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I am late getting today's second instalment up - photo #6, one shot per year for a 15-year period during my backpacking days - because I mysteriously felt compelled to run out with my camera this afternoon. Despite the wind and snow pellets, I knew there were some wildflowers that wanted their pictures taken. After that I was wiped out and needed a nap.
Back in the days when I had more energy, such as the summer of 1980 when I snapped this photo, wildflowers were a favourite subject. On this day, my hiking partner Pauline and I found meadows filled with them, near Whistler, British Columbia. It was early August, and the yellow, blue, and white - of arnica, lupine, and mountain valerian - had swept these lush subalpine meadows in a fragrant wave. Our packs weren't heavy; this was merely an overnighter. The hike wasn't demanding; we took the ski lift up to the top and after that it was just rolling hills. Somehow we were alone, camping near the spectacular Overlord Glacier. In the background of this shot is the Black Tusk, a volcanic spike that I had climbed the previous year (yes, to the very top - not as difficult as it looks from here). Singing Pass is reputedly named for the alpine breeze that tickles its slopes, including nearby Piccolo, Flute, and Oboe Summits. Today you pay to camp here, you pay to use the lift if it's open, everything is tightly regulated. I get it. These easily accessible places are under siege from overuse. Glad I was there in the good old days.
Photographed in Garibaldi Provincial Park, BC (Canada); scanned from the original Kodachrome 64 slide. Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission ©1980 James R. Page - all rights reserved.
Accessibility Description: The rugged face of the Grand Wash Cliffs in Arizona glows a deep orange-red under the light of the setting sun. Layered rock formations create horizontal bands across the mountainside, while dark, elongated shadows from unseen peaks stretch diagonally over the terrain. At the base, sparse desert vegetation, including scattered Joshua trees, adds texture to the otherwise stark landscape. The warm light and sharp contrasts emphasize the cliff’s dramatic geological structure.
The biggest problem with photographing in a location as beautiful as the Banff National Park... is that it is visited by so many tourists every year... that finding unique compositions is almost impossible!
Most of the iconic locations in the park are easily accessible by car and/or a short hike along established trails... but fortunately there are a few lakes that are not very well known... with faint trails that are not marked on any maps or tourist brochures. This is one of those lakes.
Please don't ask me what it's called, where it is, or how to get to it... the peaks that you can see on the left of this image should be enough of a clue to those who know the topography of the Rockies... but for now I'd like to keep this location a secret.
Have a great weekend everyone!
Nikon D800, Nikkor 14-24 at 24mm, ISO 100, aperture of f/11, and a 1/30th second exposure.
This image is the intellectual property of Paul Bruins. It may not be used in any way without my written consent.
You can now also find me on my Website | Facebook | 500px | OutdoorPhoto
On the way to Limni, Evia island.
The island of Evia lies along the Eastern coast of Central Greece, and is accessible to the mainland via two bridges, an old wooden bridge and a contemporary suspension bridge. There are also frequent ferries to several parts of the island. It is 175 km long and is the second largest island in Greece, and the third largest in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Taken on the weekend of October 25th-26th, 2014 while my English wife Theresa Jane Brown and I were visiting friends.
Thanassis Fournarakos - Θανασης Φουρναρακος
Professional Photographer, retired.
Athens, Greece
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
None of my images may be downloaded, copied, reproduced, manipulated or used on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit written permission. THANK YOU!
This photograph has achieved the following highest awards:
* GALAXY HALL OF FAME
This is an awesome piece of country only accessible by 4x4, the mouth of the river was closed and we was able to drive across, this Rivermouth has taken many 4x4's,
accessible to smaller cruise ships, chao phraya river winding through magical thai green countryside is an unusual way to arrive in bangkok
one bridge of the several crossing the chao phraya river below bangkok, seen from AZAMARA QUEST
San Fruttuoso - also known as San Fruttuoso di Camogli - is neither port nor resort. Not much more than an indentation along a mountainous coastline, accessible only from the sea or on foot. But it has two powerful attractions. One is an ancient Benedictine monastery and the other the Christ of the Abyss. The monastery is a lovely stone building with a small dome, which straddles the beach. Parts are medieval, some Romanesque, and the burial vaults of the aristocratic Doria family of Genoa are here. Until nature decided to throw up a beach in quite recent times, boats moored directly under the supporting arches of the monastery and could unload directly into the cellars. You can still walk beneath these arches and find the odd boat or two resting on the stones out of the weather. There is some exploring to do at San Fruttuoso, but the main monastery building and the sixteenth-century watch tower a short walk away (combined ticket for a few euros) are not always open: local information offices can supply the details.
There's no road. The nearest official parking is over an hour away at Portofino Vetta (which is not the same place as Portofino but nearer Camogli). From there the signposted walk to San Fruttuoso is fairly level and easy to begin with - as far as the path junction of Pietre Strette - but then falls sharply in zig-zags and steps down an old mule path in order to deal with a 1500-foot (450m) descent to sea level. It takes more time, nearer two hours, to make the uphill journey back. Alternatively, a powerful walker could use one or other of the even longer signposted routes from Camogli, Santa Margherita or Portofino.
In summer there are well-advertised boat trips, several times a day (hourly in midsummer), from Camogli to San Fruttuoso, and others from Portofino and Santa Margherita. A less reliable service runs daily from Camogli out of season too, but you shouldn't expect to find very much in terms of tourist facilities at that time of year.
Rotterdam - Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen, the world’s first fully accessible art depot, will open its doors in September 2021 at Museumpark in the centre of Rotterdam. With this construction completion, now the museum and the users can start to inhabit the building and fill its spaces with priceless art. Although it will take another year before the real opening, the completion is a special moment . 7,000 lucky persons can make a safe quick visit in 3 days in September 2020.
The assignment for MVRDV Architects was to offer a glimpse behind the scenes of the museum world and make the whole art collection accessible to the public. The reflective round volume responds to its surroundings. The Depot features exhibition halls, a rooftop garden, and a restaurant, in addition to an enormous amount of storage space for art and design.
Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen is the first depot in the world that offers access to a complete collection. The dynamics of the depot are different from those of the museum: no exhibitions are held here, but you can - independently or with a guide - browse through 151,000 art objects. You can also take a look at, for example, conservation and restoration.. Surface 15,000 m²
The main settlement on Greenland’s east coast, home to about two thousand people. Accessible only by sea or helicopter, it preserves strong Inuit traditions and is surrounded by fjords and mountains that highlight its isolation and Arctic charm.
These photographs document the platform area at Starnberg station, not the main station building. The visible structure consists primarily of historic iron columns and beams that remain in active use but show clear signs of aging: corrosion, flaking paint, and uneven maintenance. What was once a coherent architectural system has become a fragmented, utilitarian framework.
