Peering directly into the camera, this turbaned Bengali merchant had a no-nonsense, very dignified way about him. 

Southern Bangladesh, 1995

Strikingly deep blues, of water and sky, are juxtaposed here in the high Atacama Desert.

Despite being the driest non-polar place in the world, the Atacama still possesses small aquifer-fed lakes such as this.

Northern Chile, 2024

Witness to the departure of countless ancient caravans destined for far away lands, this intricately cut tomb on the silent, sandy thoroughfare of an old oasis near Wadi Musa stands vacant and decayed.

The Nabataeans were an industrious Arab tribe which migrated from the Arabian Peninsula over 2,000 years ago and settled in southern Jordan.

Jordan, 2014

Much of Sudan was once “Upper Egypt.” Today, that influence can be seen at different points scattered along the River Nile north of Khartoum.

Hieroglyphics such as this, painted in tombs and carved into stone walls down the Nile, are often unattended - except by goats wandering about and the occasional tout offering to be your guide.

*(Note: The decomposition along the bottom of the painting was caused by water pooling on the floor of this tomb. Never found out whose tomb it was, as there was only one Sudanese guy there, and he didn’t speak a speck of English.)

Sudan, 2018

Koncordiaplaze, a stunningly beautiful place at the convergence of four enormous glaciers high in the Bernese Alps.

Photo taken during a two and a half day traverse of the Aletsch Glacier, the longest in Europe, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Note: The slightly reddish tint here and there on the snow and ice is from sands which have blown north from the Sahara Desert.

August of 2024

Although it looks like a posed shot, this late afternoon photograph frankly involved a lot of luck; Taken at just the right instant, and from a far less than ideal vantage point via momentarily hanging my arms out of the open window of an extremely crowded bus.

Peru, 2002

Just south of Hanoi, on a dreary, overcast day, this woman farmer laboriously tended water filled rice paddies.

Vietnam, 1995

As it has since 1345, legendary Notre Dame Cathedral stands solidly, ennobling, at the very center of Paris in this Christmastime scene.

2010

This colorful sign in Ho Chi Minh City celebrated thirty years of communist rule.

Vietnam, 1995

Showing a phenomenal degree of athletic finesse, these players of “Sepak takraw” (sort of a wedding between soccer and volleyball) are only allowed to use their feet, knees, chest, and head to touch the rattan ball, making for an amazingly fast and thrilling match.

Involving opposing teams, it is known by many names across Southeast Asia; In Thailand the sport is named simply “takraw,” while in the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia, it is called “Sepak takraw.”

In Myanmar, what is pictured here is known as “Sepak takraw,” as well. However, the Burmese also have a variation - called “Chinlone” (caneball) which is more of an art, without opposing teams, the aim being to keep the ball gracefully and creatively aloft for as long as possible.

Near Amarapura, Myanmar, 2018

The iconic images of Monument Valley have appeared in such classic John Wayne/John Ford movies as Stagecoach, She Wore A Yellow Ribbon, and The Searchers.

Utah, 2007

Offering an obviously paltry selection, this train station kiosk is illustrative of what little was available along much of the route of the Trans-Siberian Railway in 1993.

Spanning seven time zones and covering nearly 6,000 miles from Moscow to Vladivostok, the Trans-Siberian is the longest railway in the world. 

Eastern Siberia, 1993

The lower falls of the Yellowstone create a magnificent 308 foot high white water spectacle.

Yellowstone National Park, 1995

Having eaten most of a nearby kill, this male lion was languidly taking life easy in the tall grasses of the twelve mile wide Ngorongoro Crater. 

 The fabled Ngorongoro has been compared to the Garden of Eden because of its extremely high concentration and variety of wildlife.

Tanzania, 1992

Despite their fierce appearance, iguanas are actually very docile creatures; this one graciously allowing a carefully taken close-up. - They are, however, known to bite, sometimes rather severely, the occasional antagonistic idiot.

