Orbitz Blog

Articles for ‘Photography’ Category

Golden Photos: How to snap the Golden Gate Bridge

Friday, January 27th, 2012

The famous International Orange color of the Golden Gate Bridge contrasts well against a bright blue sky. Credit: Blane Bachelor.

By Blane Bachelor

The Golden Gate Bridge is one of the globe’s most iconic landmarks. With its majestic architecture, bold orange-red color and breathtaking backdrop of mountains and sea, the Golden Gate, as the bridge commonly referred to, is also – not surprisingly — the world’s most-photographed bridge. But with just a little insight and planning, it’s possible for even the most novice shutterbugs to take spectacular, and unique, shots of the bridge for some brag-worthy souvenirs. I’m no Ansel Adams, but here are a few tips I’ve uncovered since moving to San Francisco this July on getting some great Golden Gate bridge pics. (more…)

Tags: ,
Posted in California Vacation, Hotels, Photography | No Comments »

Australia vacays: Cuddling with koalas and finding Nemo

Monday, May 16th, 2011


Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

By Elina Fuhrman

A long journey is a worthy sacrifice for the ultimate reward: an Australia vacation. In its tropical North, where the rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef, I awoke each day trying to choose between adventure and relaxation.  Should I cuddle with a koala?  Snorkel with tropical fish?  Ride a zip-line through the rainforest canopy? Take a stroll on the beach? Get a massage? It was hard to pick and I wanted to do it all. (more…)

Tags:
Posted in Beach Vacation, International Vacations, Photography | No Comments »

Photo Focus: Baby Wholphin at Hawaii’s Sea Life Park

Friday, April 29th, 2011

Baby wholphin at Hawaii's Sea Life Park

Credit: Baby wholphin at Oahu‘s Sea Life Park by Mark Interrante

Related resources

Posted in Hawaii Vacation, Photography | No Comments »

Orbitz Employee Photo Contest: And the winner is…

Tuesday, August 24th, 2010

Machu Picchu, Peru, photographed by Orbitz's own Kari Babinec.

Orbitz employees love to travel. And it’s probably no surprise that we also love capturing our adventures in pictures to share with friends, family and inevitably — each other.  With so many talented and savvy travelers, we figured why not have a contest to see who could snap the best shot?

This year, Orbitz employee Kari Babinec took first place with her spectacular image of Machu Piucchu, Peru. Up against other images that included Key West and Nimes France, Babinec’s winning photograph will soon grace the halls of our Chicago headquarters.

The runners-up included:

Tags:
Posted in Photography | No Comments »

Laguna Beach: Summertime, all the time

Friday, April 16th, 2010

This past January, our very own Chris O’Brien took a stand against the Chicago chill and headed west for a sunny California vacation and the warm glow of Laguna Beach. Chris captured these images of your everyday, run-of-the-mill Laguna Beach sunset (wow!), and left us working really hard to come up with reasons why here is better than there…


Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

Tags:
Posted in Beach Vacation, California Vacation, Photography | No Comments »

Traveling light on a family vacation to Guatemala

Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

Family vacationBy Joanna Wiebe

When he was 14 months old, in 1981, my son David took his first family vacation to Guatemala to visit his great-grandparents and see the sights.

With only a large red backpack, a hand-woven woolen Guatemalan bag, an aluminum-frame baby backpack and a cheap folding stroller, my husband and I took Dave all over Guatemala, on public buses, hitchhiking and walking.

Dave swam in the Pacific, hiked in the mountains, climbed the steps of Mayan ruins, and made friends everywhere. In our backpack we had two sleeping bags, a woven fiber mat which served as a clean area for Dave to play or sleep on, small Coleman stove, a set of nesting pots, six cloth diapers, all our clothes for hot and cool weather, and a little bag of miniature toys and books. (more…)

Tags: , ,
Posted in Eco-Tourism, Family Travel, International Vacations, Photography | No Comments »

Europe vacation: Finding family fun in Paris

Saturday, March 27th, 2010

By Patrick O’Neil

Over Bastille Day in July, my wife and I took our girls – then ages 6 and 8 — on a 10-day Europe vacation to Paris. We chose to stay in the 17th arrondissement because it was comfortable and near the food markets on Rue Cler. We found the kids had many more entertainment and play options than expected. We had great times at Champ du Mars, Tuileries, L’Orangerie, and Luxembourg gardens. Here are some photos of our Europe vacation with the kids.

