PLACES. PEOPLE. PLAY.
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Photographs by Thomas Milton Terry
deflates as fans circulate air. I love art installations that invite you in, so too can play with the artist’s creation.
The Blue Mosque, located in the heart of Istanbul, Turkey, is one of the most iconic and significant mosques from the Ottoman era. Built in the early 1600s, it continues to function as a place of worship while also attracting countless tourists. Its interior is adorned with thousands of tiles featuring intricate floral motifs, predominantly in shades of blue, which inspired its name.
Mosaics are artworks created by assembling small pieces of materials—such as stone, ceramic, glass, or precious gems—onto a surface to form patterns, images, or designs. Mosaics gained prominence as wall art in the Byzantine Empire, being widely used to depict religious figures. Sicily was part of this empire for almost three centuries (535-827 CE).
The Norman conquest of Sicily in the 11th century brought Byzantine traditions into the Norman cathedrals, elevating religious mosaics to an exceptional level of artistry. I took this photograph of the Madonna and Child in the Palermo Cathedral.
Having lived in Spain at different times, I became fascinated with flamenco, and as an amateur guitarist I learned to play some of the toques.
I was thrilled to visit Seville, Spain - a city that practically breathes flamenco. Our destination of choice was the Museo del Baile Flamenco (Flamenco Dance Museum), where we witnessed wonderful dancing, singing, and guitar playing. This photo captures the dancer perfectly, but from where I was sitting the guitarist was almost hidden.
Maybe this is appropriate for the photo. In Spain, dancers and singers command the spotlight. We guitarists are just the musical background.
There is a ghost town in southern Turkey, a hillside full of abandoned buildings, many partially collapsed. I had learned about the town—Kayaköy in Turkish, also known as Leivissi in Greek—from reading the unforgettable book "Birds Without Wings" by Louis de Bernières. The town had been inhabited predominantly by people of Greek ancestry, who coexisted peacefully with Turks and other ethnic groups during the Ottoman Empire. But that empire collapsed during World War I and a 1923 postwar treaty exiled all the town's remaining Greek Orthodox residents, forcing them to move to Greece where they had no roots, no friends, no homes.
During a visit to the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico, we took a day trip to Chichén Itzá, a major Mayan city that flourished around 950 AD. After the Spanish conquest of the area in the 1500s, the cleared land was repurposed as a cattle ranch. The city's ruins became widely known in 1843 with the publication of Incidents of Travel in Yucatán by John Lloyd Stephens. Today, Chichén Itzá is one of the most visited archaeological sites in the Yucatán.
This photo shows the ruins of the observatory. The Maya were keen astronomers, carefully measuring celestial movements and orienting some buildings to align with the sunrise or sunset on significant dates. The tower in the photo is called El Caracol, meaning "snail" in Spanish, named for the spiral staircase inside. © 2025 Thomas Milton Terry. All Rights Reserved.
Here’s another photo featuring texture, colors, and shapes. Beach stones on a southern coastline in Iceland.
On a trip to the Alaska panhandle, our ship brought us into the Tracy Arm fjord near Juneau where we got to see the Sawyer Glacier.
Andalucia, Spain’s huge southern province, is the world’s leading producer of olive oil and olives. The cultivation of olives dates back to antiquity, starting with the Phoenician and Roman cultures, but the Moors, who ruled the region for 800 years, expanded cultivation and varieties of olives grown enormously.
As we drove through this region, olives groves filled the entire landscape. In this photo, a few cypress trees are the only nonolives in view, as far as the eye can see. Looking at this enormous expanse of olive trees, it’s hard to appreciate that olive oil production has plummeted: a climate change-fueled drought and heatwaves have devastated harvests for the last two years. Olive oil production dropped in half, and prices for olive oil have doubled around the world.
As we wandered around Montepulciano, one of the many Tuscan hill towns, we found this flautist busking outside a restaurant. He was oddly attired in formal cutaway jacket alongside black sandals and jeans, but he played with a sweet tone and we tipped him generously. We spent several hours in the city and noticed that he moved around frequently, replaying the same set of tunes, often to an empty square.