Honduras, 2016

When not crammed with bush taxis, blocked by fallen trees, or encased in hanging, thick, red dust, the roads of Madagascar are frequently swamped by heavy rains, making them nearly impassable.

2013

Standing at 169 feet in height, and constructed of bronze and gilded in gold, this gigantic Buddha statue in the mountains outside of Thimphu, Bhutan is truly impressive.

Interestingly, over 100,000 approximately seven inch tall Buddha statues, each likewise made of bronze and gilded in gold, grace the cavernous interior of the base; all placed there in an effort to project an enormous aura of blessings, peace and happiness throughout the world.

 - 2017

Framed by the windows of an airliner, the Himalayas live up to their reputation as the most spectacular mountains in the world.

After shooting the breeze with two Nepali pilots in the New Delhi airport, they graciously offered me the cockpit jumpseat on the flight over to Kathmandu.

Despite fleeting misgivings about flying with two pilots who I knew believed in reincarnation, it proved to be only the first of many acts of kindness I received from the generous people of Nepal.

Over India/Nepal, 1989

Deriving its name from its resemblance to 19th-Century clipper ships, Shiprock is an 1,800 foot high remnant of the throat of a volcano.

The Navajo hold it sacred and believe the solitary monolith transported them from the North.

New Mexico, 2007

Adept in the art of discriminative harvesting, women possess the nimble fingers necessary to pick only the tender leaves of a tea plant, bypassing those past their prime.

Hurriedly on her way to the vividly-green, hilly fields of the Sri Lankan highlands, this Sinhalese teapicker had her head wrapped tightly against the morning chill, paused, then without prompting as I was taking the photo, opened up with a warm accompanying smile.

2012

Taking on the texture of a painting in the soft, low light of dawn, Mo’orea, an incredibly lush, stunningly beautiful island, awakens to a rising sun and a setting moon.

Mo’orea was initially settled by Polynesians arriving by canoe from southern Asia about a thousand years ago, with the first Europeans to see the island being the Portuguese in 1606. Captain James Cook followed to observe the 1769 Transit of Venus.

Located a little over ten miles from Tahiti, it is one of the eastern group or windward islands of the Society Island archipelago in French Polynesia.

February, 2020

"We looked up on the left to a long wall of rock, sheering like a thousand foot wave towards the middle of the valley." - T.E. Lawrence, in "The Seven Pillars of Wisdom," 1926.

Known as "The Valley of the Moon," Wadi Rum ("Wadi" means "valley" in Arabic.) is a windswept, almost otherworldly desert expanse, cut amidst enormous mountains of granite and sandstone in southern Jordan. T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) spent considerable time there during the 1917-18 Arab revolt, and David Lean shot much of his epic film, "Lawrence of Arabia" there in 1962.

2014

On a cold, foggy day at the Golden Temple of the Sikhs in Amritsar, the obvious forthrightness and warmth in the face of this pilgrim reflects the undeniable goodness of the Sikh religion.

With its belief in one creator - a shapeless, timeless and invisible God - its open acceptance of all other religions, and its emphasis on the equality of all human beings, Sikhism is a truly admirable faith; one many other religions could learn a lot from. 

 The Punjab, 2017

Under an equatorial sky at about 19,000 feet, the crisp, exalting heights of Kilimanjaro reveal clouds so thick it appears you could walk on them.

Tanzania, 2007

In Indonesian mythology, a Barong is a sacred lion-like entity who provides protection from evil spirits; He is the king of all good spirits, and is the eternal enemy of Rangda, a demon or witch.. 

In Balinese dance, the fight between Barong and Rangda represents the battle between good and evil.

This intricate, fanged Barong was outside of a home in the center of Bali. 

2015

On a seductively tranquil day in a deliciously unhurried part of Vietnam, this fisherman takes an afternoon break.

