An American's Journey to Sderot, Israel

The following excerpt was written in December on paper on a bus ride to Sderot…..
(The following post has been posted later than I planned, but with what's going on in the Middle East as I type these words, the timing is right.)

With minimum sleep followed by long days of sightseeing, the trip has been packed with learning the history and culture of Israel.  

No ice cubes

Hummus with every meal

Amazing bread

Fresh juice stands

Freshest produce in the markets

Falafel is amazing!

Bomb Shelter

Our group was just briefed that we’re 1.5 miles from the Gaza Strip! If we hear a siren wailing, we have 15 seconds to find and enter a bomb shelter which are located throughout the city of Sderot. Sderot hears the siren about every other week. Every bus stop is a shelter. The cinema is the ONLY movies there/shelter in the world…..

We’re driving by a playground which has two huge caterpillar/sea dragons on it. I have a feeling they are shelters  :/.

While some live in fear of fear of the rockets which are launched from Gaza, others don’t let it affect their lives…..

We just returned to the bus from a 5 minute up-hill walk. The walk brought us .5 miles from the Gaza Strip. Tomas, our tour guide of Sderot, couldn’t have started the walk any better. ”If you hear a the siren, drop to the ground and cover your head! If you see a spot in the sky flying at you, don’t try to photograph it!"

Our View of the Gaza Strip

While Tomas makes jokes about the issues of Sderot, it’s weird see how people can live in THESE CONDITIONS.

All this makes Sderot the bomb shelter capitol of the world.

Prior to this trip, the first words to come to mind when I heard “Israel” were desert, war and camels.  Although this isn’t completely incorrect it’s far from accurate. Tel Aviv is just like Miami Beach – no camels in sight.

Our hotel in Jerusalem had a bomb shelter which hasn’t been used in years.

With everything that has been going on over the last three days, let's pray for the IDF soldiers who joined us on this trip and  to all civilians. 

Below are the links to the photos from Israel.

Click here to view my photos on DigitalGreg.com.

Click here to view my photos on the DigitalGreg Facebook page.

(A)live from the Middle East! Back from Israel!

Back from Israel! It was a beautiful and unreal experience. For being such a small country, the history which it holds is mind boggling. At the end of each day, I was brain dead from information overload. Israel is more than desert and camels!

I was in Israel for 2.5 wks. The first 10 days were part of Birthright with 37 other travelers. Ranging from age 18 to 26, coming from different lifestyles and from all over America, it was interesting how well everyone bonded. Everyone I met are people I will contact when I'm in their town.

For the second half of the trip, I stayed outside of Tel Aviv, in Ramat HaSharon, with my grandfather.

From this trip, my favorite places include: the Old City in Jerusalem and Sderot.

Whether you are Christian, Jewish or Islamic, the Old City is the mecca of religion. All the major religions in the world have a connection to this area which is smaller than a square mile. To fully understand the Old City, I think one would need "The Old City for Dummies" (if it exists.)

Sderot is a city in the Negev which is known for being hit with Qassam rockets. It's the bomb shelter capitol of the world and has the only bomb proof movie theater in the world. Every bus stop in the city is a shelter. I found is fascinating how people adapted to a lifestyle of always being on guard.

Here is a video which Noah Alloy from the trip recorded. It includes interesting insight to Sderot.

I have notes I wrote about Sderot which I will post soon.

While on Birthright, not only did we see the country and learn the history, but we had the honor of spending half the trip with eight Israeli Defense Force (IDF) solders to help us understand the culture. One of the things everyone noticed with the solders is their sense level of pride for their country.

In America, we fear the idea of a draft, but the Israelis take pride in being in the IDF.

It was strange waking up the morning after Birthright ended. Although it was only 10 days, you become close with the people on the trip. It was strange waking up in my grandfather's house and being the only person in the room.

Although my daily routine was less strenuous while staying with family, we managed to enjoy museums in Tel Aviv and visited Haifa, Akko and Nazareth.
Israeli hospitality is great

I wanted to explore the Old City more before returning to Florida, so I spent the last night in a hostel within the walls of the Old City.

