BH Neely

I’m originally from Seattle. Though my lifestyle as the spouse of an American diplomat requires frequent moves to capitals such as Athens and Kabul, places as unlike the Pacific Northwest as you can find, I seek out those features which make each place uniquely beautiful.

In Kazakhstan, there were the dramatic Tien Shan mountains, which rose as high as 24,000 feet as well as the austere beauty of the open steppe. What grabbed my attention most in Greece were the sea, ancient villages and archaeological sites. At our current post in Afghanistan, I don’t get off the Embassy compound much, but when I do, the rugged, moon-like landscape, showing the history of geological activity, leaves me breathless. On the compound, I amuse my embassy colleagues with frequent mornings crawling in the rose garden with my macro lens.

It isn’t all pixels and silver, though. I am passionate about single-origin coffees and microbrews, and it’s a good weekend if I can get in a 10-mile run.