Hollow world

Big city, shallow people... right? Wrong.

New York means none of that to me. What it means is busy people, people trying to look busy, busy people trying to look laid back - in short, it means life as it is everywhere. We're all the same, basically. Everything else you hear is just stereotype, good for a laugh.

Take Trump, for instance - the name (and the man) stands for big buildings, big money... right? Wrong, if you ask me. If you ask me, it stands for thinking big. And it also brings something else to my mind: that big shiny hollow globe at the entrance of the Trump International Hotel near Columbus Circle in Manhattan.

Trust me, it's quite a sight!

From any angle... :)

Damn, I miss that city... the atmosphere, the hustle and bustle of the streets, the sometimes eerie peace and quiet of Central Park, the unexpected patches of green of the many small parks scattered throughout the city... and, of course, the squirrels.

 This big city? I guess it means home to me :)

What a difference a focal point makes...

This one's my favourite of the two:

I guess it reminds me of the importance of keeping an eye on the big picture without ever losing sight of the "here and now"...


And this one...

... this one I like because it shows me that one can always focus on what's ahead for a while, comforted by the fact that what's close to us right now is also there to be enjoyed and cherished...

So, if you had to vote (as in really having to vote, or else... ;) - which of these two perspectives would you vote for?

Tags: perspective, focal point, sea, blue, lighthouse, boat

A different perspective

Sometimes, all it takes is looking at everyday things in a different perspective.

There's a place in Lisbon that fills up with people during the weekend - if the sun is out, you can bet that Belém, home of the famous "Pastéis de Belém" (Portuguese Custards), is buzzing with people of all ages and walks of life. It's an amazing place by the river Tagus where people go to relax, play, romance... I've been there hundreds of times and it wasn't until recently that I found out that I had stopped noticing all the great things about it... When I looked around through my 40D's viewfinder, this is how I saw the Discoveries Monument...

... and this is how I remember the iconic Tower of Belém...

So, ask yourself this: "Which of the things I take for granted in my life haven't I been noticing properly lately?"... Then go shoot it from an unusual perspective and see how that makes you feel :)

Tags: tower, monument, Portugal, Discoveries, Lisbon, custard, travel, tourism, perspective, Canon, EOS, 40D, CarlaFrancisco