Europe vacation

Bastille Day fireworks near Champ du Mars

 

(more…)

Tags: , ,
Posted in Europe Vacation, International Vacations, Orbitz Parent Panel, Photography | No Comments »

Travel photographer reveals Alaska’s fierce beauty

Wednesday, March 17th, 2010

cruisesBy Elina Fuhrman

Alaska is one of those places where people go to seek adventure. Its fierce beauty, overwhelming silence and lack of luxury hotels makes it a natural spectacle. Once you get off the main roads and into the wilderness, a whole new world opens up: raw, magnificent and still. But most places in Alaska are not even accessible by car, so I decided to make my first trip there by taking a cruise.

As a child I knew that Russia had sold Alaska to America back in 1867 for a mere $7 million. But it wasn’t until I saw Alaska that I felt how foolish the Russians were.

Alaska is massive. Its coastline is more than double the length of the entire U.S. coast, and it’s a fifth of the size of the United States. But with population of only 686,293 people, it is pretty much deserted.

Cruising is probably the best way to see Alaska for the first time. As our cruise ship, Crystal  Harmony, was slowly gliding through Glacier Bay, passengers gathered on every inch of deck in silence, like in an amphitheater before a symphony was about to start, granite peaks surrounding the ship, echoing sounds from the wild as we passed. (more…)

Tags: , ,
Posted in Cruise, Eco-Tourism, Family Travel, Photography | No Comments »

Through the lens: the magic of Rio de Janeiro

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

Rio kissBy Elina Fuhrman

No other word better describes Rio de Janeiro than “exhilarating.” It’s a city that seduces visitors with the persistent rhythm of samba, mile upon mile of sandy beaches, stunning mountains that tumble down to the deep blue sea and sexy tan bodies of its residents. Rio is a true melting pot of races, colors and creeds: Africans, Italians, Germans and even Americans, all proudly call themselves cariocas and will go out of their way to help you navigate their city. Even “Christ The Redeemer” himself stands with open arms as if watching over the city and everyone who comes to visit.

After spending a few days in Rio, I was convinced that it was the cariocas who perfected the art of living well. Without a care in the world, or so it seems, they spend their days at the world-famous beaches, like Ipanema and Copacabana, the heart and soul of Rio life. At night, the frenetic energy moves to the restaurants, bars and dance halls that dot the city. I could have spend days dancing the nights away in Lapa or just people-watching on Ipanema Beach, but there is so much more to Rio than meets the eye. (more…)

Tags: ,
Posted in Beach Vacation, International Vacations, Photography | No Comments »

Photographer captures passion of Paris

Friday, February 12th, 2010

By Elina Fuhrman

Kissing in ParisThere is something distinctively soulful and romantic about Paris. No matter how much I travel I find myself longing to be back in the City of Light. From the first time I wandered the Champs-Élysées on Valentine’s Day in 1993 until a recent visit in October, my heart cannot but leap at the sight of romance on every corner, embracing me like a long-lost love returned home. Each time I visit, I discover a new street, a new boutique or a new bistro, but I mainly like observing people. A hug, a laugh, an attitude can be illuminating.

I still can’t decide whether kissing in public is a French thing, or just something you feel like doing more of in France. Either way, passion comes easy no matter where you stroll, whether along the Seine that winds through the heart of the city, or beneath its arches and monuments — like awnings to the brightness that drenches the city, even on a rainy day.

I feel passion in everything in Paris. Passion for beauty, passion for style, passion for food. People just love this city and I can really see what they love about it. But mostly I see how living life’s everyday moments to its fullest creates a vibe of its own. Paris is full of these spirits and all of its spaces and coveted places are just a stage for the art of living.

The photographs I chose are simply pictures I like. I hope they inspire you to travel to Paris and discover its beauty on your own. And if you end up falling in love with the city, pick up a camera and look through its lens.

Related Orbitz resources:

Elina Fuhrman is an intrepid traveler based in Los Angeles. She grew up in Russia but knew before she was 10  years old that she would spend her life exploring the world.  She is now a contributing editor to Travelgirl and JEZEBEL magazines. Her work has appeared on CNN, in The New York Times, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Conde Nast Traveler, InStyle and other publications.  Fuhrman’s photos often accompany her stories. To see more, visit her website www.elinafuhrman.com.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Europe Vacation, Photography, Romance | No Comments »

« Older Entries