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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Early Morning in Sydney

Daily Photo – Early Morning in Sydney

I can’t remember if I was up late, or up early on this day but whatever the case it was worth the effort!

Early Morning in Sydney

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2012-09-25 16:50:09
  • CameraNIKON D800
  • Camera MakeNikon
  • Exposure Time1/125
  • Aperture8
  • ISO100
  • Focal Length28.0 mm
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
  • Exposure Bias

Machine Elf #132 – The Organic Inorganic

Join me on this musical and visual meditation as we explore a complicated array of fractals that end up making a strange amount of organic sense. These complex and often intricate patterns unfold and evolve in seemingly infinite ways, yet somehow manage to evoke a feeling of organic coherence. Through the blending of sound and visuals, this experience aims to provide a soothing escape from the chaos of daily life, allowing you to relax and unwind in a realm of enchanting beauty.

As you embark on this journey, allow the harmonious blend of carefully crafted melodies and atmospheric soundscapes to wash over you, creating an enveloping sonic landscape that resonates deep within your soul. This auditory experience, seamlessly interwoven with the stunning visuals, takes you on an explorative adventure through the depths of fractal patterns, revealing their hidden intricacies and remarkable symmetry.

The fractals themselves, though seemingly complex, manage to maintain an underlying sense of order and familiarity, providing a comforting sense of balance amidst their captivating beauty. These patterns mimic the natural world, drawing parallels with the spiral of a seashell, the branches of a tree, or the veins in a leaf, evoking a sense of wonder and awe at the interconnectedness of all things.

As you venture further into this meditative realm, allow yourself to be fully absorbed by the experience, letting go of stress and tension as you become one with the intricate dance of colors and shapes. The soothing visuals, paired with the calming soundtrack, are designed to transport you into a state of deep relaxation and tranquility, offering a much-needed respite from the challenges of everyday life.

So take a deep breath, let go of your worries, and lose yourself in the enchanting world of musical and visual meditation.

The Book Club

Daily Photo – The Book Club

Here’s Baba Yaga’s Book Club by Jessi Sprocket Janusee. I’ve always said you can’t have a book club in the desert without some robotic chicken legs holding it up and it seems I was right…

The Book Club

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2018-08-29 15:15:55
  • CameraILCE-7RM3
  • Camera MakeSony
  • Exposure Time4
  • Aperture5
  • ISO200
  • Focal Length24.0 mm
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramManual
  • Exposure Bias

The Blacksmith in Osaka

Daily Photo – The Blacksmith in Osaka

I spent a few hours here watching this blacksmith craft a few different knives and swords. I had a translator with me and asked him a ton of questions. I’m an amateur blacksmith myself, and, by that, I mean I only perform blacksmithery in role-playing video games. I tried to explain this to him and he was so confused. Finally he understood and laughed the loudest laugh I have ever heard! And then I got the international high-five and that made me feel better. Just one of the many awesome people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting in Japan.

The Blacksmith in Osaka

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2017-11-10 07:33:36
  • CameraILCE-7RM2
  • Camera MakeSony
  • Exposure Time1/50
  • Aperture6.3
  • ISO3200
  • Focal Length12.0 mm
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramManual
  • Exposure Bias

The Long Mix

Machine Elf Long Mix #1 – Music and Visuals | Scumfrog & Trey Ratcliff

Welcome to the evolved Machine Elf Long Mixes, a groundbreaking audiovisual experience that transcends the usual YouTube party mix… Delve into a mesmerizing fusion of styles, including psychedelic journeys, good ol’ fashioned parties, acid tunes, and mushroom beats, all intricately woven with some of the most mesmerizing visual meditations you’ve ever seen. Immerse yourself in chillstep, spiritual awakenings, and consciousness expansions as these mixes guide you through the hypnotic realms of DMT soundscapes, shamanic rhythms, and cosmic frequencies.

Enjoy the show alone, with a few loved ones, or a bigger group to spread the love.

Each Machine Elf Long Mix is a captivating adventure, where cutting-edge music production meets awe-inspiring visuals that flow seamlessly together. The breathtaking artistry and innovative animations elevate the music, creating an immersive experience that transports you to a new dimension of sensory exploration. Unleash your imagination and embark on a journey of self-discovery with the evolved Machine Elf Long Mixes – the ultimate fusion of music, art, and consciousness.

Music from The Scumfrong – Full Moon at the Lagoon

Over Manarola

Daily Photo – Over Manarola

You are not really supposed to use your drone here, but I am also the kind of person that likes to break the rules if I don’t really feel like it’s that big of a deal. I know… that’s the mind of an artist. Also, what’s the downside? There is no prison in Cinque Terre! I think…

Over Manarola

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2017-05-02 18:30:40
  • CameraFC6310
  • Camera MakeDJI
  • Exposure Time1/100
  • Aperture4
  • ISO100
  • Focal Length8.8 mm
  • FlashNo flash function
  • Exposure ProgramProgram AE
  • Exposure Bias

Machine Elf #125 – Negative Entropy

I’ve always been captivated by the ceaseless struggle between chaos and harmony in systems, particularly in the biological realm where DNA orchestrates the battleground for these opposing forces. This intricate mathematical fractal delves into the emergence of life across different scales. Accompanying it is music by Tipper, an artist I discovered during my time at Burning Man. One morning, while navigating a disoriented walk to the portable restroom with lingering traces of LSD in my system, I stumbled upon a camp featuring a massive airplane structure with speakers as its jet engines. A solitary DJ atop the structure played this very song. With no one else on the makeshift dancefloor, I stood there in my underwear, absorbed in the music and visualizing an array of images reminiscent of this fractal.

Music: Dreamstars by Tipper

The Vastness of Virgin Gorda

Daily Photo – The Vastness of Virgin Gorda

I know that photographers generally are especially mindful of things and scenes around them, and I wonder if landscape photographers are especially mindful of clouds. I look at them like a Native American preparing for a reaping of the maize. I’ve really come to understand and respect a wide variety of cloud patterns, even though there are a few configurations and situations that evade me. I really enjoy being able to predict cloud patterns for the next several hours. I’m not always right, but it is a fun game to play with myself.

These humid, windy skies in Virgin Gorda made for a tumultuous tableau. Everything would change quite quickly, so it was harder to predict several hours away. But I did have a good feeling about this time in particular…I kept a few of the islands in the bottom of the frame so you could get a sense of perspective to see how huge the clouds actually were.

The Vastness of Virgin Gorda

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2012-05-10 19:10:23
  • CameraNIKON D800
  • Camera MakeNikon
  • Exposure Time1/1000
  • Aperture4
  • ISO100
  • Focal Length17.0 mm
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
  • Exposure Bias

Above The Rivers of Laser Fire

Daily Photo – Above The Rivers of Laser Fire

One night my friend Rene and I were atop a skyscraper in Dubai and we stayed as long as we could. There was this one Quite Precarious Spot on the corner of the building… I got over there, and this was my final shot for the evening. It’s always a good idea to stay just that little bit longer than you might need 🙂

Above The Rivers of Laser Fire

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2015-03-17 23:05:42
  • CameraILCE-7R
  • Camera MakeSony
  • Exposure Time1.3
  • Aperture4
  • ISO125
  • Focal Length19.0 mm
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
  • Exposure Bias

Storm Temple

Daily Photo – Storm Temple

This was one of those strange weather situations where there was a broiling cloud over the perfectly sunlight temple. This scene only lasted for a few moments before the downpour hit. And, lesson learned: You gotta get back to your camp before the rain arrives. The mud gets incredibly thick and gums up your bike and boots, making any significant movement almost impossible.

Storm Temple

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2012-08-31 16:39:39
  • CameraTG-820
  • Camera MakeOlympus
  • Exposure Time1/160
  • Aperture11
  • ISO100
  • Focal Length5.0 mm
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramCreative (Slow speed)
  • Exposure Bias