Did anyone catch the lunar eclipse this week? I stayed up almost all night to watch the supermoon turn the most deliciously intense shade of blood red. I decided to see if I could match the intensity with some shots from past travels, like the intense colours on display in Yellowstone Park …
… the intense pressure of competing in the Sheep Olympics …
,,, and the intense beauty of a jade flower in Guatemala.
Then there was a very different kind of intense, a scary standoff in Vatican City where two men threatened to set themselves on fire …
… the intense heat of the Mojave Desert in August (my flip flops nearly melted) …
… the intense concentration of a sweet old dog learning to swim …
… and this mama elk desperately trying to save her little elk baby from drowning on the American River. I’m getting all shaky just remembering the terror in her eyes.
Are you ready for the intensity to keep on building? If you would like to join in and create your own interpretation of this week’s theme (everyone’s welcome!) here’s what to do:
- Create your own post and title it Travel theme: Intense
- Include a link to this page in your post so others can find it too
- Get your post in by next Thursday, as the new travel theme comes out on Friday
- Don’t forget to subscribe to keep up to date on the latest weekly travel themes. Sign up via the email subscription link in the sidebar or RSS!
xxx Ailsa
Art is the most intense mode of individualism that the world has known. – Oscar Wilde
Every age yearns for a more beautiful world. The deeper the desperation and the depression about the confusing present, the more intense that yearning. – J0han Huizinga
Where's my backpack? 
Argggh! Completely forgot the eclipse! Did you try to photograph it, Ailsa?
I did, I got a couple of decent photos when it first hit totality, but once it darkened to deep deep red I just forgot about photographing and watched in awe. I couldn’t help wondering what primitive man would have made of the moon in eclipse.
They’d probably have been scared silly!
PS. I’d have loved to have seen one of your Moon shots.
You both might enjoy this montage from Sarah which is simply stunning: https://miradordesign.wordpress.com/2015/09/29/weekly-photo-challenge-change-th-inconstant-moon/
As for me I did see it, but decided against photographing it.
That’s amazing, Jude. Thanks for the tip!
Wow, what amazing shots, thanks for sharing Sarah’s montage, Jude, I have to say I didn’t mind not shooting during the majority of the eclipse, I got to experience it so much more the better for not trying to get decent shots. 🙂
Likewise Ailsa. I know my photographic limits!
The shots coming up to totality were fine, but honestly, once the moon turned fully red, my camera’s sensors just weren’t up to the job, methinks it’s time for a new camera. Dear Santa… 🙂
Love these! Here’s mine:
http://abstractlucidity.com/2015/10/02/travel-theme-intense/
Wow, that Before I Die wall, pretty intense!
Yes, and I’ve discovered they are also located in other cities. I think it’s a great idea!
Totally missed the eclipse due to the rainy weather, but saw absolutely gorgeous pics of it. BTW, your jade flower is my favorite. I’ve never seen it before but it is entirely enchanting…now I’ll have to look for it 🙂
I couldn’t quite believe it when I saw that flower, I wasn’t sure it was real until I actually touched it.
I have seen the jade flower in Kew, quite impressive, but your intense moments seem very scary! I shall have to have a think about this one Ailsa 🙂
Oh Jude, I just saw your Berrington Hall post, how absolutely divine, all those fiery reds and yellows, don’t you just adore autumn? xxx
There does seem to be a lot of brightness around this year, lots of vibrant planting, the trees are only just starting to turn. I love autumn shades 🙂
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https://almostitalian.wordpress.com/2015/10/03/intense/
A hard one to look at, but it is still fresh in my mind. Thanks Ailsa.
Wow, Francesca, a very moving post. Such devastation and yet those photos of the burnt forest and the ‘false autumn’ are strangely beautiful too.
I really need to know if the elk saved her baby??
Great photos
No worries…I followed your link and learned the baby elk survived!! I’m good!
