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Beautiful

I'm one of those who looks for meaning and beauty in unexpected places. I read this article this morning in the BBC (well, I say read, but it's really more of a "viewed")... Here's a link to it:

http://www.bbc.com/news/in-pictures-35105239

Here's some of my favorite pics:

Electricity pylon at Lions Rock, Hong Kong

I've always loved electric towers/pylons. I used to watch them marching off into the distance while on a long road trip, like so many soldiers with their arms carrying their burdensome loads. While they may be an unattractive scar on the landscape, I also find beauty in their engineered simplicity and regularity. 

Architecture in North Carolina, USA

This is electrical conduit. Again, I love the simplicity and the regularity. This image is particularly compelling because of the way the chrome-like galvanized steel conduit looks ultra-modern and clean compared with the bare concrete behind it. This reminds me of an integrated circuit board, except in three dimensions, and I think it's just lovely in its raw power (pun intended) and elegant function. Le Corbusier would be proud.

The Millennium bridge supports

When I was in architecture school, I found the idea of connection and support very fascinating. Still do, really. These massive, if beautifully fashioned, connection points are supports for cables. The thing about a cable is that it only provides structural support in tension and along the vector along which it is oriented. That is, cables can only pull in one direction, and this directional function is very obvious in this image. It also strikes me how minimal and simple these connection points are, anchored to the ground, and ever pulling along that perfect, raking angle. 

Metal spikes on a construction site

Lastly, look at these safety caps. They're put onto the end of exposed rebar for two reasons: to protect against impalement should one fall onto them, and to protect against scrapes and cuts should one brush up against them. Not all of these bars have the caps on them, but it appears as if these have been sitting exposed for some time, so some of them may have been lost over time. These bars take on an almost whimsical quality with the colors and bent angles... 

The truth is, there is much beauty in the world, if we'd only take a little time to view it.

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