DCBohemian's Photo(s) Of The Week: May 2010

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Spring Is Here And The Colors Are Clear

I am getting into the end of April with the pictures and this was when things began to pop. Colors were becoming brighter all over the country, even at night. This set of pictures took Melissa and I from small towns to across rivers to night clubs to concerts, and finally back to street cars. Enjoy!!!

Traditional blue tiled houses

Óbidos - a small fortified town that dates back to Roman times and the 1100s

Scaling the walls of Óbidos

Óbidos

Largo Dr. José de Figueiredo

Crossing the Rio Tejo

Tara and Paula at sunset in Caparica

Club Kozee

Kozee

Avenida De Liberdade

Santa Catarina

Catching a ride

Another hitcher

Peace Revolution

Lisbon Art

Saturday, May 22, 2010

And God Said Let There Be Light.

Now that I had the lenses all sorted out, I broke out my well used, heavy, classic yet antiquated Vivitar flash from the 1970s. This thing weighs a ton. Nonetheless, it still lights up a room with its great strobe despite being older than me. It took a while to get things to where I liked them and here are some examples of some new and improved indoor scenes. I have also managed to muster up the courage to begin shooting people other then Melissa I no longer felt like the Cowardly Lion when looking at people through the lens. As I said I am going to keep it up until I catch up... Enjoy!!

Jared drinking

Paula (Melissa's boss), Carla (Paula's sister), and Gonçalo telling Jared to be quiet, it is not his turn to speak

Tiago attempting to convince Carla to let them stay up later

Old man in Mafra

Sun setting over the alley

Mississippi looking for love on Jared's shoulder

Jason and Melissa at a Carpe Diem exhibit opening

Jason and I contemplating art

Melissa trying to read Lorenço

Paula allowing me to get a picture

Smiling Sarah Roffino

Skater in front of the Palácio de São Bento (Parliament House)

Audry playing a supped up version of Charades

Geoff pointing to the stars

Martin telling Johanna she got it

Melissa looking for answers

Johanna being a big star

Jared and I at Melissa's birthday

Martin happy after a wonderful brunch at Taberna Ideal

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Wide Wide World

Before we had embarked on our African adventure, I had my eyes on a wide angle lens, 20mm f2.8 for my camera. I had been shooting primarily a 50mm lens. The view is completely different from one to the next. I shopped around the internet and found a great price on the lens and ordered it. It was going to be a birthday gift to myself. I was hoping and praying that it would arrive before our departure, but alas I was dismayed and let down by international postal delivery. Obviously, despite the lens, the trip was amazing. When we arrived back in Lisboa I was informed that my belated birthday package had arrived. I scurried over to the post office to pick it up. However joyful and anticipated an occasion this was to be, I was impeded by the postal process again. I had to pay a customs tax that accounted for about 1/3 the price of the lens. What was initially supposed to be a great deal turned out to be an okay deal, still I'll take it. With the box firmly in my possession, I tore into it quicker than a six year old at Hanukkah. I freed the lens from its cardboard confines and attached it to its new home, my D200. When it clicked in I felt empowered like He-Man rising his sword above his head and receiving the power of Greyskull. I was so excited I could hardly contain myself. I started clicking away instantaneously. From now on I was going to see more of life not only through the lens but also through my big brown eyes.

We have been here in Portugal for more than seven months and we are running on all cylinders. Recognizing people on the street, knowing where to go, working, and simply living the good life.
So here it goes. I know I am way way way behind on my posts so I am going to post all my backlog - minus the fun stories (maybe just little short ones like this). These will just be for your viewing pleasure - ENJOY!!!

Praça do Comérico

Graffiti of my youth

View from our balcony

Standing in line for a Social Security Number

Graffiti

Street in Mafra looking at the Mafra National Palace

Mafra National Palace

Shadow on our balcony

The real stuff...Serigo Mendes and Brazil 66

Melissa hiding

A funeral procession coming up our street on a Sunday. Melissa and I heard Chopin's Funeral March being played by brass instruments and went outside to see what was happening.