ADVENTURE + ALIVENESS Page 21 of 22

Chicago city magic

Posted on 2010-11-04 at 4:12 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

Having fun with my photos from Chicago, the last stop on my recent US adventure.

They aren’t my normal style. What do you think?

The top two are of Anish Kapoor’s amazing sculpture ‘Cloud Gate’ in Millennium Park. The third is of a smaller sculpture in the same park (‘Sacred Rock’, part of a special exhibition by contemporary Chinese artists), and the last picture was taken at Chicago O’Hare International Airport.

If you like any of them, I’d be interested to know which and why…

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More posts from my recent US adventures:

New York part 2: My kind of city

Posted on 2010-11-02 at 5:31 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

In this penultimate post about my recent trip to the US, I want to share some images of this captivating city. There is an incredible air of possibility about this place, and so much to feast your eyes on…

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New York part 2: My kind of city bellini mag

New York part 2: My kind of city building mag

New York part 2: My kind of city pavement mag

New York part 2: My kind of city windows mag

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New York part 2: My kind of city flag cc

New York part 2: My kind of city cafe cc

New York part 2: My kind of city sign cc

New York part 2: My kind of city flower cc

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New York part 2: My kind of city city+lights cc

New York part 2: My kind of city lamppost cc

New York part 2: My kind of city grafitti cc

New York part 2: My kind of city elephant cc

If you are a fan of NYC, what is it that draws you to it?

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More posts from my recent US adventures:

New York part 1

Cape Cod

Squam Lake

Cape Cod in pictures

Posted on 2010-10-27 at 5:11 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

Windswept empty beaches

tumbling oceans
whirling skies

Hidden galleries,
wine in my glass,
laughter in the air

When was the last time you walked barefoot in the sand?

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Other posts from my recent US adventures:
New York part 1 (NYC people)
New York part 2 (My kind of city)
Squam Lake

The importance of photography

Posted on 2010-10-08 at 11:55 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Photo: Koichi Fujiwara

An old friend of mine, renowned wildlife photographer Koichi Fujiwara, is busy preparing for a big exhibition of his photos which opens later this month in Japan. The images he captures are a mixture of stunning, cute, and thought-provoking but they all have one thing in common – they tell the story of the environmental crisis our world is currently facing.

In ‘The Earth is calling us – listen to Nature’s voice’, a special exhibition to coincide with the COP10 Biodiversity Conference in Nagoya, Ko shares a stark snapshot of the state of the planet. Through beautiful photos he shows how our actions are completely shaking up the world’s ecosystems, and the impact that is happening on some of our most treasured animals.

As a perpetual traveller and the only person to have photographed every species of penguin in the world, he is taking the planet’s pulse first hand. From Komodo Dragons in Indonesia and Giant Spiny Chameleons in Madagascar, to Orang-utans in Borneo and seals in Antarctica, Ko has brought back a suitcase full of visual treasures from his travels, but with a frightening message about what we might find (or not) if we travel to those same places next year, next decade, next century.

If you happen to be in Nagoya, do check it out. If not, you can always see some of Ko’s photos on his website Nature’s Planet or peruse one of the many books he has written. (The site is in Japanese but is easy to hop about and find photos.)

He got me thinking about the importance of photography not just to capture beauty, stash away memories and catalogue history as it happens, but also to influence the future. The seemingly inevitable doesn’t necessarily have to become history, if the images are powerful enough to make us change how we live in the present.

What powerful images of our time have you seen lately? Do share with a link!

gone travellin’

Posted on 2010-09-13 at 7:31 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

U S of A here I come!

Time for some more adventures…

for the love of trees (and sculpture)

Posted on 2010-09-12 at 4:45 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

A visit to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park does wonders for the soul. 500 acres of stunning parkland, with internationally renowned sculptors’ work dotted here and there. You can picnic by a Henry Moore, hide behind a Barbara Hepworth or get lost in the forest near the David Nash stairway. You can even take an outdoor class in bronze casting. And it is free to get in!

