Enter Bogota

This past week has been absolutely thrilling. First, listening, learning and dreaming about current and future projects with some of the world's greatest photographers from the National Geographic Society in Washington D.C.--followed by a bird hop (I was the only gringo on this flight) to Bogota--where, the following day, I found myself cycling with a group of local adventurers (we jokingly called them body guards), to the top of a 9,000 ft. vista point over the 3rd largest city in South America.

My intention was to maintain a low-profile here but at the end of my first day, the Bogota TV news heard about my project through my friends here and interviewed me about it. Next, Caro, my friend from Bogota, set up a meeting with the national office of tourism. We shared breakfast together and talked about what their country has to offer foreigners.

When traveling in Latin America, my first stop after arriving in a new city is usually the main Plaza. For me, it's the best place to get a quick read on the energy of a place. Not too long ago, the main plaza of Bogota (Plaza Bolivar) was an empty, run down, and the site of a bloody conflict between FARC leftists and the Colombian government.

Yesterday, in the Plaza, children chased pigeons, local businessmen sipped raw Colombian coffee, fathers took their daughters for walks, and families let their littlest ones play freely on the cobbles--all of this while the sunset exploded in the sky above.

Ciao Seattle

Starting tomorrow I'm on the road for the next 7 weeks. First D.C. and then Colombia and then Alaska. This blog will still be updated while I'm traveling. Ciao for now--full moon over Seattle, I'll see you again in early spring!

G

Sessions in Olympic National Park

I've been in Olympic National Park on Washington State's western coast for the past few days. It's been a wild ride attempting to document the emergence of the adventure sports scene out here while dealing with serious winter storm and snow conditions. Mountain biking, river kayaking, surfing, sea kayaking, hiking, kite boarding, you name it, I've been shooting it.

One of my favorite areas in the world is the Quinault/Queets/Hoh rain forest tract. It's home to some of the most ancient and spectacular trees on the planet and one of only 3 temperate rain forests in the world--absolutely stunning stuff. The Qunault Lodge has taken good care of me--letting me bascamp in the heart of the forest while I make pictures of the region. Please check them out here.

Project Maktub

Maktub is hands down, my favorite band. During my Ribbon Of Road bicycle tour, their music got me through the low points of my assault in Central America and powered me up and over 16,000 foot passes in the Andes. Therefore, I was truly honored when they accepted my proposal to photo document them as they prepared for their big New Year's eve concert in Seattle. They let me hang and make pics. during rehearsals--before, during, and after the show. At one point, they even told me that I could come on stage and take pics of them while they were playing live.

Their latest album was entirely funded by their fans, launching a radical and new shift in the music industry--fan funded music--breaking musicians free of the constraints placed upon them by record labels. You can buy their latest record "Start it Over" on iTunes or at records stores. Over the holidays, it was the #2 selling record in Seattle music stores.

The best part of this whole experience for me was learning that the band is comprised of a truly unique, interesting, and great group of guys.

I'll post more photos here after I share them with the band.

Cycling Plus UK - Paris Brest Paris Photography on the Shelf

The January 2008 issue of Cycling Pus UK is on the shelf. Check it out for a nice article on the Paris Brest event that features my photography. Barnes and Noble and Borders usually stock this magazine.