Macro Monday: Golden Eagle

Sometimes, to get interesting macro shots, you have to be brave enough to ask if it is ok to take pictures (or brave enough to get yelled at, but in this case we asked permission). While on out trip we went to the mountains one day and encountered a man with a golden eagle.

I thought I might get yelled at if I tried to take any pictures at all, let alone macros.

But to our surprise the man was totally ok with me taking macros when we asked (it also helps greatly when your wife speaks the local language really well!)

Though it made me a little nervous to be taking pictures from about 6 inches away :-)

We did try to get a picture of his head (her head?) but the eagle was not so keen on the camera being so close to his face.

Photos taken with a Canon T2i with a manual 50mm lens reversed for better macro. 

Copyright Josh Destree, please do not use without permission

If you would ever like a print of any of my photos, please just contact me :-)

Reunion with Home

At the end of our trip we had the privilege to go and visit the city in Kazakhstan where Rachel grew up for about 9 years as a kid. Though I (Josh) visited together with her before, it was quite a long time ago and before we were married, so it was really special to go back.

 One highlight for Rachel was to be the first in her family to ride the new metro! Why this is so significant?? Because when Rachel's family first moved there (when she was 9) the city was talking and planning on building it. Now it is a reality!

 

A slightly less significant experience was for me (Josh) to try Rachel's favorite childhood soda (which apparently made her and her friends very hyper).

One day we got to go up to the mountains just south of town. Here was a view of their big ice skating rink.

The mountains were absolutely beautiful.

On another night we visited some friends of Rachel's who owned a restaurant. Kazakhs are known for their hospitality and feeding you until you are stuffed -- this was no exception!

After we couldn't eat another bite, they took us to a friend's place where we could try a local specialty - Kumis and Shubat.

For those who don't know, that is fermented mare's milk and fermented camel's milk, respectively. I may have been a little less excited to try it than this picture implies.

The inside of a traditional yurt.

And last, but not least, we got to make a quick trip on a very rainy day to see Rachel's old home!

Yay!

Macro Monday: Tasty Goodness

So this week's Macro Monday is a little different than normal. While on our trip I volunteered to try my hand at taking pictures for a bakery of their products. Here are a few of my favorites.

Their top-selling item is their cupcakes (which are really tasty!). They would bake cupcakes all morning and through lunch and then sell out in an hour or two in the afternoon!

Mmm, chocolate...

Also tasty cookies :-)

and cake

Photos taken with a Canon T2i with a manual 50mm lens reversed for better macro. 

Copyright Josh Destree, please do not use without permission

If you would ever like a print of any of my photos, please just contact me :-)

A Day in the Mountains

One day during our trip west, we got to go on a hike in the mountains.

There were several yurts!

 It was a misty, rainy day, but it cleared up just enough to have some really beautiful views.

The hills were just becoming green.

At one point in the hike, we found several scarecrows (or so we assume) on the fence. The only thing is, I am not sure what they were supposed to be scaring (as there were no crops being grown).

But they made good pictures. :-)

Horses were running and playing in the meadow.

 

Macro Monday: Mountain Flowers

On our recent trip we got to go hiking in the mountains just outside the city. It was really fun because it reminded us so much of Colorado. While on the hike I took some pictures of a couple of the flowers we saw. As usual, I don't know what either kind is called :-)

 These were tiny tiny white flowers near the top of one of the hills we climbed to the top of.

Photos taken with a Canon T2i with a manual 50mm lens reversed for better macro. 

Copyright Josh Destree, please do not use without permission

If you would ever like a print of any of my photos, please just contact me :-)