This morning I received a message from a BBC researcher who wants one of my photographs to be used in the forthcoming publication “Countryfile: 100 Favourite Days Out,” to be published by BBC Books in May 2010.

Hum, I thought, me with a landscape image in a British publication!  Even though the British continue to spell “Favorite” the wrong way.

This is a test of a Wordpress plugin that allows me to post videos directly to my blog without having to post to YouTube or Vimeo.  I like that! No more Google Ads.

This video is something everyone should see, it is extraordinary. Kseniya Simonova shows us a great example of what talent can accomplish with the simplest of tools. Make sure you watch all the way through and turn up the sound. It brought tears to my eyes. It is her interpretation of Germany’s invasion and occupation of the Ukraine during WWII.

My colleague Melanie from Photo Travel Review Magazine and I have just completed a detailed article about a Photo Travel Review seminar in Ireland.  If you are considering travel to Ireland, you might want to read the article.  Melanie has included some fantastic photographs that she took during the seminar. I included some photos as well.

Long story, short version. I am overweight and out of shape.

Friday I bought a TerraTrike Cruiser.

Saturday I rode the trike five miles.

Today I did almost 12 miles. Goal is 20 miles per day, leading up to 50 miles and then sustained training for a long trip on the TerraTrike. Yep, I am gonna do it.

Several months ago I got an email message from Rick Gallant, an artist, who asked me if he could use one of my photographs as the subject of a painting.  I told him yes.

Two days ago Rick sent me a photograph of his painting.

Every so often, I run across the work of an exceptional photographer.

Dave Ohlsen’s work is among the best I have seen.

Here is a video he just published at YouTube.

Enjoy.

Admire.

Learn.

Live.

From time to time I get very nice email messages from folks who visit my website and read my blog.  Some of the messages are special, like one I got today.

Which has me thinking.

And gosh knows it hurts to think.

Three new articles appear this week at Photo Travel Review about what it is like to go on a photo holiday in the rain.  I thought I might link to the articles to give my readers a break from my boring stuff.  What is cool about these articles is that each photographer found a different insight into what it is like to experience bad weather during a photo holiday.  Yep, even rain has its blessings.

Greetings from Scotland.

I’m on the road, in Scotland, my beloved land.

Here’s a shot from Glencoe. The three sisters in snow.

Yes, I was cold.  A miserable morning.  Actually a wonderful morning.

I can’t describe how wonderful it is to be here.