View allAll Photos Tagged Absorption
Please indulge me here:
Many people are either in love with themselves
or they hate themselves-which is just another form of self love, but we can call that self absorption or self indulgence.
There is little middle ground here!
There is only you in the world and everyone else is either out to lower or raise your self esteem.
Other people are either our makers or breakers.
--------------------------------
As people/human organisms we mostly want obedience, loyalty, UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, UNDERSTANDING, GRATITUDE, AFFECTION, ACCEPTANCE.
We want our asses kissed, our flaws overlooked, our attitudes accepted our negativity applauded, our way of making coffee the best ,
We crave the best homes, gardens, cars, children, kitchens, bathrooms
basically .......... the best of everything!
And the MYTH that only America is great, all other countries are filled with ignorant morons who kill and hate and beg and have no money and dont strive and lack ambition and are dying to come to AMERICA but arent as good as Americans and basically AMERICA is the greatest thing since oral sex
well... is truly a MYTH!
Many of us think we are interesting.
Not true at all.
MEDIOCRE is the word for most Humans and
IGRAM and Youtube are prime examples saturated with MEDIOCRITY.
The DEMOCRATIZATION OF talentless talent!?
Many of us want an audience, fame and applause without actually making the effort.
Many of us are Narcissists, self aggrandizing and want clones of ourselves.
Materialism justifies our entire existence & it leaves us empty & poor in the soul and deceived because its illusory, ephemeral and basically just crap put together until its replaced by version 2.0
We dont want to work at relationships.
We want the relationship one way
our way
with our values
our opinions matter
our decisions are always the right ones.
What we say goes. Its our way or no way. We want it ALL our way.
THE LOYALTY OF THE DOG THAT ONLY A DOG GIVES IS WHAT We WANT .................. a DOG.
MANS BEST FRIEND.
SMACK A DOG,
CURSE IT,
THROW ROCKS AT IT,
POKE ITS EYES
KICK IT
REFUSE ITS AFFECTION
ABUSE IT
THROW IT DOWN A FLIGHT OF STAIRS
MAKE IT AN OBJECT THAT HAS NO FEELINGS AND MAKE IT ENDURE AS MUCH VENOM YOU GOT FROM YOUR CHILDHOOD....
A DOG WILL ALWAYS BE LOVING AND OBEDIENT.
IT WILL NEVER ABANDON YOU.
IT WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU.
IT WILL WAG ITS TAIL AND JUMP ON YOU AT THE DOOR UPON ARRIVAL AND CRY WHEN YOU LEAVE IT.
EVEN AFTER A SEVERE BATTERING.
MANS BEST FRIEND ....
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We treat,
evaluate
and judge others like we were treated as a child.
some call this PROJECTION for you psychology nuts.
If uncorrected or unanalyzed ( most human beings ) we pass all this crap on to our offspring, thus
a generation of drug addiction, hopelessness, you get it...
OUR VIEWS are " DOGMA "
a principle or set of principles laid down by an authority as incontrovertibly true.
Our opinions are rarely unchangeable, we are rigid, we are so full of our childhood traumas we dont even know they are traumas. We find others to convince that youre reasoning is the right reasoning and they should join forces with you.
We want universal unconditional non negotiable unmitigated floridly wholeheartedly 100 percent edly acceptance. Yes basically........ we want DOGS!
ruff ruff.................
Dr Losack ......
Photography’s new conscience
Processed using calibrated near infrared methane absorption band (MT2, CB2) filtered images of Saturn taken by Cassini on July 24 2013.
NASA/JPL-Caltech/SSI/CICLOPS/Kevin M. Gill
UFO -sudden appearance
Shooting condition: almost no wind! The camera is wearing a hood. A few shots were taken. At intervals of a few seconds. The optics are clean!
Formations in the sky are not clouds! One hour before the flight, an aerosol is sprayed.
On the lens stand the Sigma EX polarization filter — the position is set to the maximum absorption (set according to the brightness of the water). One of the pictures (left it in sepia) shows the appearance of an object!
Shot in RAW. Developed in Sigma SPP. Saved in TIFF 16bit.
It was a very unusual day.
The day when a military parade was held after the 2020 pandemic...
“Military parades on May 9 and June 24, 2020 on Red Square are military parades on Red Square in Moscow dedicated to the 75th anniversary of Victory Day in the Great Patriotic War. The parade was supposed to take place on Red Square on May 9, but it had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 epidemic. As a result, the parade took place on June 24, the 75th anniversary of the 1945 Victory Parade. On May 9, only the aerial part of the parade took place with the participation of military aircraft.” (wiki)
While everyone was sitting at home, I not only walked around, but filmed unusual things in unusual places...
Lakhta is such a place and has been indicated on maps since the 15th century, when the city of St. Petersburg was not yet marked there...
The aerial portion of the parade was in full swing when I was there.
Various planes flew by...
I shot with a special filter with caps and will cover uF.
There was no one in the forest. On the water too.
At 11:47 I took a photo showing a moving object under the plane.
At 11:48 the plane disappeared from sight.
But I noticed movement towards Lakhta.
Looking there in manual focus mode with magnification, I saw a figure...
She looked like a person standing on the sup board, but...
She was thicker. It was as if someone had put on a winter suit or a spacesuit.
But who would wear something like that in the heat?
Moreover, during the current on the water, she was motionless...
For several seconds my brain tried to piece it all together...
And then there was the sound of a camera shutter being released...
The Hague
The Netherlands
2012
Candid shots in and around the Public Transport in The Netherlands
Ricoh GRD IV
Absorption du bleu - Absorption of blue
La Chapelle-la-Reine (France), benne à gravats - dump rubble.
Processed using 32 calibrated near-infrared methane absorption band (CB2, MT1) filtered images of Saturn taken on August 11 2007.
NASA/JPL-Caltech/SSI/CICLOPS/Kevin M. Gill
Licht, Skulpturen und Bewegung: Mit ihrer Gruppe Zero mischten die Düsseldorfer Künstler, Heinz Mack, Otto Piene und Günther Uecker in den 60er Jahren die internationale Kunstszene auf.
Unter dem Wellness-Motto "Zero ist gut für dich" verabschiedeten sich Heinz Mack, Otto Piene und Günther Uecker im November 1966 als Gruppe mit einem "Zero-Mitternachtsball" im Bahnhof Rolandseck.
Lichtinstallation von Mack - "Zwischen Himmel und Erde"
In einem zimmerhohen Raum hängen 20 unterschiedliche Metallgewebe-Fahnen an der Decke. Sie drehen sich, spiegeln, erlauben jedoch auch Teil-Transparenz, Teil-Absorption, Teil-Reflexion, Teil-Brechung, Interferenz, wodurch ene vielfach durchdrungene, changierende Lichtwelt entsteht ...
Der Boden ist mit Watte belegt - in Fachkreisen nennt man das ein "unbegehbares Raumbild" ...
_DSC3497_98_pa2a
Hsinchu/Xinzhu
Taiwan
2013
Urban Life in Taiwan
Ricoh GR Digital IV
Hoi!
If you are looking for an all-weather streetwise documentary photographer and journalist look no further; I am your man! Hit me up for publications, prints, assignments or collaborations: Check out www.daanloeff.nl or www.instagram.com/daanloeff (Based in The Netherlands)
Synthus/Veolia
The Netherlands
2012
Candid shots in and around the Public Transport in The Netherlands
Ricoh GRD IV
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swat_District
Swat (pronounced [ˈsʋaːt̪], Pashto: سوات) is a valley and an administrative district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, located close to the Afghan-Pakistan border. It is the upper valley of the Swat River, which rises in the Hindu Kush range. The capital of Swat is Saidu Sharif, but the main town in the Swat valley is Mingora.[1] It was a princely state (see Swat (princely state)) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa until it was dissolved in 1969. The valley is almost entirely populated by ethnic Gujjar and Pashtuns (Afghans). The language spoken in the valley is Pashto/Pakhto and Gojri. With high mountains, green meadows, and clear lakes, it is a place of great natural beauty and is popular with tourists as "the Switzerland of the region".
