Week Eight

Mountain vs. Village

People continuously take multiple pictures of mountains, but it is very difficult to capture the size and power of such a land formation. I feel that this picture justifies the vastness of the mountain due to the small village that is set in the forefront.

Blocks

I was very intrigued by this castle because of the usage of blocks. Not only is the entire castle made out of that shape alone, but the colours that are used on the outer façade also stick to that pattern. There is no curved line anywhere on this fortress making it appear much more sturdy and safe.

Frolicking Angel

This sculpture captured my attention because of the gracefulness of the stone. The angel appears to be frolicking among the clouds, free from pain and suffering. This is what I believe heaven is like; free from harsh feelings and endlessly happy

Transportation

This picture was taken in the Sahara Desert and these people just happened to cross below the sand dune that I was perched on. The expanse of the desert seems to go on forever with no end and the camels seem to have a long excursion ahead of them, but the camels never break stride with exasperation.

Wild Nature

While in Italy we visited a tiny town near the sea and I was able to capture this photo of the sea lapping at the bottom of the mountain. I like how mystical the nature in this picture appears. In the distance, there is another mountain that seems just at your fingertips yet miles away. The cloudy sky also adds to this mysterious ambiance.

Natural vs. Artificial Lighting

Normally when the artificial lighting illuminates an area at night there is no possible way to see natural lighting such as stars. In this photo the stars are putting up a fight. Off to the right hand side, if you look deep into the depths of the blackened sky you can see traces of these burning balls of light. The artificial lights of the building may lose this fight.

Dancing Lights

After playing with the colouring for a little bit, I was finally able to get the white lights to dance across a deep blue stage. The aspect of this picture that I enjoy the most is the fact that the original building that was featured pre-Photoshop can still be seen in the bottom reflection of the photo. The outline can just barely be made out and shows no resemblance to the top of the photo where the lights appear to be dancing at a masquerade.

Endless Swirl

While strolling around the Alnwick Gardens I noticed this swirling pattern in one of the many fountains. I like the way that the water seems to be a solid item that is continuously folding into itself. It seems to resemble a velvet blanket.

Towering Castle

The angle of this picture makes the castle appear to be towering above all the rest of the world. I also liked how the vines coming from the tree make the castle seem ominous while the bright sun-yellow colour of the castle gives a more cheerful image.

Green Acres

This picture was taken at the top of a hill in Germany. Looking down on one side I noticed a lonely little house in the middle of a green field. The creamy white of the house is a stark contrast to the bottle sea green grassland. I also noticed how the paths that lead to the house are very distinct and am amazed at how narrow the paths are. It is not possible to drive down them making transportation for the inhabitants of this home difficult.

Week Seven

Colossal Mountains

This picture was taken of the mountains that surround the Austrian town of Salzburg. It was a cold rainy day in the valley while it was a blizzard up towards the peak. I like this photo because of the contrast between the dark and dreary sky and mountain and the bright spring grass of the valley.

Pisa Architecture

I chose the title as a play on words: “piece o’ architecture”. I never understood the vast size of such a crooked building. This picture is able to capture the size and slant of the ancient building. To this day there is very little known about why the tower began slanting, but it is a thing to ponder as to why it does not fall.

Stone-Cold Jesus

While touring throughout Italy I stopped in Rome and no one can visit Rome without making a trip to the Vatican. This statue of Jesus was taken at the outer façade of the holy building. Even from far away I was able to capture the stone-cold expression on Jesus’ face which accentuates the soft flow of his garment.

Bicycle Traffic

In Amsterdam there are roughly 6,000 bicyclists sharing the road. This picture was taken at rush hour during a traffic jam. There was not very much room making it difficult to pedal around. If you look closely, you can catch the look of consternation on some of their faces. I enjoy this picture because I feel like it captures the atmosphere of Amsterdam and the way of life of the inhabitants.

African Christmas Tree

I was given the opportunity to visit an oasis while in Africa. The entire area of the oasis was filled with many different types of trees, but palm trees seemed to populate a vast majority of the area. This is a picture of looking up into the sky. I appreciate the way the enormous trees seem so delicate when they dip and dance in the wind and touch the sky with their palms.

Streets of Venice

As everyone already knows, Venice is a town made of mostly water. This night shot is taken of one of the many streets that can be accessed using a gondola. A quality of the water that is captured by the picture is extreme pollution. This is shown by how the light from the buildings is not able to penetrate the water at all. Although that may not be a positive description it shows the true nature of the Venetian streets.

Aztec Sun

Although this is a picture of the domed ceiling of the Pantheon in Rome, I was able to contort the colouring in a way where it now resembles a sun. I chose to refer to it as an Aztec sun because of the stone pattern.

Wingspan

At St. Mark’s Square in Venice there is an opportunity for everyone to feed the pigeons (that is if they pay a couple euros). This picture was taken of a pigeon mid-landing into the feeding palm of a tourist. The wingspan of this flying friend seems to span the entire building shown in the background giving a depth of scale illusion.

