If you love maps and data, you should click on over to TwistedSifter.com, which has rounded up 40 maps to give you perspective on the world. See the global distribution of McDonald’s and the rainbow of Antarctica’s time zones. You can marvel at America’s rivers and many researchers, share the love of coffee and beer and sigh at our resistance to the metric system and paid maternity leave. One of the more surprising maps shows the busiest air travel routes of 2012, with the busiest flight path between Seoul and the island of Jeju, the “Hawaii of Korea.” There are no U.S. or European cities on the list, but if you’ve seen enough maps, you’ll have enough perspective to see we’re just a small part of this big globe.
Photo Of The Day: Happy Birthday Brooklyn Bridge
Today marks the 129th anniversary of the opening of the Brooklyn Bridge. Happy Birthday, you barely look a day over 100! This photo by Gadling’s own Willy Volk was taken from the NYC Water Taxi. He used a fake tilt-shift effect to get the unique perspective and slightly blurred edges, but it reminds me of the view you might see on a rainy day riding the subway over the neighboring Manhattan Bridge. It’s a view that never fails to inspire visitors and New Yorkers – one that’s unmistakably New York. Celebrate the anniversary with a walk across its span to Brooklyn and back; it’s one of New York’s last great free thrills.
Share your best travel photos with us in the Gadling Flickr pool. If we find them inspiring (and can download them), we’d love to include one as a future Photo of the Day.
Photo Of The Day: Arches Of The Golden Gate Bridge
San Francisco‘s Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most photographed landmarks in the world, but it might take a few minutes before you recognize her in today’s Photo of the Day from Flickr user Jason Rodman. Is that a chic lounge? A minimalist sauna? A macro shot of Lego blocks? The image’s contrast and perspective play tricks on your eyes until you finally recognize the iconic red arches.
Rodman says that the image was taken from the sunroof of his car. “I was behind the wheel but taking advantage of a traffic jam up ahead. Once I saw that traffic was stopped, out came the camera.”
Do you have a shape-shifting travel photograph that belongs here? Upload your favorite shots to the Gadling Group Pool and your image could be selected as our Photo of the Day.
Photo of the day – Sunset in Manhattan
Sunsets are a common staple of the travel photo album. We tend to associate them with palm-tree-lined beaches, desert landscapes, and misty mountains. Yet this photo by Flickr user jameskadamson has nary a cactus or foothill in sight. Taken in New York City, it’s a beautiful perspective on the building’s architecture and the photographer’s favorite time of day. Want more sunsets? Check out yesterday’s video of the day for 365 sunsets around the world.
Taken a unique perspective on a common subject? Add your photos to Gadling’s Flickr Pool and we may choose one for a future Photo of the Day.
Photo of the day (11.11.10)
At first glance, I thought this photo was an aerial view of the sea with the gorgeous, saturated aqua green color, looking down from the clouds. Then I saw the tiny airplane silhouettes and realized it was looking *up* at 3,700 feet. Flickr user StefanTrego soared above upstate New York in an ASK-21 glider plane (which apparently has semi-reclining seats, pretty comfy for a tiny plane) with Harris Hills Soaring Club and has this shot to prove it. Certainly makes flying lessons look tempting for views and perspectives like this.
Have you ever taken flying lessons or seen the world from far above? Send your photos to our Flickr Pool and it could be our next Photo of the Day.