Crossing the Bridge into Old Lyon This was a pretty tough shot to get! This was a little pedestrian bridge that crossed from the new part of Lyon, France, into the older part. It swayed and buckled in the breeze. Plus, it was night, so you kind of have to leave the shutter open for a long time. I hate to crank up the ISO, but I had to so everything would stay sharp.That night I walked around for about five hours deep past midnight. It was just me and my Russian friend… walking around… solving the world’s problems… while he gave me all kinds of hard-ass Russian advice on how to solve my own!- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.
Where the Impressionists Haunted the Streets Montmartre, in the north of Paris, is a very artsy place and I would love to open a little photography studio there, even if it is a bit touristy now.  I don't think they had neon paint-palettes hanging in the streets when it was frequented by Monet, Pissarro, Renoir, and the whole cast of bohemian characters.I'm halfway through a book now called "The Judgement of Paris", about all these guys had to go through to get their paintings shown in the Salon.  Old-school judges would only approve paintings that showed historical scenes and the moral teachings of antiquity.  Consequently, dozens of today's priceless paintings were stamped on the back with a big red "R" for "Refused".After the Impressionists' paintings were refused by the selection committee, the artists would gather at cafes here, drinking wine that tasted of "mountwash and soot", and lament about the state of the art, so to speak.- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.
Relaxing in the South of France When I visited my friend (and website designer) Fabien, he invited me over to his home in the country. It was amazing! We had a picnic outside on with a view of the rolling hills and vines of the wine country. This little hammock hung under a tree near where we ate. One of the best things about it was that instead of grass, there was a field of mint underneath us. So, whenever you stepped, it sent up a fresh bouquet of scent into the air… basically, everything you imagine to be the case in the south of France is true!- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.
Ye Olde Blacksmithy Okay THIS is a tough one, I hope. Who can figure out where this insane place is located?I saw it from the street… a lot of glinting metal… and I had a feeling it would be pretty awesome inside… I was right!- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.
Inside the Conciergerie The French know how to build a beautiful prison! On the downside, it held up to 1,200 prisoners at a time, which sounds more like a French subway.They don’t like you using tripods in here. I asked if the punishment was to just leave me in the prison while I take the photos. And then, when I stopped using the tripod, they would let me out of prison. This seemed like a pretty good compromise to me, but they did not find it amusing.- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.
Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de MontpellierWe passed this amazing cathedral a few times while walking around Montpellier. It looked great from almost any angle, and I really liked the lines and shapes. That was part of the reason I decided to go with this treatment.- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the entire post at the Stuck in Customs blog.
A Night at the MuseumThis is one of the final photos I was able to squeeze off before the security guards nabbed me. Arg! I wanted to get so many more… but you know, you know… it’s the same old story.Anyway, if you ever visit Paris, you absolutely need to make it over here to the museum of natural history. It’s known to the locals, but not to visitors. All the other sites in Paris are great, of course… but if you have a penchant for science and a love of crazy interior design, this is the place for you!- Trey RatcliffRead the entire post over at the Stuck in Customs blog.
Tableau Vivant Of Wild HorsesIt was about 2 A.M. and the sun was just dipping into the horizon for a short stint. These horses were frolicking about in a huge flat field a bit inland from the end of the fjord. They were all so lively and alert, jumping and posing here and there. And then they set up in a very interesting configuration, and I barely had time to put on the right lens before it all drifted apart.- Trey RatcliffRead the entire post at the Stuck in Customs blog.
Waterfall of Certain DoomThis has become one of my favorite remote waterfalls in the world! Whenever I am taking photos of these places, I spend a lot of time there. I often imagine what it would be like to tumble over the edge… wondering various ways I could survive… if I’d get caught in a whirlpool underwater… or if I would just pop up like in the movies.If you are ever near Akureyri, I suggest you visit this spot… if you are feeling bold, clamber down the side of the waterfall like I did here to get this shot…- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the entire post, including an announcement of a new eBook at, at the Stuck in Customs blog.

Tableau Vivant Of Wild Horses


It was about 2 A.M. and the sun was just dipping into the horizon for a short stint. These horses were frolicking about in a huge flat field a bit inland from the end of the fjord. They were all so lively and alert, jumping and posing here and there. And then they set up in a very interesting configuration, and I barely had time to put on the right lens before it all drifted apart.

- Trey Ratcliff

Read the entire post at the Stuck in Customs blog.
Read the entire post at the Stuck in Customs blog." href="javascript:openLB(1925213021,'',XLarge,'',1024,561);">Tableau Vivant Of Wild HorsesIt was about 2 A.M. and the sun was just dipping into the horizon for a short stint. These horses were frolicking about in a huge flat field a bit inland from the end of the fjord. They were all so lively and alert, jumping and posing here and there. And then they set up in a very interesting configuration, and I barely had time to put on the right lens before it all drifted apart.- Trey RatcliffRead the entire post at the Stuck in Customs blog.

Tableau Vivant Of Wild Horses


It was about 2 A.M. and the sun was just dipping into the horizon for a short stint. These horses were frolicking about in a huge flat field a bit inland from the end of the fjord. They were all so lively and alert, jumping and posing here and there. And then they set up in a very interesting configuration, and I barely had time to put on the right lens before it all drifted apart.

- Trey Ratcliff

Read the entire post at the Stuck in Customs blog.
See photo in original gallery.