Weekly Photo Challenge: Contrast
This week I was so excited to be back in London, if only for two days. How to squeeze the most out of such a brief visit when we spent so much time getting there, another chunk spent leaving? Travel, it eats time. Plus, I wasn’t particularly interested in seeing the sights. I wanted to see family and friends. I wanted to turn the clock back and drop in and see old neighbours, walk the old streets and embrace the sites familiar to me.
Alas, such was not to be. We made plans, we changed plans. During this brief time, staying in the London Bridge area, I found myself walking the streets of London in a New York state of mind, comparing and contrasting these two wonderful cities which make up my New York-London daze.
Here or there, New York or London? This is a question I am often asked. I no longer ask it of myself if only because it implies a choice I do not have. It is what it is and we are we are.
Good days, bad days, they come and they go, wherever we happen to be!
For more contrasting views, visit http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2012/03/09/weekly-photo-challenge-contrast/
London looks great. Nice contrast.
Patti would you consider hosting a Flat Ruthie for a photographic adventure?
Check out http://cardboardmetravels.com
Safe travels
Ruth in Pittsburgh
Ruth, thank you so much for your comment and your request which I would love to do! Will check out the details!
Your contrast of fire and ice is simply breathtaking!
It’s nice to go home but I have found in the past that the anticipation rarely matches the reality when you finally get there. I’m a Glasgow boy but I left there when I was 17. Many years later I went back to my home city and much had changed. Whilst I was home I often found myself making comparisons between my then adopted city, Berlin, and home. Instinctively I knew where I wanted to be. It’s nice to meet up with family but I couldn’t wait to get back on that plane.
Which all leads back to that other old chestnut of a question about where are you from? Or where is home – the one you left, however many years ago, or the one you are in at the moment? Trust you are settled and contented where you are now Mike!
Thoroughly enjoyed this post AND your submissions. How wonderful to have lived in both places. You never know where life takes you and where you will end up. Cheeri-O my friend!
So sweet of you to say, thank you Margie! Life is certainly full of surprises!
Just stunning shots. A short visit is better than none. (Today is trite feedback day, I guess.) I’m just glad you were able to find the time to take the photos.
Laughing at your trite feedback moment! I’m just glad you enjoyed and took the time to comment, you always brighten up life in the daze!
Each frame has evoked a different ambience of London. Very clever Ms Kuche! Subtle observation is definitely your forte…
Zita, it is very kind of you to suggest subtle observation when the truth is I felt I was in more of a slight coma!
Lovely to hear from you, thank you!!!
You could almost have said London – All Change… So many new buildings appearing and yet so many old ones that cling on. Hope you had a great time during your short return to London 🙂
Gosh, isn’t that the case – so much change. And this in a recession! Thank you Martin, it was lovely being back and certainly hope to make it longer next time!
Great photies, nice post.
“We cannot change the cards we were dealt, just how we play the hand.” – Randy Pausch
Well, I just have to say thank you to you Gaynor and to the wisdom of the wonderful Randy Pausch.
These photos are terrific. High and low – old and new : is perfect for the challenge.
The new building looks like it wants to show the little building how bold it is.
Very nice,
Isadora
Thank you Isadora! I was almost going to let this challenge go by because I was a little too pre-occupied with the contrast between here and there, rather than the photographic fact of contrast which you nailed so well with your beautiful rose. Hope this makes sense!
Beautiful photos Patti! Love the middle one. Glad you got to visit your hometown… even if it was only for two days.
The London Bridge area is such a hodge podge of old, new and everything in between – the good, the bad and the ugly! Thank you as always for your lovely thoughts Theresa!
Beautiful pictures—-completely agree with you. We are also humans no matter where we go.
Wherever we are we still need to work on that daily dilemma – what to cook for dinner tonight? Lovely to hear from you and looking fwd to more of your wonderful adventures from Egypt and beyond. Great fun!
You blend this picture very well Patti , Now It`s perfect for the Theme of the week Contrast beautiful post 🙂
Thank you Jake, very sweet of you to say and always appreciated!
I really like these, Ms. K…
I’ve always wanted to visit London… and now I feel like I’ve got a little sneak-peak of what it might like to actually be there! Very cool!
🙂
Not sure that the London Tourist Board would appreciate these shots but, whatever it takes to get you there . . . am sure you would love it and do hope you get to visit London soon! Maybe you might get an exhibition over there one day!
Now THAT is a pleasant thought!
Can’t hurt to dream, right?!
🙂
You keep us posted now, won’t you!
The light and dark photo is absolutely fantastic. Are you inside of an apartment?
Thank you Andy! Considering the amount of time I spent inside this coffee shop in the Borough Market it almost began to feel like home!
Wonderful contrast photos. The third one is my favor ite because of the beautiful architecture it shows. (Always a sucker for that stuff).
http://withoutthew.wordpress.com/2012/03/13/weekly-photo-challenge-contrast/
Oh my goodness, the area has so much wonderful architecture tucked away – not bombed, not pulled down, and it is always exciting to be part of it when it remains true to purpose. So pleased you enjoyed, thank you Beebles!
Wherever you are, you bring inspiration with you. Beautiful imgaes of London. It takes an artist eye with a passion for beauty to create something this amazing. Thanks for sharing the fun and enjoyable images of your trip. Have a great day.
Seriously IT, I don’t know what to say . . . thank you SO much for this most generous comment and all best to you!
I love the third one a lot… Because I know there’s bountiful of food and very good food around Borough Market to be had. 🙂
I hope to get back there soon to see the market in all its food glory otherwise content to know you are enjoying this fabulous place!
How about New York AND London, the latter in memory and short takes —
Contrasts here are inspired AND great to look at. Special resonances for me with high and low, old and new.
I started this blog in an attempt to compare and contrast the two cities, or to beam back to the world outside the US glimpses of life in the US but I think I have been side-tracked several miles down the blogging track. Plus, I saw potential madness in the process of compare and contrast and have just had to accept both, New York and London, for what they are, then and now. And in going back to London it was interesting to note the changing landscape of memory!
Enjoying your resonances of contrast!
“the changing landscape of memory” —-
If ever true word was spoken!!!!
I had to come back to these because i couldn’t decide…no decide isn’t the right word…but there is something so gripping about that last photo…I don’t know exactly what it is…thought if I went away and thought about it I would be able to tell you but I can’t…it just is mezmerising
Thank you Jo! How many times have we sat in coffee shops, stuck on the inside looking out to who knows where . . .lost in thoughts and mesmerising daydreams? Which are all so much a part of our “not knowing exactly” what anything is?
Great post with some stunning photographs. Loved everything about this post. Great job.
Arindam, thank you so much for your company!
Lovely contrasting pictures. Thank you Patti for the share 🙂
Thank you Madman, always happy to share!
greetings by
http://flickrcomments.wordpress.com/2012/03/09/weekly-photo-challenge-contrast/
Good morning Frizz and thank you!
love the angle of these photos. all around enjoyed the snippet of London. It is what it is and I are I are.
and we are where we are, wherever that is! As for the sunset views from your kitchen sink – spectacular!