Location: Lebanon

Photograph Copyright Ruth Moucharafieh

Find Ruth’s other work on Flickr and Facebook.

©2012 The Carey Adventures. All Rights Reserved.

Sheri, meet everyone on the Internet.

I’m introducing you all to each other today because Sheri is the reason Sabrina and I are getting up way earlier on a Sunday than we normally would plan. We will both be running in the Komen Race For The Cure on June 3rd in Seattle to raise funds for breast cancer research and to aid those battling the disease.

As you may guess, Sheri has breast cancer. She’s been battling it for what seems like a brazillion years. Sheri’s been battling it as long as Sabrina has been alive, over a quarter of her life. I haven’t liked seeing my friend suffer and wishing for a cure for her, and more like her, won’t get us anywhere.

Sheri’s been my friend for a brazllion plus a gazzlion years it seems. Middle school is where we met, to be more precise. She is my only close friend to have contracted this type of cancer and it pains me to see how the disease has changed her life, slowed her down. At least it has not dimmed her smile.

I don’t want others to have to watch their friends go through this ordeal and that is the main reason why Sabrina and I are running the race. It’s only a 5K (3.6miles) and seems like a piddling effort compared to what those who fight for their lives have to endure. But it is what we can do, to raise funds to find a cure.

That’s the length of my spiel.

If you would like to help the cause to find a cure for breast cancer, please donate with one of the links below. Sabrina and I are part of a team of Sheri’s friends all running together. It doesn’t matter if you give to Sabrina or I, the funds all go the same direction. Any amount is appreciated.

Want an incentive to give?

Donate $20 or more and I will send you a set of three blank 5”x7” greeting cards with any of my images printed on them.

Donate $50 or more and I will send you an 8”x10” print on archival matte paper. Again, any image on this site or peterwestcarey.com is available.

After you make the donation, drop me an email and I’ll send you what you like.

Donate to Sabrina’s efforts here

Donate to Peter’s efforts here

Thank you.

©2012 The Carey Adventures. All Rights Reserved.

Title: Dubai Sunset Panorama Exploration

Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Description: The haze often obscures the sun before it sets into the Persian Gulf just beyond Dubai. The sentinels of the city, including the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa, stand guard amid the heat and dust.

Photographs Creative Commons Copyright Peter West Carey

Are you interested in joining a photo tour in Nepal, India, Bhutan or Alaska in 2013? Email me for more information or click here.

Note: You likely won’t see the image above if you are reading this via email or some RSS viewers. Click here to be taken to a full view.

If you want to see more Panoramas like this one, click here.

©2012 The Carey Adventures. All Rights Reserved.

Title: Crescent and Cross

Location: Lebanon

Photograph Copyright Ruth Moucharafieh

Find Ruth’s other work on Flickr and Facebook.

©2012 The Carey Adventures. All Rights Reserved.

This shop carries little joy. It hints at desperation. Desperation to feed someone somewhere. The caretaker gone, I slow and take in the scene; lanterns, innertubes, a pile of gears impossible to separate, hubs, a working air compressor serving as the heart keeping this business’ blood pumping. Tools and more tools. A family photo and a long dead clock. A calendar that is mercifully accurate unlink some I have seen from 1994 and earlier in other stores. A bucket of bolts and nuts not unlike mine at home. Grease over it all and not a single horizontal surface left uncovered. If it’s not covered with grease, it’s turning to rust. The cascade of commerce and forgotten parts making its way toward sunlight, before being shoved  behind the roll-down security shutter each night.

No escape.

©2012 The Carey Adventures. All Rights Reserved.

Title: Faraya

Location: Lebanon

Photograph Copyright Ruth Moucharafieh

Find Ruth’s other work on Flickr and Facebook.

©2012 The Carey Adventures. All Rights Reserved.

This week’s guest brings us an inside view from Lebanon during her week as a guest photographer. I always appreciate people who can draw me into a distant land in a way that ignores the headlines in the papers and shows a unique view of a country or place. Ruth has done that and I hope you appreciate this week’s journey to Ruth’s view of Lebanon.

1.    Explain a bit about who you are and the type of photography that interests you most.

Born and raised in the tranquil green hills of Mid Wales, I have spent the last 18 years in the frenetic, fabulous city of Beirut. Both of theses places have had a huge impact on me personally and the contrasts between them is amazing. I was interested in photography as a teenager but did not pursue it as other interests took hold.