History
Swat has been inhabited for over two thousand years. The first inhabitants were settled in well-planned towns. In 327 BC, Alexander the Great fought his way to odegram and Barikot and stormed their battlements. In Greek accounts these towns have been identified as Ora and Bazira. Around the 2nd century BC, the area was occupied by Buddhists, who were attracted by the peace and serenity of the land. There are many remains that testify to their skills as sculptors and architects. In the beginning of the 8th century AD, Gabari Royal Tajik tribe advanced through Laghman, ningarhar, Dir and invaded Swat, defeating the Buddhists and the Hindus. This war was headed by Sultan Pakhal Gabari and later on by Sultan Behram Gabari Rulers of Kuner Pich and cousin of Rulers of Balkh and Kashmir. Later some Dilazak encrouched tha area and settled among Gabaris, who in turn were ousted by the Yusufzais which was backed by Mughal Badshah Zahiruddin Muhammad Baber, considered the super power in 1519 and 1520. The historical paradox was that the Yusufzais were ousted from Kabul by Mirza Ullegh beg, the uncle of Baber, and killed 600 malak of Yusufzai; the Gabaris helped Yousofzais refugees with a warm welcome and settled them in Bajour Dir and Swat regions. The Yousofzais forgot the generosity of Gabaris and encrouched upon the Gabari state with the plotted help of Zahiruddin Muhammad babar. They Demolished the Gabar-Kot (fortress) in bajour in 1519 and further advanced to the swat and compelled the last Gabari King Sultan Awais Gabari to flee to Upper Dir where he established his rule in,Chitral wakhan,Badakhshan and other upper Oxus. The originator of the present family of Swat was the Muslim saint Abdul Ghafoor, the Akhund of Swat, a Safi Momand of Hazara district, from where he went to Buner territory. He was a pious man and the people respected him so greatly that they called him Akhund Sahib.[2]
During the mid-19th century, Muslim tribes were fighting against each other for the possession of Swat Valley. On the intervention of the honourable Akhund Sahib, the killing was stopped, and such was his influence that the chiefs of all tribes unanimously made him the ruler of the valley. Akhund Sahib administrated the valley according to Muslim laws. Peace and tranquility prevailed, and agriculture and trade flourished in the territory. Akhund Sahib had two sons by his wife, who belonged to Nikpi Khel(نیک پی خیل).
After the death of Akhund Sahib, the tribal chiefs again started fighting and killing, which continued for years. Eventually the tribal chiefs agreed to give the control of the valley into the hands of the honourable Gul Shahzada Abdul Wadood, the son of Mian Gul Abdul Khaliq, son of Akhund Sahib. The wife of Mian Abdul Wadood was the daughter of Honorable Mirza Afzal-ul-Mulk, the ruler of Chitral. The British by trick put Chitral under the suzerainty of Kashmir. The Chitral ruler gave two horses every year to the Rajia of Kashmir, and the Raja provided Chitral with grain and sugar, etc. Swat thus went under protection of the British.
During the rule of Mian Gul Muhammad, Abdul Haq Jehanzeb, the son of Mian Abdul Wadood Khatana, the state acceded to Pakistan in 1947. The present prince, Muhammad Aurzngzeb Khan, son of Jahanzeb, married the daughter of Field Marshal Mohammad Ayub Khan in 1955. Thus by intermarriages with the other castes, the family became a branch of the imperial Gujjars i.e., the Royal family of Swat valley which belongs to the Gujjar family which laid down the foundation of Swat kingdom. Jahanzeb started a Degree College at Saidu Sahrif, the capital of the State, and four High Schools at Mingora, Chakesar, Matta and Dagar. Fourteen middle schools, twenty-eight lower middle schools, and fifty-six primary schools were established. A girls high school and high class religious schools were established at Saidu Sharif. At all the schools, the poor students were granted scholarships. The state was an exemplary state during British rule. They also have a firm stand in politics of Pakistan. The current Prince Aurangzeb Khan was also Governor of Baluchistan.
Buddhist heritage of Swat
Although it is generally accepted that Tantric Buddhism first developed in Swat under King Indrabhuti, there is an old and well-known scholarly dispute as to whether Uddiyana was in the Swat valley, Orissa or some other place. Padmasambhava (flourished eighth century AD), also called Guru Rimpoche, Tibetan Slob-dpon (teacher), or Padma ‘byung-gnas (lotus born) legendary Indian Buddhist mystic who introduced Tantric Buddhism to Tibet and is credited with establishing the first buddhist monastery there.According to tradition, Padmasambhava was native to Udyana (now Swat in Pakistan).[3] Padmasambhava was the son of Indrabhuti, king of Swat in the early eighth century AD. One of the original Siddhas, Indrabhuti flourished in the early eighth century AD and was the king of Uddiyana in the Kabul valley. His son Padmasambhava is revered as the second Buddha in Tibet. Indrabhuti's sister, Lakshminkaradevi, was also an accomplished siddha of the 9th century AD.[4] Ancient Gandhara, the valley of Pekhawar, with the adjacent hilly regions of Swat and Buner, Dir and Bajaur was one of the earliest centers of Buddhist religion and culture following the reign of the Mauryan emperor Ashoka, in the third century BC. The name Gandhara first occurs in the Rigveda which is usually identified with the region[5]
Buddha heritage in the Swat Valley
The Swat museum has acquired footprints of the Buddha, which were originally placed for devotion in the sacred Swat valley. When the Buddha ascended, relics (personal items, body parts, ashes etc.) were distributed to seven kings, who built stupas over them for veneration.
The Harmarajika stupa (Taxila) and Butkarha (Swat) stupa at Jamal Garha were among the earliest Gandhara stupas. These were erected on the orders of King Ashoka and contained the genuine relics of the historic Buddha.[citation needed]
The Gandhara school is credited with the first representations of the Buddha in human form, rather symbolically as the wheel of the law, the tree, etc.[citation needed]
As Buddhist art developed and spread outside Gandhara, Gandharan styles were imitated. In China the Gandhara style was imitated in bronze images, with gradual changes in the features of these images over the passage of time. Swat, the land of romance and beauty, is celebrated throughout the Buddhist world as the holy land of Buddhist learning and piety. Swat was a popular destination for Buddhist pilgrims. Buddhist tradition holds that Buddha himself came to Swat during his incarnation as Gautama Buddha and preached to the people here.
It is said[by whom?] that the Swat valley was filled with fourteen hundred imposing and beautiful stupas and monasteries, which housed as many as 6,000 gold images of the Buddhist pantheon for worship and education. Archaeologists now know of more than 400 Buddhist sites covering an area of 160 km2 in Swat valley alone. Among the important excavations of Buddhist sites in Swat an important one is Butkarha-I, containing original relics of the Buddha. A stone statue of Buddha, is still there in the village Ghalegay.[citation needed] There is also a big stupa in Mohallah Singardar Ghalegay
Hindu Shahi Rulers and Sanskrit
Swat was ruled by the Hindu Shahi dynasty who have built an extensive array of temples and other architectural buildings now in ruins. Sanskrit may have been the lingua franca of the Swatis.[
Hindu Shahi rulers built fortresses to guard and tax the commerce through this area. Their ruins can be seen in the hills of Swat: at Malakand pass at Swat’s southern entrance
Advent of Islam by Mahmud of Ghazni
At the end of the Mauryan period (324-185 BC) Buddhism spread in the whole Swat valley, which became a very famous center of Buddhist religion.[8]
After a Buddhist phase the Hindu religion reasserted itself, so that at the time of the Muslim conquest (1000 AD) the population was solidly Hindu.[8]
In 1023 Mahmood of Ghazni attacked Swat and crushed the last Buddhist King, Raja Gira in battle. The invasion of Mahmood of Ghazni is of special importance because of the introduction of Islam as well as changing the Chronology.
