I am new to Pinterest, so I was exploring to see what all the fuss was about.  It’s pretty interesting.  Basically, it’s a way to bookmark cool stuff you find on the web into collections.  While I was browsing, I came across a bracelet, which appealed to my love for things both preppy and nautical.   When I clicked through the link, I found a gem of a company, Kiel James Patrick.  Based in Rhode Island, Kiel James Patrick handcrafts accessories, primarily bracelets, reminiscent of my college years, when nautical-inspired accessories and classic plaids and tartans were king.  Kiel James Patrick takes these classics and puts a contemporary twist on them, making a classic-cool addition to your wardrobe.  It’s no wonder that Tommy Hilfiger used them in his “Meet the Hilfigers” campaign.

It was hard to choose from all the fabulous offerings, but I selected the Leather Turk’s Head Knot Bracelet.  This one is called, “Mariner and Cape Poge Bay.”  When I received my package, I could tell that KJP cares about the products they make.  My bracelet arrived in a lovely navy blue box, hand-tied with a nautical knot (a bowline knot?).

When you open the box, your bracelet is wrapped in tissue with a nostalgic map design, which is repeated on the box interior.  Love the wooden tag with madras pattern on the reverse side!  When you make such a great product with such care, you don’t skimp on the packaging.

KJP’s line is genuinely American.  As KJP says on the website, “From the buttons to each individual stitch, KJP products are 100% USA Made.”  KJP’s line at the present is limited to bracelets, neckware, belts, earrings and headbands.  I’m looking forward to this fall when KJP teams up with another great American company, Frank Clegg Leatherworks of Fall River, Massachusetts, to release a collection of leather and fabric products.

Once you browse the website, you’ll want to order one, or two, or…  If you can’t help yourself, you can save some money.  At checkout, you have the option to share the word on this great company via Twitter and Facebook, and save up to 20%!

I love mine, and you’ll see me wearing it in the courtroom if you look closely.  I’ve got my eye on a one of the bracelets in the new Triton Collection.  Enough said.  Time to shop!

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All words and images ©2006-2012 Wendy G. Gunderson

We are big fans of renting a car while on vacation.  I know some folks would prefer to get comfortable at the resort and not move for a week, but we like to get about a bit.  Renting a car is the only way to see local sites and really get out and meet the people of the island.  Before flying to Nevis, I had read about New Castle Pottery, which fires its pottery in a big wood fire on the property, and I was determined to see it.  On the first couple drives around the island, I had missed it.  This day, instead of driving counterclockwise around the island, we left the Four Season and drove clockwise, knowing that if we hit Nisbet Plantation, we had gone too far.  As we drove past the airport, however, we came upon a hazard more common than monkeys crossing your path, a pothole.  This was a good one.  It was large enough and deep enough to take out two tires on our little Toyota Yaris.

With only one spare, my husband set out to the nearby airport to get assistance, and practically insisted that we walk down to the beach bar which was visible from the road.  After watching a few planes take off and land, we walked to the road at the end of the runway and found a gem, Sunrise Beach Bar.

 The people at Sunrise were very welcoming, quite familiar with the hazards of the pothole.  The beer was cold, they had a great view, and a comfortable atmosphere.  This was officially a happy accident.

Well, the Thrifty rental guys were super fast.  Before my Carib was finished, we were on our way.  We managed to find New Castle without any problem. It’s just past the airport on the mountain side of the road.

They weren’t firing any pottery the afternoon we were there, as it was too hot.  However, the woman working at the shop was painting a piece of pottery.  There were so many different designs to choose from.

My daughter took many more shots than I did of the different creations, and the following shots are hers.  I was busy paying for her choices!

We ended up taking home a few ornaments, a small church, and a turtle bowl.  There was a gorgeous piece at the back of the studio which was not for sale.  It was explained to us that this was a historic building on Nevis which had been torn down, but it was preserved in clay.

With all the excitement for the day over, we headed back to the Four Seasons.  The mighty Yaris made it home!

