Featured Posts
Behind the Scenes Feature in DISfunkshion Magazine
If you'd like to delve a bit deeper into my photography and travel thought process, please have a look at a recent Q&A article I was featured in at DISfunksion Magazine. Although I'm flattered by the title of the article, I certainly don't consider myself anything close to being a genius. I'm just a regular guy who's been lucky enough to have found what he loves to do and has been able to make a living doing it. Click the article title below: "Ralph Velasco: The Genius Behind a … Read More...
Photo Tips: Get Up Early, Stay Out Late: Part 2
Get Up Early and Stay Out Late: Part 2 With my last blog post I talked about 5 reasons to get up early and stay out late. Do you already follow some or all of these tips? Either way, here are 5 more reasons… 1. Markets are beginning to open and the vendors and their products are fresh. Making an effort to arrive at the local food market early has several benefits, one of which is that the colorful and artistically arranged produce displays should be complete and not … Read More...
Photo Tips: Get Up Early, Stay Out Late: Part 1
Get Up Early and Stay Out Late: Part 1 There’s something you may have heard me refer to before, I call it my “Zen of Photography.” The idea behind it is that it’s my feeling that 75 percent of successful photography is simply making an effort to put yourself in the right place at the right time. If you’d like to follow this credo then surely this means getting up with the dawn or staying out after dark. Perhaps it’s easier for me to get out early because I consider … Read More...
PSA Journal: Capturing the Essence of Cuba
As this blog post is published, I'm actually in Cuba as part of two People-to-People programs. Because I can't count on reliable Internet access while there, I scheduled this post to come up while I'm away. Hopefully I'll be able to get some decent online access and create some "live" content while there. Included here is an article that was recently published in the April 2012 issue of the PSA Journal, a magazine exclusively for Photographic Society of America members. To be … Read More...
Waves Crashing on the Malecon in Havana, Cuba
Just a quick post from Havana, Cuba, where I’m participating in a People-to-People exchange program. We woke up the other morning, the day after some pretty serious Caribbean storms soaked us for most of the day, and one of the other participants, Nancy, said that from her hotel room she saw huge waves crashing along the famous Malecon, or seawall. This is a phenomenon I’d seen many times in pictures but had never witnessed myself, so I was excited about the … Read More...
Photo Tips: 10 Tips for Preparing for a Trip
10 TIPS FOR PREPARING FOR A TRIP As I write this post, I'm getting ready to head out of town for what will be essentially a month on the road. I'm going to be part of two People-to-People programs in Cuba from April 17 to May 9, then I fly back to Southern California the evening of May 9th, only to jump on a flight early the next morning to fly to the Midwest to lead my semi-annual Cultural Photo Tour of Chicago. There's always so much to do before a big trip, and so I thought … Read More...
Speaking at Mom Blogger Camp in Mexico
Recently I was asked to speak at the upcoming Mom Blogger Camp in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. I'll be discussing the importance of having high quality photography on any website or blog... ...come join us in Mexico! What? Mom Blogger Camp When? September 27 to 30, 2012 Where? Velas Vallarta Resort in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Agenda? September 27 Afternoon Arrivals 7:00 p.m. Welcome cocktail reception led by Jennifer Miner. September … Read More...
Participant Showcase: Mary Siani in Temecula
TEMECULA BALLOON FEST BY MARY SIANI RALPH'S TAKE I've really enjoyed having worked with Mary on her photography over the years. She's one of the most passionate photographers I've worked with and she's extremely well traveled and is always looking to improve, although she starts from a very high level as her photography shows (see her various websites via the links below). Mary participated in my Temecula Balloon Fest and Launch Photo Walking Tour a few years ago and she … Read More...
Interview on Detroit Creative Labs: Travel to Spain with Ralph Velasco
"Travel to Spain with Ralph Velasco" Let me be one of the first to congratulate professional photographer and social media expert Rosh Sillars on his 200th photography podcast, and I'm honored to be the person he interviewed on that historic show. In this episode we talk in detail about the upcoming The Heart of Spain: Madrid, Segovia & Toledo cultural photo tour that Rosh is hosting with me this September where he'll be providing us with his food photography … Read More...
Join The Heart of Spain Photo Tour!
Travel with us to The Heart of Spain: Madrid, Segovia & Toledo! September 14 to 23, 2012 Food ~ Photography ~ Culture ~ Museums ~ History ~ Architecture OVERVIEW Please join me, along with food photographer and social media expert Rosh Sillars, on a customized small group tour (20 max.) of Central Spain, consisting of 4 nights in Madrid, 2 nights in Segovia and 2 nights in Toledo. Open to photographers and non-photographers alike, so feel free to bring a spouse or … Read More...
Participant Showcase: Keith Gorlen in Chicago
PRITZKER PAVILION AT NIGHT IN CHICAGO BY KEITH GORLEN RALPH'S TAKE Wow, talk about impact, Keith's image here of the Pritzker Pavilion at dusk is nothing short of stunning. The colors are phenomenal, and I really like how he framed the buildings in the background with the overhead structure that covers the lawn area of this part of Chicago's Millennium Park. This is a great example of how making the extra effort to lug around a tripod can pay huge dividends, and I distinctly … Read More...
A Powerful Message from Egypt and Saudi Arabia
You won't believe this incredible story from my friend and colleague Hisham. He was our guide on a tour of Egypt in November of 2010, read on... I've been gathering the information for my somewhat overdue "First Year in Blogging" post and I was reminded of a very powerful message I received after the Egypt Photo Tour I did in conjunction with Chris Christensen, a.k.a. The Amateur Traveler. A short time after the life changing events of late January, 2011, many of … Read More...
Photo Tips: Be Prepared to Get Lucky
This is an image I made on a recent trip to Alexandria, Egypt. I was with a group of fellow travel bloggers who were asked to speak at the IOETI e-Marketing and e-Tourism Conference in Cairo, and we had taken a day trip to the seaside city of Alexandria, a wonderful location to step back in time and to see how Egyptians have been living for centuries. I suggested a group of us get off the beaten path and explore a locals-only market that I came to know on a previous … Read More...
Chicago Cultural Photo Tour in May
Above: Shooting at Crown Fountain in Millennium Park. I'm excited about my upcoming Chicago Cultural Photo Tour to be held from May 10 to 13, 2012. Below is all the information you'll need to make a decision as to whether or not you'd like to join me on what is one of my favorite photo tours...maybe it's because I was born and raised in Chicago and I can't say enough good things about it...but, neither can the others whom I've taken in the past. SYNOPSIS Chicago is a … Read More...
Participant Showcase: Tony Pond in Cuba
BIOGRAPHY I'm a retired criminal defense attorney living in Newport Coast, California, who loves travel photography. I enjoy shooting the local people, while trying to establish a connection with them. To that end, I find myself returning again and again to a country to better understand its people and culture. My favorite areas to photograph people are Southeast Asia, especially Cambodia, and India. The people and the culture are utterly fascinating and provide endless … Read More...
Connect with Me