Our vacation started with a two night stay in Vancouver. I set out right away to capture some city shots.

My first shot was from the Cambie St bridge looking back into the city.

Looking back into Vancouver bay from Cambie St bridge

Looking back at Vancouver from Charleson Park

Looking back at Vancouver from Charleson Park

Looking back at Vancouver from Charleson Park

On our last day in Vancouver, Deb and I posed for a selfy

After an amazing dinner at the Cactus Club, we stopped for a snapshot of the Olympic Cauldron.

The view from our Air BnB was amazing, 35 floors up with a panoramic view of the city. This is just a taste of our view looking back into the mountains.

Our Haven suite was amazing. In a moment, you'll see how fortunate we upgraded.

Haven on suite made our trip bearable. More in a minute.

View from the Spinnaker lounge in the front of the ship on Monday night after dinner. What is it they say about red skies at night?

We missed everything - all our excursions. We really looked forward to Misty Fjords but alas, we were quarantined to our room for the duration of the trip. :-(

The saving grace of our Haven suite is that we had a great view into each port of call. We saw a bald eagle at each port of call. This guy was about half mile away on the top of a tree.

Kurt borrowed my pocket camera and caught some good shots of the Misty Fjords trip we missed. This is the Ketchikan fish cannery.

Great shot from Kurt's Misty Fjord excursion

Fresh, never frozen crab from the Misty Fjord excursion we missed. Thanks, Kurt

Leaving Ketchikan, the scenery from our balcony was incredible.

We didn't expect any mountains on the port side heading north but were pleasantly surprised with the view from our "incarceration balcony".

More snow capped mountains on the inside passage. We were making the best of our Haven suite quarantine.

Juneau was our second port of call. This was our view that just reminded us "No Reindeer Games" for the quarantined and today would really hurt when we saw the shots Kurt brought back. :-(

Today's excursion was a guided tour through the woods and whale watching with a professional photographer lesson. Kurt caught some really cool shots. Nice job, Kurt!

Nice macro shot, Kurt.

Who else would have thought of shooting the moss? Nice, Kurt!

Kurt and Lynn stopped for a portrait during their walk through the woods.

Really nice shot of the mountain, Kurt.

Macro shots in the woods by Kurt Bilderback

Another great macro shot, Kurt

The reflecting pond and trees as foreground with Mendenhal Glacier in the background.

Kurt said this was the best whale watching he's experienced. Shots prove that.

Yeah, this really made me sad to miss this excursion.

How about that breach? Wish I could have been there to capture this with my R5+500mm.

Port 3 was Skagway. Kurt took an abbreviated train ride that he claims wasn't worth it. This shot made me wish I could have been there.

Even better shot from the train. Thanks for capturing it, Kurt.

We're about ready to set sail. Deb and I have been quarantined for five days. I'm feeling better and getting a little stir crazy. But we're making the best of things from our balcony.

I leaned way over the rail of our balcony to catch this shot of Skagway just before we departed.

Entering Glacier Bay, looking forward to getting some shots from our balcony.

Margerie Glacier gave us quite a show dropping icebergs into the water (calving). When the ice drops into the water, it sounds like a canon. From a distance, it sounds like thunder.

Caught calving in action on this shot.

More calving in action.

Looking back into the entrance of Tarr Inlet, the mouth of water leading to Margerie.

Look at this tour boat in Tarr Inlet. This gives you some perspective of scale of the shots so far. This shot was 100mm.

Now I zoomed in at 500mm.

Departing south Tarr Inlet from Margerie Glacier

Departing south Tarr Inlet from Margerie Glacier

More perspective here. This shot is 70mm and you can see all of Johns Hopkins Glacier. Look real close at the right base of the glacier, you will see a boat and people on shore.

Zooming back at 40mm to get a broader look at the entire glacier.

Now we're zooming in at 100mm and you can start to pick up the boat.

Now I'm zoomed in at 500mm and you can finally pick make out the boat. Look how the glacier towers over that boat. That glacier is 250 feet above the water!

I couldn't decide which of the next two shots I liked most. Someone tell me what you prefer, this one or the next one.

I couldn't decide which of the last two shots I liked most. Someone tell me what you prefer, this one or the prior one.

