Saturday, October 10, 2009

Bird's Eye View

When we flew out of Portland to go East a couple weeks ago, I was sitting by the window and looked down as the plane flew over Sauvie Island. Below me was the corn maze, it's pattern perfectly clear. I scrambled for my camera, but were well past the shot by the time I had it wrestled out of my backpack. But now that my camera was out I was prepared as we flew past Mt. Hood.

I am always fascinated with the views out of airplane windows. So often you are above clouds so all you see is white, but on this clear day, we could see the ground for much of the flight.

The theme for the next High Fiber Diet show is Bird's Eye View so I am thinking there may be some inspiration in some of the photos I took.

The squares and circles created by irrigation systems on farms is such a natural for abstract design. The clouds and their shadows on the ground add another element.

This is the Mississippi River.

The natural colors are subtle and interesting, but I begin to see even more possibility when I change the colors.

13 comments:

  1. Mt. Hood really lost snow pack this year! I always love the gridded pattern of farm land when you fly over mid-America.

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  2. I always love flying back home after a trip back east (aka Missouri) and flying over the Rocky Mountains. The Tocky Mountain Range is so HUGE and unmistakable! It is a comforting sight to see after weeks of flatland!

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  3. Terry-I read your blog often and I enjoyed this particular post about the aerial shots that you took. I did a piece earlier this year that uses this same kind of inspiration and just wanted to share:)

    http://libbyfife-artquilts.blogspot.com/2009/05/earth-day-2009.html

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  4. I shall remember to keep my camera handy on my forthcoming flights!

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  5. Brenda4:21 PM

    Lucky you that you had your camera to photograph Mt. Hood. I saw it last week as I flew from SeaTac to SLC - we were VERY close. The Londoner I was seated next to had one word to describe the mountain, "stunning". It was.

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  6. My favorite bird's eye view from an airplane was flying out of Sicily over Rome with tiny baby Claire in my lap. I could make out exactly the path we'd walked and I was so thankful and amazed at the experiences I'd had. Gosh, I'm tearing up just thinking about it.

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  7. Photos taken while flying from Portland to the Tri-Cities in western Washington State were the inspiration for my quilt Crop Circles.

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  8. If you ever fly home to Pocatello in the winter, you will go over the lavas between Idaho Falls and Pocatello. They are spectacular in the snow, looking like waves crossing the ocean.

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  9. Stunning! I'm flying to Boise next month...I'm taking my camera out!

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  10. Susan LT4:51 AM

    This is a great blog. I love getting a different perspective on things known well. Your pix are super...can't wait to see how these concepts end up in your art.

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  11. Anonymous11:04 AM

    Yup, those patterns are delicious, and just right for us quilters!

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  12. Never tire of seeing pictures of Mt. Hood.

    In my many flights across the country I can't remember seeing the Mississippi as you captured it.

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  13. Anonymous2:21 PM

    Love your pictures--lucky you--no smog! We noticed when we were getting apples in Hood River that Mt. Hood has snow on it once again.
    Beth

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