The voyage of the best ship is a zigzag line of a hundred tacks. See the line from a sufficient distance, and it straightens itself to the average tendency.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
When I searched for interesting quotes about zigzag lines I was surprised to find relatively few. But of those I found, many talked about journeys, which as a keen traveller appealed to me:
Life is a zigzag journey, they say, not much straight and easy on the way, but the wrinkles in the map, explorers know, smooth out like magic at the end of where we go.
Ivan Doig, Last Bus to Wisdom
After all, arenโt zigzag journeys often the most interesting and rewarding? Sure, we could get there more quickly by following a straight line, but weโd see a lot less along the way. And as Emersonโs quote suggests, we still arrive at the same point eventually.
Photographic zigzags
Turning to photography, we often talk about and look at the use of leading lines, which direct us to a key point in an image. Zigzag lines donโt do that; instead they lead our eyes all over the image. They encourage us to explore what weโre seeing in more detail, just as a zigzag journey may do.
Patti has asked us to share some images of zigzags for this weekโs Lens Artists challenge, so as usual Iโve been pouring through my archives. Perhaps unsurprisingly, many of the shots I found feature man-made zigzags, often architectural. But I did manage to hunt out some natural zigzags too. I fear you may have seen some of them previously but not all, I hope, and not in this context.
My feature photo is of the very zigzag road through Wadi Bani Awf in Oman.
Girders of the Tyne Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Fire escapes in Manhattan, NYC
Two rather different zigzags on buildings in Chicago
Seattle Public Library, Washington State
An apartment block in Tirana, Albania
Detail of the Pompidou Centre in Paris
The long zigzag stairs ascending El Peรฑol, Colombia
(my husband Chris and our guide Jean are waving to me from part way up, while I stayed at the bottom!)
The crenellated roof of the Palais Royale, Marrakech
Temple roofs in Nepal
A zigzag fence by the path to Cattle Point Lighthouse, San Juan Island, Washington State
Glacier Grey, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile
Tsingy rock formations in Ankarana Est, Madagascar
The spiny back of an Oustalet’s chameleon in Madagascar
69 Comments
Albatz Travel Adventures
Wonderful zigzags – I focused on the design element but after seeing your I might have to go back and search for the myriad of other ‘travel’ zigzags…
Sarah Wilkie
I’m so glad you enjoyed these and have been inspired to search for more of your own zigzags ๐
Tanriverdi Travels
How beautiful!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you ๐
Anonymous
Amazing zigs and zags–I’m especially smitten with the glaciers and the rocks in sun and shadow.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you. I was pleased to find some natural zigzags in my archives ๐
hephzibahsamuel39
Stunning pictures of zigzags you have here, the el Peรฑol Colombia stairs are breathtaking.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you very much ๐ Yes, breathtaking in both senses of the word!
PR
Lovely images, Sarah! The staircase in Colombia is incredible. I guess I wouldn’t climb it either, if I were there. But who knows…I have sometimes thought I won’t do something and then done it ๐.
Sarah Wilkie
Me too, but I’m trying to learn my limitations these days and not do things that risk spoiling the rest of a trip!
Leya
Gorgeous as usual, Sarah! Your architectural photos are always a treat – but my heart beats for the chameleon. That Colombian staircase make me shiver…I would have stayed on the ground with you. I might have come up – but down? A hangglider perhaps. Wasn’t there an elevator?
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Ann-Christine ๐ I would have loved to have seen the view from the top of that rock but no, the stairs were the only way up, and down! And besides, there was already a pretty good view from the base of the rock as we’d driven a fair way uphill to that point. I’m so glad you like the chameleon, I found all of them rather sweet.
JohnRH
Great great selections. Tirana, El Penol staircase, and spiny lizard are among my many faves. ๐
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you John ๐ And thanks too for telling me your favourites, I’m always interested to hear them!
margaret21
Those zig-zagging staircases …. and I love the Chicago reflections.
