Stuck in Customs – Trey Ratcliff's Travel Photography blog with daily inspiration to motivate you!

Stuck In Customs

My daily travel blog to inspire and get you motivated!

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I’m on Meta’s new platform on the @treyratcliff account where I’ll be sharing my photos, wisdom and just randomness that passes through my brain. If you’re on there, I’d love a follow. If you’re not, come play… 🙂

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Light in the Mosque

Daily Photo – Light in the Mosque

I was at the main mosque in Abu Dhabi for about four hours before I eventually came to the Very-Obvious-In-Retrospect idea, hey I can actually go INSIDE. As with most mosques, there is a tremendous number of shots from the outside and the courtyards. But you can go inside most of them anytime (as long as it’s not during the call to prayer). Just slip off your shoes and go inside for a wander! I’ve never had any issues at all… in fact the exact opposite, the people inside have always been super welcoming!

Light in the Mosque

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2016-02-12 15:19:10
  • CameraH5D
  • Camera MakeHasselblad
  • Exposure Time2.5
  • Aperture16
  • ISO200
  • Focal Length28.0 mm
  • Flash
  • Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
  • Exposure Bias

By the River in Porto

Daily Photo – By the River in Porto

I think this might be the most underrated city in Europe! Most people that go to Portugal only hit Lisbon, which is great indeed, but this little gem is only a few hours north. It’s where I began my 100km hike on the Camino de Santiago. I spent about a week here exploring the city, having a ton of amazing food, and taking photos. Even better, the whole place was very inexpensive. It’s a great destination and I could not recommend it more, so definitely split any time you have between Lisbon and here. 🙂

By the River in Porto

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2017-04-25 21:10:42
  • CameraX1D
  • Camera MakeHasselblad
  • Exposure Time8
  • Aperture4
  • ISO100
  • Focal Length30.0 mm
  • Flash
  • Exposure ProgramManual
  • Exposure Bias

The Long and Curvy Road Around Iceland

Daily Photo – The Long and Curvy Road Around Iceland

It’s not always a mad sunrise or sunset in Iceland… occasionally things are moody too weather wise. I love that aspect too! That and they have some of the greatest winding roads to drive on. So much more fun that some long, straight road.

The Long and Curvy Road Around Iceland

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2010-06-13 22:23:06
  • CameraNIKON D3X
  • Camera MakeNikon
  • Exposure Time0.7
  • Aperture11
  • ISO400
  • Focal Length62.0 mm
  • FlashNo Flash
  • Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
  • Exposure Bias+2

More Than One Reason to Visit Dunedin

Daily Photo – More Than One Reason to Visit Dunedin

I was lucky enough to stay on St. Claire’s beach in Dunedin for a few nights. Each morning had a different sort of sunrise. This was one of my favorites. I was out there pretty much all the time, with my camera fully loaded and ready to go! Beautiful mornings like this are so serene, but my serenity is often a bit challenged with trying to get as many interesting photos as possible. Another challenge is getting the quadcopter ready as well. If it’s a great morning like this, then I want to get more than just ground-based photos.

Also, fun fact, Baldwin Street in Dunedin is the steepest residential street in the world… one section is so steep it had to be made from concrete as normal road surfaces on a sweltering day would become unstable and start to melt down the hill.

More Than One Reason to Visit Dunedin

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2016-04-05 19:55:33
  • CameraH5D
  • Camera MakeHasselblad
  • Exposure Time0.4
  • Aperture11
  • ISO100
  • Focal Length35.0 mm
  • Flash
  • Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
  • Exposure Bias

The Valley of Fire

Daily Photo – The Valley of Fire

Is this place hot?

Yes.

Did I dump a bottle of water on my head every 15 minutes?

Yes.

Was I completely dry for 14 minutes between each dumping?

Yes.

The Valley of Fire

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2013-08-18 02:37:21
  • CameraNEX-7
  • Camera MakeSony
  • Exposure Time4
  • Aperture22
  • ISO100
  • Focal Length10.0 mm
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
  • Exposure Bias

The Less Visited Parts of The Wall

Daily Photo – The Less Visited Parts of The Wall

Some of the places I visited on this ancient, original stretch of the Great Wall were almost too covered in vegetation to navigate. Thick conifers and strange plants would block this way and that. I listened to music as I explored and that made everything even more surreal. It was fascinating to see just how different the sections were to the more pristine, touristy areas.

The Less Visited Parts of The Wall

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2011-09-24 23:01:09
  • CameraNIKON D3X
  • Camera MakeNikon
  • Exposure Time1/90
  • Aperture13
  • ISO100
  • Focal Length34.0 mm
  • FlashNo Flash
  • Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
  • Exposure Bias+1

Spring Mountains

Daily Photo – Spring Mountains

Choppy landed here by this remote lake for a bit while I jumped out to take photos. It was so fun, and I felt lucky there was a bit of snow up high to give some more colors to the scene.

Spring Mountains

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2013-11-05 05:39:01
  • CameraNEX-7
  • Camera MakeSony
  • Exposure Time1/500
  • Aperture6.3
  • ISO100
  • Focal Length35.0 mm
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
  • Exposure Bias-0.7

What Would You Do At Hobbiton?

Daily Photo – What Would You Do At Hobbiton?

This is my friend Bel doing a bit of impromptu yoga on the Hobbiton Movie Set on the old stone bridge before the watermill. That Bel, doesn’t matter where you are with her there is at least one point in every day where you’ll randomly turn around to find her in some crazy yoga situation!

What Would You Do At Hobbiton?

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2014-05-08 08:45:47
  • CameraILCE-7R
  • Camera MakeSony
  • Exposure Time1/250
  • Aperture7.1
  • ISO800
  • Focal Length24.0 mm
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
  • Exposure Bias-0.3

By the Light of the Cabin

Daily Photo – By the Light of the Cabin

I had a wonderful week here in Montana. I’ve been lucky enough to be invited to this private conference here in Yellowstone a few times now. We get together and talk about science, art, Libertarianism and all sorts… It’s a very cool and interesting collection of people each time. One evening while processing my thoughts I took a walk around the main cabin. The horses come graze all around the meadow in the evening and I finally convinced one of them to stand still for a bit.

By the Light of the Cabin

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2023-05-09 00:52:32
  • CameraNIKON D3X
  • Camera MakeNikon
  • Exposure Time1/4
  • Aperture2.8
  • ISO1600
  • Focal Length17.0 mm
  • FlashNo Flash
  • Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
  • Exposure Bias-1