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Moroccan Bar

If ever there was an easy/fun assignment for a photographer, it's Epcot Center in Orlando Florida. You can simply walk around the pavilions and bring home shots from around the world. Here I was standing at the entrance to the Moroccan restaurant after dinner as I captured the activity behind the bar. The employees of Epcot are called cast members, they dress in wardrobe and take on roles of the culture they represent, which isn't too much of a stretch since they are required to be from each country. So why hire models and dress them up in wardrobe when you can simply pay the price of admission and have more models than you could ever photograph in a day? That was a rhetorical question, no need to answer.

If ever there was an easy/fun assignment for a photographer, it’s Epcot Center in Orlando Florida. You can simply walk around the pavilions and bring home shots from around the world. Here I was standing at the entrance to the Moroccan restaurant after dinner as I captured the activity behind the bar. The employees of Epcot are called cast members, they dress in wardrobe and take on roles of the culture they represent, which isn’t too much of a stretch since they are required to be from each country. So why hire models and dress them up in wardrobe when you can simply pay the price of admission and have more models than you could ever photograph in a day? That was a rhetorical question, no need to answer.

Non-rhetorical prints sold here

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Cactus Club Cafe

If ever there was a monopoly on chic, it’s Cactus Club Cafe in Vancouver. There are several around the city in only the coolest locations. I’ve eaten at about three of them including this one. The food is phenomenal and the cocktails are so cool they don’t need ice. When you eat there you end up watching everyone else as everyone else is watching everyone else. Many many years ago someone once told me I look like Bono of U2. I don’t really, I just have that same little cleft on my chin. So anyway, I really do owe it to his fans to show up at this restaurant with some oversized sun glasses. I just need to work a little on that Irish accent and before you know it I’ll be watching myself on TMZ.

If ever there was a monopoly on chic, it's Cactus Club Cafe in Vancouver. There are several around the city in only the coolest locations. I've eaten at about three of them including this one. The food is phenomenal and the cocktails are so cool they don't need ice. When you eat there you end up watching everyone else as everyone else is watching everyone else. Many many years ago someone once told me I look like Bono of U2. I don't really, I just have that same little cleft on my chin. So anyway, I really do owe it to his fans to show up at this restaurant with some oversized sun glasses. I just need to work a little on that Irish accent and before you know it I'll be watching myself on TMZ.

Follow link to obtain a print of this photo.

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Quiet Corner of the Castle

This is a piano I found in a corner of the Scottish castle otherwise known as the Banff Springs Hotel, in Banff Alberta. When I was there I took quite a few photos of the place which is a small measure of how impressed I was by the ambiance and architecture. If anyone ever invents a time machine, this is the place I’d like to visit fifty or a hundred years ago. From the looks of the furnishings I’d think little has changed, it’s as though the place was cut right out of a movie set and a playground for the rich and famous. Perhaps the only difference now is that people like me, not so rich and famous, can wander the halls and get lost in reverie and imagination.

This is a piano I found in a corner of the Scottish castle otherwise known as the Banff Springs Hotel, in Banff Alberta. When I was there I took quite a few photos of the place which is a small measure of how impressed I was by the ambiance and architecture. If anyone ever invents a time machine, this is the place I'd like to visit fifty or a hundred years ago. From the looks of the furnishings I'd think little has changed, it's as though the place was cut right out of a movie set and a playground for the rich and famous. Perhaps the only difference now is that people like me, not so rich and famous, can wander the halls and get lost in reverie and imagination.

Follow link to obtain a limited edition print of this photo.

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Rundle Lounge

No trip to Banff in Alberta Canada is complete without a visit to the Banff Springs Hotel. This is the Rundle Lounge where I imagine many VIPs have sat and discussed, well whatever VIPs discuss. My musings aside, the grandeur of the place is enhanced by the Canadian Rockies just outside. I took this early in the morning before it was crowded, but later that day a Royal Canadian Mountie in a red uniform and wide brim hat was in the lounge talking to some children. The children were wide eyed and I too was a little impressed. What a nice gesture to have these legendary officers come here and mingle with the guest and pass on a little legendary Canadian hospitality.

No trip to Banff in Alberta Canada is complete without a visit to the Banff Springs Hotel. I was there this summer and so availed myself with camera in hand. It's patterned after a Scottish castle and the interior exudes old world charm and architecture. This is the Rundle Lounge where I imagine many VIPs have sat and discussed, well whatever they discussed. My musings aside, the elegance and grandeur of the place is enhanced by the majestic Canadian Rockies just outside. I took this early in the morning before it was crowded, but later that day a Royal Canadian Mountie in a red uniform and wide brim hat was in the lounge talking to some children. The children were wide eyed and I too was a little impressed. What a nice gesture to have these legendary officers come here and mingle with the guest and pass on a little legendary Canadian hospitality.

Follow link to obtain a limited edition print of this photo.

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Elevator Sunset

In addition to photography I’ve worked in IT for quite a while. That takes me into a lot of big buildings and, a lot of elevators. This is a wild guess but I’d imagine I’ve taken about one hundred thousand elevator rides in my career. What’s a guy to do when the vending machines are four floors down, but I digress. Not one of those rides prepared me for the elevator on a cruise ship called The Jewel of the Seas, which as you can see, rises above the ocean. In fact there are two banks of elevators midship, one that faces out and one that faces in. I found myself waiting for an elevator facing out just so that I could see the ocean as I ascended. On the final day of my trip I snapped this at around sunset. Then, put my camera away and headed for the buffet.

In addition to photography I've worked in IT for quite a while. That takes me into a lot of big buildings and, a lot of elevators. This is a wild guess but I'd imagine I've taken about one hundred thousand elevator rides in my career. What's a guy to do when the vending machines are four floors down, but I digress. Not one of those rides prepared me for the elevator on a cruise ship called The Jewel of the Seas, which as you can see, rises above the ocean. In fact there are two banks of elevators midship, one that faces out and one that faces in. I found myself waiting for an elevator facing out just so that I could see the ocean as I ascended. On the final day of my trip I snapped this at around sunset as I headed up to the buffet, never-mind it was only one flight up and the stairs where quicker.

Follow link to obtain a limited edition print of this photo.

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Residence Inn Lobby

This is the lobby of the Residence Inn in Vancouver. I only stayed here once but my first impression was that “it’s not your father’s” Residence Inn. Apparently it was recently renovated and the rooms where all state of the art, very clean and modern. Late one night when I came in from a photo walk I took this while the lobby was empty. I think I caught the hotel manager by surprise as I setup my tripod. In any case, once I got the picture I headed up to my room to use the state of the art microwave to make a bag of popcorn.
This is the lobby of the Residence Inn in Vancouver. I only stayed here once but my first impression was that
Follow link to obtain a limited edition print of this photo.