Browse recent posts on Nevis at: 

Or check out our full series on our trip to Nevis:

Part One: Four Seasons Nevis

Part Two: Sunshine and the Killer Bee

Part Three: Rodney’s Cuisine

Part Four: Bars of Pinney’s Beach

Part Five: Source Trail Hike with Sheldon

Part Six: On the Nevis Heritage Trail

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All words and images ©2006-2012 Wendy G. Gunderson

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All words and images ©2006-2012 Wendy G. Gunderson

Take me back to 

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All words and images ©2006-2012 Wendy G. Gunderson

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All words and images ©2006-2012 Wendy G. Gunderson

 From the moment you arrive on Nevis, you are aware of the country’s proud history.  The people often speak of their history and traditions, and how it makes Nevis and its people what they are today.  A trip to the island is not complete without taking in some of the historic sites.  You cannot travel far around the island without seeing at least one of these blue signs, signifying points of interest on the Nevis Heritage Trail.

Fort Charles was our first stop on the trail.  Fort Charles was the largest fort on the island, built in the 17th century to protect the capital city of Charlestown.  The historical sites on Nevis are not what one might encounter in the United States.  There are no ropes to keep you out, or tour shops to buy a souvenir.  The sites are as they were left, and as affected by man and nature.  So feel free to explore! A word to the wise: avoid flipflops if you wish to get deeper into the ruins, as there are muddy areas and grown over areas which are not friendly to bare legs.

Our next stop on the trail was St. John’s Figtree Anglican Church, c. 1680, famous as the home of the marriage certificate of Frances (Fanny) Nisbet and British Naval hero, Horatio Nelson.  We visited on a Sunday, and mass was in progress.  You won’t see me snapping shots of people mid-worship, but I can share some exterior shots.

We visited a few former plantations on the island as well.  Although the marriage certificate for Fanny Nisbet and Horation Nelson can be found at the St. John’s Figtree Church, they were not married there.  The were married at Montpelier Plantation, on March 11, 1787.  The former sugar plantation is now an inn, a Relais & Chateaux property.

I understand that you can dine in sugar mill on the property.

We also stopped by the Hermitage Plantation, which also operates as an inn.  The great house on the plantation was built in 1670, and has been continually in use in some capacity ever since.

We also visited Nisbet Plantation.  Nisbet Plantation was the home of Fanny Nisbet, and on the grounds you will now find the Nisbet Plantation Beach Club.  There does not appear to be much of the original home left, other than that which you see at the entrance to the resort.

We were on the hunt for the Eden Brown Estate, the ruins of a plantation with a ghost story attached.  The story goes that the what was to be a wedding, ended with a duel taking the lives of the groom and his best man, and leaving the bride to haunt the home to this day.  Unfortunately, despite having a map, we could not find the right road.  Unless something is on the main road, it’s a bit tough to find in Nevis.  The roadmap for the island shows a general location, but it’s not easy to figure out how to get there.  After two separate attempts to find it, we gave up.  However, in the process, we did find the New River Estate, holding the remains of the last functioning sugar factory on the island.

There is no shortage of places of worship on Nevis.  The Nevisian people take great care in preserving the churches on the island.  We stopped in at St. George’s Anglican Church, built in 1842, although gravemarkers in the cemetery date back to 1724.  We parked our car, and were taking a few shots, when the caretaker kindly invited us in and offered to show us around.

As you approach the main road from St. George’s, turn left at the donkeys…

And you will find Gingerland Methodist Church, built in 1844.

We had nine days on the island, and only scratched the surface of the historical sites. Nevis is full of history, just waiting for you to discover it.

