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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The Earthly Lines

Daily Photo – The Earthly Lines

The waters went suddenly calm all around the ship and the sky stretched out forever. I had just seen a pod of whales and we were weaving around new areas of the fjords. I knew I was in Alaska then!

The Earthly Lines

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2013-07-19 09:49:21
  • CameraNEX-6
  • Camera MakeSony
  • Exposure Time1/320
  • Aperture10
  • ISO100
  • Focal Length15.0 mm
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
  • Exposure Bias

The Waves of Big Sur

Daily Photo – The Waves of Big Sur

I was doing an old promo video for Smugmug, which is the website that hosts my portfolio. They are a great company and I’ve been a fan for many years. They did a few “promo” videos staring yours truly and this was one of the locations we visited. They would get footage of me looking “cool” with my tripod. I don’t really think I look that cool. I look quite nerdy. But, comfortable with my nerdiness, I think!

The Waves of Big Sur

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2011-04-12 21:20:50
  • CameraNIKON D3X
  • Camera MakeNikon
  • Exposure Time1/250
  • Aperture9.5
  • ISO100
  • Focal Length65.0 mm
  • FlashNo Flash
  • Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
  • Exposure Bias

Machine Elf 123 – Mindpetal Meltpuddles

Immerse yourself in a world of enchantment with my latest 3D visual fractal meditation, an entrancing odyssey that weaves together a tapestry of delicate, soothing hues to gently guide you into uncharted realms of serenity. As you venture into this kaleidoscopic dreamscape, you’ll find your senses delightfully intrigued and your soul stirred by the subtle complexities and harmonies of the colors before you.

To elevate the experience further, this mesmerizing meditation is masterfully synchronized with the captivating, ethereal sounds of Jon Hopkins’ evocative track, “Singing Bowls.” The resonant vibrations and celestial harmonics of this enchanting composition serve as the perfect accompaniment, drawing you deeper into the heart of this visually and aurally stunning journey.

Prepare to be spellbound as you embark on this unexpected odyssey, exploring the bewitching interplay of color and sound, while basking in the therapeutic embrace of this extraordinary 3D fractal meditation.

Reflections of Old China

Daily Photo – Reflections of Old China

I love these old parts of China that could be from almost any period in history. The riverside part of Feng Huang is a bit like this, so it is one of my favorite areas to photograph. Back when I processed this I was looking forward to returning and re-imagining these places with new equipment but as much as I’d like to return, as of the writing of this in 2023, I have no real desire to go back to China any time soon. After going there about a dozen times, I see it becoming more and more of a draconian system. I worry about everything from political problems to getting in trouble for doing something wrong and being thrown into some bottomless gulag.

Reflections of Old China

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2010-10-07 05:29:31
  • CameraNIKON D3X
  • Camera MakeNikon
  • Exposure Time3
  • Aperture5.6
  • ISO200
  • Focal Length20.0 mm
  • FlashNo Flash
  • Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
  • Exposure Bias+1

Lake Wakatipu in the Late Sun

Daily Photo – Lake Wakatipu in the Late Sun

The colors here go a little crazy when the clouds are in the sky! I’m not sure what it is… I think this very cold lake also does something to the air to make it a bit… thicker… or have more moisture in the air… or something!

Lake Wakatipu in the Late Sun

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2013-01-19 12:09:07
  • CameraNIKON D800
  • Camera MakeNikon
  • Exposure Time1/30
  • Aperture8
  • ISO200
  • Focal Length125.0 mm
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
  • Exposure Bias

Colors and Lines in Venice

Daily Photo – Colors and Lines in Venice

As a little study like project I love mixing together different levels of detail and smoothness in a photo. I think it’s important to have a series of transitions. This one has many transitions, jumping from smooth dull colors to riotous textured colors to bright smooth areas to dull-colored highly textured areas. It’s a fun way to process a photo because it comes out a little different every time, and I’m not ever sure I could re-create this.

Colors and Lines in Venice

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2016-02-08 16:53:17
  • CameraH5D
  • Camera MakeHasselblad
  • Exposure Time1.6
  • Aperture11
  • ISO100
  • Focal Length38.0 mm
  • Flash
  • Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
  • Exposure Bias

There was a Horse Incident

Daily Photo – There was a Horse Incident

This is another quadcopter shot over scenic Waiheke Island. Just seeing these photos makes me want to return! One kind of scary thing happened when I launched the quad here… we were all riding horses, and it spooked one of them. It jumped and shook off my friend David Maxwell. Luckily, he landed on his voluminous hair and all was fine!

There was a Horse Incident

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2016-05-26 12:00:44
  • CameraFC330
  • Camera MakeDJI
  • Exposure Time1/1500
  • Aperture2.8
  • ISO100
  • Focal Length
  • FlashNo flash function
  • Exposure ProgramUnknown (58655)
  • Exposure Bias-0.656

The Lady of the Sands

Daily Photo – The Lady of the Sands

Here’s the first photo I took at Burning Man in 2013, I think, and it’s still one of my favorites. It features a sculpture by Marco Cochrane. When the occasional sandstorms come, a lot of people go take cover, but that’s when I go out to take cool photos! It adds all the depth and mystery that is really there, I think.

The Lady of the Sands

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2013-08-27 08:24:36
  • CameraNEX-6
  • Camera MakeSony
  • Exposure Time1/4000
  • Aperture5.6
  • ISO100
  • Focal Length20.0 mm
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
  • Exposure Bias-1

The Endless Fields of Queenstown

Daily Photo – The Endless Fields of Queenstown

Wandering through the fields one evening, the sunset wouldn’t quit! It just kept going and going… like a painting that changed every few minutes. And a few steps this way and that way would completely change the color situation on the bottom half of the photo. Honestly, there were not many bad combinations!

The Endless Fields of Queenstown

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2013-02-10 11:23:07
  • CameraNIKON D800
  • Camera MakeNikon
  • Exposure Time1/60
  • Aperture16
  • ISO200
  • Focal Length14.0 mm
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
  • Exposure Bias+1

A Carousel in France

Daily Photo – A Carousel in France

It was just past 10 PM on the wet streets of Paris as I was getting lost on purpose around the streets near the Church of the Sacred Heart. I bobbed and weaved through various little alleys, streets, and tiny bakeries (where I would just have to stop for a moment), before finding my way to this little faire. There was a small carousel spinning away with tiny little French children screaming wonderful things…

A Carousel in France

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2023-03-07 16:40:20
  • CameraNIKON D2Xs
  • Camera MakeNikon
  • Exposure Time1/6
  • Aperture4
  • ISO100
  • Focal Length10.0 mm
  • FlashNo Flash
  • Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
  • Exposure Bias