Martial Arts Achiever and Combat Sports
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We are experiencing a particularly hot summer this year. No wonder this Elkhorn Fern's outer fronds are dried and discolored.
Elkhorn ferns (also called Staghorn ferns) are ‘epiphyte’, meaning that they grow on tree branches and trunks naturally. They can grow fairly large, although they require at least 10 years to achieve their maximum size.
These plants make two types of fronds. The shield, or sterile fronds, wrap around the tree or rock on which the plant is growing. These shields usually form a basket which collects debris, providing a medium for root growth, and aiding in moisture collection and retention. The fertile, or normal fronds, grow out from the bud, and the spores are borne on these. Some species make fertile fronds much like the antler of a deer. Others are nearly round, or wedge shaped.
RKO_3803. How extraordinary is it to watch these beautiful and colorful little birds doing their diving act!
This male Common Kingfisher achieved its goal and had a wonderful, though relatively small, meal!
It was a challenge (and objective) to get some nice shots of the diving Kingfisher and I guess I too achieved my objectives.
Copyright: Robert Kok. All rights reserved!
More of my work and activities can be seen on my website: robertkokphotography.com
Please do not use my photos on websites, blogs or in any other media without my explicit permission.
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The process of creating a pencil portrait of a girl..Old Arbat in Moscow - the street of artists, musicians and poets..On the Old Arbat draw wonderful artists who,
competing with each other, improve their skills in the portrait genre from year to year.
Drawing a portrait is both a show and an attraction and art at the same time. Here the artist must have the knowledge, vast experience, patience, hard work and of course talent in order to solve many creative tasks in extreme conditions in a short time. A portrait painter who paints on the street must choose an appropriate angle for this model taking into account the lighting at a certain time of day and, having achieved an absolute external similarity of the drawing to the original, try to convey the mood, character and inner world of the person. Plus, a self-respecting artist must take care that the portrait drawing looks like a finished work of art.
This image of the center of a chicory flower reminded me of some of the graphics I've seen of a nuclear fusion reactor, like this one:
www.nationalgeographic.com/content/dam/news/photos/000/60...
Taken for the Macro Mondays theme of 'mesh'
I used the upper disc metal frame (with the holes) and the mesh of a cafetière for this photograph.
I rested them against a bottle of orange liquid hand wash illuminated on the windowsill to achieve this image.
“One cannot be pessimistic about the West. This is the native home of hope. When it fully learns that cooperation, not rugged individualism, is the quality that most characterizes and preserves it, then it will have achieved itself and outlived its origins. Then it has a chance to create a society to match its scenery.”
― Wallace Stegner
Near CASTLE VALLEY, UTAH
Thanks
if you don't, you have achieved half your failure :-)
David Ambrose
HFF!!
rose, 'Dream Come True', little theater rose garden. raleigh, north carolina
Quechee, VT
10-15-2019
Photographed from the covered bridge over the river right as the three balloons from Quechee Balloon Rides begin their ascent.
This was taken at Blooming Butterflies, located in Bolz Conservatory, Olbrich Botanical Gardens, Madison, Wisconsin. Although the previous two postings were with my iPhone, this was actually taken with my Canon EOS R5. Hope you all enjoy!
Blooming Butterflies
Bolz Conservatory
Olbrich Gardens
Madison, Wisconsin
071924
© Copyright 2024 MEA Images, Merle E. Arbeen, All Rights Reserved. If you would like a copy of this, please feel free to contact me through my FlickrMail, Facebook, or Yahoo email account. Thank you.
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This photograph has achieved the following highest awards:
DSLR Autofocus, Hall of Fame (10)
DSLR Autofocus, MASTER of Photography (11)
DSLR Autofocus, GRANDMASTER of Photography (14)
Rainbow of Nature, 96 Total Awards
Rainbow of Nature, Hall of Fame (8)
Unyink Gallery, Admin Invite Only (11)
Hall of Fame 2 Unyink Gallery (7)
Come join us tomorrow for our opening event in honor of artist Tresore Prada Hawkins! She will have many new, unposted works she created for the show on display along with several others. All will focus on a magical, fantasy theme along with Autumn :)
Tresore has always enjoyed anything to do with being creative in real life and Second Life. In her own words,
"I would like to touch the heart of people through my impression, thoughts, feelings , and I hope my images make you smile and dream a little".
