the red sea and clouds photo from a plane

I promised you the sky

and now you get clouds.

I promised the sky in my penultimate post of photos with stones and sand from my last trip to Egypt. And so the chapter on Egypt comes to a close.
As reported, I had the chance to take master classes with the greatest artist of all time: Mother Nature. To improve my skills – especially in composition – I also did some photo series and certainly learned a lot.


I always try to get to know new worlds when I travel. Worlds in the broadest sense. Visiting a pharaoh’s burial chamber is just as much a new world for me as the coral reefs, stones, and sand on the beach – or the world above the clouds.

Photographing from an airplane is often not that easy and I ask you to overlook the technical shortcomings of the photos. I’ve made quite a few though. Some are useless but there are quite a few expressive ones so it was difficult for me to choose. When making my selection, I put the emphasis above all on the photos that come close to that what I am also trying to express in my painting.

I live in a very small – but fine – country, Austria. And when I fly south, I’ve only just stretched out my legs and found a comfortable sitting position when the Alps appear. With some luck and good weather conditions, they show themselves in their full glory.

the Austrian Alps photo from a plane
the Austrian Alps photo from a plane
the Austrian Alps photo from a plane

A slide over the sea and soon after you’re already flying over the desert. One generally associates deserts with monotony. Instead, they are masters of abstract art.

the Egyptian dessert photo
the Egyptian dessert photo

A few clouds further and the sky touches the sea. And now this pleasant feeling opens up in you, a mixture of joy, anticipation, can’t wait any longer….

the red sea and clouds photo from a plane
the red sea Hurghada photo from a plane

This photo should also be considered as part of the sky theme: the sky out my window at 4:30 in the morning.

safaga morning

back we go

And then we turn our vehicle 180 degrees and go where we came from.

the sea photo from a plane
the sea photo from a plane

But, who would have thought it, the track looks different now. The motives imprinted in the memory of recent days are now reappearing. A moment ago it was a fish that swam past us, now it was an airplane. At the airport it looked big and mighty, now in the vastness of the sky it is what it is, a dot drawing a line between A and B.

clouds like dolphins and fish

Even the clouds can fool you into thinking you’re still in the sea.

clouds like dolphins

The Alps show themselves again and this time they really get going and bloom in full beauty..

the alps photo from a plane
the alps photo from a plane

Well, that’s it. Captain Friedrich and his crew thank you for flying with Dao-Air! We hope you had a pleasant flight!

photo from plane

extra: an announcement

the magic sea announcement

What’s that supposed to be, you might ask? Another joke for sure. Yes and no. In any case, no one needs to be afraid, I would actually sing. it will be a toneless “opera” any way at the beginning. So what’s the point?
Next week I will bring a contribution in which I present a new project. But similar to the children’s book project, it will be made a reality. So why all this and what do the readers get out of it?

One of the most memorable moments in my life has been the opportunity to listen to good musicians create a new piece. A little strumming on one guitar, a few hinted chords on another. At some point, the bass player gets on and something is formed from the hints and increasingly takes shape. I will try to make a creative process, at least in parts, comprehensible in the following article with my thoughts on the subject of the sea. At the moment the “water is still quite cloudy”.


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Comments

51 responses to “I promised you the sky”

  1. J M Negi avatar

    Ya! You kept your promise, truly. Thanks.

    1. Zettl Fine Arts avatar

      Thank you very much! A Happy Easter with more Easter-eggs than clouds 🙂

      1. J M Negi avatar

        Thanks and wish you the same place.

      2. J M Negi avatar

        Place~please

  2. christinenovalarue avatar
    1. Zettl Fine Arts avatar

      💙Thank you!💙

  3. Painting Pictures avatar

    I do hope your music is as captivating as your photography. These pictures are the very essence of great photography.

    1. Zettl Fine Arts avatar

      Thank you for your kind words on the snapshots! The other project is still simmering 🙂

  4. Traum(A)Kinder avatar

    Mein erstes Flugerlebnis war 1972 und erzeugte ein Hochgefühl. Jedes Mal über den Wolken verspüre ich aufs Neue, wie wunderbar der Blick über die Wolken ist. Tolle Aufnahmen! Danke.

