France (5)
 Walk to Monet's home in Giverny; don't take the crowded bus. The foot and bike path is on the left side of the highway.The Alsace is a wine-growing region, with Haut Koenigsburg Castle and lovely little towns including Colmar. The Dordogne and Cote d'Azur regions are worth a trip each.
France, Provence (17)
 The south of France offers beautiful beaches, but also peaceful, restful hill towns, wonderful food, and gracious people.
France - Brittany and Normandy (16)
 Even if you have several weeks, this area is so vast, interesting and scenic that you will want to return. Arrange stays in "chambres dhotes" , rooms or parts of private homes. All are charming and no more expensive than hotels.
Paris (9)
 Ah, Paris. It has to be the most beautiful city in the world. Flowers, art, good food and wine -what more could I want? Paris will do that to you.
Two World Wars (15)
 France was devastated by two wars in the 20th century. WWI was fought on very wide fronts, with static trench lines and artillery duels. Daring to cross the areas between the trenches meant sure death. The number killed staggers the imagination. In France, New Zealand, and, I am sure many other countries, small towns all have monuments to those killed in the "War to End All Wars". Air power added to the horrors of war in WWII. Troop movements were more dynamic, mechanized and airborne. Normandy shows the limits as well as the possibilities of military technology. The US airborne assaults could have failed, except for the valor of these boys. The Germans could have been victorious, except for leadership failures.
Germany (9)
 Although I am of English and Scottish descent, I feel comfortable in Germany. Like the US, they are dealing with cultural diversity and division. I especially like their state-of-the-art rail system and universal access to health care.
Czech Republic (7)
 Prague is the showplace, but be sure to see Chesky Krumlov and Chesky Budejovice. The Czechs are the class act in preservation. The Charles Bridge was built in 1400. Try visiting in the off-season (avoid Easter and summer), as the crowds are far fewer.
Austria and Switzerland (14)
 If you crave order and predictability, you'll love these people. Everything works, someone will speak some English, and driving is safe (just stay out of the fast lane). Go in the spring and fall for the hiking, wonderful in both countries. Your first glimpse of the Alps will take your breath away. You might reserve Vienna and Salzburg for a separate trip.
April in the Netherlands (8)
 Netherlanders are said to be among the most content of Europeans. I wonder if walking and bicycling, instead of sitting in traffic, contributes to this atmosphere of calm and quiet?
Croatia (15)
 Formerly part of Yugoslavia, Croatia includes the Dalmatian coast. The area has been a tourist destination for Europeans since the mid 1800's. See Croatia
Italy (4)
 A delightful country to travel in and to enjoy good food. To get out into the countryside, it's better to drive.
Spain and Mallorca (10)
 Catalonia is that part of Spain around Barcelona. We found it peaceful and restful. Sitges is a beautifully preserved resort town, wonderfully calm in the off-season (February).
Mallorca is Europe's vacation spot. It is still possible to find relatively peaceful, unspoiled areas to rent an apartment or house for your vacation.
Portugal (6)
 Portugal is a lovely, laid-back country. Travel and communication are easy.
Greece (7)
 Everyone goes to the Greek islands on cruises, but the mainland, particularly the Peloponnesus, is uncrowded and beautiful. Monemvasia is connected by a narrow causeway to the mainland, and is a semi-preserved Renaissance port town. It can be reached by ferry from Piraeus, Athens' port. Nafplion is another lovely town. We traveled by bus.
Turkey (7)
 Turkey is a delight to visit. Turkish food is a treat. If you don't want to buy carpet in Istanbul, be politely firm. If you need carpet, it's a great buy. Stay a night or two in Kusadasi and tour Ephesus.
London (3)
 You'll feel at home; the kindness of Londoners will win your heart.
New Zealand (12)
 We visited only the south island this trip. I thought of the US in the 50's, for all of the good, and without Joe McCarthy. Driving is easy in the south, because traffic is light. Milford Sound and the glaciers are must sees, but allow time for the Catlins coastal area to the south. Plan a several day trek if you're up to it, or enjoy some of the world's finest trout fishing. All the images in this gallery were shot with the Pentax K20D, and DA 21mm, 35mm f2 and 55-300 lenses.
Morocco (28)
 Morocco is our first African visit and our first trip to an Islamic country. We were impressed by the warmth, decency and honesty of Moroccans. We realize we are only kidding ourselves about any real communication with Moroccans outside of hotels and shops., A high point in our trip, however, was our guide, recommended by our hotel in Fez, who talked to us about the importance of Islam in his life, and the place of the mosque as an institution in every community. This trip was the last in which we shot film. We used my Canon FD system and Bronica RF 645.
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Argentina (23)
 If you have spent any time in Europe, you'll feel comfortable in Argentina. Buenos Aires is a treasury of early 20th century architecture and antiquities. The Lake Country, from San Martin down to El Bolson is a bit of unspoiled frontier, spectacularly beautiful. We ended our trip with a little side jaunt to Colonia del Santiago in Uruguay.
Mexico (9)
 Our neighbor to the south is full of 16th century colonial towns. Queretaro, Guanajuato, and San Miguel de Allende are close to Mexico City. Puebla and Oaxaca are farther south.
Japan (11)
 I lived in southern Japan for two years while in the army. I taught English part time, and lived in town. Towns on the coast have matsubara, or pine groves. These protect against winds and are preserved and treasured. I think these places still exist, but the seaweed-cultivating village near my old home is gone.
Australia (12)
 Never heard of anyone planning a honeymoon trip to the Great Barrier Reef area, perhaps because of the long flight to get there. We heartily recommend the beautiful, laid-back area of Cairns and Port Douglas.
Close to Home (7)
 Sometimes your best subject matter is right where you happen to be.
America's Western National Parks (4)
 The American West is to me like seeing the Swiss Alps for the first time. I want to revisit and re-photograph in different light.
California (14)
 It was very farsighted of Californians to preserve so much of the northern coastline and open spaces. About half of California is publicly owned. The crowded urban areas are much easier to take when you can step away from them for a while. However, since the state froze real estate taxes at the 1987 level, and did away with the car tax, the state has insufficient funding for school, parks and other basics. California has to fix this. It is not up to the federal government to bail us out.
Appalachian Trail (6)
 The Appalachian Trail runs 2,165 miles from Georgia to Maine. Once I set foot on it with my son’s scout troop, I can't stay away from it. I've hiked 1,500 miles, leaving New Hampshire and Maine
The Appalachians were once oceanfront. Wasn't it Bill Bryson who said that by waiting ten million years, we get the off-season rates?
Good Hiking in the USA (7)
 Montana and Alaska offer great wilderness hiking. The trails are not well marked; you need to be able to use a map and compass. It's best to hike with friends, for safety as well as companionship.
Guest Photographers (5)
 Patrick McHugh and Robert Sanford have travelled and photographed for more years than I. Thomas Brenner is much younger and has a great eye. ALL copyrights belong to the photogs, NOT to me.
Macro, a Whole New World (3)
 For the first two pictures of the cicada hatch in my area, I used a Leica 90mm with a 25mm extension tube. For the third, I used a Canon FD 85mm short tele with a Vivitar 2x macro-focusing teleconverter. Extension tubes or the Vivitar macro-focus 2x are widely available for nearly every camera make. If you like macro, you can save a lot by using only manual equipment. Autofocus is of little help with macro, and autofocus extension tubes cost as much as good manual focus macro lenses.
Some things Photoshop can do . . . (9)
 Actually, you can retouch photos with all of the better imaging programs. Elements, the old Photoshop LE, and PaintShop Pro can do everything you see here.
the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida (4)
 Visit in early spring, fall, or even winter. If you are thinking of retiring here, consider a college town such as Chapel Hill, NC or Gainesville, FL.
Virginia (9)
 Virginia is my home state. Virginians are never far from the mountains or the sea, and the Appalachian Trail runs right through the state. There are Confederates in my ancestral attic waiting to get out in a novel.
War in Iraq - Americans Protest (15)
 Many of us opposed the invasion and occupation of Iraq from the beginning, but we have been ignored by the corporate-owned media. I offer a few photos so that our friends in the rest of the world know that more of us oppose war and occupation, more of us stand against abductions and torture, more every day. If you are in the US military, take care of yourselves and your buddy out there. Good people are working to bring you home.
Washington, D.C. (12)
 Forget the influence-peddling and intrigue, and you can enjoy the nation's capital as a truly beautiful city.
My Best (13)
 If you don't want to wade through all my work, much of which is, admittedly, picture postcard, here are what I consider to be my best. Thank you for looking.
Doug
Illustrations for Articles (20)
This category is only a storage space for article illustrations.
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