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Take Back America Official Video ....mp4 from Mark A Paulda on Vimeo.

The song is all about pride in America. It's time to stand up for what we believe in, and take back America. "Take Back America" is the patriotic rock anthem of today. The music, lyrics, and production are energetic enough to get you out on the battlefield shoulder-to-shoulder with your fellow citizens eager to sing along--even if they don't know all the words! It only takes one voice for the masses to wake up from their slumber. Who's ready for this new era?

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Digital Photo Magazine Interview : How I Got The Shot

Digital Photo Magazine Interview "Venice :: How I Got The Shot" How long have you been taking pictures?  I’ve been taking photos for as long as I remember.  I've always had a camera tho' I began taking photographs professionally in 2005. What's your favourite kind of photography, and does this image fit into it?  Typically, I gravitate toward night photography, reflections, and motion.  When there is opportunity to combine the three, all the better.  Venice provides sublime opportunities for reflection photography, especially at night.  Too, many of my urban shots tend to be void of people which reflects the quiet I strive to find in every day life. Tell us about what made you want to shoot this particular picture? This particular scene attracted my eye not only for its reflection, but also for the long lines leading to a vanishing point, which allows a viewer to be drawn into the image.  Additionally, the “super moon” was illuminating the sky offering a beautiful blue hue to the sky and adding a bit of extra natural light. What equipment did you use to capture the shot ­ type of camera, lens, tripod, etc? A Canon 5D Mark IV with a 18mm wide angle Carl Zeiss lens was used to capture this photograph.  Rarely, while travelling, do I use a proper tripod.  The camera was steadily planted on a pavement stone at the edge of the canal. Read the full article

#Europe #learnphotocomposition #learnphotography #Venice

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THIS IS BALI

I write extensively throughout this blog about Bali.  It would be easy to say - This is Bali, but there are so many sides to the "Island of Gods".  If you prefer Bali is also "Paradise Island".  How your refer to Bali all depends on why you visit.  If you travel to Bali with an open mind and open heart, it is quite possible to have a travel experience you never expected and even an experience of a lifetime.  In other words, you can have everything Bali has to offer. Bali is beaches, beach resorts and the vast Indian Ocean that can sometimes be unforgiving.  Bali is sacred temples, some of which date back seven hundred years.  Bali is some sort of ceremony every day of the week.  Bali is the jungle and the Sacred Monkey Forest in Ubud.  Bali is creativity and the Balinese's openness to share.   Bali is motorbikes zooming past you in rapid fire.  Bali is lush green rice terraces and palm trees. Bali is spicy food.  Bali is the great sense of humor of the Balinese.  Bali is friendly and welcoming.  Bali is rich in tradition.  Bali is Balinese Hinduism.  Bali is winding roads through lush green tropical plants and foliage.  Bali is peaceful and quiet.  Bali is yoga and meditation.  Bali is art.  Bali is woodcarving and basket weaving.  Bali is spiritual offerings to the gods. Bali is anything you want it to be quite honestly.  I think what you experience in Bali is entirely up to you. The first time I visited I went on a whim. Read the full article

#Asia #Bali #travel #TravelDestinations

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ODE TO THE LONDON UNDERGROUND

When defining the Underground You might list some statistics, You might mention 249 miles of track, or 1.1 billion who ride, You might ride up the 426 escalators, and then back down again, You might stay on one Tube train, traveling 114 thousand miles one year, Might even mention the lifts, totaling 164 in all, or that there are 270 stations served, 260 stations managed, and 19,000 who help you manage When defining London’s Underground, it seems a traveler’s anthem has been a moan, and a groan, and maybe that’s where they are At the oft’ signal failure, it’s true Being packed like sardines at the peak of the day, but when defining London’s Underground, don’t forget to mention nearly 2.7 million journeys each, and every day. The trains whiz by, and oftentimes screech, they jump, they jolt on many miles of track, but all 4,134 get you to the spot where you wish to be And, yes, Waterloo is busiest in the a.m. when 57 thou’ hop on, and go, though nearly 82 million use it each year making it the liveliest of the lot. Though the Circle Line is said to be torture going slowly round, and round, The network goes under only 40% while the rest is on top of the ground, And, 29 stations placed south of the Thames, really not very many at all Regent’s Park, Hyde Park Corner, Bank, then Piccadilly have no buildings to mark their spot. The Read the full article

