Amazing Photos from Around-the-World

John Glenn – I don’t remember his record setting orbital flight

John Glenn looks through a device used in astronaut training on August 17, 1961.
John Glenn looks through a device used in astronaut training on August 17, 1961. (Photo by NASA)

The date was February 20, 1962. Ohio native John Glenn became the first U.S. astronaut to orbit the earth. I was a toddler, not quite three years old, probably staring out a window as snowflakes gently fell around my home in the Western Pennsylvania town of Du Bois. I had no clue that a historical event was unfolding – one that would captivate my imagination of space travel and someday living on the moon.

I had a poster with colorful illustrations of all the planets, I built model replicas of the Saturn V rocket and the Lunar Lander – complete with legs that extended as it came to rest on my own imaginary moon.

I remember the Apollo 13 flight that put three Americans in dire straights. If not for the creativity of those brave astronauts and Mission Control using “ball-and-twine” like solutions that only MacGyver himself would have marveled at – they would have perished. I stayed glued to the TV – watching the drama unfold when I was suppose to be heading off to school.

I remember the Challenger Space Shuttle disaster in 1986 – when the first school teacher to fly in space lost her life along with six other astronauts – just 73 seconds into the flight. And then there was Columbia – the shuttle that broke apart as it re-entered the earth's atmosphere on February 1, 2003. I was in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania photographing the world famous Punxsutawney Phil festivities when I was shocked by the news.

But probably my all-time favorite memory of the NASA space program came when I was in Orlando with my family enjoying Disney World on October 30, 1998. As we were exiting the park, we heard a loud roar off in the distance as Space Shuttle Discovery took flight from the Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island. There was a large plume of rocket engine exhaust marking the location of lift-off that made chills run through my spine. On that flight was the oldest human to ever fly in space – none other than astronaut and then Ohio Senator John Glenn – all of 77 years old. And that record still stands today.

Although I never became an astronaut – I've lived vicariously through the lives and legends of our very own American heroes.

So what is YOUR favorite memory of the NASA space program? Please share your thoughts by clicking the comment link at the top of this article.

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7 well dressed photographers attack royal wedding on bikes

Hugo Burnand and his team of wedding photographers
Hugo Burnand and his team of wedding photographers as they bike to Prince William and Kate Middleton's Wedding (Photo by Matt Writtle. See more of Matt's photography at http://www.mattwrittle.com)

If you thought the wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton was a media circus; the photographer asked to cover it for the “royals” contributed to that image.

On the morning of April 29, 2011, London-based photographer Hugo Burnand and his well-trained team of seven assistants (all on bicycles) rode through Hyde Park to Buckingham Palace. They zigzagged through thousands of people who had gathered to witness Prince William marry Kate Middleton. “Cycling over was exhilarating,” Burnand recalled.

Days earlier, Burnand and his team created the couple’s official wedding portraits in the Throne Room in Buckingham Palace. “We had backup equipment for our backups,” he said. Even though he had experience photographing the 2005 wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles, the pressure was intense.

On the day of the wedding, Burnand had exactly 28 minutes to photograph the bridal couple before they made their balcony appearance. He claims he wasn’t stressed. “I was very well prepared,” he said, thanks to following the military adage of the seven P's – “Proper planning and preparation prevents piss-poor performance.”

It took 32 hours to prepare for the 28 minute shoot. “We rehearsed everything, including what to do if things didn’t go according to plan. I said my prayers before hand and every single prayer was answered.”

Photographer Hugo Burnand's favorite wedding photo: Prince William and Kate Middleton surrounded by the children.
Photographer Hugo Burnand's favorite wedding photo: Prince William and Kate Middleton surrounded by the children. (Photo: Hugo Burnand/Clarence House)

One of Burnand's favorite photos is of Prince William and Kate surrounded by the children. “Every individual in that picture shows their real character. I knew what I wanted so there was photographic direction, but you can’t direct that kind of spontaneity and naturalness,” stated Burnard.

For couples wishing to get the best professional photos that they'll truly cherish – consider hiring a professional who has received extensive training in wedding photography. Look at their portfolio and ask for references (and check those references.) A great resource of professional photographers is the Professional Photographers of America. Find a photographer in your area here.

So what unusual photography moment do you remember about your wedding? Please share it here with a comment.

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Get a GREAT Freebie at Falls Day in the Park this Sunday

FREE uniquely shaped, limited edition post card of the waterfall at Olmsted Falls. Read the article to see how you can get one!
FREE uniquely shaped, limited edition post card of the waterfall at Olmsted Falls. Read the article to see how you can get one!

