November 30, 2007
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Weekly Photo Challenge, “Alien”
the subject from Gitarezan is:
”Alien”
Suggested by: GitarezanSome of these challenge are designed to make the challanged do a lot of thinking. I had a time deciding if I had anything worthwhile I could submit as an entry.
Alien DEFINITION includes: Dissimilar, inconsistent, or opposed, as in nature. This definition led me to photos I have taken of automated or motorized, mechanical invention, “the Good, the Bad and the Ugly”.
Some of My Photos
This photo is indicative of the trucking business in the United States. “Alien” to the natural world some highways are filled with tractor trailer rigs at any hour of the day. Our huge road system and the trucking business provides millions of jobs and has helped improve lives but the fact remains the total industry plus other industries polluting the environment make them a destructive “Alien” force.
Searching the internet I discovered engines date back to the 1700′s Serious industry for Autos reaches back to the 1800′s, SEE HERE. The Automobile was the real beginning of “ALIEN” invasion. My car in the photo probably dates into the 1930′s. I’ll change this if I can date it.
The whole world went auto transport crazy and industry seeing huge profits designed two wheel, four wheel, and many wheel rides all powered with pollution causing petrol/gasoline an “ALIEN” addition to the air we breathe. The amount of pollution has increased equal to the ratio of the manufacture of cars.
This huge bus transport can carry a large number of people plus their luggage and they crisscross our country but the desire for private automobiles has lessened their use.
Ecologists argue and scream for cleaner burning smaller engines which makes sense for a cleaner environment. The auto industry has played games for years and will continue, I think, until they drain every penny from us for our gas guzzling “ALIEN” monsters, big or small.
Trains were at one time the movers of about anything anyone in the country needed from food to furniture to cars meant for private ownership. Most of what trains used to carry are now carried by truckers on the highways.
There is still a tremendous amount of romance in trains. The bygone era should come back and get some of the cars and trucks off the road.
River and ocean going vessels also carry goods around the world. They are also responsible for oil spills and scum and garbage thrown overboard in vast quantities into the waters making them again, “ALIENS” to the natural world and highly destructive. Totally unnerving, the complete opposites of good and bad for the world.
There was a time people became adept at the finer arts for their own entertainment. Parties were filled with parlour games, poetry, stories, song and dance and violin quartets. The invention of the radio, television, computers, game boxes, and cellphones capable of everything listed plus photographic abilities has changed not only our environment but the health of the users who are much more sedentary than ever before in the history of man. “Alien’s” at work all around us and we have ignored the destructive implications for much too long. What staggers my mind is thinking about the numbers of units finally trashed as totally out of date or unusable to be replaced by newer units that will again be trashed. We could probably build “ALIEN” mountains made of them.
A single plane in view but how many don’t we see. The numbers are astounding. They are used for vacation and business travel, war, and shipping of goods. To see them takes my breath away but it doesn’t diminish the fact they help pollute in all ways “ALIEN” to the natural world.
The single glimmer of hope dating from its longest use (I know of) in Holland, the windmill. Windmills are one of the smartest industrial monsters on the landscape. Why has it taken so long for it’s widespread use? California has been using the windmill for quite some time but it’s a newer image in the landscape in the balance of our country. This windfarm is in Illinois and this is the first year I have managed any decent photos of them though I have tried before. For me, they are the most welcome “ALIEN” on the scene in many a decade. Searching the Internet another article at Wikipedia per windmills (CLICK HERE). It dates their use back to IRAN, 7th century. The Wikipedia article is VERY INTERESTING and I have learned a lot reading it. More on Windpower (CLICK HERE) and how it provides jobs, incomes, and energy.
This isn’t the best photo as the day was again, overcast and dark when we got to the area but, it’s one of the best photos I have ever taken from the windfarm. NOTICE: at the base, a crane and below the crane, a tractor trailer. That should give a rough idea how huge the windmills are. Amazing and a Godsend for gathering the non polluting winds for the huge amount of power needed to operate everything from homes to business here in the United States. For a better view of the friendly “ALIEN”, CLICK HERE.
ONE MORE THING: On doing a lot of research on the Internet per Windpower I have discovered a lot of controversy per Good/Bad, acceptance, non acceptance of windpower. There are huge success stories around the globe. These success stories indicate to me windpower is a positive and reliable source of needed energy. I believe we have to begin somewhere and as the wind is a non pollutant unless it carries the pollution from other “Alien” sources my deduction is, wind power is a source for the provision of good clean energy for the world. I suppose only time will tell if my head is on straight in my thinking.
A Wikipedia link with information per the transportation system in the United States (CLICK HERE). Another about our roads, (CLICK HERE). AND from the great state of TENNESSEE, some frequently asked questions per the interstates (CLICK HERE).
Keep on taking those photos,
Comments (22)
Your photo’s gave lots of food for thought…I am still trying to think what to do for this challenge…
What a very interesting take on the subject. Cool!
I love your interpretation of this week’s challenge! The photo of the cargo boat is spectacular.
Good job!
My, oh, my you did put some thought and energy into this one. I probably don’t have enough imagination to do this week’s challenge but you certainly did a great job.
I like your interpretation of the topic. Your photos of the military planes reminds me of the goosebumps I get whenever there is a flyover.
RYC about the image to put on the ceiling: Thanks! I can remember being in a dentist’s office and them having beautiful scenes on the ceiling for the patient to see.
Becca you never cease to surprise me. This is an education in itself as well as an exercise in making photos presentable and pleasant to look at. I admire your interpretation of the challenge and your resilience in carrying it out to completion. Really I would not know where to start on a challenge such as this.
great ideas for the alien challenge.. some very thought provoking things indeed!
wonderful!!!
wow! you really thought it all out!
This is a thought provoking post. I think the windmills are awesome and I’d like to see more over here but there’s a lot of NIMBYs (Not In My Back Yard) around and we don’t have as much open space – certainly here in the South anyway. There’s a small industrial estate on the fringes of Reading that has one to supplement its power usage.
Interesting. I’ve often thought that the Industrial Revolution was the worst thing to happen to the planet so far, impractical as it may be, give me a horse and cart for transport! Maybe I should join the Amish?
I looked back at your wild flowers entry too, what struck me was the fresh greenness (again)…I could almost smell it!
It does appear that you put quite a bit of thought and energy into this post, shaping the topic to cover something important to you. With a topic like “alien,” it will be interesting to see what people manage to come up with, as one almost needs to look to non-literal and alter definitions of the word in order to capture it on film, unless one is blessed by actual visits of Martians or others.
When first hitting the page, I thought your jet was perfect for the topic. I didn’t realize you had so much more! I do like the jet, but the windfarm, the first photo, is also very good. Very nicely done.
thanks for the comment on my alien photo! i agree I think they definetely have a fascination with neon!
Now that’s a photo blog! I couldn’t agree more. It’s easy to feel like a stranger in a strange land.
Yes, looking at things we all take for granted that are really alien to the world , great post, you have made us all think about it.
A wonderful and thought provoking post.
Food for thought … and interesting photos.
“Making the familiar new” – it is what art is all about, isn’t it? You take the objects we pass “every day” – the “standard stuff” – the things so common they become unseen landscape – and you force us to see them as the incredible things they are. Anyway, yes I saw, but I needed to come back to say it.
Nice stuff!! Thanks for reminding us of the challenge. We were so sick that this kinda slipped our minds. CN
I thought we were being invaded at first glance. Great photos.