Florence & Rome photo post

The David, tripa, and the Pope's digs in 27 snaps. BY INA AMOR MEJIA

THE FOLKS FROM OUR HOTELS from ten months ago have been emailing me incessantly about new room deals. Yes, I miss them too. And I can't believe it's been nearly a year since our whirlwind Euro trip. Some of it is a blur, but many things remain particularly clear. Actually, unforgettable.

After Paris and Geneva we took those crazy-fast Trenitalia trains to Italy. The moment we arrived in Florence I knew I had made the mistake of not booking more days. This small, magical city, bursting with art, where every local we met loved to say, "No problem!" And then glorious Rome with its contagious energy. I still smell the cigar smoke wafting in the cold air, I remember the sounds from the abbey outside our hotel, and the feeling of being staggered by the Vatican.

Some photos...

Hello Pluto

WE HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THE JOURNEY of the Solar Impulse these past few weeks. And I'm sure you've heard of the first images of Pluto taken by the unmanned spacecraft New Horizons. These are exciting times. The first images, historic in many ways, left me yummy shivers last night. I mean look at it. Pluto has been this enigma for so long, and to see it so clearly, and the darkness of space beyond it, just renews the realization of how so much remains unknown to us. In celebration of this incredible event, here is a very cool thing to check out: an interactive page from the BBC called How Big is Space. I promise, it's a lot of fun.

Once again, hello Pluto. And finally a favorite quote: 

"For small creatures such as we the vastness is bearable only through love" - Carl Sagan 

Taking pictures of Clouds

Tips, tricks and a lot of swooning. Cloud photography for beginners. BY INA AMOR MEJIA

THIS IS AN EASY TUTORIAL, if you're new to photography and have, like me, always been fascinated by clouds. To capture clouds in all their golden, moody, billowy greatness, you don't need special equipment, like a polarizing filter, which darkens skies and controls glare. And if you don't have a DSLR, you can use something like your iPhone to start. Although I strongly suggest you get your first real camera if you intend to get serious about photography. All the photos above were taken using a Canon Rebel T3i, the kit lens and a 50 mm F1.8. The Rebel T3i is a great first camera in my experience. I'll also quickly run through how to improve your photos in Photoshop once you've taken them.

Photographer: Jonathan Ong

I FOUND THE WORK of Melbourne-based photographer Jonathan Ong on a favorite blog, Eat Drink Chic by Amy Moss. Ong's photos stand out in a sea of pretty but predictable wedding photography, because they are at once childlike and wise. Anyone who's been married will remember those precious, secret moments at their wedding, and the feelings that came with them. And they will remember wishing they could take pictures right then with their eyes. I think Ong has those magic eyes.

Formally trained as a Communications Designer, Ong is admittedly shy, but calls himself "a great admirer of life," and of love. He cites its "unique ability to transform the webs and pillars of everyday life into silk and gold."

I love how his photos are so natural and spontaneous, but never ordinary.

It was difficult to choose just a handful of photos to show in this post, I love so many of them. Get to know more about Jonathan Ong and view the rest of his amazing portfolio on his website.

And thanks for reading.

Masters of the Selfie

Beautiful self-portraits from rising photographers. BY INA AMOR MEJIA

IN  HER PIECE FOR THE NEW YORKER, Seeing Themselves: Photographers' Self-Portraits, Jessie Wender says that the difference between a selfie and a self-portrait is that the latter requires "more consideration, more composition, more psychological insight and aesthetic care." And so much more imagination, if I might add. I fell hard for these self-portraits by these rising photographers (Zev is fifteen), although the gifted Noell Osvald insists she is not one. I thought that it was apt that they all belong to this selfie-obsessed generation, and yet they transcend it with these photographs. These stunning, thoughtful, powerful photographs that show a depth beyond their years.

First photo and photo above: Into the Wild and Snow Queen by Melania Brescia. 

Thoughts by Noell Osvald.

The amazing Kyle Thompson. 

From the series Self-portraits with Luminaries by Amelia Coffaro.

Bloopert by Zev.

Fly by Zev. 

Sweet Zev, one day you shall rule the world. Keep that wonder alive, and never stop taking pictures. 

Erin Tyner's Small World

Little people and dioramas prompt all the big feels. BY INA AMOR MEJIA

In her photo series Half Awake, American photographer Erin Tyner gives us an inspiring example of the unexpected synergy of photography, dioramas, and storytelling. Looking at any one of the twenty images in the series, I forget that they are photos and I forget that they are miniatures, as I am drawn to the "unfolding narrative" of each.

Alive in their little world, Tyner's figurines prompt big feelings: of wonder, mystery, adventure, and longing. Each vignette has the curious, playful quality of a scene, from those oddly beautiful stop-motion animated films. Any of these photos would fit right in and look genius, framed, hanging on the wall of the bedroom of a cool kid. Or at an exhibit that gathers discerning art patrons. Speaking of which, Tyner's work has been featured in a number of exhibits, and has been lauded by lovers of fine photography from all over the web. Count me in.

You can purchase the prints of the Half Awake series at Erin Tyner's etsy shop. To know more about Erin and to check out her other works visit erintyner.com.