Snow Birds Bring Good Luck - Los Angeles Fine Art Photographer

Out of all the possible dates/seasons, we headed into Yellowstone National Park when the biggest snow storm of decades descended in the area. For such reason, nothing ordinary remains that way anymore. To us, it means much more room on the canvas to flex our creative muscles.

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While at Canary Spring, my favorite elements were there for me to play with - the snow, the geothermal features, and… And, it must be our lucky day. On the day when the temperatures plummeted deep down in the negative zone, complicated by heavy snow fall which allows close to zero visibility, we met a small bird. This encounter reminds me of a time almost one year ago in Japan, when birds and snow brought me such joy and, consequently, much luck in an international photography contest. I now understand why yuki* (Japanese for snow 雪 ) has a special place in Japanese people’s hearts.

Small-Bird-in-Snow-Canary-Spring-Yellowstone-National-Park-USA-Copyright-Jean-Huang-Photography

As to the bird’s name? My first impression when I heard was that it’s such a serious name. And for me, serious and creative do not co-exist very well. By the time I was done creating, I forgot the name. Now, I feel lucky, but guilty. :P

* Yuki (幸) also has the meaning of happiness.

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I Thought You Are a Film Star - Los Angeles Travel Photographer

Upon arrival at the Long Island Farm, we were greeted by a well-outfitted gentleman, in his British accent.  His name is John, a friend of the farm owners Glenda and Neil.  He's helping with the guests.  He also, on a frequent basis, gives presentation about Falkland Islands' life, culture and history.  

After a short conversation, he asked "what do you do for a living?"  Before I had the chance to answer, he apologized.  I explained that's how we Americans would ask too and we quickly went on to the programs ahead.  

Time slipped by fast and after tea and sheep and horses, it's time to say good-bye.  The last thing that John said to me was "I thought you are a film star".  It took me a while to realize what he said, after translating from British to American English.  I guess, in a way, we all are the star in a movie called "My Life".:-)

In this image, Paul, the son of Glenda and Neil, was shearing the sheep which are set wild during the year and only came back (with the help of the dog, I'm sure) for shearing.  He made it seem so easy and it feels so poetic to me.  Oh, by the way, Paul is also a sergeant in the army.  It reminds me the old days when people were not as specialized and were a lot more dexterous.     

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We Happened Upon Paradise on Earth - Los Angeles Travel Photographer

It's been known that we love traveling and do travel a lot.  The question that we get the most is where our favorite city/country is.  Our honest answer has been that there is no one favorite.  All those countries and cities that we (personally selected to) travel to bring so much in terms of culture, personal interactions and unique architecture/landscape/sceneries.  We love them all and have considered retiring in more than one country. :-)

As our taste has grown increasingly "wild", our trips have taken us further and further away from the so-called "beaten paths".  Towards the end of our last trip in Italy, the winding road with hairpin turns one after another lead us onto the little village of Castelluccio di Norcia.  Perched at 1,452 meters' altitude, it is the highest settlement in the Apennine Mountains.

The village has roughly 150 residents and given the special geographic condition, the people here have cultivated lentils for generations.  Despite that it was still early for lentil flowers (or most any flowers) to carpet the "Great Plain" (Piano Grande) underneath it, I knew I was in for a treat when my eyes met these painterly mountains and the grazing animals that don't even care whether we were there. :-)

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