Arrival Of Yousafzais
The first Muslim arrivals in Swat were Pakhtun Dilazak tribes from south-east Afghanistan. These were later ousted by Swati Pakhtuns, who were succeeded in the sixteenth century by Yusufzai Pakhtuns. Both groups of Pakhtuns came from the Kandahar and Kabul valley
Geography
The valley of Swat is situated in the north of N.W.F.P, 35° North Latitude and 72° and 30° East Longitude, and is enclosed by the sky-high mountains.
Chitral and Gilgit are situated in the north, Dir in the west, and Mardan in the south, while Indus separates it from Hazara in the east. Physical Features: Swat can be divided into two physical regions:
Mountainous Ranges.
Plains.
Mountainous Ranges
As mentioned above, Swat is lying in the lap of Mountainous Ranges, which are the offshoots of Hindukush, so the larger part of Swat is covered with high mountains and hills, the crests of which is hidden by everlasting snow. Though these gigantic Ranges run irregularly: some to the west while the others to the east, but the general direction is North-South. These ranges enclose small but very enchanting valleys.
Eastern Ranges: In Kohistan-e-Swat the chief knot of eastern ranges is Mankial. Its northern branches separate Kohistan-e-Swat from Abasin Kohistan. These ranges form a barrier between Gilgit and Swat, and between Chitral and Swat. The southern extension of Mankial ranges reaches proper Swat. There they join Shangla ranges. Shangla ranges separate proper Swat from Shangla Par area (Shangla Par district). In Shangla district, there are Karora Ranges, which separate Puran from Kanra and Ghurband. The continuation of Shangla ranges joins Dwasaray. On the one hand Dwasaray separates lower Swat from Puran, on the other, it set aside the Buner from Puran. Now the general Direction of the ranges turns westward. Here it is called Elum. Elum Ranges is a big wall between the proper Swat and Buner. The Elum ranges at last join mountains of Malakand.
The Western Ranges: Western ranges start from the mountain and hills of Gabral, Kohistan-e-Swat. It joins the hills of Kundal (Utror). There these ranges meet Daral Ranges. These ranges form a border with Dir district. They run west ward and are named according to the locality. For example Lalko ranges Manrai and Chaprai etc. at last they join the hills of Adenzee and Shamozee. Manrai ranges send off some off shoots southward. They the hills separate Arnoyay valley from the widest valley of Nekpikheil valley.
Plains
Actually the valley of Swat starts from the foothill of Malakand but we are concerned with portion from Landakay to Gabral (Gulabad), the area within the administrative boundaries of Swat. The length of the valley from Landakay to Gabral is 91 miles. Two narrow strips of plains run along the banks of Swat River from Landakay to Madyan. Beyond Madyan in Kohistan-e-Swat, the plan is too little to be mentioned. So for as the width concerns, it is not similar, it varies from place to place. We can say that the average width is 5 miles. The widest portion of the valley is between Barikot and khwaza khela. The widest view point and the charming sight where a major portion of the valley is seen is at Gulibagh on main road, which leads to Madyan. There are some subsidiary valleys, which help to increase the width of the main valley. These subsidiary valleys are called "Daras". A Dara a narrow passage between mountains, and sometimes, the upper course of a river is also called Dara. If we imagine the main valley as a stem of a tree the subsidiary valleys form its branches. Swat River and its tributaries drain Swat. There fore, the whole valley is the outcome of running water. This flowing water cuts the upper courses deeply, and flows the load of washed away materials. As the gradient is greater in the upper course so the erosion is on large scale, particularly in the summer rains, when all the rivers are in flood. The big boulders and stones are rolled, which causes more destruction in the upper courses. When the loaded water reaches to the areas of low gradient, the heavier materials are deposited. The deposition takes place according to the slope, generally, we observe, that the upper course is made up of big boulders, the middle course is of relatively small stones, pebbles, and debris, while the lower course is made of fine clay. Anyhow, the whole plain of Swat valley is strewn by the running water, and is made up of fine alluvial soil.
Demographics
The population at the 1981 Census was 715,938, which had risen to 1,257,602 at the next Census in 1998. The main language of the area is Pakhto. The people of Swat are mainly Pakhtuns,(Afghans) Yusufzais, Akhund Khel Miangan (Syed), Chitralis, Kohistan is, Gurjar (Gujar or Gurjar is the major tribe of the district; its people are divided in different clans like Khatana, Bajarh, Chichi, Ahir, Chuhan, Pamra, Gangal etc. are the main subtribe of the Gurjar family of Swat), Akhund khel Yousafzai, Nooristani, and Awans. Most probably they are originated from the same tribe that roamed around the great trans-Himalayan mountain ranges thousands of years before, and now remained in some isolated pockets of the Himalayan mountain ranges.[citation needed]
The Dardic people of the Kalam region in northern Swat are known as Kohistan is and speak the Torwali and Kalami languages. There are also some Khowar speakers in the Kalam region. This is because before Kalam came under the rule of Swat, it was a regional tributary to Chitral. The Kalamis paid a tribute of mountain ponies to the Mehtar of Chitral every year.
Tourist attractions
Marghazar
Marghazar 16 km away from Saidu Sharif is famous for its “Sufed Mahal” the white marble palace of the former Wali (Ruler) of Swat.
Malam Jabba
Malam Jabba (also Maalam Jabba, Urdu: مالم جبہ) is a Hill Station in the Karakoram mountain range nearly 40 km from Saidu Sharif in Swat Valley, Peshawar, Pakistan. It is 314 km from Islamabad and 51 km from Saidu Sharif Airport.Malam Jabba is home to the largest ski resort in Pakistan. The Malam Jabba Ski Resort, owned by the Pakistani Tourism Development Corporation, had a ski slope of about 800m with the highest point of the slope 2804 m (9200 ft) above sea level. Malam Jabba Ski Resort was the joint effort of the Pakistan government with its Austrian counterpart. The resort was equipped with modern facilities including roller/ice-skating rinks, chair lifts, skiing platforms, telephones and snow clearing equipment.
Swat Museum
Swat Museum is on the east side of the street, halfway between Mingora and Saidu. Japanese aid has given a facelift to its seven galleries which now contain an excellent collection of Gandhara sculptures taken from some of the Buddhist sites in Swat, rearranged and labelled to illustrate the Buddha's life story. Terracotta figurines and utensils, beads, precious stones, coins, weapons and various metal objects illustrate daily life in Gandhara. The ethnographic section displays the finest examples of local embroidery, carved wood and tribal jewellery. For the last three years the museum is occupied by Pakistan army and it is not known when they would be leaving it.
Miandam
Miandam is a small summer resort ten kilometres (six miles) up a steep side valley and 56 kilometers (35 mi) from Saidu Sharif, making it an hour's drive. The metaled road passes small villages stacked up the hillside, the roofs of one row of houses forming the street for the row of houses above. Tiny terraced fields march up the hillside right to the top. Miandam is a good place for walkers. Paths follow the stream, past houses with behives set into the walls and good-luck charms whitewashed around the doors. In the graveyards are carved wooden grave posts with floral designs, like those used by Buddhists 1,000 years ago.
