I AM CAMERA

PHOTO TIP- Remember, the camera is just a tool. You are the photographer. Whether you're using a DSLR, a point and shoot or even a pinhole camera, the real secret to making great photographs is your skills as a photographer. Years ago, I belonged to a camera club. There was this one member, a quite mediocre photographer, who didn't want to discuss photographic skills. He was, however, obsessed with cameras and equipment. He maintained that if he could only afford a Leica or a Hasselblad, he could be one of the world's greatest photographers. The truth is, if he had concentrated on learning skills as a photographer, he might have gotten somewhere. Instead, he chose to delude himself. Larry Elkins Elkinsphotos

WRITER'S BLOCK

LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, I SOMETIMES SUFFER WRITER'S BLOCK. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TIMES. I've been sitting here trying unsuccessfully to come up with something - anything - to write about. What finally came to me was this. Sometimes we suffer from photographer's block. Sometimes, we just don't feel inspired. We want to go out and make some pictures - but we just don't have the get up and go. And, worse yet, there doesn't seem like there's really anything out there worth photographing. So how do we get our groove back? Well, I can think of a few ways. The first is by taking on a photo self assignment. As an example, maybe go out and shoot interesting textures. Don't worry about whether you'll ever have a use for the resultant photos. The aim here is to get the creative juices flowing. Another possibility is to get in the car and drive somewhere you haven't been before that interests you. For instance, as I discussed recently, national parks are great places to shoot or (shameless plug) go to my website elkinsphotos.com and see if any of the images inspire you. ( Or pick out any other photo related web site). The thing is, sometimes viewing other people's work will give you inspiration. Remember though, the goal here isn't to copy. It's to use some aspect of what you're viewing to infuse your own work with a new vitality. Anyway, I hope this helps you. I know it helped me - to finish this blog post. Larry Elkins Elkinsphotos Fine Art Photography

LOCK IT UP - THE FOCUS THAT IS

QUICK PHOTO TIP - Compose with your main subject in the middle, lock your focus on the subject, then recompose with the subject off center. Larry Elkins Elkinsphotos.com

EDIT - EDIT - EDIT

Well, I'm busy editing the photos I took in Thailand as well as photos I shot of a birthday party since my return. This isn't the fun part, but it's an essential part of the process. My life is complicated by the fact that I'm still suffering effects of jet lag which I think has hung on this long due to the fact that I caught a cold from a fellow passenger on the flight from Taipei to L. A. I'm scheduled to do a presentation re: the Thailand trip at the local Kiwanis Club in a couple of days. So, right now I'm just concentrating on the grunt work. Larry Elkins Elkinsphotos

GO NATIONAL - PARKS THAT IS

PHOTO TIP - National parks are a great place for a photo excursion. Go to the National Park Service website (nps.gov) then go to FIND A PARK. You can then search state by state for a listing of national parks. In most cases, no permit is required for noncommercial or commercial still photography. Permits are required for commercial filming. To make certain that you are within the rules, consult the NPS website. also, be aware that entrance fees are required in order to visit national parks. And, as always, remember that safety needs to be your first concern. Now - have fun. LARRY ELKINS ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

ADD INTEREST TO YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY WITH A STORYLINE

PHOTO TIP - Take photos that tell a story. The story the photo tells does not have to be elaborate. However, the story contained within the photograph should be apparent to the viewer. For instance, during my recent visit to Northern Thailand, I took numerous photograph of Buddhist monks. Many of them told a story. Perhaps the most interesting though was the photo I took of a young monk photographing tourists visiting the temple at Doi Suthep. The monk was in a semi reclined position, his point and shoot camera carefully poised as he prepares to press the shutter. The photo needs no caption. The story it tells is unambiguous. A storyline of this sort adds an additional level of interest to your image. Try it. You may find that it takes your photography to the next level. Larry Elkins Elkinsphotos

SMILE - YOU'RE ON CANDID CAMERA.

Here's a great idea for an interesting self assignment. Go out and shoot some candid shots of people. This type of photography entails your being able to catch your subject unawares. This does not necessarily mean that the subject will be unaware of your presence as a photographer. For instance, on my recent trip to Northern Thailand, I was attempting to photograph a Buddhist monk at a temple complex. I asked the monk, who was conversing with another member of our photo group, if I could photograph him. My initial shot was a throwaway. The monk was posing and there were distracting elements in the background. However, I then moved around the monk until I saw him positioned perfectly and unaware that I was about to photograph him. I shot quickly and obtained a much more impressive result than I had with my first shot. It's not easy to shoot in this manner. However, the results can be quite impressive. The secret is to literally stalk your subject. Try it. You might be surprised by your results. Larry Elkins elkinsphotos.com

FRAME IT!