    1. Zettl Fine Arts avatar

      Ich danke! Ich bin ebenfalls um die Zeit, eher 73, zum ersten Mal geflogen. Ja, es ist unglaublich, welche Welt sich auftut! Und in welcher Vielfalt. Aber kaum einer blickt aus dem Fenster, was mich immer wieder ueberrascht! Frohes Osterfest!

      1. Traum(A)Kinder avatar

        Als wir im Jahr 2000 nach Florida geflogen sind, habe ich all die Stunden aus dem Fenster geschaut. Ich konnte ebenfalls nicht verstehen, warum andere nur Film gesehen oder geschlafen haben. Frohe Ostertage!

  5. Cre8sound avatar

    Clouds… my favourite things, great images. Looking forward to hearing your music – good luck with the project 🙏

    1. Zettl Fine Arts avatar

      Thank you! Yes, those clouds…..Glad you like them. Happy Easter!

      1. Cre8sound avatar

        Thanks Friedrich – Happy Easter to you too!

  6. swabby429 avatar

    Your cloud photos have variety and depth. The aerial views of mountains are mesmerizing. My air flights usually reveal vast stretches of flat cumulus cover that are conducive to napping.

  7. Milena Alien avatar

    Great shots! Keep posting

    1. Zettl Fine Arts avatar

      Thank you so much, Milena, for your encouriging words! Happy Easter!

      1. Milena Alien avatar

        Happy Easter to you too

  8. Stacey C. Johnson avatar
    Stacey C. Johnson

    Friedrich, these are stunning photos and I am grateful to you for sharing them! Also, intrigued by this operatic announcement : )

    1. Zettl Fine Arts avatar

      Thank you so much Stacey! Announcement – well, last time I promise the sky and then I delivered mainly clouds 🙂

  9. The Sicilian Storyteller avatar

    That was glorious! And a purple plane; my favorite color! Wunderbar! 💜

    1. Zettl Fine Arts avatar

      Thank you! Yes, purple haze all around me – just right to take off 🙂 Happy Easter!

      1. The Sicilian Storyteller avatar

        Excellent comeback, Friedrich, and thank you for your good wishes. Same to you and yours.

  10. Dana at Regular Girl Devos avatar

    Enjoyed your vacation photos! I can see your paintings in them.

    1. Zettl Fine Arts avatar

      Thank you so much, Dana! I did that on purpose 🙂 Happy Easter!

      1. Dana at Regular Girl Devos avatar

        Excellent! Happy Easter to you!

  11. Mike and Kellye Hefner avatar

    Such amazing scenery, Fred, especially from your perspective. I enjoyed seeing your photos and following your vacation. That sunrise – wow! Now, I’m intrigued by what you have for us next.

    1. Zettl Fine Arts avatar

      Thank you so much, Mike! I am sure what comes next will be – well, more weird that my photos, al least! I already started, not knowing where this will actually bring me but it looks promising. Now I got your attention for sure 🙂 Happy Easter to you both!

  12. Rosaliene Bacchus avatar

    It was a pleasure flying with Dao-Air 🙂 Incredible the way landscapes can change so dramatically when we’re airborne!

  13. annieasksyou avatar

    I always feel enriched by the insights and images you share, Friedrich. Loved your description of the desert. So glad you soaked it all in and felt free enough not to paint at all. Looking forward to your next creative blooming in whatever form it takes.

    1. Zettl Fine Arts avatar

      Thank you so much for your kindness, Annie! Yes, I think the next posting could be interesting. I just finished an Easter painting and if I still like it tomorrow morning I will introduce it.

  14. Mariana Gouveia avatar
    Mariana Gouveia

    Wow! Imagens belíssimas!

    1. Zettl Fine Arts avatar

      Mille Gracie 🌹🙏☀️

  15. nonsmokingladybug avatar

    My Alps, in all their beauty. Great pictures through stunningly clean glass windows. :-)Happy Easter

    1. Zettl Fine Arts avatar

      Thank you very much! Happy Easter to you too!

