Still Celebrating?

New Year's Reveler, Puerta del Sol, Madrid, Spain

Back in the early Naughties (2000's), we spent Christmas and New Year's in Spain.  It was fun to be in a new place experiencing old traditions in different ways.  New Year's Eve was definitely different than what we had known or expected.

We heard about the fun to be had at Puerta del Sol, in the heart of Madrid.  We figured it was going to be like Times Square, but in Spanish.

First of all, there was no countdown, at least not formally.  When midnight passed, no one seemed to notice.  We felt let down.

Basically, the Spaniards had been celebrating for so long that when the clock struck midnight they were too drunk to notice.  At around 12:15 am, they realized they were in the new year and the crowd went wild.  Madrid kept partying well into New Year's Day.  What the Spaniards lacked in punctuality they made up for with enthusiasm.

We feel that the young man in this photo captured the entire spirit of that night.

One Day

Us, Tallahassee, Florida, USA

Yesterday the United States Supreme Court tossed out the anti-gay marriage laws DOMA and Prop 8.  Perhaps one day we will have the full, complete, and unquestionable right to marry anywhere in the nation of our births.

The photo above was taken by a friend very early in our relationship, about 25 years ago.  We usually don't post anything remotely political or personal, but as it's no secret we're a gay couple, we figured it was okay today.

Mother and Child

Sunset, English Bay Beach, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Taking pictures into the sun is always hard.  Sometimes, you can't get a good balance of the light or keep the sun from distorting and shooting rays all over the picture.

In this case, it doesn't really matter, as this mother and her child are the real stars here and we delighted in watching them.

Surfing Safari

Surfer, Manhattan Beach, California, USA

The boys (and girls) of summer will soon take their boards to the beaches and enjoy the wind and waves.  Surfing may be best in the winter months, but with school out kids can spend whole days at the beach for weeks on end.  This picture was taken one April evening a few years ago.

2011: A Cooling Odyssey

Crown Fountain, Chicago, Illinois, USA

The wonderful Crown Fountain, at the western edge of downtown Chicago's Millennium Park, is a cooling oasis for body and mind.  Usually crowded with hordes of tourists, this little boy somehow got a moment all to himself.

Imagining Summer

Lummus Park Beach, Miami Beach, Florida, USA
This picture was taken in the middle of October, but you'd never know that by the scene. In fact, it was over 80 degree Fahrenheit! No wonder Miami Beach is so popular during fall and winter.

Worth Much More Than A Nickel

Nickel Creek, Fabulous Fox Theatre, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Nowadays, plenty of folks take pictures at shows. We never used to take photos during concerts, but by the mid-naughties it seemed to be normal for folks to whip out their camera phones and grab snapshots. So, we joined the bandwagon and took this photo during a wonderful concert by Nickel Creek at Atlanta's Fabulous Fox Theatre. Nickel Creek may not be active anymore, but we have special memories of this evening.

Father and Son

A boy and his father, McCarran International Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
We snapped this photo on the jetway at Las Vegas' McCarran International Airport (LAS) and instantly fell in love with this shot.

Relaxing in the Med

Mediterranean Sea, Tel Aviv, Israel
We've been to Israel many times, but until recently we'd never been swimming in the Mediterranean Sea. Sure, we dipped our toes in and waded in the water, but we never really had a chance to go swimming in the Med.

On our most recent trip, we finally got a chance to swim in the Mediterranean. This was the scene right before sunset. It was lovely!

Snips and Snails

Boy Exploring, Harpswell, Maine, USA
The boy above is exploring the rocks, shells, sand, and muck. Perhaps he found some snails and other fun creatures. Perhaps he found some sea glass. No matter what he found, he is certainly having fun!

Ring of Color

Earring, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
This weekend we went to the Atlanta Dogwood Festival and had a nice time. Ned bumped into a colleague whose friend was wearing this unique earring.

Garden of Eden?

Torreya State Park, Bristol, Florida, USA
When we were in college, we used to drive around exploring. One day we stumbled upon the exceptionally beautiful Torreya State Park. Located on the high bluffs and banks of the Apalachicola River, the bluffs, ravines, streams, and forests are both beautiful and fun to explore. The park is named for the torreya tree, a very rare and ancient tree. For a variety of compelling reasons, some consider Torreya State Park as the site of the Garden of Eden.

While hiking down a stream in the park one day, we found this "waterfall". We each took turns sitting in this waterfall. It was an amazing feeling! On future trips, we searched for the waterfall, but could never find it again.

Climbing Clay

Ned climbing a cliff wall, Providence Canyon State Park, Georgia, USA
Here's a 1992 picture of Ned climbing a sloping wall of Georgia red clay at Providence Canyon State Park.

Providence Canyon is sometimes called Georgia's "Little Grand Canyon", but it is not a purely natural feature. The massive canyons (gullies) were caused by erosion due to poor farming in the 1800s.

Welcome to Topograpix

Marc and Ned on the Walnut Street Bridge in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA
We love traveling and taking pictures. Using relatively simple cameras, we've gotten many awesome shots!

We want this site to inspire you, regardless of your skill level or equipment, to create great photos and explore your world, near and far.

Welcome to Topograpix!

Marc and Ned