ので、平和的な...

Osaka Garden in Chicago's Jackson Park is one of the most restful places in the city, and one of the more interesting and least known spots to photograph. It's interesting to capture the garden during each of the seasons, looking for different angles and elements that might make your next shot different. This is especially challenging if you've been here as often as I have.

The garden is located on Wooded Isle in the Jackson Park Lagoon, immediately behind the Museum of Science and Industry. It was first built here on the island for the Columbian Exposition of 1893 near the Japanese Pavilion and reconstructed over the years to its present, beautiful state. Today, the garden is popular with neighborhood residents and bird lovers from all over the city. According to the Chicago Park District, more than 250 different species have been spotted from Wooded Isle , and 48 species have nested here. Cultural festivals and performances are also common, including the annual Osaka Garden Festival held each September.

By the way, the Japanese in the title translates to "so peaceful"...I hope.

Nylon rain...

If you are a photographer, or just enjoy taking snapshots of cool stuff, a must-see event is the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in New Mexico. It starts in early October and goes on, weather permitting, for about 10 days. Talk about a target-rich environment for photographers! It's an amazing event that allows you to get up close and personal with the participants. It provides an overwhelming amount of photo ops that will refuse to have you put your camera down even for 30 seconds.

Word of warning, however. The crowds getting to and from the event can be equally overwhelming. My wife and I spent several hours in lines just to get on shuttle buses taking you to and from the launching field in north Albuquerque. I would plan to start out very, very early (like 4 am early!) and dress warmly. There were several times I was ready to walk away from the line going to the event and miss it entirely because of the wait, but my wife convinced me to stick it out. She was right; it was worth the wait.

There's something about a Mustang and the open road...

It goes without saying that a muscle car like the Mustang belongs here, along wide stretches of road - no stoplights, no stop sign, no pedestrians, no traffic. All you have to do is set your cruise control to FAST and enjoy all the natural beauty that America has to offer.

My wife and I rented this white Ford Mustang on a recent trip to New Mexico. I stopped the car along the Turquoise Trail to get shots of the amazing scenery literally surrounding us. As I walked back to the car where Tricia patiently awaited, I saw this. What better imagery that a wild white mustang on the painted New Mexico desert! One shot was all I needed to capture this, and I don't mind telling you I'm damn proud of this one!

The best seat in the house...

Is there anything better than a park bench on a beautiful fall day with a view near the water? Gillson Park in Wilmette, Illinois offers such an opportunity. Bordered by Wilmette Harbor to the south and Lake Michigan to the east, Gillson Park provides the casual autumn stroller many places of respite and contemplation. This particular bench happens to be my favorite, with its view of the harbor and the magnificent dome of the Baha'i Temple across Sheridan Road. From here, I can listen to the call of the birds as they perch upon the empty moorings of the harbor, or the steady roar of the waves crashing along the beach as the winds sweep across Lake Michigan.

Now that's heaven.

At the end of the pier...

Tricia and I had decided to get some shots of the beautiful Sunshine Skyway Bridge that spans Tampa Bay. Driving up south from Sarasota, we turned off just before the bridge onto the mile-and-a-half long south fishing pier. After paying the modest sightseeing fee, we drove down about mid-pier before stopping and capturing some great photo ops of the bridge from the pier as well as of some of the really serious fishermen around us.

After a while, it was time to leave. However, we were a little leery of making a 3-point turn on that narrow pier filled with fishermen. We decided it best to drive all the way down to the very end of the pier and make a U-turn. The views from the end were too good to pass up. As I got out of the car with camera end hand, Tricia suggested I get a shot of the unmanned fishing poles lined up against the pier wall. She was right: this truly made for a good image. I took the shot, and here it is.

Riding the streetcar in Ybor City

I really like this image. My wife Tricia and I rode Tampa's TECO Line Streetcar from Ybor City to the Convention Center and back, just soaking up the view. It was interesting watching people from all walks of life embarking and debarking from the restored streetcars who, like me, enjoyed the fun but brief respite from walking.

This particular image was a mild challenge. Originally, I was looking only to get a shot of the driver. However, the little girl in the left of frame was thoroughly enjoying the ride with her sister and her father. I decided I needed to capture that joy and waited for her to turn around. As is the case with most children, however, they never do what you want when you want them to do it. Her eyes remained fixated out that front window! Finally, not long before my wife and I were about to get off, the little girl turned around just long enough for me to shoot this image. Sometimes, patience is truly a virtue.

Mr. Roberto Ramirez, Master Cigar Roller, Ybor City (Tampa, FL)

Roberto Ramirez was born in Cuba to a family of cigar rollers and tobacco harvesters. He was raised on a tobacco farm. At the very early age of 9, he was taught by his father everything about tobacco farming as well as the art of rolling cigars by hand.

Mr. Ramirez's love of tobacco and cigar rolling grew as he got older and so did his talent for the art of rolling a top quality cigar. He worked at different factories throughout the province of La Villas and Havana City. In 1976 and 1988, he was named # 1 cigar roller in Cuba; he is presently one of the top ten cigar rollers in the world. Before coming to the United States14 years ago, he was Head Master Roller in charge of quality control for a large cigar factory of 500 cigar rollers in Santa Clara city.

Since he has been in the United States, Mr. Ramirez has continued to excel in the art of cigar rolling. He resides in Tampa, Florida , where he works in Historic Ybor City (cigar capital of the world), keeping alive the tradition of so many years in this city. Pay him a visit La Herencia de Cuba, located on La Sétima (7th Avenue) in the heart of Ybor City.