Saturday, April 02, 2011

Thematic Photographic 140 - By land, sea or air


Crossing paths
London, ON, March 2011
[Please click here to learn how Thematic works]

I've been moving between places a lot lately, spending more time in airplanes, cars and other forms of transport than I usually do. Whenever I travel, I like to try to slow the process down a bit, to feel it more than I can see it. I realize that flying, for one, has become a bit of a cattle car-like experience. Okay, a lot like a cattle car.

We shuffle, herd-like, from one part of the airport to another, following rules adapted on the fly to meet agendas dictated by shadowy terrorists who live in faraway caves. As I strip my belt and shoes off in the security line, trying to keep moving fast enough to avoid the stink-eye from those behind me, I imagine those same shadowy terrorists laughing heartily at what they've done to us, at the ridiculous lengths to which we must now go to supposedly stay safe when we travel. It's a sad comment on the inhumanity some of us seem eager to foist on other humans. It makes me wonder why some of us choose to be so mean-spirited.

But the process of travel can inspire as well as disappoint. Like on this morning a few weeks ago when I walked outside and looked up. I saw other travellers, on their way to places unknown, their planes painting gorgeous, albeit temporary, pictures in the sky. The sun, unwilling to be left out of this early-morning atmospheric dance, threw some upward-facing shadows into the mix. Just because.

In the end, we can choose to see ugliness or we can choose to see beauty. It's up to us. I know where I stand.

Your turn: Over the next week, I'm going to choose to share the beauty of land, sea or air and I hope you'll do so, too. New to Thematic? Click here. An old hand? Just dive in by posting a similarly-themed pic to your blog - or pick something you may have already posted. Leave a comment here to let folks know where it is. Visit other participants to spread the joy, and repeat as often as you wish. And if you want to bring a friend along, we encourage that, too. We'll be doing it all week, so check back to see what everyone else is up to.

19 comments:

A Paperback Writer said...

Ooh! I get to be first!
I guess that's what happens when you have no social life and sit at home typing up YA novels on a Saturday night.
Oh well.
You can either use this URL
http://apaperbackwriter.blogspot.com/2011/04/photo-non-contest-140-by-land-by-sea-or.html

Or this one
http://apaperbackwriterphotos.blogspot.com/2011/04/photo-non-contest-140-by-land-by-sea-or.html

to see my post for today.
I'll have another one up tomorrow.
cheers!

On My Soapbox said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Josephine B. said...

I'm glad some of us remember to "look up" once in a while as we go from place to place. I was on my way to work early one morning when I pulled over and took the photo posted here
xo

On My Soapbox said...

I chose "by sea". I like
via this photo because of the kayak colors, the seaweed, and the "texture" the patterns in the water make. Yeah, I'm stuck home Saturday night, too. How'd you guess? ;-)

Alexia said...

Ooooh lovely theme! And Carmi, your shot of vapour trails immediately sent me to one I had - I love seeing these travellers' tracks across the sky.

My post is here.

Anonymous said...

Here's one. A picture I posted today of my dad. This is the essence of who he is. Hope this works!
http://freelyfiltering.blogspot.com/

Bob Scotney said...

A Norwegian theme this week.

http://bobscotney.blogspot.com/2011/04/docked-thematic-photography.html

Kalei's Best Friend said...

Love this theme u picked!
http://afreshstartwithkalei.blogspot.com/2011/04/tp-140-by-land-sea-or-air.html

A Paperback Writer said...

My second photo is up now.
You can go here
http://apaperbackwriter.blogspot.com/2011/04/photo-non-contest-140-by-land-by-sea-or_03.html

or here
http://apaperbackwriterphotos.blogspot.com/2011/04/photo-non-contest-140-by-land-by-sea-or_03.html

to see it.

srp said...

I have been by the sea but never have been on a cruise ON the sea and it has been ages since I flew anywhere. So I chose the land... and walking... though my March Madness photo was really a traveling one on land as well, though not anything you could consider beautiful. This one is another as seen through my brothers lens... Springtime in Switzerland.

fredamans said...

I tried to use a little of both worlds.

http://fredamans.blogspot.com/2011/04/thematic-photographic-land-or-sea.html

Hope said...

Wow! All great photos from everyone. Here's my take on the theme. http://hopebodwell.blogspot.com/

Vicki said...

What a FUN theme! I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone posts and posting a few times myself.

You can find my entry's for today
here~

http://vickijf.blogspot.com/2011/04/by-land-sea-or-air-thematic.html

Max Sartin said...

Here's mine for this theme.

Cathy said...

Here's mine:
http://nccathy1.blogspot.com/2011/04/thematic-photographic-140-by-land-sea.html

21 Wits said...

Great photo Carmi, for this adventurous theme. Oh which way to journey... here is mine

http://twincitiesblather.blogspot.com/2011/04/thematic-photographic-140-by-land-sea.html

Anonymous said...

Mine is a bit late again this week, but the theme is just too good to pass up.

I'll be around to visit everyone in a bit- still digging myself out of a photographic blitz over the weekend.

PJ said...

My post is here.

Such a fun topic. Enjoying everyone's pictures and great story telling along with it.

theMuddledMarketPlace said...

Old post and images from me Most of my travelling is on land, lots on foot and by public transport....but those are fairly average Land Travels.
For me anyway :)