European Experience

[dann089]

Well being back home in Australia now, I thought I would upload a few of my favourite shots from my time overseas. I may have posted one or two before in different threads so sorry if you have seen some before. C&C would be greatly appreciated as I'm still new to photography and value all help I can get.

1. Klippeneck, Germany
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3017/3079672477_a9967d8e05.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3017/3079672477_a9967d8e05_b.jpg

2. Rhinefall, Switzerland
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3208/3050515802_9651859f3a.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3208/3050515802_9651859f3a_b.jpg

3. Amsterdam, Netherlands
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3438/3180350083_c4bda55f68.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3438/3180350083_c4bda55f68_b.jpg

4. Venice, Italia
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3123/3181186736_abffa6f028.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3123/3181186736_abffa6f028_b.jpg

5. Venice, Italia
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3386/3181205016_945b4e21ac.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3386/3181205016_945b4e21ac_b.jpg

6. Roma, Italia
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3088/3117734963_eae1df8f74.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3420/3180346197_c98749a786_b.jpg

7. Paris, France
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3134/3181179976_532ffeac6f.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3134/3181179976_532ffeac6f_b.jpg

8. Eiffel Tower, Paris
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3532/3180344437_c98644492b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3510/3180351131_4b777a64d2_b.jpg

Thanks for looking, Hope you like them. I have a few more if anyone would like too see more.
Thanks again,
Dan

[mghong]

Good picture..1 thumb up

[advaitin]

Lovely. I see it's still raining in Amsterdam.

[AiGTs]

Beautiful series! I'd like to see more.

[dann089]

Some more :)

9. London
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3529/3181185878_13534e7248.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3529/3181185878_13534e7248_b.jpg

10. Paris
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3263/3181178956_c84d2faf78.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3263/3181178956_c84d2faf78_b.jpg

11. Austria
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3294/3118561962_d978d0f771.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3294/3118561962_d978d0f771_b.jpg

12. London
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3228/3131163457_3a3985857a.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3228/3131163457_3a3985857a_b.jpg

13. Château de Fontainebleau
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3306/3185567473_66963ca675.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3306/3185567473_66963ca675_b.jpg

I hope you enjoy them, any criticism would be greatly appreciated. I've only been shooting for about 4months and want to improve my skills. Thanks alot.
Dan

[advaitin]

I. for one, would love to read a blog or a long message on your trip. How many countries, how long, methods of travel, interesting experiences, etc.

[dann089]

I. for one, would love to read a blog or a long message on your trip. How many countries, how long, methods of travel, interesting experiences, etc.

I'd love to share my experiences with everyone, sadly I didn't keep a blog as I went, which now looking back, I wish I did.

It was my first time ever traveling alone and celebrated my 19th birthday while overseas alone. I was overseas for 2months, which now looking back, also wasn't long enough although allowed me to experience just the tip of the cultures of the countries I visited. In total, I visited 10 countries, basically all of western Europe. Started in London and did a round trip from Belgium around Netherlands, Germany, down through Switzerland, Austria, Lichtenstein, Italy then accross to Monaco, France then back to London to fly on home. Travel by bus and train, surprisingly really easy to get around the continent, and can't wait for my next visit, this time more countries and more smaller towns as opposed to the "typical" tourist destinations.

Experiences are in abundance. I learnt that in the tourist places, be careful where you go alone, I got chased through Venice because I argued with the bag hustlers that I didn't want them so ended up getting chased through the streets and getting death threats from the same kind of people in Rome due to me being extremely rude as I had had enough by this stage of them always pestering me to purchase their cheap and nasty products. But I also learnt culture and history whilst there, more so in Germany as I stayed with a friend there, and I got to experience the foods typical to the Swabian region, which was a great experience. I conquered my fear of heights by climbing the campanile in Florence and the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

I got to rollerblade up the promenade in Nice and have a typical Parisian style lunch on the Chateu in Nice with a bagette and a bottle of wine. I got to experience the Moulin Rouge in Paris which is an experience, that I will never forget. But the highlight of my trip, was meeting so many nice people throughout the journey from the lovely couple in London who invited me to stay at their house any time I'm in America to the people who took me around and showed me the sights whilst I was around their Regions.

In all, I'm already planning my next adventure which hopefully if I can get time off work, will be later this year for 2 weeks in Vietnam and Cambodia. The travel bug has bitten hard now all that's left is for improvements in my photography.

[advaitin]

Then, while everything is fresh in your mind, organize your photos by their stages of travel and sit down one night or two a week and write all you can remember from each stage. keep it all together and do that two or three times until you have exhausted all you can say. Who knows--your pix are good enough, you might be able to find a publisher. That could pay for your next adventure.

My wife and I did four months in 2007:Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland, northern France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Paris, Barcelona, southern France, Belgium again and England, leaving from Scotland to fly home.

We are off again in April, cruising from San Juan to Barcelona, two weeks in Rome, etc.

So I know whereof you speak.

[sparker1]

Nice job of capturing some memories of your wonderful trip. At your age, you are off to a great start.

[dann089]

Then, while everything is fresh in your mind, organize your photos by their stages of travel and sit down one night or two a week and write all you can remember from each stage. keep it all together and do that two or three times until you have exhausted all you can say. Who knows--your pix are good enough, you might be able to find a publisher. That could pay for your next adventure.

My wife and I did four months in 2007:Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland, northern France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Paris, Barcelona, southern France, Belgium again and England, leaving from Scotland to fly home.

We are off again in April, cruising from San Juan to Barcelona, two weeks in Rome, etc.

So I know whereof you speak.

Wow, thank you for the kind words and advice. Sadly, the reason I came home from my trip so early was because of the Australian Air Force. I was fully enlisted the week before I left which now leaves my holidaying for recreation only. However that said, I will do what you said in organising my photos in stages and dates with blurbs and memories to match and maybe your right, I might get picked up to do some "casual" work with a company, or the Air Force will understand.

The trip you already undertook sounds amazing and I'm very envious that you were able to share it with someone you love, traveling alone has its perks but gets very lonely sometimes. When I head off to Vietnam and Cambodia I want to hire a motorbike and ride from north Vietnam to South Vietnam before crossing over into Cambodia. Being able to stop and take photos at my own leisure seems like the best possibility for me.

Again, thank you for the kind words and good luck on your next trip. While on the topic, is there any real program that I could use to organise my photos with blurbs easier then say using word or other programs? I'm using a MacBook too, so even if there's any build in programs available would be great. Thank you again.
Dan

[advaitin]

I was thinking more along the lines of having a folder in your computer/laptop with pictures from the first stage where you start your journey, then a folder with the first country and so on. in each folder open a word processing file as you review your scenes, write down what you remember and the date, as best you recall (although that will be in your image exif file-so handy!) and save it each time after you have written something. You want all your writing to be in one file for each segment or folder. You might note image file names as you write. This will allow you to create the same kind of memoir as keeping a blog, only in retrospect.

When I was your age, I went through much the same thing. It is better with a companion, but you can go deeper into a culture on your own. Each has its pros and cons. I spent 21 months in India as a Peace Corps volunteer on my own, 40 miles from another PCV. Before that I was a soldier and spent 13 months in Korea, although I was hardly ever alone there, what with buddies and sergeants about.

I'm a fan of word. Use iPhoto or Google's new free browser for Mac (Picasa). Size the viewer so it takes half the screen. On the other half open a word window and size it so it doesn't overlap. Then you can type on one side as you look at the photos on the other.