#London #londonblog #LondonUnderground

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West Texas Coal Mine Ranch

Turning off of Chispa Road’s crisp smooth pavement deep in the heart of West Texas, I veer onto what seems to be an unassuming stretch of dirt road.  “Take a left at the fork in the road about ten miles in,” Fred had told me.  “Unlock and pass through the gate then drive right into the ranch.”  Driving right into an unexpected driving adventure is just what lie ahead of me. The thirty thousand acre Coal Mine Ranch is a privately owned investment and playground for a group of businessmen who have called the ranch their sanctuary for more than twenty years.  On the rear side of the Sierra Vieja Mountain Range, a world away from the flat grassy desert plains of Highway 90 and thirty miles of rough dirt road winding through steep arroyos from the end of the pavement on Chispa Road, is the Coal Mine Ranch.  Less than midway, with the pavement far behind me, the only sound I hear is the gravel and rock being churned by my 4x4’s wheels and hitting the underside of the vehicle.  Clank, pop, clackity clack, in an erratic yet rhythmic cadence.  Lightning fast jackrabbits race by every so often; otherwise, there is no sign of life save for the desert brush,  blooming yuccas along the way and a petrified rattlesnake or two.  I reach for my mobile phone only to see there is no signal.  Immediately, thoughts of the 4x4 breaking down, a flat tire, or more dramatically, a sudden ailment race through my head.   Who would find me? No one would find me and I had convinced myself of this. Read the full article

#Adventure #RoadTrip #Texas #TexasTravel #UnitedStates

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Art Avenue Interviews Mark Paulda About Bhutan

Photographer Mark Paulda visited a country that rejects Western values and where few ever visit. And when he returns to Bhutan in June, he’s bringing eight more cameras with him. Paulda was intent on showcasing the beauty, heritage and lush landscapes of this pristine country nestled between China and India in the rugged terrain of the eastern Himalayas—a country whose average annual household income is a mere $1,800 but measures its prosperity through a Gross National Happiness Index. It wasn’t until he made an unlikely friend that Paulda realized he needed to expand his photo project beyond his own viewfinder. After all, who better to reveal the mysterious world of Bhutan, than the Bhutanese themselves? There is such an innocence to the people we don’t see in the western world. We’ve lost it—a genuine kindness that we have to look for because we put up boundaries and guards. To find this untainted world and experience that with the people, it really moved me,” said Paulda. The government of Bhutan didn’t allow television or internet access until 1999, it is a region completely void of commercialization, banning franchises and international advertising. It is one of unique simplicity allowing for its citizens to sustain a traditional lifestyle. Bhutan limits tourism to preserve the culture and maintain its purity, which is a reason why Paulda journeyed there last year. He wanted to observe the intimacy one could have with its people, their traditions and way of life. Read the full article

#Bhutan #learnphotography #TravelDestinations

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Venice :: Queen of the Adriatic

Called the Queen of the Adriatic, Venice has a setting that no other city in the world can rival. It is a network of rii (streams), canali (canals) calli (streets) and campi (squares). The richness and charm of Venice does not derive solely from the presence of significant works of architecture and art (Bellini, Tiziano, Veronese, Tintoretto, Palladio, Sansovino, and many others) but also from the general layout of the city and its way of life.  “The rules change in Venice,” I’m told by Janys Hyde, long-time Venice resident and friend.  For me, Venice is pure magic.  In some ways the city is like a movie set tho' it's not fair to minimize Venice to make believe. Venice is unique among all great cities of the world in that its streets are full of water.  Made up of 118 islands only two to four feet above sea level, crisscrossed by 117 canals, and connected by some 360 bridges, its main avenue is the curving Grand Canal, its buses are the vaporetti.  There is no other city in the world of this size and sophistication where the automobile is absent.  With no better way to explain, Venice is all about the water.  Janys tells me “when furniture is delivered to your home, it’s done by boat or when an ambulance is called it arrives on the water.  To truly understand and ‘get in touch with Venice’ one must embrace the water.”  Embrace I did, and instantly, feeling a sigh of relief from the usual bells, pollution and whistles of the big city. Read the full article

#Europe #TravelDestinations #Venice

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Moonset and Sunrise at the Same Time