Here are DigitalGreg's fun facts about Israel:

• It's NOT a good idea to try to enter the Western Wall Plaza when looking like a terrorist. You will end up playing a game of 20 questions. 
• All new buildings and extensively remodeled buildings are required to have a bomb shelter.
• Everything in Israel is backwards - including the signs for crossing the street.
• American's will be amused with the Israeli version of being opening 24/7.

Click here to view my photos on DigitalGreg.com.

Click here to view my photos on the DigitalGreg Facebook page.

To the Promised Land! – Israel Bound in T-minus 45 minutes!

In the next month, the first international gallery will be added to DigitalGreg.com!

In T-minus 45 minutes, I’m flying to Israel for 2.5 weeks. The trip is sponsored by Birthright / Young Judaea. I’m flying out of PHL on a 9pm flight. I return to the states on Dec. 28.

like every trip I've been on since 2005, the camera bag will be packed and ready for shooting!

The trip itinerary is as follows:

Monday, December 12 – Arrive in Israel!
3:05 pm – Arrival at Ben Gurion Airport
8:30 pm – Dinner at hotel

Tuesday, December 13 – North Israel
7:00 am – Breakfast
9:00 am – Nachal Jilaboun – Canyon Hike   
12:00 pm – Mt. Bental - Former Syrian bunkers
1:30 pm – Lunch
3:00 pm – Golan Winery – Tasting & Tour
4:30 pm – Olive Oil Press
7:00 pm – Dinner at Hotel

Wednesday, December 14 – Tzfat
7:00 am – Breakfast
8:00 am – Kineret Cemetery – Poets & Pioneers of the Galilee
9:30 am – Tour of Tzfat – Home of Jewish Mysticism
11:00 am – Avraham Leventhal – Kaballah Artist
12:00 pm – Lunch
3:30 pm – Volunteering at Lod & Co-existence program
8:00 pm – Dinner at Hotel
9:00 pm – Night out at Tel Aviv

Thursday, December 15 –  Tel Aviv
7:00 am – Breakfast & Checkout
8:30 am – Rabin Museum
10:00 am – Tour of Jaffa
11:00 am – Graffiti Tour from Neve Tzekek to Florentin
1:30 pm – Lunch
3:00 pm – Tour Rothschild
4:00 pm – Rabin Square – Memorial to Yitzhak Rabin
7:00 pm – Dinner at Hotel
8:00 pm – Yishai Goldflam – Workshop 'Israeli Society through Israeli Cinema'

Friday, December 16 – Jerusalem
7:00 am – Breakfast
8:00 am – Welcome Israeli Soldiers for Mifgash Session
10:00 am – Tour of the Old City
12:00 pm – Southern Wall Excavation Bar/Bat Mitzvah Ceremony
1:00 pm – Lunch
2:00 pm – Preparation for Shabbat at Hotel
3:15 pm – Drive to Kotel (Western Wall)
4:00 pm – Kabbalat Shabbat at the Kotel
7:00 pm – Shabbat Dinner at Hotel
8:00 pm – Oneg Shabbat

Saturday, December 17 – Jerusalem
8:00 am – Breakfast
11:30 am – Judaism Program with Eli Duitch
1:00 pm – Lunch at Hotel
2:00 pm – Tour the Knesset area & Nahlaot
4:00 pm – Seudah Shlishit at Hotel
5:15 pm – Havdallah & Start of new week
8:00 pm – Dinner & Night out at Ben Yehudah

Sunday, December 18 – Jerusalem
7:00 am – Breakfast
9:00 am – Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum
1:00 pm – Lunch
2:00 pm – Mt. Hertzl – National Memorial
4:00 pm – Tour Machne Yehuda
7:00 pm – Dinner at Hotel
8:00 pm – Neil Lazarus – Situation Today in Israel
9:30 pm – Amirim Session with Sigalit

