Stuck in Customs – Page 415 – Trey Ratcliff's Travel Photography blog with daily inspiration to motivate you!

Stuck In Customs

My daily travel blog to inspire and get you motivated!

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Mar 2013 : Friday
See More Photos of:  France, Nikon D800, Paris, Travel

Fisheye in the Hotel Banke

Upcoming PhotoWalk!

A TON of people have signed up for it… how fun! See the latest details and prizes for the photowalk here!

Stuck On Earth – Featured in the App Store!

The app is still free – see more at http://stuckonearthapp.com/

And yes, in case you missed it, the Android version is officially under way. It will be ready when it is ready… and, even better, the Android version will use sweet sweet Google Maps!

Handy Pants!

A few months ago I posted about the Search for Pants. I got many good suggestions, and the guy that runs Bluff Works Pants actually sent me some! They are really good… and I recommend them. Very light and wrinkle-free. One thing that is quite surprising is how tiny they roll up when you pack them away in your bag!

Daily Photo – Fisheye in the Hotel Banke

I was very happy to experiment with the fisheye lens while I was in Paris. I borrowed Tom’s, and that pushed me over the edge to buying one for myself. Prior to this, I had rented one, but never really liked it very much. I think maybe because I took a lot of people photos, and they were just tooooo artsy and weird for me (which is saying a lot), but I really found using the fisheye on architecture and things like this to be a lot of fun!

Fisheye in the Hotel Banke

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2012-11-09 02:51:06
  • CameraNIKON D800
  • Camera MakeNikon
  • Exposure Time8
  • Aperture8
  • ISO200
  • Focal Length16.0 mm
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
  • Exposure Bias+1

Comments
28
Feb 2013 : Thursday
See More Photos of:  Caribbean, Travel, Virgin Gorda

The Ruins of the old Copper Mine

Behind-the-Scenes Video

When I shot this down in Virgin Gorda, I also made a behind-the-scenes video with Curtis that you may enjoy! 🙂

Daily Photo – The Ruins of the old Copper Mine

Here’s another view of the ruins at sunrise. I was down on the island for about two weeks, and it was very nice to have a guaranteed nice sunrise every morning! The skies were never dull… always clouds and drama. I don’t know if it is like that 365 mornings a year, but it definitely was in the middle of the summer!

The Ruins of the old Copper Mine

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2012-05-07 06:58:47
  • CameraNIKON D800
  • Camera MakeNikon
  • Exposure Time1/125
  • Aperture8
  • ISO200
  • Focal Length18.0 mm
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
  • Exposure Bias

Comments
27
Feb 2013 : Wednesday
See More Photos of:  New Zealand, Nikon D800, Queenstown, Travel

Brushing a Miniature Horse

To Share Your Own Photos with the Community

Don’t forget about the free Stuck In Customs Community on Google+ ! It’s a great place to share your photos and see other photos from regular visitors to the website here! 🙂

Daily Photo – Brushing a Miniature Horse

We took another trip out to Kerry & Simon Brackstone’s farm in Gibbston with the kids. My two girls, Isabella and Scarlett, love that miniature horse! They spent a very long time brushing it… apparently this is something that all little girls enjoy doing. We always hold this out as a carrot for them if they are being good, and they they can hold out a carrot for the miniature horse, and it will be a neverending circle of carrot-based incentives.

Brushing a Miniature Horse

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2012-12-01 02:03:50
  • CameraNEX-7
  • Camera MakeSony
  • Exposure Time1/100
  • Aperture11
  • ISO100
  • Focal Length18.0 mm
  • FlashAuto, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramProgram AE
  • Exposure Bias

Comments
26
Feb 2013 : Tuesday
See More Photos of:  Austin, Lake Tekapo, New Zealand, Texas, Travel

Downtown Austin PhotoWalk Details

Google+ SXSW Austin PhotoWalk with Trey Ratcliff – All Levels of Photographers – All Free!

Also you are invited to come to my featured (Google+ heavy!) speech at SXSW – “A Life Worth Living is a Life Worth Recording” (link for times and details)

Google+ PhotoWalk Details!

RSVP and Get More Details on the Google+ Event Here.

$1000’s in Prizes! A ton of Google+ swag! Members of the Google+ team!!