There are few places in the world where you can stand in one place to watch the moon set then turn around and watch the sun rise simultaneously.  One such place in El Paso, Texas at the top of a road called Transmountain Road that runs through the Franklin Mountains.  The state road connects the east - northeast in particular - with the westside of the city. I arrived at the location with the intention of capturing the sunrise and light streams of passing cars.  I knew I had to arrive around 6:30 to catch the rising sun and early morning traffic.  To be honest, I was ignorant of the fact that moonset was at the exact same time.  I was also oblivious to the fact that this spot on Transmountain Road would allow me to view the start of the day and the end of the day at the very same time.   Needless to say my camera got a workout as did I pivoting back and forth to capture the photographs. The experience had a profound affect on me as I couldn't quite work out in my brain what a truly special moment this was.   How many places in the world is it possible to see both the sun set and the moon rise with unobstructed views at the same time?  I can't think of  many.  It was also a special moment to be able to capture the experience with my camera. Years later the photographs found a home in two of my books, "El Paso 120 : Edge of the Southwest" and "Sí El Paso." The experience also got me to thinking about El Paso's Franklin Mountains. Read the full article

#elpaso #elpaso120 #elpasophotographybook #franklinmountains

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City of Rocks or Flinstone's Bedrock?

Unexpectedly arising from southern New Mexico’s barren landscape is a natural arrangement of larger-than-life rocks reminiscent of urban high rises.   Formed of hot volcanic ash that solidified nearly thirty-five million years ago, these formations have been carved by the elements into gnomish shapes and fanciful columns that can reach forty feet high.   Only a handful of places in the world have formations like these.  I know all too well they are not easy to climb.  I tried. Popular with many overnight campers, the “city” is webbed with pathways that I curiously trundle through, feeling dwarfed along the way, until dusk.   It is during the golden hour, when the sun begins to set, that the magic begins.   The sun’s rays bounce from the ancient volcanic rock giving off an exquisitely rich cornucopia of color—sparkling hues of pink, orange, yellow, and purple—that you can only see in these moments.   The “city” comes to life, making this an ideal time to begin clicking the camera’s shutter. The reason to visit City of Rocks is to escape routine and stress.  Trust me, it will be you and the rocks and no phone signal when you visit.  The landscape is a nice blend of the west's rugged rock formations and grassy plains.  You'll be in the desert, tho' the land is not barren like you see in Arizona or Southern Utah. I always to see Fred Flinstone as the large rock formations literally remind me of Flinstone's Bedrock.  Close your eyes and envision for a moment. Read the full article

#Adventure #CityofRocks #NewMexico #RoadTrip #TravelDestinations #UnitedStates

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Cycle of Life

Time has a way of being a flash before your eyes, and catching you unaware of how quickly time can pass in a metropolis.  One minute you wake up and it seems like the next minute it's time to turn out the light.   Just yesterday I was younger, embarking on my new life into adulthood, unworldly yet eager to discover.  In fact, I remember being extremely nervous with the responsibility.  It seems like eons ago, and I wonder where each year disappeared.   Like a flash, the years flew by.  I know I lived them all.  I was there.  There are glimpses of how my simple life was back then.  Time seemed to move by so slowly.  My idealistic hopes, and dreams, seemed to be the truth ahead.  Everything, and I mean everything, seemed so clear without muddled sight, or any sort of distortion.  I did not think about options because I wasn't worldly enough to know much beyond the other side of town. Here it is, years later, and the speed of time catches me by surprise.   Yesterday was Christmas and now here it is again.  How did that happen?  How did I get here so fast?  Where did the years go, and where did my youth go?   I still feel young in my mind and yet my body tells me something entirely different.   I remember seeing older people through the years, and thinking that they were years away from me.  Man, they were old.  Quite honestly, I never gave it a thought that I'd ever be where they are. Read the full article

#CycleofLife #livelikeagentleman

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A Bird's Eye View of Elephant Butte

