Month: May 2014

Flight drama film by Robert Zemeckis, and my own dramas

airport

Right now I am recovering from jetlag.

I love traveling and don’t mind airports; the airplanes are not my favorites, but they haven’t done me any harm so far, and it is enough to ask for. I have got two close calls though.

In 1979 I visited a friend who used to work on a tiny island north of the Arctic Circle. On my way home, very tired, I fell asleep without buckling up my safety belt. I woke up from a sharp pain in my leg, and when I opened my eyes I saw the cockpit door upside down. The airplane was spinning! I was in the first row, and I heard people behind me scream, and it was so surreal – that door, the screams and me flapping around ( I didn’t realize my leg stuck somehow between the seats, which perhaps saved my life).  I just remember the only thought that came into my mind : how high we are? I don’t know how long it all lasted, probably just a few seconds. The airplane straightened up and started to regain altitude. The crew members didn’t explain us anything about the incident, but when we landed in an hour the place was all lit by the fire trucks and ambulances flashing lights. Some passengers were injured.

Since then I read everything I find about the plane crashes and incidents in the air. That strange spinning of the aircraft during its nosediving has never left my mind. Perhaps I found my answers when watching the movie Flight by Robert Zemeckis. Great movie, by the way.

Another close call was an aborted take off. We were said that one of the doors was not locked properly. Well, to be precise, it was not even closed.

There are a few pictures from the airports. I love Chicago O’Hare for its artistic air.

airport

airport

airport

airport

Photography tip of the day: Posed photos are great; candid photos are stunning.

inesemj_photographyHave a wonderful weekend!

 

The Living Planet Aquarium

Living Planet Aquarium

Humans are fascinated with water and water creatures. Growing up on a lake in 1960-s is my favorite memory; it certainly influenced my choice of academic studies and my life in general.

Right now I am on holidays and we are doing a bit of traveling around. This Wednesday we went to the aquarium. They say there are 2,484 animals on display which I cannot exactly confirm, but there are lots of things to see, and the place is something that you will enjoy visiting.

a013aqresized

Living Planet Aquarium

These three pictures from Antarctic Adventures exhibition.

Living Planet Aquarium

Living Planet Aquarium

Living Planet Aquarium

Shark Tunnel. Sharks and many more creatures.

Living Planet Aquarium

Rescued Green turtle.

Living Planet Aquarium

Living Planet Aquarium

Living Planet Aquarium

Living Planet Aquarium

Living Planet Aquarium

Aquarium photography tip: Good advice from Nikon professionals.

inesemj_photographyHave a great weekend!

 

Cultural phenomenon of yard sales

yard sale

Being on holidays in America gives me a chance to share some thoughts about my experience with the cultural phenomenon of yard sales. I asked permission to take some photos of the goods for illustration, and bought a few bits and pieces myself. Not that it is my first experience with yard sales: I got a brand new Michelin map of Ireland for 25 cents a few years ago at one…

 

yard sale

yard sale

For those who live outside the USA, here is an extract from a Wikipedia article.

"A garage sale (also known as an attic sale, garbage sale, junk sale, lawn sale, moving sale, patio sale, rummage sale, tag sale, thrift sale, or yard sale) is an informal, irregularly scheduled event for the sale of used goods by private individuals, in which sellers are not required to obtain business licenses or collect sales tax...
Typically the goods in a garage sale are unwanted items from the household with the home owners conducting the sale. The goods are sometimes new, like-new, or just usable. Some of these items are offered for sale because the owner does not want or need the item to minimize their possessions or to raise funds. Popular motivations for a garage sale are "spring cleaning", moving, or earn extra money."

This soulless description won’t give you any idea as to why the yard sale culture beats eBay and Craigslist. A good few books have been written on the subject, which include social studies of yard sales, stories and tips. Selling, buying, collecting, refurbishing, reselling… For many this has become a way of life (Bargain Hunters and Yard Sale Queens are some characters!) Yard sale culture is complex and fascinating, full of resourceful spirit, joyful discoveries and unique experiences for both the buyers and the sellers.

yard sale

yard sale

yard sale

I can see myself easily hooked, but going to yard sales once a year only gives me a glimpse of the magic. I can also see a prudent, environmentalist attitude resulting from the yard sale culture. People accumulate things, buy more materials than they use, get unwanted gifts, change their hobbies, etc.  However, when bought by another person this stuff won’t become litter, it won’t contaminate the Earth, it will have another life, and may be even one more… And it doesn’t matter if that is a tiny souvenir or a huge piece of furniture.

yard sale

yard sale

yard sale

If you are lucky you might find a treasure. Like this photograph of Charlie Chaplin with his autograph…

yard sale

Picking through other people’s stuff is like going through their lives. A yard sale says lots about people’s lives. Both, the buyers and the sellers.

inesemj_photographyHave a great day!