Lighted Spaces and Landscapes

Excerpts from a Geographer's Photo Archive

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  • Dutch Tapas–Don’t Laugh

    tapas that turned out to be a delightful surprise

    They were the menu special that night. We saw them and they looked so good that we ordered them. The tapas were an unexpected Dutch treat. We needed a walk by the canal afterward. (Amsterdam, Netherlands, 2019)

  • þrírfoss

    Þingmannaá,

    I made up that name because I liked it, but is is really Þingmannaá. The three levels of the waterfall made me want to make up a word play on Icelandic for 3 falls. (Flókalundur, Iceland. 2024)

  • Harbor Life

    I got a new job and Kathleen insisted that we move closer to it so I wouldn’t be on the road late at night. I protested, but she was right. This was a beautiful place by the harbor and we enjoyed it, but when the job was over we missed home and wanted to move back to Milwaukee. (Kenosha, Wisconsin, 2013)

  • Spain v. Argentina (Part III)

    Match Food. Eating is an important part of travel and I ate magnificently in both Spain and Argentina. I would return to both places for the food alone. My go to snacks in Spain were Salmorejo with roasted vegetables, Add berenjenas con miel and you will be happy. I ate a lot of great things in Argentina including a lot of empanadas, beef, and chipas (not pictured). No matter who you are rooting for today. Eat well my friends. (Spain, 2024 and Argentina 2025)

  • Spain v. Argentina (Part II)

    Here are two amazing ancient “industrial” sites that make a return visit to both these countries worthwhile. The first is the great salt flats in northwest Argentina at Salinias Grandes. These are still actively used for harvesting salt. The second is Las Médulas, an ancient gold mine that was the largest open pit gold mine of the Roman Empire starting after its conquest in 25 BC. (Salta, Argentina 2025, Leon, Spain, 2022)

  • Spain v. Argentina (Part I)

    I rate countries on whether they are on the “short list” to return to visit. Both Spain and Argentina fall into this category. The history of both is long and deep on the landscape. Above is the Mosque–Cathedral of Córdoba. The Mosque is built on Ancient Roman and Visigoth sites and was converted to a Catholic cathedral after 1236. While in Argentina I got to visit Pucará de Tilcara which was inhabited as long as 10,000 years ago and was conquered by the Inca in the late 1400s just prior to the arrival of the Spanish in 1536. (Cordoba, Spain 2024 and Tilcara, Argentina, 2025)

  • Among the Pilgrims

    Badarinath Temple in Uttarakhand

    Walking among the pilgrims to the Badarinath Temple was a remarkable experience. While I was there, I was in disbeleif that I was there. When I look at this photo I am in disbelief that it’s me in the photo. (Badrinath, Uttarakhand, India, 2009)

  • Teal in the Sun

    photographing doors. The intense sun

    I was out photographic doors and it was hot that day. The sun was wearing me out. This teal was just so cooling as the sun blazed down. I suspect it had been recently painted because it was not very faded. (San Juan Antiguo, Puerto Rico 2010)

  • Malvinas Nos Une

    Malvinas nos une. Common sign throughout Argentina

    One of the most interesting backstories of today’s football match is the historical-political history between these two nations. When I was in Argentina last year, I saw these signs all over the country. The Malvinas is embedded in the Argentine mind and is recalled in the current football chant that celebrates Messi, Maradona, and longs for a 4th cup. (Salta, Argentina, 2025)

  • It’s Not Just a Door

    doors that offer more than mere entryways.

    But it’s really an invitation. I love doors that offer more than the traditional “portal cover.” This one called to me with the colors at first, but then the sounds from inside made me want to go in and see what was cooking in the kitchen. (Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2025)