Photos

Learning to sail, Sydney Harbour

Yachts heeling under full sail on Sydney Harbour in bright sun, with the Harbour Bridge on the left and the city skyline behind

When I decided to learn to sail, I did it in terrible conditions. Sydney Harbour, a blue sky, a steady breeze, the Harbour Bridge on one side and the city on the other. A real ordeal. I suffered so you don't have to.

Mount Fuji from Lake Ashi

Snow-capped Mount Fuji under a clear blue sky, seen across Lake Ashi in Hakone, with the red torii gate of Hakone Shrine standing in the water below a forested hill

Our honeymoon in Japan. This is Lake Ashi in Hakone, with the red torii of Hakone Shrine standing in the water and Fuji behind the hills.

Fuji is shy. Clouds and haze hide it on most days, and many visitors leave without seeing more than a grey shape. That is why catching it clear counts as good luck in Japan. There is even a stretch of the bullet train line where a glimpse of Fuji is called the "good-luck Fuji". The mountain also tops the old list of lucky first dreams of the new year, ichi Fuji, ni taka, san nasubi, which means first Fuji, then a hawk, then an eggplant.

My wife and I saw it clear for several days in a row. I'm counting that as a very good sign.

Ipanema, sunset winner!

Silhouette of a man kicking a football on Ipanema beach at sunset, with the Dois Irmãos peaks behind him and the sun low over the sea

Late afternoon on Ipanema beach in Rio. The sun drops into the sea, Dois Irmãos turns into a silhouette, and the beach fills with people keeping a ball in the air. I caught one of them mid-kick.

In April 2012 this photo won a Hipstamatic contest. The prize was a few days as the banner of their Facebook page, in front of everyone who followed the app. I was so proud.

I took it on my iPhone with the Hipstamatic app, which made every phone photo look like a toy camera print.