As I've talked about before, sometimes the best camera is the camera that you have with you. On a trip to Switzerland's Jungfrau region earlier this year, Seoul-based film team Roomia proved just that by capturing all their footage on an iPhone 7. By using the FilmicPro app to control the iPhone, they were able to get some pretty great shots with nice exposure and balance. Not sure if any stabilization was used but this footage makes me want to grab a phone gimbal and travel the world immediately. The color grade used in this was applied in Final Cut and brings about an almost vintage feel. The way the colors invoke springtime makes me want to book a trip to the Swiss Alps right now. The blues of the Alpine sky really pop against the cable cars as they fly by overhead. The quick transitions, which are used sparingly and to good effect, really set the mood for an afternoon of skiing. A few years ago we flew over the Alps and looking down on the magnificent peaks really kindled a longing for mountains in me, just like this video did.

The Top of Europe

You can find out more about Switzerland's Jungfrau at the Swiss Tourism Board website here. Below is another video from Roomia on their Swiss trip and shot on an iPhone 7. it's amazing what we carry with us every day can achieve. Now get out there and start shooting.

For more than 100 years, the Jungfrau railway has been making its journey to Europe’s highest-altitude railway station at 3454 metres a.s.l. – right at the heart of the UNESCO heritage site “Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch”. All through the year, the cog railway runs steeply up through a tunnel to the Jungfraujoch from Kleine Scheidegg. -MySwitzerland

I tend to plan my travel around cities. Urban areas are my element and I feel at home. There's less planing required because everything is right in front of you. The problem is, lately I've been craving nature. I blame it on the recent U2 concert I went to here in Houston. It's the 30th anniversary of their album "Joshua Tree" and for the tour Dutch photographer and filmmaker Anton Corbijn, who shot the original iconic images for the album, created a short film that played through almost every song. Set in the American West, each one took a look at the idea of America, usually set in the middle of nowhere. You can check out some photos from the night by photographer and author Karen Walrond here. There's a seductive nature to being out of your element. As a kid I remember a road trip across New Mexico and watching heat lightning off in the distance. Each time the lightning cracked open the sky it was like a paintbrush being dragged across the dusky sky. It's still one of the most vivid memories I have from my childhood.

Road Tripping

I've always wanted to fly to Seattle, rent a car and drive all the way down the West Coast, across the Grand Canyon and back into Texas. Ideally it would take about two to three weeks and would include stops in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Joshua Tree National Park, Tuscon, El Paso and Marfa. The idea of tripping through the American West has intrigued me for years and one of these days I'm going to do it.

Matti H. of Travel Feels captured the first leg of my dream road trip in the above video. There's also this video from Maarten Warson that covers a lot of the same ground but with more shots in the city (and a dancier soundtrack.)

So here's to constantly playing with Google Maps to get the road trip route just right, finding the right friends and setting up the music playlists way in advance. I think a road tip is exactly what I need.

Tell me where you would stop between Seattle and Houston to help me plan this epic adventure!

Visiting Paris? Nothing helps get you in the mood for a brilliant holiday like watching movies set in your soon to be locale. Here are my top eight recommendations for films to watch before you visit Paris.

In Paris, everybody wants to be an actor; nobody is content to be a spectator. -Jean Cocteau

Midnight In Paris (2011)

Probably the most accessible of the films on this list, Woody Allen’s Midnight In Paris follows an American couple visiting Paris in posh style with their parents. the story quickly takes a turn as Gill, smoothly played by One Wilson, begins to long for the Paris of the past, the one written about by Hemingway and painted by Degas. Filled with nostalgia, romance and intrigue, Midnight In Paris is a perfect way to prepare for your trip to this magical city.

Breathless (1960)

If Midnight In Paris is the most accessible of the films about Paris, then Breathless (À Bout de Souffle) will counteract that. This masterpiece from Jean Luc Godard is full of jump cuts, funny dialogue and some of the most iconic scenes set in the French capital. If you’re new to the films of the French New Wave, this is your perfect introduction. Breathless follows the whirlwind romance of a French outlaw and his American love interest as they traipse around the city avoiding the authorities. A French classic that must be seen.

