Explore The Elements Photoblogging Contest

I (very) recently heard about a photoblogging contest on Twitter – which I admit was a huge motivator for me to start this blog – that requires photographers to submit photos that portrays their interpretation of the four elements: Earth, Water, Fire and Air. It’s the Thomas Cook Explore The Elements Travel Photoblogging Challenge and it’s super easy to enter. Click here to learn how you can.

The four elements are defined as:

• Earth: representing the hard, solid objects. Associated with stubbornness, collectiveness, physicality and gravity.
• Water: representing the fluid, flowing, formless things in the world. Associated with emotion, defensiveness, adaptability, flexibility, suppleness and magnetism.
• Fire: representing the energetic, forceful, moving things in the world. Associated with security, motivation, desire, intention and an outgoing spirit.
• Air: representing things that grow, expand and enjoy freedom of movement. Associated with will, elusiveness, evasiveness, benevolence, compassion and wisdom.

It was difficult to decide which images I would use, but it was also a lot of fun to look at my favourite collections with an element-focused lens. The photos I selected are from my travels through South East Asia, South Korea and my recent trip to Trinidad and Tobago.

Earth
This photo was taken on a trail in Busan, South Korea. The naked trees wait to blossom while the rocks move for no one.

Earth- Rock Trail Wanderer

Water
I selected this photo of the magnificent turquoise pools that lead up to Kuang Si Falls in Laos because every time I look at it it takes my breath away (and it was taken 3 years ago!). As the water flows it adapts to new shapes with ease and blends flawlessly into the surroundings.

Water- Turquoise Bliss

Fire
One of my favourite things to take pictures of while travelling is a painter at work. I love watching the colours take form on canvas, I love the way the colours mix and sit on the palette and there’s something extremely calming about watching someone paint intently. I took this while I was exploring the Angkor Temples in Cambodia. I chose this photo for fire because of the fire-like mix of colours and paintings and because of the outgoing spirit and desire you can feel this painter has.

Fire- A Painter’s Station in Siem Reap

Air
This photo was taken on a recent trip to Trinidad and Tobago at a beach area called Englishmen’s Bay. A shop owner hung out sarongs that blew in every direction ever-so freely.

Air- Tobago Beach Breeze

Nominations

To enter the contest, you need to nominate 5 travel bloggers. They don’t have to be personal connections, it can be any travel blog that you admire. Before I list my nominees, I would like to apologize to them for the short notice. I just found out about the contest this weekend and was far from prepared to enter. The contest closes at midnight on March 16, 2015 (tomorrow) so there is still time!

I’d like to nominate the writers at Journey Wonders: Adventure and Culture Travel, Nomadic Matt, Bacon is Magic, The Savvy Backpacker and Wandering Earl. You can find more information about the contest here. Good luck to you!

Thanks for taking the time to look at my pictures. If you like what you see, keep coming back to eyetravelfar@wordpress.com. I’ve got lots to share.