Meet Anna Marie :: Calistatus Photography (United States)

We kicked off a new series in January 2019 featuring traveling photographers from around the world (most recent feature here; to date, the list includes Italy, Canada, United States, Vanuatu, Iceland, Switzerland and Australia). We make no secret of the fact that we love travel. We love learning about other cultures. We love contributing to a smaller, more interactive space. With this in mind, we are going to be sharing local stories by local photographers from around the world throughout our posts this year.

This month takes you to a city in California, United States! Lovely Anna Marie, from Calistatus Photography, has been a pleasure to work with. We hope that you enjoy this spotlight on Apple Valley. Thank you for joining in, Anna Marie, and for sharing images that transport us and stories that make us want to experience your part of the world firsthand! Enjoy!

 

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1. Tell us about where you live? I live in a city called Apple Valley. We are located in the high desert of Southern California, which is in the United States. You can find us on America’s Highway, which is also known as Route 66. We are a relatively new city as we were just established in 1988. Usually, the first question that always arises when I state where I am from is if there are apples here. Once upon a time there was an abundance of apple orchards, which is actually where this city got its name. Sadly, there are no longer apples. Just desert and Joshua trees. Our city is conveniently located in the middle of a lot of fun stuff. About 45 minutes away, you have the snowy mountains of Big Bear and Wrightwood. We are about an hour and 30 minutes away from the bustling city of Los Angeles. An hour and a half away from the happiest place on earth: Disneyland (located in Anaheim, California). Two and a half hours away way from the infamous Las Vegas. And about an hour and a half away from Venice Beach and Santa Monica Pier.

Route 66 Museum. Photography by Calistatus Photography.

2. What makes your town, state or country unique? My most favorite unique place that we have here is George Air Force Base. I know that sounds weird because it is an air force base. But the best thing about it is that it is abandoned. So there is tons of history in that place. It has also been used to film tons of well known movies such as: The War of the Worlds, Face Off, Jarhead and many more.

George Air Force Base. Photography by Calistatus Photography.

3. If I traveled from the opposite side of the world what should I visit in your town, state or country? A neat place to take your family or even to just go alone is Calico Ghost Town. It’s an old western town where you can go to enjoy a good cowboy show and do a little gold mining. And just up the street there is an amazing 50’s diner called Peggy Sue’s Diner. There you will find a 50’s styled diner that serves nothing but amazing dishes named after famous people from the 50’s and some delicious milkshakes - all while enjoying some tunes from the juke box. And if you are in the mood for sweets and ice cream, Eddie World is not far away. There you will find a candy and ice cream wonderland.

Calico Ghost Town. Photography by Calistatus Photography.

Peggy Sue’s Diner. Photography by Calistatus Photography.

Eddie World. Photography by Calistatus Photography.

4. What is something quirky we would find in your town, state, or country? I would have to say the most quirky thing you would find here in Apple Valley is Bottle Tree Ranch. Bottle Tree Ranch is exactly what it sounds like. A ranch with trees made out of glass bottles. This ranch has a lot of interesting things to see. From trees made out of glass bottles to antique cars and other random antiques. And not too far away, from there is one of the best pizza places I’ve ever had: Cross-Eyed Cow Pizza. On top of this building, there is a tye-die cow. You can’t miss it!

Bottle Tree Ranch. Photography by Calistatus Photography.

Bottle Tree Ranch. Photography by Calistatus Photography.

Cross-Eyed Cow Pizza. Photography by Calistatus Photography.

5. Best breakfast cafe? This is a tough one. So to be honest, picking just one… is not possible. Emma Jeans Holland Burger; don’t let the name throw you off. Their breakfast is just as amazing as their burgers. Emma Jeans is a little place off the beaten path and, man, is it delicious. This restaurant is well known among the locals. It was also featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives with Guy Fieri. Next up you have Mollie Brown’s Cafe. This restaurant is a staple of the high desert. I’ve never met anyone that doesn’t love Mollie Brown’s. Then there is a little hole in the wall called TNT’s Cafe. Their food is absolutely amazing. AMAAAAZING! There is not a day of the week that that place isn’t packed. Not only is their food amazing but you get great sized portions for a great price. Last but not least you have Spirit Cafe. The staff is always so friendly. The coffee is always hot. And the food is nothing shy of amazing.