Madyan
By the time you reach this small town at 1320 m and about 60 km from Mingora, the mountains have closed in and the valley is almost snug. Here one senses why Swat is so popular among the tourists. There are a lot of embroidered shawls in the Bazars of Madyan.At 1,321 metres (4,335 feet) above sea level,but it is a larger town and has many hotels in all price ranges and some good tourist shopping. Antique and modern shawls, traditional embroidery, tribal jewellery, carved wood and antique or reproduced coins are sold along the main street. This is the last Swati village, offering interesting two-and three-day walks up to the mountain villages... ask in the bazaar in Muambar Khan's shop for a guide. North of Madyan is Swat Kohistan where walking is not recommended without an armed guard. The central mosque at Madyan has carved wooden pillars with elegant scroll capitals, and its mud-plastered west wall is covered with relief designs in floral motifs. Both bespeak the Swati's love of decoration.[10]
Behrain
A quarter of an hour past Madyan, the road squeezes through Behrain. Tourists stop to shop or have a look around for beautiful carved wood chairs and tables and other handicrafts. Behrainis are a mix of Pashtuns and Kohistanis. Behrain is ten kilometres north of Madyan and only slightly higher, at about 1,400 metres (4,500 feet). It is another popular riverside tourist resort, with bazaars worth exploring for their handicrafts. Some of the houses have carved wooden doors, pillars and balconies. These show a remarkable variety of decorative motifs, including floral scrolls and bands of ornamental diaper patterns almost identical to those seen on Buddhist shrines and quite different from the usual Muslim designs.
Kalam
2070 m high and 100 km from Mingora, it was the centre of an independent state in the 19th century. It was later taken by Chitral then given to Swat after partition.Kalam, 29 kilometres (18 mi) from Bahrain and about 2,000 metres (6,800 feet) above sea level, the valley opens out, providing rooms for a small but fertile plateau above the river. In Kalam the Ushu and Utrot rivers join to form the Swat river. Here, the metalled road ends and shingle road leads to the Ushu and Utrot valleys. From Matiltan one gets a breath-taking view of the snow-capped Mount Falaksir 5918 metres (19,415 ft.), and another unnamed peak 6096 metres (20,000 ft.) high.
Usho
Usho 3 km from Kalam Valley and 117 km from Saidu Sharif
Utror
Utror 16 km from Kalam Valley and 120 km from Saidu Sharif. Utror valley is situated between 35° 20′ to 35° 48′ N latitudes and 72° 12′ and 72° 32′ E longitudes. The population of Utror is 6888 and the area of the valley is about 47400 hectares. Utror valley is surrounded by Gabral and Bhan valleys on the east, upper Dir district on the west, Kalam valley on the south and Gabral valley on the north. It is 15 km from Kalam, the centre of Swat Kohistan. The altitude of the valley at Utror proper is 2300 meters and reaches to 2900 meters at Kandol Lake.
Ghabral
Gabral valley lies between 35° 20′ to 35° 48′ N latitudes and 72° 12′ and 72° 32′ E longitudes over an area of about 38733 hectares. The population of Gabral is 3238. The valley is surrounded by Chitral District in the north, Utror valley in the south and south west, upper Dir district in the west and Bhan and Mahodand valleys in the east. It is 5 km distant from Utror proper and 20 km from Kalam. The altitude of the valley ranges from 2580 metres at Baila to 5160 metres at Karkaray Lake top.In Utror and Gabral, 44 medicinal plants are collected during the months of May, June, July and August. Only 14 of them are traded to National and International markets while the rest are used locally. A survey by Pakistan Forest Institute concludes that 75 crude herbal drugs are extensively exported and more than 200 are locally traded in Pakistan. Indigenous people, who have no training in sustainable harvesting, post-harvesting care and storing of medicinal plants, collect 85 percent of these crude herbs from the wild.
Kundol Lake, Swat valley
Mahudan
Mahodand valley, which lies in the North of Kalam, is famous not only among nature lovers, and escapists but also the exotic trout fish hunters. The valley can be accessed through an un-metalled road from Kalam in a four by four (4x4) vehicle. The road is bumpy and tricky but the surrounding landscapes engrosses you so severely that you wish for more and expect to discover new panoramas. The small hamlets that are scattered in the mountains and the bellowing smoke that spirals into the sky from the houses are some, which lives in the memory forever. Swat River, which is born here, is shackled by the tall mountains, which has turned its water into a roaring monster trying to release itself from its fetters, but there are some places where the river is calm and silent without showing any sign of rebellion.
Pari (Khapiro) lake
Pari Lake is one of the lakes in Swat region which is located at a very high altitude in the foot of the tallest peak in the range with a considerable depth. The name Pari or Khapiro is given to the lake due to the widespread belief that the lake is the abode of fairies where they live and bathe in the cool, pure and clear water of the lake. It is located to North-east of Utror valley and can be accessed only by trekking. Trekking to the lake needs endurance and love for nature as the trail is exasperating as well as dangerous therefore, utmost care should be taken while trekking on the narrow bends and turns leading to the lake. The lake is accessible from both Izmis and Kundal lakes. Two ascending tracks lead to this lake from Kundal and Izmis lakes taking almost five hours to reach this roof top of Swat. The trail is very steep from both sides but the surrounding beauty and eye-cooling green pastures and exotic flowers not only boost the trekker’s stamina but compel him to explore further.
Kundol Lake
The pastoral valley of Swat has abundance of precious resorts of nature where one can find solace and respite from the never-ending struggle of life. Kundal or Kandolo Lake is one such place here upon which the Maestro of nature has spent extra time and effort to paint. Kundal Lake is situated in the north of Utror valley. One can easily access it from Kalam via Utror from where a link road ends in a green valley called Ladu in the foothills of the lake. You can either hike to Ladu from Utror or take a four-wheeler to ease and minimize your journey. It consumes almost two hours to reach the beautiful valley of Ladu. For the adventurous kind, a walk in the romantic valley will unravel several new mysteries. The people who take temporary residency over here during summer plow the open land and harvest potatoes and turnips, which are famous all over the country for its exotic taste. There is also a small hut in Ladu where you can take tea and get something for eating. From Ladu it takes almost four hours to reach the lake. Some locals can guide you and even take your luggage if properly paid. The mountains around this small valley are covered with tall cedar and pine trees and meandered by different streams and torrents. The people are friendly and provide you guidance if required.
Bashigram Lake
Bashigram Lake is situated to the east of Bashigram valley near Madyan. The road to this valley is partly metaled and can be plied by a four by four or any ordinary vehicle. It takes almost forty to fifty minutes to reach this picturesque valley inhibited by simple and hospitable folk. From here, trekking of four to five hours, depending on professionalism and enthusiasm of the trekkers lands you in the realm of a serene and enchanting lake of Bashigram.
Spin Khwar (White Stream) Lake
Spin Khwar is a beautiful lake hidden in the lap of mountains towards the north of Kundal Lake and east of Utror valley. The name Spin Khwar has a clear significance as a small white stream in the east flows down to the lake from the surrounding mountains and is a major source of water for the lake. The lake is accessible through two tracks, one from Kundal and the other from Ladu valley. The track from Ladu is comparatively easy to walk and less tiring while the track from Kundal is not only difficult but alarmingly dangerous although it is short and links Kundal and Spin Khwar. Its steepness and dangerous bends needs an experienced trekker and unending physical strength. The grazers in the area have built small huts and a mosque where one can stay but a personal tent is more recommendable as these huts are in a poor condition due to lack of maintenance.
Daral Lake
Daral lake is situated to the northeast of Sidgai Lake and can be accessed through Saidgai after two three hours rigorous trekking. The trail to Daral is full of fun and amusement because it runs over sky touching heights of the mountains provides spectacular sights and panoramas for the beauty hungry eyes of nature lovers. A close look towards the south will reveal the long and winding sellouts of river Swat in the horizon.After walking and trekking for about two and a half hours on bare and naked mountains, the trail start descending towards the East where Daral Lake is located.