The original platform roofs are completely gone. In their place, the iron skeleton stands exposed to weather and light. Rather than being restored, the structure has been stabilized through added construction: scaffolding, bracing elements, and protective netting that cut across the original geometry. This creates a layered visual language of old infrastructure and temporary reinforcement.
A newer canopy appears only in selected areas, mainly above stair access points. This roof is made of corrugated sheet metal (Wellblech) and serves a purely functional role. It offers basic protection but no architectural continuity with the historic structure. Large sections of the platforms remain open.
The site reflects the character of a “lost place” in operation. It is neither fully preserved nor abandoned. Ongoing disputes between heritage protection (Denkmalschutz), ownership responsibilities, and questions of funding for repair and upkeep have left the platforms in a state of visual and structural limbo. The result is an environment where historical fabric survives, but without clear restoration strategy.
Access is partially restricted through fenced zones and controlled pathways. This affects circulation and accessibility, including limited or indirect wheelchair access. The station continues to function, yet the platform space feels provisional — maintained just enough to operate, but not enough to recover its former architectural identity.
From a photographic perspective, the focus lies on the exposed iron framework, the absence of the original roof, and the contrast between historic construction and pragmatic modern additions. The images document a transitional state: a working railway platform that visually reads as a relic.
Nature in the heart of London
Woodberry Wetlands offers great opportunities for people to enjoy nature in the heart of London, free of charge, fully accessible and five minutes' walk from Manor House Tube station.
Opening after almost 200 years
Woodberry Wetlands is an operating reservoir, originally constructed in 1833 and closed to public access ever since. Working Thames Water, London Wildlife Trust has carefully built a urban wetland oasis rich in wildlife.
Woodberry Wetlands wildlife
Woodberry Wetlands is home to lots of wonderful wildlife. Kingfishers dart across water, whilst reed warblers, bees and dragonflies buzz around the reeds. You'll be amazed you are in London.
Where to find us
Woodberry Wetlands
West Entrance via New River Path
Lordship Road
London
N16 5HQ
Get in touch
info@woodberrywetlands.org.uk
020 8802 4573
About Woodberry Wetlands
Woodberry Wetlands is a haven for wildlife and people in Hackney: 17 hectares of reed-fringed ponds and dykes, always free and accessible to everyone. The reserve is five minutes’ walk from the densely built up areas of Manor House, Stoke Newington and Woodberry Down. The contrast between the surrounding tower blocks and the wild wetland habitat with old oak trees is almost unbelievable. Click the links below to find out more.
www.woodberrywetlands.org.uk/about/wildlife/
Woodberry Wetlands supports lots of species throughout the year, from wintering populations of pochard, shoveler, tufted and gadwall ducks, to reed warbler and bunting who have migrated from Africa for spring and summer. But it’s not just great for birds…
Birds & Waterfowl
London has recorded over 365 species of bird within a 20 mile radius of St. Paul’s Cathedral. From the parks and green spaces of Central London to the reservoirs and gravel pits in the North & West and the estuary and the salt marshes in the East. Just some of the species you might expect to see this Spring and Summer season include:
APRIL / MAY
When the wintering birds begin to disappear and the last of the siskins, bramblings, redwings, fieldfares, water rails and green sandpipers and most of the gulls have departed, trans-Saharan migrants such as swallows and house & sand martins make their long-awaited return. Common swifts congregate in large numbers alongside commonly sighted residents blackcaps and common chiffchaffs. Five species of warbler, including the lesser & common whitethroats and garden warblers, arrive with the reservoir’s breeding varieties of reed and sedge warbler in April. Common terns are a regular presence with the possibility of seeing arctic terns due to the favourable fishing opportunities. Two main species, the common buzzard and red kites, dominate the sky during Spring with marsh harriers and ospreys being more rare but annual visitors. Other notable sightings and unexpected visitors to the reservoir conditions dependent have included: redshank, northern lapwing, little ringed plover, whinchat, water pipit, firecrest, brambling, shelduck, snipe and northern lapwing.
During May, some escaped species, including budgerigars, African grey parrot and cockatiel, have been spotted on the run in the wetlands area. Raptors, mainly represented by our two resident species kestrel and sparrowhawk, are also a feature over the skies.
JUNE / JULY
June & July are generally quiet from a migratory perspective, hence, the summer is a good time to enjoy the breeding species, of which at least 50 of which have bred regularly at the reservoir in the last few years. The wetland habitat provides nesting sites for a good variety of waterbirds, including coot, moorhen, mallard, tufted duck, mute swan, Canada goose, little grebe, common pochard, great crested grebe and our only nesting larid the lesser black-backed gull.
Both kestrel and sparrowhawk breed in the vicinity and stock doves, green & great spotted woodpeckers, pied & grey wagtails breed close by and are a familiar sight in the summer. Blackcaps have increased as a breeding species in the local area and Cetti’s, reed & sedge warblers and Reed Buntings nest exclusively in the reed bed at the East Reservoir whilst bullfinch, greenfinch, chaffinch, common chiffchaffs, common whitethroats, kingfishers, goldcrests, long-tail & coal tits breed within the perimeter.
Bats
Bats most likely to be spotted at Woodberry Wetlands:
The pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus/Pipistrellus pygmaeus/Pipistrellus nathusii): This tiny animal is the most common species of bat in Britain and can eat up to 3000 midges, caddis flies, mosquitoes and other similar small insects in a night. They can be seen after dusk as they leave their roosts or where they feed in woodland, over water and along hedgerows in almost every part of London.
The noctule (Nyctalus noctulla): One of the largest bats found in Britain, the noctule has a sleek golden coloured fur and broad brown ears. Although still fairly widespread in London, the species has declined in recent years, possibly due, in part, to over management of trees where it exclusively roosts in woodpecker or rot holes. The noctule feeds on moths, beetles and mayflies and typically feeds high over woodland, parkland and water bodies.
The Daubenton’s bat (Myotis daubentonii) – This species is similar to the natterer’s and is often called the water bat due to its level flight pattern above the surface of water bodies such as lakes. It feeds on small flies such as caddis flies and midges and roosts in trees, tunnels and bridges which are generally near water.
Leisler’s bat (Nyctalus leisleri) – This is a species of bat belonging to the vesper bat family, Vespertilionidae. It is slightly smaller than the common noctule. Its face, ears and wings are dark and its fur is brown. The undersides of the arms are hairy giving it the alternative name “hairy-armed bat”.
Natterer’s bat (Myotis nattereri) – The Natterer’s is medium-sized species with short, dense fur on the upper surface of head, a greyish-brown outer body and whitish-grey ventral surface with smoky grey ears and wing membranes. The ears and the wing membranes are smoky grey. It feeds on small insects and other invertebrates which it catches on the wing or pursues on the ground. In summer it roosts in deciduous and coniferous trees, structures or bat boxes close to its feeding habitats.
