Richard Marcus

Narrow Canal

It's hard to believe that Venice is actually 118 small islands linked by 400 foot bridges. It's a maze of canals and buildings which makes it easy to get lost. And getting lost seems to be what you do in Venice. In the end, however, you always seem to make it back to where you started and if you're lucky, you'll find yourself in the Piazzo San Marco, contemplating your earlier adventures with a nice glass of Prosecco. Venice, Italy

Storm over Amsterdam

Sometime I think storms seem to follow me around, and normally, that's not a good thing. I rather not discuss the number of times that lightning has almost hit me and my family typically leave my presence when a storm approaches. But a good photography friend of mine reminded me that storms have a tendency to result in wonderfully dramatic photos. On my last day in Amsterdam, I didn't have any pressure to take pictures, although I did have my rig with me as I usually do. We just decided to go for a walk and get in our last views of the beautiful city. Not far from the hotel we walked by this beautiful row of buildings on the water. As I started taking photos, I noticed 6 or 7 people around me taking out their cameras and smartphones. I'm sure they were wondering, "what the heck is this guy taking pictures of." I wanted to tell them ... it's the storm ... it's following me around, making these photos dramatic! Amsterdam, Netherlands

The Colony

South Beach has an incredible history that dates back to the early 1930's. Sitting on the edge of the Atlantic, it's bold and brash and makes no apologies for it's historic glitz. The blue neon flare of the Colony has been frozen in time since 1935. Back in the day, it was a winter refuge for wealthy northerners seeking the warmth of the Florida sun and white sandy beaches. Today, the Colony still stands as a proud testament to the art deco movement that swept south Florida so many years ago. Miami Beach, Florida

Painted Morning

I guess I take quite a few sunrise photos and it kind of makes sense living in south Florida and being so close to the beach. I was up early for this shot and right behind me is a tall sand dune. In the darkness, I managed to navigate my way up and over with all my gear, set up my tripod and waited. There are times when it's a bit underwhelming and those times when the sky just lights up. Soooo ... behind this shot are about 20 sunrises that just didn't make the cut. Dania Beach, Florida

Covered Path

I think it's something inherent in photographers to go where they're not supposed to. I'm not sure the reason for this, but it probably has something to do with seeing stuff we're not supposed to. Down in Matheson Hammock Park, there was a road that was blocked off. But why, said I ... Let's take a walk and just see what's up. Well, this was what was up and considering the roadblock, I had the place to myself. I never really found out why the road was blocked, but who am I to ask questions ... Coral Gables, Florida

Morning at Hillsboro

Early morning at Hillsboro Inlet Park before the break of dawn. The lighthouse, still bright, was beckoning all boats into harbor. A trail of magical red lights is all that remains as a small boat makes it's way out to sea. Hillsboro Beach, Florida

Catherine Palace

Summer palace, Winter Palace, Yusupov Palace ... there's a lot of palaces in Saint Petersburg and it's easy to get confused. They are all stunning and hold treasures from around the world. This is the beautiful Summer Palace or Catherine Palace at Pushkin. The main entrance is through the gardens on the other side of the building. Fortunately, we were able to enter through a back entrance and were spared the long waiting lines! Pushkin, Russia

Fire in the Sky

Arriving down at Maurice Gibb Memorial Park a bit late, I ran to the edge of the Bay hoping to catch some color in the sky. It wasn't much of a sunset, but I figured I'd record the moment. The sun was behind clouds and I was getting ready to leave when the sun came out and lit up the sky. I had to take multiple exposures as it was a bit windy and the boats were moving around a bit. In the end, it was a trip worth taking. Miami Beach, Florida

View Across the Venetian

As we were about to drive over the Venetian Causeway, I looked to the south and saw this view. We immediately pulled over, ignoring the "No Parking" sign. We're only going to be here for a minute, and besides, it's a quiet night, I thought. But Miami is mesmerizing at night and each bridge offers up a rainbow of colors. Forty minutes later we made our way back to the car ... and the big score for the evening ... no ticket tucked under the wiper! Miami Beach, Florida

Night By Lincoln Road

Hanging out with a couple of photographers can get you in trouble. This shot was taken from the top of a Miami Beach parking deck ... well ... a private parking deck. But, what's the harm; three guys with tripods and camera's quietly snapping away at the street below? Well, said the security officer, "private property is not where you should be and I can certainly have the police escort you down if you'd like." And so ended our night of criminal trespassing. But ... I did get the shot! Miami Beach, Florida