PHOTO TIP - You've just returned from a trip to an interesting or exotic location. Now you want a way to show off the gazillion photos you returned with to all your friends. Well, one very good option is a digital photo frame. Versions are available in a range of prices from under $100.00 to over $1,000.00. LARRY ELKINS ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

THE JOB AHEAD

Now that Chiang Mai Thailand is in the rear view mirror, I'm faced with the huge job of editing as well as preparation for my presentation at Kiwanis next week, a major show at BizzArt Gallery in March and a group show in April at Panterra Gallery. The fun part of the Thailand excursion is over. Now, the grunt work begins. And, as much as it pains me to do so, I have to thank Chuck Feil for his suggestion that I try to shoot a bit more like I did when I still shot film. The fact that I shot a lot less photos than I had intended to means that the job of editing the photos will be a lot less laborious. Still, the job ahead will be painstaking. In the next few days, I'll be diving in and working my butt off. I'll be keeping you posted on the process during the weeks ahead. LARRY ELKINS ELKINSPHOTOS

BACK TO NORMAL

Well, I'm back home after an incredible trip to Chiang Mai and I'll be resuming normal postings on this blogsite. I hope you enjoyed the journal entries from the trip. Larry Elkins /elkinsphotos

DAY 10 - CHIANG MAI IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR

IT'S DAY 10,, AND AS PEGGY AND I WAIT FOR THE SAWNGTHAEW (A TRUCKLIKE TAXI) TO ARRIVE, FIRST CURT AND THEN CHUCK, EMERGE FROM THEIR ROOM TO BID US FAREWELL A SHORT TIME LATER, AS WE SPEED PAST CHANG PUAK GATE ON OUR WAY TO THE AIRPORT, I GLIMPSE OLD CHIANG MAI CITY FOR THE LAST TIME IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR, OR RATHER THROUGH THE OPEN BACK END OF THE SAWNGTHAEW. Before we know it, Peggy and I are in flight to Taipei, then across the Pacific to the good ol' U.S.A. And so, as Porky Pig used to say,"TH-TH-THAT'S ALL FOLKS!" P.S. As I'm writing this, Peggy and I are at the La Quinta hotel in L.A. The plane didn't crash over the Pacific and we weren't eaten by sharks. LARRY ELKINS ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

CHIANG MAI DAY 9 MY MIND WANDERS BACK

DAY 9 - NOT MUCH HAPPENING - WE'RE PRETTY MUCH PHOTOGRAPHED OUT - SO I'M JUST SITTING HERE ON THE FRONT PORCH OF THE KHUMSIPHAYA HOTEL SIPPING MY FIFTH X-TRA LARGE CHANG BEER OF THE DAY WHEN MY MIND BEGINS DRIFTING BACK TO THAT UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED AT LAX ON OUR WAY HERE TO CHIANG MAI. We were going through security. I had placed everything in the plastic basket and pushed that and my bags through x-ray. Everything was going fine till I stepped through the metal detector. Something set the buzzer off. Sirens are going off everywhere. Suddenly, I find myself surrounded by a half dozen TSA agents armed with A-K 47's. It turns out, I forgot to drop my keys in the little plastic basket. Before I can say "Hi, Jack!", I'm being subjected to a very thorough pat down search conducted by a 370 pound female TSA agent. Next I'm put through the one of the new body scanners. You know the ones I mean. They see through your clothes. So, like I just stand there while everyone gathers for the peep show. Then I'm hauled off for further questioning. First thing I know I'm seated in one of those little rooms with a 250 watt light bulb hanging from the ceiling. After a few hours of intense questioning and a short session with a rubber hose, I'm finally released back into the general population. They've held the Flight for me, which I guess is a good thing, but now the passengers are thoroughly pissed off. WELL, MAYBE IT WASN'T QUITE THAT DRAMATIC. But you can bet the farm that when I go through that detector on the trip back to Bisbee, I'm not gonna be carryin' no metal, not even a damn paper clip. Larry Elkins Elkinsphotos Fine Art Photography

TRAVEL PHOTO TIP

TRAVEL PHOTO TIP - If you're shooting from a moving vehicle, you have a problem. It's called blur. Use a fast shutter speed 1/1000th second or faster to minimize the problem. LARRY ELKINS EIKINSPHOTOS

WHAT HAPPENED AT LAX?

