From One Day In Venice!

 

 

 

Shooting Topside Photos In Paris Has Some Distinct Advantages.

Our Last Tango In Paris!

Some images we made yesterday during our visits to Napoleon's Tomb, Avenue des Champs-Élysées, Arc de Triomphe and some night shots of the Eiffel Tower.

 

Alexandre Eiffel's “Victorian Structural Expressionist” Tower.

The Eiffel Tower is such an iconic symbol of Paris, it is challenging to try and make a photo of it that is not simply a cliché. Here are some photos I made yesterday.

She's Crushing It!

Not an iconic shot, but somewhat of a photo op for me as we happened to be walking by. Although, the Italian photographer who was lying on the ground giving directions to his model/wife/significant other as he was attempting to frame the Eiffel Tower between her legs may have created something iconic. ;)

Paris Is One Place You Can Hide Away!

Explored the Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood in Paris. Specifically, on my list was to visit and soak up the energy at two famous cafés, Les Deux Magots and Café de Flore. Both rank as being among the oldest and most prestigious coffeehouses in Paris, celebrated for their famous clientele of writers, actors, French intellectuals and other famous thinkers of the 1940s and 1950s. A personal thrill for me was to sit between the tables that Hemmingway and Jean-Paul Sartre routinely sat at.

Hello, Paris!

Just a grab shot while we were out walking not far from our hotel in "La Ville Lumière" today.

London's Tower Bridge!

Stepped Into A Church, I Passed Along The Way.

Today in London we stumbled upon the All Hallows by the Tower, an ancient Anglican church on Byward Street, overlooking the Tower of London. Founded in 675, it is the oldest church in London. Kathryn and I walked around inside and lit several white candles in remembrance of those whom we’ve loved and lost, but will always remember.

Sweet Bird Of Youth At The Old Vic!

 

Kathryn and I went to The Old Vic Theater tonight to see Kim Cattrall starring alongside acclaimed Broadway actor Seth Numrich in Tennessee Williams’ powerful and poetic play, "Sweet Bird of Youth." By far, some of the best performances and staging we had both ever seen in a classic historical venue to boot. Truly, a once in a lifetime kind of experience

The Old Vic is one of the best known and best loved theaters in the world, synonymous with the greatest acting talent that Britain has ever produced from Laurence Olivier, Vivien Leigh, Peggy Ashcroft, John Gielgud and Ralph Richardson to Richard Burton, Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Albert Finney, and Peter O’Toole. This iconic 195-year-old building has a rich history of great performances and The Old Vic Theatre Company under the artistic leadership of Kevin Spacey, continues to attract the best creative talent from the UK and all over the world to tread its famous boards.

Afternoon Tea At London's Famous Dorchester Hotel.

Busy day in London Town. Enjoyed Afternoon Tea with Champagne at London’s famed Dorchester Hotel today. The list of celebrities who have frequented this hotel in long. Afternoon Tea is served in The Promenade, a lobby on the ground floor, where potted palms and towering fountains of flowering plants surround plush couches with pillows as soft as marshmallows. Marble columns the colour of apricot parfait rise from the floor, crowned by gilded Corinthian capitals.

The Dorchester has been awarded 'The Tea Guild special Award of Excellence 2013' in recognition of its outstanding quality and consistently high standards in Afternoon Tea service and has previously received this award a further four times in 2000, 2002, 2007 and 2012. The Dorchester is the only London hotel to achieve this distinction.

Kathryn was a uber happy, although, she states she has a special fondness for Afternoon Tea at Chicago’s equally famous Drake Hotel. The Dorchester High Tea service stole my tea heart today. Impeccable service, highly recommended! ;)

Jay Z & Justin Timberlake: Legends Of The Summer Tour!

Great show! Timberlake, what a show! Jay Z, meh!

If There's A Rock Show, We'll Be There, Oh Yeah!

"It's Just Another Day. Du Du Du Du Du. It's Just Another Day. Du Du Du Du Du. It's Just Another Day!"

Underwater Photographer Portfolios From Around The World!

I now have a portfolio of some of my images up at Underwater Photographers website: www.uwphotographers.net/2013/07/uwp-jett-britnell.html. This website features the work of underwater photographers from around the world. Some impressive underwater images can be seen here if you search through the photographer portfolios.

Emerald Sea Magic: Diving British Columbia's Browning Passage!

I spent the first week of July diving with Browning Pass Hideaway Dive Resort (www.vancouverislanddive.com). We had some fabulous dives, great sunny days, but some high winds kicked up, so I focused on shooting macro images this trip. WHat better excuse than to return again in the fall to shoot some wide angle. Here are a few images from that trip.

Purple Ring Top Snail

Golden Dirona Nudibranch

Red-eyed Jellyfish

 
 Red Irish Lord Sculpin

Throw Roses Into The Abyss And Say.

I have a particular fondness for some of the quotes by Nietzsche. This is but one of them...

How To Impress A Woman Or A Man!

 

There's mucho wisdom in this...

HOW TO IMPRESS A WOMAN: Compliment her, respect her, honor her, cuddle her, kiss her, caress her, love her, stroke her, tease her, comfort her, protect her, hug her, hold her, spend money on her, wine and dine her, buy things for her, Listen to her, care for her, stand by her, support her, hold her, go to the ends of the Earth for her. HOW TO IMPRESS A MAN: Show up naked. Bring martinis! ;)

A Twist Of Lemon Shark!