The brown long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus) – As suggested by the name, the brown long-eared bat has remarkably large ears which are nearly as long as its body. It is most frequently found roosting inside roof spaces where it likes the ridge beams of older properties. It emerges very late when it is quite dark and keeps close to trees when hunting making it difficult to spot even when it’s definitely there.
Invertebrates and Amphibians
The reserve proffers the opportunity to observe such distinctive moths as the sizeable black & white spotted leopard moth and large yellow underwing with a wingspan of 5 – 6 centimeters and the more petite small magpie and literally clear-winged red-tipped clearwing to the more common members of the Tortricidae family, tortrix, clover seed and holly tortrix moths, and the micro moths of the Eriocraniidae, Gracillariidae, Momphidae and Oecophoridae families.
The butterflies that you will most likely spot are the orange and brown winged large and Essex skippers representing the Hesperiidae family and Lycaenidaes. Holly blue, identified by their bright blue upperwings and pale blue spotted undersides, the very handsome purple hairstreak and common blue. The peacock with its red wings and brilliant eyespots and striking orange & black patterned small tortoiseshell are amongst the most spectacularly coloured and easily spotted of the Nymphalidae family whilst the meadow brown, speckled wood and red admiral are also present.
Woodberry Wetlands is an excellent place to see dragonflies and damselflies in the summer months, including the rare red-eyed damselfly (Erythromma najas). Hoverflies, such as the distinctive marmalade fly (Episyrphus balteatus), are frequent visitors too.
There are also healthy populations of smooth newt (Lissotriton vulgaris), common frog (Rana temporaria) and common toad (Bufo bufo) across the site, which provides excellent breeding and foraging habitat for amphibians.
Habitat
Reedbed
Over the last century, the reservoir has become shallower, now 2m from its original depth of up to 6m, and there is around about 4m worth of silt which the New River has primarily deposited. The silting up of the reservoir has created undulations to form pools, islands and channels and allowing the existing reedbed to spread out further from the edge, benefiting a huge range of wildlife.
The reedbeds surrounding the reservoir are rich in wetland wildlife. These have been increased in size by London Wildlife Trust with movement of silt and planting to be enhanced for its wildlife, birds in particular.
The reedbed habitat is dominated by common reed with patches of bramble, curled dock and common nettle found throughout the reedbed. Invasive species such as Japanese knotweed and orange balsam were treated before works started to avoid potential distribution of these species.
Hedgerow
Hedgerows provide important habitat for mammals, birds and invertebrates on the site. Hawthorn is the principal component of the hedgerows at Woodberry Wetlands, with its blossom providing a nectar source for pollinators and its structure sheltering foodplants of butterflies.
Grassland
There is an area of improved grassland on the top of the embankments and semi-improved grassland and tall herbs on the south facing slope next to the reedbed. This is reflected in the dominant grass species on the site which are species associated with higher-nutrient environments: meadow foxtail, barren brome, red fescue, Yorkshire fog, wall barley and perennial rye-grass.
Wildflower Meadow
An area of wildflower meadow has been created, supporting species such as meadow vetchling, greater bird’s-foot trefoil and lesser trefoil.
Orchard
The orchard is planted with traditional English fruit varieties including Victoria plum, conference pear and James Grieve apple. The James Grieve variety was formerly a fruit market staple that has been forgotten by many people. It bruises easily and so it is not considered to be suitable for modern supermarket handling. As they mature, the orchard trees will provide vital habitat for invertebrates.
History
Prior to the building of the new river and reservoirs, the Woodberry Down area was in fact not a wetland at all! On the crest of a hill, the area is rather known confusingly known as ‘down land’, hence the name Woodberry Down. 600 years ago the was rolling grass meadows, pastures for cattle and small woodlands, probably home to dear and wild boar, as well as a number of small hold peasant farmers.
Woodberry Wetlands Historical Timeline
Pre-1500
‘Woodberry Down’ land was all grass meadows, pasture and small woodlands.
1613
The New River Company completes construction of an aqueduct called the New River, to bring clean water from chalk streams in Hertfordshire.
1833
The Stoke Newington East and West Reservoirs are built in 1833, again by the New River Company, to meet the growing demands for drinking water in the suburban London ‘towns’ of Stoke Newington and Stamford Hill.
1850-1920
Large Victorian and Edwardian mansions are built with gardens backing onto the New River and overlooking the reservoirs. At this time Manor House and Woodberry Down become famous for suburban luxury; an early stock broker belt.
1930-1955
Two world wars lead to many of the houses being sold of left un used and the Greater London Council compulsory purchase the Woodberry Down land. The Woodberry Down housing estate is built along the northern bank of the Stoke Newington reservoirs to re-house slum dwellers of Shoreditch, Bethnal Green and the docklands.
1955- 1980
Woodberry Down is hailed as a utopian success for social housing projects. Meanwhile the Reservoirs and New River are treated with chlorine and sodium phosphate gas to ‘clean’ the water. Unsurprisingly, the reservoir was devoid of any wildlife.
1980- 1997
Woodberry Down estate, like many housing estate across the UK, suffers from many years of neglect and lack of funding.
1992
The Stoke Newington reservoirs are put up for sale by the newly privatised Thames Water, with a view to both reservoirs being filled in and built over. But after a long campaign by local residents, the reservoirs were saved, chlorine and sodium phosphate is no longer used to clean the water and wildlife begins to take over.
2001
The Woodberry Down Estate is to be regenerated after years of disrepair. The increasingly damp, dark properties are to be replaced in one of the UK’s largest housing regeneration schemes.
2016
Woodberry Wetlands is constructed and the Stoke Newington East Reservoir is opened to the public for the first time
YJ67 FYN is an Optare Solo M7900SE new to Accessible Transport, Aston (t/a iGo) in October 2017. McNairn of Coatbridge acquired it in the summer of 2019 and it is seen here in Coatbridge whilst operating SPT supported service 212 (Baillieston-Airdrie).
Accessibility Description: The photo shows a tall, historic brick industrial building with a large black smokestack rising from its roof. The building has three visible stories, with tall arched windows on the lower floors and smaller rectangular windows near the top. Some of the brick shows signs of age and weathering. Modern glass office buildings and high-rises tower in the background, contrasting with the older architecture. The street curves gently in the foreground, lined with parked cars and a bike lane symbol painted on the asphalt. On the right edge of the frame, a wall is covered in thick green ivy. The overall scene combines historic charm with an urban cityscape.
Record photo of breeding pair in Glenn County, California. The nest is in early flooded rice on private land, and not accessible. The pair forages in canals that parallel County Road 67, east and west of Howard Slough. Black Terns are now rare in the Sacramento Valley.
