Friday, December 31, 2010

Time Travel


Someone once told me that human beings are the only animals that time travel. We move forward and backward in time unceasingly in our heads. Dwelling on the past or dreaming of the future, we barely glimpse the present moment.

This time of year is big for time travel. Reviewing our accomplishments of 2010, we are astonished that another year has passed. We look to 2011 as if it is something shiny and new, a package waiting to be unwrapped. Really, 2011 will be another collection of moments, strung together in time, just like 2010 has been. There is nothing special about these days at the end of one year and the beginning of the next, they are only numbers on paper. A way to mark time.

Where have you been time traveling these last few days? What have you seen in your past and your future? I hope for today you spend some time celebrating the present moment. Because that's all we really have, when you get down to it. Our ability to time travel is just an illusion.

Today's 9 Muses Musing prompt is CELEBRATE. Tomorrow's prompt wraps up 9 Muses Musing with RESOLUTION. See you then!

Photographic PS - The "time travel" image above was created by setting my camera to a 1 second exposure, and then zooming from max to min focal length during the exposure. You can see it was handheld because of the wiggly lines, if I had been using a tripod they would be straight. I got this idea from my friend Barbara's post on lights, but when experimenting I found I really liked the effect with people. Below is a normal shot of the same place, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan. Which do you like better?

13 comments:

  1. Really neat effect...had never thought of this idea much myself. I do like the "zoominess" of the "timetraveler" image.
    No big celebrations ~ just quite time with dinner and movies with the younger kids at home tonight while the oldest works and delivers pizzas ;-)
    Wishing you and your family a very Happy New Year!

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  2. Both have their merits, being the true Gemini I am my favorite would change depending on the day!

    Your post today reminds of the John Lennon quote "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."

    Happy New Year!

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  3. Beautiful effect you created here.
    I will celebrate with loads of good food and my wild party pets ;) the dogs...
    Happy New Year! Big hugs!

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  4. Ah, the second sings to my present state of being. Living in the Moment is paramount for me, 99% of the time and that is not our natural human default. I know people who live mostly in the past and those who prefer to think only ahead because the Moment is too much. I imagine some days it might be, but not a good way to live. It's like living one's life in Shutter Priority, extreme. FAB post Miss K!. Happy New Year, my friend and see you next year, loving saying that!

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  5. I definitely prefer the one below. I'm doing too much time travelling in my mind at the moment and desperately need to be in the moment. But life seems to be leading me by the nose at the moment.

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  6. what great shots, love what you have done here. We are having a very quiet new year, hope you have a lovely evening.

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  7. The top photo is much more interesting I think. I like your thoughts about time traveling. We humans do kind of get stuck in the forward and backward looking modes. Because it's the end of a decade I've been hearing recaps of the past ten years so I've been thinking about that as well. What a lot has changed since 2000.

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  8. Love the first image. So very creative. All the best to you and yours in the coming new year!

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  9. Kat, great post and as usual very perceptive! To enjoy and appreciate the present is the best way to live, as time is just a continous spiraling circle - our year's beginning and end being arbitrary dates. Love your photos! Thanks for sharing, both through your blog and at Mortal Muses. Happy present moment to you and your family!

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  10. I love playing with stuff like this when I shoot! Yours is beautiful...and so true about the time traveling!
    http://www.thewayiseeitthroughmylens.blogspot.com

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  11. I always do a lot of "time traveling" backward and forward at New Years. ;)

    The forst shot almost makes me dizzy--hehe!

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  12. Great foto!!! Thanks so much for the beautiful foto of the potted geranium plant....lovely. I will frame it and add it to my studio wall for all to admire. Happy New Year!!!

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  13. Beautiful! Happy New Year to you :)

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