Near Nha Trang, 1995

Facing Sri Harmandir Sahib, "The Abode of God," this pilgrim at first seeing the Golden Temple of the Sikhs, was visibly overcome with emotion, and immediately dropped in silent tribute and devotion.  

The Punjab, India - 2017

Fishing boats, each seeming to have its own personality; colorfully festooned with flagged markers for locating nets, rest along the shoreline of southern Thailand.

Thailand, 1998

At an age when most Western children are in pre-school, this young girl spent her days breaking up rocks in a stone quarry.

The gravel that she and hundreds of other children in this quarry made was used for road building material.

Bangladesh, 1995

Trying to beat an oncoming storm, a climber rappels off of one of the giant granite outcrops at Joshua Tree National Park.

California, 2006

Dwelling in the jungles of Southeast Asia and India, the Banded Krait possesses a venom far more deadly than a cobra’s.

(When I took this photo at a snake farm in Thailand, I was told this tangle had been collected for research purposes only since anti-venom is of no use.)

During the war in Vietnam, American soldiers referred to the Banded Krait as the "two step snake" as after it bit you, you were dead in two steps; an exaggeration, but not by much.

1998

Illuminated against the silence and shadows of the night, the Genbaku Dome, or the "A-Bomb Dome," as it has come to be called, stands exactly as it did after the Enola Gay dropped the first atomic bomb used in war on Hiroshima at 8:15 A.M. on August 6th, 1945.

Initially slated to be demolished with the rest of the ruins of Hiroshima following the war, it was ultimately preserved as a symbol of peace and a memorial to those lives lost in the bombing. Today, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

2013

This attractive woman selling vegetables at a roadside market on the outskirts of Hue exhibited a serenity bordering on indifference as I took her photograph.

Viet Nam, 1995

Amman, Jordan has received vast waves of Palestinian refugees - primarily in 1948 and 1967 - with - incredibly - about two million of them now living either in sun-beaten camps or in crowded sections of the city, such as this.

2014

This Bengali woman methodically lays out patties of manure and straw to dry in the sun along the shoreline of the Brahmaputra River.

Later, in this de-forested land, the patties will be used as cooking fuel.

Bangladesh, 1995

Approaching the summit of Russia's 18,510 foot high Mt. Elbrus, the incredible views take away nearly as much of your breath as the altitude.

The Caucasus, 2007

Dating from 1782, the Grand Palace of the Thai monarchy is one of the most impressive sights in all of Asia.

Bangkok, 1995

Without a yard to play in, this brother and sister (part of a community of boat people living along the coast on the Gulf of Thailand) amuse themselves by paddling, and frequently bailing water out of, rather precarious, obviously improvised vessels.

Cambodia, 2005

Dating from the time of Kublai Khan when traders introduced them to Indian shores, these Chinese fishing nets are still operated north and south of Cochin on the Kerala coast.

Suspended from four arched poles, and usually operated by three to four men, the nets are suspended into the sea for a time, then, using balanced hanging stones, lifted up with the catch.

Southern India, 2012

With the utter absence of roads in much of the Himalaya, hundreds of villages throughout the region are still dependent on donkey trains such as this to transport food and medicines.

Nepal, 1989

A better way to keep meat fresh; Crocodiles in a large bamboo cage await their end outside a waterside restaurant.

2005

At the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, a team raises one of hundreds of hot air balloons for an amazingly colorful evening spectacle called, "Night Lighting."

October, 2017

In a poor Bolivian village, this young girl’s smile revealed an obvious intelligence and optimism which will hopefully translate into a bright future.

Bolivia, 2002

Having settled in on a grassy flat just above a lonely beach still strewn with Argentine land mines from the 1982 Falkland war, these Gentoo Penguins noisily trumpeted at one another as they milled about on a sunny February morning.

Living on crustaceans, squid and fish, Gentoos breed on the Falkland, Kerguelen, South Georgia, Heard, and South Shetland Islands, as well as on MacQuarie Island and parts of the Antarctic Peninsula.

