The ancient Maya ruins of Tikal, Guatemala had been on my bucket list since I was a kid—especially after I discovered that the view from Temple IV appeared in Star Wars: A New Hope as the Rebel base on Yavin 4. Ancient Maya ruins swallowed by jungle and Star Wars? I was going. Years later,…
Creating believable fog in watercolor is one of the most challenging atmospheric effects artists attempt. In this demonstration, I show how I transformed a photograph of St. Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh into a misty watercolor painting using opaque layers and a watercolor pouring technique. One of the things I love about teaching watercolor classes and…
I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Angkor Wat and the temples of Angkor in Cambodia several times over the years, first as a professional travel photographer and later as a watercolor artist looking back through decades of photographs for inspiration. It remains one of my favorite places in the world to photograph. In fact, when…
I visited Easter Island on my honeymoon. The marriage was forgettable. The island was unforgettable. At the time, I was working professionally as a travel photographer, and Easter Island—or Rapa Nui—was pretty much a dream destination. Few places on Earth are as isolated, mysterious, or immediately recognizable. Giant stone moai stand against empty landscapes and…
While checking in for my flight to Colombia, an image on the airline’s website immediately caught my attention. As both a travel photographer and watercolor artist, I’m constantly looking for interesting locations to photograph. The colorful colonial buildings, stone fortress walls, and perfectly centered gateway looked like the kind of scene I would gladly wake…
Why I Love Teaching Watercolor Pouring One of the most popular workshops I teach is my version of watercolor pouring. Every class begins the same way: students stare at their paper with a mixture of excitement and panic. “You’re going to do what?” Instead of carefully painting every brushstroke, we’re going to pour liquid watercolor…
Previous: Indigenous Village, Skyline Photographs During one full day in Panama City you can: Photography Tips for Panama City I’d write something like: There would be no afternoon siesta today. Tragic, I know. Exploring Old Panama I am a sucker for ruins. Old churches. Crumbling walls. Abandoned fortresses. If it looks like it might collapse…
Previous: Bird-Watching, Ancon Hill Panorama Is an Emberá Village Tour Worth It? If you’re visiting Panama City and want to experience Panama’s Indigenous culture, an Emberá village tour is one of the best day trips available. After a canoe ride through Chagres National Park, you’ll learn about traditional medicine, basket weaving, rainforest life, and enjoy…
Previous: Spanish Fortresses/ Highest Rooftop Bar Central America What You’ll See at Soberanía National Park Soberanía National Park is one of the best places for birdwatching in Panama. Just 30–40 minutes from Panama City, visitors can see sloths, monkeys, crocodiles, toucans, motmots, trogons, and hundreds of tropical bird species before returning to the city for…
Previous: First Day in Panama City Why Visit Portobelo & San Lorenzo? Portobelo and Fort San Lorenzo are among Panama’s most important UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Once responsible for protecting Spain’s immense treasure fleets, these massive Caribbean fortifications now offer visitors fascinating history, spectacular tropical scenery, and some of the country’s best photography opportunities. If…
