WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT - 2016 - 11th Black & White Spider Awards.

I received this nice bit news yesterday from the B&W SPIDER AWARDS:

Dear Gary, 

CONGRATULATIONS on being a Winner at the 11th Annual Black & White 
Spider Awards with:

Honorable Mention in Nude | When The Circus came to Town 
Honorable Mention in Wildlife | Reindeer Migration.

7,556 entries were received from 71 countries and your work received a high 
percentage of votes overall. Certainly an achievement, well done!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

11TH ANNUAL BLACK AND WHITE SPIDER AWARDS HONORS PHOTOGRAPHER GARY LATHAM FROM ENGLAND, UK.
LOS ANGELES 05/11/2016.

Professional photographer Gary Latham of England, UK, was presented with the 11th Annual Black and White Spider Awards Honorable Mention in Category in both the Nude and Wildlife categories at a prestigious Nomination & Winners PhotoShow webcast Saturday, November 5, 2016.

The live online gala was attended by over 10,500 photography fans around the globe who logged on to watch the climax of the industry's most important event for black and white photography.

11th Annual Jury members included captains of the industry from National Geographic, Washington DC; The Armory Show, New York; TBWA, Paris; Victoria Film Festival, Canada; Aeroplastics Contemporary, Brussels; Studio Hansa, London; Fratelli Alinari, Florence; Australian Centre for Photography; Young & Rubicam, Lima; and Anthem Worldwide/Marque Branding, Sydney who honored Spider Fellows with 627 coveted title awards in 31 categories.

"It is an incredible achievement to be selected among the best from the 7,556 entries we received this year," said Basil O'Brien, the awards Creative Director. "(Name)'s "(Title of Photograph)," an exceptional image entered in the (Category) category, represents black and white photography at its finest, and we're pleased to present (her/him) with the title of (Award Title)." Jury member Paola Anselmi, interdisciplinary curator and arts writer in Australia added, "As always it was a real treat to be part of the program. Congratulations to all involved and to all the remarkable photographers who gift us new insights into the world and ourselves." "A truly amazing set of entries, so many deserving winners," added Marcel Wijnen, Creative Director at Anthem Worldwide.

BLACK AND WHITE SPIDER AWARDS is the leading international award honoring excellence in black and white photography. This celebrated event shines a spotlight on the best professional and amateur photographers worldwide and honors the finest images with the highest achievements in black and white photography. www.thespiderawards.com

# # #
Contact: Gary Latham Photography
Telephone: +44 (0) 7958302161
Email: info@garylatham.co.uk

Website: www.garylatham.co.uk

WELL HEELED - Lecce in Southern Italy for FOOD and TRAVEL MAGAZINE

http://foodandtravel.com/travel/gourmet-traveller/well-heeled

Often nicknamed "The Florence of the South" for its baroque architecture, Lecce has a long history.

Thought to have been established originally by the the Messapii who are said to have been Cretans.

It's historic centre is stunning!

Claudio Quarta shows us his impressive cellars at Cantina Moros Winery - Guagnano - Puglia

Olive Groves & Countryside surrounding Lecce

The very talented chef, Rosario Tannisi is keeping family cooking alive at the Osteria Ristorante alle La Bombarde.

Lunch at Osteria Ristorante alle La Bombarde - Ciceri e Trie-Pasta (boiled tria & crispy fried tria) dish with chickpeas, mussels, squid & clams - I can't explain just how wonderful this dish was - just superb!

Masseria Trapana a beautifully restored fortified farm in the countryside outside Lecce - thanks to Rob and all the staff for a putting up with us!

Pizzi leccesi at the beautifully restored Masseria Trapana Retreat Hotel.

Silvestro Silvestori in his very picturesque kitchen at The Awaiting Table Cooking School. ``showing us how to making Cappelletti Messicane Pasta - it's harder than you think!

I have to say I wasn't a big Rose fan until I tried this!

 Read the full article here : http://foodandtravel.com/travel/gourmet-traveller/well-heeled

Nominee In 9th Int'l Color Awards...

Nothing like blowing your own trumpet!

Bolivian Odyssey - A photographic tour to the high Andes region of Bolivia with High Lives...

"Bolivian Odyssey - A photographic tour to the high Andes region of Bolivia in March 2016. 

In partnership with High Lives 

http://www.highlives.co.uk/activity/a-photographic-journey-of-bolivia/

Here are some of the highlights from our recent photo tour of this exotic and exciting region of the world.

Bolivia is still a truly exciting travel experience. It has UNESCO world heritage cities of exquisite colonial beauty, A fiercely traditional indigenous population that clings to it's traditions of religion, lifestyle and dress code, the largest and highest salt flats in the world, along with magical high altitude desert regions and colourful volcanic lagoons.

The High Desert

At over 5000 meters, Bolivia's High desert region is literally breath-taking!

For more images of Bolivia please visit my Adobe Spark presentation:

https://spark.adobe.com/page/sdT1U/

Bolivian Odyssey - A photographic tour to the high Andes region of Bolivia with High Lives...

"Bolivian Odyssey - A photographic tour to the high Andes region of Bolivia in March 2016. 