Read other parts of our trip report on Nevis:

Part One: Four Seasons Nevis

Part Two: Sunshine and the Killer Bee

Part Three: Rodney’s Cuisine

Part Four: Bars of Pinney’s Beach

Part Five: Source Trail Hike with Sheldon

Part Seven: New Castle and the Mighty Yaris

For more shots from our trip to Nevis, check out the Nevis Gallery:

Or browse recent posts on Nevis at: 

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All words and images ©2006-2012 Wendy G. Gunderson

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All words and images ©2006-2012 Wendy G. Gunderson

While planning our trip to Nevis, we decided that we wanted to do a mountain hike.  Rainforests and mountains were new to us on trips to the Caribbean, so we thought we would arrange for a hike.  I knew I wasn’t in shape to hike to the peak, knowing that climbing robes and vines was involved, so we looked at the options for one of the shorter hikes.  The three options we had were:

Rainforest & Ruins – Hike with a guide into the Rainforest and Coconut Plantations on the slopes of Nevis peak.  Along the way, experience the beauty, tranquility of a cool, luxuriant and tropical ravine with massive volcanic boulders worn smooth by a mellinniums rainfall.  Majestic trees and lush tropical plants such as heliconia, elephant ear ferns and bamboo. (2 ½ hours, $30/person)

Source Trail Rainforest Hike – Experience a moderately challenging hike through lush forest to an ideal spot for panoramic island views.  You will hike by two tropical ravines and into a cave.  You will be introduced to the flora and fauna of the island, including bamboo and fruit trees such as bananas, citrus, mangoes and guavas. (2 hours, $35/person)

Butler’s Source Rainforest Hike – Take a moderately challenging hike to the Butler’s source.  Along the route see the prison farm, better known as Russell’s Rest and learn about it’s true origin.  Walk along lush tropical Rainforest, enchanting ravines and haunted areas.  View the flora and fauna, monkeys, cocoa trees and a variety of fruits.  Enjoy breath taking vistas of the Atlantic Ocean. (3 hours, $35/person)

Knowing my son’s patience for organized activity, we opted for the two-hour Source Trail Rainforest Hike.  We had a rental car, so we planned to meet our guide, Sheldon, at the entrance to the Old Manor Hotel in Gingerland.  We were early, so we explored St. George’s Anglican Church and Gingerland Methodist Church, and Sheldon met us there.  We drove a bit up the mountain, until we ran out of road, and then went out on foot.

Sheldon gave each of us a walking stick to use on the hike, which I was glad I had.  My husband and I questioned the “moderately” in the “moderately challenging” description of the hike at a few points.  There were areas where we needed that stick as a third leg to cross rocks and ditches.   I would think it’s just that were in our mid-40′s and out of shape, but even our children, ages 12 and 14, were challenged by the hike. Twice, I had to stow my camera in my backpack so that I could cross a rocky or slippery area.

We learned quite a bit about the area, the plants, trees, and environmental conditions such as deep ravines, known as “ghauts.”  The photo at the top of this post captures one of those moments. Sheldon held up a lemon with one bite out of it.  He explained that this is what the monkeys leave behind.  They are quite wasteful creatures, taking one bite, and tossing the rest aside.  The monkeys, a delight to tourists, are essentially pests to the residents, devastating their plantings.

Although we learned quite a bit about the island plants and animals, my favorite part of the hike was learning about the island people.  After walking and talking for a couple hours, you can’t help but share information on all sorts of topics, including religion, family, taxes, and government.  At the end of the trail, we were exhausted, had shoes covered with Nevisian mud, but all concluded that we had a great time.

Read other parts of our trip report on Nevis:

Part One: Four Seasons Nevis

Part Two: Sunshine and the Killer Bee

Part Three: Rodney’s Cuisine

Part Four: Bars of Pinney’s Beach

Part Six: On the Nevis Heritage Trail

Part Seven: New Castle and the Mighty Yaris

For more shots from our trip to Nevis, check out the Nevis Gallery:

Or browse recent posts on Nevis at: 

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All words and images ©2006-2012 Wendy G. Gunderson

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All words and images ©2006-2012 Wendy G. Gunderson

All words and images ©2006-2012 Wendy G. Gunderson

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All words and images ©2006-2012 Wendy G. Gunderson

