When you put your hand in a flowing stream, you touch the last that has gone before and the first of what is still to come.
Leonardo da Vinci
It is hard to resist the lure of flowing water. The movement and sound together seem to draw us like a magnet. As you approach a beach and hear the waves crashing on the shore, or follow a forest trail towards the sound of a waterfall, I bet you quicken your steps? I know I do! The expectation of what you will see, the power of the water to create that noise, draws you on. Even the gentle tinkle of a fountain can prove irresistible among the other noises of a city.
And when you find the source of the noise it is the sight of that movement that will hold you captive, whether you want simply to watch, or to plunge into the moving waters. No wonder Sofia has chosen ‘water in motion’ as the theme for our Lens Artists challenge this week.
I have posted plenty of images of waterfalls, fountains, waves, rivers … even rain … in the past. So I wondered, what could I do a little differently this time? My feature photo, taken in Kerala, gave me an idea. Let’s look at the different ways we get pleasure from the motion of water. Splashing in falls or fountains, enjoying waves at the beach or surfing those same waves, perhaps even taking a walk in the rain …
Dunns River Falls, Jamaica
A popular tourist activity here is to climb up through the falls; I preferred watching on and taking photos.
Iguazu Falls, Brazil
At the much larger Iguazu Falls you can take a boat ride right up into the spray, great fun if you don’t mind a drenching!
Niagara Falls, Canada
This old slide from 1973 captured a group of my school friends venturing close to the falls, although not all of them appear to be enjoying the soaking!
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
My husband didn’t especially like the amount of spray at the very full Victoria Falls, but he braved it to get some photos
Seljalandsfoss, Iceland
Here my friend is enjoying the experience of walking behind these falls.
Rainy day walk in the Jardins des Tuileries, Paris
I’ve used this shot before but it fitted my theme too well not to include it again.
Lucca, Italy
Another rainy day walk, this time on city streets.
Sibiu, Romania
On a sunny day children can’t resist splashing in a fountain.
Alameda Central, Mexico City
This is another shot taken on our walk through the city a few weeks ago.
Guiones Beach, Costa Rica
The waves of the Pacific Ocean are a big draw for surfers.
Kotu Beach, Gambia
Late afternoon is the perfect time to have fun riding by the edge of the sea.
Okavango Delta, Botswana
It’s also the perfect time for a mokoro ride in the narrow channels, water at its most tranquil but still flowing.
Sal, Cape Verde
Or what could be more peaceful than a sunset paddle?
61 Comments
Annie Berger
Fabulous round-the-world shots, Sarah! we’ve never been to Jamaica but close friends are there now for their 10th trip so guess we should make it there, too, one day. Like you, I’d be on the sidelines looking at those steadier on their feet than they! Loved the Niagara Falls shot – when we were there about 20 years ago, they doled out bright blue raincoats! Also loved the Kerala shot of the happy girls- we were there for just a few days in mid-March of 2020 before having to evacuate because of Covid and hightail it home! I keep thinking we’ve been to lots of places but I suspect you’ve git us beat by a mile. How many countries and territories have you visited?
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Annie 😊 If you do decide to go to Jamaica let me know – we stayed in a fabulous little family-run B&B in Ocho Rios, so much better than the all-inclusive resorts that are the norm there! The food was wonderful (we ate dinner with them most evenings), the garden beautiful and our hosts couldn’t do enough for us. It’s not cheap but you’d love it!
According to my TravellersPoint map and stats, where I’ve recorded all my trips to date, I’ve visited 79 countries 🙂 How about you?
Annie Berger
Thanks for the info on Ocho Rios place you stayed at sounds lovely! I’ve been to 92 countries and 23 territories so far. Would love to make it to 100 of the former. Will get 4 more in with our upcoming Asia trip but I’m having more femur surgery the day after we return in mid-June so that’ll delay us from traveling for a bit! I’d really like to tour far more of Africa like you have but not sure that’s in the cards given my precarious health. Don’t count me out quite yet, though!
Sarah Wilkie
You’re well ahead of me in countries visited (I’m ‘only’ on 79!) and I’m betting you’ll make the 100, especially if you’re soon going to hit 96 😀 I do hope that surgery goes well and you’re back on the road soon afterwards. My OR recommendation would be a great place to go for some R&R while also ticking off another country, as Elise looks after her guests like family!