Emma Jeans. Photography by Calistatus Photography.

Mollie Brown’s Cafe. Photography by Calistatus Photography.

TNT’s Cafe. Photography by Calistatus Photography.

Spirit River Cafe. Photography by Calistatus Photography.

6. Three reasons why someone should visit your town, state or country? The weather is usually warm and sunny. We have amazing sunsets. And there is plenty of stuff to do. Horseback riding, off-roading the desert hills in a big truck or on some ATVs, and all the other fun stuff that’s not too far away.

7. Any local legends? As far as I know, we do not have any local legends.

8. Train, bus, car or walk. We do have a bus system. However, car is the best way to get around.

9. Best accommodation? The best rated accommodations are the Holiday Inn, Hilton Gardens, Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham, Hilltop Tavern and Inn, and La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham.

10. Must-see vantage point? Now this may sound odd but, off in the hills of Apple Valley, there is a place called Sunset Hills Memorial Park and Mortuary. It is located above the desert giving you an amazing view of the gorgeous sunsets we often experience here in the desert. And it offers a great view of the city lights once the sun has gone to sleep. You don’t have to go in the cemetery. Right outside the gates there is an open patch of dirt that you can park your car in and enjoy the view.

Sunset Hills. Photography by Calistatus Photography.

11. Who is the most noteworthy person to come from your home town? Miko Hughes, star of the famous Pet Sematary and Kindergarten Cop. Jason Varges of the Philadelphia Phillies. Country singer Brennley Brown. Roy Rogers and Dale Evans are probably the most famous people that are known here in Apple Valley. Neither were born here but both of them lived here and passed away here. Victorville (which is the next city over) used to be the home of the Roy Rogers Museum. Roy Roger’s famous horse statue is still located in Apple Valley. Cuba Gooding Jr. (a famous actor) graduated from Apple Valley High school.

12. Most colorful character in your hometown? As far as I know we don’t have any colorful characters here.

13. The number one thing you miss when you are away? This might be the most typical Californian thing to say but when I am away from home for a long period of time the thing I miss the most is In n Out Burger. This is a California-based company and is located in select states outside of California. Every Californian knows this place. When I am home, I don’t eat it that often; when I have been away for weeks or months, the first thing I crave is In n Out.

In n Out. Photography by Calistatus Photography.

 

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You will find Anna Marie here:

Meet Vanessa & Stephan :: projectphoto (Switzerland & Iceland)

We kicked off a new series in January featuring traveling photographers from around the world (most recent feature here; to date, the list includes Italy, Canada, United States, Vanuatu and Australia). We make no secret of the fact that we love travel. We love learning about other cultures. We love contributing to a smaller, more interactive space. With this in mind, we are going to be sharing local stories by local photographers from around the world throughout our posts this year.

This month takes you to both Switzerland and Iceland! Lovely Vanessa & Stephan, from projectphoto (based in both Switzerland and Iceland), have been a pleasure to work with. We have been looking forward to their feature and they have certainly not disappointed! We hope that you enjoy this fascinating insight into two parts of the world that some of us dream of living and working in. Thank you for joining in, Vanessa & Stephan, and for sharing stories (and breathtaking images) from your parts of the world with us! Enjoy!

 

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Photography by projectphoto

Photography by projectphoto

1. Tell us about where you live

 

Switzerland

We are based in Switzerland. We mostly work here but also in the neighbouring counties – Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, Italy and France, as well as other European countries (we just came back from a destination wedding in Greece).

 

Iceland

Iceland is our «second home». We travel and work there on a regular basis. We have a local address over there and work with (currently two but expanding…) associates - local Icelandic photographers for our brand.

