Travel

October 20, 2013 12:00 AM

Postcards from readers: Playing Pig in Tennessee

As the fall season is settling in, it brings back memories of car trips my wife and I have made through Tennessee.

Monet’s garden bursts with color The photographer: Cindy Philpott of Sacramento Behind the lens: On a trip through Europe with my mom, we managed to visit quite a few amazing gardens. Claude Monet’s garden in Giverney, France, was simply stunning. Wandering through the lush pathways with each turn, my impression was that I had stepped into one of the pages of the artist’s many books. Amazingly wild, yet beautifully manicured, the garden was bursting with bright, vibrant colors. Monet’s house stands in the distance, lovingly painted in dusty pink with its distinctive green shutters, and seemed to rise above the lush blanket of beautiful blooms. SEND US YOUR BEST SHOTS Are you a traveler who never leaves home without a camera? The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

Pig-n-Ford races in Oregon The photographer: Keegan Morris of Sacramento Behind the lens: In mid-August, the Tillamook County Fair featured the 92nd annual Pig-n-Ford races in Tillamook, Ore. A local tradition, contestants line up on the outside edge of the track. At the starting pistol, they run to grab their pig from their box, spin around to run to their car to crank-start the engine, then slip into the car with the pig held tight, and start driving. Drivers must complete three laps and pigs are exchanged after each lap. Racers must hold onto their pigs or they are disqualified. Two heats are raced each night with the final race being held on the last night of the Fair for the coveted title Pig-n-Ford World Champion. SEND US YOUR BEST SHOTS Are you a traveler who never leaves home without a camera? The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

Boating in Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay The photographer: Eldon Tucker Behind the lens: Ha Long Bay is located in Vietnam in the Gulf of Tonkin. Thousands of limestone karsts and islets rise randomly from the ocean floor. This expanse of nearly 1,600 square kilometers is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and at any one time, the area is dotted with fishing boats and excursion junks. The picture was taken from an excursion junk as it leisurely passed several fishing villages and breathtaking caves. SEND US YOUR BEST SHOTS Are you a traveler who never leaves home without a camera? The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

Shooting stars – with creativity The photographer: Keaten Tuttle of Newcastle Behind the lens: My 17-year-old son, Keaten, took this self-portrait recently on the beach in Watsonville near Moss Landing. There was very little “light pollution” at midnight, and he explained his method as “a 25 second exposure, an aperture of 3.5, an 18-millimeter lens and 3200 ISO.” Over my head for sure. I am just his mom! – Fiona Tuttle SEND US YOUR BEST SHOTS Are you a traveler who never leaves home without a camera? The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

Majestic Mississippi morning The photographer: Dan Wettstein of Davis Behind the lens: An early morning on the Mississippi River, taken near Baton Rouge, La., in March. SEND US YOUR BEST SHOTS Are you a traveler who never leaves home without a camera? The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

A setting suitable for a queen The photographer: Donna Ruiz of Cameron Park Behind the lens: The beautiful Windsor Castle, weekend and summer home of the Queen. It is easy to imagine the queen sitting on the bench, enjoying afternoon tea with her corgis at her feet. Such a magical place. SEND US YOUR BEST SHOTS Are you a traveler who never leaves home without a camera? The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

Cliffs of Moher: Out on a ledge The photographer: Averi Gerberding of Rocklin Behind the lens: The Cliffs of Moher in Ireland were a sight to see, no doubt about it. There are many dangerous ledges, making it a perfect spot for thrill-seekers like my boyfriend. SEND US YOUR BEST SHOTS Are you a traveler who never leaves home without a camera? The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

Jizo statues serve as protectors The photographer: Chris Kemp of Roseville Behind the lens: This is a wall of Jizo statues (protector of women, children, and travelers) on the grounds of the Hase-Dera temple in Kamakura, Japan. SEND US YOUR BEST SHOTS Are you a traveler who never leaves home without a camera? The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

Great Wall of China The photographer: Alan Stolmack of Sacramento Behind the lens: In April of this year my wife and I visited China. We traveled to the Great Wall at Mutianyu with its Ming-era towers on a gray and misty day – finding no crowds, but spring blooms everywhere. SEND US YOUR BEST SHOTS Are you a traveler who never leaves home without a camera? The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

Discovering sacred sites in Africa The photographer: Teresa Licholai of Sacramento Behind the lens: During my trip to Ethiopia, we visited many of the country’s rock-hewn churches. This picture is of the famous Bete Giyorgis (St. George) church in the city of Lalibela, which was sculptured from monolithic rock during the late 12th or early 13th century. It is always open to the faithful of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and inside there is a copy of Ark of Covenant. SEND US YOUR BEST SHOTS Are you a traveler who never leaves home without a camera? The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

Hotel Albani staircase in Rome The photographer: Val Balagot of Antelope Behind the lens: From the top floor of Hotel Albani in Rome, I shot this architectural wonder. The spiral staircase winds down six stories to the dining hall. SEND US YOUR BEST SHOTS Are you a traveler who never leaves home without a camera? The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