  16. Edith avatar

    Österreich – ich war ganz sicher acht, neun Mal in deinem wunderschönen Land. Und jedesmal, wenn ich diese gigantischen Alpen sah, sagte ich: Dort wohnt der liebe Gott.
    Egal, wann ich dort war, das Bild für die Augen war immer ein anderes – genau so wie du es beschreibst. Unübertrefflich einfach!

    Geflogen bin ich noch nie. Deshalb faszinieren mich deine Fotos aus dem Flugzeug sehr. Sie zeigen wie klein doch alles erscheint mit einem Abstand.

    Und zu deinem musikalischen Projekt drücke ich dir fest die Daumen. Was du in Farben auszudrücken vermagst, wirst du auch ohne Töne können.

    Nur so nebenher – immer, wenn ich in Österreich war, war der Besuch der Kirchen einfach Pflicht. Sie sind in ihrer Schönheit unübertrefflich. Und in Ergriffenheit stellte ich mich einfach hin und habe: Großer Gott wir loben dich und Dona nobis, gesungen.
    Mir war der Hall, die gesamte Akustik war mir wichtig zu hören.
    Und einmal, als ich Dona nobis anfing zu singen, da stellte sich ein Herr neben mich und wir sangen im Kanon. Ohne, dass ich es bemerkte, liefen mir die Tränen über die Wangen, so ergriffen war ich vom großen Ganzen.
    Fremde Menschen nickten mir jedesmal nach meinem Singen zu. Ja, man hätte eine Stecknadel fallen hören können…

    Lieber Friedrich ein frohes Osterfest wünsche ich dir von Herzen, mit allem, was dich glücklich macht in diesen Tagen, Stunden…
    Ganz lieb, Edith

    1. Edith avatar

      Was du in Farben auszudrücken vermagst, wirst du auch ohne Töne können.
      Entschuldige, keine Ahnung wie das wegrutschte und falsch kam…

    2. Zettl Fine Arts avatar

      Danke, liebe Edith! Ja, die Alpen, ja, die Kirchen. Ich liebe auch ganz besonders die italienischen und lasse kaum eine aus, wenn es mir vergoennt ist, dorthin zu reisen. Dir ein besonders schoenes Osterfest 🙂

      1. Edith avatar
        Edith

        Danke sehr.

  17. acrylicphil avatar

    Thank you for sharing these beautiful photos, Friedrich. It felt like a beautiful little holiday.

    1. Zettl Fine Arts avatar

      Thank you very much! Yes, it was ok. I should be a little younger though 😎

  18. muz4now avatar

    Your upcoming music sounds like improvisation to me. You have me very intrigued!

    1. Zettl Fine Arts avatar

      I hope you won’t be too disappointed! It’s partly going in a different direction than what you could read from the announcement. But hopefully no less exciting 🙂

      1. muz4now avatar

        I love improv and consider it to be a high art form. Still very curious.

  19. Ashley avatar

    BRILLAINT!

    1. Zettl Fine Arts avatar

      Thank you so much Ashley! Happy Easter!

  20. graham mcquade avatar

    You got some great detail from the plane’s window, Friedrich. I always struggle to get good images.

    1. Zettl Fine Arts avatar

      Thank you Graham! Yes, I can remember trips with scenes that were very impressive but the photos were no good. I have a new phone, nothing special but the camera function is quite good. With my real camera I have to adjust too much. By the time I’m done with that, the glaciers on the Alps will have melted….

  21. Dominik Alexander avatar

    My last flight was in 2016 and I’m not planning to fly in the near future. But I also love to take photos from an airplane. Yours from the Alps are great. I also like the one with the neighbouring plane and the one with the cloud dots. Thanks for sharing!

    1. Zettl Fine Arts avatar

      Thank you, I’m glad! As a conscious person, the topic of the ecological footprint has of course also reached me. Well, I haven’t driven a car for many years, I usually buy my vegetables directly from the farmer, live in an apartment that hardly needs any energy…..

      1. Dominik Alexander avatar

        My comment wasn’t meant like you need to explain yourself, Friedrich. One flight now and then is alright. What’s unnecessary, are flights within one country.

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