 

2. What makes your town/state/country unique?

 

Switzerland

Switzerland is unique because it is such a tiny country but also one of the most beautiful ones, too. As far as landscape is concerned, you have got everything over here – lakes & mountains & old villages. It really looks like it is straight out of a Disney fairy-tale. The only thing we are missing here is the sea but hey - the sea is only a 5-hour drive away in Italy (Genua).

 

Iceland

Iceland is unique because you feel as though you are moving back in time to the beginning of the earth – in no other country can you witness genesis that tangible than in Iceland. Also, it is totally opposite to Switzerland as far as settlement and populations are concerned. Switzerland is really crowded - every inch is settled and used by someone (and there are laws for almost everything). Iceland is wide open, very rural and untouched, and its total population equals the population of Zurich City.☺

 

3. If I travelled from the opposite side of the world, what should I visit in your town/state/country?

 

Switzerland

Of course you have to visit the mountains and catch the postcard scenery – we would recommend to either visit the Matterhorn in Zermatt – «the mountain» of Switzerland – or Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau near Interlaken/Berner Oberland.

 

Iceland

The peninsula of Snaefellsnes is often called the «miniature of Iceland» as there you can find all the famous sights of Iceland at one glance and within a small distance – waterfalls, glaciers, & volcanoes.

 

4. What is something quirky we would find in your town/state/country?

 

Switzerland

Everything runs on time in Switzerland. It could reasonably happen that you miss the bus or train - even though you are at the station right.on.time. - because it can leave a bit earlier. ☺

 

Iceland

Of course you should try hákarl. Hákarl is a national dish of Iceland consisting of a Greenland shark or other sleeper shark, which has been cured with a particular fermentation process and hung to dry for four to five months. Fermented shark has a strong ammonia-rich smell and fishy taste. Fermented shark is readily available in Icelandic stores and may be eaten year-round, but is most often served as part of a þorramatur, a selection of traditional Icelandic food served at the midwinter festival þorrablót.

 

5. Coffee or chai/tea?

 

Switzerland

Frau Meise, Baden https://www.fraumeise.ch/

It is a café, bistro, bar, guesthouse, cultural center, & boutique ... all in a cozy living room in which one feels at home. The owners use local products. Of course you can get coffee, as well as tea & chai over here.

 

Iceland

Kex Hostel, Reykjavik http://www.kexhostel.is/

Not only is Kex Hostel a good place to stay – it is a hotel/hostel, too – but it is also a perfect place to take your coffee (you can refill it ☺), plug in all your electronic devices (especially necessary when you are travelling on the road with a camper-van), check your emails, upload your photo data and meet some friends & clients for a chat.

 

6. Best breakfast cafe?

 

Switzerland

Bohemia, Zurich http://www.bohemia.ch/

The stylish Bohemia has incorporated South America, as well as Caribbean and Californian influences, into its food resulting in an exciting balance of flavours. When it opened in 1999, the restaurant was one of the first to have its own coffee roasting facility and gained widespread reputation for its delicious breakfasts. While having undergone considerable transformations since then to include American-Brasserie influences, the quality of its brunches have lost none of their appeal. Next to homemade cakes and fresh ingredients, the light interior (with its wooden accents) contribute to a charming eating experience. The weekend brunch is renowned throughout the city and welcomes visitors until as late as 4pm.

Hiltl, Zurich https://hiltl.ch/

The Hiltl restaurant is considered the first vegetarian restaurant in the world and has been in the Hiltl family for four generations. On Sundays and national holidays, it serves one of the best brunches in the city and visitors can enjoy the delightful treats until 2.30pm. The huge buffet features a range of vegetarian and vegan dishes from traditional eggs to Indian lentils. Alongside the breakfast, refreshing Prosecco, fruit juices and earthy coffees provide the perfect contribution to a healthy breakfast. The Hiltl’s elegant setting with its open architecture and elegant atmosphere, as well as its innovative kitchen, gives it a special place in Zürich’s brunch scene.