A beacon at Beagle Channel The photographer: Steven B. Raffin of Granite Bay Behind the lens: A striking lighthouse emerges from a lichen-encrusted shore along the Beagle Channel near Ushuaia, Argentina. SEND US YOUR BEST SHOTS Are you a traveler who never leaves home without a camera? The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

Southern Spain The photographer: Bob Wilthew of Granite Bay Behind the lens: On a recent two-week motorcycle tour with IMTBike through southern Spain and Portugal, we had a one-night stay at the Parador Arcos de la Frontera. We were relaxing in the bar sipping our drinks and enjoying the view out a huge window that overlooked the valley below. Ken Lee, a moto-journalist who was on our tour as a writer for Rider Magazine, came in from the patio and mentioned that with the sun about to go down, we should be able to get some great photos, so my husband went outside and was able to capture the beauty of one of the white towns on the Ruta de los Pueblos Blancos. – Lois Wilthew SEND US YOUR BEST SHOTS Are you a traveler who never leaves home without a camera? The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

Picking up pieces in South Africa The photographer: Steven B. Raffin of Granite Bay Behind the lens: This photograph was taken in South Africa at Royal Malewane Lodge near Kruger Park. Three white-backed vultures were cleaning up a lion-killed wildebeest carcass. SEND US YOUR BEST SHOTS Are you a traveler who never leaves home without a camera? The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

‘Laundromat’ in Mumbai, India The photographer: Laurie Heller of Sacramento Behind the lens: The 140-year-old dhobi ghat in the Mahalaxmi area of Mumbai is a huge outdoor “laundromat.” It’s estimated that a half-million pieces of clothing are picked up from homes, hospitals and hotels each day, washed, beaten clean, hung to dry, and within a day returned, crisply pressed, to their owner. These photos were taken from the flyover bridge by the railway station on a recent trip to India. You can see the rows of open-air concrete wash tubs used by the dhobi wallahs (laundry workers), who code each item with a mark identifying its owner. Several hundred dhobis and their families live and work at the Mahalaxmi Dhobi Ghat. It is an occupation that is passed down from generation to generation. SEND US YOUR BEST SHOTS Are you a traveler who never leaves home without a camera? The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

Bisons head out in Yellowstone The photographer: Ted Holm of Lincoln Behind the lens: We traveled to America’s first national park, Yellowstone. Our first day, we were able to see a few bison. They are quite a sight, as they are huge and unpredictable. Many of the female bison’s had recently given birth and had their calves close to their sides. One day, the bison were on the move, all of them. It was best to stay back and out of their the way. SEND US YOUR BEST SHOTS Are you a traveler who never leaves home without a camera? The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

The photographer: Michael Brandt of El Dorado Hills Behind the lens: The Halászbástya or Fisherman’s Bastion is a terrace fortress wall in neo-Gothic and neo-Romanesque style situated on the Buda bank of the Danube River, Budapest, Hungary. SEND US YOUR BEST SHOTS Are you a traveler who never leaves home without a camera? The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

Malawi bike taxis: ‘Sacramentos’ The photographer: William J. Sweeney of Sacramento Behind the lens: As my wife and I were driving along a narrow two-lane road in southeast Malawi, we passed thousands of bicycles, many of which are frequently used as taxis by locals. This one caught my eye because of the plate on the back when we were so far from home. I discovered later that in northern Malawi, bicycle taxis are commonly called “Sacramentos.” SEND US YOUR BEST SHOTS Are you a traveler who never leaves home without a camera? The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

Emerald Lake, British Columbia The photographer: Joe Cheung of Sacramento Behind the lens: A canoe cuts through the pristine glacier water in a beautiful afternoon at Emerald Lake, Canada, in Yoho National Park, British Columbia. The vivid turquoise color of the water and the surrounding mountain range is spectacular to see. SEND US YOUR BEST SHOTS Are you a traveler who never leaves home without a camera? The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

Above San Blas Islands, Panama The photographer: Clay Taft of Fair Oaks Behind the lens: My son and I sailed through the San Blas Islands of Panama on a kiteboarding adventure in January. This is an early morning kiteboard session, launching from one of the unnamed islands. SEND US YOUR BEST SHOTS Are you a traveler who never leaves home without a camera? The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

Postcards From Readers A bunch o’ pups The photographer: Tim Viall of Stockton Behind the lens: Sled dogs vie for attention after a day of giving dogsled rides to visitors at the Whitefish Mountain Ski Resort in Whitefish, Mont., in early February. The dogs were a very energetic and friendly bunch. SEND US YOUR BEST SHOTS Are you a traveler who never leaves home without a camera? The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

McArthur-Burney Falls state park The photographer: Ted Holm of Lincoln Behind the lens: I was traveling to Redding and took a few minutes out of my trip to see the falls at McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park. No matter what time of the year you visit the falls, they are always running at full blast. The water comes from an underground river that runs all year. SEND US YOUR BEST SHOTS Are you a traveler who never leaves home without a camera? The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