 

Ratatouille (2007)

If you’re traveling to Paris with children, Ratatouille is the best way to help pique their interest. Kids and adults alike will love this beautiful Pixar film that stars a French chef and his rat friend Remy as they work in a stereotypical Parisian restaurant. Directed by Brad Bird, who also helmed The Incredibles for Pixar, Ratatouille is a fun jaunt into the city of light that gives viewers of all ages a lighthearted look at Paris and some of its more known locations.

Cleo From 5 to 7 (1962)

Agnès Varda uses Paris as the backdrop for one of the best character study films ever made. Cleo From 5 to 7 (Cléo de 5 à 7) follows Cleo through the back half of her day as she waits to get test results back form her doctor. the film also serves as a look at Parisian life in the 1960’s and the Algerian War, which led to Algeria’s independence from France in 1962. Cleo begins as a pretty vapid character that suddenly is faced with her impending mortality, prompting much wandering, physically and mentally. It’s a beautiful, meandering film that really captures the heart of the early 1960’s and gives a glimpse into the sexism that women dealt with.

 

Paris Je t'Aime (2006)

Eighteen short films set in different arrondissements, Paris, je’ t’aime is a love letter to the city in every sense of the term. With shorts from Gus van Sant, Alexander Payne, Wes Craven and many more, this is the perfect film for a quick introduction to the many different flavors of arrondissements of Paris. My personal favorite is Alexander Payne’s short that follows Carol from Colorado as she takes her first European holiday. hearing Carol speak French reminds me of my horrible attempts to speak a language that I’m pretty bad at, as are most tourists.

Before Sunset (2004)

Director Richard Linklater's use of real time in filmmaking is absolutely genius. Before Sunset picks up nine years after the previous film, Before Sunrise, with Jesse and Celine meeting in Paris. In each of the movies in the Before trilogy, the city that it takes place in becomes a character in its own right, with Paris playing its magical part in the romance. There’s something ethereal about Linklaters’s film. the almost mumble-core style dialogue mixed with exotic locales just draws you in. If you’ve ever wanted to just wander around Paris, this film is a great place to start.

The 400 Blows (1959)

There’s too much to say about François Truffaut’s masterpiece The 400 Blows (Les Quatre Cents Coups) and how much of an impact it’s had on my life. So I’ll save that for another post. Suffice to say that this French New Wave classic inspired countless filmmakers with its gritty look at Parisian life in the 1950’s through the eyes of a child. Young Antoine Doinel is the quintessential misunderstood child, and a somewhat biographical take on Truffaut himself, that just can’t seem to do anything right. the opening scenes show a moving Paris from a very low angle, invoking how a child would see such a massive city. A bit more harsh of a look at the French capital, but a moving and necessary one.

 

Amélie (2001)

There's just something about watching Amélie walk around Paris that is inherently romantic. Storyline aside, just seeing her interact with the outlandish but everyday Parisians makes you feel one step closer to eating a croissant in Montmartre. Jean-Pierre Jeunet created such a beautiful and whimsical film that puts you into the shoes of Amélie Poulain, a lovable and mostly accident prone young woman in the northern Paris district of Montmartre as she looks for love. It’s romantic, fun and a really heartwarming look at the former artist enclave of Montmartre and the area around Basilique du Sacré-Cœur.

Sometimes you just need to get away. From life. Responsibilities. Time. Chores. Well, that's exactly what we did this past weekend to celebrate our two-year wedding anniversary. We packed a small bag and headed into downtown Houston for a weekend at the JW Marriott. Rarely do we splurge for a nice place to stay so it was genuinely refreshing to be in a beautiful hotel with no worries at all.

