Driving into the future
First, I want to say thank you to all of my Flickr friends and wish you a most excellent Friday. I reached 10,000 visits yesterday, in just over 3 months of becoming involved. I do Web 2.0 for my business (e.g. Wonkosphere.com), and Flickr is my social network community of choice.
When we drive between Phoenix and LA on Interstate 10 it's always fun to go by the wind farms in San Gorgonio, California (near Palm Springs, east of Los Angeles). They dominate the landscape for about 5 minutes, and it's kind of other worldly.
I teach Technology Management, and so many of my students have done technology analysis projects concerning wind power. One of the oft-cited drawbacks is that people think they're ugly. Do you agree?
Are modern wind mills ugly?
If so, what could be done to make them more attractive to people?
All of us need to pitch in when it comes to energy, most so those of us in the U.S. We drive into the future together.
Comments and faves
One World One Earth One Sky, shotam, the-father, dliban, and 78 other people added this photo to their favorites.
One World One Earth One Sky (68 months ago | reply)
Great title + Cool picture = Faved
andie.smith (68 months ago | reply)
cool shot!!!!
. SantiMB . (68 months ago | reply)
Great capture! Congrats for the visits!
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the-father (68 months ago | reply)
wow!
You are my winner!
Please add this photo to
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Monster. (68 months ago | reply)
Great composition.
elwisty1 (no longer updated) [deleted] (68 months ago | reply)
Like a techno-forest...
I think it depends on the environment and context whether they're ugly or beautiful. I don't find them particularly beautiful in this landscape - although your shot is great. The terrain looks quite barren!
Harry Halibut (68 months ago | reply)
No way are these ugly! I get so fed up with people saying these are ugly. These are just fine and there should be thousands more of them.
The metal monsters driving along the road are ugly and out of place in a sustainable environment.
aviana07 (68 months ago | reply)
I think what's interesting is the paradoxical situation we find ourselves in-well captured
The World Through My Eyes
reiffgladys (68 months ago | reply)
You are invited to add this exceptional image to
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please add the tag GoldStarAward
Mr. FRANTaStiK (68 months ago | reply)
cnuño [deleted] (68 months ago | reply)
great shot!
(4 Aces)
Discoe (68 months ago | reply)
That's what the world should look like.
~*~...nicole...~*~ (68 months ago | reply)
this is a great shot...they have these windmills in northern california, too...it is surreal, though, huh?
crowt59 (68 months ago | reply)
I see a field on photo potential. Another sweet grab!
Ms_congeniality (68 months ago | reply)
Yep they are ugly. I seen these things when I visited america in 94... it was creepy to see a field of these alien windmill for the first time.
Wonderful composition; manages to drag your eye right into the photo.
Lisa GH (68 months ago | reply)
First, I really like this shot & the story it tells.
I've always liked the way these windmills look. There's something so approprately stark about them out in the desert. It feels like I'm driving through some sort of science fiction scenario out there. Plus, I really like the sound they make.
Canis Major (68 months ago | reply)
They do look like some sort of alien invasion a la War of the Words. Good juxtaposition with the cars, they give a great sense of scale.
(4 Aces)
abitblue [deleted] (68 months ago | reply)
Nice shot. Just like Holland :) No one even gives them a second thought here. They make sense- are good to the environment, save money and don't pollute. What could be ugly about that?
♥♥♥J♥♥♥ (68 months ago | reply)
This shot is very COOL! Great work.
andreasnilsson1976 (68 months ago | reply)
Wow, totally surprising to see an energy source over there that isn't based on oil! A great picture!
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Marina Castillo (68 months ago | reply)
I remember this place very well. I grew up in Cali, and also lived in Prescott Arizona, this was a frequent sight.
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lune-atik (68 months ago | reply)
wow excellent................ love it..........
