Top 100 Photos of 2012

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Thanks to TwistedSifter.com, I stumbled across these fabulous images taken in 2012 of places all across the globe, and even from outside of it.

The visual imagery (real or composed) of each photograph is so stunning, it’s hard to believe that there are many more pictures of equal caliber existing that did not make it to the list.

Photographers are such an inspiration to what can be perceived with the human eye, the lens of a camera, and a singular moment in time. I can only image what greatness technology will bring us in 2013.

FULL ARTICLE HERE:

The Top 100 ‘Pictures of the Day’ for 2012

“The Scared is scared”

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I came across this the other day and I couldn’t stop thinking about how remarkable a child’s imagination is.

Remember when the greatest worry you had was that it was going to rain and you couldn’t play outside? And even then a storm cloud meant ample mud to play in later. Those were the days…

We spend so much of our childhood wishing to be older, taller, stronger, richer, wiser, etc. We invented games like “House” and pretended to fit in our parent’s clothes. We hated nap time and believed in things like Santa and the Easter Bunny. We climbed trees and ate handfuls of candy as a part of a normal afternoon.

Of course, growing up is inevitable and society requires us to become self-sufficient, responsible individuals. But at what point do the bars on our imaginations close and our playful ambition becomes shackled to mundane work?

I’m simply suggesting that every now and then, look up. Look around you and let your mind run wild with the crazy ideas we once thought possible as children.

The end.

And my favorite film of 2012 goes to…

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Photo courtesy of The Hunger Games Facebook Page

Photo courtesy of The Hunger Games Facebook Page

…The Hunger Games!

Okay, I know what you’re thinking. DUH, right? Not only was the book trilogy by Suzanne Collins a huge success, but the movie became one of the biggest blockbusters of 2012. That, however, is not why I chose it as my favorite. The major deciding factor during my process of elimination came down to the work done behind the cameras and red carpet hype.

Like most of the world’s population, I read the books, saw the movie, and bought it when it was released on DVD. If you haven’t yet, I highly recommend following the above steps. After watching every single special feature the DVD had to offer, it’s really no surprise why this movie over-ruled the other contenders for the top spot on my list. Believe me, it’s well worth sitting through all three hours of the “making of” footage.

Gary Ross, who also directed Big and Pleasantville, was the creative brainpower behind the production of this best-seller, and did an impressive job of transforming the story into a film version that fans of the novels would embrace. The way he chose to illustrate the storyline in cinema vérité fashion emphasized the character of Katniss and her experiences rather than a gory display of violence. Overall, a classy and artful decision which gave the movie that “indie” quality I admire.

So, to sum up my reasoning:

1) Awesome story. Period.

2) Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss.

3) Incredible special features showing how the film was made.

4) Two thumbs-up for the soundtrack.

5) Gary Ross is the man.

6) Did I mention Jennifer Lawrence?

Runner-ups worth mentioning include Moonrise Kingdom, Silver Linings Playbook, The Avengers, and Argo. 

Oh, The Places I’ll Go

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“I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.”

-Susan Sontag

The wonders of the world are limitless and one can hardly be expected to conquer them all in one lifetime, but I’m up for the challenge. Here’s a bucket-list of places off of the top of my head that I’ve always yearned to revisit or explore. It’s an on-going collection of cities and sights, most of which are travels inspired by some of my favorite movies.

  • Thailand- Rich in tradition, food, and lighting ceremonies. This particular photo is of the celebrated Yi Peng Lantern Festival which symbolizes good luck and worries floating away. It’s also a real-life version of one of my top three Disney movies, Tangled, so that’s another motivating factor.

From Paris Je T’aime

  • Paris, France- I was first introduced to the City of Lights during a study abroad with the University of Florida in Spring 2009 and (so far) it’s my second favorite city in the world.
  • The Great Wall of China- Who wouldn’t want to visit a massive man-made structure that can also be seen from space? Maybe I’ve watched Mulan too many times.

Image via Getty Images

  • The Berlin Wall, Germany- The ruins that mark a fascinating and horrific period in world history.

Image via weelifebigla.blogspot.com

  • India- No specific destination needed- this beautiful jungle country has an atmosphere than I can only describe as transcendental. Vibrant people, culture, nature…what’s not to love? Brief scenes from a childhood movie I adore, A Little Princess, and music from the great Ravi Shankar inspire this quest.
From Memoirs of a Geisha

From Memoirs of a Geisha

  • Japan- And so it seems that I tend to lean towards the Asian countries…I blame Japan’s magnetism on the elegant wisdom of the people, the peaceful bonsai and cherry blossom trees, and the society that is both extremely advanced, as well as rooted in custom.
  • New Zealand- Um, hello, Middle Earth and The Shire! I apologize, sometimes my inner geek gets a little too excited about the possibility of seeing the actual movie set. My real dream, however, is to bust out the ol’ camping gear and boots for a hiking expedition here one day. I wouldn’t complain about a hobbit sighting, though.

And last (for now) but definitely not least…

  • The Great Barrier Reef, Australia- Home of the world’s deadliest jellyfish, tons of Great Whites, amazing surf, and some of the most colorful creatures you will ever see. Just watch Finding Nemo (clearly a documentary on the reef itself) and you will become a believer. Few things are as close to my heart as the ocean. It’s awesome. Space is cool and all, but really, there’s an entire world ON OUR PLANET that’s just waiting to tickle the fancies of scientists. Diving trip, anyone?

