The Rest of the India Story So, I took this photo from across a slow-moving river. After shooting, I explored a bit more as the sun was setting, then returned to the same spot, rotating the camera about 45 degrees to the right. This is what I saw.In the distance, you can see how it is a layer of smoke in the air. This is where families come from all over the Agra area to burn the bodies of recently deceased loved ones. They then throw some ashes in the river to begin the cycle again. Indians come from all over the area to visit this river, see the Taj Mahal, and visit other local temples. It’s a very peaceful place… I hope this photo helps to describe the general feeling of the place.- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.
Indian Family on Motorcycle When traveling around outside of the usual spots, I continually see entire families on motorcycles. This one is in India, but I’ve seen this all over southeast Asia as well… but don’t think I ever posted a photo!The most I have ever seen is five people on a motorcycle from the same family. Usually two of the kids are crammed between the parents with the baby or smallest on the very front. The motorcycles are usually tiny and loud, darting in and out of traffic. These are usually very hard to photograph — I don’t dare use a flash or else I might make the dad crash the motorcycle! That would be a little too much… so I just crank up my ISO and hope for a good angle.- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.
The Guardian of the Tomb I sometimes mistakenly call the Taj Mahal a "temple".  There is a fleet of people ready to jump down my throat and tell me, in no uncertain terms, that it is most certainly a tomb.  Of course, whenever I do call it a temple, these are all honest mistakes; I'm always a bit flummoxed as to why people get so agitated.Anyway, besides all that mess, I thought you might enjoy this photo I grabbed of one of the gentleman guards of the tomb.  I slipped on my 70-200mm lens (See my NIkon 70-200mm Review) to get both the guard and the tomb compressed in the background. I was a little worried that he would see me lurking about, aiming a giant lens at his head.  So, I took shots quickly then moved on...  I had no burning desire to make a guy like that angry.- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.
The Mighty Temple I can't wait to get back to India for more photography.  I shot nonstop while I was there, but I feel like I did not take enough!  As you may know, I process these images out-of-order, and I still have plenty to go through, but the pile is thinning with each ensuing week!This is a beautiful and huge temple in Agra, India.  I was there in the morning, barefoot, and it was quite cool and arid.  I felt a little strange running around a temple, barefooted, holding my giant camera... but it was really fun!  These wonderful old temples have countless angles and compositions of interest.  I did my best from this vantage to capture the grandeur of the fort.- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.
The Purple Portal When I was in Agra, I wandered around the streets surrounding the Taj Mahal for a few hours.  The textures and details everywhere are an absolute field-day for photographers!  There is so much to see and capture...  it was totally overwhelming trying to grab all of that, while still thinking about getting into the Taj Mahal for another full slate of shooting!So many of the little homes here are richly painted in every possible shade in the most interesting textures and shapes.  This is one of many little snaps I got while walking around.- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.
Central Park in the Fall I had spent the afternoon alone while traveling (as usual, it seems) in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the middle of New York City. It sits on the Eastern edge of Central Park.  It was a little cold outside, but I decided to walk across the park anyway, just as the sun was setting.  As I moved through the trees, I found this little place and thought it would be fun to share.- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.
An Amazing Day at the Met On Sunday, I set aside about six hours to spend alone at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.   Most of you may know by now how I am obsessed with the Impressionists.  Don't ever go to a museum with me, because I will bore you for hours on end with strange tidbits.  Anyway, the Met has a fantastic collection that kept me busy most of the time...  It's rather nice of them to hang on to my paintings for me.  One day, when I get some time, I'm going to make a little page here and show some of my favorites.The Man would not let me take a tripod inside, so that was unfortunate.  I did manage to do a few hand-held HDRs however... here is one that I have processed thus far.- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.
Meandering in the French Streets After Dark I don't sleep much, even when I am home.  I get a good 5-6 hours of sleep a night; but when I travel, I'm so charged up I get less.  These foreign city streets seem to have a romantic sense about them, so that impedes even more on my sleep since there are so many great places to shoot.This perfect little European medieval street was in Lyon, if I am not mistaken.  Sometimes I forget here in my old age.  There's a 10% chance it is in Paris. There's a long path from click to final image and my memory fades betwixt.- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.
Romance in India My first impression of romance in India came from Bollywood.  I was pretty sure that everyone fell in love then spent a long time dancing around a grapefruit tree.    There are other dancers involved, nearby, of course, as well as a series of fountains, slow-motion cattle, Hinduesque yodeling.But then, after being there, I saw romance was the same as just about everywhere else.  I did capture this couple together, exploring Humayun's Tomb in the middle of Delhi.  Enjoy!- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.

An Amazing Day at the Met


On Sunday, I set aside about six hours to spend alone at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Most of you may know by now how I am obsessed with the Impressionists. Don't ever go to a museum with me, because I will bore you for hours on end with strange tidbits. Anyway, the Met has a fantastic collection that kept me busy most of the time... It's rather nice of them to hang on to my paintings for me. One day, when I get some time, I'm going to make a little page here and show some of my favorites.

The Man would not let me take a tripod inside, so that was unfortunate. I did manage to do a few hand-held HDRs however... here is one that I have processed thus far.

- 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(742624753,'',XLarge,'',605,768);">An Amazing Day at the Met On Sunday, I set aside about six hours to spend alone at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.   Most of you may know by now how I am obsessed with the Impressionists.  Don't ever go to a museum with me, because I will bore you for hours on end with strange tidbits.  Anyway, the Met has a fantastic collection that kept me busy most of the time...  It's rather nice of them to hang on to my paintings for me.  One day, when I get some time, I'm going to make a little page here and show some of my favorites.The Man would not let me take a tripod inside, so that was unfortunate.  I did manage to do a few hand-held HDRs however... here is one that I have processed thus far.- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.

An Amazing Day at the Met


On Sunday, I set aside about six hours to spend alone at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Most of you may know by now how I am obsessed with the Impressionists. Don't ever go to a museum with me, because I will bore you for hours on end with strange tidbits. Anyway, the Met has a fantastic collection that kept me busy most of the time... It's rather nice of them to hang on to my paintings for me. One day, when I get some time, I'm going to make a little page here and show some of my favorites.

The Man would not let me take a tripod inside, so that was unfortunate. I did manage to do a few hand-held HDRs however... here is one that I have processed thus far.

- Trey Ratcliff

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