Patagonia region of Chile The photographer: June Bate of Roseville Behind the lens: While hiking in the Torres del Paine National Park in the Patagonia region of Chile, we came across this little gray fox taking a nap. He scolded us for waking him. SEND US YOUR BEST SHOTS Are you a traveler who never leaves home without a camera? The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

U Bein footbridge in Myanmar The photographer: Marjorie Gelus, Carmichael Behind the lens: Visitors cross or sit on the 200-year-old teak U Bein footbridge over Taungthaman Lake at sunset in the ancient royal capital of Amapura, Myanmar, on Jan. 27. SEND US YOUR BEST SHOTS Are you a traveler who never leaves home without a camera? The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

Postcards From Readers The tree tunnel beckons Photographer: Allison McAuliffe, Sacramento Location: Cypress tree tunnel, Point Reyes State Park There’s a hidden treasure to be found when traveling to the Point Reyes lighthouse. Along this road you will find this beautiful tunnel of cypress trees. This photo was taken around 2 p.m., when the sun was strong enough to let light shine through the tall cypress trees. SEND US YOUR BEST SHOTS Are you a traveler who never leaves home without a camera? The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

Salmon running in Trinity County The photographer: John Bernard Behind the lens: This photo was taken below Lewiston Lake dam at sunrise on opening day for the steelhead salmon run. SEND US YOUR BEST SHOTS Are you a traveler who never leaves home without a camera? The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

Rain arrives at Lake Tahoe The photographer: Gregory P. Wayland of Gold River Behind the lens: This photo was taken at South Lake Tahoe. I escaped up there for a little while on Sunday. I took this photo around 4 p.m. That’s when the rain came after first blowing in from the valley. It is a shot of the western shore in South Lake Tahoe, with Mount Tallac on the far left. The birds are all facing into the wind. SEND US YOUR BEST SHOTS Are you a traveler who never leaves home without a camera? The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

Heart Lake looking north The photographer: Mark Rasmussen of Dunsmuir/Sacramento Behind the lens: A long-awaited trip to Northern California for Thanksgiving to show our daughter’s out-of-state boyfriend there is way more than San Francisco and Tahoe looked to be doomed by an ill-timed storm. The next day showed a light powdery snow as far as the eye could see, and our planned hike to Heart Lake above Castle Lake seemed possible. Once we got to the ridge above Heart Lake, the view to the north was spectacular – Castle Lake, Mount Eddy, Black Butte and, of course, Mount Shasta seemed close enough to touch. SEND US YOUR BEST SHOTS Are you a traveler who never leaves home without a camera? The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

Bald eagle in Klamath Basin The photographer: Ted Holm of Lincoln Behind the lens: While I was visiting friends in Klamath Falls, I decided to go out and see if I could find any bald eagles. Yes, they had come down from the north, looking to get out of the cold. I spent hours out in Klamath Basin, watching the bald eagles. SEND US YOUR BEST SHOTS Are you a traveler who never leaves home without a camera? The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

Myanmar fisherman at sunset The photographer: Julie Fisher of Sacramento Behind the lens: This fisherman was at Inle Lake, Myanmar, where the tradition is to row the boat with one leg, leaving the arms free to work the fishing nets. SEND US YOUR BEST SHOTS Are you a traveler who never leaves home without a camera? The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

Surma tribe member, Ethiopia The photographer: Anna Skacel of Sacramento Behind the lens: This photograph was taken in the Omo Valley in Ethiopia in November 2015, where the Surma tribe members decorate themselves in the most creative ways. It took three days of solid driving by Land Cruiser to get there. There were no hotels or stores to be seen, which meant we had to camp. Unfortunately, our time was cut short because of tribal tensions after two people were killed on our third night there by a neighboring tribe. SEND US YOUR BEST SHOTS Are you a traveler who never leaves home without a camera? The Bee wants you to share your best travel photographs with other readers. “Postcards From Readers” is a weekly feature that spotlights your shots from around the nation and world. Please submit your photograph, with a brief description of what is taking place and the photographer’s name and hometown, to postcards@sacbee.com. All submissions become property of The Bee.

Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park The photographer: Ted Holm of Lincoln Behind the lens: A visit to Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park took my breath away. The trees – yes, the trees – so tall, so old. I walked the park path, passing tree after tree, looking for the best pace to take a photo that showed the true size of these trees. I looked up, snapped this photo of the trees reaching far into the sky! They seem to go on forever.

Koalas in southeast Australia The photographer: Cindy Philpott of Sacramento Behind the lens: I was lucky enough to come across these cute little koalas at a wildlife park in the state of Victoria, Australia. They were totally unaware of my presence and probably full of eucalyptus leaves, perhaps quite happily dreaming their day away.

Street musicians playing in Havana The photographer: Joe Phelan of Lincoln Behind the lens: These Cuban street musicians had picked a good place in a restored part of Havana to play hoping for tips from tourists. It was just outside the old cathedral in a tourist area of town that had been restored – unlike so much of Havana. Framed by the bright blue door, they made for a nice photo.

