In-Depth

The story behind the photos

This is a chance to provide the story behind the photo.  That could be more information about the place you visited or more about how the photo was taken.  It is all up you and what you want to share.  It is often said that a photo is worth a thousand words.  But some photos deserve a thousand words to tell their story.  This is the place to tell that story.

Salar de Atacama – Atacama, Chile. By John G.

Salar de Atacama – Atacama, Chile. By John G.
Camera: Samsung Galaxy S7

Welcome to the Atacama Desert in Chile. You can leave your raincoat at home because the Atacama Desert is the world’s driest place. Some part of the desert receive no measurable rain ever. Let me repeat that – Ever. That being said, the Atacama Desert is a big place and spans over 40,000 square miles (about the size of Kentucky) with some parts of the desert receiving meaningful amounts of rain.

In the northern part of Chile, most tourist use the town of San Pedro de Atacama as a home base for tours around the desert. San Pedro actually gets almost an inch of rain in the month of January. This might not sound like a lot, but it can cause. . . .

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The U.S. Embassy and Anti-imperialism Park. – Havana, Cuba. By John G.

The Malecón with the U.S. Embassy and Anti-imperialism Park – Havana, Cuba. By John G.

Camera: Samsung Galaxy S7 (Panorama Mode)

 

This a panorama along the Malecón in Havana, Cuba as the sun has almost set.  The Malecón is the main drag along the ocean.  It is where people go to hang out and sit by the ocean at all hours of the day.  It is extremely pleasant to sit here when the temperatures are scorching.  But pleasantness is not what this photo is all about.  It is really a story ground in hatred.

 

It will take some explanation, but this is a photo of two countries holding up their middle fingers at each other.  At first glance it looks just looks like some buildings and a park with a bunch of flagpoles along the Malecón.  The building on the far right is the United States Embassy . . . .

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Child’s room Mumbai Chabad House – Mumbai, India. By John G.

Child’s room Mumbai Chabad House – Mumbai, India

Camera: Samsung Galaxy S5

This appears to be a very cheerful photo.  The wall painting was meant to be whimsical decoration on the wall of a two-year-old child’s room.  However, this photo represents an enormous tragedy that has only one bright spot in the end.

 

This is the wall of a room for a two-year-old boy name Moshe Holtzurg.  Moshe lived with his parents in the Mumbai Chabad House in India.  Any sense of happiness was shattered on November 26th in 2008 . . . .

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The Pianzzetta at high tide - Venice, Italy By John G. (Camera: Samsung Galaxy S5)

The Pianzzetta at high tide - Venice, Italy By John G.

Camera: Samsung Galaxy S5

Venice, Italy is known for the seasonal flooding called the “Aqua Alta,” or “High Water” in English.  The flooding is caused by the sirocco winds that pushes the water north on the Adriatic.  Venice is at the far northern end of the Adriatic and is on the receiving end of all this water.  The Aqua Alta is almost like lifting one end of the bathtub with Venice on the far end.  The water bubbles up through stone manholes in the street that are designed for this purpose.  The flooding is really just an unusually high tide which happens a couple times a day during certain times of the year.  I visited Venice during November which is one of those times. . . .

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