WHAT HAPPENED AT LAX AIRPORT ON OUR WAY TO CHIANG MAI? FIND OUT WHEN YOU READ MY NEXT JOURNAL ENTRY. LARRY ELKINS ELKINSPHOTOS

DAY 8 AND CURT'S GUEST BLOG

DAY 8 WAS SPENT HAPPILY WANDERING THROUGH THE HUGE TEMPLE AT DOI SUTHEP. HOWEVER, CURT IS TAPPING ME ON THE BACK INSISTING THAT HE BE ALLOWED TO TELL HIS VERSION OF THE GREAT BAREBACK ELEPHANT RIDE. SO, TAKE IT AWAY CURT---------- I want to address a rumor that has circulated the world via a blog regarding an incident in Northern Thailand involving an elephant and myself. Most of you by now have seen a photo of me atop a large African elephant and by my confident seated posture, you may mistakenly assume I maintain a level of expertise in bareback elephantry. I assure you this is not true in my case. These normally gentle beasts stand upward of nine feet or more. I was invited by the handler, or raja, or whatever you wish to describe the man in charge of the pachyderm to mount his mighty steed. When approached by the handler, I was next to a spectator bleacher. So this was quite handy for me to board his enormous animal. Once settled upon the elephant, I immediately felt at one with her and within seconds took control of my new partner by parading her around my friends as they photographed my conquering of this wild giant of the jungles. I paused her and began to reach to my side to grab my camera for a unique view from above when the animal suddenly WENT ROGUE. The elephant's back end fell out from under me. I was not ready for this action for both of my hands were free, when apparently raja standing close by commanded the animal to lower for dismounting. Unbeknownst to me, for an elephant, taking this position requires firs lowering its posterior. I being a novice rider and without knowledge and experience in the art of elephantry, was thrust backward sliding down her back feeling each of her vertebrae, cascading downward spine to spine, then I was catapulted into a free fall about five feet from the terra firma doing a reverse spread eagle to meet the ground abruptly, and then sliding into a dust cloud. It hurt -- still does -- but nothing broken or sprained, just a bruised back, butt and ego. I realized no one was at fault. The elephant obeyed her command, the handler thought I was ready to dismount, and I did not hold on tight as a responsible rider should, and not elephant around in my Walter Mitty world. The handler felt bad, I felt worse, and the elephant? --- I suggested that her owner rename her Sarah Palin. So that's the true story from the one actually feeling the pain. RAJA CURT SIGNING OFF FOR NOW. Photos courtesy of Chuck Feil. LARRY ELKINS ELKINSPHOTOS

CHIANG MAI DAY 7 - WHEN IS A FLOWER NOT A FLOWER

IT'S THE AFTERNOON OF DAY 8 AND THE FOUR OF US, CHUCK AND CURT AND PEGGY AND I, ARE MEETING IN CHUCK'S AND CURT'S ROOM TO EDIT OUR FLOWER FESTIVAL PHOTOS FROM DAY 7. CHUCK IS READYING CURT'S PICS ON THE LAPTOP SCREEN. IT'S THEN THAT ALL HELL SUDDENLY BREAKS LOOSE. "HEY, WAIT A MINUTE HERE!", PEGGY SHOUTS. "THOSE AREN'T FLOWERS. YOU SAID WE HAD TO TAKE PICTURES OF FLOWERS. LARRY AND I SHOT FLOWERS. WE FOLLOWED THE RULES. CURT DIDN'T." "I FOLLOWED THE DAMN RULES!", CURT RESPONDS. " CHUCK SAID TO SHOOT THE FLOWER FESTIVAL. THAT'S WHAT I DID. I SHOT THE FESTIVAL. I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG. I'M BEING MADE THE SCAPEGOAT HERE." THAT'S WHEN I BEGAN CHANNELING JOE WILSON. "NOT TRUE!", I START YELLING FROM THE SIDELINES. "NOT TRUE. WE FOLLOWED THE RULES. YOU DIDN'T. IT'S NOT FAIR!" THAT'S WHEN I NOTICE THAT CHUCK HAS BEGUN TO TURN RED. AS RED MORPHS INTO PURPLE, CHUCK CLENCHES HIS FISTS AND BEGINS TO RISE SLOWLY FROM HIS CHAIR. "STOP YOUR STUPID BICKERING!!!", HE BELLOWS. "YOU PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO GET ON MY NERVES!" All right. Maybe our exchange wasn't quite that rancorous. However, the fact remains that Peggy and I chose to follow the rules while Curt took his cue from his favorite Fox News personality Sarah Palin and decided to go rogue. It was no big surprise to me however that Chuck would let the rules slide in Curt's favor. As I was photographing flowers in the Chiang Mai Floral Park on day 7, as I had been assigned to do, I came across Tweedledum and Tweedledumber (aka Chuck and Curt) seated in the park guzzling xtra-large Chang beers while two incredibly beautiful young Thai masseuses sat at their feet casting adoring glances at them as they busily fondled the old coots' toes. Well, so much for an even playing field. Larry Elkins Elkinsphotos Fine Art Photography

