This picture is of the caves that we visited in the Iraq Al-Amir area outside of Amman. From what our guide explained to us, these caves were dug out maybe 10,000 years ago, and people have lived in them since then. I like this picture because of the detail in it, which is sort of lost looking at it on the web - but it's still cool looking.

Clay pots and molds used by the Iraq Al-Amir Women's cooperative. This group makes handmade arts and crafts to support their families. This is the beginning of the pot-making process.

When I took this picture, I was focused on the two women working on their crafts. What I was surprised to find was the image in the mirror of our team photographing the women. This was a "happy accident" for me, and is now one of my favorites from the trip.

From the Iraq Al-Amir Women's Cooperative - pottery making

She is so good at this. I suck at pottery making, so I admire her work.

One of the women working on the hand-made clay pots. She did beautiful work, while the rest of us were waiting for Patrick Swayze to appear ;-)

More clay pot making

Houses near Iraq Al-Amir, outside of Amman. This was one of the few areas I saw where all of the houses were not white or cement colored. I love the use of color on these house, and how it makes then both stand out and blend in with the hillside.

This photo is from the Wadi Feynan desert area in Jordan. This is near a nature preserve, and is such stark contrast to where I live that I decided I really liked the picture. I got a laugh however, when I showed this to a friend from India, who grew up in an area that looked pretty much like this - he couldn't understand my fascination with the image ;-) For me, I loved the fact that the tree is hiding two camels in it, and I liked the touch of sunset yellow in the background over the hills. For him, it was too much like his home.

Almost Sunset, Wadi Feynan with Bedouin camps in the foreground

We were fortunate to have two Arabic speaking participants in our workshops. These two had the advantage of being able to talk with everyone we met on our trip. Every where we went, kids would show up, and they were as fascinated with us as we were with them. In this picture, my friend Saleh visits with the kids and is showing them his camera and photos.

For three of the days during our workshop, we stayed in locations that were completely "off the grid" - meaning no electricity, phone signals, or (gasp) NO INTERNET!! I have to say after the initial shock, it was awesome. This picture is how the hotel lights the way to the rooms. It gives a romantic glow as you walk through the hallways, and it was just beautiful. The rooms were lit with candles, and it was like camping in a hotel!!

My friend Kristal asked if she could pet the camel. Then she asked if she could sit on it for a picture. Next thing she knew, she was UP on the camel, riding it like a pro!! The guy handling the camel was really fun, and surprised her with the ride, and I loved the look on Kristal's face as she trotted around with her new camel buddy!

My deep love for Mel Brooks made me caption this picture "What Knockers!"...

My friend Michael, capturing the beauty of the Wadi Feynan desert from the back of our transportation

Pictures barely capture the size of the beautiful Wadi Rum Desert.

Wadi Rum Desert - spectacular, amazing, awesome, epic... there don't seem to be enough adjectives to really describe the experience.

The TGL team heading out on our camel ride

Laura of Arabia

The TGL Team camel riding!

Camel riding in the desert

My friend Saleh on his camel checking out the scenery

Dismounting the camels

These boys knew English, so we were talking. They asked me about my camera (Nikon D800E) and how expensive it was. I told them expensive enough that I had to rent it. When I told them how much it cost, they exclaimed "That's the same as two camels!", so I agreed with them that I had a 2-camel Camera!!

Sunset in the Wadi Rum Desert

Rushing to capture the last light!

The next picture in this gallery is a shot of the Wadi Rum Desert that I said is one of my favorites, and that we had stopped to capture the sunset. This was the sunset we stopped to capture. What is fun for me is that I actually planned to make this shot come out this way, capturing the sunburst right as it set, and still getting detail and focus in the foreground. I learned so much on this trip!

This photo is one of my favorites because with the team in the foreground, you get a better sense of the size and expanse of this desert. This is in the Wadi Rum desert in Jordan, where we paused in our 4-wheel jeep tour to watch (and capture!) the sunset. We had epic clouds in the background, and the desert in the setting sun was on fire with color. How awesome is this.

More of the Wadi Rum Sunset. If you look closely you can see some of the cloud shadows extending upwards from the sunset.

Sunset - technically a few minutes AFTER sunset

Setting up for the perfect sunset shot

The team photographing the beautiful Wadi Rum Desert sunset.

Wadi Rum Desert Sunset

Sha'ban and Laura

Sha'ban and his other girlfriend

"No photos please, this is a private moment" ;-)

Sha'ban helping Michael get his headgear on properly.

Headgear success!

"Laura of Arabia" and her buddy Sha'ban.

Wadi Rum desert from the 4-wheel jeep tour

One of our guide/drivers

"When photographers go on vacation" ;-)

Everyone is photographing Mushroom Rock in the Wadi Rum desert.

Wadi Rum Desert