Deb didn't believe me there were goats on this mountain side. Here's proof!

This won the online vote of two similar shots.

OK, another chance to vote. This picture or the prior one. Which is best?

Park rangers provided commentary for the entire trip into Glacier Bay. This is their ride taking them back home.

Park rangers provided commentary for the entire trip into Glacier Bay. This is their ride taking them back home.

This guy flew right at the ship as we departed Glacier Bay.

This guy flew right at the ship as we departed Glacier Bay. Next time Manual mode and 1/1600 shutter speed.

This guy flew right at the ship as we departed Glacier Bay. Next time Manual mode and 1/1600 shutter speed.

This guy flew right at the ship as we departed Glacier Bay. Next time Manual mode and 1/1600 shutter speed.

Got a bit colder on our last glacier viewing.

Far into the distance, you can see Hubbard Glacier, the largest glacier in the northern hemisphere.

More perspective opportunity. Look closely left of that island. That is a cruise ship. See how huge that glacier is?

Zoomed all the way in at 500mm, now you can see that cruise ship and behind it towers Hubbard Glacier.

The mist floated in quickly as we worked our way closer.

Now I have four pictures for you to vote on. Which do you like best, Hubbard Shot 1, 2, 3, or 4?

Now I have four pictures for you to vote on. Which do you like best, Hubbard Shot 1, 2, 3, or 4?

Now I have four pictures for you to vote on. Which do you like best, Hubbard Shot 1, 2, 3, or 4?

Now I have four pictures for you to vote on. Which do you like best, Hubbard Shot 1, 2, 3, or 4?

Final Vote: Which of the next four do you like best, Hubbard Meets Land 1, 2, 3, or 4?

Final Vote: Which of the next four do you like best, Hubbard Meets Land 1, 2, 3, or 4?

This won the online vote for best shot among four similar shots of Hubbard meets land.

Final Vote: Which of the next four do you like best, Hubbard Meets Land 1, 2, 3, or 4?

October 2022, Deb and I woke up before dawn to catch the sunrise at Banner Marsh. This shot was worth the trip.

In September 2024, I plotted the darkest sky I could find in a 1 hour radius to take this shot of the galaxy. The lights on the horizon is Macomb, IL.

In March 2025, I noticed this large blob in our back yard tree. Turned out to be an owl. I took my long lens thinking he would flee as soon as I approached. To my surprise, he stood there watching me as I walked up within 50 feet.

In May 2025, Deb and I were scouting scenes to shoot and as I drove towards Princeville, I saw this perfect, old, rustic Red Barn in a beautiful scene.

Deb & I lived in Edelstein off Hallock Hollow road when we met. Elsasser Farm is this iconic farm just as you turn onto Hallock Hollow. Any trip up Rte 88 should start with admiration of this icon.

Further up Rte 88, you will see beautiful flowing fields. On this Sunday drive, the billowing clouds were creating a heavenly scene.

Just north of Speer, you will find an immaculately kept and very old cemetery on the top of hill overlooking an amazing vista of what must be a 100 farms. We found stones dating back to the mid 1800s. ...what it must have been like living here back then.

The modern wind turbines were beautiful on this sunny and fluffy cloud day. We found this old farm equipment perched next to the bean field creating a fascinating juxtaposition.

One of the most famous scenes in Rome: Looking up at the iconic St. Peters Basilica from the Tiber river in Rome.

The Fountain of Neptune is a fountain located at the north end of the Piazza Navona, a short walk from the Tiber River.

Found in the center of Piazza Navona, Fountain of the Four Rivers was designed in 1651 by Gian Lorenzo Bernini for Pope Innocent X.

Night shot of the Fountain

Located at the southern end of the Piazza Navona, Fontana del Moro (Moor Fountain) represents a Moor, or African, standing in a conch shell, wrestling with a dolphin, surrounded by four Tritons.

It was completed by the emperor Hadrian and probably dedicated about 126 AD. Almost two thousand years after it was built, the Pantheon's dome is still the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome.

Pantheon is one of the best-preserved of all Ancient Roman buildings, in large part because it has been in continuous use throughout its history, and since the 7th century.