 

Iceland

Sandholt, Reykjavik https://sandholt.is/en/getting-started/

Sandholt is a bakery & eatery that makes great in-house sandwiches, pastry, cakes and coffee. Sandholt bakery (& coffee) is centrally located on Laugavegur and has a very cozy atmosphere. They offer a good variety of chocolates and other sweets, too, for those that are into that part of the food pyramid in the morning. Everything is made on-location & fresh each morning. Sandholt also belongs to a small luxury hotel chain. 

Cafe Vinyl, Reykjavik https://kaffi-vinyl.business.site/

This all-vegan restaurant is a super hip coffee house/restaurant that has endless delicious options of vegetarian and vegan dishes, amazing funky music and cozy atmosphere like no other. Also, the restaurant provides great Wi-Fi, spacious tables and lovely staff. Don’t miss out on this one! And especially don’t miss out on their sandwiches. It is a great breakfast place for those arriving for a late breakfast &, of course, an easy recommendation for every other vegetarian & vegan traveller. By night, Café Viny turns into a buzzing meeting point for all kinds of hipsters and artists and students from all corners of the world.

 

7. Three reasons for why someone should visit your town/state/country?

 

Switzerland

1) Because it is in the «heart» of Europe (even if it is not in the EU) and has it all – villages & lakes & mountains

2) Because it is so tiny – you could easily miss it when you are driving through Europe

3) Because of cows & Swiss chocolate & Swiss watches - of course ☺

 

Iceland

1) Because it is so unique, unique, unique….. (so this is the first/second and third reason)

 

8. Train, bus, car or walk?

 

Switzerland

Walk if you are in the tiny towns. You have to take the «glacier express train» which runs from St.Moritz to Zermatt – it is such a scenic route.

 

Iceland

Rental-car – a 4 x 4 so that you can drive to the remote places. The Thakgil camping ground in the backcountry of Vik, for example, is such a unique place. For the road, you need a 4x4 to be on the safe side. The owners do not want too much traffic; therefore, they do not take too much care on the road conditions – only the toughest get there. The views from the road back to Vik and the sea are unique (and are very good photoshoot locations, too). The camping ground itself looks out of this world as it is surrounded by green mountains.

There are no trains running in Iceland. They have some busses but they serve only the very main connections and touristic routes.

 

9. Best accommodation?

 

Switzerland

Stay in some chalet or remote house in the mountains.

 

Iceland

Take a camper-van and be free. You should stay at one of the campsites; due to new laws, you are free to decide which one and how long you would like to stay there.

 

10. Must-see vantage point?

 

Switzerland

Hammetschwand-Elevator, Lake Lucerne - https://www.buergenstock.ch/en/explore

Uto-Kulm, Uetliberg, Zurich - https://www.utokulm.ch/en/uetliberg

 

Iceland

Top of Halgrims Church – http://en.hallgrimskirkja.is/

(There you will have the best view of the capital city of Reykjavik.)

 Or the terrace of the Perlan - https://perlan.is/

(For the same reason as above.)

 

11. Number one thing you miss when you are away?

 

Switzerland

That it is all clean - you can even eat from the streets. That it is all very well-organised and running on time.

 

Iceland

The wide open and rough landscape is like being on another planet. That it is always windy in Iceland.

Photography by projectphoto

Photography by projectphoto

 

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You will find Vanessa & Stephan here:

 

Meet Kailyn :: Summit + Co (United States)

We kicked off a new series in January featuring traveling photographers from around the world (most recent feature here; to date, the list includes Italy, Canada, United States, Vanuatu and Australia). We make no secret of the fact that we love travel. We love learning about other cultures. We love contributing to a smaller, more interactive space. With this in mind, we are going to be sharing local stories by local photographers from around the world throughout our posts this year.

This month takes you to North Carolina (with a couple of extra places included - just for good measure)! Lovely Kailyn has some fabulous local recommendations for ice cream & coffee and some thoughful musings from her international travels. It has been a pleasure to get to know her through the dialogue that is inevitable when coordinating these features. Kailyn, would love to take you up on your invitation to reach out if we find ourselves in your beautiful neighbourhood. Thank you for joining in and for sharing stories from your part of the world (and world travels) with us! Enjoy!

