Taking on a legend is never easy. People will remember a place or experience and it’s not easy to do justice to the memory. When Belmond took on the task of renovating the jewel of Anguilla resorts, Cap Juluca, people were optimistic that this was the right group to take on the task, and they were not disappointed. Belmond’s Cap Juluca is a grand tribute, worthy of the original. Originally conceived to showplace the island as a luxury tourism destination, Cap Juluca realized that ideal. Mr. Robin Ricketts and Mrs. Sue Ricketts of Ricketts & Associates, Ltd., and Charles and Linda Hickox, the principal owners of Leeward Isles Resorts, were…
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Today is the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Irma’s strike on our favorite islands. After a heavy hit by Irma, along came Hurricane Maria, adding to the destruction. I have read the accounts over the last year of the devastation, the rebuilding, and the struggles along the way. I have also read stories of the incredible strength of those affected, and the love and support of a community both in and outside the islands. Some have made an amazing recovery, and others are still making their way to recovery, but there is no dispute that the one thing that will help turn things around is tourism. Here are nine beaches to…
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Photographers tend to collect camera bags. It’s not all desire. We buy more gear and reorganize our kits, and continue to look for the perfect bag to meet our needs. Some bags find the back of the closet quickly, and some are designed so beautifully, they continue to meet our needs until things are falling off. One bag, which I have owned for ten years, continues to wear well and regularly proves that it was well worth the money spent, the Billingham Hadley. I purchased this bag ten years ago. It was probably my third or fourth camera bag since really getting into photography, and the others not only moved…
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You know you want to honeymoon in the Caribbean, but which island? The islands are incredibly diverse. Some have better beaches. Some are ideal for foodies. Some islands are favorites for adventure. The islands are as diverse as the people who visit. Here are some suggestions for the perfect Caribbean honeymoon. Best Islands for Beach Lovers Anguilla Anguilla is located at the northern end of the Leeward Islands chain in the Eastern Caribbean, a short 25-minute boat ride north of St. Martin. You won’t see any mountains or rainforest on Anguilla, as it is largely coral and limestone with limited vegetation. However, what it lacks in elevation, it makes up…
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June 1 marks the official beginning of hurricane season in the Caribbean, and we’ve already seen one tropical depression, Alberto. June 1 shouldn’t mean the end of Caribbean travel. The odds that a hurricane will interrupt your trip are still pretty slim. Let the old rhyme about hurricane season be your guide: June too soon July stand by August come it must September remember October all over . . . Although your chances of experiencing a hurricane are small (check out the statistics here), you can follow hurricane activity in the region at the site of the NOAA/National Hurricane Center and on StormCarib, a great resource for seeing what storms are brewing.…
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I am oftentimes asked why I shoot film. In 2007, I went from a film SLR, a Canon Elan 7n, to a digital SLR, the Canon 40D. I held out for quite a while. I was comfortable shooting film, but at that time, it looked as if film was in its last days, and it was either go digital or go home. So I made the switch. I loved the instant feedback of digital. Digital told me right away when I pooched a shot, and gave me a chance to try again. I was able to experiment with digital where I had not felt comfortable experimenting with film. When you…
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I am honored to be recognized as a Finalist in the 2017 competition for best Independent Travel Blog by the North American Travel Journalists (NATJA). The NATJA awards recognize outstanding publications, travel journalists, photographers whose work was published in print and online media each year. Last year, we won awards for our features on Andros, Bahamas and Kamalame Cay, and it is exciting to be recognized for our blog devoted to travel throughout the Caribbean. A full list of award winners can be found here, but I wanted to recognize some of the great work from NATJA members featuring our favorite islands in the Caribbean: Luxury & Resort Travel – Print…
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A few years back, I returned to film photography, and now shoot both digital and film while traveling. With a lot of hits and misses, I’ve come to find that several film stocks have emerged as my favorites, reliable from trip to trip, and perfect for the way I shoot. Although I will continue to experiment, these film stocks have proven their worth and will be in my bag on every trip, or as long as the manufacturers continue to produce them! Kodak Portra 400 Portra 400 is clearly my favorite of all film stocks. I used to shoot Portra NC and VC back in my pre-digital days, but the…