SoyBend
I liked your picture of the people walking up Dunns Falls. It looks sort of treacherous so I can see why you didn’t attempt it. I also liked the horseback rider in Gambia picture.
Sarah Wilkie
Yes, that falls climb did look a bit treacherous and also sort of gimmicky, if you see what I mean? The Gambia horse rider was a lucky shot, he just happened to be passing when I went out on to our hotel balcony!
photobyjohnbo
Sarah, I enjoyed seeing your take on the challenge. It’s the first response I’ve seen where the focus is on people enjoying (or not) the power of water. I especially like the joy expressed in the opening photo. I also know the feeling about getting soaked at Niagara Falls. At first, it’s unique… then it’s annoying. >grin<
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you John 😊 It was that first photo that gave me the idea to take this approach, so I’m glad you liked it.
Teresa
All great shots as usual, Sarah. But love the children playing in Sibiu, Romania
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Teresa – those kids were having such fun and it was one of the first times I’d seen that sort of fountain just set in a pavement. Now you find them everywhere!
Alison
I think I read that!
Alison
Another great gallery! I like the one of your school friends, fancy going to America with school. We had a week in Clevedon.
Have you scanned all your old photos, I’ve done some of mine but it’s such a time consuming project.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks Alison 🙂 I was so lucky to have that school trip – three weeks camping in Canada and a day at the end in New York! As to the old photos, no, only a fraction – as you say, it’s so time-consuming. Incidentally, I wrote up that Canada adventure some years ago, with more slides (including a less-well edited version of this one): https://www.toonsarah-travels.blog/my-first-taste-of-adventure-a-1970s-camping-trip/
grandmisadventures
Great water pictures. My favorite though is the line of people holding hands up the waterfall. That would be me, holding on tight so I didnt slip and fall while still wanting to experience it 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Meg 🙂 I can just see you enjoying that experience at Dunns River!
carabeinsplash
So many different places! This was a fun post. Thanks!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed it 😀
Anonymous
Ah, so great – as usual! Your opener is stunningly happy and the walking in the waterfall extremely unusual – never seen anything like it! But maybe my own mood fits the Lucca image best. But, of course they are all wonderful.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you very much ‘anonymous’ 😊 Walking behind waterfalls isn’t so uncommon in Iceland, I’ve seen people do it in various places (but always opted out myself for fear of damaging my camera or, worse, falling in!)
Anonymous
Really nice job, Sarah! Thanks for bringing me back to the “Smoke That Thunders”. I was there in the dry season, so the spray wasn’t as intense as when you were there. I really liked the opening shot with the joy on the faces of those two ladies.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you 🙂 The spray shouldn’t have been quite this intense when we visited but they’d had a particularly wet season and the river was still very full.
Anabel @ The Glasgow Gallivanter
Such joy in your header – and the opposite on some faces in your school group! Did you get wellies issued as well as the ponchos? Everyone seems to have the same shiny feet.
Sarah Wilkie
I can’t say that I remember any details from so long ago, only how wet it was! But we must have done, as I’m sure we didn’t pack wellies for the trip 🙂
Ingrid
What a wonderful collection of images from around the world. The image from Dunn River Falls made me chuckle. What a sight that might of been should the lead climber slip, they’d all slide down like dominos. 🤣 Great collection of photos depicting the challenge perfectly.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Ingrid – now, that WOULD have been quite a photo!
ropmann
This are wonderful pictures! The old slide from ’73 ist great!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you, I’m pleased you enjoyed them 🙂
JohnRH
Wow! LOTTA WATER! Walking UP a waterfall looks dangerous! Great photos all.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you John – I certainly didn’t fancy that walk!
Heyjude
The girls in Kerala are having so much fun! But among your many delightful photos the one that I love the most is Lucca – such a lovely shot in sepia.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Jude 😊 I enjoy ‘fiddling’ with that Lucca shot and I’ve made several versions over the years! This one was created with a ‘bleach bypass’ filter which removes much of the colour, but it owes its sepia look as much to the lovely old buildings there as to anything else 🙂
justbluedutch
Wonderful captures Sarah!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you, I’m glad you liked them 🙂
Anonymous
That header shot just makes you smile straight away. We did climb the falls in Jamaica, great fun if a little hairy!
