Thursday, September 30, 2010

Thematic Photographic 117 - Parallel


Two-tracked solution
Toronto, ON, March 2009

I've chosen parallel as this week's Thematic Photographic theme because I realize we often have more than one thing going on at the same time. And given the speed with which we blast through a day, a week, a lifetime, it's entirely reasonable for the average person to have any number of things - thoughts, projects, goals, whatever - in flight at any given moment.

As I took this picture, I was sitting on a Via Rail train on my way home to London after a productively eventful day in the big city. I like to day-trip to Toronto on occasion because most folks I work with are located there. I don't do this nearly often enough; something I'll work on in the coming months. Because a day in the big city is always a learning experience filled with folks who never fail to teach me a thing or two about advancing my own state-of-the-art.

Sitting with my forehead leaning against the window, I realized how lucky I was to be able to consciously drive opportunity in a world where so many never even have the chance. As the tracks slipped by below, I whispered a quiet thank you for being privileged to expand my - and my family's - horizons.

Your turn: Please post a parallel-themed picture to your blog, then drop a comment here letting us know where to find it. If you've already got something posted - perhaps in your archives - feel free to share that, too. Want to share more than one? The more the merrier. For more background on how Thematic Photographic, our weekly photo sharing and learning extravaganza, works, just click here.

34 comments:

Kalei's Best Friend said...

Interesting theme.. I have something similar...lol
http://afreshstartwithkalei.blogspot.com/2010/09/thematic-photographic-117.html

awareness said...

hey Carmi! Your theme choice has allowed me a chance to look at some of more recent photos from a different angle. I hadn't looked at them from a parallel perspective...ie the lines. I was focused on the colour and shapes. So, now I've chosen a photo and will post it with some thoughts....just give me a sec. :)

My goodness it's been a while since I took part in your mid week theme. It feels good.

Max Sartin said...

I love this project, it gives me a chance to think about the pictures I've taken, and new ones I might take. Here are mine for this week:
Mine
And just in case I messed up on the link again;
http://ladunata.blogspot.com/2010/09/thematic-photographic-parallel.html
Thanks for this great opportunity to show off my work.

awareness said...

here you go... a bit crooked (in a good way) just like me.

http://mayfairplace.blogspot.com/2010/09/drifters.html

Harry Chapin sang a line from his famous song Circle... "no straight lines make up my life and all my thoughts have bends...." I was thinking of that when I chose the photo.

A Paperback Writer said...

Here are mine for this theme:

http://apaperbackwriter.blogspot.com/2010/09/photo-non-contest-parallels.html

Jim said...

I had to go way back to find parallel lines in the woods. But the straight trail playing against the trees comes pretty close.

http://hikethegiant.blogspot.com/2010/05/blue-trail.html

The Gearheads said...

I really like the feeling of speed from your photo. Mine are much more static.
http://the-gearheads.blogspot.com/2010/09/this-weeks-theme.html

21 Wits said...

Love this project, and I could feel the pounding on the tracks from your photo Carmi! Everyone please excuse me while I learn this entire blog business....You can view my 4 photos for this "Parallel" at Twincitiesblather.blogspot.com Just Another Day at the Lego Table and A Threesome (3 photos) Collection of photos!

Mustang Sally said...

Thanks for your kind comment on my last entry. I'm having fun with your themes. You asked if I had any ideas for this new theme ... well yeah, I do ... so many I couldn't choose LOL You can see them here.

Juniper said...

Here is mine... My Parallel Life

Juniper said...

This was a fun theme, Carmi - great for a rainy day! Thanks :-)

Somewhere round about said...

Here are mine. So far....

CorvusCorax12 said...

thank you for your kind feedback on my blog and i love this picture...i would have never recognized it as tracks.
here are mine

Peg Cherre said...

I had a hard time choosing this week - so many alternatives! So instead of my usual -- putting up 1 shot -- I put up 4.

Here they are: http://secondwindjewelry.com/jewelry-weaving-blog/2010/10/parallel-weaving/

Nikki - Notes of Life said...

Hopefully I'll find a parallel kind of picture while in London next week! :)

Catherine said...

I found a particularly colourful parallel image from among my September holiday photos
http://poetrychook.blogspot.com/2010/10/thematic-photographic-parallel.html
(We had a great break away from all the aftershocks)

Cathy said...

My link for this theme.

http://nccathy1.blogspot.com/2010/10/thematic-photographic-117-parallel.html

photowannabe said...

Sometimes it seems we run on parallel tracks.
Mine is here
http://allredmop.blogspot.com/
photowannabe

janie said...

love it, I don't know if it's because I know you're flying along in a train, but there's a calmness in this photo along with the feeling of speed, and I've always loved the limbo of a train journey.

here's mine
http://janies-rainy-day.blogspot.com/2010/10/mosaic-floor-in-honan-chapel.html

Glennis said...

I racked my brains to find something I'd done that fit the theme of parallel....and then I looked at something I'd just posted a few days ago.

http://doves2day.blogspot.com/2010/09/dogs-and-their-owners.html

This lady and her dog are certainly keeping it parallel!

Unknown said...

So many opportunities in parallels! My offering is
http://randomoutrageous.blogspot.com/2010/10/which-direction-shall-i-go.html

Gilly said...

Lovely challenge - I like taking photos like this

Gilly said...

And I added some more!

Juniper said...

Hey Carmi, how about a Thematic Photographic button that we can put with a link on our blogs..?

~Juniper~

Unknown said...

Another one for parallels. Nothing subtle about the connection in this one.

http://randomoutrageous.blogspot.com/2010/10/trees-or-forest.html

The Gearheads said...

Here are additional entries for this theme
http://the-gearheads.blogspot.com/2010/10/day-at-dyno-thematic-photos.html

Limarea said...

Hi Carmi! Fun theme :) Here's my contribution http://zestoflemons.blogspot.com/2010/10/parallel.html :)

The Gearheads said...

As I can't resist, and I have had my camera with my most of the weekend, here is another parallel entry. Simple cars, on a simple freeway. http://www.the-gearheads.blogspot.com/

The Gearheads said...

Carmi,
I want to thank you for doing this. It has given us a chance to introduce our lives with the diversity of others photographic skills and interests. I now look forward to see what others have posted, and what I might have to offer for the next thematic photo.

Vivian, VIA Rail's virtual tour guide said...

Lovely photo, and glad it served as such inspiration!

Vivian is Virtual
VIA Rail's tour guide

srp said...

Siding.. historical, but siding, none the less!
My parallels are here.

Catherine said...

I posted these two photos for the quirky signs, but there are plenty of parallels in them.

Alexia said...

Phew! Just made this in time - got back from holidays yesterday to find this very intriguing theme... so here are some Australian parallels, hot off the camera:

My blog

great theme, Carmi ! :)

Juniper said...

One more before the new theme... ;-)

http://dreamsandreality-jj.blogspot.com/2010/10/parallel.html