Photo Challenge: UNLIKELY
“I’m always excited by the unlikely, never by ordinary things.” David Hockney
Photo Challenge: UNLIKELY – WindTurbine by G. Fearey
Photo Challenge: UNLIKELY – art installation by G. Fearey
Nothing is black or white, nothing’s ‘us or them.’ But then there are magical, beautiful things in the world. There’s incredible acts of kindness and bravery, and in the most unlikely places, and it gives you hope. Dave Matthews
For this week’s photo challenge on the UNLIKELY, I’ve chosen to share what I captured in someone’s backyard on the Croton aqueduct. I take long walks regularly from my home and I love to look around at the changing face of nature around me. Once in a while I might glimpse a piece of sculpture in someone’s yard or a new planting of flowers blooming their hearts out. But rarely do I see such striking pieces within spitting distance on the aqueduct. Recently, on a windy day, this installation caught my eye. It was an unlikely place for such a huge installation but it was beautiful to see and especially because the wheels were spinning furiously in response to the winds. I was so taken aback by it all that I shot a video of the bicycle wheels spinning and singing their metal hearts out in the wind. Quite poetic. Watch the video below too. I’ve added my words to the bottom of the video as the wind made it hard to hear. What unlikely things have you come across lately?
“Courage is found in unlikely places.” J. R. R. Tolkien
Photo Challenge: UNLIKELY- art installation by G. Fearey
Photo Challenge: UNLIKELY – art installation by G. Fearey
Windmills/Turbines: These beautiful installations respond to the wind.
They spin their wheels in sequence.
Art meets nature and vise versa.
You’re unlikely to discover something new without a lot of practice on old stuff, but further, you should get a heck of a lot of fun out of working out funny relations and interesting things. Richard P. Feynman
What does this remind you of? It reminds me wind turbines or the creative windmills one saw in foreign cities at old farms.As I listened to the spinning wheels, I was reminded of the wind turbines I saw in Southern California on a drive I took from Los Angeles to Palm Springs. According to research reports, the 4000 separate windmills at the wind farm on the San Gorgonio Mountain Pass in the San Bernadino Mountains, provide enough electricity to Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley. Who knew, right?
UPDATE! On Saturday evening, serendipity kicked in. I was chatting with a local friend at the yoga center, after class, and somehow the conversation came up about the beautiful installation I saw on the aqueduct. Lo and behold, as it turns out, her husband Gordon created the installations! They had moved from their other home to the beautiful home on the aqueduct where the installations held center court, and her hubby built the installations. It was amazing to find out that something L had admired for over a year belonged to someone I knew … what a small world. So, I have added his name to the photos and I will find out if they named the pieces and will update them here when L do. Art, creative expressions are everywhere and serendipity has a way of helping us find our way to them. It resides in all of us. Find your path and go to it.
Windmill In The Wind by Paula Swanson
As the windmill turns with the wind,
the storm brings much needed rain.
With each drop, renewal begins,
relieving the parched land its pain.
Sweet water of the Earth, life’s essence,
within the wind, the windmill drinks.
Storing the source within a pond,
bringing the desert from the brink.
Noses catching the scent of rain,
wild Burro’s enjoy their play.
Turns the windmill as the wind blows,
clouds block the sun, blessing shade.
The land breathes a sigh of relief.
Life is given back once again.
The clouds empty themselves of rain,
as the windmill turns with the wind. via poetry.com
More Below
“I sometimes find reality far more fantastical and unlikely than what I could just make up.” J. Michael Straczynski
Photo Challenge: UNLIKELY – WindTurbine
Photo Challenge: UNLIKELY – art installation by G. Fearey
Windmills/Turbines: These beautiful installations respond to the wind.
They spin their wheels in sequence.
Art meets nature and vise versa.
“The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can.” J.J. Tolkien
Do you ever see windmills in your neighborhood? When I lived in Southern California, there were parts of the state that had a ton of them but it wasn’t the norm… The wind farm on the San Gorgonio Mountain Pass in the San Bernadino Mountains often comes to mind, but there were at least two other wind turbine farms. When I first drove by them, it was a surreal experience and I felt a sense of awe; it felt like I was entering another dimension. Seeing these two installations on the aqueduct brought back those memories and this time it was a creative and colorful experience. I think this fits the unlikely theme. Don’t you?
This post was inspired by a prompt from WP Daily Post: – UNLIKELY – This week’s challenge is to share a photo of something unlikely. My point here is threefold: Never say never. If you ever have the opportunity to hang out in a pickup with an apex predator*, go for it. Share the Unlikely; an object or person in an unlikely place, an unpredictable experience, a serendipitous accident: we want the expected. We look forward to seeing your interpretations!
Positive Motivation Tip: Stay open to the world we inhabit… much can be seen.
PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All Photos from my personal collection.
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet
I’m a very type A person, so lots of time I don’t care for the unlikely! HA! I love routine and a good schedule. But every once in a while, I appreciate the unlikely. I need to work on that!
