Sometimes you just need to get away. From life. Responsibilities. Time. Chores. Well, that's exactly what we did this past weekend to celebrate our two-year wedding anniversary. We packed a small bag and headed into downtown Houston for a weekend at the JW Marriott. Rarely do we splurge for a nice place to stay so it was genuinely refreshing to be in a beautiful hotel with no worries at all.

There's something freeing about staying in a nice hotel. It just makes you feel like the world is at your fingertips. From an amazing staff to a wonderful restaurant and bar, the JW had exactly what we needed for a calm weekend away. We debated going for a quiet place to bask in serenity, but we're urbanites at heart and a downtown vibe just felt right.

The room was absolutely beautiful and lacked nothing. From the full size tub to the separate living and dining area, we felt like royalty. We even had a complimentary bottle of champagne waiting for us with dessert. There really was no way to not relax and enjoy the sounds of the city as it passed by beneath us. Our soundtrack each night consisted of the gentle rolling of the Metro Light Rail beneath and a surprisingly soothing song selection that accompanied the Marriott ad channel showing the different JW properties around the globe. This place was meant for slowing down and enjoying life.

Situated in the heart of downtown Houston, the JW Marriott makes it easy to enjoy all that the newly revitalized area has to offer. For our first night out we made sure to visit one of our favorite places, Prohibition Supper Club and Bar. The front consists of a 1920's themed restaurant that serves traditional Southern style food with an upscale twist, while the back holds a vaudevillian style burlesque themed show on the weekends. We opted to just hang out up front and enjoy some of the tasty treats and some custom-made concoctions from some of our favorite bartenders in town.

If you've never been, it's worth going just for the people watching. Never have we been disappointed by the constantly rotating cast of characters, especially on nights when the show is going on in the theater. There's nothing not to love about Prohibition, from the period-styled art on the walls to the simple take on great Southern food, it's always a great night out.

Saturday was spent mostly lounging around the hotel, plus we had to go see Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. For dinner we headed over to Pappas Bros. Steakhouse and ended up sitting by one of the players from the San Antonio Spurs. Not only did we have a fantastic steak, we came up with the idea to go hang out at the Four Seasons since that was where the rest of the Spurs players were staying. If you haven't picked it up already, my wife is a massive Spurs fan. They were in town for their playoff series against the Houston Rockets and it just seemed liked we needed to bump into them.

Well, as we sat in the bar lobby of the Four Seasons, that's exactly what happened. Kim got to meet her favorite sports personality, Spurs' head coach Greg Popovich. She still grins every time I bring it up in conversation. It was the perfect end to our last full day of the staycation.

After sleeping in on Sunday and enjoying a late checkout, it was off to home to hang out with our pup. If you're ever in need of some time away, downtown Houston is the perfect place. It feels like a totally different city from the rest of the area. With a large amount of amazing restaurants, bars and entertainment, you just can't go wrong.

The last time I went to NASA's Johnson Space Center was probably in the mid-90's with my parents. Then, it was highlighted by the newly opened Space Center Houston which provided up close looks at shuttle replica pieces, a theater that showed IMAX films about space and the shuttle program and a place to get up close and personal with science. they even had a Saturn V rocket sitting out in the open. Today, Space Center Houston has become a major tourist attraction in the "space city" with the new Independence Plaza showing off the only shuttle mockup docked on top of the NASA 905 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft.

Johnson Space Center

I was amazed by the sheer size of walking into a mostly hollowed out Boeing 747, knowing that there was a vehicle meant for space travel on top. the last time I'd seen a shuttle on top of the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft was in September of 2012 as the shuttle Endeavor made its last flight around Houston before heading to California. Getting to be so up close and personal after seeing the same type of aircraft buzzing around the skies was like being a child again.

Into Rocket Park

johnson space center

The last time I stood next to one of three remaining Saturn V rockets was in the mid-1990's where it was open to the fickle Texas humidity, weather and pretty much anything else. In 2004, the Smithsonian began a partnership with Space Center Houston and constructed a massive complex to house the rocket and keep it from deteriorating further. The enormity of the Saturn V is truly breathtaking and it's hard to believe that something had to be that size to take a mere three people into space.