East Falkland Island, 2012

In dwindling light, mosque domes with Islamic crescents create a beautiful silhouette against an early evening sky.

2018

In the Killing Fields of Cambodia these skulls stand silent witness to the genocidal excesses of the Khmer Rouge.

2005

Living in a floating village in Cambodia, these Vietnamese refugees make their grocery selections from a vendor making deliveries in a canoe.

Cambodia, 2005

Coupling its appearance with searing summer daytime temperatures, Fiery Furnace is an aptly named formation of hundreds of sandstone spires, sculpted by water over time and light by day, in the center of Arches National Park.

Southeastern Utah, 2012

One of the many faces of poverty in Peru, this little girl sold dolls along a dirt road in the Andean highlands.

Peru, 2002

Leading a wandering existence, snake charmers are found throughout the Indian sub-continent region and parts of northern Africa.

This toothless fellow explained in very broken English that he was from a rural village and had captured his cobras in hopes of making money in the city, a background common among many snake charmers. Playing a flute-like gourd, called a pungi, the charmer pretends to hypnotize a snake which has most often had its fangs removed.

Colombo, 2012

The vastness of the Patagonian pampas, broken by towering mountains such as the Cuernos del Paine, give this southern windswept land an irresistibly romantic quality that draws visitors back.

"Que asegura a la persona que come el fruto de Patagonia su regreso a estas tieras" - "Those who taste the fruit of Patagonia will return to this land".

Chile, 1994

Waiting patiently at night in a dense rainforest, this chameleon had an amazingly long, incredibly agile tongue able to snap up insects in a seeming mili-second.

Also able to dramatically change color, chameleons do not do so to match their surroundings - as is widely believed - but to communicate with prospective mates, and convey emotions in defending territory.

Derived from the Greek words, "chamai," meaning "earth or ground," and "leon," (lion), "chameleon" means "earth lion."

Madagascar, 2013

Autumn colors come early to the high desert surrounding Santa Fe, New Mexico.

October, 2017

Stunningly ornate murals adorn the walls of Wat Phra Kaew in the Grand Palace complex of the Thai monarchy.

Bangkok, 1997

In a wonderfully chaotic, yet smelly, scene of seemingly unceasing movement, fishermen unload a day's catch on the docks of Banda Ache.

Northern Sumatra, 2015

A kilometer or so from a nearby Bedouin encampment, this camel in southern Jordan was hobbled so it could graze on the meager desert vegetation without wandering too far afield.

2014

Driven by poverty, these kids spent their days digging for scrap metal left over from the intense 1967 battle of Khe Sanh. 

With all the live ordnance still buried in the area, this can obviously be a very hazardous way to earn a living.

Viet Nam, 1995

These desert hills west of Jericho, barren as they are, have a truly timeless, spiritual feeling to them.

Palestinian Territory, 2014

Framed by the side of an old barn in Russia, these mountains across the border in Georgia offer rich views in an extremely poor part of the world.

Russia/Georgia, 2007

Constructed by the Romans around 165 A.D., the Corinthian columns of the Temple of Hercules, stand majestically at the center of Amman today.

Jordan, 2014

Constructed between 1242 and 1248, Sainte-Chapelle possesses some of the oldest and most radiant stained-glass windows in all of Paris.

Located in the very heart of Paris, it is a perfect - almost magical - example of Gothic architecture.

2016

While at Petra, I wanted to get off the beaten track, and go up into the mountains surrounding the ancient city; As luck would have it, I happened across this fellow who was a backcountry guide and seemed to know his way around quite well.

It was only after shaking hands to seal our negotiations over his daily rate, that I asked him his name; “Jihad,” he replied. — Even though, admittedly, it momentarily took me a bit aback, I knew it is was fairly normal in Arab countries to give your baby the name, as in that context it means “spiritual striving.” Still…I was - also admittedly - rather glad that I would perhaps only have to call out his name in the solitude of rugged mountain terrain instead of in some crowded airport or train station.