The island of Evia lies along the Eastern coast of Central Greece, and is accessible to the mainland via two bridges. There are also frequent ferries to several parts of the island. It is 175 km long and is the second largest island in Greece, and the third largest in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Taken on a short trip, December 29th, 2012. (A rainy, cold Saturday! Nonetheless, my English wife Theresa Jane Brown and I had a great time and lots of fun!).
Thanassis Fournarakos - Θανασης Φουρναρακος
Professional Photographer, retired.
Athens, Greece
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
None of my images may be downloaded, copied, reproduced, manipulated or used on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit written permission. THANK YOU!
This photograph has achieved the following highest awards:
* GALAXY HALL OF FAME
* RED CARPET HALL OF FAME
* BEST OF RED CARPET HALL OF FAME
...en concert au Noumatrouff - Mulhouse le 28/05/2022
Un Blues-Rock roots et moderne
"Circle of Mud" nait sous l'impulsion de Gino Monachello aux guitares et lapsteel, rejoint par Flo Bauer au chant et à la guitare, puis par une section rythmique de choc, à savoir Mathieu Zirn à la batterie et Franck Bedez à la basse.Le tout dirigé d'une main de maître par David Husser, prodige de la réalisation. Le groupe nous livre un Blues-Rock roots et moderne, apprécié autant des passionnés que des non-initiés. C'est la force de ce projet : délivrer une musique accessible et profonde à la fois. "Circle of Mud" sort son premier album le 22 Octobre 2021.Cerise sur le gâteau : le groupe signe son premier opus chez Dixiefrog Records, label référence dans le milieu du Blues en France.
VIDEOS :
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yc5ft08OUyM
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DlwAof7tmk
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBqWKTX0IpY
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbDRHDuY45w
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wad-2Jpo6uk
A Blues-Rock roots and modern
"Circle of Mud" was born under the impulse of Gino Monachello on guitars and lapsteel, joined by Flo Bauer on vocals and guitar, then by a shocking rhythm section, namely Mathieu Zirn on drums and Franck Bedez on bass. All directed with a masterful hand by David Husser, prodigy of realization. The band gives us a Blues-Rock roots and modern, appreciated as much by the enthusiasts as the uninitiated. This is the strength of this project: delivering accessible and deep music at the same time. Circle of Mud" released its first album on October 22, 2021.Cherry on the cake: the band signs its first album with Dixiefrog Records, a leading label in the French blues industry.
© Philippe Haumesser. TOUS DROITS RESERVES - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ©.
Merci beaucoup pour vos visites , commentaires et favoris♥
Thank you very much for your visits, comments and favorites
www.flickriver.com/photos/philippe_haumesser/popular-inte...
Ahhh, urban luxury at its finest -- living large on a budget compared to Seattle's [much taller] high rises yet a [slightly close] reminder of the Emerald City's access to poverty and troubled individuals roaming the streets looking for their [temporary yet immediate bliss]. The way how I see it is as follows: such an apartment as depicted serves the function of a reminder at just how close each of us are between comfort and our own personal discomfort...
Photo captured via Minolta AF-Maxxum 16mm Fisheye F/2.8 lens. Chinatown - Industrial District. City of Seattle. Central Puget Lowland section within the Puget Sound Lowlands Region. King County, Washington. Early December 2022.
Exposure Time: 8 sec. * ISO Speed: ISO-100 * Aperture: F/8 * Bracketing: None * Color Temperature: 4000 K * Color Grading: Kodak E100VS
The article below originated from:
Traditional Building Magazine
Updated: Jan 6, 2020
Original: Feb 2, 2016
Originally built in 1916, the Palm Beach courthouse was a tour de force of Neoclassical architecture. The architect Wilber Burt Talley designed a granite base, brick and stone façades, soaring Indiana limestone columns and Corinthian capitals that held up triangle pediments, and a dentil molding below the cornice. The four-story, 40,000-sq.ft. the building housed the county government offices and records, as well as the jail.
Almost immediately the courthouse ran out of space, and 11 years later an addition was constructed 25 feet to the east. Talley again served as the courthouse architect, and the 1927 addition was similar in appearance and used many of the same materials as the original building. In 1955, the two buildings were connected with usable rooms to accommodate the growing county.
Yet another addition was required in the late ’60s; it was completed in 1969. The architecture firm Edge & Powell delivered a brick building that nearly doubled the square footage to 180,000 sq. ft. This time, the addition was less than sympathetic. In fact, the 1916 and 1927 buildings were lost in the center of the new construction, which wrapped around them completely.
The building was utilized for 36 years in this configuration, until 1995, when a new courthouse opened across the street. Expansions had plagued the 1916 courthouse almost as soon as it was built, and this was no exception. “After the new courthouse opened, the old one was slated for demolition,” says Rick Gonzales, Jr., AIA, CEO and principal at REG Architects. “Since I knew about the 1916 courthouse, I recognized the potential of the site and got in touch with preservation specialists in the area. It took some time, but a group of us eventually convinced the county to fund a feasibility study, which we conducted in 2002.”
Gonzales talks about stimulating interest in the project: “We would go to the new courthouse to sell our idea and walk people up to the windows to look at the old site,” he says.
“‘Believe it or not, there’s a building inside that building,’ I’d say. That really piqued people’s interest.”
The county agreed to fund the project, and demolition of the additions began in January 2004 and was completed two years later. “It took a long time because it was a selective demolition,” says Gonzales. “We needed to be careful to salvage many of the materials from the 1927 building to use in the restoration of the 1916 structure. It resembled the original, so we took everything we could for reuse.” A number of materials were recovered, including limestone, granite, wood windows, doors, marble wainscot, mosaic floor tiles, wood flooring, trim, and hardware.
While a majority of the materials were the same from building to building, the detailing was not identical. “We were working from the drawings of the 1927 building because we couldn’t find drawings for the earlier structure,” says Gonzales. “We had thought the detailing was the same, but when we put our studies together we saw that the rhythm, proportion, and cornices were different.”
When REG Architects couldn’t apply the 1927 documentation to the restoration, the firm examined what was remaining of the building and the few images that had survived. “For a while, we had no cornice pieces, because all of the exterior ornamentations had been destroyed when the façades were smoothed for the addition,” says Gonzales. “Then a contractor found a 16-in. piece, which we used to re-create the cornice line.”
Other elements that needed to be re-created, such as the granite and limestone porticos on the north, south, and west façades, were designed using historic photographs. “We found limestone with the same vein from the same Indiana quarry that was originally used,” says Gonzales. “We were extremely lucky in that the quarry ran out of that vein right after our order.” REG Architects was also able to match the granite.