Administration
The region has gone through considerable changes over the last few years since the dissolution of the princely state in 1969. Members of the former Royal family have since on occasion been elected to represent the area in the Provincial Assembly and National Assembly.
Provincial & national politics
The region elects two male members of the National Assembly of Pakistan (MNAs), one female MNA, seven male members of the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (MPAs)[11] and two female MPAs. In the 2002 National and Provincial elections, the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, an alliance of religious political parties, won all the seats amidst a wave of anti-Americanism that spread after the United States' invasion of Afghanistan.
Wild Life: In early days when the shrubs and bushes covered slopes and foothill areas,hares, porcupine, fox, jackal, wolf, pigs, and hyenas were in large number. Now the need for fuels decreased the scrubs and trees, so these animals have decreased considerably. In the forests,monkeys are often found. Among the birds: hawks, eagles, falcons are found in the high mountains, while pheasants, partridges, hoopoes, larks, sparrows, quails, doves, swallows, starlings, nightingales, crows, kites, vultures, owls, bates are the common birds.
Bees: The bees were kept in Swat commonly, and the pure honey of was famous all over the country. But now the moveable beehives have affected the Swat locally reared bees greatly. Now, the local good honey is found in remote areas only, while the honey of moveable hives is available everywhere in low prices.
Fisheries: There is a large fishery in Madyan. In this fishery the trout fish are being reared. In Kohistan-e-Swat there are some private fisheries too. In Buner the fish were being reared in Barandu, Dagar. Moreover the Swat River serves as a permanent fishery throughout the year while the tributaries of it are used for fishing only in spring season.
Mineral Resources: Mines' production plays an important role in the economy of a country, particularly in the regions where they exist, because, the local people get the opportunities to labor in, and earn their livelihood. But the Swati mines have no importance for the local people in this respect. It is necessary, however, to mention what they are, and where do they exist. Swat is rich in mineral wealth, but the discovered commodities are a few. Among them, the china clay stands first; others are marble stone, and emerald.
China Clay: The china clay exists at “Kathyar” in Nekpikheil (on the road that leads to Shahderai at a distance of 15 miles from Mingora). This is the largest mine, having the finest quality, of China clay in Pakistan. The clay is mined here, and is transported to Shaidu in Nawshehra (which is at a distance of around 100 miles from Swat). It is not so advantageous for the local people, because they have no opportunity to work in the complex.
Soap Clay: The mine of soap clay has been discovered recently between Alpurai and Kanra on the side of Gilgit Road (Shahrah-e-Resham). It is spread in a vast area.
Marbles: The marbles are dug near Charbagh, Murghuzar, and Barikot in the proper valley of Swat, and in Buner, it is mined in Thor Warsak, Bampokha, and Sawawai. Moreover, there is a great expectation of iron ores, which will be discovered in near future.
Emerald: The finest quality of emerald is produced in Swat. Its Color and transparency is unique. It is the best in world. It is exported to the international markets: There is an export potential of 500 million dollars in this sector, provided it is excavated and cut as per international standards. Before the absorption of Swat in Pakistan, the emeralds of Swat were better in quality, and greater in quantity. But since then it is said that the quantity of production is little, and the quality devalued.
Industries:
Handicrafts: The handicrafts of Swat are very famous. When a tourist visits Swat, he accumulates bundles of these articles as gifts for his friends. All of the crafts prepared here are interesting, especially, the following are very charming.
Woolen Blankets: These blankets are known as "Sharai". They are prepared of wool obtained from the local sheep. The weight of a medium size blanket is four kilos. This is the best source of defense from the severity of winter. It is woven in Dewlai, Kala Kalay, Salampur, Puran, and Ghurband. These villages prepare the items on commercial scale.
Shawl: Shawl is a younger brother of Sharai, as it is also a woolen sheet, but light in weight. Sometimes, cotton is also mixed in its texture. It is beautifully fringed, and is commonly used by ladies. The tourists like it too much. Shawls are prepared in Salampur and Dewlai "Jolabad" on commercial bases.
Rugs: The next important thing, made of local fleece with laborious work, is rug. This is prepared in the villages by pressing wool with the help of water spray. After preparation, it is beautified with the usage of various colors. Rugs are the traditional carpets of shepherds, but now are used everywhere.
Embroidery: The embroidery of Swat is very famous, and is liked everywhere in Pakistan, as well as by the out-comers. This art is an indoor hobby of the ladies in Swat. Particularly in Nekpikheil, this is so common that very younger girls might also be seen having needlework in their hands. There are three types of embroidery:
Panrae or Panhey: Panrey or Panrhey is the old fashion of shoes, still used by the old persons in Swat. They are made in Swat with the simply tanned leather. The cobblers have great skill in the formation of ladies shoes with golden lace work. Similarly, the sandals with golden lace work are also made. The cobblers of Shahderai had great skill in this field. It is now archaic.
Shkor: A Shkor is a pot in which chapatis (plate bread used in India and Pakistan) are kept. The ordinary Shkors are prepared everywhere in Swat, but a special design is made in Puran and Chagharzee (These Shkors are high-based pots made of wheat stalks with laborious art, not easily available in bazaar).
Furniture: Furniture of various styles is made in the district. The cots, tables, chairs, dressing tables, cradles of more advanced types, etc. are furnished in Mingora, and in nearly all large villages.
© all rights reserved by B℮n
Please take your time... to View it large on black
The general term ice age or, more precisely, glacial age denotes a geological period of long-term reduction in the temperature of the Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in an expansion of continental ice sheets, polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers. There have been at least four major ice ages in the Earth's past. Outside these periods, the Earth seems to have been ice-free even in high latitudes. There is evidence that greenhouse gas levels fell at the start of ice ages and rose during the retreat of the ice sheets, but it is difficult to establish cause and effect. Greenhouse gas levels may also have been affected by other factors which have been proposed as causes of ice ages, such as the movement of continents and vulcanism. Although the last glacial period ended more than 8,000 years ago, its effects can still be felt today. For example, the moving ice carved out landscape in Canada, Greenland, northern Eurasia and Antarctica. The erratic boulders, till, drumlins, eskers, fjords, kettle lakes, moraines, cirques, horns, etc., are typical features left behind by the glaciers. The Dutch IJsselmeer lake is covered with icerocks hummocks, caused by the cold weather of the passed days. At some places even higher than 6 meter!
Photo of frozen common reed along the IJsselmeer lake. It was cold and snowing. Many hummocks at the IJsselmeer (Markermeer) near Uitdam. On the background you can see the smoke of the Powerplant of Diemen. A hummock is a boss or rounded knoll of ice rising above the general level of an ice-field, Hummocky ice is caused by slow and unequal pressure in the main body of the packed ice, and by unequal structure and temperature at a later period. Blue ice occurs when snow falls on the ice. The blue color is actually created for the same reason that water is blue, that is, its slight absorption of red light due to an overtone of the infrared OH stretching mode of the water molecule.
