How to Make (and Keep) a Traveler’s Hippocratic Oath

Take only memories and photographs, and leave it better than you found it.

Everywhere Once

Tours you can take, although we’ll pass

First, do no harm.

It’s an oath sworn by physicians and a pledge that every traveler should make as well. As guests in the places we visit the very least we can do is respect our hosts by not hurting their country or their people.

Unfortunately such pledges are easier made than kept. That’s especially true in areas of the world that lack strong regulations protecting vulnerable populations. It’s not uncommon to see plenty of exploitive activities marketed to tourists. And sometimes those activities are even cleverly disguised to prey on our very desire to do good.

Visiting and volunteering in a children’s orphanage in Cambodia, for example, sounds like a good way of directing your travel dollars to a worthwhile cause. That is until you learn about the fake orphanages that separate children from their parents for the sole purpose of separating…

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November 29, 2014December 4, 2014 by Kelly Guymon Photography Categories: Photography 1 Comment

Triumph

Wow! It’s been an amazing month! I’ve been posting a daily photo for the month of November. It’s been something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time now, but with work it’s been difficult. I’ll do my best to keep this up with my recent adventures hiking.

So, with no further ado, here is one of my favorite shots of the Watchman Mountain in Zion National Park. It’s a perfect storm of conditions that were present at the time.

November 29, 2014November 29, 2014 by Kelly Guymon Photography Categories: hiking, PhotographyTags: clouds, photo101, rain, rainbow, storm, watchman, zion Leave a comment

Doubles

Spiderworts.

November 28, 2014 by Kelly Guymon Photography Categories: flowers, PhotographyTags: doubles, flowers, photo101, spiderworts 4 Comments

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is more than turkey with all the trimmings, football and pumpkin pie. It’s about gratitude for all we have. It’s basically the National Day of Gratitude, or it should be.

I’m thankful for family, God and all His blessings, friends, and all who follow this blog. I appreciate all the likes, input, and comments.

So, here’s probably the turkey who everyone would love to have for their feast, but likely wouldn’t fit in the oven.

Happy Thanksgiving!

November 27, 2014 by Kelly Guymon Photography Categories: birds, hiking, Photography, WildlifeTags: football, gratitude, pumpkin pie, Thanksgiving, turkey Leave a comment

Edge of the Rim

I’ve always been told that you don’t see Zion until you see it from the top.

One of the lesser known or used trails is the Deer Trap Mountain Trail. Here is the view looking into the lower canyon from Deer Trap.

November 27, 2014 by Kelly Guymon Photography Categories: hiking, PhotographyTags: deer trap, edge, photo101, rim, trail, zion 6 Comments

Glass

We think of glass as a man made material, which it is. It can form many useful and beautiful objects.

However, sometimes things are not what they seem. Take this view of glass for example. It’s rough, jagged, decorative, and natural. I found this hillside not far from St. George, Utah, that has glass coming right out of it. The surrounding rock is sedimentary. This isn’t unusual for this area, because not far away is the only place in the world that silver was found in sandstone, Silver Reef, now a ghost town near Leeds, Utah.

November 26, 2014 by Kelly Guymon Photography Categories: hiking, PhotographyTags: glass, photo101, rocks, sedimentary, silver reef, st george, Utah Leave a comment

Treasures

Yes, finding a pirate’s booty would be nice and exciting. However, it’s nothing but trouble. Just ask young Jim Hawkins.

There are many other things that I treasure, and they are beyond price and value: family, friends, my beliefs, freedom and liberty.

The price for our liberty and freedoms was paid for by the blood, sweat and tears of our military. It was written by our Founders and defended by anyone who loves what these ideals stand for .

I am grateful to all military heroes who gave of their time, souls, and bodies to defend us and our freedoms. I am also grateful for the Founders who wrote our Constitution and laws and hope they will always stand. Vigilance is always key to maintaining our country,,

Here is my tribute to liberty, one of my biggest treasures.

November 25, 2014November 25, 2014 by Kelly Guymon Photography Categories: PhotographyTags: constitution, family, founders, freedom, military, photo101, pirates, treasure, Veteran 3 Comments

Landscape

I decided to change things up a bit. Zion National Park is my home, and my favorite place to be. That being said, I like Bryce Canyon National Park as well. It’s very gorgeous, tranquil, and breath taking (being at 8,000 feet plus, doesn’t hurt either).

The hoodoos can look like almost anything. By the way, hoodoo is a Paiute word meaning “frozen spirit.” Legend has it that there was a society here that was so evil, they were turned to stone.

November 24, 2014 by Kelly Guymon Photography Categories: hiking, PhotographyTags: Bryce canyon, hoodoo, imagination, landscape, Paiute, photo101 3 Comments

A Swarm of Swimmers

I normally don’t take a lot of photos of people in large groups, especially strangers.  For this reason, this subject was a bit hard for me (that and my work schedule prevents me from getting out there and taking photos).  I had to look through my archives to find a photo of a large swarm of objects.

I found this gem from a cruise I went on a few years ago of some kids swimming in the ocean below Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

These kids were running (or trying to) between the two trampolines on the tube that connected them.  Their antics were absolutely hilarious.  There were several face plants into the side of one trampoline or the other, belly flops and such into the water.  But my favorite is this one below.  It’s of a girl taking flight off the trampoline into the water.  Her expression is priceless.  Apparently I wasn’t the only one enjoying their antics…

November 23, 2014November 23, 2014 by Kelly Guymon Photography Categories: PhotographyTags: fun, Jamaica, Jimmy Buffet, Margaritaville, ocean, photo101, swim, trampoline Leave a comment

A Moment in Time

Do you know how we’re always told to stay indoors during a lightning storm? Well, I didn’t listen.

November 20, 2014 by Kelly Guymon Photography Categories: hiking, PhotographyTags: clouds, lightning, moment, photo101, storm 5 Comments