CHIANG MAI DAY 6 - DON'NT RAIN ON MY PARADE

IN BISBEE AZ, THE BIG PARADE IS ON THE FOURTH OF JULY. AND ON THE FOURTH OF JULY, IT USUALLY RAINS. IN CHIANG MAI, THE BIG PARADE, THE ONE CHUCK AND CURT AND PEGGY AND I CAME THOUSANDS OF MILES TO SHOOT, OCCURS DURING THE DRY SEASON. WHICH, I SUPPOSE, IS WHY THE OLD BRITISH GENTLEMAN STAYING HERE AT THE KHUMSIPHAYA RESPONDED AS HE DID WHEN I COMMENTED THAT I HOPED THE PARADE DIDN'T GET RAINED OUT. "IT'S THE DRY SEASON, YOU DAMNED FOOL. SO IT AIN'T BLOODY LIKELY THE PARADE'S GONNA GET RAINED OUT." 'Well, excuse me for walkin' upright. How the Hell was I supposed know the dry season from the wet season?" "You been here six days.", he responded. "Ye think the fact it ain't been bloody rainin' mighta' provided ya a clue?' Well, be that as it may, it's day 6, the day we get to photograph the annual Chiang Mai Flower Festival Parade. It's 7 am (That's 5 pm yesterday in Bisbee.), and Chuck, Curt and I have almost reached the Blue Diamond Cafe where we're set to meet Peggy for breakfast. We're going to be a bit rushed because we've been informed, actually misinformed as it turns out, that the parade begins at 8 am. That's when I decide to photograph an old Buddhist monk walking down the street. I compose, and I press the shutter. It's then that those three dreadful words appear on my LCD screen - NO MEMORY CARD! Oh Hell, this is embarrassing. We're already running late and I forgot to put a memory card in the friggin' camera? CHUCK AND CURT ATTEMPTED UNSUCCESSFULLY TO HIDE THEIR UTTER CONTEMPT AS THEY OFFERED TO ORDER BREAKFAST FOR ME WHILE I RACED BACK TO MY HOTEL ROOM TO RETRIEVE MY 8 GIG SDHC. When I arrived breathless back at the Blue Diamond, Chuck and Curt were seated with Peggy at a table for four, In front of the empty space sat the bowl of fruit I told the guys to order plus a whole wheat English muffin and hot Chinese tea. This was great. In my earlier discombobbled state of mind, I had just said bread and had failed to mention beverage. And yet it was like Curt and Chuck had read my mind. As I sat down, Chuck turned to me and said,"We told the waitress to bring coffee and a croissant but she brought this instead." The waitress, it appeared, knew what to bring me without being told. I guessed I was now officially a regular at the Blue Diamond Cafe. After breakfast, we continued walking the rest of the way to the parade area. A huge number of onlookers was gathered as well as dozens and dozens and DOZENS of booth merchants hawking their wares. 8 am came and went. NO PARADE YET. 9 am came and went. NO PARADE YET. I photographed the crowd, the merchants, the Buddhist monks. STILL NO PARADE. Finally, I decided to pay a visit to my old friend Ronald McDonald who stood beckoning to me from a nearby street corner. As soon as I entered the establishment, I could see that there were a few differences between this McDonald's and ones I had visited in Sierra Vista and Tucson. First up, the menu items were not quite the same. After studying the menu for a couple minutes, I settled on the Tofu McMuffin and a cup of hot Chinese Tea. The young female server asked cheerfully if I wanted to make it a value meal. I shook my head NO. The French fried seaweed just didn't appeal to me. I was handed a number, and I stood waiting for my meal. This part was just like it was in the good old U.S. At least that's what I thought at first. However, after about twenty minutes of watching the speed at which orders were coming out from the kitchen, or rather the speed at which they failed to come out from the kitchen, I realized that these people simply did not grasp the basic concept of fast food. A good forty minutes after I walked in, I was finally handed my lousy McMuffin. As I left a short time later, I took great care to kick Ronald McDonald in the butt. The parade, when it finally got there, was wonderful. Huge floats constructed from colorful flowers, carved melons, seeds and other such (just like the Pasadena Rose Parade) and attractive young men and women from all over Thailand, dressed in colorful traditional garb, streamed down the street. Photographing the marchers was comparatively easy. I could get right up to them and SNAP! Floats were a different matter entirely. The problem was that people would wander out into the street fascinated by the oncoming float. Then the person would stand there, like a deer with its eyes caught in the headlights, watching the float till it was too late. If no one intervened, the onlooker would quite simply be run down by the gigantic float. However, the local constabulary had, thank God, already been around this particular track a few times. So the police, as well as what appeared to be special volunteer tourist police, would march in front of each float and shove onlookers to the side of the street in the nick of time before the oncoming float could mow them down. What this meant for me though was that I would have to go out into the middle of the street, take whatever shots I could, then dodge aside before the approaching cop decided to do it for me, or should I say to me. This was at best somewhat disconcerting. Then again, I guess the cops did serve as sort of a safety net between the approaching float and me, the photographer. All in all though, it was another wonderful day in Paradise. Larry Elkins Elkinsphotos

CHIANG MAI -- WHAT HAPPENED TO DAY 5?

