Saturday, January 29, 2011

Thematic Photographic 132: Curves

This week's idea to play with is curves (check Carmi's site for more info).

 

This was taken on the same outing as last week's blue leaning 
man, and marks the marina/yacht club premises. I've always
liked the shapes of propellor blades.


I've posted this before - it's a wind wand by kinetic artist
Len Lye, on the foreshore in New Plymouth. It bends and 
moves in the wind - of which there is plenty in
this small city on the west coast of New Zealand.


The curving banks of the Whanganui River, taken from the 
old steamer which carries visitors on this waterway. 

In Māori legend, the Whanganui River was formed when Mt Taranaki who had lived peacefully in the centre of New Zealand's North Island with three other volcanoes, Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu, courted the gorgeous Mt Pihanga.
A mighty battle broke out between him and Tongariro. The earth shook and the sky became dark as the mountains belched forth their anger. When the battle ended, Pihanga stood close by Tongariro's side. Taranaki, wild with grief and jealousy, wrenched himself from the ground and plunged towards the setting sun, gouging out a deep wide trench.The next day a stream of clear water sprang from the side of Tongariro, flowing down the deep scar Taranaki had left on his journey to the coast, and formed the Whanganui River.

7 comments:

  1. What an interesting story (the earth shook and the sky became dark as the mountains belched forth their anger) so lovely and thank goodness for Taranaki and the making of the Whanganui River! Great curve photos, and of course the propellors blades are awesome because they attach to beautiful boats that travel lovely bodies of water....I especially enjoy the beauty of the Whanganui River and the peace that offers even by photo!

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  2. As always, beautiful pictures. Great story too. I really liked the wind wand, but I don't think it would do much at my house where the most wind I get is from the cars driving past at 60 MPH.

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  3. Love that top one!

    I REALLY want to visit NZ. Even if I do have to visit in the winter.

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  4. Add me to the list of wannabe-visitors. You have the coolest landscapes, the coolest sculptures and, in you, the coolest people.

    I'm glad you shared the propeller photo, because they have always intrigued me. I imagine them being at the center of some epic journey, the one piece of equipment that lies between safe arrival and...not. Your pictures by the water evoke such a sense of wonder.

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  5. Karen and Carmi- I know what you mean - the sight of a propellor immediately evokes ideas of sea journeys and adventure... and I especially love wide rivers. Thanks for the comments!

    Max - it's rare for it to be still enough to take a decent photo! Verrry windy part of the world down there. It's all the hot air blowing across the Tasman Sea from Australia ;)

    PBW - looks like you're going to have to do it, then! :)

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  6. love your curve pictures and story too!
    the propeller's great...and the wind wand! wow! i can picture it bending all the way over...with the top touching the earth...creating an arc. and those clouds...look like they're taking a break and resting on top of the trees! thanks!

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  7. Wonderful legend, such a violent beginnings for what looks like a haven of peace and tranquility. Gorgeous photos.

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