One great thing about staying at the Four Seasons on Nevis is that there are great beach bars located a short walk from the resort.  We arrived on Nevis just as the sun was setting, and after changing clothes, we headed out in search of something to eat.  We had started the day with a 3:00 a.m. wakeup call and a 5:40 a.m. flight out of Chicago.  By the time we hit Nevis, we were ready for dinner and an early bedtime.  We started walking south (counterclockwise if you look at Nevis as a clock face), and ran into a string of bars.  However, it was dark by then, and we couldn’t see which was which.  We blindly made our choice, and found ourselves at the famous Sunshine’s Beach Bar, and relaxed with a few Killer Bees, Sunshine’s signature drink.  For the full story on Sunshine’s, I devoted an entire blog post to it and my encounter with three Killer Bees. You can read all the details here…

So that you’re not in the dark on the bars of Pinney’s beach, here’s the layout.  As you walk south from the Four Seasons, the first place you will encounter is this place, the name I was never able to learn.  It was always busy, although you weren’t seeing any tourists there.

The next stop along the way, set back from the beach, is Lime Cafe.  I’ve heard wonderful things about the food there, but it’s not open for dinner, and with the big breakfasts at the Four Seasons, we didn’t have many lunch opportunities.

The very next place is Chevy’s.  We had dinner at Chevy’s one night, and I have to say that Chevy’s chicken wings were the best I’ve ever tasted.  They were spicy, but not enough to blast your tastebuds into oblivion.  Chevy greeted us and we invited him to have a seat, enjoying a long talk.  One thing I really loved about Nevis is that the owners greet you personally and are glad to share a story.  Chevy was great to talk to, and described how he developed the wing flavorings and the time he put into it.  Unfortunately,  I wasn’t able to get the recipe, but I’m going to keep working on it!

Just past Chevy’s, is Sunshine’s.

Then walk a bit farther.  With just a little longer walk, you will see Double Deuce.

Our dinner at Double Deuce was amazing.  Check out the grilled wahoo, garlic shrimp, and the barbecue ribs!

 As we are finishing our meal that night, a party of six was seated and immediately ordered the burgers.  We caught a glimpse of the burgers as they were brought out, and we were determined to return to get one.  When we returned, we didn’t even consult the menu board, instead ordering three burgers, until we were told that they were out of burgers for the night.

This line is where DD Burger once was…

The disappointment on our faces and in our voices was pretty apparent, so our server checked in the kitchen, and they had enough to make two burgers!  You have never seen anyone so happy to order a burger.  We rounded it out with an order of ribs, and had a great meal.  The only reason you don’t see a photo of the burger is that it had no chance to be photographed before being devoured.  Don’t miss out!  Go early or call ahead.  It’s totally worth the effort!

Read other parts of our trip report on Nevis:

Part One: Four Seasons Nevis

Part Two: Sunshine and the Killer Bee

Part Three: Rodney’s Cuisine

Part Five: Source Trail Hike with Sheldon

Part Six: On the Nevis Heritage Trail

Part Seven: New Castle and the Mighty Yaris

For more shots from our trip to Nevis, check out the Nevis Gallery:

Or browse recent posts on Nevis at: 

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All words and images ©2006-2012 Wendy G. Gunderson

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All words and images ©2006-2012 Wendy G. Gunderson

Trisha asked me to take some shots as an anniversary gift for her boyfriend, which I held until the surprise was revealed. Trisha looked so beautiful! I hope he enjoyed them!

 

All words and images ©2006-2012 Wendy G. Gunderson

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All words and images ©2006-2012 Wendy G. Gunderson

I have put off writing this post a number of times, primarily because it frustrates me so much to have to address it.  Photographers repeatedly deal with the issue of copyright infringement.  With the freedom of the internet and the emergence of the blogger, people, including those who themselves will insist on the copyright of their own creations, will “borrow” a photographer’s work.  Sometimes they will give a credit line somewhere in their post or will link back, and feel that they have met their obligation, or are doing the photographer a favor by “featuring” their work.