"HEY GUYS!", I HEARD CHUCK SAY. "WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO DAY 5?" "WOW, MAN.", CURT RESPONDED." I DON'T REALLY KNOW, MAN. LIKE THE LAST THING I REMEMBER IS FALLIN' BUTT FIRST OFF AN ELEPHANT." "YOU KNOW WHAT?', I SAID. 'MAYBE THE FOURTEEN HOUR TIME DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BISBEE AND CHIANG MAI HAS SOMEHOW MESSED WITH THE SPACE - TIME CONTINUUM AND LIKE SCREWED UP THE UNIVERSE OR SOMETHIN'." "THAT COULD BE IT.", PEGGY INTONED. "THE SAME SORT OF THING HAPPENED TO ME WHILE I WAS TRAVELING IN IRAN." "WELL, WE HAVE TO FIGURE THIS ONE OUT.", CHUCK STATED. "NOW HEAR ME OUT ON THIS.", CURT CHIMED IN, "MAYBE THIS WHOLE THING WAS CAUSED BY ME FALLING OFf THE ELEPHANT." "NO. I DON'T THINK THAT WAS IT.", PEGGY REPLIED. "I THINK IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE MAYAN 2012 PROPHECY." THEN, AS I GUZZLED MY THIRTEENTH XTRA-LARGE CHANG BEER OF THE DAY, MY HEAD SEEMED TO START SPINNING. SUDDENLY THE FLOODGATES OF MY MIND BURST OPEN AND THE MEMORIES OF THE FIFTH DAY BEGAN STREAMING IN. IT ALL STARTED WHEN THE FOUR OF US CHASED THAT OLD BUDDHIST MONK GUY DOWN A RABBIT HOLE. DOWN, DOwn, down we tumbled head over heels. As we continued to fall, I heard Curt exclaim, "Wow man. This is worse than fallin' off the elephant." Then, as we reached the bottom of the rabbit hole, or was it just an old Bisbee mine shaft, we landed smack dab in the Blue Diamond Cafe which should have been in Chiang Mai, but instead had somehow been magically transported to Old Bisbee and planted at the bottom of Brewery Gulch where Santiago's should have been. Suddenly, the four of us (Chuck, Peggy, Curt and myself) were seated at a corner table eating Thai curry and shredded beef tacos and sipping fermented prickly pear cactus juice from gallon size coconuts. I was trying to take in an inane comment Chuck was making about some obscure facet of photographic theory, but was finding it difficult to hear above the incessant chatter of the Mad Hatter seated at the next table. Then an old Asian hookah smoking catterpillar sat down at our table and began telling us how we needed to stop eating beef tacos and become tofu eating vegans because, after all, that was the only way to save the earth from destruction. "Wait just a minute here.", Chuck said. "You're just makin' this up. None of that crap ever happened. I remember now. We didn't do much of anything yesterday except to hang around the hotel all day and edit some of our photos from days three and four." And that's the way it really was when we rested on the fifth day and drank a crap load of beer. Larry Elkins Elkinsphotos

CHIANG MAI UPDATE

CHIANG MAI UPDATE - Coming next. "Hey! What happened to day five?" (or journeying down the rabbit hole) STRANGE THINGS BEGIN TO HAPPEN WHEN PHOTOGRAPHERS HAVE TIME ON THEIR HANDS. And now it's time for the shameless promotion. Be sure to visit my website elkinsphotos.com. Larry Elkins Elkins Photos Fine Art Photography

SILHOUETTE THE SUNSET

QUICK PHOTO TIP - When shooting sunrises and sunsets, introduce silhouettes to the foreground. This technique adds both interest and a sense of depth to the composition, Larry Elkins elkinsphotos.com