Flying high above Elephant Butte offers a delightful study in contrasts.   The lake’s stunning cobalt-blue water strikes my eye as if a painter had left masterful strokes on the desert floor below.   Draining into the once mighty Rio Grande, the blue water sends out tendrils in brilliant complex shapes, like veins.   The colors vary splendidly in pastoral shades of green and yellow where water nurtures the conspicuous vegetation clinging to life at its banks.  Have Van Gogh or Monet been here with his artistic touch, I wonder?   The answer is clear, as is the evidence of the importance of the Rio Grande. Over one hundred million years ago, this area was part of a vast shallow ocean. Once the sea receded, the area was the favorite hunting ground of the Tyrannosaurus Rex dinosaur.  Evidence of the Rex, one of the largest land-dwelling predators of all time, and other dinosaur species have been discovered in area rock formations.  Evidence has also been found at Kilborne Hole, which I wrote about in a previous post. Although fossils of the Stegomastodon (a primitive relative of today’s elephant) have been discovered near the lake, the area was not named for its former inhabitants, but for an island in the lake—once the core of an ancient volcano—that is shaped like an elephant.  The lake itself formed when a dam was constructed across the Rio Grande in 1916.  Forty miles long, the lake shoulders more than two hundred miles of shoreline. Read the full article

#ElephantButte #NewMexico #RoadTrip #TravelDestinations #UnitedStates

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Digital Photo Magazine Interview :: Istanbul

Digital Photo Magazine interviewed me about photographing Istanbul.  What a treat to visit Istanbul, but to photograph this great city, too?  Wow.  Istanbul offers photo opportunities wherever you turn. What was it about Istanbul that made you want to capture it on camera? The Ottoman architecture of Istanbul, it’s minarets reaching to the heavens, the colourful spice market, Grand Bazaar presented a vivid image in my mind.  Hypothetically, I had been photographing Istanbul even before I arrived.   I had seen a myriad of photos while researching my trip and visualized how I would capture the various scenes differently.   Once my feet hit the pavement, it seemed as if I had already visited the city, making my task of capturing the city on camera all the more easy.  Additionally, having grown up in Tripoli, Libya, re-discovering the Islamic world has been high on my list.  Istanbul has been only one stop with regard to this journey. Istanbul is famous for its beautiful Ottoman architecture, such as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque and so on; artistically, do you think you did it justice? Ottoman architecture is brilliant, isn’t it?  The style completely captures my imagination, and there is a fairytale magical element I’ve not seen elsewhere.  My eye is drawn towards curves, and lines, so Istanbul was ideal for me as a photographer.  Hour upon hour I studied Hagia Sophia, Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque), Süleymaniye Mosque, Basilica Cistern following each curve and line.  Read the full article

#Europe #Istanbul #learnphotography #TravelDestinations

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THIS IS ICELAND

This is Iceland.  An island with the wild North Atlantic Ocean to the south and the Norwegian Sea to the north.  A place where you might sometimes think  you're on a different planet.  A country whose population is often dwarfed by the number of tourists who visit.   Home to the friendliest people you'll ever meet.  A small island with landscapes larger than life.    If you've never visited Iceland, drop everything and go now.  Of all the countries I've visited around the world, Iceland is not only cool (and I'm not referring to the temperatures), but it ranks near the top of my most favourite places in the world.  I've visited Iceland numerous times dating back well before it became a wildly popular destination.  There were few hotel choices when I first visited.  Today there are an abundance of hotels in the city centre of Rejkjavik. Reyjavik alone is charming enough for you to know you've chosen the right travel destination.  The city centre is relatively small and most definitely walkable.  You'll find numerous bars, restaurants and shops and outdoor public spaces to sit back and watch Icelanders go by.   But it's the majestic landscape that will capture your heart and imagination.  The mountains are glorious.  The glaciers are enormous.  There are plenty of tours that will take you to the top sights.  Private guides will take you to places few others see.  If you prefer to go on your own, rent a car. Read the full article

#Europe #Iceland #TravelDestinations

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Ireland :: Fifty Shades of Green

There are fifty shades of green, and none of them are jaded.  Welcome to Ireland!  It's said that Ireland, once visited, is never forgotten, and for once the blarney delivered treasure to be kept for a lifetime.   The Western Irish landscape has a mythic resonance, the country's history is almost tangible with ruins standing the test of time and its people seem put on earth expressly to restore faith in humanity as their warmth and humor will make all feel welcome. My dear friend Daragh and I set out for an adventurous experience second to none along the Connemara Loop which is situated in breathtaking North West Connemara, County Galway, Ireland.   Following the Loop, we were taken on a journey through an ever changing landscape of craggy mountain peaks, spectacular expansive sandy beaches, the wild North Atlantic, mist covered lakes, pre-historic bogs and shady glens.   All exemplify the peaceful solitude and rugged beauty of the West of Ireland.   A landscape peppered with quaint but lively villages where all the convenience of the modern day is available alongside an opportunity to step back in time to a more relaxed and friendly era.  Though the roads are rather narrow for this West Texas driver there was no getting lost although the wandering sheep may be inclined to cause a traffic-jam here and there.   Read the full article