This perception is likely enhanced by the simplicity and availability of digital cameras.  Some folks think that all a photographer does is press the shutter button.  They see their friends take “amazing” photos with their point-and-shoot cameras, and thus, the value of good photography has diminished.  Casual observers don’t appreciate the thousands of dollars spent on equipment and software, and the thousands of hours of study and training. To them, there is no significance to using f/2 or f/22. 1/250 or 2 seconds? What’s white balance? Who cares? To them, the value of a photograph is the fraction of a second it takes the camera’s sensor to record the image.  With this value system, it seems like no big deal to take someone else’s work for your own use. It is, however, a big deal.

This week, I have learned of several infringements of my work, one a two-time offender.  You would think the fact that my website and blog have a copyright notice and an express prohibition against the use of my images would deter offenders.  You would think the fact that my “About” page on my website and the posting of my Curriculum Vitae indicating I have been a licensed attorney for 21 years, would prompt them to move on.  Well, it doesn’t.  My work is repeatedly “sampled” and not just by your personal blogger.  I have had my images taken by a local online news site, claiming to be “journalists,” and by a variety of commercial sites, using my images to sell their products.

I do not specialize in copyright law, but there are some basics everyone should know.  I am not giving legal advice by this post, and it certainly does not encompass all that the law provides.  You should consult your own attorney as to the provisions of the law applicable in your area.  This post is simply to provide some general information.

By copying another’s work without permission and using it for your own purposes, you are exposing yourself, and, in the event of use by an organization, your company, to one or more lawsuits.  You also risk the takedown of your site.  Here are the essentials:

1. Copyright protection begins the moment the photographer clicks the shutter.  It is not required that the copyright be registered to be enforceable.  The photographer owns the copyright to the image the moment it is created.

2.  A photographer does not waive the protection of the copyright laws by displaying his or her work, such as posting it on the internet.

3.  A photographer does not need to display a copyright notice, the little ©, or a watermark, or an express prohibition against use, to be entitled to the protection of the law.

4.  A photographer does not have to register his images with the U.S. Copyright Office to be entitled to protection, although I do so.  The cost is small, only $35 per registration, and the online process is rather simple.  This is $35 per registration, not per image.  A photographer can register  images as collections by subject or by year, or however you would like to organize them.

5.  A “credit” line or link back does not change anything.  It is only important to the extent that it is required by the copyright owner for display of the image.  If you don’t have permission to use the image, you are still infringing the copyright, absent the applicability of very limited exceptions.

6.  You may be violating other laws by posting images without permission.  For example, I have shot in places where the owner of the venue prohibits the use of images on commercial sites other than that of the person licensed, meaning me.  I cannot allow you to use those images, and your use subjects you to suit by the venue owner.  Also, many states, including Wisconsin, have a right to privacy statute, which prohibits the use of a person’s image for commercial purposes without their consent.  You don’t have a model release for the persons depicted in my images, and your use may violate that person’s right to privacy, exposing you to a lawsuit for damages.

7.  Your unauthorized use will be discovered.  For as large as the internet may seem, it is full of small communities, including photographers.  I belong to several groups of photographers who continually review and critique each others’ work so that we get better at what we do.  We can recognize other photographers’ work, and some photographers are so distinctive, you know exactly who made a particular image just by looking at it.  Many times I have seen uses of images where the offender crops off the photographer’s watermark, a glaring sign of copyright infringement.  When I see this, I notify the photographer of what I have seen.  Sometimes they have authorized the use, which they obviously have the right to do.  However, more often than not, the use is an infringement.  If I have given you permission to use an image, I would never allow you to distort it by cropping out my watermark. Section 1202 of Title 17 also prohibits this activity, and entitles the copyright owner to damages and attorneys fees.

