Friday, November 25, 2011

Horse Power




















28 comments:

  1. Aw cute dogs, wistfully wishing they had hooves perhaps?

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  2. Lovely shots here.. the reflection images especially. And those dogs are beauties. I miss seeing those Montreal horse-drawn carriages. But that driver had better watch where he's going lest he get into a calèche-ion. ;)

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  3. Wonderful photos. The third one reminds me of a square in Granada, Nicaragua that I visited a few years back. Several unfortunate horses, whose lot in life was one of servitude, were attached to brightly painted carriages meant to attract tourists (believed to have a lot of money) to take a carriage ride through the downtown area. The idea of a carriage ride was very attractive, but the poor horses looked so incredibly thirsty and underfed, that I could not justify making one of them work in the extreme heat!

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  4. Shots 1 & 4 are spectacular. A lovely multi-media collage in which so much of life and time crystallizes in a momentary perception.

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  5. Wonderful images and reflections with a ghostly appearance of horses in a few. I think that I would like to go in that first shop.

    Bises,
    Genie

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  6. beautiful collection of photos... the play with the reflections is clever! and i wish i could see what these cute curious dogs are watching;)

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  7. Beautiful compositions, I love the game of beautiful shapes, textures and colors in the face. You've captured masterfully. I wish you a happy weekend.

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  8. You have such an amazing eye for the reflections on city streets--the many layers of those photos make me linger and linger over them. And who knew urban streets could be so bestial?

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  9. Such poignant expressions on the doggies' faces. I think they are anxiously awaiting their owner's return and thinking, "please come back or we will surely die".

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  10. Saj,
    It behooves me to say that could well be the case.

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  11. Hilary,
    Ouch! I just got hit by your calèche-ion head on! C'est trop drôle! It's exciting, romantic and depressing all at the same time to see these horse-drawn buggies on city streets. I saw a couple of them in Charlottetown this summer as well.

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  12. Audrey,
    As I said to Hilary, I have mixed emotions about these horse-drawn carriage rides as well. The horses generally look so weary and shabby; it must be stressful for them to be in the middle of traffic, pulling such a heavy load. At least the Canadian ones get a long winter rest. It must be terrible for them working in the heat of Nicaragua, undernourished as you say...but they are at least enabling their drivers to put food on the table for their families.

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  13. DCW,
    Gazing into the reflections in a shop window one can be in the now in several places at once.

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  14. Genie,
    I was surprised to find paintings featuring horses in galleries in both Montreal (first picture) and Vancouver (second ghostly horse image). That first shop was pretty tempting, though a little bit intimidating when I peeked in through the doorway. So many breakables; so many big ticket items!
    bisoux,
    Lynne

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  15. johanna,
    Those cute curious dogs were alarmingly large though very docile and completely focused on waiting for their owners to emerge from the café. I think they were hoping for "doggy bags."
    (are you familiar with the term? It's leftovers from a restaurant meal that are packaged up to take home).

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  16. Leovi,
    Sometimes the image just makes itself and it's up to the photographer to notice and capture it. I'm happy that you like what I found.

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  17. jann,
    I am fascinated with the multiple layers of "reality" reflected in city shop windows. When the light is just so, the worlds therein seem to go on forever, if not actually colliding. This fascination with layers is often "reflected" in my artwork as well.
    Oh, city streets are just teeming with wildlife! Though these big beasts were real teddy bears of gentleness and indifference.

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  18. Shirl,
    I think they are wondering if their owners are going to emerge with a treat for them and are highly annoyed at not having been invited in. But my goodness they were polite, unlike some other canines I've encountered!

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  19. Am late getting here because I couldn't tear myself away from the now of the last post, was still entranced there.

    (ps, those last two are NOT horses. Just thought I'd let you know.)

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  20. Owen,
    Not horses: It was a test. You passed!
    :-D

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  21. Your subtle reference to impolite canines could only mean Bert the Malemute and Fritz the Dobie. Can you never forgive Bert who, in his ecstacy to greet you, muddied up your freshly washed dress, or Fritzy, who did have an annoying little habit of baring his
    teeth. I am disappointed that you never did take a picture of the "boys".

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  22. From where I come, it is said, that you'll find the luck of the world upon a back of a horse; and that dogs are the sixth sense.

    Yes, humankind probably can still learn from nature. Great pictures indeed !!! Please have you all a good weekend.

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  23. what a wonderful sequence of shots - I really like that first collage...

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  24. Shirl,
    That was in the days before digital cameras so I wasn't taking as many photos. Well, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. And come on, you have to admit that they were very badly behaved boys! They would not have been appreciated on the streets of Montreal. But at least they had a good home.

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  25. Robert,
    Such interesting sayings! Yes, nature has many lessons for humans if we only know how to listen, look and receive.

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  26. Catherine,
    I was lucky how that first shot just fell into my camera lens like that!

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  27. Magnificent -- especially the Gray Ghosts. :)

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  28. Nancy,
    Thanks. The "Gray Ghosts"...what a concept! They were almost like a mirage, tis true.

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