There's something freeing about staying in a nice hotel. It just makes you feel like the world is at your fingertips. From an amazing staff to a wonderful restaurant and bar, the JW had exactly what we needed for a calm weekend away. We debated going for a quiet place to bask in serenity, but we're urbanites at heart and a downtown vibe just felt right.

The room was absolutely beautiful and lacked nothing. From the full size tub to the separate living and dining area, we felt like royalty. We even had a complimentary bottle of champagne waiting for us with dessert. There really was no way to not relax and enjoy the sounds of the city as it passed by beneath us. Our soundtrack each night consisted of the gentle rolling of the Metro Light Rail beneath and a surprisingly soothing song selection that accompanied the Marriott ad channel showing the different JW properties around the globe. This place was meant for slowing down and enjoying life.

Situated in the heart of downtown Houston, the JW Marriott makes it easy to enjoy all that the newly revitalized area has to offer. For our first night out we made sure to visit one of our favorite places, Prohibition Supper Club and Bar. The front consists of a 1920's themed restaurant that serves traditional Southern style food with an upscale twist, while the back holds a vaudevillian style burlesque themed show on the weekends. We opted to just hang out up front and enjoy some of the tasty treats and some custom-made concoctions from some of our favorite bartenders in town.

If you've never been, it's worth going just for the people watching. Never have we been disappointed by the constantly rotating cast of characters, especially on nights when the show is going on in the theater. There's nothing not to love about Prohibition, from the period-styled art on the walls to the simple take on great Southern food, it's always a great night out.

Saturday was spent mostly lounging around the hotel, plus we had to go see Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. For dinner we headed over to Pappas Bros. Steakhouse and ended up sitting by one of the players from the San Antonio Spurs. Not only did we have a fantastic steak, we came up with the idea to go hang out at the Four Seasons since that was where the rest of the Spurs players were staying. If you haven't picked it up already, my wife is a massive Spurs fan. They were in town for their playoff series against the Houston Rockets and it just seemed liked we needed to bump into them.

Well, as we sat in the bar lobby of the Four Seasons, that's exactly what happened. Kim got to meet her favorite sports personality, Spurs' head coach Greg Popovich. She still grins every time I bring it up in conversation. It was the perfect end to our last full day of the staycation.

After sleeping in on Sunday and enjoying a late checkout, it was off to home to hang out with our pup. If you're ever in need of some time away, downtown Houston is the perfect place. It feels like a totally different city from the rest of the area. With a large amount of amazing restaurants, bars and entertainment, you just can't go wrong.

I remember watching documentaries as a child about mountain climbers and adventurers. Every scene made me want to strap on a backpack and go explore some unknown part of the earth. As adults, I feel we've lost that ability to look at the world through fresh eyes. Blame it on technology, Google Earth or simply access to travel. Whatever it is, wonder seems to have escaped us. That's why most people are envious of long-term travelers or people who live outside the normal parameters of what we consider life. But isn't that exactly what those mountain climbers in the documentaries did? The stars laid out before me one night as I sprawled out on a dock on the island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas. I was sitting next to my friend Josh and my cousin Julie and never before had I seen so many celestial beings in nature. We were far from major towns so light pollution was low and the stars seemed to dance off one another. In my gut I could feel the pull of the heavens, yearning to reach out and swipe my hand through the cosmic dust. It was a once in a lifetime view, uninterrupted by storms or clouds.

The Wonder Next Door

Nowadays, that sense of wonder is getting harder and harder to come by. If you're like me, travel seems hard on a normal 9-5 work schedule. But the truth is, you don't need to travel far to experience wonder. Any place can be filled with wonder if you only learn to see it with new eyes. My wife and I are consciously working towards finding the wonder in the city we've lived in for years. It's easy to take for granted the things we see on a day-to-day basis. I find that bringing my camera along to take pictures helps me focus on what is beautiful and awe-inspiring in the day-to-day.

So as you go about your life, find wonder in everything. Train your eyes to look for the beautiful, the broken, the weird. You'll find that there's more of it around you than you think.

Film by Mathieu Le Lay.