Many components of the building were salvaged and restored. The cornerstones were restored and placed in their original locations at the northwest corner. The 12 Corinthian capitals and the load-bearing limestone columns – each of which weighs 30,600 lbs. – were pieced back together and repaired. “Placement of the capitals was especially tedious,” says Gonzales, “because it needed to be precise. They were then secured with pegs and glue.”
On the north, south, and west elevations, the brick was restored and, when necessary, replaced. “We couldn’t locate replacement brick with the same hues as the existing brick hues,” says Gonzales, “so we hired artists to stain it so that it blended with the original brick.” On the east elevation, REG Architects specified new brick so the new façade clearly stood out from the old ones.
To the same point, new hurricane-proof wood windows were chosen for the east elevation, while REG Architects was careful to preserve as many old windows as possible on the other elevations. Hedrick Brothers repaired 76 original wood windows as well as the window hardware. “We found a local manufacturer, Coastal Millwork of Riviera Beach, FL, to get the original windows tested for hurricane-preparedness,” says Gonzales. “The company reinforced and laminated the windows, so we were able to reinstall them.”
The crowning achievement of the exterior work was the re-creation of an eagle crest on the west pediment.
Based on a small postcard and images of other eagle crests, Ontario, Canada-based Traditional Cut Stone designed the crest for Palm Beach. “They created a small scale model and then a full-scale model in clay,” says Gonzales. “The final piece, which took five months to produce, was hand-carved from five pieces of Indiana limestone.” Traditional Cut Stone was also responsible for all of the limestone work on the building. REG Architects based much of its interior design on the Desoto County Courthouse in Arcadia, FL, which was built by Talley in 1913.
“The dilemma about the interiors was that there was little archival material and few original photographs to give a precise vision for the interiors,” says Gonzales. “Emphasis was placed on trying to restore the character of the main courtroom and the main interior public spaces.” The main courtroom on the third and fourth floors was especially aided by the Desoto research. The millwork was re-created and the plaster ceiling and moldings, maple flooring, doors, and door hardware were restored. Replica lighting was fabricated.
Architectural elements in the corridors and staircases received similar treatment. Hendrick Brothers uncovered the original mosaic flooring and had it repaired. Only five percent of the tile needed to be replaced; in these cases, matching tile from the 1927 building was used. About 80 percent of the marble wainscoting was salvaged, while the other 20 percent was replaced with matching marble from the original quarry. Wood doors and door hardware were salvaged and reused.
All of the building code upgrades – including efficient HVAC, fire protection, and hurricane protection – were hidden as much as possible with historic finishes. The alley elevation provided an ADA-accessible entrance and space for elevators.
The newly restored Palm Beach County Court House now accommodates a museum for the historical society, as well as offices for the County’s Public Affairs Department and County Attorney. “People say this project was an alignment of the stars,” says Gonzales. “It was. We were lucky to have the opportunity to save this building, we worked with a lot of great people, and it turned out well. It was a great labor of love.” TB
Credit for the data above is given to the following websites:
www.traditionalbuilding.com/projects/courthouse-unwrapped
downtownwpb.com/things-to-do/history-museum-and-restored-...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_and_Pat_Johnson_Palm_Beach_...
© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.
An old friend of mine, Russell, whom I used to work with, has acquired 187 acres of beautiful Canadian Shield wilderness accessible by a rather rough ~5 Km ATV trail.
Yesterday we towed out about 10 12' 2x8s, rebar, rebar cutter, wheelbarrow, bags of concrete mix, etc., on a little trailer attached to the ATV. There were parts of the trail where we had to employ the winch, attached to convenient trees, to get the load past particularly challenging bits. Russell drove (no power steering on the ATV so that was quite a wrestle), I walked/jogged ahead or behind, attached the winch cable when required, cut down a tree that had to be gotten out of the way at one point (with chainsaw).
It took about 2 3/4 hours to get to the campsite. After unloading we did a little hiking around a couple of beaver ponds (these are rather large) and I took the opportunity to make some photos. This was taken in the evening just before we left. More will follow.
Russ's wife says she will come to see the place when he has a flush toilet in place! Hahaha... she's a civilized woman!
The trek back to the car was considerably easier with a light load on the trailer. I jogged behind the ATV most of the way; by the time we got back to Russell's SUV it was fully dark.
When he dropped me off in Ajax, I was sore all over and more physically tired than I've been in a long time. Not so sore this morning, though, thank goodness! I'll be going out there with Russ again for sure to do more exploring and photography.
Taken on May 31, 2015, while my beloved English wife Theresa Jane Brown and I were visiting friends on the beautiful island of Evia, Greece.
NEA ARTAKI - ΝΕΑ ΑΡΤΑΚΗ
The island of Evia lies along the Eastern coast of Central Greece, and is accessible to the mainland via two bridges, an old wooden bridge and a contemporary suspension bridge. There are also frequent ferries to several parts of the island. It is 175 km long and is the second largest island in Greece, and the third largest in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Thanassis Fournarakos - Θανασης Φουρναρακος
Professional Photographer, retired.
Athens, Greece.
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
None of my images may be downloaded, copied, reproduced, manipulated or used on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit written permission. THANK YOU!
This photograph has achieved the following highest awards:
* GALAXY HALL OF FAME
* THE GALAXY STARS HALL OF FAME
The hull is mostly done, just a few details to take care off. And interior, if I ever want to do that. It's accessible enough, so I may.
This is a volcanic landscape, high on the spine of Java. The road ascends/descends Tangkuban Perahu which is active. As one climbs from the tropical lowlands with its rice padis, the crops change to grapes, then to lettuce and tea, higher up to cabbages, to strawberries and to apples and stone fruit. Higher still are the heaths among which the shepherd herd their small flocks.
Away from Indonesia, people do not think of such crops being a vital part of the economy. But the fertile soils and humid conditions and constant lower temperatures support intensive agriculture and a network of vibrant market villages and cities.
Tangkuban Perahu is a stratovolcano and its rim with a view into the crater is accessible to tourists. Visitors can see sulfurous steam, hot springs, and bubbling mud. While you can drive up to the rim, and there are many souvenier sellers, and food stalls along the rim road, recent eruptions have led to the closure of some, whilst there is a need for guides if walking the high trails.
anamorphic lens
OBSERVE Collective
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germanstreetphotography.com/michael-monty-may/
Only accessible by Land Cruiser "Jeep". The vast valley of Mount Bromo Plateau is covered by volcanic ash, turn the whole region into surreal otherworldly sand dunes inside the walls of lava rocks. Magically, the equatorial rains allows ferns to grow on sand dunes only during rainy season before the sun dries up the ferns.
From ocean of ferns to desert of sand dunes. We need to wait for a million years until the ferns made the acidic ash becomes fertile soil.