Night shot of the Pantheon

Trevi is one of the most famous fountains in the world. An estimated 3,000 euros are thrown into the fountain each day.

We went back for some night shots

Trevi Fountain Night shots

A monument built in honor of Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of a unified Italy found in the virtual center of the city.

Looking past the monument to ancient Rom from the Piazza Venezia.

Looking over to Vatican City from high atop the Altar of the Fatherland.

Looking down into Ancient Roman ruins from atop the altar.

Elephant and Obelisk - Obelisco della Minerva

As we come close, we can see the shear cliffs of Sorrento.

The Hilton Sorrento is located high on the hill above the city center. We find out later that's quite a long walk.

The Executive Honors Floor was on the rooftop with a breathtaking view of Vesuvius and the Gulf of Naples.

Thursday morning, we had perfect weather for our tour. The view of the bay was gorgeous.

Zoom into this one. You will get an idea of how beautiful our view was.

Down the steep zig-zag walkway, Deb and I made our way to Sorrento Harbor. From their looks, this old walkway had been here for centuries.

This gives you an idea of how the cliffs pop out of the ocean directly up nearly 300 foot high.

Viewing Port of Sorrento from high atop of the cliff.

Thursday was our day to visit Amalfi Coast. This was our first official picture stop looking back north.

You can begin to see how locals build quite literally on the face of cliffs overlooking the sea.

Positano is probably the most recognizable cities of the famous coast.

Incredible food is available at every stop along the coast - evident of this fruit stand.

Making our way south, the view looking back north continued to get more and more amazing.

Make sure you watch my video where you see professionals and amateurs alike jumping off this 100' high bridge into the water below.

Kinda cheesie but the Emerald Grotto is quite unique. Discovered in 1932, this marine cave is known for the turquoise water that fills the cavern with an emerald-green light.

Looking north, you can begin to see Amalfi in the distance. Note the shear cliffs and emerald green waters. Imagine swimming here in the summer.

Villa Cimbrone has one of the most iconic views of the Amalfi Coast.

Villa Cimbrone stands on a rocky outcrop known as "Cimbronium".

You cannot imagine how uneasy it is to look over this terrace. As you stand this oval shaped terrace, you feel like you are floating perilously 1,000 feet above the sea.

Famed Amalfi from sea level pier

Amalfi from sea level pier

Amalfi from sea level pier

[Thursday] It is said that the coastal village was named after Poseidon, God of the Sea.

[Saturday] Making our second visit to Positano, the weather was more active making the colors more interesting.

[Saturday] With the cloud cover and sun breaking through, the city and sea colors were fascinating.

Trying an artistic shot

Looking over the iconic Church of Santa Maria Assunta in Positano

[Thursday] Positano from sea level. Our first visit to Positano, the seas were quite calm and the bay was busy with boats of all kinds.

We were fascinated by the ancient guard towers north and south of the Positano bay. The guard towers were built as look-out points to warn against Muslim invaders. When pirates were spotted at sea, the guards would light a fire on the top of the tower to alert the villagers. The people's only defense was to run to the hills.

Getting wet while getting that shot. I think the camera is OK.

On Saturday night, I took Deb to a local, authentic Italian restaurant near the Marriott, La Locanda.

Deb found her new, favorite chocolatier, Venchi. Yes, that is a chocolate wall.

On our way to Sorrento, we asked Francesco to stop somewhere we could eat. Little did we expect this delight. Love Truffles was outstanding.

I don't take pictures of food often, but this was both unique and delicious.

Be sure to see the video I made of our journey from Donna Sofia. Again, this was both entertaining and delicious.

On Friday, we walked down to the port of Sorrento to have authentic Italian Pizza at Acqua e Sale (Water & Salt). Then, we had this dessert. Imagine elephant ears with unreal custard topped with a cherry.

We visited Positano again Saturday where we stopped at Le Sirenuse , an incredible view and incredible food.

Overlooking iconic Positano from Le Sirenuse

Friday night was a treat on the Sorrento water front at Bagni Delfino

I recommend the Delfino to anyone visiting Sorrrento

On Saturday evening, dinner was at
Bistro Sorrento, up the hill a ways from the Hilton.

[Saturday] Looking over Sorrento from atop the Hilton rooftop Saturday morning.