2020 – Photo Contest – Landscape
FIRST PLACE, Ann Swinford, Michigan Chapter
Aurora (Fairbanks, AK, March 2013)
It’s not a vacation without 32 # of camera equipment!
Torres del Paine sunrise, Patagonia, Chile
The sun rises early during the southern summer in Patagonia. Between 3 AM and 4 AM the Torres are for a moment magically bathed in the morning light with stark contrasts in the foreground.
Coastline
Marilu’s photography spans countries and cultures, languages and urban districts. She captures not just the physical appearance, but the essence of her subjects. Each piece is bursting with natural life and color! Her love of cultural diversity is infused in every angle. With photos from all across the world, each of Marilu’s photos encapsulates a small bit of that diversity.
Loch Tummel, Scotland
Misty 12 Apostles
We set out on the Great Ocean Road, along the south-eastern coast of Australia, and drove through heavy rain and fog for most of the day. Fortunately, when we arrived at the 12 Apostles the visibility improved just enough for us to see the dramatic rock formations!
Tie-dye the Sky
Photographer’s statement: While watching the U.S. Open tennis tournament on television I noticed the sky was very colorful on screen so I quickly ran to the rooftop of our NYC apartment building just in time to snap a photo of this magnificent sunset.
Neon Lights
Photographer’s statement: This breathtaking sunset lasted for nearly an hour and was captured while walking on the beach in Aruba
Titanic Picnic in Greenland
Catching the Acapulco sun before it takes an evening swim
This photo was taken in March 2020 at the Banyan Tree Resort in Acapulco Mexico. I was intrigued by the lone photographer seemingly wanting to get the perfect shot from the edge of the infinity pool, but by doing so he may have just missed his opportunity.
Faith
Rapa Nui – Ahu Tongariki
One of the places I’d always wanted to see: Easter Island aka Rapa Nui. I finally got my wish. These stone men (14-16 feet tall) are remnants of the original inhabitants, the Long Ears. Thor Heyerdahl has a theory that the people who carved and erected these statues arrived by balsa rafts from Peru, driven out by the Incas. They are very different-looking than Polynesians, with their long faces, elongated ears and red stone topknots like red hair. And their backs are turned to the ocean.
Hiking the Wonderland Trail around Mt. Rainier
High-alpine pass on Mt. Rainier’s Wonderland Trail
You can never get tired of a beautiful sunset.
Coral Gardens, Bora Bora
On a trip to the South Pacific I tried some underwater photography. The current and wave action present new challenges to photographers. One of a few that turned out ok. I do like the reflection on the underside of the surface.
Lenticular Cloud
I have taken a real likeness to photographing clouds both home and in our travels. The lenticular cloud display in Patagonia was most enjoyable.
Ape Face in the Clouds, Africa
Inis Mór
I photographed this unusual landscape on Inis Mór, the largest of the Aran Islands off Ireland’s west coast. At the top of a hill, I found a vantage point that allowed me to look down at the vast number of stone walls separating every field and farm.
A trek to the clouds
Climb up Kilimanjaro (2016) in the clouds.
Halong Bay
Marilu’s photography spans countries and cultures, languages and urban districts. She captures not just the physical appearance, but the essence of her subjects. Each piece is bursting with natural life and color! Her love of cultural diversity is infused in every angle. With photos from all across the world, each of Marilu’s photos encapsulates a small bit of that diversity.
Mountains of Blue
From the “Top of Innsbruck” at Nordkette, the blues of the mountains melted with blue of the sky.
Malecon
I’ve traveled to over 40 countries, but somehow I always end up back in Cuba. I’ve visited about a dozen times since 2013, including every province and the “special municipality” of the Isla de la Juventud. I even lead trips there through Complete Cuba, a boutique travel company my husband, Keith R. Sbiral, and I founded to share Cuba with curious Americans who want to go off the beaten path. Ironically, this photo is from an area many American tour groups visit in Havana, the Malecon. But the blues, the solitary taxi, and the empty sea always make me imagine I can feel the sea air and the cooling breeze on a hot and humid Havana day. My photographs are usually taken on my phone very early in the morning, and have been chosen as the Havana Times photo of the day multiple times. This particular image was taken on my Leica D-LUX and shown in a gallery show in Chicago in 2018.
Sunset Serenity on the Yulong River
Sun setting behind limestone karsts over the Yulong River in Guilin Province, China
Sandy Hook/ New York Harbour Entrance During King Tide, Fall 2020
The Right Moment in Iquazo Falls in Argentina
Descent into Gorak Shep
After 7 days of trekking, we descended into a small outpost called Gorak Shep. Gorak Shep is the last stop before reaching Mt. Everest Base Camp about 2 hours away. The surroundings are extremely baren, and most trekkers come across as if they are zombies because of a combination of the altitude and the punishing regiment required to reach this point. If you look on the internet, you’ll see Gorak Shep means “dead crows,” but a Sherpa told me the true meaning of the name: “out of hell.”