Gaudí's Masterpiece

I've never been one to wait in lines and many times I'll pass them up rather than be herded in a line waiting for hours. But there I was in Barcelona and the line to enter the church wrapped around the block. Yup ... I threatened to leave a few times, but after about an hour and a half, I was granted access to a site that kept me in awe for the entirety of my visit. There are times one wonders how ideas get into peoples heads ... Gaudí was clearly operating on a completely different level than the rest of us. I took a number of shots inside this stunning church, but for some reason, this one still sits near the top of my list. Barcelona, Spain

The Vertigo Staircase

There are some of you that may remember the Alfred Hitchcock movie "Vertigo." There is a famous scene that eerily looks familiar to this staircase. We were fortunate enough to enter the Summer Palace from the rear, avoiding the long lines of waiting ticket holders. Upon entering the building, we were asked to wait in a small hallway. I walked underneath the staircase, looked up and behold ... Vertigo! Pushkin, Russia

East Meets West

During our stay in Amsterdam, our hotel was very close to this beautiful barge/restaurant. Spending endless hours running around Amsterdam for 4 or 5 days taking photos, we decided to stick close to the hotel. Onto the barge we went for a very "American" Chinese dinner. As we were leaving, I saw this shot and ran up to the hotel room to grab my gear. I quickly set up and as I was about to start shooting, a young couple started having a heated argument right in front of the camera. It didn't seem like an appropriate time to ask them to step out of view, so I waited patiently. Finally, after 10 minutes they walked off and I quickly started shooting away. To my surprise, I was only able to click off 3 or 4 shots before the lights on the restaurant went dark. Amsterdam, Netherlands

A Bench With A View

Arriving in Amsterdam, I had my heart set on getting an evening photo of the lighted canal bridges that I had heard so much about. Grabbing my gear, I hopped on a tram and raced over to get everything set up. Now at 8:30pm, I'm ready to go and the sun is sitting over my head. A short wait you say? This photo was taken 2 hours later at 10:30pm. But, some good conversation and a glass of wine helped pass the time :) Amsterdam, Netherlands

Neon Nights

Walking around South Beach at night with a tripod and a big camera gets you some attention. While there's no such thing as a quiet night in South Beach, I picked a weekday, hoping it would be a bit easier to navigate. The night started off quiet enough, but within fifteen minutes I had a small entourage following me around, all with their smart phones taking pictures in the same direction my camera was aiming. With about twenty people following me around, someone walked up to and asked if I was famous. I looked around at the crowd ... "tonight I am." 😉 Miami Beach, Florida

Colors of Santorini

It would seem that almost every photographer has made their way here at one time or another and taken countless numbers of photographs. And maybe that's why some photographers pass this stunning island up. Santorini is a tapestry of colors and textures. It's mesmerizing, unique and begs to be photographed. It's a postcard waiting to be taken. And for those that make the journey, they will quickly realize that all of those online images pale in comparison to the true beauty of this tiny Greek Island. And before leaving this majestic little island, treat yourself to a beer while watching the sunset over the Aegean Sea. Santorini, Greece

View From the Gates

We made a point of getting to the Louvre early so we could spend a good part of the day taking in the sights. The thing about the Louvre is that it's immensely large, but also incredibly complex to navigate. It's like those videos where you walk up a set of stairs and seem to wind up on the same floor. Don't ask me to explain, but for those who have toured this museum, I know you feel my pain. Despite having a map in hand, I was constantly asking for directions and still found myself getting lost. Despite my poor sense of direction, I did get to see more stunning art than I could have asked for and was lucky enough to have an afternoon date with Mona Lisa. Here's an afternoon view of The Palais Institut de France, taken from the exit gates of the Louvre. Paris, France

The Colors of Mykonos

Arriving in Greece, I had great plans on spending time photographing in both Mykonos and Santorini. Of course, I found myself surrounded by thousands of tourists, all hunting for the best views on the island. Fortunately, it didn't diminish my ability to catch some wonderful images. And to be honest, that's not a difficult thing to do when you are surrounded by such incredible beauty. So, with gear in hand, off I went, down side streets, in search of paths less traveled. I took this shot along a quiet alley where I sat for a moment before rejoining the throngs of tourists having their way with selfies and windmills. Mykonos, Greece