Jordan, 2014

This sort of full sized Thai gargoyle seems to strain out loud under its heavy load.

Thailand, 2005

These colorfully dressed Peruvian Indians, attending a village meeting in the Andes, are direct descendants of the ancient Incas who once inhabited this mountainous land.

Peru, 2002

At 5:29 on the morning of July 16th, 1945, in the flat desert below the mountains in the distance, the first nuclear weapon was detonated; The site was code-named "Trinity."

An excerpt from the official report on the detonation read, "The lighting effects beggared description. The whole country was lighted up by a searing light with the intensity many times that of the midday sun. It was purple, violet, gray, and blue. It lighted every peak, crevasse and ridge of the nearby mountain range..."

About six weeks later, on September 2nd, 1945, the Japanese formally surrendered on the deck of the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.

(The Trinity Site is open to the public two days a year, once in the spring and once in the fall. There is a simple stone obelisk with a plain metal historic plaque commemorating the epic event at ground zero.)

October, 2017

Traffic on most of the main thoroughfares of bustling Kathmandu can take on the appearance of loosely controlled chaos.

2017

A street side shop offers layers of colorful decorations for the always enthusiastic celebrations of Chinese New Year in Singapore.

2017

"Great, high, and unbelievably white in the sun," Hemingway wrote in the Snows of Kilimanjaro.

Indeed, 19th Century geographers argued over whether ice could even exist so close to the equator, but as this photo illustrates, at 19,000 feet just off the summit ridge of Mt. Kilimanjaro, glaciers and a heavy early '07 snowfall can combine to create a scene seemingly from the arctic.

Tanzania

Tough as nails and living in an unforgiving land that demands it, this Tuvan man worked for hire transporting gear on his camel into the high Tavan Bogd Mountains of far western Mongolia; A skilled equestrian, he adeptly led a very heavily laden camel from his horse.

The Tuvans are indigenous to central Asia and Siberia, and they speak a Turkic language; In Mongolia, where this photo was taken, the Tuvan are regarded as one of the Uriankhai or forest people.

Bayan-Olgii (Near the intersection of Russia, China and Mongolia) - 2018

Trees dwindle with the miles on the approach to Australia's Nullarbor Plain.

Contradicting Cervantes famous quote, "The road is better than the end," the aptly named Nullarbor (Latin: "nullus," no and "arbor," trees) stretches for nearly 700 miles through a scrubby sanctum of heat, endless vistas and desolation. (See Solo Across Australia in the Articles Section.)

Australia, 1989

In an impoverished mountain village in Myanmar’s Kayah State, this wonderful woman had a curiously placid but indomitable aura about her. It was an aura that clearly showed itself in the light in her eyes; A light that incredibly had not been extinguished despite losing ten of her twelve children at young ages to scourges such as malaria and dengue fever.

With 135 ethnic groups, a sizable portion of Kayah State is controlled by various militias. (*it was only during an extended cease-fire that access to this particular area was possible.) Despite having to deal with consequent political disarray and grinding poverty, the people - even soldiers at militia check-points - were astonishingly welcoming and friendly to outsiders.

Eastern Myanmar, 2018

During a true rarity, a severe snowstorm in Paris, the Eiffel Tower disappeared and re-appeared in the white city sky.

(Although this photo was taken in color, the stark light and snow makes it look like a black & white shot.)

December, 2010

In the wake of the anarchy created by the Khmer Rouge, signs such as this in rural Cambodia urge citizens to turn in weapons.

Cambodia, 2005

Perhaps because Russians are too occupied with capitalist pursuits to be bothered with the past, statues like this one of Lenin are still found throughout much of the country.

Pyatigorsk, Russia, 2007

El-Deir, or "The Monastery" as it has come to be known, was carved from the surrounding rock by the Nabataeans around the second century A.D.