CHIANG MAI-DAY 4-ELEPHANT RIDES AND RIVER RAFTING

I HEARD THE KNOCK ON THE DOOR ABOUT 8:20 AM. "THEY'RE HERE EARLY!.", CHUCK SHOUTED FROM OUT IN THE HALL. I SCRAMBLED FOR MY GEAR. BIG DAY AHEAD. WE HAD CONTRACTED FOR A FULL DAY'S EXCURSION INTO THE COUNTRYSIDE. THE DAY'S ACTIVITIES WERE TO INCLUDE ATTENDING A PERFORMANCE BY SHOW ELEPHANTS, RIVER RAFTING, RIDING AN ELEPHANT AND VISITING A HILL TRIBE VILLAGE, AN ORCHID FARM AND A BUTTERFLY FARM. THE PRICE: 900 BAHT PER PERSON, ABOUT THIRTY U.S. DOLLARS. A scant five minutes later we four intrepid adventurers were on our way to the jungles of Southeast Asia, a prospect that held a whole different context for a generation of guys back in the 60's and 70's. But that's another story. The van transporting us on our little adventure sped off to pick up seven other people from their hotels, then headed out of town. After about thirty minutes or so I sensed we were at last getting close to the jungle when I spotted the billboard advertising TARZAN'S GREAT ADVENTURE - LUNCH INCLUDED. When we finally pulled into the compound, we could see there were elephants everywhere. There was also elephant dung everywhere. The elephant show was a bit cheesy but enjoyable, and provided for some interesting photo opps. Immediately after the show, we were afforded the opportunity to get close up and personal with the pachyderms. Curt managed to talk one of the handlers into allowing him to ride one of the elephants bareback. In no time, a proud Curt was seated astride the gigantic beast. Everything went well until it came time for Curt to exit the elephant. The elephant began lowering itself. As the animal did this it did so rump first. As it did so. Curt began to slide down the elephant's back. What happened next occurred in slow motion. For a nanosecond or so, as Curt slid backward, I thought to myself, "So that's how you get off an elephant". That thought was followed by the instant realization that that was not how you were supposed to get off the elephant. Curt continued his slide back till he reached the beast's tail. Then he fell backward through the air. After about a four foot free fall during which his cap flew in one direction and his sunglasses flew in the other, Curt's butt encountered hard ground with a loud thump. Luckily, only Curt's pride was hurt. Well. actually that wasn't entirely true. His butt was pretty bruised up. But he was still in one piece. Next on our list of to dos was riding a raft down the river. The ride turned out to be sort of a cross between Huck Finn's sojourn on the Mississippi and the Disneyland jungle ride. Our journey down the Asian jungle river was followed by lunch and a quick trip to the toilet. Then the real adventure began. I can think of nothing more pleasant than a relaxing trip atop a giant elephant. Unfortunately, that's not how it works. Seated with Peggy in a bench like saddle, I was gung ho for my first elephant ride. Then the God awful beast began to move. Believe me, for I now know, the actual experience of riding an elephant is a decidedly unpleasant one. The devil beast moves in one direction. You move in the other. The effect on the back is much like that of undergoing torture on the rack. and our trip by elephant to a native hill tribe village meant that our journey would not be over flat ground. No. We were forced to go up and down, up and down steep inclines where our very lives depended on the sure footedness of the behemoth that bore us on his back. I prayed that our beast of burden did not slip on any of the mounds of elephant dung that lay in our path. Thankfully, we eventually arrived at the hill tribe village. or rather, we arrived at a series of stalls through which we were herded as colorfully dress hill tribe women posed for pictures while attempting to sell us their handcrafted and, in some cases what appeared to be not so handcrafted, goods. As we got ready for our return trip from the village, we thanked our lucky stars it would be by ox cart and not elephant. Of course, that was before we discovered that perhaps the only thing more uncomfortable than riding an elephant is riding in an ox cart. Our visit to the orchid and butterfly farms was uneventful and then we found ourselves back at the hotel. It had been a long, long, long day. LARRY ELKINS ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

WHADDYA MEAN I FLUNKED COOKING SCHOOL?

DAY THREE - IT'S NINE A.M. AND OUR LITTLE GROUP OF FOUR MERRYMAKERS ARE ENROUTE TO THE THAI FARM COOKING SCHOOL. We're going to learn Thai cooking and we're going to photograph the process. Then we're going to eat the meals we cook. Our first stop is at a local market. But this is like no market in the States. The amount and variety of produce dwarfs anything you'd see in a U. S. supermarket. And then there's the meat. There are no neatly packaged T-Bone steaks or lamb chops to choose from here. The meat is being hacked up into various cuts right before our eyes as we wander among the stalls. And unlike in the States, the meat here stares back at you: chickens and ducks with heads still attached , the unattached heads of pigs, cows and goats, and fish and eels still swimming around waiting to be plucked from their tanks and hauled home for dinner. There's lots to photograph here, but first we stand at attention listening intently as our teacher lectures us on the intricasies of preparing sticky rice and the proper use of soy, oyster, fish and mushroom sauces. Then it's all aboard for the ride to the cooking school. We speed past banana trees and coconut palms, cattle and goats, and rice patties. Then, approximately 17 km from Chiang Mai City, we arrive at the spacious self sustaining organic farm where the Thai cooking school is located. We've already each chosen the dishes we'll prepare. My choices include red curry with chicken, Tom Yan, chicken with cashew nuts, and Pad Thai fried noodles and, for dessert, pumpkin in coconut milk. We're each provided with our own cooking station. At each of the stations are propane stove, metal sauce pan, wok, measuring spoons, spatula, cooking spoon and knife. Soon we're busily pounding garlic, chilies, herbs and spices in mortar and pestle till they morph into curry paste. We slice, chop, mince and crush various ingredients, then boil or fry them. Amazingly, everything comes together and, before we know it, we're seated at a huge wooden table pigging out on all the delicious food we've managed to prepare. All of this we photo-document. We bag still uneaten food for transport back to our hotel. Then it's back on the road, heading toward the city. Soon we arrive at the Khumsiphaya exhausted but happy, four Bisbee photographers ready to call it a day. Larry Elkins Elkinsphotos Fine Art Photography