#ConnemaraLoop #Europe #IrelandTravel #RoadTrip #TravelDestinations

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When White Sand Dunes Touch The Soul

Snow white and mysteriously beautiful, New Mexico’s White Sands National Park is the world’s largest gypsum dune field, with huge, wave-like dunes that constantly roll across some 275 square miles of desert in the Tularosa Basin.   These pristine waves affect me more than any other place in this world.   Here I am in awe of the dune’s ever-changing natural beauty.   I like the notion of the blowing wind shifting the sands into different for-mations, as this reflects my own life.   Not much ever remains the same for me over time, and I look forward to change. White Sands touches deep within my soul, often serving as a healer—a place of solace, if you will.   When life becomes hectic, the pure silence of the dunes provides calm, allowing my mind and spirit to become centered once again.   There are no distractions, and what sometimes appears impossible in other surroundings reveals itself to be the opposite. This is where I retreated to make some sort of sense of my father’s sudden passing at an all-too-young age, and where, saying goodbye one last time, I was able to let go.   Only me, the dunes, and unfiltered thoughts of a man who worked so hard to give me so much.   Too, after being diagnosed with a virus that will never leave my body, it was the white sands I kicked, pounded, yelled at, then cried over from fear and disappointment. Read the full article

#NewMexico #RoadTrip #TravelDestinations #UnitedStates #WhiteSands

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Cloudcroft New Mexico

Whether I’m hiking or mountain biking, Cloudcroft is my top spot to escape the West Texas Summer heat.  Nestled up in the Sacramento Mountains high above the desert, this is where I enjoy a glorious view of White Sands in the far distance before starting out on my favorite trek—Trestle Trail.  What a sublime scene it is. The area’s elevation and closely woven pine trees offer immediate relief from the West Texas heat.  As I descend the winding trail, the air cools almost to a chill.  Vegetation becomes denser and more varied, with clusters of vines clinging to any support they can find.   The murmur and trickles of water can be heard as streams make their way to the high canyon floor.  The sights and sounds are calming.  This is beauty in nature at its best. This trail is not to be rushed, as it is here that nature awakens the senses to its idyllic beauty, its euphonic natural sounds, its savory green and earthy scents.   The treat at the end of Trestle is to lie in the tall wispy grasses at the bot- tom, without a care for anything awaiting outside these mountain walls.   Its as if the world slows; the roller coaster of life comes to a halt, even if for a brief moment in time. The village of Cloudcroft and its environs lie within Lincoln National Forest, a protected forest in New Mexico that encompasses more than a million acres. Read the full article

#Cloudcroft #NewMexico #RoadTrip #TravelDestinations #UnitedStates

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Meeting Hakim :: When Photography is More Than Taking Photographs

When Photography is More Than Taking Photographs I have two great passions in this world. One is photography and the other is travel. When I realised I could marry the two - travel and photography - it was a match made in heaven because that meant I could go around the world photographing all these great places in all of these great lands that I had always dreamed of visiting. When I first thought about becoming a photographer, that was my vision. I could go to Mont Saint Michel and photograph this great architectural wonder in the middle of the water. I could also go to Venice and get lost in the alleys, and capture the colors of Morocco. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that photography could affect me or put me in situations where I would meet people who would cause me to look at myself and learn more about myself.  These very same people changed my life. Travel really has become a very personal thing for me.  Sometimes I think that there's someone I don't see who pushes me or has their hand on my back pushing me in a certain direction so I do come across some of these people that I do. The first real true experience that opened my eyes would have been in Marrakech. I was in the Medina and really not enjoying the atmosphere because there seemed to be too much chaos and noise. What I had envisioned in my head wasn't happening in front of me. Then, out of nowhere this man stopped me and he asks, "are you ok?" And I replied, "Well, yeah. Read the full article

#Adventure #Morocco #photography #TravelDestinations