My man and I had a lovely couple of hours strolling through the land, making up stories about what each piece really meant, and sheltering from the rain in the cosy shadow of the big trees.

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Do What You Love interview – Tim Moss

Posted on 2010-09-08 at 3:00 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

Do you love adventure like I do? How about skiing to the South Pole? Tim Moss fancies a go at it, but unlike most people who just dream about it, he is actually going. In January he will be accompanied on his ‘Inspired by London 2012 South Pole Adventure’ by an Olympian (Derek Redmond), a Paralympian (Marc Woods), and a Special Olympics athlete (Declan Kerry), as they ski to the bottom of the earth to wave the British flag in the name of participation, inclusivity and accessibility, and marking the 100th anniversary of Captain Scott reaching the Pole.

(Image courtesy of Tim Moss)

At university Tim decided on a whim to organise a mountaineering expedition to Kyrgyzstan, a country he’d never heard of. In his words, “It all went horribly wrong, I had a wonderful time and have been trying to have as many adventures as humanly possible ever since.”He now runs adventure consulting business The Next Challenge, helping others to live their adventures. Tim is a guy who really does what he loves.

(image courtesy of David Tett)

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the sea, the sea

Posted on 2010-08-30 at 1:23 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

‘The Sea’: 12″X12″ acrylic on canvas

I must go down to the sea again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea’s face and a grey dawn breaking.I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull’s way and the whale’s way where the wind’s like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick’s over.
by John Masefield

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I used this poem as the inspiration for this work-in-progress for Louise’s ‘Creative Color Challenge’. Check out all the other contributions here…

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Have you ever been on a tall ship? It is a magical experience. I once raced in the Cutty Sark Tall Ships’ Race across the Bay of Biscay, wind in my hair and dolphins at the bow. I love this poem as it captures that feeling so beautifully – the sense of freedom, and wandering wonder.

Adventure is good for the soul

Posted on 2010-07-09 at 5:03 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

I’m back from my little African adventure.

Energised.

Refreshed.

Inspired.

I went alone but travelled in good company

with people I found along the way.

I visited a prison,

played with a lion,

hung out with new friends and old.

And I soaked up the energy of the world’s football fans

dancing on African soil.

New places, new faces.

New perspectives.

New memories.

Nothing like a little travel to shake it all up.

What little adventures have you lived recently?

Looking back, forward, inward, and outward

Posted on 2010-05-05 at 7:08 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Today I am 32. Tomorrow I will be 33. Pretty old, pretty young, depending on your perspective. Or maybe just right, for me, right now.

It has been quite a year.

1. I quit my job

Some say change is stressful, I say it is energising, important, refreshing. Quitting my job was hard. It wasn’t a boring, draining, rat-race type office job. It was an uplifting, challenging experience that taught me so much and I loved it. I had five amazing years at UNICEF, the world’s biggest organisation working for children and children’s rights.It took me to the edges of humanity, introducing me to amazing people shining brightly in the darkest of situations. I travelled the world, venturing far beyond the urban jungle out into the places where life happens for so many.

Photo: Francois d’Elbee

I met children with bare feet, guns, no parents, ambition, hope

I met world leaders, religious leaders, and gang leaders

I travelled with sports stars, famous actors and cabinet ministers

I dined with a prince, and a Nobel Peace Prize winner

I learnt how to shoot a camera,

how to shoot a handmade football,

how to shoot a bow and arrow,

how to shoot an AK47*

*obviously not at people or animals

Photo: Francois d’Elbee

We shared childhood games

We shared long bumpy car rides

We shared untold secrets

And we shared our stories

Photo: Francois d’Elbee

I saw pain, beauty, courage, love

I questioned and I listened

I changed and I grew

It will stay with me always

2. I started my own company

Shortly after my last birthday, I finally recognised that although I loved my job, it ate all my time and there were other things I wanted to do. I took the plunge to start my own company and set off in a new direction. It has been a fantastic roller coaster full of unknowns, challenges and new experiences. I love this delicious freedom.