Lemon sharks are short-nosed and stocky sharks that reportedly have a powerful bite. Their yellow-brown pitted skin has a lemon coloration helps them to blend in against sandy seafloors where they can lay motionless. Although they are often solitary, my experience with them in the Bahamas at an undisclosed location called Tiger Beach, proved otherwise. Amid the tiger sharks we were diving with, there were over 20 lemon sharks swimming around. They totally gave us no notice, nor did they display any threatening postures. A very cool experience!

Today Is Kathryn Britnell's Birthday!

A big shout out for my lovely wife, Kathryn, as today is Whooo Hoooo, her BIRTHDAY!!! (insert the sound of champagne corks popping everywhere). 

Okay, so you already received your presents early this year ;). Soooooo...I have to do something. Maybe something small like change our picture on Facebook today to one of me from the early 90s when I was ohhh, I dunno, 30-ish?  And Voila! You did say if you knew me back then you would have "totally hit that" so it seemed appropriate to post it just for you on your birthday.

 

Also, you know how I can be singing some obscure song in the morning and then you tell me later in the evening that it played in your head over and over throughout zee day. Today's song is the Beatles Birthday song. (Que the video). I dont know what the poster is talking about as this cut is from their White Album.

Anyhoo, what baby wants, baby gets. We indeed have dinner reservations tonight for 7PM at Horizons. And yes, as I do at every restaurant, I've boldly requested their most romantic table for two. What else??? Perhaps we learn how to do the Argentine Tango sometime, or when we are in Paris in August we stroll over to the Pont des Arts bridge (aka the lovers bridge) and put a padlock on the railing with our names on it then toss away the key (I think the French translation is, "how to get rid of a prefectly good padlock in Paris").

Strawberries, cherries, and an angel's kiss in spring. Livin' la Vida Loca with you is really made from all these things. Have an utterly faboosh birthday! And hey... enjoy today's song ;) XOXO

In Praise Of Underwater Models!

Underwater Modeling 101. Underwater models can convey so much with their body language. It is also vitally important for the Professional UW Photographer to discuss the anticipated shooting plan pre dive. Unbelievably, my ever-ready cooperative friend (Andrew Wieczorek, pictured here demonstrating his modeling skills) has been the model on 8 magazine cover shots of mine. Which only goes to prove that 1) He’s truly the self-proclaimed underwater modeling genius that he says he is, 2) I am a "Skip to my Lou" expert at coaxing the best outta self-proclaimed underwater modeling geniuses and coaching them through the pre-dive shooting plan, or, 3) I must have a good camera. ;) 

Pro Portfolio: PhotoComment Magazine June 2013.

The June 2013 issue of PhotoComment Magazine has featured some of my work in the Pro Portfolio section of the magazine. PhotoComment is a South African based photographic magazine with readers varying from mobile snapper to serious enthusiasts, students and professional.

From The Mouth Of Babes - Children Writing About The Ocean!

I had not seen this before. Hilarious!

1) - This is a picture of an octopus. It has eight testicles. (Kelly, age 6)
2 ) - Oysters' balls are called pearls. (Jerry, age 6)
3) - If you are surrounded by ocean, you are an island. If you don't have ocean all round you, you are incontinent. (Tommy, age 7)
4) - Sharks are ugly and mean, and have big teeth, just like Emily Richardson. She's not my friend any more. (Kylie, age 6)
5) - A dolphin breaths through an asshole on the top of its head. (Billy, age 8)
6) - My uncle goes out in his boat with 2 other men and a woman and pots and comes back with crabs. (Millie, age 6)
7) - When ships had sails, they used to use the trade winds to cross the ocean. Sometimes when the wind didn't blow the sailors would whistle to make the wind come. My brother said they would have been better off eating beans. (William, age 7)
8) - Mermaids live in the ocean. I like mermaids. They are beautiful and I like their shiny tails, but how on earth do mermaids get pregnant? Like, really? (Helen, age 6)
9) - I'm not going to write about the ocean. My baby brother is always crying, my Dad keeps yelling at my Mom, and my big sister has just got pregnant, so I can't think what to write. (Amy, age 6)
10) - Some fish are dangerous. Jellyfish can sting. Electric eels can give you a shock. They have to live in caves under the sea where I think they have to plug themselves in to chargers. (Christopher, age 7)
11) - When you go swimming in the ocean, it is very cold, and it makes my willy small. (Kevin, age 6)
12) - Divers have to be safe when they go under the water. Divers can't go down alone, so they have to go down on each other. (Becky, age 8)
13) - On vacation my Mom went water skiing. She fell off when she was going very fast. She says she won't do it again because water fired right up her big fat ass. (Julie, age 7)
14) - The ocean is made up of water and fish. Why the fish don't drown I don't know. (Bobby, age 6)
15) - My dad was a sailor on the ocean He knows all about the ocean. What he doesn't know is why he quit being a sailor and married my mom. (James, age 7)

A Belated Mothers Day Dinner.

 

Out for a belated Mothers Day dinner on Sunday at Seasons in the Park restaurant. Kathryn and mom unwind with Velvet Jack cocktails after a whirlwind afternoon of retail therapy. They are BFF's :)