Holy man in Varanasi, India The photographer: Gary Stock of Sacramento Behind the lens: I was walking the ghats (steps for bathers leading to a riverbank) along the Ganges River in the Hindu holy city of Varanasi, India. I had just been to see the nightly ceremony for the sacred river when I passed this Brahmin who was meditating on a ledge on the ghats.

Hanging with hippos in South Africa The photographer: Walt Hess of Elk Grove Behind the lens: While on a trip to South Africa in May, we visited the Sabi Sands, an area of the Greater Kruger Park, specifically Arathua Game Lodge. The game was plentiful, and we had a great time. I took this photo with my Canon T2i and a Sigma 150-500mm lens.

Bee-eaters in Zimbabwe The photographer: Chris Smith of Sacramento Behind the lens: We were visiting Victoria Falls Safari Lodge in Zimbabwe last spring. I woke up with the sun and walked down to the patio that overlooks the watering hole, hoping to photograph some wildlife. Not much was moving yet, but I saw these little bee-eaters darting around. It was a cool morning, and they were huddled up for warmth. As one zipped in, another would squeeze over or fly off. It only lasted for a few minutes before they all darted away in various directions. A lovely sight to start the day.

Ornate graves in Buenos Aires The photographer: Alison Roe of Davis Behind the lens: La Recoleta Cemetery in Buenos Aires, Argentina, is amazing at every turn. Eva Perón is buried here.

Tribute to a city’s miners Photographer: Dylan Sarron of Sacramento Behind the lens: This statue in Karaganda, Kazakhstan is a monument to the miners who helped build the city with the rich coal deposits found below the original city site.

Postcards From Readers Los Uros toddler The photographer: Steven Steinbrecher of Pollock Pines Behind the lens: On a trip to the Islands of Los Uros, a native people who live on floating reeds on Lake Titicaca in Peru at over 13,000 feet, I had the opportunity to meet this very interested and friendly young boy I met while bargaining with his mother in order to purchase some wall tapestries. Los Uros are remarkable in that although they live less than two miles from the city of Puno, they rarely leave their islands of reeds, unless they are leaving the tribe for good.

Postcards From Readers: Waterfalls in western Iceland The photographer: Tom Wardell of Sacramento Behind the lens: This photo was taken during a week’s visit in Iceland. This country so exceeded expectations. “No trees,” we heard, but there are incredibly beautiful waterfalls everywhere, amazing glacial flows, wonderful, soothing hot springs and spectacular geysers – just for starters! This particular falls complex is named “Glymur” and is located about 2 hours northwest of Reykjavik. Very little is written about it in the tour guides but many locals know of it. Waterfalls in western Iceland The photographer: Tom Wardell of Sacramento Behind the lens: This photo was taken during a week’s visit in Iceland. This country so exceeded expectations. “No trees,” we heard, but there are incredibly beautiful waterfalls everywhere, amazing glacial flows, wonderful, soothing hot springs and spectacular geysers – just for starters! This particular falls complex is named “Glymur” and is located about 2 hours northwest of Reykjavik. Very little is written about it in the tour guides but many locals know of it.

Clouds dance around ‘El Cap’ The photographer: Ted Holm, Lincoln Behind the lens: Every time I go to Yosemite National Park, I see different things. This time, as I viewed the valley from the famous “Tunnel View,” I saw the clouds swirling around El Capitan. I can’t wait to make another trip.

Silhouette serenity in Bali The photographer: Kim Goosmann of Sacramento Behind the lens: We had the opportunity to travel to Bali and to experience the beautiful culture. We were staying near the Tanan Lot Temple. One day as we were walking along, I noticed someone meditating up on the stones and was captured by the beauty of the ocean and the connection between human and environment. The moment was simple but yet so powerful. I was very captivated by the beauty of Bali and the happiness and joy expressed by the people.

Dancing little monk in Myanmar The photographer: Cindy Besemer of Sacramento Behind the lens: While visiting Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, Myanmar, last March, I saw this very young Buddhist monk with other monks. He was skipping and laughing like any young child.

Golden glow of Paris in August The photographer: Jaime Garza of Sacramento Behind the lens: After enjoying a fantastic dinner with friends at their Paris home in August, we walked around the corner to enjoy this spectacular view of the Eiffel Tower. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the wonderful people of France (family and friends) during this difficult time.

Surprise visitor in France The photographer: Christine Weinstein of midtown Sacramento Behind the lens: When my husband, Dave Jones, and I were visiting France in May and June, we spent a relaxing week in the gîte (rental house) of the Mangane family. We were the first Americans to ever stay at their gîte near the medieval town of Désaignes in the Rhône-Alps. One day their son stopped by with a juvenile bird that had fallen out of a tree. The boy fed and looked after the young bird, protecting it from roaming cats. The bird stayed perched on the boy for two days. The day after this photo was taken, the bird flew off.

Dresden on a dreamy evening The photographer: Alan Lampe, Folsom Behind the lens: This evening scene was taken in Dresden, Germany, in September. My wife, Marci, and I were on a tour with friends of Germany, the Czech Republic and Poland. The day had been filled with museums, art and history. The beautiful evening was a fine finish to the day.

