AMERICANWAY

Illustration by Matthew Hollister { TR AVEL } RIGHT: Arizona’s Horseshoe Bend BELOW: Merced River, Yosemite National Park Have Camera, Will Travel { By Neal Webster Turnage } Thanks to the high- quality photo capability of today’s smartphones and PDAs (not to mention slick apps like Hipstamatic), the average vacation has now turned into a Pulitzer Prize–winning photo op and spawned many a budding professional photographer the world over. Now, anyone who wants to take his or her newfound passion to the next level can sign up for a photo-specific tour led by the likes of Peter Ensen- berger, an award-winning photographer and a former director of photography at Arizona Highways magazine. PHOTO TOURS UNLIMITED provides customized itiner- aries — you pick a spot on any continent, your traveling companion(s) and the “star” factor (from five stars on down to a no-star campout with MREs) — designed for aspiring shutterbugs who love to travel and who want to bump up their skill level. Ensenberger’s staff handles all trip logistics and details. Shooting schedules are based upon optimal light conditions, as well as on seasonal changes and local events . And forget about a group trip where experience levels vary, says Ensen- berger, whose work has taken him all over the world. “It’s hands-on; the emphasis is on the individual.” His recently published book, Focus on Composing Photos (Focal Press, $20), breaks down what you need to know in prose that’s easy to file in the memory bank — and employ on tour. (480) 897-2952, www.phototours unlimited.com Tips for Shooting: Light is the priority. Be aware of it and how it strikes your subject. Keep compositions simple; moving closer elimi- nates distractions. Tell a story in your pho- tos — capture the ironic, the unusual and the unexpected. SLAM DUNK Sprained ankles are the bane of anyone who’s ever set foot on a basketball court, from weekend warriors to LeBron James. But now comesEKTIO, a new brand of hoop shoe that protects players from the all-too- common injury by keeping them from landing with a pain- ful twist . Developed by a doctor , Ektio shoes are built with side bumpers in their soles to guard against the root cause of ankle sprains: the sole going one way and the foot the other. Straps within the wall of the shoe fur- ther anchor the ankle, limiting rollovers without reducing mobility. And, for all their emphasis { TR AVEL } Getting Personal { By Anish Majumdar } Finding a place to stay when you’re on the go is getting more personal with AIRBNB (www.airbnb.com), a site that allows hosts in 10,000-plus cities to offer up their homes as lodging. To date, more than 1.4 million nights have been booked in everything from trendy Times Square studio apartments to British castles to Moroccan casbahs . Pho- tos are a joy to browse, and payment is managed securely through the site, but the real secret behind Airbnb ’s explosive growth is the passion- ate community of users. Whether the host of a Paris pied-à-terre offers you a cup of tea upon arrival or a family in Tuscany invites you to pick grapes in their vineyard, the focus is on experiencing a locale through the eyes of a local. Bonus: The Airbnb iPhone app (free), which comes with a “Help! I Need a Place Tonight!” feature that enables stranded travelers to book a place nearby on a moment’s notice using GPS. on performance and stability, Ektio shoes don’t stint on style. Both the high-top Wraptor and the three-quarter Post Up come in assorted color combinations, with quilted stitching and leather details that keep step with the fastest-moving basketball fashions. $200, www.ektio.com —Josh Sens AA.COM/AMERICANWAY JUNE 15, 2011 15

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