A varying commute with scenic roads can provide some interesting vistas. Today, an image of a Boxborough Pond on a January morning.
Over the years, I have always enjoyed changing up my daily commute, whenever possible. I find it more relaxing to drive down smaller, scenic roads and see changes in their scenery. Another aspect that I like is the ability to stop and capture an occasional roadside vista that inspires me.
Today’s image is the result of one of those stops…
Boxborough Pond
On a January morning there was just a bit of ice forming across this pond. This produced some rather cool colors in the foreground with a bit of warm light hitting the treetops. This is one of those images that I’m still not 100% happy with, but it’s on its way to something acceptable for my portfolio.
Do you get the opportunity to stop and photograph during your daily commute?
An older image of a red tulip in our backyard. A spontaneous capture driven by simple beauty.
As we continue this series into the new year, I continue to look through some of those older images. Last week’s image (Thursday Throwback – 4) was from 2010 and it tied in with where I spent a lot of my time back then: photographing agility competitions. For this week’s image, I stayed closer to home.
Here is an image that I captured right in my backyard…
April Tulip
This lone tulip stood out in our backyard with its red petals against the grass’ verdant backdrop. I couldn’t help myself but to photograph it, so a quick grab of the camera brought this image about.
I’ll admit that nowadays I would have taken a rather different, more thoughtful approach to taking this photo. Nevertheless, this image is still pleasing overall, with its softer focus and balance of colors.
A striking aqueduct in Northborough, Massachusetts. This early 20th century structure provides a sense of permanence.
Sometimes I come across a structure that really stands out in the landscape and it’s not intuitively obvious to me what it is; I’m curious if this ever happens to any of you. In the town of Northborough, Massachusetts, there is a bridge across the Assabet River that took me a bit to figure out what its function is.
Take a look at this image from 2009…
Wachusett Aqueduct
I walked to see the bridge from a different angle to realize that this indeed is an aqueduct; it was constructed around the beginning of the 20th century. Water is carried from the Wachusett Reservoir in Clinton for 9 miles through a combination of hard rock tunnel and underground aqueduct to a water treatment plant in Marlborough. This aqueduct carried 300 million US gallons of water each day until the 1960s. In 1965, a new tunnel (Cosgrove Tunnel) replaced it, and the old aqueduct still serves a backup role, in case the tunnel becomes unavailable.
Part of what attracts me to this site is the sense of another time that this arched aqueduct provides; it’s a reminder of times much earlier, such as we might get from Roman aqueducts. It gives that sense of permanence that not all of humanity’s structures have.
Two perspectives of a plant: one in color, showcasing its vibrant filaments and leaves, and another in black and white to emphasize its structure. Which do you prefer?
A quick snapshot for today from a visit to New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill in nearby Boylston, Massachusetts; this is always a great location to visit to experience the calm surroundings and lovely flora that is managed so expertly by the staff. Visiting always provides me with new source material, as the colors, shapes and environment are inspiring.
Today’s shot is a slightly different perspective from the usual…
Radial Entanglement (Color)
The interweaving of the whitish filaments with the leaves radiating out from the center caught my eye. It would have been interesting to shoot this with greater depth of field (iPhone 14 didn’t have that possibility yet). As I was looking at this image, I also took a look at it from just a structural perspective…
Radial Entanglement (B&W)
The black & white treatment provides more focus on the pure structure of the plant. I’m not sure which one I prefer yet. What are your thoughts?
A step back in time to 2015, when I visited the magnificent Godafoss on a sunny day.
Thus far, I have visited Iceland three times (I’m not counting the short times at Keflavik airport when I had a connecting flight there), and I am confident that there will be more visits in the future. Iceland is simply a photography paradise with so much to offer that I cannot see myself ever getting to the point where I will experience a lack of subject matter there.
Today’s image is from my trip there in 2015, when I spent a short number of days in the Akureyri area and thoroughly enjoyed the beauty that the landscape offered…
Godafoss
One of the mighty waterfalls in Iceland is Godafoss; this waterfall of the chieftain is not the largest or tallest, but does present a truly impressive sight when one clambers down to the side of the river to observe it up close. On this occasion I was lucky enough to catch the falls on a sunny day to create this spectacular vista.
Last week’s Travel Tuesday might have been a bit tricky, even with a sign is written in Hebrew (it was rather small). It was a photograph taken at the Apollonia National Park in Israel just north of Herzliya. The park contains a 13th century fortress, roman villa and a 13th century mosque. Even on a hot day, it’s a wonderful place to explore, as long as you bring some water!
