John & Anne Wiley

2013/01/31

Nostalgia

Filed under: Flying,Happiness,Has Photos,Inner World,Nature,People,Random,SB Region — John @ 08:52

What is it that stirs in us when we see something from a bygone era? In the case of this staple feature in Solvang, maybe it’s the fading shadows of a simpler life?

2569 Solvang Windmill

2569 Solvang Windmill

Perhaps the way it evokes the culture and values of an entire region? Or in the case of this one in Buellton, maybe it’s the road movie that created a tourist boom that still persists in the valley.

2574 Sideways Motel

2574 Sideways Motel

More evocative for me is this old highway bridge nearby, now abandoned next to the 101 freeway. Did my family cross that span when I was a small California child?

2580 Shadow Crossing

2580 Shadow Crossing

In the shadows beneath, life fades into memory along with the last glimmer on water moving inexorably to take its molecule of stone from the gorge at Gaviota and blend back into the sea of time.

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2013/01/30

Doubling

Filed under: Flying,Happiness,Has Photos,Inner World,Nature,Random,SB Region — John @ 09:32

I’m going to double down on the 3D craze this one more time, because I really like these ones. In case you just tuned in and don’t know how to see these in 3D, take a look at the previous post below where I describe how to do it. Anyway, when I fixed this one it went from a vague 3D effect to accentuated points.

2539 3D Points

2539 3D Points

As with most of my pix here, you can click on the image to see a larger version. Especially nice with these 3D ones because you can see more detail and a stronger 3D effect. I’ve found it easier to see in 3D on smaller images, so if you start with it as-is and can do it then you might want to click and try again or even look at the ones on my Photo Page and work your way up to full size there. Scenes like this can be even more soothing in 3D.

2570 3D Pastoral

2570 3D Pastoral

Then there are boulders like this, their texture made so much richer by the depth of shape we see when flying slowly past them.

2620 3D Solid

2620 3D Solid

I hope you’ve been able to see these in 3D, and that they may help you experience the joy of flight a little more. But if not, I’ll probably return to flat images again in the next post and try to resist posting any more 3D pix unless one really grabs me and I have to share. 🙂

2013/01/28

Crossing

Filed under: Flying,Happiness,Has Photos,Nature,Random,SB Region — John @ 23:49

I was wrong. Not just when I said no more 3D pix. In fact, this new batch is because I was wrong about how to do them. I liked the ones I did, but just last night discovered I’d been doing them wrong. Because our eyes cross in order to create the 3D effect from two photos taken at different angles, the photos need to be “crossed” too. They really pop now, so if you’d like to compare here’s two versions of the barn.

2560 Crossed

2560 Crossed – this Pops!

2560 Barn-O-Rama

2560 Barn-O-Rama – scattered

In case you’ve forgotten (or never learned) how to see them in 3D: Look at the white line in the center, slowly cross your eyes until you see three images, then gradually cross or uncross your eyes until the two barns in the middle image converge. You’ll still see three images, but the center one will magically become 3D. The older version on the bottom had some 3D effect, but the trees were all blurry. Trees on the top one are much sharper and the whole thing has much more depth. I’m putting larger versions on my Photo Page, if like us you enjoy the effect and want to see more detail. Meanwhile here’s another small version that’s easier to see in 3D.

2665-3D Cliff Cave

2665-3D Cliff Cave

This cave is on a textured cliff high on the slopes of the Santa Ynez Mountains facing the Channel Islands, and I like how the sunset colors make it surreal. The 3D depth of the cave and rock texture is accented by the soft touches of scrub growing out of crevices.

After you look at the center line and cross your eyes to get three images, it may help to tilt your head slightly to one side or the other so that the two caves in the middle image line up horizontally. I love how the human brain “locks” the image into 3D. Hope you can “see” the effect, and that if you don’t it’s at least fun to look at half of the pic. 🙂

2013/01/25

Dreaming Up

Filed under: Flying,Happiness,Has Photos,Inner World,Nature,People,Random,SB Region — John @ 22:42

Our dreams last night were more interesting and vivid than usual, probably related to the surgery. It got me thinking about daydreams, in the sense that when we haven’t flown for a while we sort of daydream about it. For example, on a clear day we look at the mountains or get a view of the ocean, hear the distant siren song of a passing plane, or just notice the sky. In a heartbeat we’re remembering moments from a previous flight or dreaming of a new one. Today I daydreamed about this one.

2518 Elegant Hood

2518 Elegant Hood

I remembered enjoying this elegant neighborhood in the hills as we climbed out of the airport. So many beautiful homes and mansions around here, each one a long story of how those people got all the money involved and chose how to spend it. Looking back toward the airport I snapped this tiny slice of the much better view I was paying far less to enjoy a lot more.

2526 Better View

2526 Better View

We both used to be Ocean View devotees, but the great mountain view from our modest home has switched us. When driving across the Stevens (San Roque) Bridge and voting on the best view, it’s rare for the ocean to win. So I liked the view in the opposite direction, from up here also better than those manse owners get and of course far beyond what we see from our place.

2530 Mountain View

2530 Mountain View

Of course, at the same time we’re enjoying the ocean and mountain views, we’re also looking East and West along the coast and down at interesting and beautiful attractions along our path. Can you tell that flying appeals to us? Do these words & pix convey some dim impression of how easily I can get dreamy about it? Have you guessed that we’re eager for Anne’s foot to heal so we can get up again? 🙂

2013/01/24

Aliveness

Filed under: Flying,Happiness,Has Photos,Inner World,People,Random,Relationships — John @ 23:56

Sometimes in life things happen that help us remember how delicious Life is. Today we enjoyed a special freshness in the air between light showers. Everything is green and particularly Alive. Beyond the weather, we’re especially enjoying our experience of Aliveness because Anne just had elective surgery on her feet. Before she went in, even though there was basically zero risk involved we of course deeply felt our mortality and cherished our time together.

28_895 Anne & Sandie

28_895 Anne & Sandie

When I finally got to see her again four hours later, needless to say we were even happier and more aware of joyful Aliveness. Her nurse Sandie was hovering gently and efficiently, so before long we were out getting medicines and supplies. During the drive we talked about our time apart. Anne’s report was quite brief, since she was unconscious nearly the entire time. Then I talked about having met the “Two Grannies” who were waiting for Virginia’s husband. We talked about their retirement sailing adventure around the world and our Big Adventures in Tripp, and when she mentioned her blog I of course told her about this one. Before long Anne and I were back home, and now she’s cozy in her throne with me waiting on her hand and (especially) foot.

3775 Beckoning Her Footman

3775 Beckoning Her Footman

Thanks for all the kind wishes from friends and family. The warmth of your caring and support is so nourishing for mind, body and soul. We look forward to seeing you soon, and Anne particularly anticipates going for walks. 🙂

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