I Fly Nonstop » photo

Photo of the Week: Matsumoto Castle

Jamie Kerr — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:13:54 +0000

Our Photo of the Week hails from a destination very near to Tokyo. Built in 1504, the Matsumoto Castle is listed as a National Treasure of Japan. Located in the Nagano Prefecture, it is only a short trip from Tokyo. Sometimes referred to as “Crow Castle” for its dark coloring and because its roofs look similar to spreading wings, the Matsumoto Castle was built as a fort during the Sengoku period.

Photo credit: matsumoto castle, ricoeurian

Photo of the Week: Sunset in Bruges, Belgium

Jamie Kerr — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:02:45 +0000

Our photo of the week highlights an incredible city, only an hour’s train ride from Amsterdam. Like Amsterdam, Bruges, Belgium is a city set in a network of canals. It is often referred to as the “Venice of the North”. Bruges offers beautiful bridges, architecture and culture and is regarded as one of the most romantic towns in Europe. The entire city center is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Pay a visit to this quaint town and find wonderful photo opportunities like this one everywhere you look.

For help planning your trip to Bruges, check out the New York Times Bruges Travel Guide.

Photo credit: Bruges, jiri.

Photo of the Week: Setsubun Bean Festival

Jamie Kerr — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:05:04 +0000

The Japanese don’t traditionally celebrate the Lunar New Year like many other Asian nations. Instead, the Setsubun Festival, or Bean Throwing Festival, falls in sync with the New Year celebrations across the world. Symbolizing the beginning of springtime on February 3rd, Japanese gather at shrines across the country to celebrate Setsubun and catch small gift packages, money in envelopes and beans thrown by priests from the shrine into the crowd. The ceremony is meant to bring good luck for the year to come. The Photo of the Week highlights the roasted beans thrown during the Setsubun ceremony.

Photo credit: mdid on Flickr.

Travel Photography Made Easy

Jamie Kerr — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 18:55:29 +0000

We’ve all experienced relatives returning from trips, excited to invite the family over for a long and excruciating three hours of photo sharing. You stare at images of grandpa and grandma standing in front of endless monuments, statues, signs, etc. with the same expressions and same composition making up each photograph. While most travelers own a digital camera, few know how to compose photos that will create memorable and interesting photographs to commemorate their travels. Here are a few travel photography tips for even the most amateur of photographers. Learn how to take photos on your travels that won’t bore your relatives.

Use a flexible tripod like GorillaPod to allow for self-portraits and great movement shots. The GorillaPod’s flexible arms can bend and shape to any position to make a solid tripod stand, or even grasp onto a railing or handle.

It’s all about composure: Make even the most cliché shots interesting. Find a new angle to shoot the Eiffel Tower, take the photo at dawn or dusk or spice up the photo/color settings. Some photographers use the ‘Rule of Thirds’. Turn the grid view on, and you will be able to see the photo divided into nine equal sections, resembling a tic-tac-toe board. Align focal points on these lines and their intersections. Under the Rule of Thirds, the sky or foreground of the shot should either take up 1/3 or 2/3 of the photo, but not 50%.

The art of the candid: Try not to stage candid shots! Photos that are prefaced with, “Pretend you’re finding shells on the beach!” or something similar usually do not look natural. Try to snap candid shots of interesting moments, specifically faces and expressions when they are happening organically.

Don’t be afraid to get the angle: Get on the ground when needed to shoot from below your subject, or climb a tower and take a shot from above. These new, unexpected perspectives will make your photos exciting.

Use the macro focus: Shooting objects up close using the macro setting with a slightly out of focus background creates interesting shots that allow you to focus in on the details.

Play with color: Many digital cameras are equipped with a setting that allows you to select one color to appear with a black and white background. Play with these settings and shoot things that are vividly colored with a black and white background for interesting highlights.

Capture the culture: The most fascinating travel photos often depict local people and culture. Try to capture moments that reflect the traditions and people of the places you visit.

Edit your photos: Choose several of the best photos from your travels and doctor them up. Don’t be afraid to boost the color, sharpen the lines, or increase the contrast. Edit the best photos that you are the most proud of and show only the best collection to relatives.