Picture taken from the Great Savanna of Mount Bromo, East Java, Indonesia.
at Cramond Causeway (1 of 3)
The first came last in this set of 3 from Cramond. Here the tide is out and you have access the "Cramond Island" 1/3 of a mile from the mainland.and the anticipation of what was to come as the tide came in
Europe, Portugal, Lisboa, Alcantara valley, Aqueduto das Águas Livres, Workers, Houses (slightly cut from all sides)
The 'free water aqueduct' is probably the largest historical building in Lisbon. It dominates the city's skyline. It is not in use anymore (decommissioned at the end of the ‘60s of the previous century). As one of the locations of the Lisbon water museum, it is accessible.
It is the last aqueduct that was built in classic style (not necessary exactly Roman) and for good measure, it roughly follows the course of an ancient Roman viaduct.
Shown here is the almost 1 kilometre stretch of the Águas Livres Aqueduct that crosses the Alcantara valley. It has 35 gothic style arches, the tallest arches reaching a height of 65 m. It was completed in 1741, the architect was Custódio Vieira.
On top of the viaduct is a series of ornamented (with pilasters and pediments) vents/skylights. They provide the light for cleaning and inspection purposes), as well as oxygen, beneficial for the quality of the water.
As a whole the aqueduct covers 18 km (the whole network of subsidiary canals extends through nearly 58 km) While on our way north from Santa Apolonia station, we encountered many of its aboveground sections. the water is transported through the action of gravity (denivelation: 3mm / meter).
The background: Lisbon had always suffered from a shortage and in 1729 it was decided to build an aqueduct to bring water from sources in the parish of Caneças (now the municipality of Odivelas). The project was paid for by a special sales tax on beef, olive oil, wine, and other products. Construction started in 1731 under the direction of Italian architect Antonio Canevari, replaced in 1732 by a group of Portuguese architects and engineers, including Manuel da Maia, Azevedo Fortes and José da Silva Pais. Between 1733 and 1736, the project was directed by Manuel da Maia, who in turn was replaced by Custódio Vieira, who would remain at the head of the project until around 1747. All the mentioned architects were military engineers.
In 1748, although the project was still unfinished, the aqueduct finally started to bring water to the city of Lisbon, a fact celebrated in a commemorative arch built in the Amoreiras neighbourhood. From this period on, construction was overseen by other architects, including Carlos Mardel of Hungary and others. Later the network of canals and fountains was greatly enlarged.
On November 1st, 1755, the 1755 Lisbon earthquake hit the city, but the brand new aqueduct managed to remain intact.
The aqueduct is no longer in use and it is possible to visit and cross the aqueduct, It’s part of the Museu da Água (Water Museum here) with its many locations in the city.
The two footpaths that sandwich the water conduit, were until 1852 used by people and animals entering and leaving the city of Lisbon (- the aqueduct was then also known as the Ponte dos Arcos.
Text is based on several Internet sources.
This is number 154 of the Lisboa & Outra banda album here.
Whenever we have friends visit from overseas, they ask to see kangaroos ... Canberra is known as the "bush capital" (of Australia) ... we're lucky to have these guys easily accessible in a nearby nature park! :D
Please note: my images are NOT to be used on any third party sites, including stumbleupon.
Le Capitole était en travaux, c'est pourquoi vous ne verrez que des vues partielles de ce monument.
La place du Capitole est située au cœur du centre-ville de Toulouse. Elle forme un rectangle régulier, de 126 mètres de long, du nord au sud, sur 92 mètres de large, d'est en ouest, pour une superficie d'environ 12 000 m2. Ce vaste ensemble à l'architecture ordonnancée est bordé à l'est par la façade monumentale du Capitole, dans lequel se trouve la mairie de la ville et le Théâtre du Capitole.
La circulation automobile sur la place du Capitole est règlementée. Elle a été progressivement rendue piétonne, à partir des travaux de réfection de la place, en 1993, qui avaient déjà réduit les voies de circulation. La place n'est plus accessible que par la rue du Poids-de-l'Huile, pour les véhicules qui souhaitent se rendre au parking souterrain Capitole, situé sous la place-même, ou par les rues Jean-Antoine-Romiguières et Charles-de-Rémusat, pour les riverains seulement. Le centre de la place est réservé aux piétons, à diverses manifestations et animations, ponctuelles ou régulières, et aux marchés quotidiens.
The Capitol was under construction, which is why you will only see partial views of this monument.
Place du Capitole is located in the heart of downtown Toulouse. It forms a regular rectangle, 126 meters long, from north to south, 92 meters wide, from east to west, for an area of approximately 12,000 m2. This vast ensemble with structured architecture is bordered to the east by the monumental façade of the Capitole, in which the town hall and the Théâtre du Capitole are located.
Car traffic on the Place du Capitole is regulated. It was gradually made pedestrian, starting from the repair works of the square, in 1993, which had already reduced the traffic lanes. The square is now only accessible by rue du Poids-de-l'Huile, for vehicles wishing to go to the Capitole underground car park, located under the square itself, or by rue Jean-Antoine-Romiguières and Charles -de-Rémusat, for local residents only. The center of the square is reserved for pedestrians, various events and events, occasional or regular, and daily markets.
Excerpt from www.hiddennewfoundland.ca:
The Brigus Tunnel is a surprising reminder of the impact that the Labrador fishery and seal hunt had on the community of Brigus. The historic town is littered with reminders of what life was like hundreds of years ago and is known for its large number of heritage buildings and picturesque gardens. But the most notable historic site in the town is a large tunnel cut through solid bedrock near the harbour front. To many people’s surprise the tunnel is an artifact of the Labrador fishery in which many of the town’s inhabitants once participated.
The tunnel was built for the famous Captain Abram Bartlett. Bartlett frequently made trips to Labrador to partake in the summer fishery but due to an overcrowded harbour would often have trouble finding a dock to unload his catch. After purchasing a larger ship, his previous berth at Riverhead was no longer usable. The only remaining suitable deep water berth nearby was in Brigus Harbour. Brigus' sheltered and deep water harbour was ideal for holding large ships but finding a place to dock a ship was often difficult due to surrounding cliffs. A tunnel through the ridge would give Bartlett access to his ship and allow for easy offloading of the catch.
Bartlett immediately purchased a section of land near the ridge and hired the help of Cornish miner John Hoskins. Hoskins began construction of the tunnel around 1860. John Hoskins was a professional who had previously been employed at the Tilt Cove Copper Mines on the Baie Verte Peninsula [Virtual Museum]. The roughly 80 foot long tunnel was constructed by hand drilling holes into the rock in which gunpowder would be placed. In order to keep the drill bits sharp a special forge was constructed near the tunnel site. The tunnel is reported to have taken around four months of continuous work to complete. The tunnel measured eight and a half feet high and about eight feet wide allowing wheel barrows, wagons and even horse and carriages to access the wharf on the other side. The tunnel was used until around 1910.