......... and you have the same cat as mine....... ;-)))
lune-atik (68 months ago | reply)
something like that....... makes me think to "the invaders"................ old and futurist...........
sorry for manipulated your pic........... (just a try)...... ;-)))
Hobbyfotograf Jürgen aus Rheinhausen (68 months ago | reply)
great !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
frasp [deleted] (68 months ago | reply)
GOLD STAR AWARD (award or invite needed)
You get another gold star
obeezy [deleted] (68 months ago | reply)
Awesome capture!
From the 1-2-3 (no per day limitations)-group
ForzaVale [deleted] (68 months ago | reply)
Great shot! Used to see them everywhere in south Dakota, too
阿德 之 休眠中( In dormancy ) Z Z z (68 months ago | reply)
breathtaking landscape!
anakiwa_forever (67 months ago | reply)
Ok, they arent the most beautiful things around, but as a source of renewable energy, they are hard to beat for minimal damage to the landscape once they are there... I personally think they are kinda cool.
Freund Studio (67 months ago | reply)
I drive to the desert frequently from LA, I've seen the wind mills many times over the years, first a few dozen of them, now hundreds? I think that they are a modern sculpture installation. As for how to make them more beautiful? Perhaps an artist or landscape Architect could be involved in their installation? Mainly though, I think the public will change their attitude as we come to see them as our salvation from oil, economic warfare and pollution.
I saw this in the 10+ Faves group and Faved it.
matthaeus_felder [deleted] (67 months ago | reply)
Best shot I've seen in a while now.
BoblyP (67 months ago | reply)
hehey! i like this
I saw this picture in The BIG ONE...
Mr Lix@Milano [deleted] (67 months ago | reply)
flickr poker
Kristin Jona (67 months ago | reply)
Yes the future is here.
Aquilant (67 months ago | reply)
I hate modern windmills but i don't know any remedy to make them more attractive.
This brilliant photo is like a shooting star,
totally inspiring!
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iK@psel (67 months ago | reply)
Cultural Boxes
I've FAVEd your pic!
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Lynn Park (I think I'm back) (67 months ago | reply)
I always think they're cool--and love the irony of this photo
terren in Virginia (67 months ago | reply)
flickr poker
Kenny Maths (67 months ago | reply)
INDEPENDENT
...your AMAZING pic
makes me feel
INDEPENDENT,
and deserves an AWARD!!! .
sunny-drunk (67 months ago | reply)
great shot...........won't be long before there is one on top of every car!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
compliments! this is a
High Creativity Award
Yolande... (67 months ago | reply)
Great shot!
melina1965 (67 months ago | reply)
Two worlds is meeting together : old and new energy.
Bravo !
Your Photo Wins a Heart
From Heart Awards Group .
vambo25 (67 months ago | reply)
Your Photo Wins a Heart
From Heart Awards Group .
frisamusic (67 months ago | reply)
Great shit and title!
Your Photo Wins a Heart
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j-kurisu (67 months ago | reply)
Your Photo Wins a Heart
From Heart Awards Group .
Jamie McKerral (67 months ago | reply)
Extraordinary !! Definitely a winner!
and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.
,
,
Fl♥ckr Extraordinary Capture Award,
Please Tag your photo with ExCapture
omg is there really a need for so many lol
Ekz . (67 months ago | reply)
Que excelente Foto! esta foto esta nominada
favor de adherirla (What an amazing picture! It has been nominated, please add it)
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LindsayWilliamRoss (64 months ago | reply)
Hi! We used your photo today on LAist:
laist.com/2008/02/02/winds_of_change.php
thanks!
melcir.meri (63 months ago | reply)
This brilliant photo is like a shooting star, splendid!
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kstoon (61 months ago | reply)
we have a rather large wind farm east of the BN area in illinois. it goes on and on for many miles along route 9. i think they are kinda cool looking, just wish i could walk up to them and see them up close. (if a security person sees you, they chase you off.) my only concern with these is as they age, will they be kept up. and if they are no longer useful at some point in time, what will happen to them.