I bought my current DSLR in October 2011 so consider me a serious novice at everything! (and Peter is one serious risk-taker!) I have no real idea what my photographic interest is going to be- that is most definitely a work in progress. I enjoy candid type portraits and images connected to daily life, work and the dignity and cheerfulness with which many perform manual labour.

2.    If you could have a paid trip for 4 weeks anywhere in the world just to photograph and report back, where would it be?

Africa! I’ve always wanted to go…….not for safari though. South Africa for all its contrasts and variety, Rwanda, Ethiopia….just to get started!

3.    Name two of your photography inspirations.

My Dad…….as a child I remember he was always the photographer, he’s still enjoying it today! It’s wonderful to have common interests. I have recently been looking at the work of Arnold Newman and I love the way that his portraits place his subjects within the context of their work or passion. Definitely need to add Peter West Carey here for his wonderful website and fantastic travel images!!! (I swear I don’t pay my guests to say such things ;) )

4.    What do you hope to convey to others through your photography?

Since I came to Lebanon I have become a storyteller….trying to explain away some of the misconceptions that people have about this wonderful country, its people and why things are the way they are. I want that to be a theme in my photography-sensitive storytelling, the struggle and heroism of daily life, the quiet courage it takes to keep going day after day. Whether it’s a crumbling house that was once a home that someone loved or a person on the street earning his living- each has a story to tell, each can be beautiful.

Living in different environments teaches you that people are what they are for reasons of geographical, religious, cultural, family, social and financial reasons. And yet most people hold the same things dear: good health, family, education for their children, meaningful employment and hope for the future. I want someone viewing my photographs to simply stop for a single moment and look again.

If you want a look forward to some of Ruth’s work and just can’t wait for the day-to-day play out on The Carey Adventures, feel free to view her Flickr account or find her on Facebook.

©2012 The Carey Adventures. All Rights Reserved.

Title: His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama

Description:  The 14th Dalai Lama gives  little girl a scarf after his keynote speech on the struggles of Tibetan culture at the Aspen Institute in Aspen, Colorado.

Explanation: After His Holiness spoke, he then went the back to get into a awaiting cart for a ride back to the suite he was staying at. I was told by a friend of mine who was working security that he would first stop by this small group of people to bless them. I spent about 5 minutes precomposing before he came out to the group. I did not expect the woman on the left to hold her hands, and I did not expect him to give the little girl the scarf.

Link to Image: http://www.pabloconradphotography.com/Portfolio/News-Photography/19088210_d6xnxt#!i=1514610825&k=gNmXR2n

Photograph Copyright Pablo Conrad

Catch him on Twitter, Facebook and his blog.

©2012 The Carey Adventures. All Rights Reserved.

Title: New Years over Spiridon

Description: Fireworks explode over the Space Needle silhouetting the crosses of St. Spiridon Orthodox Church in Seattle, Wash., in celebration of the New Year

Explanation: Rather than fight the crowds at Kerry Park or at the Seattle Center, and end up with the same looking photos as everyone else, I opted for something different. I know of this church and resulting composition from other times I’ve shot it. So, I headed over to the spot and made a few test exposures to get a good exposure on the Space Needle. The fireworks were just a matter of paying attention to the display and shooting the photograph. Nikon D300s, 80-200 f/2.8 lens. Exposure was 1/6th second at f/22 at ISO 200.

Link to Image: http://www.pabloconradphotography.com/UrbanScenes-4/The-Emerald-City-Seattle/10280205_ggsKKV#!p=2&n=15

Photograph Copyright Pablo Conrad

Catch him on Twitter, Facebook and his blog.

©2012 The Carey Adventures. All Rights Reserved.

Description: Ten minutes after the sun set, the sky blazes with deep rich hues of red and purple above the boardwalk at Boulevard Park in Bellingham, Wash.

Explanation: As the sky was completely cloudless, I decided to pack my gear and head home. But something told me to stay a few minutes longer. I kept my D300s w/17-35mm ready. Then the western sky seemed to explode with orange for a few minutes. I shot using the old “sunny 16 rule” while composing for more sky, more beach, and midway. Exposure was f/5.6 at 1/50th ISO 200

Link to Image: http://www.pabloconradphotography.com/UrbanScenes-4/Bellingham-Wash/20930968_j6Hhss#!i=1729714142&k=wcMPxCr

Photograph Copyright Pablo Conrad

Catch him on Twitter, Facebook and his blog.

©2012 The Carey Adventures. All Rights Reserved.