Today the tunnel is accessible by anyone who wishes to venture through. The tunnel is located near the waterfront behind St. Georges Heritage Church near the Bartlett Memorial.
The Columbia Center, formerly named the Bank of America Tower and Columbia Seafirst Center, is a skyscraper in downtown Seattle, Washington, United States. The 76-story structure is the tallest building in Seattle and the state of Washington, reaching a height of 933 ft (284 m). At the time of its completion, the Columbia Center was the tallest structure on the West Coast; as of 2017 it is the fourth-tallest, behind buildings in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
The Columbia Center, developed by Martin Selig and designed by Chester L. Lindsey Architects, began construction in 1982 and was completed in 1985. The building is primarily leased for class-A office spaces by various companies, with the lower floors including retail space and the upper floors featuring a public observatory and private club lounge. The tower has the highest public viewing area west of the Mississippi River. It occupies most of the block bounded by Fourth and Fifth Avenues and Cherry and Columbia Streets.
Columbia Center was designed by Washington architect Chester L. Lindsey. The base of the building is clad in Rosa Purino Carnelian granite. The building's structure is composed of three geometric concave facades with two setbacks, causing the building to appear like three towers standing side by side.
Ground level elevation on the Fifth Avenue side of the building is higher than on the Fourth Avenue side; the part of Cherry Street it faces was identified as one of the steepest streets in the Central Business District with a slope of 17.1%. The tower was originally designed to be about 306.5 m (1,006 ft), but federal regulations by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) would not allow it to be that tall so close to the nearby Sea-Tac Airport. Although city land use regulations at the time were intended to limit skyscrapers to about 50 stories, the developer, Martin Selig, obtained the necessary permits for a 76-story skyscraper due to a part of the law that allowed bonus height for providing retail space with street access. Because three separate stories could access the street on the sloped site, the developers were allowed a bonus for each of the three stories they set aside for retail, which was reportedly an unintended loophole in the law. There is an observation deck on the 73rd floor which offers views of Seattle and environs. The top two floors of the building (75th and 76th) are occupied by the private Columbia Tower Club, which houses a restaurant, bar, library, and meeting rooms. The 40th floor is accessible to the public and features a Starbucks cafe. An underground concourse connects the building to the nearby Seattle Municipal Tower and Bank of America Fifth Avenue Plaza.
The tower, originally proposed as Columbia Center, opened under the name Columbia Seafirst Center after its largest tenant and financier, Seafirst Bank, and then changed to the Bank of America Tower, when Seafirst, which had been owned by Bank of America since 1983, was fully integrated into Bank of America. That name gave it the nickname "BOAT" (Bank of America Tower). In November 2005, the building's name was changed back to Columbia Center after the bank reduced its presence in the building. Bank of America still maintains office space within the building, but has since closed the bank branch at the base of the tower.
Development and construction
Martin Selig, a local real estate developer who had recently opened the Fourth and Blanchard Building, announced plans for a 75-story office building at 4th Avenue and Columbia Street in October 1980. The $120 million project, named the "Columbia Center", would be funded by the Seafirst Mortgage Company and constructed by Howard S. Wright. Selig borrowed $205 million in 1981 to develop the property. The Columbia Seafirst Center, as it came to be known, was constructed by Howard S. Wright starting in 1982 with a 120-foot (37 m) deep excavation hole that required 225,000-cubic-yards of dirt and soil to be removed. This was one of the largest foundations for a building in Seattle along with concrete footings extending 134 feet (41 m) below street level. While the structural steel of the building was built at a rate of 2 floors per week, the building itself was completed on January 12, 1985,[10] and opened on March 2 of that same year. U.S. Steel Corporation was contracted to provide 16,000 short tons (15,000 t) of steel for construction. It was approximately 50% taller than the previous tallest skyscraper in Seattle, the 630-foot (190 m) Seattle First National Bank Building (now Safeco Plaza) that opened in 1969.
Financial issues and height controversy
Selig continued to own and manage the building until 1989, when financial problems forced him to sell it to Seafirst Corporation for $354 million. Management was taken over by the Tishman West Company of Los Angeles.
Controversy regarding the skyscraper's size contributed to the passage of a 1989 law called the Citizen's Alternative Plan (CAP) that enforced more stringent restrictions on the size of buildings in Downtown Seattle. In 1990, after rejecting earlier plans for 300-foot (91 m) antennas, Seattle and the FAA granted permission to erect two 192-foot (59 m) antennas on top of Columbia Center, which were expected to be used for broadcasting radio and television throughout the region. Though the FAA was originally worried about the tower's height encroaching the airspace, they deemed the addition of the antennas not problematic. The antennas were not built before the permits expired in 1994, however.
Ownership changes
EQ Office bought Columbia Center from Seafirst in 1998 for $404 million. The New York State Common Retirement Fund bought a 49.9% stake in the building and then several years later sold its share back to EQ Office. In 2007, Columbia Center was sold by EQ Office to Boston-based Beacon Capital Partners for $621 million; Beacon later defaulted on a loan in 2010, the height of the Great Recession, at a time when vacancies reached 40%. On August 7, 2015, Hong Kong-based Gaw Capital Partners purchased the building for $711 million.
Renovations
On July 1, 2013, the Columbia Center's observation deck, known as the Sky View, was remodeled from 270 degrees to a 360 degree viewing area. The observation deck underwent further renovations in 2018, adding two express elevators and a new lounge. The 4th Avenue entrance was also renovated.
(Wikipedia)
Das Columbia Center ist das höchste Gebäude in Seattle und im US-Bundesstaat Washington. Mit einer Gesamthöhe von 285 Metern war es bei der Fertigstellung 1985 der höchste Wolkenkratzer westlich des Mississippi, wurde allerdings 1989 durch den U.S. Bank Tower in Los Angeles mit 310 Metern übertroffen. Die Höhe des Columbia Centers beträgt einschließlich einer Antennenkonstruktion auf dem Dach 295 Meter. Diese wird jedoch nicht als Teil des Gebäudearchitektur angesehen, und somit nicht zur formalen Höhe gewertet.