Sarah Wilkie
Chicago? Or Seattle?! There are some reflections in my Chicago shots, yes, but I think the Seattle library one beats them on that front ๐
margaret21
It was those reflections I was enjoying at that moment. But of course they’re all great shots.
Image Earth Travel
A gorgeous collection of zig zags Sarah! Glacier Grey reminds me of the Perito Moreno Glacier.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you ๐ I’ve never seen Perito Moreno (yet!) but I’m sure there are similarities.
Image Earth Travel
Perito Moreno is incredible! Check out my post when you’re on my site next – lots of photos.
Sarah Wilkie
I’ll do that!
margaret21
Oh, what a lot of great shots to take in! I’ll leave this post open and come back for another browse later!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Margaret, I’m glad you’re finding this worthy of a second browse ๐
equinoxio21
Again a challenging way to look at things. I don’t see much geometry unless I specifically look for it.
I’ve been wondering about our “conversation”, how I don’t really “see” details, I just see the big picture.
That might be due that for 5 years, from the age 5 to 10, our house was facing the open sea. All I could see all day (so to speak) was this vast extension of grey-green water, punctuated by dolphins, fish, boats. Overall it was just water everywhere the eye could look. And coast, and trees, etc…
I could ask my shrink if I had one…
Thanks for the pix and thoughts.
Toonsarah
Ah, that’s an interesting thought, and perhaps that is the explanation, or part of it. But I think it’s photography that has led me to see details, I don’t think I would do so nearly as much if I hadn’t become accustomed to looking for potential photos everywhere! And I didn’t grow up anywhere near the sea ๐
equinoxio21
Very true. I have been looking at things a different way(s) since I’m blogging. And reading other people’s views also pushes me to look differently. (And I thank you for that)
Sarah Wilkie
Equally I’ve learned a lot from the bloggers I follow ๐
equinoxio21
One of the many benefits of blogging.
Tina Schell
Wonderful gallery Sarah – I’m with most others in getting the willies from thinking about going up OR down that staircase! And like you, I think NYC has some amazing zigzags in their fire escapes! Terrific choices for the week.
Toonsarah
Thanks so much Tina ๐ As you can imagine, that staircase was the first thing I thought of when I saw this theme. And the New York fire escapes were the second!
grandmisadventures
You have the best photo collections Sarah! Love the zig zag lines from all over the world. Those stairs in Colombia are impressive…and they make my legs hurt a little bit just looking at them ๐
Toonsarah
Thanks so much Meg – I’ve had plenty of time and plenty of travels to amass these collections ๐
photobyjohnbo
Those fire escapes are great examples, but that staircase, ooohhh! I hurt just looking at it. ๐
Toonsarah
I think if I’d climbed it I’d be still hurting 18 months later!
Leanne Cole
These are great Sarah, those zigzag stairs look like they would be a nightmare to go and down.
Toonsarah
Thank you Leanne ๐ You’re right, going down those stairs would be as bad as going up, especially with my rather dodgy knees!
I. J. Khanewala
Lovely set. That chameleon has a really funky look
Toonsarah
Thank you – I loved the chameleons in Madagascar almost as much as the lemurs!
norasphotos4u
Love the apartment building and all the natural ones!! Wonderful gallery!
Toonsarah
Thank you so much Nora ๐
the eternal traveller
What a great collection of zig zags. That staircase looks freaky.
Toonsarah
Haha yes, freaky is a good word for it! I was astounded when I saw it ๐
Egรญdio
Sarah, your galleries always amaze me. You have incredible photos, and these are no exceptions.
Toonsarah
Thank you Egidio, I really appreciate that, especially given the high standard of your own photography ๐
Egรญdio
You’re very kind to say that, Sarah. I appreciate it.
Jane Lurie
Wow, a fabulous collection, Sarah. You get around! That staircase is terrifying. I would’ve stayed down with you! You have a great eye for urban scenes- fire escapes (favorite genre) staircases and architectural elements. ๐
Toonsarah
Thanks so much Jane ๐ We do indeed get around and I love to photograph details of all kinds, including architectural. It wasn’t so much that the staircase scared me, I just knew I didn’t have the stamina to get all the way to the top!