Along the far wall of the exhibit, the Apollo missions are chronicled in detail to show just how big a part of space exploration the Saturn V rocket played. Standing next to the type of vehicle that took the first man to the moon is truly inspiring and is definitely a must see when you come to Houston.

The outside section of Rocket Park lets you get up close and personal to unused rocket parts, engines and even a Mercury Redstone rocket like the ones used to take the first American astronauts to space in the Mercury program.

johnson space center

Bring Kids, and the Parents Too

Walking through Space Center Houston as an adult was a bit surreal. I remember the first time I saw the Skylab trainer in the Center's Starship Gallery and I got almost the exact same feeling when I saw it again as an adult. Chalk it up to the sense of awe that surrounds space travel and the things unknown. Even the science exhibits meant to teach kids basic concepts of engineering, math and science were fun to play with and learn from. Space Center Houston definitely holds enough fun for kids and adults alike, because when it comes to space travel, we're all pretty much learning together.

space center houston

space center houston

Space Center Houston is a wonderful place to visit and I look forward to heading back soon and finishing up some of the tours of Johnson Space Center since the wife and I are now card-carrying members. You can find out more information on visiting and about the exhibits at Space Center Houston here.

Libraries were a place of adventure for me as a child. I spent countless hours rummaging through books, living out fantasies in pages and inserting myself into history. I got that same sense of wonder and awe when I stepped into The Mercantile Library in downtown Cincinnati. Founded in 1835 as the Young Men's Mercantile Library Association, the library currently resides on the 11th and 12th floors at 414 Walnut Street, where its been since 1908.  

I was fortunate to have a tour of the Mercantile Library with author and Religion News Service blogger Jana Riess which included some of the history of the building itself and look at some of the old and oversized books with the library's Executive Director, John Faherty. He described the Mercantile as a "working library" and not a museum.

Amy B. Hunter, Literary Programs and Marketing Manager for the Mercantile Library, brought out some of the oldest books in the library's collection for us to look at. There's something otherworldly about scanning pages bound in 1614 on subjects like Egyptian Hieroglyphics, you can almost feel the knowledge pouring off the paper. I've always believed in the power of reading and transformation. It was this method that took me to London and Paris years before I would ever step on an airplane.

A Lease Like No Other

Throughout its history, the Mercantile Library has hosted Herman Mellville, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Ralph Waldo Emerson and many other great wordsmiths. The lease for the library at its current location was signed for a 10,000-year occupancy, cost $10,000 and was written by Alphonso Taft, the father of President William Howard Taft.

Just the look and feel of the small library was magical. The rich wood and dark metal cut a stark contrast to the bright book covers and white busts. Riess talked about how some people come and eat lunch and read the newspaper in the library, and I can see why. The deep brown leather in the couches mixes with the wood flooring and sparse decoration to create an inviting atmosphere for study, deep thinking or simple enjoyment.

In a 2014 article written by Faherty when he worked for the Cincinnati Enquirer, he mused on whether the Mercantile Library was the "city's prettiest place?"

The floors are wood, the windows are gigantic and the air is filled with the unmistakable smell of old books. There are glass floors in the stacks to let light filter through because the library was built before the invention of the light bulb. -John Faherty.

If you find yourself in Cincinnati, make sure to stop by the Mercantile Library, a haven of knowledge, beauty and wonder in the heart of the Queen City.

Thanks to Jana Riess for showing us this magical place. Be sure to check out her books The Twible and Flunking Sainthood: A Year of Breaking the Sabbath, Forgetting to Pray and Still Loving My Neighbor. You can find Riess' blog for Religion News Service here.

The Lofoten Islands in Northen Norway look like something out of a dream, especially when viewed in 4k clarity from filmmaker Nick Kontostavlakis. Filmed in February 2017, this look at the "foot of the lynx" will get you as up close and personal with the terrain as possible. I've said before that drone footage is not normally my favorite, but combined with the wild looking landscape and cold weather, Kontostavlakis really does justice to Lofoten.