Sarah Wilkie
Yes, it did look a bit hairy to me, especially as my sense of balance is lousy!
thehungrytravellers.blog
Hi Sarah, this is us, Phil & Michaela – I have no idea why we appeared as “anonymous”, except we’re having all sorts of strange issues with ur devices!
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks for clarifying 🙂 It happened on a previous post too, I think – the comment about seeing a marmoset?
thehungrytravellers.blog
Yep that was us too. The mysteries of IT thingys huh
Sofia Alves
As always, Sarah you have a special eye for people and this post is wonderful. Favourites? The first one is probably one of the best photos that you’ve shared with us. I love the movement and happiness. Your old slide is priceless!
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Sofia 😊 The Kerala shot is a personal favourite so I’m pleased you like it too!
Ritva Sillanmäki Photography
Sarah, I love how incorporated people in all the shots.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Ritva 😊 I found that doing so gave me a focus for the theme which was otherwise so broad!
Ritva Sillanmäki Photography
Yes, that is true.
margaret21
Oh fab! What a great idea to show how we all have a relationship with water, much of it joyous and energised – as summed up so beautifully in your very first photo.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Margaret 😊 I’m rather fond of that first photo. We were on our way from the coast to the tea growing area around Munnar and the road crossed a bridge over this waterfall where some people were picnicking and enjoying themselves. I asked our driver to stop and we walked back to try to grab some photos of the falls. All the people there were so happy to be photographed. The young lads started showing off and posing, while these ladies smiled and splashed extra hard for me 🙂
Easymalc
Yet another terrific set of images to fit the theme Sarah
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Malcolm 😀
Egídio
Sarah, you just gave us a beautiful journey around the world. These are great photos! Iguaçu brought back some home memories.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you, I’m so glad you enjoyed them 😀
Monkey's Tale
A great idea of the various ways to enjoy water. The old Niagara Falls picture is hilarious, I really love the street shot in Lucca. Maggie
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Maggie 🙂 The Lucca shot is proving a general favourite I think.
the eternal traveller
These are all beautiful images but that one at Niagara is a classic. One person looks very unimpressed.
Sarah Wilkie
Yes, I spotted that! I’m trying to recognise the face but she wasn’t a particular friend of mine and I can’t recall her name or anything about her 🙂
Tina Schell
Loved your approach this week Sarah. The raincoat kids from long ago cracked me up and I loved the climbers in Jamaica. I’d forgotten about the spray as we walked at Victoria Falls because it paled a bit vs our helicopter ride over the falls. But that and the Okavango were both fond memories for me so thanks especially for those! My favorites this week were your umbrella images, especially the second one. Although catching the umbrella with all of the Eiffel Towers on it was pretty cool 😊! Really well done.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Tina 😊 I’m glad the Okavango and Victoria Falls shots brought back some good memories. When we were at the latter the spray was far greater than it should have been at that time of the year as the falls were fuller than usual.
Anne Sandler
This is a beautiful collection of water in motion and people in action Sarah!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Anne, I’m glad you liked them 🙂
Anonymous
Love this post Sarah! The umbrella in Lucca and the kids in Sibiu wer great! Sibiu has undergone quite a transformation since I visited in 2007
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you 🙂 The Sibiu photo was taken at the Virtual Tourist meet there in 2013 so not so very long after your visit!
Wind Kisses
A fun look at the theme, Sarah. The da Vinci quote reminded me of the time I used to sit on the Madison River, Yellowstone, at the end of everyday, with those same thoughts. It is true.
You are right on with the sound of water captivating us. Many a hike we could hear those falls you talk of in the distance. No turning back until we see them.
I loved your view of Lucca, and chuckled at your school friends. And…interesting at Dunns River Falls. I was thinking, since they were all holding hands, if one was going down they were all going down together. lol. Maybe funny as long as no one got hurt. I am sure it was a great ramble for all of them. And great photos from you.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Donna 😊 The hand-in-hand climb at Dunns River Falls is a big tourist ‘must-do’, or at least certainly was when we were there some years ago, but you’re right – I wouldn’t want to be next to someone who slipped!