Do you like free food, rock music and give aways? Then get ready for a fun afternoon at Falls Day in the Park this Sunday – Oct. 2nd – from 1 – 4 p.m. at East River Park on Lewis Road in Olmsted Falls.

There will be free hot dogs, chili, brats, donuts, apple cider and more from local civic groups and businesses. A rock band will provide free entertainment while you enjoy local arts and crafts vendors and more.  It’s a great time to reconnect with old friends from the Olmsted area.

SpectraLight Photography will be showing off and selling “Picturesque Olmsted Falls – Gazebos, Waterfalls, a Covered Bridge and More – Oh My!” Believed to be the first book of it’s kind in Northeast Ohio, it contains nearly 50 photographs that look similar to paintings created with watercolor, oils, canvas and other “Old Masters” techniques.

To launch the book, we are giving away a uniquely shaped, limited edition post card of the scene chosen for the book cover. A sample of the card is shown above. If you can’t make it to Falls Day in the Park, you can get a free post card by sending a self-addressed, long (business size) envelope to: Free Olmsted Falls Post Card, c/o SpectraLight Photography, 8367 Burlington Drive, North Ridgeville, OH, 44039.

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Up all night – 3,604 cups of coffee – voila – the Mona Lisa!

Mona Lisa replica created with 3604 cups of coffee was 20 feet high by 13 feet wide.
Mona Lisa replica created with 3604 cups of coffee was 20 feet high by 13 feet wide.

Although its doubtful that Leonardo Da Vinci consumed 3,604 cups of coffee while painting the Mona Lisa; it took a team of eight people about three hours to recreate it with that many cups at the The Rocks Aroma Festival in Sydney, Australia in 2009. The different shades were created by adding milk in varying amounts with some receiving none, little or lots of milk to each cup of black coffee.

The different shades of the Mona Lisa were created by adding milk in varying amounts with some receiving none, little or lots of milk to each cup of black coffee.
The different shades of the Mona Lisa were created by adding milk in varying amounts with some receiving none, little or lots of milk to each cup of black coffee.

The “mural” was seen by 130,000 people who attended the one-day coffee-lovers event. “We wanted to create an element of surprise and a sense of fun in the way we engaged with the public,” said Elaine Kelly – one of the event organizers.

“Once we had the idea of creating an image out of coffee cups we searched for something iconic to reproduce – and opted for the most iconic painting in history,” stated Kelly. “The Mona Lisa has been reproduced so many times in so many different mediums but, as far as we know, never out of coffee. The result was fantastic.”

Have you ever created something out of materials that wouldn't normally be used for that item? Please share your experience with a comment here.

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Astonishing “human camera” or $6 million man?

Panorama of Tokyo drawn by Steven Wiltshire accurately from memory!
Tokyo Panorama by "Human Camera" Steven Wiltshire drawn precisely from memory!
Rome may not have been built in a day – but savant Steven Wiltshire drew a 33 foot panorama of the city in just two days! Wiltshire is not part man, part machine like Steve Austin from the 1970s series: The Six Million Dollar Man. He accomplished this feat (and many more) with his natural, God-given abilities.
Human_Camera_Stephen_Wiltshire
"Human Camera" Stephen Wiltshire
 
What makes this achievement so amazing is that Wiltshire was taken for a short helicopter ride where he observed Rome from a bird's eye view. Afterward, he drew the city center on blank paper. From memory, Wiltshire accurately reproduced the winding streets, buildings, the windows – even the EXACT number of columns in the Pantheon.
 
Wiltshire, who has been called “the human camera,” has the incredible ability to recall minute details of anything he has seen and then reproduce them in drawings. He was born mute. At the age of three he was diagnosed as autistic. At the age of five, Wiltshire attended Queensmill School in London where he expressed interest in drawing where he began to communicate through his art. At the age of eight, he started drawing imaginary post-earthquake cityscapes and cars.
 
Wiltshire has also drawn New York City, Hong Kong, Frankfurt, Madrid, Dubai, Jerusalem and London on giant canvasses.
 
To read more about Stephen Wiltshire, see more of his work and order paintings and gifts, visit the Stephen Wiltshire web site.
 
So how good is your re-call? I can't remember where I parked my car at the grocery store! Please leave your comments on this post.

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How to make your own amazing photo book

Picturesque Olmsted Falls book
Picturesque Olmsted Falls book by Mark Madere. Click here to get your copy.

Ever since I wrote about publishing my Picturesque Olmsted Falls coffee table book, I've been getting TONS of e-mails asking where I had it printed. Seems like every one wants to have a gorgeous keepsake of their vacations, weddings, birthdays, anniversaries – even the adventures of family pets – including a guinea pig!

