Monday, October 01, 2012

Thematic Photographic 215 - Shiny

Them's fighting pandas!
Shanghai, China
May 2012



















I've always been fascinated by shiny objects. Sure, it makes for a funny bit of self deprecating humor, but beyond that there is a photographic reason for it all. Unlike a matte surface, a reflective one can change significantly by shifting position or light source or style. It's entirely likely you'll never see the same subject in the same manner twice, and that somehow moves me whenever I find myself in front of one.

Like these pandas near the site of the world expo in Shanghai. I never knew pandas to be particularly violent animals, which made this scene even funnier. Don't they just sit around all day looking impossibly cute while they pose for touristy pictures and munch on endless supplies of bamboo?

Whatever the reality of panda life is - and perhaps this is something we'll just have to avoid revealing lest we ruin a perfectly good childhood memory - shooting this artistic interpretation through the window of a moving bus at the end of a smoggy/overcast day only added to the photographic fun.

What kind of shiny have you got lurking on your memory card?

Your turn: Share a shiny pic on your blog, then leave a comment here letting folks know where to find it. Repeat as often as you wish through the week, and fee free to invite a friend or six. Thematic Photographic is our weekly photo sharing activity, and everyone's invited. Click here for more background on how it works.

20 comments:

ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© said...

My 2nd pic features a pair of very shiny Carpenter Bee eyes.

(And go ahead and open it in a new tab, to see the giant version!)
~

Bernie said...

I do like your photo Carmi!! And, what a great topic this week...

Mines up as well at AussiePomm - Shiny (view from) Skydeck

Have a great day!!

fredamans said...

Very shiny indeed!

http://fredamans.blogspot.ca/2012/10/thematic-photographic-shiny.html

Unknown said...

Chromed Pandas! I'm glad I stopped by. This was fun!!

Unknown said...

Liked your Shiny Pandas.... Mine is here : http://mypinkcloud-ranu.blogspot.in/2012/09/city-palace-2-reflections.html

Gilly said...

Shiny Photographs from a dark and very unshiny UK! http://gillymaccsphotographs.blogspot.co.uk

laurak/ForestWalkArt :) said...

very cool shiny pandas!!

ok, will get to work on something shiny!! and then stop back with my link!!

Bob Scotney said...

That's a great left hook.

http://bit.ly/PKvGTz

Magaly Guerrero said...

The first shiny thing I remember is the knife my grandmother used to cut herbs around the garden. I remember staring at it, and thinking, when I'm big enough (like her), smart enough (like her), then I will have my own knife to cut the herbs for tea and dinner.

But today I'm sharing other shiny symbols ;-) Here is my entry:

http://pagan-culture.blogspot.com/2012/10/deconstructing-darkness.html

Janet said...

I think I'm part magpie...I love shiny things! In this case, though, the shiny things are larger than the average magpie :-)

http://fondofsnape.com/?p=4690

Juniper said...

Here is a shiny contribution... http://dreamsandreality-jj.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/tp-215-shiny.html

Kiwi Nomad said...

Thanks for another great theme. I think I tend to see 'shiny' less in terms of metal, and more in terms of the effect of light. Mostly these photos come from Paris earlier this year. http://kiwinomad06.blogspot.co.nz/2012/10/tp-215-shiny.html

Alexia said...

Lovely shiny things! Those pandas are very cool. I wonder how big they are?

Here's my contribution :)

Gilly said...

I've added a photo of the other dogs in Gran Canaria for the dog lovers here! http://gillymaccsphotos.blogspot.co.uk

theMuddledMarketPlace said...

Hope this works properly....

....and carmi thank you, i think that post was a very early introduction to Thematic Photographic for me, October 2007.

It's been great. Thank you so much for hosting this place

21 Wits said...

Wow, perfectly shiny indeed, and adorable. Once I saw our theme I had only one choice to begin with!

http://twincitiesblather.blogspot.com/2012/10/thematic-photographic-215-shiny.html

Lisa Shafer said...

If this isn't shiny and new, then I don't know what is!
http://lisashafer.blogspot.com/2012/10/look-what-came-in-mail-today.html

ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© said...

I've gone back to the well...the shiny well, that is.

Shiny, Spiny, Painted, and Fine.
~

Kranky Granny said...

My week has been out of control but I finally found a few minutes to add my "shiny" post. You will find it here:

http://cashjocky.blogspot.com/2012/10/reflections-on-black.html

21 Wits said...

Okay Carmi- here's some more funny-shiny with my Moon and Spoon post!

http://twincitiesblather.blogspot.com/2012/10/thematic-photographic-shiny-2-moon-vs.html