The Carey Adventures » South America

Photo Of The Day – Lima Cityscape Panorama Exploration

Peter West Carey — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:18:02 +0000

The detail in this Lima image is amazing. I love quality optics. Be sure to zoom in on the coast and explore the colorful, compact city. The overall image is 26535 x 4486 = 119 megapixels

To use this image, simply click and drag to move around. Use your scroll wheel to zoom in and out, or use [Shift] to zoom in and [CTRL] to zoom out. And if you want to turn things up a notch, right click and choose “Fullscreen”. Have fun!

Description: Lima Cityscape Panorama Exploration

Location: Lima, Peru, South America

Description: This image was created from 33 individual images, shot vertically to get the most foreground in as possible. I then combined the images in the computer and stitched them together using Kolor’s AutoPano Giga software which handled all the magic. I will be writing about the process I use to create these images soon at Digital Photography School. If I were evil, I’d ask you to find the man walking his dog…but I’m not THAT evil, maybe.

Shot with Canon 7D and Canon 28-300mm L lens with settings of ISO 100, 28mm, f/8 and 1/640th of a second.

Photographs Creative Commons Copyright Peter West Carey

Note: You likely won’t see the image above if you are reading this via email or some RSS viewers. Click here to be taken to a full view.

If you want to see more Panoramas like this one, click here.

Photo Of The Day – Machu Picchu Panorama Exploration

Peter West Carey — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:52:07 +0000

I’m happy to announce a new feature I’ll be toying with more as time goes on: Panorama ‘tours’. You’ve seen these on other websites and thanks to the Kolor.com sending me some software to create my own, I will start posting panoramic images you can zoom and drag around.

So check out this first installment from Machu Picchu. I’m still getting used to the program and will be creating more panoramas as time goes on (possibly even 360 degree versions).

To use this image, simple click and drag to move around. Use your scroll wheel to zoom in and out, or use [Shift] to zoom in and [CTRL] to zoom out. And if you want to turn things up a notch, right click and choose “Fullscreen”. Have fun!

Title: Machu Picchu Panorama Exploration

Location: Machu Picchu, Peru

Description: It’s Machu Picchu, but all zoomable and stuff.

Shot with a Canon 7D and Canon 10-22mm EF lens. I shot this with bracketing, meaning I took one shot at the camera’s prescribed exposure, then one shot over-exposed by a stop and one shot under-exposed. I then combined the images in the computer and stitched them together using Kolor’s AutoPano Giga software which handled all the magic.

Photographs Creative Commons Copyright Peter West Carey

Note: You likely won’t see the image above if you are reading this via email or some RSS viewers. Click the page link to be taken to a full view.

Why I’m Glad I Went Back To Machu Picchu

Peter West Carey — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:23:00 +0000

I’ll admit I’m lucky. The good kind of lucky. I have bad luck too, but it seems last year was a time for plenty of good luck. Actually, I tend not to think of luck in terms of good and bad, because that would dictate I know the future and if a particular action will result in favorable results. But I digress.

I was lucky enough to win a tour with G Adventures in Peru thanks to going to a Meet, Plan Go! meeting the year before. It was the top prize and included a 10 day classic tour of Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu and the Amazon rainforest along the Tambopata River.

The funny thing is I had already visited Peru, and performed this exact itinerary in reverse, in 2008 on my own accord and without a guided tour. Why would I even enter a contest that takes me back to a place I have already visited? I mean, after all, isn’t Machu Picchu supposed to be a “Once-In-A-Lifetime” experience? I could unbalance the whole space-time continuum if I saw it again, potentially.

In the face of such cataclysmic risk, I went any way. And I’m very glad I did. You see, an entire country like Peru can not be ‘seen’ or ‘done’ in one visit. Now one lifetime. Not even Lima, a much smaller subset of Peru, can be done as such. Granularly speaking, it’s because of constant change that I wanted to go back.

I wanted to see what was new. Even at Machu Picchu there were tarps that showed up in my first images that would now be gone. The weather would be different. The people would be different. I’d be riding a train this time (in first class too!) instead of trekking the Inca Trail. And I’d get to go with a friend time.

In the end, arriving back home to Seattle on the last of three flights that left Lima at a bit past midnight, I am ultimately happy that I returned and took this tour. Returning to the ‘same’ (big quotes here as nothing is ever the same after three years) place provided me with some important differences I never would have experienced had I only visited once.

Below I list some of the reasons I’m glad I went back to the same location three years later. I know there is far more in this world to see than I will ever get a chance to experience in one lifetime, but if by chance you are offered an opportunity to return to a distant land for a second time, I hope these reasons will help you decide it likely will be worth your time.

