| What's it like to be a writer AND photographer? | | | | places feels like you are preserving a bit of history. No |
| ReaderViews sat down with author Vicki Landes to | | | | matter what happens, they will live forever in your |
| talk about her new book, Europe for the Senses. | | | | photographs. |
| ReaderViews: Thanks for talking with us today Vicki. | | | | RV: Are the photographs in "Europe for the Senses" |
| We are interested to hear more about you, and your | | | | of the major tourist attractions? How did you narrow |
| beautiful photography book "Europe for the Senses: A | | | | down the ones that you feature in your book? |
| Photographic Journal." Would your start off by telling us | | | | Vicki: I've mixed a bit of world-famous sites with |
| what your book is about, and what you are trying to | | | | little-known ones. I don't think you should come to |
| convey through the photos? | | | | Europe just to see the Big Bens and the Leaning |
| Vicki: "Europe for the Senses - A Photographic | | | | Towers. Even the smallest detail of a little-known place |
| Journal" is a travel/photography book meant to do | | | | can be 'the one' that stays in your heart long after the |
| more than just display European destinations. It's a | | | | trip is over. |
| collection of photography and creative writing meant to | | | | Picking which destinations would be in the book was |
| transport the reader to each respective destination | | | | very difficult - I've thoroughly enjoyed most of the |
| with stimulating sensory imagery. Experience the sights, | | | | places I've been to. I poured through hundreds and |
| smells, sounds, tastes, and touch that make Europe a | | | | hundreds of shots in my collection and found the ones |
| remarkable compilation of uniquely beautiful countries. | | | | that seemed to sing out. There were a few that I |
| Whether a novice or a seasoned traveler, EFTS | | | | ended up cutting out before we got to the final layouts. |
| hopes to invoke a craving for Europe - not only for the | | | | I wanted to ensure that there were places that people |
| major attractions that attract so many but the small, | | | | would definitely associate with vacations (such as |
| much overlooked details waiting to be discovered. | | | | Germany and Italy) but a few that would make people |
| RV: Vicki, where were you born, and where are you | | | | stop and say, "Wow, I can vacation there? I've never |
| living now? | | | | considered this place before!" |
| Vicki: I was born in St. Charles, Missouri and stayed | | | | RV: When did you discover you had a talent for |
| there until I left for college. My family hardly traveled so | | | | photography? |
| I never considered exploring other places. My husband | | | | Vicki: I started taking photography classes in 4-H when |
| and I had been living in Kansas City, Missouri for a | | | | I was in elementary school. My dad was the instructor |
| couple years when he received military orders to | | | | and a few years into it, I won my first photography |
| Stuttgart, Germany. I was livid - I'd just graduated | | | | contest (much to my surprise). I've been taking pictures |
| college, we'd just bought a house and I'd just had a | | | | for most of my life but never considered sharing them |
| baby so I went to Germany literally kicking and | | | | until my grandparents suggested the book - that's |
| screaming. After about six months, though, I really got | | | | probably when I realized I actually had a talent for it J |
| into seeing new places and we've been living in | | | | RV: Your narrative that accompanies the photographs |
| Stuttgart for seven years now! Since my husband is | | | | is a significant part of the full-sensory experience of |
| active duty Army, he had to extend a couple of times | | | | your book. Would you give us an idea of your writing |
| (tours are normally three years) and he did so only | | | | style, and your thoughts about using writing to bring life |
| because I loved it here so much. | | | | to your photographs? |
| RV: Since living in Stuttgart, Germany, you have | | | | Vicki: There are many photography books out there |
| traveled to 45 countries. Would you comment on your | | | | that have a 'forward' at the beginning and then use |
| obvious love for travel? And, have these destinations | | | | only captions to identify the shots. I wanted my book |
| been predominately for your photography pursuits? | | | | to be different - vivid descriptions of each section |
| Vicki: When I moved over here, I was shocked at how | | | | would truly put the reader into the pictures. I wanted |
| rich the European history was. In the states, we can | | | | people to really feel what it would be like to stand in |
| visit something 'historic' which only ends up being a | | | | the middle of an endless tulip field in Holland - touching |
| couple hundred years old at the most. In Europe, | | | | the soft petals and gazing at the spectrum of colors |
| though you can visit places that are literally a thousand | | | | or savoring the breathtaking Tuscan countryside with |
| years old...sometimes even older! This is absolutely | | | | all of your senses - not just your eyes. Each of these |
| amazing to me and I can't seem to get enough of this. | | | | places can leave you with such a deep, multifaceted |
| I've been to thousand-year-old monasteries where you | | | | memory if you don't rush through them. |
| can walk up to the ancient stone columns that are | | | | RV: Did you have professional training in photography |
| supporting the massive roof and wrap your arms | | | | or creative writing? |
| around them to feel the cold stone on your cheek (you | | | | Vicki: About 5 years worth of 4-H photography |
| couldn't get away with this in the states without an | | | | classes and regular coaching and practice from my |
| alarm going off and getting tackled by security). I've | | | | dad over the years. We had a dark room in the |
