Getting high in Turkey

I was hooked as soon as I did my first balloon ride a decade ago. The feeling of weightlessness, experiencing the sun rise with no encumbrances from 500 feet. I felt at one with the clouds, the air, the amber hues and the isolation. It was pure exhilaration.

There's a huge bonus for photographers. There is an eagle-eye view of the drifting landscape. For the fine art photographer you can watch the play of light as the first streaks of light illuminate landforms with long streaks of warm colour.

A good balloon captain will rotate the balloon 360 degrees every five or ten minutes meaning you get to view every compass point. The experienced balloon photographer knows there are strategic advantages  in selecting a corner position, allowing a 270 degree angle of view. A side position allows you less than 180 degrees.

Prime lenses result in the sharpest images. A prime lens of about 50mm is close to perfect. Using aperture priority set to about f4 or f5.6 is about right. Remember, there is no depth of field to speak of because the land is all at the same distance.

If you are given a choice between the pre-dawn flight and post-dawn flight always opt for the pre-dawn flight. Capturing the sun breaking the horizon is a mystical experience. Modern digital cameras allow you to shoot using ISOs of 800, 1600 and 3200 with virtually no noise. Leave the late flights for the sleepy heads!

Our Turkish Delight Tour in 2013. led by author John harman and myself will see us spending three days in Cappadocia, exploring the valleys of cascading cliffs and photographing the Byzantine tunnels at Kaymakli and the underground cities at Derinkuyu.

If you would like more information about Turkish Delight or to book for the information evening on Wed 30 January please contact Helen on 08 9386 5385 or email Turkish Delight 2013.

Turkish Delight 2013

How's your pulse rate?

Maybe you're glued to your internet screen waiting to see if a second person will 'like' your photo (you liked it first!). Or maybe you're at work and the email trail and endless trivia have left you with a semi-permanent, pitiful pulse rate of 72 BPM.

Dream Aphrodias the Goddess of Love or  maybe Tengri, the God of the Skies!

Turkish Delight -  29 Sept - 15 Oct 2013

Ever thought about traveling through an exotic middle eastern country with two rollicking old pro's? Ghost writer-historian John Harman and  pro lensman Dale Neill have more wrinkles than an African elephant and more stories than the Empire State. Travelling with John and Dale will add more spice and fewer wrinkles to your life!

Together, they will make your heart beat faster.

Whether its wafting incense and cobblestones in Istanbul's Grand,  exotic belly dancers at  Galata Tower, or the spontaneous invite for Turkish apple tea with a new friend you'll have something to write home about ... and someone to photograph.

With John's guidance and coaching you'll be creatively inspired to put pen to paper. You will surprise everyone about what and how you write, not least of all, yourself!. On the photographic front not only will you get sharper, better-exposed shots but you'll learn about adding the 'wow' factor for your book editor.

After Turkish Delight 2013 you will be a published author! eText Press has offered to produce a coffee table book incorporating the best of everyone's images and words. 

As of right now 13 of the 23 places on Turkish Delight 2013 have been filled. Just 10 remain.

Wed Dec 5 is our last Information evening for 2012

Email TurkishDelight@wildheart.com.au  to register your interest

Fri Dec 8 is the cut-off date for the Earlybird Price

Bookings through Julie Watson Travelworld CME Dalkeith Lic 9TA 1263. Tel 08 9386 4477. 

Download itinerary: www.wildheart.com.au

Friendships made in Turkey

Today is our reunion and it is appropriate to write a few words. Of course we not only visited Coppadoccia to fly in the balloons but had an extensive road trip to most ancient places and points of interest. No doubt there are many photos in albums everywhere to remind us. I've included just a few...more in my blogspot...http://conniemacwords and pictures.blogspot.com.au... The .com.au is something some people found necessary to put in...I never do but... As you can see this area is one of romance and to me is almost a fairytale experience. Of course if one thinks of the poor people who had to make these caves and hillsides a home in order to escape religious prosecution then the idea of romance is immediately deleted.
 But it is all up to the individual. A personal recommendation is...try it but with an expert photographer accredited and full of good ideas as well as a travel writer who may open a new vista in writing for you. Thanks Dale and John.xxxooo 23/09/12 

Dream Time in Turkey

 Who wouldn't want to be a part of this wonderful country when a decoration such as this sits on the wall above the double bed of the room we occupied in one of our tourist hotels. Someone in this country not only has exquisite artistic skills but a great sense of humor. And if one can take one's eyes off the lower half of the painting one can spy the original wedding celebration framed above the classic Turkish membership.
This brings me to the fact that an equally enchanting couple from our 2011 tour, Anne and Steven, are about to tie the knot next weekend (23/09/12). I am surprised that she is slowing down long enough to say 'I Do!!!' But we wish them both the very best and will raise a glass to their happiness at our reunion on the 23rd. "To Absent friends!" I have it on good authority that they are looking towards America and the Caribbean for their honeymoon.
PPS. I knew I would find an appropriate occasion for this photograph! Cheers, Connie, http://conniemacwordsandpictures.blogspot.com.au

Turkey 2013 - Writing and Photography Tour

Turkish Delight
17 day Travel Writing and Travel Photography Tour through Turkey
with author and travel writer John Harman 
and master photographer Dale Neill

27 Sept - 13 Oct  2013

Twin share $6495   Single Supp +$650   Early Bird $6295* +SS        Group size: max 18
Following the successful 2011 Turkish Delight Tour, John Harman and Dale Neill are set to return to Turkey in September 2013.

The combination of words and images are often a powerful and irresistable mix. So often its a case of one plus one equals three.
The words add emotional texture to the image, or the photograph acts as a catalyst with the words.
In Turkey, not only will you be travelling through one of the most historically significant countries in the world but you will have  the benefit of John Harman and Dale Neill virtually as personal writing and photography mentors as we travel along the silk road.
As experienced lecturers and tour leaders. John and Dale have meticulously planned and personalised the itinerary to optimise time for writing and photography.

Free Information evenings Tuesday 13 Nov 2012
Wednesday 13 March 2013

For further information and a full itinerary please contact : h.newnham@optusnet.com.au 
*Early Bird discount of $200 applies if booking made and deposit paid by 8 Dec 2012.
Bookings: Julie Watson, Travelworld CME Lic. No: 9TA 1263, 122A Dalkeith Road, Nedlands WA 6009.
Tel: 08 9386 4477  email: cme@travelworld.com.au