Happy 2022!    I hope this post might prove to be a special story for some.   It is a true story that happened just before New Year's Eve of 2011, exactly ten years ago. I originally published it in January of 2012.  I've republished it the first of the New Year over the past several years because it's true, possibly inspirational, and I think you'll find it amazing.  The story below is absolutely true.  My family and I were there and experienced this first-hand.  It is not the type of material you find in my typical blog entry.  However, it is too good ..read more

This blog is best viewed on a laptop or desktop computer. On tablets and phones, there may be some cropping. It was a few weeks before Easter. My wife and I were talking with her brother, my brother-in-law, Gonzalo, on WhatsApp. He was explaining that he and his son, José Antonio were planning a fishing trip on the San Pedro River in the remote Péten jungle of Guatemala during Holy Week. Gonzalo has an adventurous streak, so I wasn't surprised. "Tom, why don't you go with us? We invite you," my brother-in-law said unexpectedly.  I was blown away. Then reality set in. "I'd love to," I said ..read more

Happy 2021!    For many, this has not been a good year.  My wife and I have done very little travel this year, and I have done very little photography. However, I hope this post might prove to be a special story for some.   It is a true story that happened on New Year's Eve of 2011. I originally published it in January of 2012.  I've republished it the first of the New Year over the past several years because it's true, possibly inspirational, and I think you'll find it amazing.  The story below is absolutely true.  My family and I were there and experience ..read more

Happy 2020! This is a true story that happened on New Year's Eve of 2011. I originally published it in January of 2012.  I've republished it the first of the New Year over the past several years because it's true, possibly inspirational, and I think you'll find it amazing.  The story below is absolutely true.  My family and I were there and experienced this first-hand.  It is not the type of material you find in my typical blog entry.  However, it is too good not to share.  Please post your thoughts at the bottom of this page.  Share this with anyone you think might enjoy it or ge ..read more

2019 has been a good year for my photography effort.  I thought I'd share a few of my images from this year.  All are from Guatemala in the summer of 2019. A woman on the steps of the Church of Santo Tomas in Chichicastenango.  (You can click on images for a larger view.  If on a PC, hit ESC to return to the blog.) The Mermaid Fountain in Antigua, Guatemala.Boy with livestock in the market of San Francisco El Alto.A boy with pigs in the market of San Francisco El Alto.A girl enjoys some snacks in the animal market of San Francisco El Alto.A young woman pays for a purchase in the market of S ..read more

Every year, my son Brian makes his own e-Christmas card in Photoshop to distribute on his social media.  The cards always feature multiple versions of himself in various activities. His card this year comes from South Korea where he is stationed as a Second Lieutenant. Click on the card for a larger image. You can view my fine art photography website at:  www.tombellart.com This blog has been named one of the top 75 fine art photography blogs on the planet ..read more

I wish my faithful readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Here's the 2019 family Christmas card. You can view my fine art photography website at:  www.tombellart.com This blog has been named one of the top 75 fine art photography blogs on the planet ..read more

Dodho is an online and print magazine that showcases the best photographers in the world.  Therefore, I was pleased this morning when I learned that the publication has decided to feature my photographs of Guatemala on its website. You can find the article and photographs at:  https://www.dodho.com/guatemala-by-tom-bell/ The online magazine is at:  https://www.dodho.com/  You can view my fine art photography website at:  www.tombellart.com This blog has been named one of the top 75 fine art photography blogs on the planet ..read more

A few years back, a couple of days before Independence Day, I took this image of Old Glory on an abandoned house in Makanda, Illinois. Click on the image for a larger view. Happy Fourth of July!  If you would like to follow along and receive a notification when a new post appears, please subscribe by clicking here and entering your email address. You can view my fine art photography website at:  www.tombellart.com. This blog has been named one of the top 75 fine art photography blogs on the planet ..read more