New People – I met a whole passel of new folks this time around, from varied and distant lands themselves. None of them were here the last time, even the guides I met. I even got a chance to try out some of my horrible Swedish language skills on a few of the travelers this time around. New guides. New hosts. New everyone.
New Sites- This time around I spent more time in Lima, six days instead of one and a half. I saw more of the historic district and Miraflores. I walked the beach (as rocky as it is) and visited Christ (he’s on a hill and a lot easier to find than you may think as he turns blue at night). I ate in different places (one of which was TGIFriday’s for Thanksgiving dinner. Classy. That’s me). I also walked areas of Cusco I had not visited as I was more timid last time. Heck, I even walked up to a different Christ while there.
That Familiar Feeling – This was something I didn’t’ realize I’d like so much. I knew where stuff was. I knew how to get around Cusco. I knew which river fed which river in the jungle. I knew how hot it was going to be getting off the plane in Puerto Maldonado (answer: soak-your-shirt hot). I knew my way around Machu Picchu and where I wanted to go for the pictures I would take. That part was cool.
I Got To Avoid Crowds At Machu Picchu – Yes, there are places with no crowds at Machu Picchu. While everyone else was busy following our guide after entering the city, I headed up hill to take some photos. I wanted to take some time-lapse images and had a spot in mind I found on the last trip. It’s a spot on the Inca Trail and after the trekkers passed by from their early morning start to visit the city, and before the tourists downhill started making their way up after they spent 3-4 hours listening to their guides teach them about the city, I had time and space by myself. At once point, I saw no one for 30 minutes. It was heaven.
I Got To Play More – As I had seen things in most of the locations, I got to be more curious and take my time when I wanted to. I wasn’t struck with the “I must see it all…NOW” feeling that often comes with thinking you will not return to a location. I wandered into the jungle and took pictures of leafcutter ants because it struck my fancy. I met a travel writer who happened to be in town because I had the time.
New Experiences – I fished for meat eating piranhas. I witnessed a sunset from 120’ in the air and above the tropical canopy of the Amazon Jungle. I ate in new restaurants. I touched the Pacific Ocean from that side of the Southern hemisphere. I spoke more Spanish. I visited different Inca ruins. I had a picture of Robin Hood making out with some damsel, above my bed. You know, the life giving experiences we seek.
I Had Better Weather For Pictures – This was a big one. See those pictures at the top? The one with better light and blue skies is from this last trip. Gray clouds? My “Once-In-A-Lifetime” trip.
Ants!

There are more reasons to consider going back to a place you’ve visited before and we all have personal ones, often. I am very glad I made it back to Peru for another visit. Would I go back if someone offered me another free trip?

In a heartbeat.

Photo Of The Day – Down The River

Peter West Carey — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 23:56:00 +0000

Title: Down The River

Location: Tambopata River, Amazon Jungle, Peru

Description: After a quick swim in the river to wash off, these three locals look on as our boat full of tourists heads upriver.

Photograph Creative Commons Copyright Peter West Carey

Photo Of The Day – Machu Picchu Panorama

Peter West Carey — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 00:02:39 +0000

Title: Machu Picchu Panorama

Location: Machu Picchu, Peru

Description: Stitched from 20 images taken in a vertical orientation, this image compromises some 26MP of information. The full version will soon be available for zooming.

Photography Creative Commons Copyright Peter West Carey

Ants Marching [VIDEO]

Peter West Carey — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:34:38 +0000

These videos have fast moving action, suspense and a cliff-hanger ending!

It’s leafcutter ants at work and that’s it. I hung out with these dudettes for a few hours while filming some stop motion video of them in action. It’s simply amazing to me how well organized and purposeful these workers are. To watch them work is a good reminder in how amazing the world around us is when we stop and look close.

Shot near the Tambopata River in Peru’s rainforest.

The first video is live action while the last two are time-lapse quick snips (12 and 3 seconds long).

Photo Of The Day – Perurail

Peter West Carey — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 22:26:51 +0000

Title: Perurail

Location: Ollantaytambo, Peru

Description: Riding the rails to Machu Picchu is the only other way to approach the city if not trekking the Inca Trail. It’s a relaxing ride with some amazing mountains to spy as you wind along the Sacred Valley.

Shot with Nikon D7000 and Nikon 28-300mm lens with settings: ISO 200, 82mm, f/16.0 and 1/160th of a second.

Photograph Creative Commons Copyright Peter West Carey

Photo Of The Day – Hello From Peru

Peter West Carey — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 03:57:12 +0000

Title: Hello From Peru

Location: Peru

Description: Do I need a description with this one? The Dude Is Crazy.

Photograph Creative Commons Copyright Peter West Carey

Photo Of The Day – Cusco, Peru, At Night

Peter West Carey — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 01:07:13 +0000

Title: Cusco, Peru, At Night

Location: Cusco, Peru

Description: As seen from the hills around the city, Cusco, just at dusk, is a beautiful sit before darkness takes over the town. Once the seat of the Inca Empire, it is now a jumping off point for those wishing to experience the mystery and ancient path of the Inca Trail toward Machu Picchu.

Photography Creative Commons Copyright Peter West Carey

Photo shot during the G Adventures Inca Journey tour, which I was lucky enough to win in a contest and enjoyed thoroughly.

Photo Of The Day – The Boats At The Beach

Peter West Carey — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 14:39:47 +0000

Title: The Boats At The Beach

Location: Lima, Peru