Across The Bridge

Sometimes, the shot you want to take isn't quite as accessible as you had hoped it might be. Here's a shot taken from the MacArthur Causeway. I had to walk halfway across this busy bridge and set up my gear literally 4 feet from cars racing behind me. It was quite an adventure, but well worth the effort as the Miami skyline truly lights up at night. Miami Beach, Florida

Watering Girl

Take a walk through the streets of Mykonos and you will be greeted by a world of color and textures that seems almost overwhelming. Passing by this entranceway, I couldn't help noticing the "girl" leaning over and watering the flowers. I wonder if the owner is even aware. If you can't see it ... take a minute. She's quite the caretaker. Mykonos, Greece

Halls of the Hermitage

The Hermitage is one of those palaces that you enter and constantly wonder why and how and how much and pretty much anything else you can think of. There are times I wonder what I'd do if I won the Mega Lotto and this probably wouldn't be on my list. Not because I don't think it's stunning ... but I don't think I could visit all the rooms in a single lifetime. Plus, I rather not think of the maintenance. Saint Petersburg, Russia

Saint Augustine Sunset

In all the years that I've lived in Florida, I've never taken the time to visit Saint Augustine. Laying claim to being the oldest city in the U.S., I thought it might be worth a visit. Here's a sunset shot taken from the Bridge of Lions that spans the intracoastal waterway. Saint Augustine, Florida

The Blue Doors

I've always been fascinated by doors, and it seems that I'm not the only one who feels that way. For me, they say something about the people behind them. Walking down the streets of Paris, this set of beautiful blue doors caught my eye. The door knockers alone informed me that someone important must live inside. Note to myself ... get a door knocker ... feel important! Paris, France

Window Box

Charleston is cross between New Orleans and Boston. It just has a neat vibe. How can you say anything bad about a city that fries almost all of it's food and covers most of it with cheese. Okay ... maybe I'm overstating it a bit, but most menus have the word "cheesy" written on them more than a few times. Walking around Charleston is a throwback in time. It's got that southern charm and you often see horses clopping down the street with carriages filled with tourists in tow. Heading down one of the historic streets, this pretty black shuttered window with it's flower filled window box caught my eye. Charleston, South Carolina

The Cathedral of Monaco

Although my time in Monaco was very limited, I wanted to visit this iconic church. It was built in 1875 from stones brought in from La Turbie, a commune in the French Alps. Even more impressive is that it was built on the site of a 13th century church that was dedicated to Saint Nicholas. It is also the final resting place for Princess Grace. Enough with the facts, you say! Here is a handheld photograph taken inside the entrance of this stunning cathedral. The light being cast from the windows gave the arches and columns a beautiful depth and wonderful focal point. Monaco

Basilica of Saint Nicholas

The beauty of Amsterdam at night. Spot lights from neighboring buildings bring Saint Nicholas to life along with glowing reflections across the water. One of my favorite shots of this iconic treasure. Amsterdam, Netherlands

Cat in the Window

There's something about New Orleans that's wonderfully unique. Maybe it's that mixture of French and Creole that makes it such an "American" favorite. Either way, it's hard not to fall in love with The Big Easy. Walking down Bourbon street in the French Quarter, I spotted this cat inside the window of a very eclectic store. A few blinks let me know he was the real deal. He didn't seem to mind the attention as I clicked away. Didn't get a chance to find out if he was "union," but next time I head back ... New Orleans, Louisiana

Le Grand Hotel

It's always wonderful walking around Paris, unless of course you arrive in the middle of winter, in which case you probably still want to walk. It's one of those things that photographers do. Kinda like that mailman motto; "Neither snow nor rain nor ... " Okay, well maybe not that bad, but it was a bit chilly! The Intercontinental Paris Le Grand Hotel is a beautiful historic hotel built in 1862. It's classic French architectural style remains a standout in a city that defines elegance. Paris, France

Backstreets

Mykonos is a maze of narrow streets and alleyways, each one filled with character and bold colors. It's those imperfections and worn look that lend a unique charm to this little island. While there were street signs, I was actually a bit lost when I took this shot. So, if you're looking to find this spot, find someone who can read Greek and point you in the right direction. On the other hand, getting lost is half the fun. Mykonos, Greece