| explored the inside of mines that predate the time of | | | | basement so he taught me how to develop film and |
| Christ. 'Newer' destinations can include gothic | | | | reduce/enlarge from negatives. I've had no formal |
| cathedrals, baroque palaces, or World War I | | | | creative writing training other than through school over |
| monuments. There's no end to what is out there to | | | | the years. I'm currently working on my Masters degree |
| discover. Europeans really understand the importance | | | | so I've taken plenty of writing classes. |
| of their history and the need to preserve it. No, the | | | | RV: Vicki, the senses are a predominate theme for |
| photography has not driven the destinations - it's | | | | your book. Would you comment on the importance of |
| actually the opposite. I'll visit something I'm truly | | | | enlisting all the senses when traveling, and how you've |
| interested in and I just always keep a camera in tow. | | | | personally come to this conclusion? |
| RV: What inspired you to write "Europe for the | | | | Vicki: When I first started traveling, I wanted to just see |
| Senses"? | | | | as much as possible - that meant rushing through to |
| Vicki: I didn't even consider writing a book until my | | | | cram it all in. The weekends ended up being a blur and |
| grandparents suggested it. After every trip I take, I | | | | my memory of the trip not only included the destination, |
| send an email with attached pictures out to friends and | | | | but the feeling of rushing around, lack of sleep, and a |
| family describing the places I'd just been. I didn't just | | | | cranky husband and son. I soon realized that although I |
| want to share the pictures, I wanted them to feel what | | | | was seeing quite a bit, I wasn't left with a profound |
| I'd felt when I was standing there. I wanted them to get | | | | memory of the destination. When I started slowing |
| a sense of what that particular place stood for - | | | | down and becoming aware of what I was smelling, |
| whether it was a famous place or something nobody | | | | how the warm sun felt (or the chilly rain), or how I lost |
| had heard of. Europe is chock full of unforgettable | | | | my breath at the sight, the trip became an experience. |
| things and viewing Big Ben can be just as profound as | | | | I don't just remember what something looked like now |
| being the lone soul exploring castle ruins on a | | | | - my nose remembers, my skin remembers, and my |
| mountaintop. I also came to realize that many people | | | | heart remembers. |
| are afraid to travel to new places - even other military | | | | RV: Would you explain to us your own personal vision |
| families abroad. It can be difficult to step outside of our | | | | of taking photography that awakens the senses? |
| comfort zones, especially in the uncertain times we live | | | | Vicki: When I'm viewing a potential site, I see lighting |
| in today. I didn't want to just write a book with travel | | | | and symmetry as most important. It's amazing how a |
| information - there are plenty of those out there (which | | | | tiny step to one side or another can completely |
| I use religiously!). Instead, I wanted to convey Europe in | | | | change how the light strikes and where the balance |
| such a way that might make taking that first travel | | | | lies. I'll take several shots from several different angles |
| step a bit easier. If you develop a yearning for | | | | and the LCD screen on my camera lets me check the |
| something, it's not as scary to do. | | | | picture immediately. I've been known to sprawl on the |
| RV: Which countries do your spotlight in "Europe for | | | | floor of a cathedral (I've gotten pretty good at a |
| the Senses" and are these your favorite places in | | | | 'respectful sprawl' in these places J ) or stand in the |
| Europe? Why do you think Europe lends itself so well | | | | middle of a road to get the right shot. |
| to photography? | | | | RV: Why do you think a photograph can leave such a |
| Vicki: I have 15 different countries spotlighted in "Europe | | | | powerful imprint on someone's memory? |
| for the Senses". Germany and Italy are concentrated | | | | Vicki: A photograph is like a piece of the real thing. |
| on heavily because they seem to be the most popular | | | | Those that long to visit a certain destination only need |
| among tourists (and they are my two favorites!). The | | | | to view a picture to get that heartache. They say that |
| other countries include: Switzerland, Austria, England, | | | | 'eyes are the windows to the soul' - if you can see |
| The Netherlands, Iceland, The Vatican (it's a country all | | | | someone's soul by looking into their eyes, the soul can |
| to itself!), Hungary, The Czech Republic, Luxembourg, | | | | see out and experience that photograph - that piece |
| Romania, as well as a couple from Azerbaijan, | | | | of the real place - and be left with an emotional |
| Armenia, and the Republic of Georgia. | | | | impression. |
| I think there are a couple reasons why Europe lends | | | | RV: Which countries would you still like to visit? |
| itself so well to photography. First, Europe is vastly | | | | Vicki: Plenty! I haven't been to Ireland yet and I've got |
| different as you travel from place to place. You don't | | | | family roots there (apparently, we come from a line of |
| have to go far to shoot snow-capped mountains or | | | | Irish grave robbers). I also haven't been to Spain or |
| flourishing vineyards. There can be an entire spectrum | | | | Portugal yet. I don't limit myself to Europe, either...I've |
| of environments and cultures within a short flight or | | | | visited 12 African countries so far and I want to see |
| drive just waiting to be captured on film (or on your | | | | several more! |
| memory stick J ). Second, as you travel you can visit | | | | RV: How can readers find out more about you and |
| sites that have survived some of the most destructive | | | | your book? |
| forces of nature and man - photographing these | | | | |