76 oberirdische Etagen dienen als Büroraum, die sieben Kellergeschosse werden vielseitig genutzt. Der Wolkenkratzer sollte ursprünglich etwa 306,5 Meter hoch werden. Die FAA erlaubte die Höhe nicht, da sich das Gebäude dafür zu nah am Flughafen Seattle/Tacoma befände, wodurch ein höheres Sicherheitsrisiko entstünde. Es wurde in das Projekt Raum für die Öffentlichkeit und Einzelhandel einbezogen, damit die zulässige Höhe nicht zu sehr eingeschränkt werden kann. Das 73. Stockwerk dient nun teilweise als Aussichtspunkt, von dem sich Seattle und seine Umgebung überblicken lässt. Der Columbia Tower Club verteilt sich auf die beiden obersten Stockwerke (75 und 76) und besteht aus einem Restaurant, einer Bar, einer Bibliothek und einigen Tagungsräumen. Ein unterirdischer Gang verbindet das Columbia Center mit dem nahegelegenen Seattle Municipal Tower und dem Bank of America Fifth Avenue Plaza.
Mehrere größere Unternehmen mieten Büros im Columbia Center. Dazu zählen vor allem die Bank of America, Heller Ehrman LLP und Amazon.com.
Ursprünglich trug der Wolkenkratzer seinen heutigen Namen. Später wurde er nach der dort ansässigen Seafirst Bank als Columbia Seafirst Center bezeichnet. Diese gehörte seit 1983 zur Bank of America, wurde im Laufe der 1980er Jahre jedoch vollständig integriert. Daher bekam das Gebäude den Namen Bank of America Tower mit dem Spitznamen BOAT. Im November 2005 wurde es wieder in The Columbia Center (TCC) umbenannt.
Am 16. Juni 2004, noch vor Herausgabe ihres 9/11 Commission Report, machte die Untersuchungskommission zum 11. September 2001 nicht in die Tat umgesetzte Pläne der Terroristen bekannt, die vorsahen mit zehn entführten Passagierflugzeugen die höchsten Gebäude in Kalifornien und im Staate Washington zu beschädigen bzw. zu zerstören. Neben dem Columbia Center in Seattle habe auch der U.S. Bank Tower in Los Angeles zu den Zielen gehört.
(Wikipedia)
Milwaukee Art Museum Locked Down; MAM behind bars; chanined and locked down from public access, Milwaukee, WI USA
The brightest and most accessible to photography cluster in the constellation of Coma Berenices.
336 million light years from earth. Contains over a thousand different galaxies (most of them are elliptical) and huge amount of dark matter.
One of the few places in the sky where most objects are galaxies and not stars
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• Sky-Watcher BK P2001 with TS Optics 2" Dual Speed Focuser
• EQ6-R Pro
• ZWO ASI1600MM-Pro
• ZWO L: 167x120s
• ZWO R, G, B: 60x120s bin2
(total integration 7.5h)
• -20° sensor temp., Gain 0 (HDR)
• Baader MPCC Mark III coma corrector
• 60x240 guide scope, ZWO ASI290Mini guide cam
Captured with ZWO EFW, ZWO EAF, ZWO ASIAIR, Pegasus Astro Powerbox
Saint Petersburg, Russia. Red light pollution zone, balcony
Accessible from the Pilatusbahn funicular railway, Mount Pilatus towers above Lucerne, covered in a light dusting of snow the day I visited, with the mountaintops rising above the thick clouds and drizzle of rain below
Explore more photos or shop prints, canvas, etc. at andrewwebbcurtis.com
Returning from 2022 (when I couldn't go), Lightscape transformed the Royal Botanical Gardens of Melbourne/Naarm.
In past light exhibitions (I specifically recall their fire events), the art displays have been somewhat interactive. This exhibition kept you on a specific path you could not wander off from. Therefore I felt detached from the artworks. Whilst there were a couple of highlights in the first half (starting from the main gate entrance), I felt the real excited began after the midway point.
I went to the relaxed session, but their idea of lower numbers, is ridiculous. we started the trail right on go time, but within 45mins, the grounds were swarming with people. There should have been a much longer lead time for the relaxed session - lower numbers is the biggest draw card for people with disability and neurodiversity. PLUS the volume of the music playing was not at relaxed levels. Accessibility isn't hard, so why do so many venues continue to fail?! Not that buying an accessible ticket was accessible - Ticketek is really a sh!t show when it comes to accessibility - it took six weeks to book a ticket that could have been purchased in 15mins (not to mention the stress involved in having to get someone to organise to take a call at a time that suited all parties - with my brand of autism I do not speak over the phone).
The official blurb: "Be mesmerised by a six metre orb made of thousands of LEDs, singing trees and a flickering fire garden amongst colour-changing installations, soundscapes and large-scale illuminated sculptures. Experience the new two kilometre trail around the lake and celebrate the beauty of nature after dark."
Sometimes you can't always have your tripod accessible, especially when your riding on one of Disney's water taxi's. I'm not a fan of any noise in my photos except when I see a shot I really want. While on our way to Disney Springs one night, I decided that I wanted to get this shot and I don't think it came out too bad; I was very happy. I hope you enjoy. Have a magical day!
Miners Castle is one of the most famous landmarks along the Pictured Rocks shoreline, and is the only cliff area in the park accessible by vehicle.
Erosion over long periods of time has created the interesting rock formations that give this place its name.
However, a rockfall in 2006 dramatically changed the look of Miners Castle as one of its two turrets (the one on the left above) unexpectedly fell into the lake.
This feature is in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore on the shore of Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, USA.
The Lakeshore extends for 67 km along the shore and covers 296 sq km. The park has extensive views of the hilly shoreline between Munising and Grand Marais in Alger County, Michigan, with picturesque rock formations, waterfalls, and sand dunes.
Pictured Rocks derives its name from the 24 km of colourful sandstone cliffs north-east of Munising. The cliffs reach up to 60m above lake level. They have been naturally sculptured into a variety of shallow caves, arches, and formations resembling castle turrets and human profiles. Near Munising, visitors can also visit Grand Island, most of which is included in the separate Grand Island National Recreation Area.
The US Congress designated Pictured Rocks the first National Lakeshore in the USA in 1966. It is governed by the National Park Service, with 22 year-round employees as of May 2006.
The colours in the cliffs are created by the large amounts of minerals in the rock. The cliffs are composed of the Munising Formation of 500-million-year-old Cambrian Period sandstone. The Munising Formation sits atop Precambrian sandstone of the Jacobsville Formation. The mottled red Jacobsville Formation is the oldest rock in the park. On top of the Munising Formation, acting as a cap over the other layers, is the hard sandstone of the younger Au Train Formation from the Ordovician Period. Streaks on the face of the cliffs come from groundwater leaching out of the rock and evaporating, leaving streaks of iron (red), manganese (black-white), limonite (yellow-brown), copper (pink-green), and other minerals.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's epic 1855 poem, The Song of Haiawatha, featuring Native American characters, is set in the Pictured Rocks area and the National Lakeshore's name is taken from a line in the poem:
"On the shores of Gitche Gumee,
Westward by the Big-Sea-Water,
Came unto the rocky headlands,
To the Pictured Rocks of sandstone"