Photographers of all levels used to print pictures a few years ago. This was before smartphones, iPads, laptops and computers. It was the only way to show people what you saw. We didn't email pictures or upload them to Facebook or Flickr. No, we printed them and organized them in an album. If a picture was better than excellent, we enlarged it, framed it and hung it proudly on our walls.
Sadly, the art of printing is lost on a lot of photographers these days. Images are taken, quickly viewed, stored on hard drives, uploaded to image sharing services and are never to be seen again in most cases.
My wife and I recently moved, and during the move, I had to pack and ship my many photo albums. I unpacked them last weekend, and had a great time going through my old albums, including all of the small paper mementos (e.g. airline tickets, admission tickets) intertwined between the pictures.
There is something special about touching your photographs, and I encourage everyone to print and hang your pictures in order to live with them. My friend JP once gave me that piece of advice, and I can easily say that I'm happy I listened to him.
I'm due to send a few thousand photographs to scancafe in the next few days in order to digitize them. I took the opportunity to scan a few favorites from my 2004 trip to Kenya. Enjoy.
Lake Nakuru
If you enlarge the image (click to zoom), you'll notice a strip of pink at the edge of the water. Those are flamingos.
Again, notice the strip of pink at the edge of the water. Those are flamingos.
Frisky Cheetah
Okay, probably more "hungry" than "frisky". It's not uncommon I guess given the number of times I've seen pictures of cheetahs jumping on jeeps to get a better vantage point. It goes without saying though that it's a pretty neat sight, especially for those who are under the animal ;-)
Looking for trouble
Often, both hunter and prey will seek higher ground looking for each other. It's a never ending game of cat and mouse in Africa.
A rare treat
If ever you go on a game drive, count your lucky stars if you see a baby cheetah. Mothers are extremely protective of them. I've been lucky enough to see little ones twice.
Duty free shop
You meet all sorts of interesting people when you travel. This fellow had a store right near an airstrip in the Masai Mara. Of course, it was a duty free shop and therefore, he didn't charge taxes. I unfortunately ran out of money before I could shop there, so I bartered with him instead. Win win ;-)