While it was likely built as a temple to pre-Islamic gods, later societies probably used it as a monastery or church. Today, aside from groups of tourists and small herds of goats roaming about, it sits in palatial stillness amidst a magnificent sweep of desert vistas.

Jordan, 2014

Working themselves into a sweat in the afternoon sun, fervent drummers parade through the streets of Kathmandu during a Hindu festival.

Kathmandu, 1997

Under the midday sun on a particularly hot day in Panama, this fellow flagged me down for a ride to his village. Pulling over, I read his eyes and judged him to be an honorable sort, so I motioned him to hop on in; During about an hour's drive in rather lively conversation, we were together able to pretty much solve all the world's problems. 

Once we arrived at his village, I asked him if it'd be okay to take his photograph; With his interesting face, it was an exchange I think I came out ahead on.

2016

Seen in early morning light, the spectacular Ananda Temple at Bagan is so impressive it is sometimes referred to as the "Westminster Abby of Burma."

Standing along the banks of the Irrawaddy River, and housing four enormous standing Buddhas, each one facing the the cardinal directions of North, South, East and West, the temple is a perfectly dimensioned architectural wonder.

Myanmar - 2018

The sparsely populated, far southern latitudes of Chile largely consist of a virtual labyrinth of fjords and back channels set against pristine Patagonian forests and steep, dark mountains.

2012

Only by squeezing through wet, too-small passageways and navigating around tables dripping with the bounty of the Pacific at 4:30 in the morning, can you gain a real sense for the sprawling textures and pungent alchemy of the Tokyo fish market.

With over 60,000 employees working in a noisy state of choreographed confusion, and offering everything from whale to octopus, the Tsukkji wholesale market is the largest in the world, handling more than $16 million worth of seafood daily, (except Sundays and holidays). Because it occupies extremely valuable real estate near Tokyo's center, it is slated to be relocated, with construction of the new market to be completed by 2016.

2013

As is reflected here, much of Peru’s coast is particularly arid, with only three percent of all the land in the country being arable.

After snagging one good ride out of Lima, hitch-hiking became about as barren as the surroundings, so I ended up having to flag down a bus (from which this photo was taken) to make my way north to the Ecuadorian border.

2016

Quite a few of the storefronts in Paris, such as this chocolate shop on the Left Bank, can be every bit as alluring as the wares within.

2016

Primarily bounded by Sulawesi and the Lesser Sunda Islands, the intoxicatingly blue waters of the Flores Sea provide a living for thousands of fishermen such as this who inhabit small, usually very remote villages along its shores.

Indonesia, 2015

One of the most important gods in the Hindu pantheon, Vishnu is the preserver and guardian of men; He maintains harmony and order in the universe by occasionally appearing in the form of various avatars or incarnations.

Kathmandu, 2019

With the sun in Myanmar (Burma) being rather harsh, most of these colorful parasols more than likely found ready buyers by mid-afternoon.

The word “parasol” comes from the French, “para,” meaning to shield, and “sol,” meaning sun. Hence, parasols are usually meant to protect yourself from sunlight, whereas an umbrella is used to protect against the more moist side of the weather; Both can come in quite handy at various times of the year in Myanmar.

Near Mandalay, 2018

As it has for over 2,600 years, this flawed statue of Pharaoh Taharqa lies abandoned in the sand at the ancient quarry at Tombos in northern Sudan.

Located at the third cataract of the Nile, Tombos was an important granite quarry in the pharaonic era until the annexation of Egypt by the Romans which started in 30 BC.

It is thought that the ten foot tall statue was discarded due to a major flaw encountered during the carving of Pharaoh Taharqa's head.

2018

Komodos are the largest extant species of monitor lizard, growing to around ten feet in length.

Probably a relictual population, Komodos presently live on the Indonesian islands of Flores, Gili Motang, Rinca, and Komodo, the island from which they take their name.