For today’s location, let’s find something a bit more straightforward…
Gorgeous Hills
This shot from almost 10 years ago reminds me that I wouldn’t mind retiring here, as I’d never be wanting for landscape to photograph.
Welcome to the 213th round up of the Tuesday Photo Challenge!
Your views of tomorrow provided a wonderful spectrum of our hopes and dreams, as well as a dose of reality that has framed us in this pandemic. As an optimist, I very much connect to your hopes and dreams, and, as a connector, I want to bring each of you along on that vision of a better tomorrow. We may struggle through these times, but our spirit shall not be doused, as we come through all this stronger, more experienced and a bit wiser.
Thank you for a wonderful set of entries that have made me smile, caused me to think and more than anything allowed me to appreciate the wonderful place in the universe, where I find myself: connected to you!
Let’s unfold our tomorrows…
Unfolding Spacetime
Translucence and natural structures always intrigue me, which made this stunning leaf an easy choice for a subject; what struck me is that it also gave me a sense of the phoenix, rising out of nothing into beauty.
Please enjoy the following blog posts:
Nicole kicks off this theme’s responses with a wonderful photo in her post in Une Photo, Un Poéme; the catkins give us hope for a wonderful tomorrow!
Diane gives us views of tomorrow in her post in pensivity101, which all of us will enjoy, as much as we love our favorite places.
Debbie shares lovely paths in her post in Travel with Intent, which I, for one, look forward to traversing!
Hammad takes us on the wings of birds in his post in the Blog of Hammad Rais; these wings take us into the future, not knowing what lies ahead tomorrow. Great post!
Teresa has a clear vision of what she wants in her tomorrow, as we can see in her post in My Camera & I; may that hug be in the near future!
Carol gives us a lovely view of tomorrow in her post in Light Words; in few tomorrows those will be even lovelier!
Indira looks forward to the days of mask-free life in her post in Sharing Thoughts, and rediscovering what we used to take for granted!
Sheetal has acquired a new skill that she shares in her post in Sheetalbravon; you should go check what it is, as it can come in handy!
In a lovely post in the blog Sound Mind Journey, we are treated to a haiku that embodies the spirit of tomorrow!
Ken is looking for a live audience in his tomorrows in his post in Pictures without Film; of course, this thought of tomorrow leads to the next theme…
Brian’s photos of tomorrow are filled with hope and future songs in his post in Bushboys World; although, I’ve never figured out what age is too old for rock’n’roll!
The blog Land of Images is a treasure trove of photography, and the view of tomorrow that is shared is stunning!
Xenia has a wonderful view of tomorrow in words and images in her post in Tranature, which makes us want to see it even sooner! Continuing the story in Whippetwisdom, we enjoy the fun had by Eivor and Pearl, as they cherish each moment in their playground!
The images in the post for this theme in A Day in the Life are just stunning, as I can see myself sitting back and taking in the view, while anticipating what tomorrow might bring.
I’d like to encourage each of you to not only look at this week’s entry in Don’t Hold Your Breath, but also take the time to read about what is important for our tomorrows! Wonderful post!
Sandy fills us with hope in her post in Out of my Write Mind, as the Sun will come out and we have much to look forward to!
I expect that many among us have similar anticipations for tomorrow to those expressed in Don’t Forget the Half; lovely post and great destinations!
Amy gives us a deeper sense of the sacrifices that have been made for our tomorrows in her post in Photography Journal Blog vol. 2; great image and post!
David brings us along for his tomorrow, as he uses that day for a walk around the neighborhood. We get to see his wonderful captures from that walk in his post in David M’s Photoblog.
Maria visualizes a future, in which people come together in workplaces in her post in Kamerapromenader; I, too, miss the human interaction of our work environments!
Great thoughts are found in another wonderful post in Sgeoil, as the seeds of today are the flowers of tomorrow.
Rupali’s post in the lovely blog Mazeepuran touches deeply on the importance of embracing our present, as we reach for tomorrow.
Khürt manages to reach deep within himself and share the aspect of our becoming an automaton in the pandemic, with a fantastic post in Island in the Net; let’s continue to work toward the shared photowalk, and that pint after work! We shall overcome!
Please let all these wonderful authors know how much you enjoy their blog posts!