Lee and I were immediately drawn to the excellent music coming from a street musician near the dock area in Bergen, Norway. We had a fascinating chat during his break. He was born in Germany and speaks and sings fluently in several languages. He spends winters in Costa Rica and summers busking throughout Europe. He was the first person we heard play "Wagon Wheel" by Bob Dylan, which we liked so much it became the opening song for gigs with our own band back in Connecticut.
© 2025 Thomas Milton Terry. All Rights Reserved.
This is possibly the most photographed scene in Venice, Italy. It's called "the bridge of sighs" (Ponte dei sospiri). It connects the New Prison to the interrogation rooms in the Doge's Palace. The view from the bridge's windows was the last of Venice that convicts saw before their imprisonment.
The Loire Valley in central France is home to over 300 châteaux, ranging from small fortified castles to grand residences once belonging to French nobility. The Château de Chenonceau pictured here is particularly remarkable because it spans the Cher River. Unsurprisingly, it is one of the most famous of the châteaux, attracting over 800,000 visitors annually. © 2025 Thomas Milton Terry. All Rights Reserved.
Our neighborhood includes an 8-acre pond, with a dock I helped build. I took this photograph early one spring morning when there was mist on the pond and the light was still birthing. The various shapes and colors combine to form a lovely "study in blue.”
This photograph, taken a few hundred yards up our road in Connecticut, shows a Japanese maple tree at the height of foliage display in late October. Enough leaves have fallen to create a circular colored echo on the ground.
Lee and I had a wonderful day exploring the Dingle Peninsula on Ireland's west coast. Frequent rain showers led us to seek indoor activities, and we discovered the Celtic and Prehistoric Museum. One exhibit featured a prehistoric cave bear. Ive seen bears before, but nothing remotely as enormous as this one! Lee graciously accepted the challenge of finding an appropriate pose.
While driving around Ireland's Dingle Peninsula, we hit a traffic jam due to a bus that couldn’t make a turn on the narrow road and couldn’t back up. I got out of the car with my camera to take a photo of the rugged, rainy landscape. I noticed a seagull perched on a post near me and hoped he’d stay put while I snapped a photo. But just as I started to push down the shutter he took flight, directly in front of me, instead of sitting on the post at lower right! This picture could not have been planned! © 2025 Thomas Milton Terry. All Rights Reserved.
Neuschwanstein Castle, near the town of Füssen in Bavaria, Germany, is one of the world's most famous castles, but it was never used as a residence. It was built by a German monarch, King Ludwig II of Bavaria, with construction started in 1869. The king died in 1886 before the castle was completed.
Since then it has become a tourist magnet: an estimated 61 million people have visited since Ludwig's death, currently more than 1.5 million visitors each year! It was the inspiration for the Disney Castles at Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
I love photographing artists involved with their craft! This street artist had his outdoor shop set up near the Sacré-Coeur Basilica in Paris. © 2025 Thomas Milton Terry. All Rights Reserved.
Dublin’s Grafton Street is a magnet for buskers, and the group captured here is particularly remarkable. They are all living statues, sitting motionless until a tip drops into the jar—then each performs a silent gesture of gratitude. All except the dog—the only splash of color among them, yet the only one not alive.
For centuries, churches and cathedrals in Western Europe have showcased the talents of architects and designers, elevating both worship and celebration. The Siena Cathedral (Duomo di Siena), built between 1215 and 1263, is especially striking with its distinctive stripes of alternating white and greenish-black marble, adorning both its interior and exterior.
Mont-Saint-Michel, a tidal island in Normandy, France, is connected to the mainland only by a narrow causeway at high tide. A monastery was first established here in the 8th century after the local bishop had a vision of Archangel Michael instructing him to build a church on the rocky, isolated islet.
Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, Mont-Saint-Michel remains one of France’s most iconic tourist destinations. However, its permanent population has dwindled, with recent estimates placing the number of residents at just 29.
I love the composition of this portrait! The young woman gazes not at the camera but at the cat, who nonchalantly takes it all in stride. The subjects are my granddaughter, Sophia, and her feline friend, Mr. Bates. © 2025
On our trip to Ecuador, Lee and I ventured an hour north from Quito, perched so high in the Andes that even clouds were gasping for air, to visit a touristy park straddling the equator. We posed next to a sign marking the spot and overseen by a local deity who, judging by his expression, had seen one too many tourists trying to balance an egg on the line.
2025 Thomas Milton Terry. All Rights Reserved.
Matera, in southern Italy, is one of the country’s oldest cities. Perched along a river gorge, it boasts a maze of steep, winding paths that turn every walk into an adventure. Its historic center is lined with endless cobblestone walkways, with limited car access in the oldest quarters. Around every corner, I found another picture-perfect scene—each more rustic than the last.
2025 Thomas Milton Terry. All Rights Reserved.
Puglia, a region in the southeastern tip of Italy’s boot, faces the Adriatic Sea. One of its most charming coastal towns is Ostuni, known as The White City for its dazzling whitewashed buildings—you’ll want sunglasses here! Perched on a hill, Ostuni is a labyrinth of winding roads and alleys that rise and fall with the terrain. As you climb higher, the sidewalks grow narrower and even more picturesque. The passageway in this photo is as rustic as it gets!
© 2025 Thomas Milton Terry. All Rights Reserved.
This is what joy looks like. The young woman, Alex, has just been given a bracelet that used to belong to hear great-great-grandmother. She is beyond excited!
An ice cream vendor in Istanbul caught my eye with his bushy mustache, embroidered red vest, and vibrant fez. Once ubiquitous in Turkey, fezes were officially banned in 1925 as part of President Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's efforts to modernize the country and align it with Western culture and fashion. Seen as a relic of the Ottoman Empire, the fez gradually disappeared from everyday wear. Today, however, it is occasionally worn as a nostalgic touch—especially to charm tourists.
2025 Thomas Milton Terry. All Rights Reserved.
This is the Pont des Arts, a pedestrian bridge spanning the Seine River in the heart of Paris, France. In 2008, couples started a new tradition here: attaching a lock to the fence as a symbol of unbreakable love and tossing the key into the Seine. At first it was picturesque, but as lovers kept on adding "love locks" they have become a real problem. In 2014, a section of the parapet collapsed under the weight of the locks. Since then, French authorities have been in an ongoing battle with romantics determined to continue the tradition. They've tried using hacksaws to remove locks, surrounded the fencing with plexiglass, and more. People find ways around it.
I took this photo in Chartres, France, and it closely resembles gardens I've seen in other French cities, such as the Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris. The trees are planted in precise rows and pruned into perfect box shapes. Each bench is evenly spaced and uniformly positioned, ensuring that everyone faces the same direction—without ever looking at fellow bench sitters. The meticulously maintained crushed stone surface is flawless, undisturbed by a single stray blade of grass or misplaced pebble. C’est très français!
chess tables, benches, fountains, and open grassy areas where children can run and play. During our summer visit, a professional bubble maker captivated visitors by creating enormous, mesmerizing bubbles!
There's something magical about Tuscany, Italy. Part of its charm lies in the use of cypress trees, which gracefully line driveways and stand tall against the backdrop of rolling green hills. When I took this photograph, I was captivated by the simple beauty of a small villa nestled into the undulating landscape, surrounded by nature's tranquility.
2025 Thomas Milton Terry. All Rights Reserved.
Of all Rome's historical marvels, none shines brighter than the Forum, a sprawling tapestry of ruins that whispers tales of the Roman Empire’s glory days. I had grand plans to capture every nook and cranny, from the towering columns to the tiniest fragment of ancient grandeur, but alas, my camera had other ideas. Thanks to my rookie mistake of not charging the battery, I was left with just enough juice for a single shot before the screen went dark. So, this lone photo carries the weight of my missed ambitions, capturing the Imperial Forum—the bustling heart of Roman life—with Palatine Hill, where Rome’s emperors once lived, rising in the background. © 2025 Thomas Milton Terry. All Rights Reserved.
