Pen and Postcard

05/11/2022

This right here is one of those right-place-right time moments that I’ll remember forever. 🥲

Between zipping around Bagan’s 2,000+ temples on my scooter, I had heard from a fellow backpacker that there was this particular temple they recommended for sunrise. And I’m glad I took their advice! 🏍

The next morning, I found the temple and climbed the stairs to the top where I waited for the sky to light up. The sun appeared a soft red on the horizon before turning a fiery orange. It inched upward in an arc until it hovered - just for a few moments - perfectly centered above the spire of this one prominent temple in the distance. 🌄 And just as quickly as it came, that magical moment was over. But the memory isn’t.

It’s been six years now, and I WISH I remembered the name of that temple. But I don’t. I’ve tried looking it up, without luck. There are literally thousands of temples in Bagan and infinitely more incredible sunrises and sunsets - it’s truly a photographer’s playground. I just haven’t been able to find MY spot.

I’d like to go back one day and try. But this might just be one that stays preserved in my memory - and thankfully, captured on my camera.

📸: 1/100 sec, f/5.6, ISO 125, 55mm

11/02/2021

Calling all leaf-peepers! I'm hosting a FREE mini-workshop this week on photographing fall foliage. 🍁 Claim your spot:

It's officially leaf-peeping season in the Northern Hemisphere! This training will help you take your best fall foliage photos ever.

08/11/2021

There should be a World Lioness Day too — these ladies do all the hard work for the pride, including hunting and caring for the cubs. 🦁
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Want photo prints? 5% of profits support conservation efforts 💚 Browse and purchase at penandpostcard.smugmug.com
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📷 1/800 sec, f 7.1, ISO 200, 300mm
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12/31/2020

Why did I choose to donate to African Wildlife Foundation this month? 🦓🦒
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While on a client project in Tanzania back in 2017, I was surprised to hear just how threatened so many of these iconic species were. Populations declining, facing threats from habitat loss and poachers, impacts from climate change... it was pretty disheartening. It was that trip that really ignited my desire to work in conservation -- and particularly, to be sure that wildlife were part of that work. 🐘🐆
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I began researching organizations that worked specifically to protect the wildlife of Africa. I loved everything I read about the African Wildlife Foundation. For half a century, they've worked across the African continent, tackling wildlife issues on many fronts: wildlife product trafficking (like the ivory trade), land & habitat protection (like climate change effects & land-use planning), policy, and community initiatives (like sustainable tourism - another one of my passions). It was a pretty easy decision!
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Get your prints & help support AWF's work 🦁🦏➡️ www.penandpostcard.smugmug.com
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📷 1/400 sec, f/10, ISO 200, 92mm

12/23/2020

Hey there! I'm Sheila -- photographer & digital comms specialist with a passion for wildlife, conservation, and sustainable travel. 📷🌿 I'm excited to share that starting this month, I'm donating 5% of profits from my print sales to organizations that share those passions! 💚

The recipient will rotate monthly, starting with African Wildlife Foundation for all December 2020 sales. To make it even easier for you to join me in supporting these nonprofits, I've also set up a new print shop so you can now order prints directly through my site: www.penandpostcard.smugmug.com📱‼️ New photos will be uploaded regularly, but for now I encourage you to visit the Tanzania album to see some of the African wildlife you'll be supporting with your print purchase. 🐘🦁🐆🦓🦒

12/01/2020

Consider donating to help protect our national parks this 💚

Your tax-deductible gift will be matched 100%, dollar-for-dollar, up to $75,000 thanks to our generous partner Nature Valley, who believes we are better outside. Your impact will be DOUBLED today to help NPCA keep fighting next year — in Congress, courtrooms and communities across t...

08/10/2018

We all know of the lion as the “King of Beasts” or “King of the Jungle”. But their numbers are actually in rapid decline across the world. This , Simba needs your help! Learn about the plight of these and other big cats, and what you can do to help keep them around. Make Mufasa proud 🦁 Lion Recovery Fund

www.lionrecoveryfund.org

08/01/2018

Any fellow dancers out there? What did you do for National Dance Day this weekend? 💃🏽 I decided to share one of my favorite dancing experiences, about the time I took a Balinese dance lesson... and was kind of terrible at it🙈 Check the blog for the full story (and video evidence!) 💃🏽

07/08/2018

Kudos to Responsible Travel for this honest documentary on overtourism. As a traveler, I'm torn between the desire to see places and the worry that I'm contributing to the problem. It requires education and conscientiousness. Only 20 min, worth the watch.

06/30/2018

Given that it’s and National Camera Day, I thought I’d introduce both myself and my camera!
🙋🏼‍♀️ My name is Sheila. I’m all about balance - equal parts left-brained/right-brained, extroverted/introverted, goofy jokes/deep conversations. Photography is a balance too. Even though I now shoot for work, I still make sure to take the time to photograph for fun and creative development. This upcoming week will be some of that fun - an RV trip to Glacier National park! 🏔
📷 My main camera is a Nikon D5300, which I’ve had for over four years now. I currently use three lenses: 50mm 1.8, 55-300mm, and the kit 18-55mm (plus a 0.5x converter). My GoPro also comes with me on travels.
What’s your go-to camera?
📸: Goutham Radha

06/23/2018

How sweet is this little one?! 🐘 I'm going to a gender reveal party for a close friend later today (!!!!!!!), and it's reminding me of all the little animal babies we saw on safari 🤗 The baby elephants were probably the most surprising - they were SO TINY! 🐘

06/19/2018

This is SO sweet 🤗🐋