God's in the Details

Here's a shot I took inside the Uspenski Church. This Russian Eastern Orthodox Cathedral was built in 1862 and is wonderfully ornate. Most of the church is roped off and access is a bit limited. I've heard that only 1% of the population of Finland is Orthodox, so I would imagine tourists frequent the church more often than locals. Helsinki, Finland

The Red Shutters

There is such a bold and rustic charm to Mykonos. I don't think I've ever encountered more bright red doors than I did in Mykonos and Santorini. There's such beauty in the contrast of those red and blue doors against the stark white buildings. I couldn't pass up this beautiful entrance lined with clay flowerpots. Mykonos, Greece

Santorini View

A classic view of the churches of Santorini looking out on the Aegean Sea. There's a story behind this photo as I had planned on taking this shot before arriving on the island. To get this particular view, there is one narrow staircase down the side of the cliff to a landing. Not an issue unless a couple renewing their wedding vows with a photographer had taken up residence on the stairs and landing. But I was intent on taking this shot and patiently waited. After about 10 minutes the photographer looked up at me and said, "not much longer." Another 10 minutes passed and she looked up and said, "are you going to be long?" I ran down the steps without my tripod and clicked off 10 or 15 shots before thanking the couple and photographer for allowing me a few moments to interrupt their shoot so I could take this photograph. And so, here’s my version .... Santorini, Greece

Sunset in Miraflores

Stopping in Lima on my way to Machu Picchu, I was lucky enough to spend a few days touring the city. I consider myself a good driver, but driving in Lima is just not up my alley. It's a real life "bumper car" scenario where everyone seems to ignore lanes, lights and pretty much each other. But, one evening our driver took us to Miraflores to have dinner at a restaurant a bit off the coast. Totally unprepared for the view, I was lucky enough to have my camera with me and caught this scene of the cliffs and a hang glider against the sunset sky. Lima, Peru

The Red Boat

During the last few days of my Baltic adventure, I was a bit under the weather and was considering not venturing out for the day. Knowing that I wouldn't be returning anytime soon, I couldn't resist the chance to see this beautiful city. Here's an afternoon shot I took in Nyhavn. The pier is one of the most identifiable landmarks in Copenhagen and gets incredibly busy. Nyhavn is the "South Beach" of Copenhagen without being pretentious, making it so perfectly appealing. Copenhagen, Denmark

The City on Top of the World

There are few places that have the ability to transform your world and Machu Picchu happens to be one of them. Contemplating how a civilization of people could make their way up to some of the highest mountains in the world and build a city of stone is beyond the scope of what seems possible. Here's a shot I took shortly after a rain storm when the sun finally broke through the clouds. Machu Picchu, Peru

The Glowing City

I have a thing for sunrises and sunsets and I think this is true for most photographers. Those short hours and sometimes minutes lend themselves to dramatic images. Here is an image that I almost missed. Learning that I was so early in my last few attempts at catching a sunset, I walked the city not paying attention to the time. Realizing the time, I picked up the pace and headed back to the hotel. Passing my hotel room, I walked out to a balcony area where I had a beautiful view Amsterdam's cityscape. As I quickly set up my gear, the sky lit up on fire. I was able to snap off 5 or 6 shots before the brilliant light dimmed and the magic was gone. Amsterdam, Netherlands

Autumn Brook

Here's a shot taken in Rocky Mountain National Park. We left Denver early to spend the day in the park. When we finally arrived, the skies turned gray and it started pouring. Twenty minutes later the sun came out and off we went with gear in hand. Hiking down to this brook, we spent a bit of time before the clouds and rain moved in again. In that one day, we dealt with sun, rain, snow and lots of hail. It became our Rocky Mountain Adventure! Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Sunset in Amsterdam

My first day in Amsterdam and I get a hot tip to head over to the area around Rembrandt Square for some sunset shots of the beautiful canals. Off I went with gear in hand, rushing to catch a few good shots. Arriving at 7:30 pm, I quickly realized that the sun was high overhead and I may have been a bit early. Here's the shot I took at 10:30. I won't go into details about the dissatisfaction I dealt with from the rest of the group regarding my poor timing. A big part of photography is the art of patience, I told them. Amsterdam, Netherlands