Anabel @ The Glasgow Gallivanter
Lovely selection. I like to think I could manage those stairs, but Iโm probably deluding myself!
Toonsarah
Thank you Anabel ๐ Chris reckoned the stairs really weren’t too bad, but he is super fit!
Ilze
Fantastic post! I love how you’ve captured the beauty of zigzag patterns in both nature and architecture. The Wadi Bani Awf road is a standoutโsuch a striking example of nature’s path. Love it!
Toonsarah
Thank you Ilze, I’m pleased you enjoyed my selection ๐ That road was awesome to drive – or I should say, be driven on (I would hate to drive it myself!)
Easymalc
You rose to a difficult challenge as I thought you would Sarah. Quite remarkable.
Toonsarah
Aw, thank you Malcolm ๐
thehungrytravellers.blog
I definitely want to climb that El Peรฑol staircase! (When my injury recovers). If the zig zag fascinates you, plan a weekend in Hampshire, in Jane Austen country. In her village of Chawton, the explorer Gilbert White won a bet by digging out โThe Zigzag Pathโ up a near vertical hillside. Thereโs a mapped Jane Austen hike which includes this path on its route. Itโs fun to climb. However, itโs not as impressive as El Peรฑol by a considerable distance!
Toonsarah
Thank you Phil ๐ Chris will tell you that staircase really isn’t that challenging, and certainly I was surprised how quickly he and Jean got back! Yes, I’ve been to Chawton, albeit some years ago, but I was more intent on visiting Austen’s home than climbing Gilbert White’s path!
thehungrytravellers.blog
Ah so youโve been. I quite liked the quirky history behind the path. Which of course meant we had to climb it!
Anne Sandler
This is a beautiful and fun post Sarah. Beautiful because of places captured through your lens. Fun because I found an optical illusion of the Tirana, Albania building. It seems to bulge when you roll the cursor to move down the picture. I don’t blame you for walking up those stairs in Columbia.
Toonsarah
Thanks so much Anne ๐ I found the same optical illusion too, and to a lesser extent with the Seattle library building!
Sue
Oh, my, El Peลol stairs look something else!,and love thee Glacier Grey image. A great selection, Sarah
Toonsarah
Thank you Sue, I’m so pleased you liked them ๐ Btw, I deleted your duplicate comment that posted as anonymous, as I realised what had happened. Isn’t WP maddening these days?!
Brad M
I enjoyed the study in patterns, especially of a familiar landmark or two. Often the patterns get lost in the whole photo, but you’ve made them the stars today.
Toonsarah
Thank you Brad, I’m glad you enjoyed them ๐ And also that you felt I’d made the patterns the stars – very much what I was aiming to do!
Monkey's Tale
From Buddhist Temples to a chameleon, this is a very eclectic collection. I don’t think we have such a full picture of El Peรฑol’s staircase. Maggie
Toonsarah
Thank you Maggie ๐ I guess I had plenty of time to find the best angle for that full height shot while I waited for Chris and Jean to return from their climb!
Teresa
Another awesome collection this week, Sarah. I just noticed now thatMelbourne doesnโt have much of those fire escapes that I see here as well as on Sesame Street in NYC.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Teresa. We don’t have many fire escapes here either, I always think of them as a very American feature.
Heyjude
Those stairs in Colombia would be the death of me! Even if I made it to the top I would need airlifting off! My favourite here among some great examples has to be that road in Oman. I do like a zig zag road ๐
Sarah Wilkie
I loved that road but there was no way I was going to attempt those steps! There were great views from the parking area and that was good enough for me ๐
Annie Berger
That staircase in Colombia really wasn’t bad, Sarah, although I admit we climbed it several years ago. Phenomenal views there but you captured others that were equally impressive. Had thought I might see photos of the Nazca Lines which fit the challenge perfectly. Have you seen them? We didn’t buy thought you might have.