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