 

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South Carolina (Image by Summit + Co)

Hey there! My name is Kailyn. I am a creative who thrives on adventure. I seek out emotion and the ever-present hum of humans experiencing this amazing life journey. Thank you so much for giving me a bit of your day to read about one of my favorite things - TRAVEL!

For the last few years, I have been hanging out in Charlotte, North Carolina. My fiancé and I are a photography + videography team specializing in birth, love, and life in between. We have a pup that is part-coyote (don’t tell anyone) and a cat who is 100% attitude. 

If I am being really honest, I am a mountain girl. I moved here from Colorado, and that is home to me. We will be back home before long, but for now Charlotte is so good to us. One thing I love about this city is that it is so entrepreneur-driven. Everywhere you look, someone owns a business, which means there is someone you can learn from. This community is so supportive—definitely community over competition—and we love to lift up our small and local businesses.

Camp North End - Charlotte, North Carolina (GIF by Summit + Co)

I have traveled quite a bit, but the United States has always been my home base. One thing that amazes me is how diverse this country is. You can get a COMPLETELY different experience based on where you go and who you interact with. I love the outdoors, so if you make it to the states, I definitely recommend the Rockies. Colorado’s back-country has soooo much to offer and is plastered with beauty. If you’re on the west coast, Yosemite National Park and Sequoia National Park are my two favorite NPs. Yosemite was the only time that I have ever entered a national park and was immediately speechless. The rock faces are old with wisdom. Regal and breathtaking, yet unforgiving. They are something everyone should experience.

Canyonlands National Park, Utah (Image by Summit + Co)

Colorado Springs, Colorado (Image by Summit + Co)

Asheville, North Carolina (Image by Summit + Co)

Boulder, Colorado (Image by Summit + Co)

Boulder, Colorado (GIF by Summit + Co)

If we’re talking world-wide, one of my favorite recent trips would have to be to Australia. I was blessed with the incredible experience to photograph a wedding at the Whitsunday Islands, and it was AMAZING. There are plenty of reasons to go to Australia—the friendly people, the free city tours that dive into incredible history, getting punched by a kangaroo or eaten by a spider in one bite—but what I loved was the coral reefs. We got the opportunity to snorkel in The Great Barrier Reef, and the colors were spectacular. The most vibrant, neon colors occur naturally in the coral and the fish. That said, the reefs are dying due to a whole slew of man-made causes. I think if more of us take time to really appreciate this beauty, we will put more energy into protecting it. Whether it is in your own back yard or all the way across the globe, we can help nature and we can help each other, so don’t be afraid to do just that—help.

Whitsunday Islands, Australia (GIF by Summit + Co)

Whitsunday Islands, Australia (Image by Summit + Co)

Whitsunday Islands, Australia (Image by Summit + Co)

If you ever find yourself in the states and we happen to be in the same area code, I would love to meet and hear about your journey! You can also follow along with our adventures (we will be in Ireland soon!) at www.instagram.com/the.girl.and.her.dog or www.summitandcophoto.com/blog. In the meantime, if you make it to CLT, here are a few great local pit stops: 

Everyone loves coffee, right? Actually not me. I don’t drink coffee at all, but I know my fellow travelers do! If you are ever in The Queen City (Charlotte, that is), we have a handful of coffee shops called Not Just Coffee. I can’t speak for the taste or quality of the coffee because, well, I don’t drink it… but every one of these shops is so Instagram-worthy. From a photographer’s standpoint, the lighting is awesome and the energy in the shops is so chill. If anything, stop in for a photo.

We also have the MOST AMAZING ICE CREAM. Listen, I don’t like ice cream. I know, I know: it’s amazing that you’re still listening to me. However, we have a few shops called Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams and, let me tell you, they know what they are doing! They have super fun flavors like wildberry lavender and sweet cream biscuits with peach jam. They also have options for my fellow vegans, like dairy-free Texas sheet cake. Our CLT locations have great murals right by the shop. Get a scoop, snap a pic.

Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams – Charlotte, North Carolina (GIF by Summit + Co)

I hope that you get to travel. I hope that you get to experience culture. I hope that you get a chance to embody a new perspective, and understand life from the eyes of another. More than that, I hope you get the opportunity (and take the opportunity) to help another person—to lift them up. I’ll close it with my girl Mother Teresa, “Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one come to you without leaving better or happier”. 

Hang loose,

Summit + Co.

Crested Butte, Colorado (GIF by Summit + Co)

Wilmington, North Carolina (Image by Summit + Co)

Canyonlands National Park, Utah (Image by Summit + Co)

Crested Butte, Colorado (Image by Summit + Co)

 

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You will find Kailyn here:

Meet Valerie :: Valerie Fernandez Photography (Vanuatu)

We kicked off a new series in January featuring traveling photographers from around the world (most recent feature here; to date, the list includes Italy, Canada, United States and Australia). We make no secret of the fact that we love travel. We love learning about other cultures. We love contributing to a smaller, more interactive space. With this in mind, we are going to be sharing local stories by local photographers from around the world throughout our posts this year.

This month takes you off-the-beaten track to Vanuatu of all places! A little backstory from the Lonely Planet: “Vanuatu is a Pacific island adventure far beyond any notions of cruise-ship ports and flashy resorts. Deserted beaches, ancient culture, remote and rugged islands and world-class diving are just a small part of the magnetism of this scattered 80-plus island archipelago”. (You will find an interesting interactive map on this web page.) We have mentioned previously that we love getting to know the photographers behind the stories. Valerie, from Valerie Fernandez Photography, is lovely to converse with; you can be forgiven for thinking that you are on island time, too, as her warm, relaxed nature is contagious (the thought of living somewhere where you can forget to bring your phone with you? Yes, please - sign us up!). Since the flight time from our hometown to Vanuatu is less than 3 hours, you can bet that we have added this slice of sand, sea & sun to our bucket list. Thank you for joining in, Valerie, and for sharing stories from your part of the world with us! Enjoy!

 

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Tell us about where you live?

I live in Vanuatu, a tiny island country in the South Pacific. It is about three hours flight away from Australia and New Zealand. I’ve been fortunate enough to travel a lot in my life and live in different places. I absolutely love discovering new places, cultures and people; however, I am also always happy to return home at some point. Beyond my obvious biases, there is something truly special about this country - something very raw, very simple and, to me, very authentic. I have found balance here between a life, passion and job that requires me to be connected at all times - as well as the need to actually not be connected at all times. It’s just easy to leave your phone at home around here. It’s easy to still connect with people face to face and not through some device. It’s easy to be spontaneous. I love that.

 

What makes your town/state/country unique?

Kava. Around 5pm here, most people are done for the day and usually gather in what we call “Nakamals” - a sort of outdoor version of a bar where one drinks “kava” (or other regular soft drink or beer). That’s probably the heart of the nivan culture and something unique. Kava is a drink extracted from a root with a very earthy, peppery taste. It isn’t alcohol. It is not a drug. However, it does have a relaxing effect (that turns to numbing if you abuse it). So everyday around 5pm, people gather for an hour - or two or three (it’s up to them) - and sit down outside. You will find some under majestic banyan trees or by the beach or wherever their favourite nakamal and crowd is. They just chat, catch up, connect. I love this about our culture. I love taking that hour of time to just be a human and connect with other humans, talking about everything and anything. Not knowing whether the conversation today will be silly and witty or deep and meaningful. I love that our lifestyle allows us be dedicated parents & committed business owners but still allows us time to be part of a community and see our friends almost every day. It gives us a wonderful balance. It allows us to transition nicely between our working day and our life at home, blow some steam, have a laugh, and still be back home early enough for family dinners, playtime and cuddles with our bub, and bedtime stories.  Both my husband and I have spent years in cities like London and Paris where the everyday rhythm is crazy. Therefore, we appreciate time as our most treasurable thing today.