Thats so cool! I’ve seen ones similar but love the different colored one since its eye catching. Its amazing what people can create 🙂
Thank you for including a video so that I can see how beautiful the windmill turns when the wind blows. I love windmill and see many windmills in Palm Springs California for the first time in my life. I love this week challenge of “unlikely” – have an open minded and try the unlikely places and unpredictable experience – I need to put that in mind. I am hoping something good will turn out, just like the beautiful windmills in the backyard!
I love this photo challenge. you ahve such a gret photo collection. I love the quote for J.j Tolkien. truly an inspirational.
I like this quote by David Hockney “I’m always excited by the unlikely, never by ordinary things.” I had no idea what that thing was until i read about it in your post. It’s a windturbine! Very cool.
I absolutely love this post! I love all of your photo challenges, but this one especially! I love that you can find beauty anywhere and everywhere – you just have to look!
Ah, I’ve never seen windmills up close. I remember a friend taking pictures of the famous ones in California and they’re simply peaceful and beautiful. Amazing how the wheel or cycle of it translates so much into our daily lives.
That’s an interesting piece of artwork. Watching the wheels turn is quite mesmerizing. 🙂
You have such a great perspective. Love this. Thank you for the encouraging words….it really made me think.
I consider the unlikely things to be little blessings at times. I love when I am out somewhere and I’ll see something really special, a surprised hedgehog or the squirrel taking the whole bird feeder off our bird house – right place, right time and so unlikely I may have been looking to capture the moment!
I so love this quote – “I’m always excited by the unlikely, never by ordinary things.” It is like getting nice (or not nice) surprises and it makes you look forward to the next unlikely thing to occur. I was thinking of something unlikely and I remembered taking a photo of a tiny plant that grew in very shallow soil near a flood drain. Not a normal place to take root and grow, but it did!
Thank you for sharing your beautiful photos and the poems with us. I especially like these lines as I like burros.
Noses catching the scent of rain,
wild Burro’s enjoy their play.
Turns the windmill as the wind blows,
clouds block the sun, blessing shade.
Your pictures are always gorgeous! I can’t believe you found a windmill like this. Gorgeous!
I like how you described unlikely! I think it’s pretty awesome that your neighbor has this in their yard! It’s definitely the perfect photo for the challenge!
Those Wind Turbine are an unusual, although, beautiful sight. I’ve seen wind mills while traveling when I was younger but not many. I really like to see the ones from the old days, ones that had a purpose.
This is such a great post. Truly nothing in life is ordinary and I love how you have showcased that here. The poem you picked to tag along with the post is just fabulous and full of feeling
What a unique theme. Such a great idea because these days you can find so many unlikely beautiful things in the world if you look carefully.
Took me a while to figure out what it was. Very intriguing though! Love how you linked the picture with your point to never say never.
This has got to be the coolest contraption I have ever seen in a backyard! I definitely can see how it’s “unlikely”. Never seen anything like it – and now I want one for my backyard! i love unique pieces.
This is so inspirng. You have chohsen a great photo for a photo challange.
I love watching windmills…. They are so calming to me. I don’t see them often here in Phoenix but I have a little farm down in the country and one of my neighbors has a cute one.
The poem is interesting! Though not this big in making but i do like making origami.
Finding the unlikely is such a wonder! I love looking for things that are new or unusual on the walks I take.
You truly have a knack for capturing and seeing what others may not in a picture. There’s always a hidden meaning behind every capture!
I have seen plenty of windmills. In fact many had been of mammoth size being used for wind energy. I have come across in many countries. Such a beautiful site to cherish.
That windmill is awesome and you were lucky to capture it functioning!
I like the “unlikely” part of life. I think with time and modernity many of the things that were considered unlikely eventually came to actually be, so our capacity of wonder has diminish, I notice it with young people nowadays, they aren’t in awe before anything, everything seems “normal” or “rational” to them, and that makes me a little sad.
It’s quite interesting what beautiful things we can find if we just keep our eyes open.
That is a nice piece of art. Where I live they have a lot of windmill for decoration not for use.
These windmills are so beautiful and unique! Such gorgeous photos!
I love windmills this time of year. The storms this time of year really get those things whipping!
This is truly wonderful. The Unlikely theme makes me think of ALL the things in my life (and other’s lives that I know of) that would seem “impossible” somehow graciously happened unexpectedly. I’ve seen blind runners at marathons, kids who were deemed “failures” grow up to become life-changing leaders, and communities rise up after major devastation. Never say never 🙂
These pictures are really cool and intriguing. Windmill in the wind is beautiful.
These are such beautiful windmills! There’s one I can see from my home, but it’s a modern one. I love these traditional looking ones.
Haha, I ever saw a mini European style garden set up in my nearby neighbourhood. Those who stay in Singapore know how difficult it is to set up one in HDB area.
Love the installations featured in this post!
I love this! I’m curious how long it took them to build that piece of art? It’s so unique! I grew up in a really small town, and I always found interesting things like this in the most unlikely areas.