Monday, December 19 – Negev
7:00 am – Breakfast & Check out
10:00 am – Tour Sderot
1:00 pm – Lunch
2:00 pm – Shvil Hasalat – Green Project
7:00 pm – Bedouin Hospitality / Dinner & Bonfire
9:00 pm – Mifgash Program with Israeli soldiers

Tuesday, December 20 – Negev
7:00 am – Breakfast & Check out
8:30 am – Camel Trekking!
9:30 am – Nahal Havarim – Desert Canyon Hike
11:00 am – Sde Boker – Tombstone of Ben Gurion
7:00 pm – Dinner at Hotel

Wednesday, December 21 - Masada
7:00 am – Breakfast & Check out
8:00 am – Masada via Roman Ramp
12:00 pm – Relaxation & Lunch at Ein Gedi SPA
6:30 pm – Dinner & Candle Lighting
8:30 pm – Drive to Ben Gurion Airport
Picked up by David, step-grandfather

Thursday, December 22
TBD

Friday, December 23
TBD

Saturday, December 24
TBD

Sunday, December 25
TBD

Monday, December 26
TBD

Tuesday, December 27
TBD
11:30pm  – Fly back to the United States

On one of the TBD days, David and I are going to check out Petra.
::::: Insert the Indiana Jones theme song here :::::

Sorry for the typos. This post was typed on my Android phone.

Life is What You Make of It - Resolutions & Life

Resolutions for 2012:
•    Shoot more frequently
•    Get certification in free diving
•    Go to the gym three times a week
•    UPDATE MORE OFTEN

Since returning from Yellowstone, I haven’t been shooting much.

I moved to Deerfield Beach, Fla. two month. Between searching for a place to live and moving, I’ve been busy. I’m now settled in and ready to give DigitalGreg.com more attention!   Tune in on tomorrow (Sunday) for information about my next adventure which will include the first international gallery for DigitalGreg.com.

Now that I have your attention…
Before moving to Deerfield Beach, I starting to get into snorkeling. Living so close to the beach, why did it take 26 years? With the diving season behind us, I started constructing a WordPress blog for South Florida diving. It will be launched in April/May for the 2012 season.
The dive blog will be named after an Against Me! song. Can you guess the title?

Janet Shor, my mother and realtor (Coldwell Banker) who help me find my new home, needed design collateral to help get her name out in the neighborhoods she was interested in farming. In doing so, a back-to-school and Halloween ad have been designed, in addition to a new business card. The three designs can be seen in the Janet Shor, Coldwell Banker gallery. If you live in Florida and you’re interested in moving, whether you plan to rent or buy, give Janet a call, 305-798-1729.

Lens Maintenance — Protect Your Priced Possession

You spent what on that lens?!? You invest so much money on quality lenses, you need to treat them better than a new born baby.  After all, it’s one of the major factors behind quality photographs.

Before we get started, make sure you have a good quality camera strap WHICH YOU USE! Wear it over one shoulder and under the arm on the other side of your body. Like a messenger bag. Wearing your camera in this fashion will not only protect your camera from crashing to the ground or being stolen, but it will also reduce the strain on your neck.

Cleaning Lenses
A lens accumulates dust from regular use. The safest and easiest way to clean a lens is by breathing on the surface of the lens then wiping it with a clean microfiber cloth. The microfiber cloth should be kept in a storage bag when not in use. This will help keep it clean for the next use.

If the lens has heavier buildup on it, a few of drops of lens cleaner fluid should be applied to a lens tissue/cloth. ONLY use lens cleaner -- No Windex! Also, using a dry lens tissue on your lens can cause scratches to its surface.

Maintenance and cleaning should be carried out often. But over-cleaning a lens can cause damage……This leads us to the benefits of a UV filters.

UV Filters
I strongly recommend permanently mounding a UV filter on ALL your lenses. UV filters block UV rays from changing the colors of your photograph. It also protects the outer glass from scratches. After spending $1,200+ on a lens, a $50 filter will protect your investment.