A friendly face at Machu Picchu The photographer: Steven B. Raffin of Granite Bay Behind the lens: On a trip to Machu Picchu outside of Cusco, Peru, we were greeted by one of the very few residents. The encounter was brief but pleasant.

The photographer: John Modin of El Dorado Hills Behind the lens: In the 160,000-acre Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve near the southwestern section of Kruger National Park in South Africa, an adult male leopard from an 8-foot termite mound surveys his territory for unwelcome male trespassers. We followed him for nearly an hour, watching him survey and mark the limits of his territorial boundary before he entered steep terrain where we were unable to follow. We were also fortunate to capture incredible close-up photos of elephants and rhinoceros on this safari adventure.

Postcards From Readers: Falling in love with Point Lobos The photographer: Mel Kinoshita of Roseville Behind the lens: On a spring day, my future wife-to-be, lovely Melissa, and I walked the scenic oceanfront trails and had a picnic lunch at Point Lobos. Beautiful weather, beautiful scenery, and a beautiful lady!

Cruise ship stop in Vietnam The photographer: Henry Saunders of Sacramento Behind the lens: This shot was taken in a small village in Vietnam. This was the first time a cruise line had taken a small number of tourists to this town, and the villagers were very curious and kind to us. After taking this photo, the woman gave my husband one of her flowers. He tried to give her money in exchange but she would not accept it. I love the expression on her face.

Peyto Lake, Alberta, Canada The photographer: Joe Cheung of Sacramento Behind the lens: Peyto Lake in Banff National Park is a striking sight. Its blue color comes from glacier rock flour that flows into the lake during the summer. Notice the right side of the lake is shaped like a wolf’s head. This is nature at its best.

Lobster fishing in Nicaragua The photographer: David Schmitz of Natomas Park Behind the lens: While visiting Nicaragua, we took a side trip to the Big Corn Island (Las Islas del Maiz), located around 50 miles off the Caribbean coast of the country. We flew to the island from Managua on a single engine 12-seat plane and stayed in a beach bungalow only about 15 steps from the water. Lobster fishing, the main industry of the island, includes many family operations, like these local lobster fishermen who are preparing lobster traps.

Temple in Kyoto, Japan The photographer: Lorena Esparza of Sacramento Behind the lens: This is Kinkaku-ji temple in Kyoto, Japan. I recently visited Japan with my classmates, and it was an experience I will never forget. When I visited the temple, the humidity was unbearable, Chinese tourists scrambled to take pictures, but in the end the shot was worth it. This temple was purely built to show the wealth of the shogun and that he was just as fit as the emperor. Kyoto is an amazing city to visit if you are interested in seeing traditional Japan.

Rail station near Giverny, France The photographer: Shirley Hall of Citrus Heights Behind the lens: This shot of an old Frenchman was taken by my wife, Shirley Hall, in May this year after our visit to Monet’s Gardens in Giverny, France. She took it while we were waiting for a train to return us to Paris. The man appears to be proofreading or editing some sort of document.

Exploring an exotic garden The photographer: Cindy Philpott of Sacramento Behind the lens: On a recent trip to Oaxaca, Mexico, my mom and I did a two-hour tour of the botanical gardens located in town. The beautiful garden created by an artist is full of native plants including exotic cacti, agaves and succulents all laid out and connected by a series pathways, borders and bridges.

Fort in India The photographer: Georgene Redmann of Davis Behind the lens: As we entered the Ranthambore Fort in India, pilgrims were coming down the steps after visiting the Ganesh temple.

Zion National Park, Utah The photographer: Rick Melnicoe of Davis Behind the lens: The Narrows of Zion National Park, Utah, was carved over the millenniums by the Virgin River. The top to bottom hike is 16 miles long and can be done as a long day hike or overnight camping. A permit is required. Much of the hike is in shallow water with a few places requiring a short swim. The beauty of the canyon is spectacular with walls reaching over 1,000 feet above you and only 20 to 30 feet wide in a few places. Most visitors hike up from the main park, but miss the true beauty of the farthest reaches of the canyon.

Piedras Blancas elephant seals The photographer: Bill Chiechi of Sacramento Behind the lens: This past June my wife and I happened upon the Piedras Blancas elephant seal rookery along the Central California coast. There were many hundreds (or perhaps thousands) of these seals present along this protected beach. At this time of the year the seals are molting and mainly there are females and juveniles present. We watched many of the juvenile males practicing sparring with one another, a skill they will use to attract females during mating season, once they are mature.

Paramount Theatre, Seattle The photographer: Lou Padgug of Sacramento Behind the lens: On a recent trip to Washington state, we saw the Paramount Theatre in Seattle. Unfortunately, we were not there on the day free tours of the interior of this incredibly ornate performing arts venue are offered. While walking along the side of the building, I looked up and this fire escape caught my attention.