To be continued…

The Many Quirky Films of Wes Anderson

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Wes Anderson is by far one of the strangest, most creative directors and writers in the biz today. Though his movies tend to consist of cult followings rather than blockbuster hits, I believe that is the true beauty of his films. Anderson is able to connect to his audience in a very gritty, all-human-emotions-on-the-table sort of way. His characters may seem odd and intangible on the outside, but they always prove that their deeper issues are much more relatable than expected.

And with that, I present you with a storyboard of some of my favorite moments from his cinematic adventures:

Rushmore, 1998.

Rushmore, 1998.

The Royal Tenenbaums, 2001.

The Royal Tenenbaums, 2001.

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, 2004

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, 2004

The Darjeeling Limited, 2007.

The Darjeeling Limited, 2007.

Fantastic Mr. Fox, 2009.

Fantastic Mr. Fox, 2009.

Moonrise Kingdom, 2012

Moonrise Kingdom, 2012

 

“There’s no story if there isn’t some conflict. The memorable things are usually not how pulled together everybody is. I think everybody feels lonely and trapped sometimes. I would think it’s more or less the norm.” 
-Wes Anderson

 

 

 

Quote of the Day

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“Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark in the hopeless swamps of the not-quite, the not-yet, and the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish in lonely frustration for the life you deserved and have never been able to reach. The world you desire can be won. It exists.. it is real.. it is possible.. it’s yours.”

-Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged

My Whirlwind November

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For some, November means growing beards or spending hours preparing a grocery list for a Thanksgiving feast.

To me it meant a HUGE, CRAZY, AWESOME life change.

I realize how M.I.A. I’ve been, and I vow to start allotting more time to write. But please, allow me to explain:

At the beginning of November, after flying up for an interview in the midst of Hurricane Sandy’s aftermath, I was generously offered a job as an Assistant Editor at NBC in New York City. And I accepted!

Rockefeller Rink

The Rockefeller Rink! Image copyright Carla Ramirez

Then I went back home to Florida to gather my belongings and say my goodbyes to friends and family. Bittersweet indeed.

Hobe Sound, FL inlet. Image copyright Carla Ramirez

Hobe Sound, FL inlet. Image copyright Carla Ramirez

On November 14th, 2012 I boarded a one-way flight back to The Big Apple, and immediately became enamored by all the holiday bling around the city.

Radio City Music Hall. Image copyright Carla Ramirez

Radio City Music Hall. Image copyright Carla Ramirez

Giant Ornaments off of 6th Ave, behind 30 Rock. Image copyright Carla Ramirez

Giant Ornaments off of 6th Ave, behind 30 Rock. Image copyright Carla Ramirez

While adjusting to the bleak weather, balancing two jobs, and apartment hunting, I somehow managed to find time to explore. One of my absolute favorite sights in all of New York so far has been the autumn leaves in Central Park. I had spent so many years dreaming about being in the city for the holiday season, and the moment I saw those trees, a single, stubborn tear of joy escaped my eye and froze on the round of my cheek, forever imprinting the memory of that sight into my flesh. Tender, I know, but there are simply no words to describe how beautiful and peaceful it was to walk through.

Fall in Central Park. Image copyright Carla Ramirez

Fall in Central Park. Image copyright Carla Ramirez

Fall in Central Park 2

Fall in Central Park con’t. Image copyright Carla Ramirez

After a successful, turkey-filled Thanksgiving away from home with my friends, Christmastime took off. I experienced my first Black Friday working in retail (phew, what a frenzy!), and witnessed the Rockefeller Tree Lighting Ceremony in person. I had no idea just how serious tourists were about this tree.

Word of advice: if you wish to see the lighting, either get there EXTREMELY early or be prepared to lose a limb clambering through the crowd.

Holiday Tree Lighting Party at Anthropolgie! Image copyright Carla Ramirez

Holiday Tree Lighting Party at Anthropolgie! Image copyright Carla Ramirez

The Rockefeller Christmas Tree Lighting. Image copyright Carla Ramirez

The Rockefeller Christmas Tree Lighting. Image copyright Carla Ramirez

 

And with that, ladies and gentlemen, our tour of my landmark adventures throughout the month of November has come to an end.

To my readers- thank you for journeying with me, it’s truly a pleasure to be able to share my present-day bliss with you.

To Instagram- thank you for making my photos look mildly interesting.

To New York City- I love you.

Cheers, everyone!

Mouthwatering Photography

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Photo by Penny De Los Santos via National Geographic

Food is one of the greatest commodities of the world. Not only can a single bite provide you with nutrition, but it can also transport you into exotic cultural experiences and timeless traditions! Fascinating!

Okay, I’m no food expert, but I certainly know my way around a kitchen table, refrigerator, grocery store, restaurant menu, etc. So combine that enthusiasm for eating with my passion for photography and you have a dinner guest that won’t touch her meal until she exhausts every possible camera angle of her plate. And thanks to applications like Instagram, the world just begs me to share my culinary adventures.

Maybe it’s my obsession with Julia Child, or maybe it’s the fact that I pretend I’m on Food Network’s show Chopped every time I cook, but I know deep down that food and I have a real connection. Food tells a story. Food is my soulmate.

Homemade Cajun chicken avocado sandwich. Image copyright Carla Ramirez.

My advice: try to capture the best feature(s) of your tasty subject. For instance, with this photo I tried to highlight the many layers of my sandwich. If the picture makes you hungry, chances are your audience will be too.

And now, I invite you to feast your eyes upon National Geographic’s presentation for tips on photographing food like a pro.

Bon appétit!

P.S. Just for fun: