2012 Deck – Week 14

On April 30, 2012April 30, 2012 By themichaellamcollectionIn 2012 Deck, Photography1 Comment

I am still going through my photos from the 2012 Pakaraima Mountain Safari, there are lots of photos of vehicles and mountains, and I think I’ll save those for my post about the Safari (I really have to get around to that!)

On the way back from Orinduik after a very gruelling drive through “Rock World” we stopped for a breather and for the other vehicles to make it safely through. I think that after making it through Rock World, if you smoke, you need a nice long pull on a cigarette, and if you drink, then you’d probably need a really stiff shot of something or a nice cold beer, and if neither option is available to you, then you need to go find something to just relax your mind and body and say “I’m alive!”

I grabbed my camera after I had gotten my legs to co-operate with general mobility, and went looking for things to shoot 🙂

This image was taken intentionally like this, also in post processing, the contrast slider in Lightroom was used liberally 🙂

As always, click on the image above for a better view in the Gallery 🙂

2012 Deck – Week 13

On April 27, 2012April 27, 2012 By themichaellamcollectionIn 2012 Deck, Photography6 Comments

The thirteenth week of this year found me on the road trail, heading into the Pakaraima mountains towards Orinduik Falls on the Ireng River that borders Guyana and Brazil.

Although I took quite a few photographs, I had not been able to fully go through and process them, this week I did manage to do some narrowing down.

I have lots of photos of mountains and vehicles from the trip, not too many people, but I decided to go against the flow and choose one of a person…

When I took this photo I noticed the “look” in the eyes, Naseem had that Clint Eastwood stare, and with the hat and the general scene I was reminded of the spaghetti westerns.

Its not a Spaghetti Western, maybe we can call it a Macaroni Western, starring The Great N, and we’ll title it “A Neckful of Straps” 🙂 And the catchphrase could be “Mister, I’m watching you, one of these straps has your name on it.” 🙂

Although I was tempted to try for a “Technicolor” processing, I went for a copper-tone instead 🙂 As always, please click on the image to get a better view in the Gallery.

Pakaraima Mountain Safari – Destination Orinduik

On April 6, 2012March 29, 2012 By themichaellamcollectionIn Photography4 Comments

The endpoint or destination of the Pakaraima Mountain Safari is Orinduik Falls, so I thought I’d end this series with one of my favourite photos of the Falls itself.

Orinduik falls is a series of small drops, This is a small portion that I thought was framed nicely.

Hopefully this year I come away with some nice photos again 🙂

In 2009 I was shooting the Canon PowerShot S5 Superzoom bridge camera, it was shortly after this photo (in time and shots) that I fell and damaged the camera. This year, I’m trying for surer footing (maybe my additional weight will help keep me stable as well) 🙂

Since I had damaged my camera, my brother loaned me his Nikon D80, my first shots on an SLR 🙂 I took the liberty of including one with him under the falls 🙂

Pakaraima Mountain Safari – The Great Wall

On April 4, 2012March 29, 2012 By themichaellamcollectionIn Photography4 Comments

Someone apparently likened this section of the trail to the Great Wall of China, and the name Great Wall has been used to identify it since then.

It is probably similar in its winding fashion and the fact that at least one side is a very large drop to the bottom.

This photos does not convey that sense of the steep drop, but trust me, when you’re in that vehicle and you look over the side, vertigo and fear step in 🙂

Pakaraima Mountain Safari – The Falls at Kato

On April 3, 2012March 29, 2012 By themichaellamcollectionIn Photography2 Comments

There’s a place called Kato, that has a Waterfall that’s very beautiful to a traveller, I was so enthralled and excited that I have to admit to taking very lousy photographs of it.

In this photo you can see some of the travellers enjoying the refreshing waters of the falls, this is a short drop, there was a larger one not too far off (not too large though 🙂 )

Pakaraima Mountain Safari – Day three Refuel

On April 2, 2012March 29, 2012 By themichaellamcollectionIn Photography6 Comments

There were various refueling spots on the trail, and one of them was set on a lonely spot just off of Monkey Mountain.

As we were refueling, I took a moment to take a few photos of the scene.

I liked the loneliness of the scene, the discarded fuel drum, the hut and the distant mountains.

Pakaraima Mountain Safari – Sunset on the Second Day

On March 31, 2012March 29, 2012 By themichaellamcollectionIn Photography2 Comments

Our second day of driving on the Safari caught us driving in the night, This sunset was caught as we just ascended a steep climb that only allowed one vehicle at a time.

This was on the way to our destination for the evening, Monkey Mountain.

Pakaraima Mountain Safari – First Glimpse

On March 30, 2012March 29, 2012 By themichaellamcollectionIn Photography2 Comments

I was on the “Safari” in 2009, and I will present a series of images from that trip in the next few blog-posts.

This is an HDR Image of a view from the Oasis at Annai, this is a famous stop along the Lethem Trail, and in the distance you can see the foothills of the Pakaraima Mountains, and the trail that leads through them on the way to Lethem.