2018 Calendar

Announcing my 2018 photography calendar filled with landscape and travel imagery to inspire you to travel around the world. You can now purchase it for just $16.99 from Lulu.

From the Pacific coast of the US to the Pacific coast of Asia, this calendar will take you on a journey from mystic Japan, through the rugged mountains and ancient civilizations of Central Asia, the Arabian splendor of Morocco and the diverse landscapes of the US.

And remember, this calendar is for a good cause - all proceeds will get donated to NRDC and WildAid.

When the planet's ecology is facing multiple threats, be it climate change, wildlife exploitation and poaching, pollution, we need a protector, and NRDC works tirelessly to safeguard the place we live. I truly believe in its mission to protect our planet.

Illegal wildlife trade has had a serious impact on the populations of many endangered species. While there are efforts to curb poaching, WildAid believes in attacking the demand side of the equation by persuading consumers and strengthening enforcement. I do hope that they succeed in their mission.

Sky's Necklace

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As dusk turned to twilight and to night, the varied hues on the sand dunes of the Sahara Desert slowly faded away, and the starscape slowly came into view. First, it was only the brightest stars and the well-recognizable constellations, but soon, even the faintest ones started twinkling, a kaleidoscope of white glitter against a black carpet.

And with that, the faint band of the Milky Way became visible. Arching across the sky towards the north, the Sky's Necklace was less brighter than what I had been used to back in California, yet it was prominent in its march across the starscape. It was still high up in the sky, thwarting any meaningful attempt at photographing it.

I waited for a few more hours, until the crackle of the campfire slowly died down and voices of the denizens of the Berber campsite faded away. This time, the bright arch of the galactic plane was closer to the horizon, and unfortunately, also closer to the bright lights from cities a few dozen kilometers away. Nevertheless, I persisted and captured this image during the dark hours of midnight, feeling the cold wind in my face, and freezing sand on my feet.

Microsoft's Image Composite Editor did a fantastic job with the panoramic stitch, whilst Photoshop helped transform the result into the glorious scene I witnessed that night out on the dunes of Morocco

Erg Chebbi Dunes
Morocco