This is such a beautiful illustration of ones imagination. A perfect combination and loved it
There is something so magical about windmills, don’t ask me why. 🙂 And I love that poem by JJ Tolkien
Made me realized that beautiful things exist outside our comfort zones! Nice shot.
I like how you interpreted the theme of ‘unlikely’ – quite a creative and unique take. Personally, I feel my whole like experience has been ‘unlikely’ – but that’s where the magic lies 🙂
It’s always nice to stumble upon beauty where you least expect it!
That is quite the structure and I can see why you had selected it for UNLIKELY. Its rear to see art like that and placed closely to the fence line. I can only imagine the beauty it hold in person.
On the subject of windmills and Cali…. I love big white windmills when traveling from So Cal to Northern Cali! Great pictures again!
These are very pretty pics!! It looks interesting… I live in Australlia, in its small settlement and we have plenty of windmills here…. love it…:)
These objects are interesting. I like the quote you shared from Richard P. Feynman. Cool post!
I love the concept behind this post. I think we live in such a fast world we rarely take the time to notice the unlikely things around us. It pays to stop and take notice of what the world has to offer
Wow, is this really from someone’s backyard? It’s beautiful… If I’m to work on the challenge, unlikely, I will prolly be capturing couples on streets or odd food pairings that people rarely use together.
Those objects are so unusual. I kept on looking and looking and looking at them. Unlikely is the best word for this post. Thanks for making me curious!
Very intriguing and very thought-provoking post. I totally agree that some of the best things in life exist in the most unlikely places. It’s always good to keep an open mind and keen eyes .
I dont have windmills around my house, but I do have a wind chime at my window. The occasional breeze will cause it to likely tinkle, which is a piece of music directly to the ear, there was one time, so unlikely, it was the heat wave that move the chime. It was interesting to hear some tinkling.
That phrase is too familiar, never say never! I try my best to not say it because you really never know…
This is a very exquisite piece to stumble upon. I can see windmill only if I head down to the local hiking trails they are very mesmerizing but none are as colorful as the blue piece that you have shown.
That was definitely something that I wouldn’t expect to see there, but I can tell that it would be so beautiful with the wind around it 🙂
“The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can.” J.J. Tolkien
Love this quote, thank you so much for sharing.
What a crazy installation – looks cool but I’m not sure what it’s meant to be! Nice post as always 🙂
What interesting weather vanes. I love when peculiar things can be found in unusual places.
Once I was invited to a party consisting of teenagers. I was 15-25 years older than most of them. It turned out to be a very fruitful encounter with a young friend and her parents. Why I chose to go in the first place, I don’t know. But I guess someone wants me to be happier in life.
Unique choice for the photo challenge post. I adore that windmill and the poem too.
it is true – never say never 🙂 Unlikely events can be life changing and empowering. take it as a challenge that can be overcome
This is a very interesting concept. Indeed, it was unlikely to stumble across such a unique installation. The video gives it life, the wheels spinning makes it so much more interesting.
Your motivational tip is so on point. I really Needed that and will certainly pass those wise words on
That must have been really a surprise to find this structure in your way! It looks amazing and you capture it in all its beauty!
I so can relate to this quote. I’m always excite by the unlikely and never by ordinary things and I’ve felt different my entire life which is a good and a bad feeling at the same time 🙂
Wow this is such a cool backyard! Looks like such a fun installation.
You should see the wheels spin. Watch the video
Those are such interesting pieces to have in a back yard! They would inspire me in some way, too. So cool!!
I agree…:)
Gosh I just love everyone about this and growing up we had windmills, currently I don’t have
Any windmills but you inspired me to get one.
Thanks for the awesome post
wow! those creations are so unusual and creative! I would have never guess what they are for! thanks for sharing!
Seeing windmills in your neighborhood is indeed very unlikely! Here in the Philippines, windmills are usually located in very isolated places.
They are beautiful installitins and you captured them so lovely. Very unique.
The photos are amazing! It looks like every photo has got a story to tell. 🙂
Interesting photos. Haha! What a unique theme. Giving me an idea for some future activities! Thank you!
It’s amazing what sights you can take in on walks. The pictures really do fit in well with the topic. They are so unlikely, we don’t see windmills every day!!!
It is such a coincidence that I was admiring Hackney’s paintings and reading about his journey and that of Van Gogh. Great going through & made me so happy.
I love the way you choose words with the pictures. Interesting pictures by the ways.
Yeah, we do have many windmill places out here. I know when I was up North in Berkeley we had a few outside the city areas as well. It’s amazing what they do an how they generate power.
These are cool and beautiful structures to be in my backyard….Fun!
What a lovely post. I really like the art, so very beautiful. And the poem is lovely too!
I think that these are beautiful and unique pieces. We may not totally understand it but I know there’s meaning to it. Thank you for sharing your photos.
Those wind turbines reminds me of my trip to New Mexico a few years ago.. I’ve seen a few cool ones like those there.
It reminds me of my first trip to the Netherlands all the way back in 2003. In the northeastern United States, they tend to be more hidden.