Bring your camera (even mobile phones are cool!) and bring your sense of adventure and discovery! We’ll walk around the streets of Austin together and grab some cool photos to share with one another. If you’ve never been to one of these events before, then this is your chance. Bring a friend or bring the kids — it’s a family-friendly event and all are welcome! 🙂

I’ll be giving lessons and teaching how I set up for various shots. Anyone can ask me anything at any time… sort of an in-person AMA! 🙂

When: Monday, Mar 11 at 6:30 PM Austin Time
Where: Downtown Austin Watch For Exact Spot Here.
What to bring: Anything from a mobile phone to a DSLR with a tripod
Tag to use for photos: Attach the photos to this event and use the tag #AustinPhotowalk2013 ! 🙂

*Prizes (in addition to free Google+ swag to be randomly distributed):*
– Really Right Stuff Tripod goodies (BH-40 LR and some LB-40s)
– Huge Secret Adorama Prize
– XUME Quick Release Adapters
– Syrp (A NEW Genie!!!) – https://stuckincustoms.com/time-lapse-photography-syrp-genie-review/
– FStop (Loka Bag and 1 ICU)
– Many copies of Trey’s Lightroom and Photomatix Presets!
– Camera Sutra t-shirts
– Many Stuck In Customs Camera Straps
– 5 Copies of Midnight in Paris tutorial!

How To Win A Prize:

“Best Photos of Fellow Photowalkers!”
Share your photos on Google+ and/or in The Photo Community with the tag #AustinPhotowalk2013 – winners will be chosen by a Team of Humans at Google and other coaches from the photowalk.

Thanks to the coaches too: Dave Wilson, Alex Suarez, Mike Connell, Jerry Hayes, and Simi Shonowo !

Daily Photo – Moody Skies Over the Dark Church

I keep going back to Tekapo to see the skies over the lake. If it is clear, you can see amazing stars! But, if cloudy, it’s not so bad because you can get this kind of moody, long-exposure stuff… !

Moody Skies Over the Dark Church

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2013-01-18 13:34:27
  • CameraNIKON D800
  • Camera MakeNikon
  • Exposure Time30
  • Aperture2.8
  • ISO1600
  • Focal Length14.0 mm
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramManual
  • Exposure Bias

Comments
25
Feb 2013 : Monday
See More Photos of:  New Zealand, Nikon D800, Queenstown

Slow Motion Sunset on the Color-Thickened Lake

Working on new videos

I’ve been working hard to record hours and hours of new videos. The photo below makes an appearance in one of the videos that will be coming out soon. I’ve just spent a small eternity inside Photoshop. It keeps crashing and it’s driving me absolutely batty. I keep submitting error reports, but I’m convinced those error reports are just placebos. I keep hoping I’m generally contributing to the common good, but I think it probably does nothing… I may give up… and play my own small part in contributing to the Tragedy of the Commons.

Daily Photo – Slow Motion Sunset on the Color-Thickened Lake

The sunsets in the summer here last about 2-3 hours. Once you get around 45 degrees latitude and beyond, the sun does not sink right into the horizon. Instead, it slides sideways into the horizon like A-Rod stealing second in slow motion. This means the colors change very very slowly, and sunset is a nice, long relaxed photography session rather than a high-pressure one.

Slow Motion Sunset on the Color-Thickened Lake

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2013-02-10 11:49:05
  • CameraNIKON D800
  • Camera MakeNikon
  • Exposure Time1/20
  • Aperture11
  • ISO200
  • Focal Length21.0 mm
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
  • Exposure Bias-1

Comments
24
Feb 2013 : Sunday
See More Photos of:  France, Nikon D800, Paris, Travel

La Défense in Paris

Thanks for all the great feedback

We’re glad people are enjoying the recently released “Midnight in Paris”! It looks like most people are buying the “Bonus” version of it that has all the extra videos for $4 more. Keep the good feedback coming… and if you’ve never bought anything from the store before, no worries. It’s easy, and if you aren’t 100% happy, then you can have all your money back… so no risk at all, and everything to gain! 🙂

Daily Photo – La Défense in Paris

The new, modern downtown area of Paris is certainly worth a trip! It’s just 20 minutes through the subway to emerge into this area. I never really wanted to go down here, even though I kept hearing good things about it. To me, it wasn’t really Paris, you know… modern buildings and all. But, once I got down here, I was very excited. There are a ton of cool buildings and a thousand great compositions waiting to be had!

La Défense in Paris

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2012-11-11 20:37:48
  • CameraNIKON D800
  • Camera MakeNikon
  • Exposure Time2
  • Aperture8
  • ISO200
  • Focal Length14.0 mm
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
  • Exposure Bias-1

Comments
23
Feb 2013 : Saturday
See More Photos of:  Moeraki, New Zealand, Nikon D800, Travel

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???????? HDR???? ? ????? ??? ?? ???? ?? – Now in Arabic!

The ever-expanding list of languages continues. Thank you to Abdullah Suleiman for this translation! ????? ???????? ???? ???!

Now in more flavors! Links to the International HDR Tutorial!

Daily Photo – The Bird of Moeraki

We set up on the rocks of Moeraki just outside of Fleurs. There is this abandoned dock here that shoots out into the bay towards the sunset. I like this spot because it is one of the few places on the east coast I have found that points back west towards the sunset.