BUDDHIST TEMPLE COMPLEX

Our second full day in Chiang Mai was as hectic as the first. I awoke early, showered and took to the streets to explore the neighborhood while it was still dark. It was incredible how vibrant the city is even before the new day dawns. I had read warnings on the internet detailing how vicious Thai dogs can be. Like most of what I read on internet sites before leaving the States, these accounts turned out to be overblown. The dogs I encountered in the street, and they were numerous, were of a rather mellow sort. As I explored the streets and alleyways near the hotel, the dogs, at one point four of them, would follow along for a while, then tiring of my company, take off in some other direction. The ever present motor bikes favored by so many Thais, especially the young people, whizzed by. Many of the homes and still unopened businesses buzzed with activity. It's amazing how many tiny restaurants, laundries, bars, guest houses and massage parlors line the side streets. I ran into one Thai lady who was quite talkative. She asked where I was from. When I answered that I was from Arizona, She informed me that she and her husband had visited Sedona and Tombstone, and that the had purchased a tee shirt silk screened with the words 'TOMBSTONE - THE TOWN TOO TOUGH TO DIE'. She also related a comical story about her husband. Upon their arrival in Tombstone, she was about to approach a group of Hispanic youths to inquire about the location of the Bird Cage Theater when her husband stopped her. "I don't think they speak English.", he said. After a while, I made my way back to the hotel. A little after 7 am, I left the hotel again, intending to walk to the Blue Diamond Cafe for breakfast. However, when I got there, I found myself intrigued by a little open air restaurant just across the street from the Blue Diamond. Upon my entering, I was approached by a man carrying a one page typed paper menu. He immediately informed me somewhat apologetically that he did not serve European breakfasts. I replied that that was fine and he promptly seated me at a little side table. I ordered fried collards and deep fried pork and a bottle of Thai Coke. A young boy who looked to be about 7 or 8 brought my coke over almost immediately About three minutes later, an elderly Thai woman brought my meal, a heaping portion of collard greens and slices of fried pork served over a large mound of rice. This veritable feast came at a cost of 45 baht (less than $1.50 U.S.). The itinerary for this second full day of photographing in Chiang Mai was to meet up with two friends of group leader Chuck Fiel's, then proceed to a Buddhist temple complex located a short distance south of the old city's southern gate. Intrepid leader Chuck's assignment for the day was that we shoot no more than 25 photographs. I was not very happy. Here was my chance to document this colorful temple complex and Chuck was placing what seemed like unreasonable restrictions on my ability to document the subject. Even assuming that I would cheat by surreptitiously erasing photographs here and there, the whole idea that we should be so severely limited in the number of shots we could take of the colorful Buddhist temples seemed ridiculous. When we arrived at the complex, I was even more perturbed by the restrictions placed upon us by Chuck. Upon our arrival at the site, we checked out the trained artisans whose task it was to hammer out intricately designed bas relief panels from aluminum slabs. As we photographed the artists at their work, they explained that the tools and techniques used dated back centuries. At one time, large slabs of pure silver were used in the process of producing these wonderful facades. In modern times, with the cost of silver prohibitive, the switch to aluminum was made. During the next few hours, we photographed both the exteriors and interiors of the various temples as well as the colorful Buddhist monks. And, wonder of wonders, I wound up with only 21 photos. And, in reviewing the photos later, I couldn't have been happier. The process of shooting less images had forced me to slow down and fully assess each prospective photo before pressing the shutter. The result was a series of well thought out images that served to document quite well our visit to the temple site. The day was topped off nicely by a wonderful dinner at the Blue Diamond Cafe.