Heavenly Glance

Peering out from under her shall, this statue seems to be giving a friendly smile. The lighting that was used in this picture makes the statue look to be that of a goddess. The style of statue work also brings this illusion to life. Her garment appears to be floating in a breeze of some sort while strolling through a heavenly garden.

Miniature Village

In the country of Germany lies the little town of Rothenberg. I was able to take a picture of this quaint little town from the bell tower of the city hall. From this picture it looks as if this town is not real, but rather a little collection of doll houses. Each house is painted a different cheery colour and they all have high-peaked roofs.

Week Six

View From Above

Although it felt like it was taking years to climb all those steps, once at the top of St. Paul’s Cathedral it was definitely worth the effort. Once at the top the view was breathless. It seemed like London went on and on and off the countries borders. I am still astonished at how sunny and bright it was on that day in London. Also, I find it amusing that the first thing that pops out at me in this picture is the green grass within the confines of the park. It is the only bit of vibrant color throughout this landscape of London which makes it a jewel in the depths of sand.

Ben Scratching the Sky

Although I too feel that pictures of Big Ben and other worldly attractions are over done, I had to throw one in myself. One cannot experience London without going to see Big Ben. Until I stood under it myself, I never realized how large and towering the clock tower is. In this picture it seems as if Big Ben is reaching up into the (rarely) blue sky for a breath of fresh air.

Fierceness

Within the walls of Parliament there are many royal coats of arms including the one in this picture. I chose the title “Fierceness” for this photograph because of the snarling expressions of the lion and the unicorn. They seem about to pounce at any moment. I also chose it because of the fierce detail of the royal coat of arms. The stone is so intricately carved I cannot imagine the type of person that it took to have the patience to carve that entire sculpture.

Blast from the Past

At Hampton Court Palace our group was told to go about on our own and tour the place accordingly. I did not know that there were going to be people dressed up in 15^th century clothing pretending to be stuck in that time period. In this picture one of these actors can be seen in her red traditional clothing. It is very obvious how the time periods have changed when comparing her style to those of the children surrounding her. Her head piece is also very stylish blowing in the wind.

Wildlife: According to Africa

While touring an African zoo I came across the traditional African animals: elephants, tigers, lions, zebras. However, as I walked further along I noticed little fury animals that seemed very familiar. As I got closer I realized there was an area designated to guinea pigs. This is a picture of one of the more solitary guinea pigs enjoying a little “me-time” with its stark black and white fur contrasting with the neutral tones of the rock and straw surrounding it.

Blurbs of Color

My night picture this week was chosen because of the two solitary blurbs of color that stand out against the mysterious black depths of the surrounding areas. The belief is that street lamps should appear to make an area brighter and allow people to feel safer, but from this picture I feel differently. There are two street lamps within a few yards from one another yet the light that is given off is miniscule.

Electric Fire

I took this picture at night and accidentally moved the camera while the picture was still being taken. Originally I was going to delete the picture until I gave it a closer look. To me it represents a new age. Fire was given to the humans by the gods thousands of years ago, and now that our intellect and knowledge have blossomed into what it is today it seems like a new form of fire: an electric fire.

Flock of Sheep

While walking back from the priory in Hulne Park a small group of us came across a herd of sheep that were following an ATV with two sheep dogs holding up the caboose. It was startling at first because the sheep came at us full throttle from around a corner and swept past us in a rush. One aspect that I have grown to appreciate in this picture is the sun shining down upon the frolicking sheep because it is not very often that the sun can be seen in Alnwick.

The Giant Shovel

This giant shovel found in the priory in Hulne Park appears to be the same height as the scaffolding on the right hand side picture. It also appears to be the same size as the ancient brick wall of the priory in the background. In actuality, this shovel did not reach my own hip. It has to be one of the smallest shovels I have ever seen with my own two eyes. This is the reason why I like this picture so much: the camera can make you believe things that are not true.

Shadows of Death

This picture was taken in of old gravestones that I also found in Hulne Park near the priory. The reason why I chose this picture was because I liked the elongated shadows that the gravestones cast upon the dart dirt. I also enjoyed the aspect of life toughing death in the way that the new green grass borders the gravestones and dirt that cover the elderly caskets below.

Week Five

The African Mile

In Tunisia, Africa the buildings do not stand very tall. This is the reasoning behind the title for this photograph. Because of the shorter buildings it feels as if you can see the landscape for miles. I also noticed how many of the buildings are which seem to add to the expansion of the town.

Hallway Spectacular

This was taken at the top of the unfinished amphitheatre, hence the spontaneous sightings of sky and sunlight. Along with the open ceiling, there is open flooring which I find odd and intriguing. Another enjoyable part of this picture, I believe, is how the hallway seems to continue around the bend.