Morning on Sprague Lake

About an hour before I took this photograph the sky was dark and it was raining. I mean pouring ... it was like a scene out of Blade Runner minus all the buildings and stuff. So, we headed out, searching for another area of the park that wasn't inundated with monsoon type weather. A few miles down the road and we found some sunlight and snapped off a few shots. Now on a roll, we headed up to higher grounds for better views of the mountains. At one of the highest elevations, we found a beautiful spot and set up our gear. Hmm... could that be hail? ... why, yes it could. We made a mad dash for the car and quickly made our way back down the mountain. It was at this point that I suggested a return trip to Sprague Lake. Here's the shot that we went up and down mountains for! Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood

Quite a name for a church! Actually, it was built by Alexander III as a dedicated memorial to his father, Alexander II, who was assassinated at this very location. What is amazing about this church is that the apparent paintings are actually intricate mosaics ... about 7500 meters of incredibly detailed mosaics. Stunning in it's beauty, the church has survived the Russian Revolution, WWII and being used as a warehouse at one time. Saint Petersburg, Russia

Little White Church

Walking through Mykonos, there are many churches to be seen. I almost missed this little white church as it was tucked in behind several buildings. And while there are mighty churches and ornate churches, this was Mykonos and perfectly fitting. With it's bright red doors and simple bell, it felt like a church I'd want to visit. Like it's residents; unpretentious, strong and welcoming. Mykonos, Greece

Across the Rijks

The Rijksmuseum is one of those "must see" museums when you're in Amsterdam. It's also a busy museum ... really busy. You can easily spend days in there seeing all the wonderful art. Upon leaving we found ourselves in the middle of the "International Yoga Festival." Quite a cool event and we hung out long enough to watch some performances, drink some health tea and don tee shirts devoting our lives to the world of Yoga. Finally making our way from the festival, I spotted a small street across from the museum that looked so peaceful. It was lined with trees and offered some pretty views. As I got closer to the museum across the way, I was able to get this pretty shot. There were so many boaters and I had to wait to get this little boat making its way around the canal. Amsterdam, Netherlands

Approaching Storm

Driving to a local plantation we made a quick stop to stretch our legs. While walking around, I noticed a beautiful view all the way down to the coastline. Before I was able to grab my gear and head over, the sky quickly turned dark and was threatening to storm. I took this photograph with a bit of disappointment as I wasn't able to get the view that I really wanted. When I finally had the chance to review the image, I realized that it was much more dramatic with those ominous clouds. Moral of the story ... follow me around if you like storms. Barbados, West Indies

St. Patrick's Cathedral

St. Patrick's dates back to 1191 and went through many changes, including the English Reformation in 1537 at which time it became an Anglican Church. What's interesting is that over the years the church fell into disrepair and was in jeopardy of collapsing. It was none other than the Guinness family that came to the rescue to contribute to a major portion of the rehabilitation. The front pews, to this day are reserved for the Guinness family. And to think that people believe beer has no value! Dublin, Ireland

Antigua Sunset

Taking a cruise can be a great way to get away from it all. Phones get turned off and responsibility seems to melt away. Finding a lesser known balcony on the front of the ship, I found my favorite way of catching sunrises and sunsets. Here is a shot taken as we were heading out of St. Johns, Antigua and Barbuda. St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda

Front Row Seat

I took this bright and early one morning when I forced myself to get out of bed and make the drive north. I was feeling particularly lazy that morning and was way too comfy in bed. There were others in the house and I didn’t want to wake anybody up, especially the dog, who has a way of creating chaos in an otherwise quiet house. It’s very difficult to wake up, get dressed, and get all your equipment together while staying quiet! I now realize that I need an assistant to give me that morning nudge, hand me a cup of coffee and send me on my way. Maybe I should recruit some Starbucks barista to be my assistant – they are always so cheerful and have access to the all important coffee. Deerfield Beach, Florida

Nature's Church

So a Spanish architect born in 1852 decides to build a massive church inspired and designed by nature. Columns representing tree trunks and a ceiling of leaves. Many said the church couldn't be constructed based on it's design. But Gaudí's vision prevailed, even after his death. Construction of this magnificent church continues to this day. Some have described it as the most extraordinary personal interpretation of Gothic architecture since the Middle Ages. I would have to agree! Barcelona, Spain