 

If I traveled from the opposite side of the world, what should I visit in your country?

Tanna definitely. 100% Tanna. Vanuatu has about 80 islands. That’s a lot of tropical paradise to offer but Tanna is so special, it is actually, truly worth coming all the way from across the globe. Tanna is home to the world’s most accessible active volcano. By that, I mean that you can actually sit on its crater rim. As you watch the sun set over the ocean, you can witness the pure, raw force of nature. You will feel, hear, and see the volcanic eruptions and the sky and stars turn red (check out some footage here). If that’s not enough, Tanna has landscape like the moon, tropical beaches, lush green jungles, pristine waterfalls and blue caves all along its coast, accessible only by swimming in from the ocean. It’s a land for the old souls and the children at heart, the adventurers, & the wanderers.

 

Coffe or chai/tea?

Personally, coffee AND tea. ☺ I don’t know that I can shoutout for a fav coffee shop as that’s actually one of the things I miss about big cities… especially after 8 years spent in Paris where there are probably as many coffee shops as inhabitants. That isn’t to say we don’t have nice little coffee shops around here. We do but I can’t think of one that stands out particularly. What I can say, however, is that we have our very own coffee - 100% Vanuatu coffee. It is grown and harvested in Tanna and processed in Port Vila. That should be enough to make any coffee lover happy, don’t you think? And if that’s not enough, you could pair Vanuatu grown coffee with a Vanuatu tree to bar Gaston Chocolate, for example. ☺  Yes, we have that too. The cacao beans are grown and harvested in the outer island of Malekula, the chocolate bars are made in Gaston’s cute little shop downtown… and you can sip a cup of Tanna coffee while actually watching the chocolate being made!

 

Best breakfast café?

Hmmm… my loyalties are torn apart! I would say Jill’s Café for a typical homey feel. K2 for several reasons: amazing & healthy breakfast with a twist, traditional recipes revisited with local products & a creative flair, and wonderful coffee & fresh juice. Chantilly’s on the Bay, finally, for amazing breakfast with a view.

 

Three reasons for why someone should visit your country?

To unwind, stay in a heavenly resort away from it all and let the crystal clear waters and light palm breeze rejuvenate your soul and reconnect you with yourself and your loved ones. To go out of your comfort zone, experience a destination where twenty-first century lifestyle and traditional culture overlap, where you can have access to international standard comfort, or choose to be adventurous and go completely off-the-beaten tracks. Slow yourself. Come back to a rhythm that is healthy. Learn patience.

 

Any local legends?

None that come to my mind particularly. Having said that, the nivan culture is very, very mystic. Some of the most remote islands are known to be home to actual sorcerers and black magic. This is actually something that is taken seriously around here. As far as I’m concerned, well, just in case, I prefer to respect these beliefs. ☺

 

Train, bus or walk?

Bus. Our buses don’t follow a given itinerary. You stop them anywhere you would like a cab. Hop in, tell the driver where you are going and he will take you there. Bear in mind, though, that this works on a first come, first serve basis so it is worth making sure the bus you’re hoping on is going your way if you don’t want to end up going all over town before you reach your destination! ☺ (I suppose this could also answer your question about a local quirk! ☺)

 

Best accommodation?

There are so many options! Erakor Island is a small islet reached by a five minutes ferry ride over crystal clear blue waters with star fish all over the seabed. Breakas Resort for the surfing. Eratap and The Havannah for a truly romantic getaway. Ratua Island and Tanna Rockwater for absolute barefoot luxury, for a honeymoon or a quiet retreat.

 

Must see vantage point?

Clem’s Hill overlooking far into Port Vila, the harbor, Mele Bay, villages, coconut tree fields, Hideaway Island… there is so much of what is typical of Vanuatu in one panorama.

 

Most colorful character in your hometown?

