The Lone Cypress Tree This is kind of a famous tree, I think. Well, I guess it’s famous if you’ve heard of it, otherwise it’s completely unknown. It’s one of those things you find out is famous, and then every time you see it, you think, “Oh that is the famous tree.”It’s kind of like when you play trivia games with annoying people. You know the ones. Every now and then, a question comes up that is INCREDIBLY TRIVIAL and some annoying person will guffaw, “Oh My God, that is sooooo easy!” Of course it is easy if they happen to know this incredibly small piece of arcane information! Either you know it, or you don’t.- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.
In The Sun I was working on some photos from Argentina (one from yesterday you might have noticed, and this was in the batch. Most of my Argentina shots were of rugged landscapes… so I thought maybe you might something a little less rugged here… :)- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.
The Cool Fresh Water This is maybe some of the freshest water I’ve ever had! It was so icy cold, it was like a blast of frigid freshness into my mouth… I got in the habit of not filling up my water bottle until I visited this glacial lake… I was here for about three days… just relaxing, taking photos, and camping… it was very nice!- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.
The Deep Blue Morning at Cerro Torre I’d love to return to this place, but I’m afraid the weather would not be as clear and perfect.  Many locals told me there is a 90% chance that these mighty peaks would be covered with clouds, so I felt very lucky to have everything so perfect.  Surely, a return here would not be nearly as good…  but maybe… just maybe… a return would have clouds, but in an awesome dramatic way.You probably also know I’m not a fan of plain blue skies.  But way up in the mountains, sometimes the sky on the opposite side of the sun is a deep atmospheric blue.  I see it from planes a lot when dawn breaks.  Maybe you have seen that color of blue too… and here it is again.- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.
The Secret Crystal Lake
This remote lake was so icy cold.  You would think it's about 33 degrees or something, right?  It felt like absolute zero.  I dropped a little piece of my tripod in here and my hand almost froze off trying to retrieve it.In the distance you can see where the glacier comes into contact with the glassy lake; it gives a sense of the epic scale here.- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.
Mountain and Meadow
While in Argentina, the mountain of Fitz Roy acted as the center of most of my hiking.  It was always there in the distance, towering above all else.  Even when it was enshrouded in clouds, I could still feel its heaviness beyond.I think about 90% of my shots are landscape-orientation.  I only end up with about 10% in this portrait-orientation.  I don't know why this is...  I can't figure out if I am just a creature of habit or if that is the way I am wired.  But, if you ever do see one in portrait orientation like this, you can probably just assume that it required a little extra thought.- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest at the Stuck in Customs blog.
The Gentle Path to the Beyond The little train that carried me into Hakone started winding through misty mountains.  The trees were thick and a fog was rolling in.  I had a feeling that it would stay wet, moody, and fairly perfect.  It had that heaviness that made you feel like it would remain like that for a few days, and it did.Before I get on train rides, I have a wonderful but dangerous habit of loading up with pastries.  Train stations seem to have nice little selections of all sorts of foreign twists on the usual subjects.  And, since I consider myself an explorer, I thought it would be good to get a TON of pastries and try them all.  It's very nice... sitting there... looking out the train window at a new land... rain falling... eating pastries...  (and I'm only a little ashamed to say that, upon arrival, my pastry bag was empty.)- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.
Hidden Temple in Bamboo at Night This place was pretty far off the usual beaten path but I was glad to find it!In Kyoto, there is a wonderful and unexpected temple that weaves through an old bamboo forest.  It weaves up, down, and around hills with warm, calming bamboo swaying about.  Here and there, little temples, urns, and benches are placed.  Everything is delicately lit to add to the mood.  And just beyond where the lights are, the bamboo forest is pitch black and full of wonderful mystery.- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.

The Lone Cypress Tree


This is kind of a famous tree, I think. Well, I guess it’s famous if you’ve heard of it, otherwise it’s completely unknown. It’s one of those things you find out is famous, and then every time you see it, you think, “Oh that is the famous tree.”

It’s kind of like when you play trivia games with annoying people. You know the ones. Every now and then, a question comes up that is INCREDIBLY TRIVIAL and some annoying person will guffaw, “Oh My God, that is sooooo easy!” Of course it is easy if they happen to know this incredibly small piece of arcane information! Either you know it, or you don’t.

- Trey Ratcliff

Click here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.
Click here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog." href="javascript:openLB(2438332773,'',XLarge,'',512,768);">The Lone Cypress Tree This is kind of a famous tree, I think. Well, I guess it’s famous if you’ve heard of it, otherwise it’s completely unknown. It’s one of those things you find out is famous, and then every time you see it, you think, “Oh that is the famous tree.”It’s kind of like when you play trivia games with annoying people. You know the ones. Every now and then, a question comes up that is INCREDIBLY TRIVIAL and some annoying person will guffaw, “Oh My God, that is sooooo easy!” Of course it is easy if they happen to know this incredibly small piece of arcane information! Either you know it, or you don’t.- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.

The Lone Cypress Tree


This is kind of a famous tree, I think. Well, I guess it’s famous if you’ve heard of it, otherwise it’s completely unknown. It’s one of those things you find out is famous, and then every time you see it, you think, “Oh that is the famous tree.”

It’s kind of like when you play trivia games with annoying people. You know the ones. Every now and then, a question comes up that is INCREDIBLY TRIVIAL and some annoying person will guffaw, “Oh My God, that is sooooo easy!” Of course it is easy if they happen to know this incredibly small piece of arcane information! Either you know it, or you don’t.

- Trey Ratcliff

Click here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.
See photo in original gallery.