Author Archives: Vladimir Brezina

A Word A Week Challenge & Travel Theme: Island Shadows

By Vladimir Brezina

On A Word In Your Ear, Skinnywench’s photo challenge this week is Island. And on Where’s my backpack?, Ailsa’s is Shadows.

And the two just come together in my mind—warm turquoise waters, a strong tropical sun beating down, palm shadows…

Sort of like this—

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Glover’s Reef Atoll, Belize, 2010. More photos are here.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Unique

By Vladimir Brezina

This week’s Photo Challenge is Unique.

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Seen at last September’s Great North River Tugboat Race & Competition.

Winter Life at the Reservoir

By Vladimir Brezina

Last weekend at NYC’s Central Park Reservoir. An icy cold day. The Reservoir is mostly frozen over, leaving just a patch of open water where all of the Reservoir’s birds have congregated.

Johna surveys the panorama. (Click to enlarge any photo.)

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Midtown Manhattan rises up beyond.

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The birds are mostly Canada Geese and ducks, including some varieties that we’ve never noticed here before—they are probably from Canada, down for the winter. They paddle through the patch of open water, squabble, or just stand silently on the ice, beaks tucked into their back feathers, facing into the cold wind.

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The blue shadows lengthen as the sun goes down, lighting up the East Side on the other side of the Reservoir with its last rays.

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More photos are here.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Love

By Vladimir Brezina

This week’s Photo Challenge is Love.

And there’s one set of photos that comes to mind straight away :-)

Some of you have seen them before, and I apologize. I promise not to show them again (any time soon, anyway)… I guess I’ll have to find something else for Valentine’s Day!

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The full set of photos is here.

Travel Theme: Walls

By Vladimir Brezina

Ailsa’s travel-themed photo challenge this week is Walls.

Kayaking around the highly urban New York Harbor, we pass by many colorful and inspirational walls…

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More on the marine art of New York Harbor is here.

The World’s Toughest Endurance Challenges

By Vladimir Brezina

The World’s Toughest Endurance Challenges
Richard Hoad and Paul Moore
Bloomsbury Publishing
London, 2012

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From the description of the book on Amazon:

“The World’s Toughest Endurance Challenges” profiles 50 of the most extreme marathons, triathlons, bike rides, adventure races, climbs, open-water swims and other iconic endurance events from around the world. Breathtaking full-color photographs and insider commentary from top athletes will thrill endurance athletes, extreme sports addicts, and outdoor adventurers of all stripes.

Continue reading

Gulf Coast Sunset

By Vladimir Brezina

It’s freezing in New York City this week… so why not post a few photos of a warm, tropical beach in Florida?

St. Pete Beach, Florida, December 2012.

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More photos are here.

Travel Theme: Up, Take Two

By Vladimir Brezina

Ailsa’s travel-themed photo challenge this week is Up. We’ve already posted one response, but here’s another one.

Looking up in NYC’s Central Park…

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Travel Theme: Up

By Vladimir Brezina

Ailsa’s travel-themed photo challenge this week is Up.

Looking up, trees and, above them, clouds…

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A second “Up” post is here.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Beyond

By Vladimir Brezina

This week’s Photo Challenge is Beyond.

When paddling counterclockwise around Manhattan, or down the Hudson River back to the city, there comes that breathtaking moment when the distant vista of Midtown Manhattan comes into view beyond the George Washington Bridge.

I always take a photo at that point. By now I have many, in rain and sunshine, day and night… Here are a few of them.

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More photos from these trips are here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.