After months of online research, checking forums and talking to other photographers; I found a company – blurb.com – that makes high quality books at a very reasonable price! You can download their FREE book design software from their web site right now and begin designing your masterpiece in minutes.

Prices start at just $4.95 for a 5×8 book. They have several intermediate sizes with the largest books at 12×12 and 13×11. These books are far superior in quality to other company's that are comparably priced.

So what are you waiting for? Download your free software and create your amazing book of memories today! BONUS:  Save 20% with code BLURB20 through August 31, 2011.

What would your book be about? A family vacation? A special holiday? Your son or daughter's wedding? Please share your comments here.

Please subscribe to our YouTube channel and then click the bell icon to get instant notifications when we upload a new video: https://SpectraLight.com/YouTubeSubscribe

See more photos and videos highlighting what is great about CLEveland and Northeast Ohio on our HOTonCLE website: http://HOTonCLE.com

Please subscribe to our HOTonCLE YouTube channel and then click the bell icon to get instant notifications when we upload a new video: http://HOTonCLE.com/YouTubeSubscribe

See the gear and software we use to create our videos and photos: http://SpectraLight.com/Gear

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Sneak peak: “Picturesque Olmsted Falls” book now at the printer

 

Picturesque Olmsted Falls book
Picturesque Olmsted Falls book by Mark Madere. Click here to get your copy.

For years, people have asked when I would publish a collection of my artistic renderings of the many notable scenes of Olmsted Falls. The wait is finally over!

Check out the book with 47 total scenes of the city. They have all been enhanced in Photoshop to look like actual paintings. It is more obvious in the printed book than what you'll see online.

What a great Christmas or birthday gift for current or former natives of Olmsted Falls.

What do you think of this book? Please leave a comment here and share this page on Facebook, Twitter and your other social media networks.

Please subscribe to our YouTube channel and then click the bell icon to get instant notifications when we upload a new video: https://SpectraLight.com/YouTubeSubscribe

See more photos and videos highlighting what is great about CLEveland and Northeast Ohio on our HOTonCLE website: http://HOTonCLE.com

Please subscribe to our HOTonCLE YouTube channel and then click the bell icon to get instant notifications when we upload a new video: http://HOTonCLE.com/YouTubeSubscribe

See the gear and software we use to create our videos and photos: http://SpectraLight.com/Gear

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Boo! Boo who? Not a riddle – just the cutest darn dog you ever did see!

Boo, perhaps the World’s Cutest Dog, has over 1 million Facbook Fans
Boo, perhaps the World’s Cutest Dog, has over one million Facebook Fans!

Is this the “World’s Cutest Dog” or what?

Boo, an adorable Pomeranian, has really hit the “big time.”  He has several videos on YouTube and was even raved about on Khloe Kardashian's personal blog! Parade Magazine just did a story on him and he has a rapidly expanding following on his own Facebook page with well over 1 million fans.

 

The little guy will soon be featured in his own book by Chronicle Books. It features exclusive new photographs of Boo doing all his favorite things: lounging around, playing with friends, exploring the whole wide world, and making those famous puppy-dog eyes. To know Boo is to love him, and this book is for anyone who loves the cutest dog ever.

What a great gift for someone you love. Oh, heck, just get it for yourself!

Do you have a pet as cute as this? Send me a photo and it just might get posted in a future article! Please leave a comment about this article here.

Boo! Boo who? Not a riddle – just the cutest darn dog you ever did see! Read More »

This dad and sextuplet photo will warm your heart

dad and sextuplets
Even dad fell asleep during the creation of this photo

As a professional photographer, I really love seeing what other pros are doing with our craft. Brian and Janine Killian of Peters Photography in London, Ohio really hit a home run – no – a grand slam, with an amazing photo they created for Mia and Rozonno McGhee of their adorable sextuplets.

The photo went viral after being posted on Facebook prompting ABC's “Good Morning America” to call for permission to use it the next morning! Next thing you know, Oprah Winfrey jumps on the band wagon followed by a cover shot for Professional Photographers of America member magazine.

One of the keys to a successful photo of six newborns is a toasty-warm studio. The photo session lasted nearly five hours (due partly to a power outage during the shoot) and required seven people who passed around babies – feeding, burping and diapering throughout the process. Dad and camera were “locked down” to avoid any movement while the individual babies were brought in and photographed, one-at-a-time. In other words, this photo required six different shots that were later combined in Photoshop!

The process of creating this photo is a great illustration of why one should enlist a professional photographer for a truly memorable photograph that will be cherished for generations. Anyone can take a snapshot with a digital camera; but only a highly trained professional can create a work-of-art.

Read more about this amazing session on the Peter's Photography blog.

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