In partnership with High Lives

http://www.highlives.co.uk/activity/a-photographic-journey-of-bolivia/

Here are some of the highlights from our recent photo tour of this exotic and exciting region of South America.
Bolivia is still a truly exciting travel experience. It has UNESCO world heritage cities of exquisite colonial beauty, A fiercely traditional indigenous population that clings to it's traditions of religion, lifestyle and dress code, the largest and highest salt flats in the world, along with magical high altitude desert regions and colourful volcanic lagoons.


UYUNI SALT FLATS

The devastatingly beautiful salt flats at Uyuni and the train graveyard. Here are four very different views of this unique area...

BOLIVIAN ODYSSEY- A photographic tour to the high Andes region of Bolivia with High Lives...

"Bolivian Odyssey - A photographic tour to the high Andes region of Bolivia in March 2016. 

In partnership with High Lives 

http://www.highlives.co.uk/activity/a-photographic-journey-of-bolivia/

Here are some of the highlights from our recent photo tour of this exotic and exciting region of the world.

POTOSI - PULACAYO - UYUNI. 

The stunning high road between Potosi and Pulacayo are home to remote communities of Llama farmers. It's a long and empty road. Where you might be lucky to see the odd truck on it's way to the markets of Potosi. 

The historic industrial site of Pulacayo is located in the Potosí Department of Bolivia. The mining center developed around Huanchaca, the world's 2nd largest silver mine, and was originally founded in 1833. Now virtually a ghost town Pulacayo is a UNESCO world heritage site that features the first railroad to ever reach Bolivia. 

Pulacayo also contains a train that Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid famously robbed.

"Bolivian Odyssey - A photographic tour to the high Andes region of Bolivia in March 2016. 

In partnership with High Lives 

http://www.highlives.co.uk/activity/a-photographic-journey-of-bolivia/

Here are some of the highlights from our recent photo tour of this exotic and exciting region of the world.

Bolivia is still a truly exciting travel experience. It has UNESCO world heritage cities of exquisite colonial beauty, A fiercely traditional indigenous population that clings to it's traditions of religion, lifestyle and dress code, the largest and highest salt flats in the world, along with magical high altitude desert regions and colourful volcanic lagoons. Here is a day by day account of the trip.

POTOSI:

This mountain housed the worlds largest silver mine - it funded the Spanish empire and reputedly claimed the lives of nine million men - it is called the mountain that eats men!

The beautifully restored convent of Torre de la compania de jesus - houses some of Christendom's most priceless treasures.

Easter celebrations on the streets of Potosi.

So that's where they buy their hats - Central Market, Potosi.

Cerro Rico Mine (The worlds largest Silver mine - known locally as the mine that eats men) - Potosi.

Bolivian Odyssey - A photographic tour to the high Andes region of Bolivia with High Lives & Gary Latham Photography.

"Bolivian Odyssey - A photographic tour to the high Andes region of Bolivia in March 2016. 

In partnership with High Lives 

http://www.highlives.co.uk/activity/a-photographic-journey-of-bolivia/

Here are some of the highlights from our recent photo tour of this exotic and exciting region of the world. 

Festival Spectators at the Tarabuco - The Pujllay Festival.

Bolivian Odyssey - A photographic tour to the high Andes region of Bolivia with High Lives & Gary Latham Photography.

"Bolivian Odyssey - A photographic tour to the high Andes region of Bolivia in March 2016. 

In partnership with High Lives 

http://www.highlives.co.uk/activity/a-photographic-journey-of-bolivia/

Here are some of the highlights from our recent photo tour of this exotic and exciting region of the world.

Bolivia is still a truly exciting travel experience. It has UNESCO world heritage cities of exquisite colonial beauty, A fiercely traditional indigenous population that clings to it's traditions of religion, lifestyle and dress code, the largest and highest salt flats in the world, along with magical high altitude desert regions and colourful volcanic lagoons. Here is a day by day account of the trip.

Tarabuco - The Pujllay Festival.

Sometimes, when it comes to festivals your just lucky!
The Pujllay Festival was supposed to happen the week before we arrived (The date of Pujllay differs year to year as it is timed according to Bolivia’s agricultural seasons), so it was pure good fortune that we were in Tarabuco during this colourful festival, when people from all over the surrounding countryside arrive to participate.
Pujllay (‘play’ or ‘dance’ in Quechua) is held to commemorate the March 12, 1816 Battle of Cumbate, an event in which the people of Tarabuco liberated their town from Spanish forces. It also celebrats Independence and is dedicated to memorializing those who have died and to expressing gratitude to the Andean deity Pachamama (Mother Earth). Signifying it's importance, the festival is often attended by government officials including the president himself, and plays an integral part in preserving the Quechua -Yampara traditions. 

Begining with a Quechua mass, it is followed by a grand procession in which over 60 Bolivian communities from around the district carry banners identifying where they are from. Each group wears elaborate traditional costumes and performs dances unique to the region. One of the highlights of the parade are the outfits worn by the men, featuring headdresses, ponchos, spurs and wide-leg pants resembling the Spanish conquistadors they vanquished.