Namche Bazaar before the quake The photographer: Rick Lynch of El Dorado Hills Behind the lens: When my friend, Kurt Stegen, and I were 18 and had just climbed Mount Whitney, we made a commitment to do something special when we turned 60. In November, we both turned 60 and booked a trekking adventure through REI to Nepal. This is a picture of Namche Bazaar at 3440 m (11,300 ft). We were in Namche eating lunch on April 25 when the earthquake hit. I love to remember Namche in its beauty prior to the quake rather than the destruction on the day of the earthquake.

Yosemite Valley in spring The photographer: Brian Phillips of Folsom This was taken on a recent trip that my wife, Shelley, and I made to Yosemite. It was cloudy with occasional rain while we were there, but on the afternoon of May 19, the sun broke out, lighting up a section of Cathedral Rocks. We were driving back to our hotel at the time, and running late for dinner, but when I saw this beautiful light, I immediately pulled over and grabbed a few shots. There are also deer in the meadow in the foreground.

Canyonlands National Park, Utah The photographer: John Spurr of Davis Behind the lens: This photo is from a hike in the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park. The trail leads hikers out to a wonderful area called Chesler Park, which has all kinds of colorful rock formations. Lightning was flashing in a thunderstorm behind the butte on the right.

Cappadocia, Turkey The photographer: Estrella Parker of Piedmont Behind the lens: This was taken in Cappadocia, Turkey. Whirling dervishes are followers of Sufism, a religious sect whose mystics believe that ritual spinning will bring them closer to God.

Vancouver, British Columbia The photographer: Oscar Vallejo of Carmichael Behind the lens: At Granville Island Market Place in Vancouver, BC we were ready to board our water taxi for a quick ride over to Yaletown for more sightseeing. Vancouver has an enormous amount of condo towers overlooking the city and harbor.

An elephant parade in Tanzania The photographer: Tom Taylor of Fair Oaks Behind the lens: We are in Tanzania on the second day of a 15-day photo safari. Our first encounter with wild elephants came in late afternoon in Tarangire National Park when we spotted a herd of about 35 elephants walking single file along the edge of a vast marsh. We pulled to the side of the dirt track in our vehicles and turned off the engines, then watched this line of elephants move quickly along the marsh edge. This shot became one of my favorite photographs from the trip.

Children make river a water park The photographer: Vic Carbonell of Sacramento Behind the lens: While cruising with friends along the Dapitan River in Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines, we came upon this group of kids enjoying their improvised playground. Some were in a bamboo raft, others on the branch of a tree. They were shrieking with laughter and apparently egging one another to jump. They were so engrossed in their pleasure that they did not even look our way as we passed by. The scene brought back memories of my own river adventures when I was young.

Machu Picchu, Peru The photographer: Marsha A. Robinson of Citrus Heights Behind the lens: My sister Karen and I journeyed on the Perurail Vistadome to the town of Aguas Calientes at the base of Machu Picchu. From there we took a shuttle bus that crisscrossed its way up the mountainside and dropped us at the entrance to the park in the late afternoon. Most visitors had left the park by then. We had only to show our tickets at the ticket booth and walk about a hundred yards into the Lost City of Inca and were greeted by this magnificent view. It just took our breath away.

Pak Beng, Mekong River, Laos The photographer: Debbie Cole of Curtis Park Behind the lens: In February 2014, we took a two-day slow boat down the Mekong River in Laos from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang. We stopped overnight in the small, rustic village of Pak Beng. This photo was taken at sunrise the morning we left the village and captures the serene and mysterious nature of the river, as well as the mountains and jungle that frame it. Our trip gave us an appreciation of the natural beauty of Laos and the relationship its people have with the mighty Mekong.

The photographer: Joe Cheung of Sacramento Behind the lens: On one beautiful but windy afternoon, we visited the Horseshoe Bay in Arizona. It was so windy that my wife (shown at left) didn’t dare stand close to the edge of the cliff when this photo was taken. This picture was taken with a fish-eye lens in order to capture the captivating view of the bay.

The photographer: Susan Boring of Sacramento Behind the lens: I served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Nepal from 1993-1995. In 2012, I was able to travel back with my husband to share a country that I grew to love so much with him. This picture was taken just outside of Kathmandu during the rice harvest in October. The people are so happy, hard-working, and kind – this picture epitomizes that. As we hear of the tremendous loss due to the recent earthquake, I remember this day fondly and hope that my friends are safe.

The photographer: David Schmitz of North Natomas While in Barcelona we took the train for a one-day visit to Monestir de Monserrat (the Monastery at Monserrat). This picture was taken from the top on the Monserrat (translation: serrated mountains) looking down on the monastery. There is a short and very steep train ride to the top. We arrived at the monastery via a 1.5-mile cable gondola that traveled from the valley below through the clouds to the monastery. The cathedral at Monserrat contains the famous “Black Virgin” statue that has been darkened over the centuries from the burning candles.

The photographer: Tom Wardell of Sacramento Behind the lens: This is one of many captivating photos taken on a recent, fascinating 10-day Mekong Delta Cruise aboard the boutique 28-passenger Toum Toui ll. Shown here is a young woman in a pottery farm in the Cambodian village of Kampong Chhnang. I have traveled frequently and often throughout the world and have never felt more welcome or comfortable then I did in Vietnam and Cambodia.

