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