There’s nothing like a little third world travel. We checked into our all-inclusive hotel for a couple days and by day 2 after some refreshing poolside R and R discussing new business ventures we were itching to get out and see Dominican life. I don’t really understand how people can call staying in an all inclusive resort for 2 weeks really traveling. Finally we set off to get the hell out and dive into the real culture. There’s nothing like hopping on the back of a motorcycle taxi, smelling exhaust of every car on the planet, and dust in your eyes. It makes you really feel like you’re traveling.

The great thing about being a photographer is the great opportunities to mix business with pleasure. We came for a little vacay, but as a photographer it’s rather impossible to travel without a camera. Despite the fact that new cultures and places is what inspires me the most, I can always be shooting for my portfolio or stock to pitch magazines.

TIP: Use your vacations as a way to generate imagery for your portfolio, that is if you like to shoot travel work. Consider it a blessing that the photographer lifestyle can be a business. You can write off your life.. so to speak

Here’s the link to a story of Dominican Republic images… http://www.nickonken.com/Stories/DominicanRepublic/

It’s funny how us photographers get into our own little world. I know I do at least. We go about our day to day goals and shoots without paying attention to what’s going on out there. Not just that, you can look at all the magazines you want and see what’s going on visually, but it’s hard to see what’s going on behind the scenes politically. What goes on inside the circuit of photo editors, and art buyers. I tend to forget the world of other photographers and how many ballers there are out there. I forget how much competition is out there let alone what it takes to play on that level. This is an amazing blog by a big photo editor in New York that has to remain anonymous for many political reasons.

There are some pretty heated conversations, and a wealth of industry information. Check it out!

http://aphotoeditor.com/

A good friend of mine, Matt Brush made me aware of this video of Harlan Ellison, a seasoned writer speaking to the licensing and getting paid for the artist work he does. I think it’s a great reminder to us all, to value the work we do and charge a premium for it. Especially with the way things are moving in the digital world, we need to help carve the path for digital licensing. As much as I’m starting to miss some of my favorite shows on ABC, I side with the writers in the current strike. Artists like us seem to get the short end of the stick. Watch this 3 1/2 minute video. It’s educational as well as entertaining.

I could use your help. I’m pitching to write a book on travel photography, and I need to sketch out a table of contents of subject matter. I would love to hear what questions you have or could have in relation to travel photography, from approach, techniques, techy stuff, and anything encompassing the subject. Also any subjects that you would enjoy hearing about on the topic.

Throw a comment down with questions and subjects you’d like to see addressed in a travel photography book if you feel so inclined.

Every time I go to Seattle, I have to eat at my favorite restaurant, Monsoon. It’s a little hidden gem on the backside of Capital Hill. It’s a chic upscale Vietnamese restaurant, where everything on the menu is a treat to the taste buds. Eric and Sophie Bahn, sibling chefs do an amazing job of bringing their mom’s kitchen to a Pacific Northwest fusion of culinary goodness. They have an exquisite wine list to accompany the food menu. Now if I can only find a Monsoon down here in LA… If you live in Seattle, or visit, put this on your list of must eats!