Cosmic Art & Design will present and link the work of artists, musicians and authors, whom I've had the privilege of knowing over the years, as well as my own work. Art, music, literature and the myriad inventions, products and services we are privileged to partake of, are all special gifts from the Creator that have benefited mankind. Whether you're an artist, an enthusiast or perhaps a patron, all civil commentary is welcome. Grazie tante!

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Alaska Out My Cabin Window


The flight home from Shanghai to Boston was over sixteen hours in duration. Not long after the dinner meal the cabin lights were dimmed and the passengers settled in to sleep. It was nine hours into the flight and most everyone on board had been asleep for about six hours. All the window shades were drawn and the cabin was dark. A glint of light caught my eye. It was creeping in from a tiny slit at the bottom of the window shade that I had not fully closed the night before.

My curiosity was greater than my need to protect my fellow passengers, or my wife, from being zapped by a bright shaft of sunlight. I opened the shade slowly, an inch or so at a time, as if to inoculate the rest of the dozing travelers. About a third of the way up I realized a spectacular view was unfolding. The early morning sky was nearly cloudless and the view was unlimited. I switched on the in-flight map screen and was made aware that we were somewhere over the Alaska Range. My Canon ELPH was close by and I began shooting and shooting until the balance of its memory card was full.

A few window shades were opening while I was capturing this natural wonder, and eventually all the shades were lifted, but by then we were well past the mountain ranges of Alaska and Canada. My carelessness in not closing the shade fully allowed me and my wife to partake of a once in a lifetime sight. We are blessed! -mjb

 A spectacular view of the range and its vast glacier systems. The early morning Sun creates such a definitive scape. You can really appreciate the complexity and beauty of America's "Last Frontier."

A view of Great Slave Lake, The Hay River,  meandering in the bottom right section of the photo, terminates at the southern shore of the  lake at the town of the same name, Hay River (center of photo), located in Northwest Territories, Canada. The Mackenzie Highway, known here as Northwest Territories Highway 1, can be seen in this photo running alongside the river.