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I’ve noticed that one of the things that I tend to do while I travel is to snap photos for no good reason. Usually, I am on a tour bus or casually walking along a city street when I decide to immortalize my surroundings by capturing random scenes through my camera lens.
It doesn’t have to be something massive or particularly significant; I’m usually moved to do so because of how I am feeling at the moment. I’m usually overwhelmed by the people, a particular circumstance, an unusual building….something that captures my attention that compels me to document it.
Of course, those pictures usually turn out to be a blurry mess and sometimes in rarer moments, they become unforgettable treasures. I decided to share a few with you dear reader in the hopes that you could appreciate the method to my madness: “Sometimes the best photos are the unplanned ones”.
Beautiful art figures from the First Nations People at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver.
The Unclaimed Baggage Center is one of my favorite places to shop. It’s located in the small town of Scottsboro, Alabama and is where a large percentage of lost luggage and its contents end up. I get the best deals here but it’s a four-hour drive so I can’t go as often as I would like.
We took a cruise down the canals of Amsterdam and came across this overturned boat. There were lots of boats docked along the canals so it’s an important form of transportation. We wondered why the owners hadn’t noticed that they were about to lose it. Judging from the algae that had begun to form on the other side, it had to have been like that for a while.
I happened to see a Friar walking across the street as we were leaving a church in downtown, Lima, Peru. I wanted to wave but thought it would prove to be awkward.
This entryway of Elk antlers at the George Washington Memorial park in Jackson Hole, Wyoming certainly makes a statement. I spotted the second set at the exit. I was a little surprised to see so many antlers being used as decorative accouterments.
Another photo from Lima, Peru on the same day. We happened upon this religious procession honoring the 50th anniversary of the canonization of St. Martin de Porres (1579-1639). He was canonized in Rome by Pope John XXIII, on May 6, 1962. We were honored to have witnessed that historic and solemn procession.
I’ve commented on this before, but it’s still memorable. We were visiting Miami in prep for our cruise the next day. I was visiting the Vizcaya Museum and happened upon this young lady being photographed for her Quinceanera. Her proud mother stood beaming on the sidelines taking it all in.
I do the same thing you do only usually it’s on my phone which is going to tell me I have too many photos soon, I suspect. Sometimes they come out better than the ones taken with the camera. I find that I like to take pictures of things I find odd (sort of like that house on the mountain). Here’s the link to my “Huh?” photos from a recent trip to Hawaii:
http://www.boomeresque.com/what-the-hawaii-edition/
Usually the images that make me do a double-take and take a photo are the creative ways buskers dress up to draw attention and get tourists to pay for photos with them. In Barcelona, one guy was dressed elaborately as some hellish winged bat-man type creature (as opposed to Batman), in Madrid, a guy was dressed as the invisible man (literally, a hat and no visible head–very creative). Sometimes, I’ll see murals on buildings that almost look like they’re real of women leaning out of windows or something. Clever things like that always catch my eye. The worst part is when I see something and I don’t have my camera out and the moment passes too quickly to get a photo of it. Ah, missed opportunities.
I saw the same in Rome with the soldiers at the Coliseum…..I was not amused by them at all. Mostly because they would come up to you to allow you to take pics then ask you to give them money for their trouble. HA! I love being able to capture split second events as opposed to those buskers but as you said, it’s a matter of being able to get the shot in time.
Oh I love the Paris subway stations! Arts et Metiers is my favorite. Very steampunk.
And there were SO MANY girls having their photos taken at Vizcaya when I was there! Like it seemed like that was what the grounds were FOR. They were EVERYWHERE!
I’m glad that I’m not alone in my love for subway stations! I think I know the one that you are talking about….are the walls copper? I adore that one too! Vizcaya is a beautiful setting so I understand if everyone wants to be ‘featured’ there.
You caught some pretty cool pictures, Renee! I love to go back through old pictures and relive the moments. There are so many times when I’m reminded of fun memories that I hadn’t thought about in a while. I do find themes when going through my photos – I capture lots of flowers and me kissing on various inanimate objects! LOL!
Hi renee
Your comment in Rome by the colliseum. I had the exact same experience was the one slightly annoying experience during a great couple of days seeing some great ancient architecture. One thing that struck me in Rome was the driving of the Italians mad is an under statement most cars seemed to have dents or scratches.
Great pictures lee
These are all terrific shots, Renee! I love candid photos too.
Thanks, Mike!
Love the subway shot.. just a great pic. Quite a diverse set of images overall. Someone’s been busy!
The over turned boat in Amsterdam had a really bad day apparently, how ever great write up pictures thumbs up!