight, who came to Niland some 20 odd years ago and started his quest to build a mountain in the desert for God.
    
I know what you are thinking... sounds crazy right? However, in spite of what you might think about Leonard and his faith, one thing you can't help but admire is Leonard's dedication. It was truly amazing to see what this man had built over the last 20 plus years and even more amazing to hear that he had done it by hand, without the aid of modern technology. It was impossible for me not to be inspired by Leonard's perseverence and dedication to his beliefs. There is something to be learned from Leonard Knight...

     Here are a few pictures from my time at the Salton Sea...




Leonard (The Man, The Myth, The Legend!)

Mike (Doing god's work!)

Bill (Self proclaimed mayor of slab city)

Bill (Also the bouncer at Slab City`s outdoor concert venue `The Range`)

Bombay Beach

Bob (loves a good Tilapia)

Fish on a stick!

Check out my website to see more images from California

http://www.jameswalkerphotography.ca/



 





 





The Philippines

     I decided to start 2011 with a trip to the Philippines. Before this year, I'd never considered travelling to the Philippines. I'm not really sure why? I guess it never struck me as a vacation destination! That being said, I've always envisioned it as an exotic Asian location known for its beaches, cheap beer, and friendly people. I wasn't disappointed!

     Our Home base was a little island called Boracay which lies in the Western Visayas... a popular group of islands in the Philippines for western travellers. This would be my home for the time being. My goal was to explore the island as much as I possibly could in a month. I quickly set out, carrying my camera with me as often as possible, authentically documenting the culture and people. I learned that Filipinos are very friendly and interested in conversing with western travellers. Needless to say I had an amazing adventure and returned home with almost 3000 pictures as a remembrance. Below are a few of my favourites.

Click here to view more photos from the Philippines

 

 

 

West Caribbean

Local Flavour "West Caribbean style"

     A quick trip to the Caribbean was all it took to bring back my travel bug. Stops were made in Cozumel, the Grand Caymens, Honduras, and Belize. It's always intrigued me how real local culture is easily overlooked by those who choose to ignore it.

     This was quite noticeable when walking down the main strip in Cozumel. Don't get me wrong... I love seeing drunken frat boys getting the boot from the local senor frog's just as as much as the next man. But, why travel to these places and not venture away from the comfort of the gated hotels to experience real cultural authenticity. A short 10 minute walk inland from the ocean forced me to abandon English for simple Spanish terms long ignored and forgotten since the 10th grade.

     I made it my mission to acquaint myself with some of the real individuals that live and struggle in these communities on a daily basis. I met and photographed Hondurans, Mexicans, and a few Jamaicans that wanted me to sponsor them to come to Canada... I wish I had that kind of pull!

Here are a few images from my trip...