*(Taking this photo was not nearly as daring as it might seem because i had a native fellow standing right there beside me with a ten foot wooden pole ready to whack the hell out of the thing if it made the slightest move towards me.)

Rinca Island, 2015

When most people think of Mongolia, vast grassy steppes and sandy desert expanses like the Gobi come to mind. However, the far west is extremely mountainous, as is illustrated by this photograph.

With Mongolia being the most sparsely populated country in the world, having a population of only about three million people, its West is almost as empty as its wide open areas, interspersed with occasional small farming villages such as this.

Interestingly, although Mongolia does not actually share a border with Kazakhstan, (the countries are separated by a shade over twenty miles), the far West is overwhelmingly inhabited by Kazakhs

August, 2018

Continuing a centuries old tradition of using music to express religious and mystical poetry, this Sikh quartet performs adjacent to the Golden Temple of the Sikhs in Amritsar.

Following this rich tradition, melodic “raags” (or musical frameworks), consisting of at least five notes, are repeated and improvised upon by Sikh musicians, and are thought to have the ability to “color the mind.”

The Punjab, 2019

Under clear blue skies and a light veil of dust, residents of Antsirabe, Madagascar go about their daily business.

Antsirabe is located in the central highlands of the island, and is known for its French colonial buildings, thermal hot-springs, and cool climate.

Despite its pleasant locale, with Madagascar being one of the few countries in the world which became poorer between 1960 and 2010* (when measured by per capita income), most of the people of Antsirabe struggle to eke out a decent living.

*(From; The Economist, May 12th, 2018 issue.)

2013

The pristine beaches of Panama’s San Blas Islands, match pretty much any in the world for shear perfection. Only about three decades ago, the islands remained relatively untouched, so much so that coconuts were the main currency.

Today, however, while still strikingly beautiful, the San Blas are threatened by too much tourism, not to mention the fact that due to global warming, the islands could be rendered uninhabitable in the latter part of this century by sea level rise.

2016

With a sunrise brilliantly backlighting the ripples on a lake high in the Andes, this flamingo gracefully moved along the water’s edge.

Northeastern Chile, 2024

On Bali, cockfighting is more than a mere pastime; it is something approaching an obsession, part of the very fabric of the island.

Prior to a cockfight, or "Tajen" in central Bali, this owner holds his rooster up for inspection while seemingly chaotic betting goes on among well over two hundred uproarious spectators. Once the wagers have been placed, the crowd starts a rising, pulse-quickening chant, as the owners of the gamecocks repeatedly thrust the razor packing roosters at one another. As the rhythm builds to a crescendo, the two birds are let go into a feathered maelstrom lasting only a few seconds to, occasionally, a few minutes. Frequently, to the delight of at least those in the crowd who bet on the winner, the victorious rooster will stand atop the bloodied body of the loser and crow.

In a true "winner take all" proposition; Aside from getting a sizable share of the bets, the owner of the winning gamecock takes the loser home for dinner that night. (As the only Westerner there, I was at the same time repulsed by the brutal nature of the event, and undeniably fascinated by its astonishing cultural popularity.)

Central Bali, 2015

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During a break on the way down from making a summit just after dawn, “high” in the Alps takes on something of a double entendre as Alois Viehover revels in the pure joy of a climb.

Italy - 2014

In the amazingly crowded, polluted, dilapidated - yet thoroughly fascinating - streets which make up the labyrinth of Old Delhi, vendors, pedestrians and pedi-cabs navigate around one another in a somehow wonderful collage of humankind.

Dating from 1639, Old Delhi is a walled part of Delhi; it was the capital of the Mughal Empire until 1857 when the British Raj became the dominant power in India.

 - 2017

"Nothing in the world is permanent, and we're foolish when we ask anything to last, but surely we're still more foolish not to take delight in it while we have it." - Somerset Maugham

For fleeting moments, this acacia, high on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, was perfectly framed by the delightful colors of a rapidly dwindling sun.

Tanzania, 2007