The photographer: David A. Sauvé of Placerville Behind the lens: This picture was taken on the main north/south road through Yellowstone National Park one August. This big fellow was leading a parade of RVs and campers just a little bigger than him. I thought about reaching out the window when he passed us and grabbing a horn, but discretion trumped valor and I rolled the window up. Taken with an old Pentax Spotmatic 35mm SLR, Ektachrome 400 film.

The photographer: Gary Orr of Sacramento Behind the lens: My wife and I completed a bike and barge vacation from Amsterdam to Cologne. When we arrived in Cologne, we rented a car and wandered the hills from Cologne and followed the Mosel River "Fairly Tale Route" all the way to Luxembourg. We took this photo of the village of Cochem from the courtyard of the 12th century Reichburg castle.

The photographer: David Schmitz of Natomas Park Behind the lens: Parking is at a premium in Rome near the Vatican. This driver was fortunate to find a parking space that fit his/her car across the street from the Castle of the Angels

The photographer: Richard Chamberlain of Oroville Behind the lens: Native people get from island to island in Botswana’s Okavango Delta in dugout canoes called mokoro. These people had just gone to visit a church member who had been ill and were returning to their place of work where my son and I were staying.

The photographer: Michele Dodge of Plymouth Behind the lens: This was a lovely little quay in the northern France town of Honfleur. Several of the Impressionist painters enjoyed this very same view (with different boats, of course). Honfleur is a gorgeous town about an hour’s drive from Omaha Beach. I walked into town in the rain the morning we arrived, saw this lovely view and decided I had to see it after the rain stopped. Luckily, the afternoon cleared up!

The photographer: Anne Eychaner of Carmichael Last September two friends and I spent 13 incredible days rafting down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. This amazing view is from Anasazi granaries built into the canyon wall above Nankoweap.

The photographer: Nancy Arkelian of Sacramento Behind the lens: In Vietnam, there are 90 million people and seemingly as many motor scooters, carrying almost everything imaginable. In the countryside we saw this man, who must be one of the most enterprising recycling entrepreneurs in the world.

The photographer: Rick Melnicoe of Davis Behind the lens: Jaguars are the third-largest of the cats and found only in the Americas. While on a trip to the Pantanal of south-central Brazil we were taken by boat to an area on the Cuiabá River where these magnificent jaguars hunt caiman and capybara. This photo was taken of a female who was not too happy that our boat was the only obstacle between it and a family of capybara on the opposite shore.

The photographer: Gus Betancourt of Sacramento Behind the lens: I visited Glass Beach in MacKerricher State Park near Fort Bragg a few months ago and discovered the sea glass created from years of dumping garbage onto an area of coastline near the northern part of the town. Sadly, most of the glass has disappeared, but the nice, quiet and mysterious atmosphere of the town is still intact.

The photographer: Carol Brock of Penryn Behind the lens: At Rum Point on Grand Cayman, we came across this sign on a recent family visit to the island. The sign shows some history of hurricane activity for the islanders. Hurricane Ivan did some major damage to the island when it hit in 2004.

The photographer: Julie Duehring of Folsom Behind the lens: We were on a girls’ trip to Italy in September and decided to take a one-day tour of Tuscany. The highlight was our stop at the beautiful town of Montepulciano, a small, hilly medieval town with many wine cellars, restaurants, and quaint shops. The oldest shop in town, Maltedetti (pictured here), sells leather goods and shoes, but I don’t think the shoes in this photo were for sale!

The photographer: Mary Duplat of Sacramento Behind the lens: My husband, Claude, and I were in Paris this past fall on our honeymoon when we spotted this young woman “doing it all.” It seems women around the world keep the daily business of life moving forward.

The photographer: David Kalb of Davis Behind the lens: The Chateau d’Amboise is situated along the River Loire in France. It is one of more than a dozen large chateaus in the Loire Valley, a region of France that is both historic and beautiful, from one end to the other. Walk along the river late in the day and if the sun and clouds are right you may capture this picturesque reflection. I took more than 250 photos of the four chateaus I visited during my June vacation.

The photographer: Jeff Hendy of El Dorado Hills Behind the lens: During our recent first trip to Alaska, my wife and I were prepared for glaciers, cool weather, wild animals and quaint small towns. We were not all prepared for the fantastic natural beauty of the state. This photo of Tern Lake, between Anchorage and Homer, is an example of that beauty. The combination of the birch tree, green and snowy mountains, the lake and the light made this a great photo op, and was taken on my Sony NEX5, a small, lightweight interchangeable-lens camera that has totally replaced the bulky DSLRs I used to lug around.

The photographer: Cindy Philpott of Sacramento Behind the lens: While spending the day exploring the many sites of Bangkok, I came across a group of local schoolchildren enjoying a day trip to one of the many temples in and around this amazing city. I quickly snapped this photo as they wandered past only to notice afterward the boy and girl happily holding hands.

