'Talking Turkey' launched Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day seems just right to launch 'Talking Turkey - a Pilgrimage of Words and Pictures'.

We all fell in love with Turkey - the history, the country and the Turkish men and women. Many of us continue to feel passionate about our  photography or writing.

Finally, it was ca labour of love collecting all the images and the stories and arranging them into some sort of romantically illogical order!

You can order a copy of 'Talking Turkey' for just AU$25.00 or AU$29.50 posted.

'Talking Turkey' will be officially launched on Valentine's Day 14 Feb 2014 at the University of Western Australia. If you order and pay for your copy before 14 Feb you will receive an invite to the Champagne Launch at UWA. You'll also get to meet some of teh photographers and writers as well as author John Harman and master photographer, Dale Neill.

To order your copy or to enquire contact Margaret margaret.n@ozemail.com.au or telephone 09 9430 6422.

Elixir for photographers, writers and travellers

Anzac Day is rapidly becoming more significant than Australia Day in Australian culture. Australia Day fireworks sparkle a little less but the crowds at Anzac dawn services increase each year. Flying the Aussie flag is more common and the Anzac football matches are just marginally less important than the AFL Grand Final.

Surely, the ultimate homage is to visit Anzac Cove in Turkey where the narrative was born. The Australian and Turkish Governments are already very concerned that they will be unable to handle the crowds.

When our group of photographers and writers visited Anzac Cove on a dreamy, overcast day in 2011 we were virtually the only living humans on the beach. I wandered alone reflecting on what had transpired 97 years beforehand.

Attaturk led Turkey to a bloody victory over teh Australian and allied troops. One of the greatest military leaders in modern times, Attaturk told his troops,

'I don't expect you to fight for your country. I expect you to die for your country'.

In post wart Turkey Attaturk created a template which was to guide Turkey to be  a role model as a modern, secular Islamic state. He praised his foes and he honoured women

“Everything we see in the world is the creative work of women.” 

Turkey is an elixir for writers, photographers and travellers. Our 'Turkish Delight' Tour starts on September 29 2013.

To view the 2013 itinerary.

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.

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