Knowing what to look for, and what the photographer saw in the photo, adds to the appreciation of the photograph. Below is a photo as we were in the Gatun locks in the Panama Canal in December 2016. What I love are the details, the woman alone on the deck observing, the very small space between the ship and the edge of the canal, the workmen looking up, the lines of the rails, the lighthouse. Each are such a small part of the photo, yet so important, even in their smallness, Each detail adds to the appreciation of this photo.
Even though it is not a “great” photo, knowing the details adds so much. Hope you appreciate the photo of this engineering feat, where people are small, and lines and shapes dominate, as viewed from a cruise ship. In the final photo I cut out the lighthouse to emphasize the smallness of the people, the lines, and include the picnic table.
These photos document the 3 locks used to raise ships 85 feet up to Gatun Lake. As we rose the lake regally came into view!
It is such an amazing mankind accomplishment, and something I enjoyed while having breakfast on a cruise ship 🙂
Crossing the Panama Canal was a major bucket item list that I was able to finally accomplish on our South America cruise in December 2016!
A great documentary is available that I would highly recommend on youtube and is well worth watching!
602 am, Lock 1 of 3 of Gatun Lock that will raise the ship 85 feet to Gatun lake. Shot from Deck 10 of the cruise ship. At the very top of the photo is the faintest indication of the lake. Note how close we are to the edge fo the lock!
623 am, Lock 2 of 3 of Gatun Lock that will raise the ship 85 feet to Gatun lake. Shot from Deck 10 of the cruise ship. At the very top of the photo is a larger indication of the lake! I love the green, the lines, the ladder.
655 am, Lock 3 of 3 of Gatun Lock that raised the ship 85 feet to Gatun lake. Shot from Deck 10 of the cruise ship. No we are at lake level! Note how close we are to the edge of the lock, and the locomotive used to pull the ship, and cruisers having breakfast.
655 am, Lock 3 of 3 of Gatun Lock that raised the ship 85 feet to Gatun lake. Shot from Deck 10 of the cruise ship. No we are at lake level! Note how close we are to the edge of the lock, and the locomotive used to pull the ship, and cruisers having breakfast.
One of the most fascinating things we saw on our South American cruise during SMU’s 2016 Christmas break was the demonstration of the making of “Panama” hats, which actually originate in Ecuador. The intricacy and craftsmanship that go into the making of these hats is amazing. I’m pleased to have recorded onto film, and edited with Lightroom, this most beautiful work. Below is information from Wikipedia dated 1/2/17.
“the traditional Ecuadorian toquilla hat was added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists on 6 December 2012. In 1904, U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt visited the construction site of the Panama Canal, and was photographed wearing a panama hat, which further increased the hats’ popularity. The best quality hats are known as Montecristis, after the town of Montecristi, where they are produced. The Montecristi Foundation has established a grading system based on a figure called the Montecristi Cuenta, calculated by measuring the horizontal and vertical rows of weave per inch. The rarest and most expensive panama hats are hand-woven with up to 3000 weaves per square inch. In February 2014, Simon Espinal, an Ecuadorian 47-year-old panama hat weaver considered to be among the best at his craft, set a world record by creating a panama hat with four thousand weaves per inch that took eight months to handcraft from beginning to end. According to popular lore, a “superfino” panama hat can hold water and, when rolled up, pass through a wedding ring.Although the panama hat continues to provide a livelihood for thousands of Ecuadorians, fewer than a dozen weavers capable of making the finest “Montecristi superfinos” remain. Production in Ecuador is dwindling, due to economic problems in Ecuador and competition from Chinese hat producers.”
Very tall statue in traffic circle in Manta Ecuador of the traditional way of making the "Panama" hat.
Removing the fibers from the Paja Toquilla straw indigenous to Ecuador that are used in the "Panama" hats.
Removing the fibers from the Paja Toquilla straw indigenous to Ecuador that are used in the "Panama" hats.
Removing the fibers from the Paja Toquilla straw indigenous to Ecuador that are used in the "Panama" hats.
The cooking of the palm leaves to make the "Panama" hats.
Christmas ball at the "Panama" hat making tour.
The tradtional way of weaving the "Panama" hats. According to our tour guide, the women work bent over like this, ususally for 4 hours at a time, and it takes 4-6 months to make each fine quality hat that sells for $600 up.
The tradtional way of weaving the "Panama" hats. According to our tour guide, the women work bent over like this, ususally for 4 hours at a time, and it takes 4-6 months to make each fine quality hat that sells for $600 up.
The tradtional way of weaving the "Panama" hats. According to our tour guide, the women work bent over like this, ususally for 4 hours at a time, and it takes 4-6 months to make each fine quality hat that sells for $600 up.
The tradtional way of weaving the "Panama" hats. According to our tour guide, the women work bent over like this, ususally for 4 hours at a time, and it takes 4-6 months to make each fine quality hat that sells for $600 up.
Close-up of the weaving process for making the "Panama" hats. Beautiful!
The beautiful untrimmed "Panama" hats.
The beautiful untrimmed "Panama" hats.
The gorgeous swirling weaves of the untrimmed "Panama" hats.
Cropped detail of the gorgeous swirling weaves of the untrimmed "Panama" hats.
The beautiful untrimmed "Panama" hats.
Shaping the "Panama" Hats.
Ironing the "Panama" hats.
Trimming the "Panama" hats.
Trimming the "Panama" hats.
Selling the finished "Panama" hats.
"Panama" hats, the finished beautiful weaved works of art.
I love the Sea, I always have. Since I was a child looking at the Pacific ocean and wondering about Japan so far, far, away.
I loved the sea as a naval officer on the USS Independence watching with awe as the airplane elevator rose and fell during quiet times andmajor storms. I loved the Sea as a PACE professor on US Navy ships in the Pacific Ocean as I worked on my doctoral dissertation for 3 years. And, in recent years, I’ve loved the sea as a passenger on cruise ships (a bit better accommodations than US navy warships)!
I love the waves as far as you can see, the curve of the earth in the distance. I lovefeeling so small against vastness of it all, and yet I am comforted, knowing that I am also an important part of it all (perhaps because I, too, am the eyes of God observing his beautiful works with Joy and peace and appreciation and gratitude). I love the changing colors of Sea and Sky at sunset and sunrise.
I love the light bursts on water through the clouds that sparkle that move across the ocean with brightness and contrast.
I love the power of the storm, the quiet rains, the sunsets over water, the smallness of all the ships that pass in the night.
I love it all.
These are some gorgeous art from my camera and lightroom from our Christmas cruise to South America during Christmas break 2016.
How can God make such gorgeous beauty? The parrots of Cartagena, Columbia are photos I was lucky enough to have reflected on my camera’s sensors during our Christmas cruise to South America during Christmas break. Several of the photos are a singe photo cropped closer and closer so that you can see the amazing colors and shapes of these gorgeous bird’s wings.
Such beauty! Click on any picture to see a larger version.
