This week’s Challenge is “Curves“.
While many of human’s construction are based on straight lines, curves do seem more appealing to the eyes.
The most common type of curve is the circle or in a three-dimensional world, the sphere.
Both the interior and exterior of the Sophia Mosque in Turkey exhibit a lot of circular curves. It is amazing to see that the circular domes at several levels harmoniously merged together to form a graceful structure with a column free space underneath.
Nature creates a lot of curves too. The picture below is the Obruk Han Golu, doline (sinkhole) below the caravansary near Cappadocia. We were standing at a higher level looking down to the big hole when the sun was setting. Two men were taking pictures near to the edge of the hole. They may have disturbed some birds taking refuge at the rocks; the birds flew out in flocks (see the tiny white dots over the water). The sight was just surreal.
Several things from my trip to Bath, UK in 1985 always came to mind. They are the Roman Bath, the Royal Crescent and the weir just downstream of the Pulteney bridge on the River Avon.
The weir was rebuilt in 1970s in its current ‘V’ shape with an associated flood control gate on the east side of the river. The Pulteney weir was featured in the recently released film of Les Misérables.
The weir has carefully combined engineering and art to form an icon for the town.
While we have plenty of straight lines, we need a lot more curves in our built environment. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
retireediary 
Great places and pics…
I especially love the Turkish mosque, what a beautiful example of architecture!
They are distinctly different from the European ones. Thank you 🙂
I remember that weir in les Mis, great photos, Michael. I’ve been in a great biodome in England that was very curvy. It looks great on the horizon.
Hi Catherine, I would like to see the biodome someday 🙂
Love the theme and your pictures – excellent capture. Your last sentence – makes me think about the similarity to life…
Hi, we always wanted to be able to go in a straight line in the shortest possible route, but life is always not that easy and straight forward. we go in curves, sometimes making too much of a detour. Sometimes, things can go from bad to worse, we are back full circle. But the thing is , we learn how to enjoy while making the detour 🙂
Lovely gallery of curves for the challenge!
Thank you, Ruth 🙂
I love your explanation about life not being straight forward above. What are curves and detours after all but an opportunity to see something you perhaps would not have encountered had you stayed on the straight pathway! Very excellent photos for this particular photo challenge. I wish I had even a drop of your talent with the camera lens.
Hi, I wish I have included something in the post about curves / detours in life. I didn’t know that photography can play an important part in my life, until after retirement. thank you for the kind words 🙂
OOOHHH. The Hagia Sophia is on my bucket list! I want to see it so bad. Love your shots….
Hi Cindy, hope you will see Hagia Sophia soon. Thank you 🙂
Some dangerous curves in those pictures…
Hi Michele, can you please enlighten which are those curves that you feel dangerous? thanks for the comment 🙂
Lol, the sinkhole for starters!
That’s true, you never know how deep the water is and what lives inside. Thank you 🙂
Your photos are stunning as always. 🙂
Many thanks, Imelda 🙂
Excellent
Thank you 🙂
Love that first shot Michael!
Hi Tina, I also like this three-dimensional image with multiple curves. Regards, Michael
Holy Moly (pardon my ignorance), this is beautiful!
Thank you 🙂
Have to say, I love curved buildings, not sure why, they just feel better, no sharp edges I suppose, great feng shui 🙂
I like curve buildings too, especially those by Gaudi. In terms of feng shui, they are better 🙂
The sinkhole is massive, and you really get a sense of its scale with the two men standing next to it. Surreal.
The hole is really massive, I could just contain the hole within the picture frame when using the widest camera shot. Thank you 🙂
The weir looks magnificent, Michael. Thanks for sharing ^^
You are the first to say that you like the last picture. Thank you 🙂
Love all three pictures, Michael, but the last one is mysterious and quite interesting. Thanks for sharing your version of curves from around the world! http://ohtheplaceswesee.com
This is the only V shaped weir in a curve which came to mind; the water cascading from one to the next is interesting too. Thank you 🙂
Beautiful display of curves. Love the water in the last one.
BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!
Hi, I always feel blessed with your comment. Regards, Michael
ciao! you really met this challenge well. curves go to my head…cy twombly thrills. and so does your head spinning fantastic photos.
thebestdressup
Hi thebestdressup, glad you like the post and thanks very much for the kind comment.
The weir is an especially beautiful example of graceful curves. I agree with your comment about needing more built curves, as they are relaxing!
Yes, we need more pleasing architecture with curves; straights are usually easier to construct and less costly. Thank you 🙂
Very good post!, as always.
Many thanks for the encouraging comment 🙂
The Sophia Mosque is incredible. I hope to go there someday.
Hope you can witness it with your own eyes someday 🙂
Hi Michael. I’ve turned my like button off but can’t stop it in WordPress Reader. I would really appreciate if you would unfollow me and not use it any more. thank you.
Done!
It is hard to pick one photo that I like the best because I like them all. The info is fantastic, too. Super post for the challenge.
Isadora
Hi Isadora, thank you very much for the continued support and encouragement 🙂
Great shots, Michael, all of them. I can’t say I would want to get as close to the edge as the fellows did who startled the birds. Your mention of Bath UK brings to mind that Bath NY is just down the road from where I live. In Bath, there is a Pulteney Square, and just off the square is the oldest cemetery in Steuben County where are buried many people from (or descended from) the UK. There is also a Pulteney Street here in Corning.
Interesting to learn about Bath NY. Thank you for your continued interest and support 🙂
The curved architecture in Hagia Sophia is all the more impressive because it was completed in the 6th century. As always, your photos are excellent, Michael. (And I am happy to have you continue to follow my blog!)
Will continue to follow. Thank you 🙂
A lovely set of curves pictures. The last one, of the waterfall in Bath brought back good memories. I have some family photos taken on the path to the top right of your photo. One is of the view looking down and back at the waterfall and the flood control gate. The photo taken immediately after that is of the other three members of my family, my Dad, Mum and sister, standing on the pavement there. It was 1972 and I was only 10, but I remember that v shaped waterfall!
It is a very picturesque location; no wonder that your family has been taking pictures there. Glad that it brings back fond memories.Thank you 🙂
beautiful photo’s , Michael!
groetjes, Francina
Many thanks, Francina 😉
Devils can’t hide in corners, if there are none.
Agree. Thank you 😉
really amazing curves! 🙂
Thank you 🙂
Cool theme going on here!! That sinkhole is impressive – wonder how deep it is. Thank you so much once again for heading to my site and liking “Lake Champlain”, “Puddle” and “Trick of Nature”. Take care, Michael.
Not sure how deep is the sink hole. I only saw it from afar. Missed the chance of actually going down the hill to have a close look. Thank you 🙂