These turreted towers are part of the walls of Carcassonne, one of the few surviving fortified cities in western Europe, located in southwestern France. Fortifications at the site date back to Roman times, and during the medieval period, the walls were expanded to include two concentric outer walls and an inner keep, making the city virtually impregnable. By the 1800s, however, the city had fallen into such disrepair that the French government planned to demolish it. Thankfully, a restoration project began in 1853, preserving this historic treasure. ©
This moss-covered gargoyle juts out from the wall of the Basilica of Saints Nazarius and Celsus in the walled city of Carcassonne, located in southwestern France. Gargoyles, common in many medieval churches and cathedrals, were not merely decorative. These carved stone creatures often featured troughs along their upper sides, designed to collect rainwater and channel it through their open mouths, much like modern gutters direct water away from buildings.
2025 Thomas Milton Terry. All Rights Reserved.
During our visit to Palermo, Sicily, we came across this unusual church while exploring the city center. The Church of San Cataldo, built in 1154 during Norman rule, showcases architecture heavily influenced by the Arab styles of Sicily's previous rulers. Several features of the church, such as the spherical red domes, are typical of Islamic and Byzantine architecture. This Arab-Norman architectural style is unique to Sicily.
separated from other land iguana species over 4 million years ago. Charles Darwin described them as "ugly animals, of a yellowish orange beneath... from their low facial angle they have a singularly stupid appearance." © 2025 Thomas Milton Terry. All Rights Reserved.
Alberobello, a town in Italy's southern Puglia province, is home to many limestone dwellings known as trulli. This ancient building technique uses no mortar - stones are stacked on top of each other, and the roofs are shaped like cones by gradually offsetting each row of circular stones toward the center. Over 1,500 trulli houses are still used as dwellings today. Needless to say, the city is a magnet for tourists.
We were driving towards Madrid with a small touring group when I spotted windmills perched atop a distant hill. "Don Quixote!" immediately came to mind—these were the iconic windmills featured in Cervantes' famous novel. Even though I'd lived in Spain, I'd never seen them before. I had to snap the photo through the bus window, using my telephoto lens and hoping the motion wouldn’t blur the image. Fortunately, the photo turned out beautifully!
© 2025 Thomas Milton Terry. All Rights Reserved.
This photo was taken inside the Great Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba, Spain. Originally constructed as a mosque in 785, it was expanded multiple times over the centuries to accommodate the growing number of Muslims and the increased need for space for daily prayers. In 1236, following the Christian conquest of the city, the mosque was converted into a cathedral. Thankfully, much of the stunning Moorish architecture was preserved, and I was captivated by the endless photographic opportunities presented by the mesmerizing repetition of the arches!
About the author
Tom Terry grew up immersed in diverse cultures, moving between countries where his father served as a career diplomat. This early exposure to the world sparked a lifelong passion for travel and storytelling. At just twelve years old, Tom received his first camera, igniting a love for photography that has accompanied him on every journey since.
An avid amateur singer and guitarist, Tom combines his love of music with his photographic pursuits, often capturing the vibrant energy of musicians in their element.
This book was born from Tom's journey through his extensive collection of digital photos taken since 2003. Reflecting on these images, he felt compelled to share not just the places and people he's encountered, but the universal joy of human passions -- how they manifest in the many ways we play. It is this spirit that inspired the title of his collection.
Now retired from a fulfilling career teaching biology and microbiology, Tom lives in Connecticut with his wife, Lee, where he continues to explore, create, and celebrate life's vibrant moments.
Frederiksborg Palace is the former home of the Danish royal family, now a museum. The royal lion and I are engaged in a staring contest.