Larry Elkins Elkinsphotos Fine Art Photography

CHIANG MAI DAY ONE

I began my first full day in Chiang Mai with an early morning walk around the neighborhood. I almost literally ran into two of Chiang Mai's almost 300 Buddhist temples. So that's how I started my day, photographing the temples next door. Once back at the hotel, I hooked up with the rest of our group, then walked to the Blue Diamond Cafe where we enjoyed an American - European style breakfast. I purchased what I thought was a moderate breakfast and was promptly handed a meal that would have choked a horse: eggs,bacon, sausage, ham, whole wheat English muffin and a saucer of fresh fruit. Of course, the internet had plenty of warnings against eating raw fruits and vegetables. We found that advice to be absolute rubbish. The fresh fruits and vegetables here are wonderful. Then each of us spent the rest of the morning wandering the old walled city joyfully photographing whatever intriguing subjects presented themselves. It was quite easy to stay within the old city due to the fact that it is surrounded by a moat. Most of the original wall that once surrounded the city is gone now. However, remnants remain, mostly adjacent to the four gates: north, south, east and west.. I obtained countless images of the area that comprised the ancient city. One of the most intriguing photographs i managed to capture was the buildings of the city reflected in the ancient moat. Another was an image of a Buddhist temple fronted with a statue of a full sized elephant. When I finished the day's shoot, I was faced with finding the hotel which is located just south of the old north gate. I was carrying a card with the name and address of the hotel. I asked directions from a young Thai lady who then proceeded to consult with two young men. They managed to convey the route to me and I proceeded on my way. HOWEVER, MOMENTS LATER, ONE OF THE YOUNG MEN, SEATED ON HIS MOTOR BIKE, SUDDENLY PULLED UP BESIDE ME AND MOTIONED FOR ME TO CLIMB ABOARD. OFF WE SPED AND WITHIN LESS THAN THREE MINUTES, WE REACHED THE HOTEL. I asked if I could pay him a few baht for his trouble. He laughed and shook his head no. We both bowed and shook hands, then he sped off. The food here in Chiang Mai is so inexpensive, it's going to be hard to readjust to the expense of dining out stateside. The cost of meals per diem appears to be in the range of twelve to fifteen dollars. And the portions are ridiculously generous. It' hard to believe what we have planned for the next few days. Next up is a visit to a Buddhist temple complex located a short distance outside the moated section of the city. The day after that, we'll spend taking Thai cooking lessons at a farm located in the countryside a considerable distance outside the city. The 900 baht cost (approx. 30 dollars U.S.) covers transportation to and from as well as lunch and dinner. The only catch is we'll be forced to eat what we cook. The farm's website indicates that most students, after pigging out at lunch, have little desire for dinner. So the school provides banana leaf cups for hauling food back to the hotel. Subsequent days' itineraries will include riding elephants through the jungle, river rafting and shooting a parade rumored to be comparable to the Pasadena Rose parade. My next journal post will cover our visit to a temple complex where artisans employ ancient techniques to produce intricate temple facades from aluminum. (Traditionally the facades were constructed from pure silver. However, the expense involved in using silver has become a tad prohibitive). And aluminum resists tarnish considerably better. But more about that later. Larry Elkins elkinsphotos.com

FROM BISBEE TO CHIANG MAI

Well folks, it's taken me long enough to get this journal from Thailand started. It took me till yesterday to arrange to tie onto the hotel's wireless connection. Then everything has been pretty much nonstop. In addition, I've been suffering from a bad case of jet lag. It's about 4:30 AM here in Chiang Mai which means it's about 2:30 PM in Bisbee. During the short layover we experienced at the Tai Pei airport after an exhausting almost fifteen hour flight from LAX, we were confronted by a large sign that left little doubt as to the Taiwanese government's stand on drugs. It read - WARNING! POSSESSION OF ILLEGAL DRUGS IS PUNISHABLE BY DEATH. I considered taking a photo of the sign. However, at that point, I was too exhausted from the long flight to bother to remove the camera from its bag. Following another three hour plus flight, we arrived in Chain Mai. We converted a portion of our U.S. dollars to Thai bahts, then caught a ride from the airport to the Khumsiphaya Hotel.. Upon our arrival, I checked in, then had a cold Chang beer, a warm shower and a nap in that order. That evening, our group headed out to the Sunday bazaar. This evening marketplace was certainly something to experience. Hawkers were selling everything from exotic foods to colorful souveniers of all kinds. Exhausted as I was, sleep was spotty that first night. The effects of jet lag left us without a real sense of whether it was the middle of the night or the middle of the day. So, after a fun but tiring evening, I returned to my hotel room, downed one last cold one and fell into a fitful sleep to the screeching sounds of what I assumed were either birds or monkeys just outside my hotel room. OH, AND ONE BRIGHT SPOT WAS THAT THE HOTEL BATHROOM FEATURED ESSENTIALLY WESTERNIZED FACILITIES AS OPPOSED TO THE NATIVE SQUAT TOILET AND ACCOMPANYING WATER FILLED TRENCH IN LIEU OF TOILET PAPER. In my next post which will follow shortly, I'll bring you up to date on our first full day of experiencing and photographing the ancient and modern marvels that the old moated city section of Chiang Mai has to offer. Larry Elkins Elkinsphotos Fine Art Photography