Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Light from below


Efficiently simple
Atlanta, Georgia, January 2008


Ordinary objects seen from extraordinary perspectives can often take us somewhere unexpected. The kids were excited about staying here because it was a real hotel, with bellhops , valets and old, cushy, ornate sofas in the lobby. They spun themselves on the office chairs in the business center and left their fingerprints all over the brass accents and mirrors that lined the halls and elevator. The novelty of a hotel where your car wasn't parked just outside the room was too compelling to ignore.

The room itself? Smallish, if I must be realistic. But none of this mattered to them. They buzzed around our little temporary home, discovering neat little things about it that separated it from a more ordinary place: a minibar (off limits, even the chocolate bars), the ornately presented soaps and shampoos, the neato laptop-friendly desk, the super comfy bed with a bedspread I secretly wanted to take home.

Indeed, this place was special. This experience was special, and we knew they'd remember this room far longer than any other hotel/motel where we'd overnighted on this trip. So when my daughter mentioned to me that she even liked how the lamps looked, I wanted to remember them somehow. The low angle seemed like the "Carmi" way to do it.

Your turn: Ordinary things seen from extraordinary perspectives. Please discuss.

24 comments:

Sara said...

Looking at things from a funny angle, I rememeber growing up on car rides my sister & I would lie down on the back seats (before car seats were as common as they are now) and we'd stare up at the sky & clouds and "read" stories from them - it was so much fun & made 5 hour car rides enjoyable for everyone in the car. I remember the day when we were put into booster seats in the backseat & couldn't see the sky from the correct angle & for the next few years all that was heard from the back seat was, "are we there yet?"

Megan said...

I still love hotels...

Perspective is so amazing, isn't it. Love the picture.

You might want to stop by and take a look at some of my photos. I try to see the ordinary in a different way too.

Michele sent me today... have a lovely Thursday!

Anonymous said...

Hello, Michele sent me.

Julia's taken more than a few pictures of interesting objects or strange perspectives while staying at hotels. For her, it's more about the macro view.

Linda said...

reminds me of my Christmas tree photos, taken with my new camera - I was playing with depth of field and laid down under the tree!

I think that when you see things from a different point of view, it gives you insight to how others might see things as well.

Getting under my tree reminded me that my little ones see things looking up!

Tiel Aisha Ansari said...

Two photography books: "Within a Rainbowed Sea" by Chris Newberg, and "Earth From Above" (don't remember the guy's name). One seeing things very close up, one at a distance. Also the documentary "Microcosmos". Those were definitely perspective-changing experiences.

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

Love the lamp!

I can deal with small hotel rooms. But small hotel room beds? Nope. No thanks.

~Mheldz said...

Hello,
Thank you for visiting my blog.
I love your photos too esp. the one you took from the top of the Empire State.

Will be visiting here more often to check in with your latest photos.

TC

Rainbow dreams said...

I still love exploring hotel rooms when we first arrive... it's compulsory..!
Though why I haven't a clue... do we get to see the bedspread too then?

Lori Schmidt (LoriProPhoto) said...

Hi Carmi, no matter how hard I try I can just never catch up on everyone's blogs so have missed quite a few of yours once again!!

I am not sure if you or Anna started the looking up thing but I have noticed a definite trend of more people following your lead with many interesting results LOL

I have just set up my new blog which is in addition to the one you already know. http://printsandgiftsbylori.blogspot.com
Check it out and feedback would be appreciated. It will be an ongoing project as I add more "stuff".

Hope all is well.

David Edward said...

that is so excellent!
seriously it reminds me of being a kid and laying on the floor ( because we were so poor we had no couch)

here from michele

Anonymous said...

Thanks for stopping by from Michelle's.

Cool picture and story.

spwriter said...

This also reminds me of my childhood. My brothers and I used to lie on our backs on the floor and slide around the house that way, looking up and imagining that the house had flipped upside down. I can remember moments when a surprisingly powerful artificial vertigo had me clawing at the carpet to keep from falling down to the ceiling.

Anna said...

You will laugh at what I am posting later tonight. :) We think alike. Love the shot and I can just imagine you laying on the floor to get it....just like I would!

:)

Anonymous said...

Here via Michele, but you know I stop by here anyway.

I think your discussion question could be my blog's tagline at times!

Omykiss said...

Must be how babies see the world!

Anna said...

I finally got mine up! Come take a look!

Anonymous said...

Care to exchange link? I will link you up, I hope you don't mind. I love the photos, could be that your blog would be an inspirations to photographers wannabes like me. :)

Thanks!

Omykiss said...

hello carmi ... this time michele sent me. I've been often ... love your blog.

kenju said...

I am glad to see that they were using the new lightbulbs!

Lindy said...

Great shot Carmi, and I loved the post. Kids are great for transforming your perspective of the ordinary into the extraordinary, aren't they? We're definitely never bored around our place : D

November Rain said...

HI from Michelle...

She sent me over to sy I am back online and moved in my new place...


I love old fashion hotels I haven't seen many I could count on one hand how many I have seen
extraordinary perspectives?

Well all our childhood experiences is seen through extraordinary perspectives

Recently I saw a rainbow and it has a story when I can upload my pictures/videos I will tell the story of it :P

until then please get better... here some more of Novy's chicken soup

~§~
[__]³

Sandy M said...

Wish I'd known you better... hubby and I would have met you for dinner. We live about 25 minutes from there.

Admin said...

ordinary objects can be pure bliss. love your post! :)

Anonymous said...

i really enjoyed and love this picture... thanks alot