Een ijstijd of glaciatie is een geologisch tijdvak waarin ijskappen voorkomen. In het Engels wordt dit een periode van ice-house genoemd, als tegenhanger van een ijskaploze periode, de greenhouse ("broeikas"). Aangezien er gletsjers liggen op bijvoorbeeld Groenland of Antarctica, leven we tegenwoordig in een ijstijd. Men neemt aan dat dit in de gehele geologische geschiedenis van de Aarde minstens vijfmaal het geval is geweest, waarvan eenmaal zelfs zo sterk dat de ijskappen van de polen vrijwel tot aan de evenaar waren opgerukt. Ook zijn er periodes dat er aanzienlijke opwarming optrad waarbij die ijskappen grotendeels waren weggesmolten. Het klimaat op Aarde wordt beïnvloed door vele factoren, zoals de intensiteit van de zonnestraling, de ligging van de continenten, de continentverplaatsingen, vulkanisme, de zeestromen, de bedekking van het land door vegetatie, het weerkaatsingsvermogen van het aardoppervlak en vele kleine andere factoren. Met behulp van klimaatmodellen wordt door wetenschappers een reconstructie van het klimaat en de klimaatveranderingen in het verleden gemaakt. Alhoewel er een zekere consensus bestaat onder wetenschappers, zijn er nog vele onzekerheden en tegenstrijdigheden in dit onderzoek.
Hierboven een foto van kruiend ijs. Zoetwatermeren kunnen spectaculair bevriezen. Grotere meren zoals het IJsselmeer (IJmeer) hierboven hebben bijna altijd wel golven, en dit werkt directe bevriezing van het wateroppervlak tegen. Eerst vormen zich kleine ijsschotsen, die naar de kust drijven onder invloed van de wind. Deze schotsen vormen zo een ijsveld op het water dat de golven dempt, en uiteindelijk vriezen alle schotsen aan elkaar vast tot een massa. Voordat dit gebeurt schuren de schotsen voortdurend langs elkaar heen en schrapen zo stukjes ijs van elkaar af; elke schots krijgt zo een witte rand. Zulk ijs is dus totaal niet geschikt om op te schaatsen. Wanneer grotere delen van het meer bevriezen beginnen de platen, die soms een paar vierkante kilometer groot zijn, langzaam tegen elkaar te bewegen onder invloed van de wind en stroming. Dit heeft kruiend ijs tot gevolg: de ijsschotsen worden met kracht gebroken en op elkaar gestapeld langs de dijken langs het meer. Dit hoeft niet alleen bij dun ijs te gebeuren; soms kruit het ijs bij een dikte van meer dan 20 cm. De stapels ijs worden dan hoog, en het geluid is oorverdovend. Deze foto is genomen bij Uitdam. Het was behoorlijk koud en sneeuwde op het bevroren riet Op de achtergrond kan je de electriciteitscentrale Diemen zien tegen het licht van de ondergaande zon.
Pink Trail.
豐富多彩的預期穿透部分竹花園長滿青苔的想法池塘,
absorptions samadhi balayant expériences poètes koan zèle conscient brise du matin,
interessant quietism höchste Sternen Lehre Pilger Weisheit Metaphern singen Haiku Tugenden,
ultimo percorsi fiori pervade rami di pruno sole aroma leggerezza phonoaesthemes primi profumi,
lledaenu penillion llithrig cymylau gwahaniaethu dychymyg ysgafn golygfeydd uchaf trwm,
bevingade eviga fåglar varma charm glittrande sjöar skönaste rikedom undrar barnets nätter,
mumblings breathless mhín scáthanna thuaidh grámhara amanna restless nectarous súile séasúir aisling,
מושכים רעמים ערים בלוז חיוור מסתתרים בהרים שנוסעים קוצני האדיר חושים ספורים מדהימים,
強欲な声を清涼ベリーベッドを喜ぶ気になる旅の愛らしさを流れる繊細な音楽が広大なエコー.
Steve.D.Hammond.
IC5146 also called Cocoon Nebula is located in the constellation of Cygnus and is surrounded by a large amount of dark clouds and consists of emission, reflection and absorption nebulosities.
Distance to earth: 3’000 lightyears
Apparent size: each approx 12 arcminutes (0.4 x the moon)
Equipment:
Mount: SW AZEQ6GT
Telescope: SW Evostar 80ED
Camera: Atik 460EX Mono
Capture information:
Date: August – September 2017
Total exposure time: 12 hours
Color combination: LRGB
Image data:
18 x 1200s LUM
10 x 3 x 600s RGB bin2
11 x 3 x 60s RGB
Robber Flies normally fold their wings over their abdomens in order to look more like the bumble bees that they mimic. On a cool morning with light cloud cover, however, this one has spread its wings and legs widely in order to maximize absorption of the sun's feeble rays.
© all rights reserved
Please take your time... and enjoy it large on black
The general term ice age or, more precisely, glacial age denotes a geological period of long-term reduction in the temperature of the Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in an expansion of continental ice sheets, polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers. There have been at least four major ice ages in the Earth's past. Outside these periods, the Earth seems to have been ice-free even in high latitudes. There is evidence that greenhouse gas levels fell at the start of ice ages and rose during the retreat of the ice sheets, but it is difficult to establish cause and effect. Greenhouse gas levels may also have been affected by other factors which have been proposed as causes of ice ages, such as the movement of continents and vulcanism. Although the last glacial period ended more than 8,000 years ago, its effects can still be felt today. For example, the moving ice carved out landscape in Canada, Greenland, northern Eurasia and Antarctica. The erratic boulders, till, drumlins, eskers, fjords, kettle lakes, moraines, cirques, horns, etc., are typical features left behind by the glaciers. The Dutch IJsselmeer lake is covered with icerocks hummocks, caused by the cold weather of the passed days. At some places even higher than 6 meter!
Photo taken of hummocks at the IJsselmeer (Markermeer) near Uitdam. A hummock is a boss or rounded knoll of ice rising above the general level of an ice-field, Hummocky ice is caused by slow and unequal pressure in the main body of the packed ice, and by unequal structure and temperature at a later period. Blue ice occurs when snow falls on the ice. The blue color is actually created for the same reason that water is blue, that is, its slight absorption of red light due to an overtone of the infrared OH stretching mode of the water molecule.
Een ijstijd of glaciatie is een geologisch tijdvak waarin ijskappen voorkomen. In het Engels wordt dit een periode van ice-house genoemd, als tegenhanger van een ijskaploze periode, de greenhouse ("broeikas"). Aangezien er gletsjers liggen op bijvoorbeeld Groenland of Antarctica, leven we tegenwoordig in een ijstijd. Men neemt aan dat dit in de gehele geologische geschiedenis van de Aarde minstens vijfmaal het geval is geweest, waarvan eenmaal zelfs zo sterk dat de ijskappen van de polen vrijwel tot aan de evenaar waren opgerukt. Ook zijn er periodes dat er aanzienlijke opwarming optrad waarbij die ijskappen grotendeels waren weggesmolten. Het klimaat op Aarde wordt beïnvloed door vele factoren, zoals de intensiteit van de zonnestraling, de ligging van de continenten, de continentverplaatsingen, vulkanisme, de zeestromen, de bedekking van het land door vegetatie, het weerkaatsingsvermogen van het aardoppervlak en vele kleine andere factoren. Met behulp van klimaatmodellen wordt door wetenschappers een reconstructie van het klimaat en de klimaatveranderingen in het verleden gemaakt. Alhoewel er een zekere consensus bestaat onder wetenschappers, zijn er nog vele onzekerheden en tegenstrijdigheden in dit onderzoek.Hierboven een foto van kruiend ijs. Zoetwatermeren kunnen spectaculair bevriezen. Grotere meren zoals het IJsselmeer (IJmeer) hierboven hebben bijna altijd wel golven, en dit werkt directe bevriezing van het wateroppervlak tegen. Eerst vormen zich kleine ijsschotsen, die naar de kust drijven onder invloed van de wind. Deze schotsen vormen zo een ijsveld op het water dat de golven dempt, en uiteindelijk vriezen alle schotsen aan elkaar vast tot een massa. Voordat dit gebeurt schuren de schotsen voortdurend langs elkaar heen en schrapen zo stukjes ijs van elkaar af; elke schots krijgt zo een witte rand. Zulk ijs is dus totaal niet geschikt om op te schaatsen. Wanneer grotere delen van het meer bevriezen beginnen de platen, die soms een paar vierkante kilometer groot zijn, langzaam tegen elkaar te bewegen onder invloed van de wind en stroming. Dit heeft kruiend ijs tot gevolg: de ijsschotsen worden met kracht gebroken en op elkaar gestapeld langs de dijken langs het meer. Dit hoeft niet alleen bij dun ijs te gebeuren; soms kruit het ijs bij een dikte van meer dan 20 cm. De stapels ijs worden dan hoog, en het geluid is oorverdovend. Deze foto is genomen bij Uitdam aan de rand van het Markermeer.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7iCRjn-6Tk
From the game, "Skyrim", edited using the action, Ancient desaturate.