Oh no, so sorry I didn’t put you out of your misery earlier, yes, it was quite the most wretched thing to hear the poor little baby elk squealing for his mother, I was a blubbering basket case by the end of it all.
I’m sure I would’ve been blubbering too. I can’t handle seeing (hearing) animals in distress.
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Beautiful photos, Ailsa. Thanks for another great challenge. Here is my response: https://naomibaltuck.wordpress.com/2015/10/03/baffled/
Pingback: Travel theme: Intense | The Snow Melts Somewhere
Love this theme and the pictures in this post, so I had to join in! 🙂 Here’s what I immediately thought of https://thesnowmeltssomewhere.wordpress.com/2015/10/03/travel-theme-intense/
Pingback: Travel Theme – Intense | Julie Powell – Photographer & Graphic Artist
Great shots…..here’s mine for this week https://juliepowell2014.wordpress.com/2015/10/03/travel-theme-intense/
Pingback: Travel theme: Intense | Dormouse Tidings
Pingback: Travel Theme: Intense | beyondpaisley
Here’s my “intense” for the week! Always a great time with the photo challenges. http://beyondpaisley.net/2015/10/03/travel-theme-intense/
Pingback: Travel Theme: Intense | An Adventure A Day
Pingback: Intense | cocoaupnorth
Great depiction of intense! Thank you for the inspiration and here’s my contribution https://cocoaupnorth.wordpress.com/2015/10/03/intense/
Pingback: Travel theme: intense (stark, intensiv, heftig) | cubusregio
Hi Ailsa, here is my entry:
http://cubusregio.com/2015/10/03/travel-theme-intense-stark-intensiv-heftig/
Pingback: Travel Theme: Intense | Middleton Road
https://chava61.wordpress.com/2015/10/03/travel-theme-intense/
Pingback: Intense | Wind Against Current
He may be smiling sweetly… but he’s still sizing you up as prey: http://windagainstcurrent.com/2015/10/03/intense/
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Pingback: Travel Theme: Intense | Travelrat's Travels
My eclipse photos were a dismal failure …. I got up too late, and my tripod was fifty miles away! 😦 But, here’s my contribution https://travelrat.wordpress.com/2015/10/04/travel-theme-intense/
Pingback: Travel Theme-Intense | WoollyMuses
Pingback: Ailsa’s Travel Theme: Intense | Stephen Kelly Creative
Helloe Ailsa and fellow Travel Themers. Here’s my down home take on this week’s Intense challenge:
https://stephenkellycreative.wordpress.com/2015/10/04/ailsas-travel-theme-intense/
Pingback: Intense Tree Love | The Beauty Along the Road
I focused intensively on trees! https://beautyalongtheroad.wordpress.com/2015/10/04/intense-tree-love/
Pingback: Travel Theme – Intense | ladyleemanilasphotos
Pingback: Travel Theme: Intense | The Day After
Pingback: Intense Morning Light! (Travel Theme) | Coffee fuels my photography!
Pingback: Travel theme: Intense | Leya
All intense – my favourite is the jade flower – incredible!
http://wp.me/p1hCI2-4Ob
Pingback: Intense or sleeping colors | Le Drake Noir
Pingback: Travel Theme: Intense | Ruined for Life: Phoenix Edition
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Pingback: Travel Theme: Intense | lifelessons – a blog by Judy Dykstra-Brown
I love the jade flower. Is it really a flower or are these leaves, as in the showy bougainvillea? Whichever, I’m crazy about this plant! Here are my intense shots: Travel Theme: Intense | lifelessons – a blog by Judy Dykstra-Brown
Pingback: Travel theme: Intense | Hamburg und Mee(h)r
Hi Ailsa,
here is an intense sunset in Washington https://hamburgundmeehr.wordpress.com/2015/10/08/travel-theme-intense/
Cheers Angela
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Pingback: Travel Theme: Intense | Tvor Travels
Loving the intensity
https://tvortravels.wordpress.com/2015/10/08/travel-theme-intense/