What can happen to you if you decide to use someone else’s work for your site without permission?  As described briefly above, you subject yourself and your company to a lawsuit for infringement of copyright or other violation of law.  Damages can be quite stiff.  For the detailed information, check out Title 17, Chapter 5 of the United States Code.  In addition to actual damages, if the image has been registered with the Copyright Office, the owner of the copyright is entitled to statutory damages between $200.00 for an innocent infringement and $150,000.00 for an intentional infringement per violation. Yeah, ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS.  You read that correctly.

The copyright owner can also notify your hosting company of the infringement and insist that your site be taken down.  It has happened before.  Don’t kid yourself.  The Digital Millennium Copyright Act, known as the DCMA, allows the copyright owner to issue a takedown notice to the infringer’s internet service provider.  The idea is that the service provider is exposed to liability for transmitting information that may infringe a copyright.  The copyright owner sends a notice to the provider, identifying the original work and the infringing work, and requesting that the site be taken down. Once given notice, the internet service provider must take down the infringing material.

I have only brushed the surface with respect to this topic. For a great, in-depth discussion of copyright law as it pertains to photography, check out Carolyn Wright’s website: Photo Attorney.  She’s brilliant, and addresses all the in’s and out’s of the law.

In short, don’t be stupid.  Don’t expose your website to takedown, or you or your colleagues to one or more lawsuits.  Get permission.  Many photographers will agree to the use to promote their business. Just ask.  And if you don’t get permission, move on.  It’s not worth it.

W

All words and images ©2006-2012 Wendy G. Gunderson

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All words and images ©2006-2012 Wendy G. Gunderson

One lesson we have learned from travel is that to find the great restaurants, you sometimes have to go off the beaten path.  We have found the best restaurant recommendations from cab drivers and rental car agents, so when we picked up our Yaris from the Thrifty agent, my husband asked for advice.  The place to eat we were told was Rodney’s Cuisine.  Rodney’s Cuisine is located just off the main road as you exit Charlestown, headed counterclockwise around Nevis.  If you look at a map of Nevis, that makes perfect sense, because there is basically one main road which circles Mount Nevis, located at the center of the island.  Look for the big flags!

We knew that we were on the verge of good things, as we saw a rainbow over the mountain on our way in.

The interior is decorated in the vibrant colors of the Nevisian flag, and is truly welcoming.

Rodney, of Rodney’s Cuisine, is Rodney Elliott.  Rodney lost her mother at a young age and was responsible for bringing up many siblings.  She said a number in the “teens” when describing her family size, and although the number didn’t stick with me, her determination did.  When we travel, we bring our two children, one who is a notoriously poor eater.  He will eat chicken nuggets, but only McDonald’s nuggets.  He’ll eat noodles, sometimes with sauce.  The only thing he will eat pretty much anywhere is french fries.  With our son along, we pretty much have to plan on getting him something to eat somewhere else either before or after we dine.  Well, Rodney wouldn’t hear of that.  She took our son back to the kitchen to show him around.  She gave him a johnnycake, which was unbelievably good (I couldn’t help but snitch a bit), made with coconut.  It was flaky and crisp on the outside, unbelievably good.  The johnnycake was enormous, but he finished the whole thing!  I am thinking that if he could spend a week with Rodney, our fussy eater days would be over.

There are no menus.  Rodney greets you and fills you in on what’s cooking that day.  We had both the chicken and the pork dishes, along with a refreshing lemonade.

I wish we had more days to go back to Rodney’s for more great food and stories of the island!

Read other parts of our trip report on Nevis:

Part One: Four Seasons Nevis

Part Two: Sunshine and the Killer Bee

Part Four: Bars of Pinney’s Beach

Part Five: Source Trail Hike with Sheldon

Part Six: On the Nevis Heritage Trail

Part Seven: New Castle and the Mighty Yaris

For more shots from our trip to Nevis, check out the Nevis Gallery:

 

Take me back to My Irie Time…

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All words and images ©2006-2012 Wendy G. Gunderson

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