This photo is about the idea that, when surrounded by amazing or inspiring scenery, you are able to just take a moment and physically absorb the energy of the scene to recharge your mind and body.
The Guild (only name it has been addressed) is a cabal originating from Japan. It has existed since the Edo period, consisting of assassins who have served the group for more than a thousand years.
About two hundred years before the rise of superhumans in the 23rd century, the decision by the cabal’s sole leader abolished the council table, seeking to rule as one, as well as to spread the Guild throughout the rest of Asia exclusively, which was a success.
40 years prior to the events of today, Igarashi, a high ranking member, was elected to take the Guild. Unbeknownst and unfortunately to most, he sought power greedily, trying to take over the Guild and reshape it in his own image, with the belief of a red katana, a legendary weapon that would unite the group as a whole. He enforced his rules that was akin to dictatorship, which gained him a lot of followers. He managed to recruit top lieutenants throughout his career, including Dusksmoke, whom he raised as a young protege.
But when the battle between Paladin and the Spectres broke out, the Guild got indirectly involved in the fight. Due to their independent status, Igarashi forbid contact with any agency, which could result in permanent exile as punishment. After creating a ploy to wipe out those who opposed him and his endless search for the red katana, those actions would lead to his downfall, and eventually gain the re-election of one of Igarashi’s former right hand men, Oddcrow.
As of concurrently, Oddcrow leads the Guild, also keeping allied ties with Paladin, much due to him and Dusksmoke’s relationship after his defection from the former. Despite this, the Guild still keeps a neutral stance and is rebuilding the lost guild. The red katana is kept in safe storage, protected by the likes of many.
Members:
Igarashi (former leader, currently exiled to an island.) Japanese. In his 70s. No powers, but gained brief energy generation and absorption after attempting to draw the red katana’s powers. Known to be cold and cruel, manipulative.
Oddcrow (current leader.) Mexican-American, in his early to mid 40s. Powers include levitation, allowing him to float but unable to fly. Able to control wood, but rarely uses that power. Also a master engineer and talented mentor. He is known to be a guiding leader, hardworking, supportive and sometimes strict.
White Ninja/Nakamura (former agent and enforcer, removed from ranks due to misconduct and reckless behaviour.) Japanese. Age unknown, but is an adept fighter in swords and has cybernetic implants. Deadly killer. Has a calm demeanour, studies his surroundings well.
Rattlesnake (high ranking assassin, close right hand man of Igarashi.) American. Age unknown, presumably 30s, brutal killer. Possesses hooks and guns, along with a toxic gas that can poison or corrode things. Known to be very aggressive, arrogant under the mask. Tendency to insult others/being insulted and easily provoked.
Jumpdeath (high ranking assassin, left hand woman and protector of the guild leader.) Korean. Age unknown. Has a bow and arrow and three pairs of handguns. Can transmute into a solid, silver form which grants her super strength and can stretch into weapons. Loyal, eccentric.
Diremorph (top tier sniper and gang manager.) Native American. In her 20s, known for teleporting in and out, along with her preferred choice of UZIs. Very sarcastic, demanding, deceitful in negotiations or tricking others to her own demands.
Bronze Butcher (former enforcer and squad general). Belgian. In his 40s, possesses high cybernetic weapons, including armed blades, shoulder cannons and taser sticks. Fearless, dashing, somewhat scornful.
Spinebreaker (former brute, executioner.) Nationality and age unknown, possesses deadly claws, strong armour and a scary presence, also a pilot. Quiet killer without many words, beastly.
The Hague
The Netherlands
2013
Blogpost: thecovertphotographer.wordpress.com/2013/02/21/eyes/
Urban life in the Netherlands
Ricoh GR Digital IV
An interesting region where in one frame we can see, emission, reflection, and absorption nebula as well as star clusters and other mysteries of the galaxy.
The dark Cone Nebula is at the lower end of the red nebulosity on the left side of this image. This is a giant pillar of cold hydrogen and dust blocking the light behind it. It takes seven years for light to travel from the bottom to the top of the pillar. It is about 2700 light years from Earth. The bright stars just above the Cone form the Christmas Tree Cluster (tree is upside down). The whole region is an HII region - an emission nebula of ionized hydrogen glowing deep red from the excitation by the brightest star in the group, 15 Monoceros, HR 2456, a very hot O star with surface temperature of over 36,000 deg K and apparent magnitude 4.67 (visible to the naked eye). You can also see some reflection from this star on top of the red nebulosity - a milky sort of white glow.
The right side of the image features a bright blue reflection nebula, IC 2169. The blue colored region is created by dust reflecting light from the bright (magnitudes 8-10) stars in front of the nebula. There is a dark region of very thick dust that is not illuminated by stars that permeates the region blocking all visible light from stars behind it. But, yes, all those other white dots are stars.
The exposures used to make this image were done on March 10, 2021, no moon, but lots of light pollution from Albuquerque. It was my first serious try at a broadband image with my new setup pointed directly over the city - the challenge is to remove the gradient in the sky background created by light pollution. I used five filters, R, G, B, Luminance (400-700nm) and H-alpha. The camera is monochrome.
Exposures were 23X3min L, 5X3m R, G, B, and 5X5m Ha, for a total of 2 hrs 19 min. First exposure was at 7:13 PM local, meridian flip at 7:50 PM, and last exposure was at 11:18 PM, just as the Cone was attacking my Red Bud tree. Most exposures were looking southwest directly over the city so lots of light pollution.
Takahashi FSQ 106 EDX4 telescope, ZWO ASI6200MM camera, Chroma filters (Ha is 3nm). Straight forward processing in PixInsight with a bit of enhancement for the red channel from the Ha exposures. I used AutomaticBackgroundExtraction with Function Degree set to 1 (fits the light pollution to a plane) since the LP gradient was bright but seemed well behaved. Used the EZ scripts in PI for noise and star reduction. The resulting HaRGB file was combined with the Luminance channel using a 15% transmission mask on the HaRGB image and PixelMath to blend from the Luminance channel in CIE L*a*b mode of ChannelCombination - a common technique for enhancing HII regions in the arms of spiral galaxies. Mounting was the superb Paramount ME on loan from my friend John Briggs in Magdalena. All exposures were unguided (increases collection efficiency significantly when you don’t have to mess with a guider). Entire collect was done from my office with not a single trip to the telescope.
Best on a 4K monitor.
I welcome critical evaluation and suggestions for improvement of the processing.
Please feel free to share any of my photos.
The SP lives on! Well almost...
The presence of a little yellow chicken at the back gives some colour to this pure EMD consist and reminds us who now rules the roost.
Four years after its absorption by UP, the grotty gray and scarlet units of the once-mighty Southern Pacific are becoming much harder to find on the main lines, but a batch from Mojave were still active shunting the Monolith cement plant on 28 October 2000. Not long afterwards, they vanished to even lesser duties (indeed, often as lessor units), to be replaced by yellow SD60 and 70Ms on this job.