A Feather Amongst Leaves

This was taken in the middle of the woods, which is why it was so surprising to find a peacock feather amongst the leaves. The dullness of the leaves make the vibrant colours of the feather stand out. I like the sudden splotch of colour amongst the dull brown leaves and twigs.

People vs. Mountain

Mountains can be very intimidation, especially if you are standing in the groove between two very large mountain peaks. I like this photo because of its ability to display the vastness of the mountain’s size. The people seem somewhat miniscule compared to the massiveness of the tan mountain.

Lonely Monkey

After taking this photo I realized how alone and sad this monkey seemed to be. There were many other monkeys milling about and playing with their friends, but for some reason this monkey had only himself. My heart went out to this monkey in his moment of need.

Alnwick @ Night

This is a depiction of the serene streets of Alnwick at night. Everything seems still and tired from a long day’s work. This picture also brings to my mind the famous singing scene from “Singing in the Rain” because of the way the street light reflects off the wet tar road.

A Little Piece of Heaven

This picture was taken in a very dark corridor of a building and suddenly I came across a hole in the roof. This seemed to be the only form of light around; a little piece of heaven in the center of darkness.

Stampede of Calves

While walking to Hulne Park I came across three calves that were running around and playing games with one another. This picture was taken when the calves decided to rejoin the older bulls and cast play time aside.

Northumbria Tower

Although there are much larger towers throughout England, the angle that this photograph was taken at makes the Northumbria tower loom above like none of the rest. This picture is also interesting because of the start contrast of the light blue sky above to the dark brick of the tower.

Stone Flower

The downward angle of this photograph shows the depth of the stone sculpture. I chose to put this picture in my blog because of the intricate detail that can be seen I also liked how the flower seems so delicate in the rigid stone.

Week Four

The Love of Landscape

Landscape has the ability to make people feel free. There are no boundaries and some feel as if they could run forever with no end. It is a revitalizing feeling that inspires and infuses a new aspect of life within each of us. That is what this picture does for me. The landscape seems to offer a perfect world with the green grass, blue sky, and vast mountains. The lack of industrialization is also emphasizes the feeling of being free.

Old vs. New

The Romans occupied Tunisia for several years and while there they were able to build an amphitheatre similar to that of the Coliseum in Rome. This is a picture of the very top of the amphitheatre in Tunisia which was never completed. I chose the title Old vs. New because of the contrast between the old structure and the new sky. The building is in the process of deteriorating while the sky is young with colour with few clouds in the sky.

Warrior Strength

The strength of a warrior is an essential aspect to the victory of a tribe. They must be relentless, confident, and captivating. The sculpture of a warrior emanates these qualities. It has fierce facial expressions as well as a strong stance. It helps me to imagine what the warriors were like. The weapon that the still life is holding also helps us to imagine the fighting styles that may have been practiced. I included this photograph into my blog because of its ability to transport us back into history while also bring history into the present.

Zulu Dancing

The traditional dance in Tunisia, Africa is that of the Zulu Dancers. The sing, dance, and play instruments. This picture is of the traditional clothing of the Tunisians and the way that they celebrate with guests. The colours are brilliant with intrinsic details. The lighting was also essential for the display of the people, the colours, and the traditions.

The Roar of the Wild

While observing the many tigers in the area, this one in particular caught my eye. Its strong pose, riveting colour, and outstanding mass stood out from the others. It seemed as if this tiger was the boss of all the others. This picture displays these feelings to the exact. I am intrigued by the confidence that surrounds such a dangerous animal

Desert for Dessert

While travelling throughout Tunisia, Africa we came across an amazing sunset. This was taken of the Sahara Desert sun after a long day of warming the light sand. To me, this was a form of dessert to end the day. A little treat for a hard day’s travel.

Warped Metal

Metal can be transformed into various shapes. One shape that is commonly seen is a metal chair. This happens to be a picture of just that. However, due to the coloration and angle of the camera, this may not be instantly apparent which is why I decided to include this picture in my blog. Some may have to look longer and more carefully in order to identify the true object.

Cascading into the Blue

Water is an amazing property of this world. It is made up of millions of tiny, individual particles that travel as one body. In this picture, I was able to capture the brilliant blue of the water as well as its agility and ability to combine back into a single body of water.

Giant Mushroom

Although this is not a giant mushroom, it appears that is it. In reality, this is a water sculpture that I found in the Alnwick Gardens. If you look closely, you can see the water cascading down the stem. I was inspired to include this in my blog because of how the sun illuminates the top of overwhelming sculpture while the brush shades the bottom stem of it.

Rickety Door

This picture demonstrates the effect that time has on material. The downward effect that I used on this picture helps to emphasize the fragility of the deteriorating door. Time has the ability to ware down everything from inanimate objects to mortal souls. The door in this picture shows how time, wind and rain can be exhausting.