At times, beauty comes upon us suddenly and without fanfare or warning, and in the moment when beauty is revealed, it is only eyes open and prepared, by whatever means, that will behold or even just glimpse the wondrous revelation, however quick and transitory the images and times of beauty in life may be.
When I first started flying, since I always wanted to sit by a window to look out and take photos, I was always disappointed if the wing of the jet intruded into my view and became part of any photo I attempted. But after a number of years, I realized that the wing was an integral part of the flying experience, and that the wing, as with this photo, provides human context. For here in this captured image, most of the wing is bathed in the same light illuminating the clouds, and more, the black tip of the wing becomes a focal point, seeming to point to and then scraping along a grayer patch of cloud, as if causing and giving power and even speed to the streams of the lighter more transparent plumes of clouds rising and rushing away from the mass of the now gashed and ruptured muted golden cloud, all further endowing the scene with energy, a sense of life, and even wildness to the dynamic panorama of the sky.
Surely, none of this was planned or composed by me or any other human agency. Perhaps I was the only passenger who beheld this masterpiece, for most other passengers, as I know from the experience of many flights, close the shades so that sunlight will not intrude upon a movie or other visual entertainment or a nap, nothing I am opposed to, but I usually refrain from entertainment during daylight hours as there is always something along the way to behold either in the sky or upon the ground, I essentially not desiring to imbibe in anything I can always see at home in trade for an experience or sight only available to me by gazing out the window of a jet with the shade open. The open shade provides the opportunity, yes, but not the certainty, that I will see something of interest or beauty, but for me, the possibility is always the better choice.
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Moments of Seeing & Occasional Pieces – Writing In The Shade Of Trees
A nice rumination, Chris. I, too, love to look out the window. Always, always to be preferred to watching a movie. On international flights now, sad to say, they really discourage it at times, as it alters the lighting inside the cabin. Very regrettable.
This brings to mind the many vacations we took as children with our parent’s. The long drives along the way with all of us stuffed into the station wagon. The drive and scenery not so much appreciated then but looked upon now with longing and gratitude.