Midnight Sun

According to VisitNorway.com, "between late May and mid July you can experience the midnight sun, whilst the northern lights can be viewed from September to mid April." Since the Gulf Stream travels so close to Lofoten, the area experiences a much milder climate than most places at the same latitude. Being from Texas, cold weather climates intrigue me and this definitely just made my list of places to travel to.

You can find out more about the Lofoten Islands by visiting their official tourism board page here.

Also, we should all have a code of conduct like this one.

Lofoten Code of Conduct

CAMP IN DESIGNATED AREAS

LEAVE NO TRACE. Avoid leaving traces in nature, such as cairns, tent pegs etc. Allow others to have the same great experience that you've had.

FOLLOW THE PATH AND AVOID CREATION OF NEW PATHS

THROW WASTE IN THE WASTE BINS. If you are in an area without bins, bring your waste with you until you can dispose of it.

USE PUBLIC TOILETS. If none are present, go in the ocean or dig a pit in the ground. Avoid using wet wipes, as they take a long time to decompose.

RESPECT PRIVATE PROPERTY. Camping closer than 150 metres from an occupied house or cabin is forbidden. You can only camp on cultivated land if you have an agreement with the land owner.

BE CONSIDERATE IN TRAFFIC. The roads in Lofoten are narrow, yet many use them. Keep well clear of cyclists when passing them. Be especially mindful of bicycles in tunnels.

BAN ON FIRES. During the summer months, there is a general ban on open fires. Use designated sites for fire, and make sure there is no risk for a forest fire.

RESPECT WILDLIFE. Avoid disturbing animals unnecessarily. Dogs must be kept on a leash at all times.

IN THE INTEREST OF THE ENVIRONMENT, as well as your own experience and safety, we recommend activities oranised by tour operator. You can find a list of such organisers here.

You don't make a photograph just with a camera. You bring to the act of photography all the pictures you have seen, the books you have read, the music you have heard, the people you have loved. ― Ansel Adams

There's a tendency in travel film and photography today to bend towards sweeping and epic drone shots. Not only do they convey a sense of awe and beauty, they help establish the area and give a bird's-eye view of the destination. The problem I have with drone photography and videography is that it generally takes the user and audience out of the frame. The big, sweeping shots set up lots of space but without a good subject (Iceland and a few other rugged destinations come to mind) the shots tend to all blend together.

In his short film above, filmmaker and photographer Fabien Ecochard takes the time to blend into the people of Nice and use his camera to frame some immensely beautiful shots. By staying close to his subjects, Ecochard keeps you glued to the everyday activities in the seaside town in the south of France. Watching a man paint a sign never looked so cinematic and real.

Film as Humanity

Don't get me wrong, drone footage has some amazing uses in film and photography. I just think that a lot of times it gets relied on too heavily, pulling you up from the world of the film with it. The images that we see in Ecochard's film "Nicely" ground us in the every day, the mundane.

At 1:08 we see a girl sitting on the beach as a boat bobs in the waves in front of her. There's a simplicity in the framing. The calmness is a lesson in framing the right situation to convey emotion. There's hardly any camera movement in the first two minutes. The subjects keep the action flowing and their humanity keeps the images interesting. I'm particularly struck by the little girl curling her hair around her ears at 1:38. She seems as if she has no cares in the world. Isn't that what escaping to a beach town should be like?

A Lesson In Timing

The image at 0:55 of the plane flying above the market, as seen from a car's side mirror is almost genius and no doubt took a small miracle of timing. That dedication to staying in one place and being among the subject serves as a testament to persistence. You won't always get that amazing of a shot, but the more time you invest, the more opportunities you will be afforded.

Drone photography can create some brilliant images, just look at this example from "Icarus" by Vadim Sherbakov, but when relied upon too heavily, it can become a crutch. Maybe I'm just more partial to people than landscapes. I like to feel humanity in my images. Find a balance and you may just create some of your most beautiful images.

To learn more about framing, take a look at this short on center framing featuring the films of Wes Anderson. Rule of thirds be damned.