Taking photos of birds is really really really hard. It just takes a lot of trial and timing! I don’t do a lot of close-ups of birds… just not my thing… but I do like to try to incorporate them into the landscape when it feels right!

The Bird of Moeraki

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2012-11-27 12:03:16
  • CameraNIKON D800
  • Camera MakeNikon
  • Exposure Time1/1000
  • Aperture2.8
  • ISO1600
  • Focal Length24.0 mm
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
  • Exposure Bias

Comments
22
Feb 2013 : Friday
See More Photos of:  Glenorchy, New Zealand, Nikon D800, Paradise, Travel

The Dirt Road to Paradise

More from New Zealand – Forgive me!

Normally I jump around the world and post photos from many countries out of order. But, I’ve been processing SO MANY New Zealand photos that I’ve got a giant backlog that is New Zealand-heavy! So, you’ll have to give me a few weeks to post a bunch of new work from NZ… I apologize for that because I know you are used to seeing more variety. But, there are some Really Pretty Images coming up from NZ that I am so excited to publish and share with you…. like the one below today! 🙂

Daily Photo – The Dirt Road to Paradise

After you pass Glenorchy, the paved road continues for a while as you approach Paradise. The paved road then turns into a dirt road. At this point, many visitors turn around, which is a shame! You can keep on rolling down this road in your rental car for quite a way. There’s even a few river crossings you can make, like Arwen on horseback. You can do it! Probably. I even see giant campervans going through here… anyway, the dirt road is in pretty good condition, so don’t let that turn you back!

The Dirt Road to Paradise

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2013-01-17 09:34:53
  • CameraNIKON D800
  • Camera MakeNikon
  • Exposure Time1/125
  • Aperture11
  • ISO100
  • Focal Length85.0 mm
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
  • Exposure Bias

Comments
21
Feb 2013 : Thursday
See More Photos of:  France, Nikon D800, Paris, Travel

The Ceiling of the Paris Opera House

Paris Tutorial Videos Now Available!

Want to learn more about my post-processing and follow me around on a shoot in Paris? Even better, you get to see the same thing from Miss Aniela! Pop over to the Midnight In Paris video in the new store…

I think you’ll love it – especially the post-processing bit. 🙂 And, as always, if you don’t mega-love it, you can have all your money back – no worries 🙂

Daily Photo – The Ceiling of the Paris Opera House

I stole this photo-taking idea from Matt Knisely! At first, I would lay down on my back and try to get the shot. But that was frustrating and bothersome. Then I saw Matt just put his camera on the ground with a timer then run away! So that’s what I did to get this shot… although it took a few takes to get it to line up right…

The Ceiling of the Paris Opera House

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2012-11-09 14:36:28
  • CameraNIKON D800
  • Camera MakeNikon
  • Exposure Time0.5
  • Aperture2.8
  • ISO100
  • Focal Length16.0 mm
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
  • Exposure Bias

Comments
19
Feb 2013 : Tuesday
See More Photos of:  New Zealand, Nikon D800, North Korea, Queenstown, Travel

Abandoned North Korean Prison in… New Zealand?!?

Want to see a video?

Our team is working on putting together a video now from our time here. I don’t know how much longer it will take, but you’ll find out first if you sign-up for my Newsletter. It’s free and pretty, and we promise not to spam you!


Daily Photo – Abandoned North Korean Prison in… New Zealand?!?

I’ve always wanted to get up to this place, but it has been virtually impossible since they closed all the roads years ago.

And yes, it’s right here in Queenstown, New Zealand, atop Deer Park Heights, a huge mountain that can be seen from pretty much everywhere in the valley. It might not look like a mountain next to the Remarkables, but it is huge. Everything in New Zealand is so epic that you lose track of the scale of things. For example, did you know that they make Cinderella’s castle in Disneyworld look bigger by using a forced perspective trick by making the upper spires much smaller than they would normally be? This is what happens with the relatively “small” mountains around here. So you’ll see Deer Park Heights and think, “Oh, I could climb that thing myself!” Well, maybe you could, but you won’t make it down by nightfall.

So, WHY, I hear you wondering, is there an abandoned North Korean prison in Queenstown? It was actually built as a movie set for a movie in the 80’s by Disney. It was called “The Rescue” — and it was horrible. The plot involved a bunch of young boys who had to rescue their dads who had gotten themselves imprisoned in North Korea. I think it skipped the theaters and went straight to airplanes, along with Miss Congeniality 4.

How was I able to get up here and take about 20 new friends? I cannot say! 🙂

Abandoned North Korean Prison in… New Zealand?!?

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2013-02-08 12:39:49
  • CameraNIKON D800
  • Camera MakeNikon
  • Exposure Time3
  • Aperture4
  • ISO320
  • Focal Length15.0 mm
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
  • Exposure Bias-1

Comments