The photographer: Chris Allan of Sacramento Behind the lens: The morning after a snowstorm, I headed out before dawn, and the vistas around Caples Lake were stunning!

The photographer: Debby Sprigg of Sacramento Behind the lens: Disneyland brings out the inner child in everyone. Seeing it decorated for Christmas is absolutely breathtaking! My Mom and I went earlier this month, and it was incredible, especially Sleeping Beauty's Castle with its sparkling decorations. I was lucky and got a wonderful, unobstructed spot to watch and photograph the fireworks blossom in the sky behind the Castle.

The photographer: Gary Mills of Sacramento Behind the lens: This photo was taken while my wife and I were on a small boat on the Dalyan River near Myra, Turkey. There are hundreds of these amazing 4th century B.C. Lycian rock tombs carved high into the cliffs.The photographer: Gary Mills of Sacramento Behind the lens: This photo was taken while my wife and I were on a small boat on the Dalyan River near Myra, Turkey. There are hundreds of these amazing 4th century B.C. Lycian rock tombs carved high into the cliffs.

The photographer: Marjorie Lehr of Carmicheal Behind the lens: We have been to Niagara Falls before, but had never experienced the thrilling helicopter ride over the top of both the American and Canadian Falls as we did this vacation. The Horseshoe Falls is the Canadian and the straighter falls is the American Falls. The sight of them is magnificent and the sound intimidating, demonstrating, both visibly and audibly, the incredible power of water.

The photographer: Jim Sargent, Carmichael Behind the lens: We visited Zion National Park in May and spent one day at the less-visited Kolob Canyons area north of the main park. We hiked 2 1/2 miles up Taylor Creek and at the end we were rewarded with this fantastic cave and 1,000-foot-high red rock walls. Water seeping through

The photographer: Larry Anderson of Granite Bay Behind the lens: I took this photo on a recent trip to Turkey. I was in a hot air balloon just after dawn, above the strange, otherworldly land formations of the Cappadocia region. About 60 balloons were aloft that day, and the scene provides both color and contrast to the fascinating landscape below.

The photographer: James Muir of Sacramento. Behind the lens: English Harbour is a natural harbor and settlement on the Caribbean island of Antigua. The Royal Navy established its base of operations for the area during the eighteenth century. English Harbour is best known for Nelson's Dockyard, which occupies the site of the British Navy base. Named for Horatio Nelson who commanded it during the colonial period 1784 through 1787. The photo was taken after a morning rain in January.

The photographer: Peter Silva of Sacramento. Behind the lens: This photo was taken last May during a beautiful evening in the City of Light. Walking away from our visit at the Eiffel Tower and onto the Jardins du Trocadéro, I couldn’t help noticing the pattern of bridge lights on the Pont d’léna as a perfect complement to the soaring monument behind. Everything in Paris is beautiful and especially at night, when the city glows with vitality and romance unlike any other in the world. A few evenings earlier I proposed to my fiancée, Maria, at Notre Dame Cathedral (she said yes).

The photographer: Dee Stayner of Rancho Cordova. Behind the lens: After shopping at the Mercado Central de San Pedro in Cusco, Peru, I noticed this intriguing man on the steps. He seemed lost in thought, and I was tempted to ask what was on his mind. Or perhaps he was merely another man waiting patiently for his wife to finish shopping. To me, this photo embodies the native culture of the city high in the Andes.

The photographer: Elenamarie O’Malley of Sacramento. Behind the lens: A rock monitor lizard plays hide and seek in Zambia’s Kafue National Park. High up in a tree, this camouflaged creature has the perfect vantage point to find a tasty snack near the Lufupa River.

The photographer: Marion Montgomery of Citrus Heights Behind the lens: Near Mandalay in the province of Amarapura, we visited the famous 200-year-old U Bein Bridge at sunset. Sitting over Taungthamaman Lake, at 1.2 kilometers long it is the longest teak bridge in the world.

The photographer: Brad Brown of Citrus Heights. Behind the lens: Brad Brown writes that Noah Alexander Brown, 2 1/2 years old, and Max Alexander, 79 years young, hiked to Pyramid Peak in the Lake Tahoe area in September. Noah hiked 3 miles, and Max hiked 13 miles. And it looks like God was smiling down on both of them.

The photographer: Wyatt Wreford of Folsom. Behind the lens: This photo was taken by 11-year-old Wyatt Wreford during an April trip to the Ostrich Farm on the island of Curaçao, which is the largest ostrich farm outside of Africa. The very prehistoric-looking birds gulp air to cool themselves down, which makes for a very funny sight! His photo captured it perfectly!

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The photographer: Tim Worley of West Sacramento

Behind the lens: As the fall season is settling in, it brings back memories of car trips my wife and I have made through Tennessee. This photo was taken at Forbus General Store. The men are playing a classic card game called Pig. The store hosts the Pig World Championship each year.

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Postcards from readers: Playing Pig in Tennessee

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Postcards from readers: Playing Pig in Tennessee

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