So take your digital camera, get out there and start shooting. You (and your relatives) will enjoy looking at these photos for years to come.

Photo Credits: Catedral de Santiago – Bilbao, pulguita; Macro Flor, anieto2k; Lion, nick@; African orphans making their own footballs, Linz_Ellinas,

Photo Diary: Welcome Spring

Jamie Kerr — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 16:54:28 +0000

Yes, it is February, so why are we talking about spring’s arrival? It may be hard to imagine, but blossoming tulips and cherry blossoms are just around the corner in our favorite nonstop destinations, and Amsterdam and Tokyo are preparing for the colorful delights that spring brings. Tokyo’s cherry blossom festivals occur in April, but in Okinawa, the celebrations have already started. Unlike Tokyo, the cherry blossoms in Okinawa are a vibrant pink and blossom in late January to early February. In Amsterdam, the Keukenhof is known as one of Europe’s most spectacular attractions. It is the largest bulb flower park in the world, housing more than 4.5 million tulips. The park open on March 24 this year. Portland is famous for its roses, and the Pittock Mansion overlooking downtown is one of many ideal locations to look at the city’s stunning display of roses.

Photo credits: Okinawa Cherry Blossoms, Okinawa Steve; Pittock Mansion, Mike Krzeszak; Keukenhof, Patrick

Photo Diary: Rivers

Jamie Kerr — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 19:15:02 +0000

While Amsterdam, Portland and Tokyo have various cultural differences, a common geographical feature is their access to water. Amsterdam was named after the Amstel River, which runs through the heart of the city. Tokyo has multiple rivers, but the Meguro River is particularly famous as a destination to view the blossoming cherry trees during Hanami. The Willamette River divides Portland from east to west and has a double role as a commercial center and recreational outlet for water sport enthusiasts.

Photo credits: Amstel River, La Chiquita; Willamette River, Stuart Seeger; Meguro River, Toshihiro Oimatsu

Photo Diary: Winter

Jamie Kerr — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 16:37:48 +0000

Snow falls, the wind blows and lights twinkle when winter comes to Amsterdam, Portland and Tokyo. While all three cities have fairly mild winters, they each receive a makeover when snow makes an appearance. In Amsterdam, bikes find parking wherever they can (even if it means on top of each other); Portlanders leave the car at home and dust off their cross country skies, and in Tokyo, locals leave prayers for family and loved ones at shrines, like the Yushima Tenmangu.

Photo credits: Dutch bike, Jos van Zetten; Portland cross country skiiers, Kristin Wolff; Yushima Tenmangu, ptrktn

Photo Diary: Happy Halloween!

Jamie Kerr — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 15:00:16 +0000

The ghouls are out for another year of spooks, frights and sugar rushes. How do Portland, Amsterdam and Tokyo decorate for Halloween?

Photo credits: Jack O’Lanterns, Ghostfaces, Devil Toy

Photo Diary: Marathons

Jamie Kerr — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 15:30:49 +0000

The upcoming Portland Marathon and Amsterdam Marathon inspired our photo diary today. Whether you are a runner or observer, these incredible athletes may inspire you to get out and try out your own running routes. We have already done some leg work for you (pun somewhat intended) and have recommendations in each of the cities.

Photo credits: Amsterdam Marathon, Kai Hendry; Portland Marathon, Minette Layne; Tokyo Marathon, Kallu

Photo Diary: Hotels

Jamie Kerr — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 22:55:41 +0000

The ultimate vacation would not be complete without the perfectly matched hotel. Amsterdam’s design culture is well capture at the Lloyd Hotel Amsterdam. The rooms vary from 1-5 star rating and feature works of art from local and international artists. One of Portland’s newest hotels has won attention from luxury and eco-conscious publications for its urban, eco-chic style. Positioned in the heart of downtown, The Nines Hotel is close to shopping, a variety of restaurants and food carts, and walking distance to cultural venues such as the Oregon Symphony, the Dolores Winningstad Theater and the Portland Art Museum. The Tokyo Bay Hotel Tokyu is a partnering hotel with Tokyo Disney Resort. Whether you are traveling for a family vacation or a romantic getaway for two, the Tokyo Bay offers amenities appropriate for any occasion.