Clement Martinez is maybe not the most colourful character in town but he is definitely worth visiting and chatting with. He is the friendly owner of “L’Houstalet”, a French restaurant he opened over forty - maybe even fifty - years ago now. And almost nothing has changed in the restaurant over the years. Clement and his restaurant are a part of Vanuatu’s history and have been the witness of it as well. They were here before we became an independent country, and they stay even after. If history isn’t your thing, he serves delicious pizza - as well as less ordinary dishes, such as lobster and flying fox. ☺

 

Number one thing you miss when you’re away?

My loved ones and my dogs. Also, the sights. I love the fact that I can see the ocean from almost everywhere, that nature is so present around us, & it makes me feel like I can just breathe better. I miss that when I’m away, for sure!

 

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You will find Valerie here:

Information :: What Makes an Image Important

Narrowing down the options when choosing a wedding photographer is typically multifaceted. You want to love the photographer's work. You want a personality that "gets" you as individuals and as a couple (put simply, you want someone relatable!). You need to be able to afford them. With this is mind, some of the most important reasons for why we blog regularly (fyi: we blog once a week and this is our 128th post) are:

  • to tangibly demonstrate how passionate we are about our role as wedding photographers

  • to show who we are and what this means to you as our client

  • to share tips and ideas

Essentially, the kind of information that we are hoping will be important during your decision-making process. Today, we are sharing a little more about us & some food for thought for our clients. A recent discussion about some of our most memorable & personal images to date was the catalyst.

We work really hard on perfecting our craft. We focus a lot of attention on people skills, composition, chasing the most ideal light, depth of field... have we lost you yet? ;) We decided to strip all that back during our discussions and we challenged each other to think of our personal favourite images (rule time: we could only pick a maximum of 2 images). Of course, we both gravitated to ones that have all three of us in them. However, we currently do not share images of our daughter, Chloe, online. So we started again. Naturally, our minds drifted to favourite shots of the two of us - mostly taken during travels. With that in mind (and as the exercise was beginning to feel too easy!), we narrowed the criteria down even further: Pete had to choose two images that featured only him and I had to choose two that only featured me.

{Try this for yourself! You might surprise yourself with what you end up choosing. Actually, why don’t you stop reading now and pick out your two all-time favourites. We’ll come back to yours in a moment.}

In the end, Pete settled on one image. He felt that this one summed up everything for him:

I chose two as they are from a similar time period (same year) but during very different experiences and I find the polarity striking:

Interestingly, all three are “okay” images (definitely not terrible). However, are they perfectly composed? Was the lighting nailed? Honestly, does it even matter? All three tell a story that is important to the subject. Pete chose his representative image for a range of reasons. Skydiving was a dream come true. He was proud of himself for taking the risk. Pete experienced freedom that comes with… well, jumping out of a plane with all risks carefully calculated. I chose my graduation image as I was (and am) so proud of this achievement. It is something that was the result of hard work & dedication. I chose the one from my first time experiencing snow. This moment features in one of the top 10 days of my life to date. Experiencing snowfall was (in my case, anyway) a magical moment. I don’t usually take selfies but this was a moment I wanted to freeze forever - literally.

When you selected your two images, did you think anything along these lines, “I really like x one but I can’t possibly keep it! If I took it again, I would make sure I was a little more off-centre. If it followed the rule of thirds, I think I would be more inclined to keep it”… “Hmmm, this is a good one but the shadows on my face are too pronounced. I think I will scrap it. Shame really as it always makes me feel happy when I look at it!”… “Oooops - the highlights are blown! Forget it! …

Correct me if I am wrong but I am guessing that you chose based on how looking at those images makes you feel?

Capturing an image in such a way that the subjects feel something for the rest of time is at the heart and soul of wedding photography.

In conclusion, we wanted to take this opportunity to re-frame the importance of capturing the moments that are important to you. Yes, we will strive for perfect composition, image processing, lighting, timing, & storytelling. However, we will not compromise storytelling & capturing raw emotion at the expense of perfection. We want the resulting images to tell your story; not be representative of our “brand” per se. We want you to love your wedding photography for a lifetime.