Fotoeins Fotografie

Fotoeins’ 13 Instants from 2013

By HL fotoeins on 31 Dec 2013

It’s been an interesting year, as “interesting” came complete with their own highs and lows, across a variety of nations on three continents. Friends would say that’s simply par for the course to describe any length of time on travel. I ended my year-long around-the-world (RTW) trip in January, sought a new path in Sydney, Australia between March and June, and returned to Vancouver, Canada with a short stop in Europe for a writing course at the end of July. The following 13 moments in 2013 arrive courtesy from Berlin, Germany; Sydney, Australia; Vancouver, Canada; and Wellington, New Zealand.

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January 15 – “Coming home”

My RTW lasted 389 consecutive days from the end of 2011 to the early part of 2013. Here at Terminal 5 in London’s Heathrow Airport, I waited to board a British Airways Boeing 747-400 plane for the non-stop flight and return to Vancouver.

http://instagram.com/p/UgtH7spIjh/

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January 30 – “This is home”

I’ve visited the Museum of Anthropology a handful of times, one memorably on a field-trip when a wae lad was I. Located at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, the museum holds a large collection of art and valuable cultural artifacts from First Nations’ peoples. I’m home in British Columbia in the presence of “Raven and The First Men,” a sculpture by Bill Reid, showing a part of the creation myth for the Haida First Nation.

http://instagram.com/p/VKpabWJIjw/

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February 10 – “Our flag”

It’s easy to forget Canada’s present flag was unveiled only in 1965, and the official National Flag Day was declared in 1996. It’s easy to pick out where flags appear once I know it’s time to look; the following are examples on Vancouver’s Granville Island. I write more about Canada’s Flag Day here.

http://instagram.com/p/VrxbkfJIkZ/

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March 23 – “Hang over”

The third week of March marks the onset of autumn in the southern hemisphere, and in Sydney, the season also heralds time for the annual Royal Easter Show. The 2013 version at Olympic Park marked the 190th anniversary of the festival, complete with all sorts of animals on show, amusement rides, and a wide assortment of “carnival or fair food”. Click here for more highlights.

http://instagram.com/p/XL70iAJIlj/

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April 14 – “Sydney Sunset Haiku”

Part of Sydney’s public transport includes ferry access on the Parramatta River between the western suburbs and the City (centre). I arranged to travel on one of the ferries into the City right around sunset, leading to this haiku attempt: “Sydney Harbour Bridge – from Parramatta River – time for dusky light.” Click here for more.

http://instagram.com/p/YFH-2DJInR/

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May 25 – “End of the line”

The photo shows at Walsh Bay installation number 60 called “The Dalgety Line” at the VIVID Sydney festival: top panel on Dalgety Street; bottom panel at Wharf 8/9. This was one of the last sculptures or installations on the list, and I wonder if it wasn’t subconscious, seeing this installation, and feeling as if I myself was at the end of the present journey. Click here for more highlights from the festival.

http://instagram.com/p/ZvVxLSJIu0/

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June 7 – “Of spheres and monoliths”

The “FERNS” spherical sculpture is suspended high over Wellington’s Civic Square. The afternoon sun, the FERNS, and the City Gallery made for an ominous combination, calling to mind images from “2001: A Space Odyssey”. Instead, I drew hope and optimism, with light streaming out from the corner of the monolith and a hint of a reflection from the sphere.

http://instagram.com/p/aSFH6lpIvg/

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July 1 – “Metal dinosaurs at dawn”

It’s been a long time since I’ve been home on Canada Day. The opportunity presented itself beautifully in Vancouver under perfect summer conditions, and I made photographs throughout the entire day. Up at 430am, I began the holiday with a walk out to Burrard Inlet to witness the rising sun to the northeast at 510am. My 18-photo set appears here.

http://instagram.com/p/bOZ5jSJIlp/

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August 12 – “Eclipse”

At the end of my short return-visit to the German capital, I wandered over to one of my favourite spots to watch people and to gauge the city’s rhythms at Berlin’s Alexanderplatz. I had to return to Vancouver, but I wanted very much to stay, to examine and explore what it would be like, under the guise of perfectly suited people in an imperfect situation. I wrote about my ambivalence and struggle with conflicting feelings here.

http://instagram.com/p/c7fGtoJIh2/

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September 11 – “Honoured figures”

With fellow travel blogger Pamela in town and summer hanging on strong with sun and +25C/77F temperatures, it was only right for a mid-week stroll on Vancouver’s Seawall. Balanced stone figures appeared out of the sand and boulders at Stanley Park’s Second Beach next to English Bay. I like how the one on the left is holding fast to that log.

http://instagram.com/p/eI-E8tpIik/

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October 12 – “The fall classic”

There’s an abundance of evergreen trees in the Canadian Southwest rain forest. Fortunately, there are sufficient numbers of deciduous to provide occasional (and wild) splashes of colour. A clear mid-October afternoon provided a good exercise in colour, form, line, and symmetry at Vancouver’s Andy Livingstone Park.

http://instagram.com/p/fYdjnrpIhU/

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November 22 – “Vancouver Weihnachtsmarkt”

My love of things German arrives in full circle at my hometown’s Christmas Market. I spent a part of the festival’s opening weekend with Amanda and Megan, marveling at the lights, fixtures, and decorations; and eating and drinking our way through the market. I wrote more about the Vancouver Christmas market here.

http://instagram.com/p/hEMna9JIlM/

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December 21 – “Winter break”

December solstice marks the first day of winter (summer) in the northern (southern) hemisphere. In Vancouver’s Strathcona neighbourhood, the wide-open green space that is MacLean Park has always provided a source of fun, comfort, peace, and a sense of community. After 10 centimetres (4 inches) of snow fell the previous evening, the chairs here at MacLean Park suggested a place for impromptu meetings which are out of session for the holidays.

http://instagram.com/p/iM1WejJIvR/

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I made all of the photos above on a 4th-generation iPod Touch. This post appears on Fotoeins Fotopress at fotoeins.com as https://wp.me/p1BIdT-4bv.