Lens Caps
Use lens cap over both the front and rear elements when your lenses are not in use. Keep the font lens cap on the lens when it’s mounted to the camera and you're not actively shooting. This will protect the glass from the environment.

Lens Hoods
A lens hood should be attached to reduce glare when shooting. A hood also protects the lens from being scratched if you walk too close to a wall, etc.

By following these guidelines, your lenses will stay in pristine conditions for years to come.

My grandfather took excellent care of his photography equipment….. Hell, I have a Nikon 55mm F1.2 lens from the mid 70s that was passed down to me. It still looks brand new!

Back from Yellowstone, the World's First National Park!

I recently returned from an amazing trip to Yellowstone National Park. It’s been 19 years since my last visit and I felt it was time to experience the world's first national park again. This trip was more enjoyable because I was able to spend four days in the park. Being 26, I also had a better understanding of what makes Yellowstone one-of-a-kind.

At age seven, I saw Old Faithful as an upside-down waterfall. Nineteen years later, today, I know it’s a geyser which was named in 1870 during the Washburn Expedition. The water seen during an eruption entered the Earth nearly 500 years ago....around the time Columbus discovered America! In short, when you witness Old Faithful erupting, you’re witnessing history!

The Grand Loop, the park’s main road,  is nearly 150 miles around and leads visitors to the majority of the park’s attractions. It’s mind-boggling how quick the terrain changes. One minute you’re driving through a canyon, the next minute you’re driving through an area surrounded by boulders which looks like rubble from an explosion.

After four full sun-up to sun-down days of sightseeing, I feel I got a strong taste of Yellowstone National Park.

A special thanks goes out to @RangerBri who answered many of my questions before this breathtaking trip!

DigitalGreg’s Tips for a Successful Summer Trip to Yellowstone National Park: 

• The sun rises around 5:30 a.m. and sets around 9:00 p.m. in the summer.
• Visit Lamar Valley at sunrise and sunset. It's the best place in the park to see wildlife.
• DON'T book with one lodge in the park. Book with various lodges to reduce the amount of time spent driving. If staying in one place is a must, Canyon is the ideal place. It’s centered in the park near Grand Loop Road and Norris Canyon Road.
  
  I spent four nights in the park:
  • Night 1. Madison
  • Night 2. Roosevelt Lodge
  • Night 3. Canyon Lodge
  • Night 4. Old Faithful Lodge
• Make sure to drink a lot of water, at least 75 ounces a day. The altitude in the park averages 8,000 feet above sea level which causes most people to exhale more frequently then they typically would. Being from Florida where it’s eight feet above sea level, I was feeling the thin air!
• Dress in layers... long-sleeve shirt, t-shirt and hoodie. Nights/mornings are cold and days are hot. By 10 a.m., you’ll want to strip down to your t-shirt and shorts.
• Bug spray and sun block are a must!
• General stores which sell souvenirs, food and items a drugstore would carry are located throughout the park.
• Pick up a copy of Yellowstone Today, the park’s official newspaper. It contains information about the park, including road closures and ranger lead programs.
• Make sure to attending the ranger lead programs. They cover various aspects of the park and are  extremely informative. At Canyon Village, I learned about the super volcano which makes Yellowstone what it is. In the Old Faithful Visitor Center, I learned about the fire of 1988.
• Allow a MINIMUM of three to four days to experience Yellowstone. 
• Rent a vehicle. DO NOT temp to experience Yellowstone via bus tour. You’ll be part of a heard and will miss out on many attractions of the park. 

Photography Tips:

• Bring a tripod, polarizer and a ND filter.

If you go to bed and you're not exhausted,
you're doing something wrong!

Here are my photos from Yellowstone National Park.

Enjoy!

Land, ho! Yellowstone National Park bound in two weeks

It's official: I'm spending July 4th weekend in Yellowstone National Park! As long as there are crystal clear skies, this should be an amazing trip......No computer and minimal cellular service :).

I even bought a 16x ND filter for the trip.

It will be nice to get away from a metropolitan area and enter the woods for four days.