SP 7310-8336-8570-8328-UP8589
Just like a bodybuilder, Buzzwole is often seen striking poses that show off its massive, abnormally swollen muscles. The creature’s body covered in red blood-like filled sacs with veins that are said to be as hard as steel. Buzzwole’s crushing power and unbridled rage give way to fearsome physical damage, and worst of all, a stabbing attack from its silver proboscis which can drain and steal opponents’ energy! This giant extra-dimensional anthropomorphic mosquito packs quite a pulverizing punch!
Built for the Ultra Beasts Collab! Find the other powerful Ultra Beasts from these talented builders!
@_ezreel_ as Nihilego
@anderson_builder as Buzzwole
@dv_mocs as Pheromosa
@carecreations_ as Xurkitree
@aidan_jh as Celesteela
@rons_oc as Kartana
@petersheikah as Guzzlord
@space_glove as Nekrozma
@panuvara as Naganadel
@danielbrickson as Stakataka
@brick_diamonds as Blacephalon
absorption into a single form of several forms involved in all aspects of creative ideas from zero to infinity
Metro
Beijing, China
July 2012
Allmost bumped into this lady whilst getting on the metro
Candid shots in and around Public Transport
Ricoh GRD IV
Please do not reproduce or use this picture without my explicit permission.
If you ask nicely I will probably say yes, just ask me first!
If you happen to be in one of my frames and have any objections to this.
Please contact me!
Please no glossy awards, scripted comments and big thumbnails back to your own work.
I will remove them...
Doetinchem
June 2012
This one needs a soundtrack (youtu.be/vCadcBR95oU)
Urban life in the Netherlands
Ricoh GRD IV
Please do not reproduce or use this picture without my explicit permission.
If you ask nicely I will probably say yes, just ask me first!
If you happen to be in one of my frames and have any objections to this.
Please contact me!
Please no glossy awards, scripted comments and big thumbnails back to your own work.
I will remove them...
bead weaving loom, warp and weft: nylonthread 0,3mm, pearl-needle
Perlenwebstuhl Holz, Kette und Schuß: Perlonfaden schwarz Durchmesser 0,3mm, Perlennadel
Schwarz: Bezeichnung der Farbempfindung, die entsteht wenn kein Farbreiz wahrgenommen wird.
Schwarz ist die Absorption aller Spektren des Lichtes. Abwesenheit von sichtbarem Licht jeglicher Wellenlänge - und somit die Abwesenheit von Farben.
Schwarz ist eine unbunte Farbe.
Die Buntheit der unbunten Farben ist Null. Durch verschiedene Helligkeitsstufen des Unbunt ergeben sich die Schattierungen von Schwarz über Grau bis Weiß.
Pigmente und Färbemittel, die mehr Licht absorbieren als reflektieren ERSCHEINEN schwarz.
2008 wurde die bisher schwärzeste Materie der Erde geschaffen - sie reflektiert nur .045 % Licht
Schwarz wie schwarzer Perlonfaden, schwarz wie schwarzes Gewebeklebeband. Weiß wie weiße Hose, weiß wie weißer Nagellack, weiß wie weiße Socken, weiß wie weißer Mikrowellenteller, grau wie grauer Bodenbelag.
Part of: "ego Self Portraits"
Diptych:
DMC-G2 - P1790533 - 2014-04-29
DMC-G2 - P1800087 - 2014-05-14
A view from the dark side….
Dark nebulae or absorption nebulae are types of interstellar clouds, also called molecular clouds, that are so dense that they obscure the visible wavelengths of light from objects behind it, such as background stars and emission or reflection nebulae.
The astronomer Edward Barnard compiled a list of these dark makings in the sky, known as the Barnard Catalogue.
This is a 2-panel mosaic of part of the Taurus Molecular Cloud (TMC-1), which is an interstellar molecular cloud in the constellations Taurus and Auriga. This cloud hosts a stellar nursery containing hundreds of newly formed stars.
The blue area in the image is a reflection nebula known as LBN 782, which lies within both dark nebulae, Barnard 10, and Barnard 7. The dark area of nebulosity stretching away from LBN 782 towards the left of the image comprises Barnard 211, 213 and 216.
Arnhem
June 2012
The Netherlands
Candid shots in and around the Public Transport in The Netherlands
Ricoh GRD IV
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The Hague
June 2012
The Netherlands
Urban life in the Netherlands
Ricoh GRD IV
Please do not reproduce or use this picture without my explicit permission.
If you ask nicely I will probably say yes, just ask me first!
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This is the Full Moon of June 10, 2025, a Moon that was especially low as the Moon was at its most southerly declination of ~5º below the ecliptic at this time, at a "major lunar standstill" or lunistice, a position it reaches only once every 18.5 years. However, the Moon was still rising when I took this and was not at its highest due south yet.
The Moon is deeply yellow due to forest fire smoke in the air from fires in northern Alberta and B.C. This was also the Full Moon known popularly as the Strawberry Moon.
This was from home in southern Alberta at 51º latitude.
Technical:
This is a blend of two exposures: 8s for the sky and 1 second for the Moon to preserve detail in its disk, all with the RF70-200mm lens at 135mm and f/4 on the Canon R5 at ISO 800.
G-ARRW, Avro 748 Series 1 (CN 1549) of Dan Air Services Ltd photographed at Dundee Airport in August 1980. Built in 1963 before the absorption of the Avro brand into Hawker Siddeley, the aircraft was initially leased and operated by BKS Air Transport before being purchased by Skyways Coach Air Ltd in March 1967. Sold on to Dan Air in April 1972 and operated by them until 1990 with a period of lease to Ryanair as EI-BSE. Ownership transferred to London European Airways - a Ryanair subsidiary 1990 and then on to Clewer Aviation in January 1992 following the winding up of London European, at which point it was reregistered G-MRRV and briefly operated by Independent Airways. In November 1992 the aircraft moved to Necon Air of Nepal as 9N-AMC and served with them until suffering an overrun and ground collision accident at Pokhara, Nepal in November 1997 following a hydraulic failure. All of the 48 passengers and crew survived but the aircraft was written off as was sister 748 9N-ACW. Taypark House visible behind.
Scanned from an original 35 mm colour negative by Lindsay Potts via Hasselblad X-5
In addition to being beautiful, lotus is an impressively useful plant. The rhizomes, pips, seeds, stems and leaves are all edible. They can also be used in water treatment, remediating pollution, including sequestration of heavy metals (reductions from 80 to more than 90% has been observed in just one week). Those plants used for water treatment should probably not be eaten. They also soak up excess nitrogen, thereby suppressing algae growth and improving the oxygenation of the water in which they grow.
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aka sacred lotus and Indian lotus
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photographed on my way to the Juneteenth Celebration last month
Scheveningen/The Hague
June 2012
The Netherlands
Beachlife in the Netherlands
Ricoh GRD IV
Please do not reproduce or use this picture without my explicit permission.
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These are 2000 X-ray (left) and Optical (right) images of Veiled Black Hole. The left hand panel shows the Chandra X-ray Observatory image of a powerful point-like source of X rays. The Hubble Space Telescope image (right panel) shows the spiral galaxy with which the X-ray source is associated. The X-ray source is located at the center of the galaxy, and has a deficit of low energy X rays, consistent with absorption by a thick cloud of gas. The combination of powerful X-ray emission, absorption of low energy X-rays, and the relatively normal optical appearance of the galaxy suggests that the source is a rare type of black hole called a Type 2 quasar.
The spread-out appearance of the X-ray source is an instrumental artifact. The distribution of X rays is consistent with this source being point-like. The X-ray and optical image panels have the same scale, which is 10 arcsec on a side.
Image credit: X-ray: NASA/IOA/Fabian et al., Optical: NASA/U.Durham/Smail et al.