Tresore has the special ability to create these moods, feelings and emotions in others with the time and thought she puts into each picture. She takes the time she needs to perfect the story, mood and feeling she is trying to portray by choosing the perfect pose, colors, clothing and scene. Then she puts it all together at the location within world she thinks will help achieve this goal. Her use of rich, beautiful color, unique texturing and overall composition is truly stunning and inspirational. Come dream with us and enjoy the great music of DJ Feather while doing so!
This is an image I have wanted to attempt for a number of years now. It is strangely adjacent to a major highway and a challenge to achieve. However, this time it appeared possible to go for it. In the past we have always been busily racing home from an outing and the timing was always wrong with a car full of family.
Now, I was on my own and the highway was not too busy. Part of the challenge is just stopping because the highway shoulder is barely wide enough. Cars are whizzing by at 120K. However, the conditions were right to grab this shot and this is the result.
From Wikipedia -
Motif Number 1, located on Bradley Wharf in the harbor town of Rockport, Massachusetts, is a replica of a former fishing shack well known to students of art and art history as "the most often-painted building in America."[1][2] The original structure was built in 1840 and destroyed in the Blizzard of 1978,[1] but an exact replica was constructed that same year.[3]
Built in the 1840s as Rockport was becoming home to a colony of artists and settlement of fishermen, the shack became a favorite subject of painters due to the composition and lighting of its location as well as being a symbol of New England maritime life. Painter Lester Hornby (1882–1956) is believed to be the first to call the shack "Motif Number 1,"[2] a reference to its being the favorite subject of the town's painters, and the name achieved general acceptance.
Brisk and breezy, but manageable, and not a cloud in the sky, I was out on the lake yesterday, comically trying to accomplish this photo for about 20 minutes as the wind, stronger in the middle of the lake, continually blew me out of position. So it was paddle back to try to accommodate the drift (you can see the wind direction from the waves), reach into my parka for my camera, bring it up to shoot...only to find myself well to the left of the shot. I performed this sequence numerous times, never really achieving the desired "directly into the sun" shot. This is the best I could do before getting completely disgusted...you can see it's STILL left of center...and retreated to the calmer shoreline.
Not many of these days left...every one now a treat before the canoe is brought ashore for the winter.
True happiness comes from a sense of inner peace and contentment, which in turn must be achieved through the cultivation of altruism, of love and compassion and elimination of ignorance, selfishness and greed.
La vera felicità proviene da un senso di pace ed appagamento interiore che a sua volta si ottiene coltivando altruismo, amore, compassione, e grazie all’eliminazione di rancore, egoismo e avidità.
(Dalai Lama)
Hair: Modulus - Devin Hair
Rings: ROZOREGALIA_NARUSAZA*RING
Body: [Signature] Gianni
Tattoo: .: Vegas :. Tattoo Applier No Remorse
Armbands: Badwolf - Torsten Armbands
Glasses: BONDI . Hayley Glasses
I just love this explosion of color! That's what springtime is all about...bringing back the bright colors after a long, dull winter! I love it!
This, of course, is from my archives once again, taken at Roozengaarde Tulip Gardens in Skagit Valley, Washington. Hope you enjoy!
Roozengaarde Tulip Gardens
Skagit Valley Tulip Festival
Mount Vernon, Washington
042018
© Copyright 2022 MEA Images, Merle E. Arbeen, All Rights Reserved. if you would like a copy of this, please feel free to contact me through my FlickrMail, Facebook, or Yahoo email account. Thank you.
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This photograph has achieved the following highest awards:
DSLR Autofocus, Hall of Fame (9)
Trojan Chess?
#MacroMondays
#GamePieces
Royalty, politics, sports, power (stay in or get it), be the winner. People plot intrigues or cheat to achieve their goals and get what they want. Not only people, because science has found numerous examples of tricking or play-acting in the animal world, especially among birds and primates. So it's a universal behaviour pattern.
So how about this little intrigue/cheat: pawnish, lowly "Man, Don't Get Angry" (MDGA) game pieces, entering the royal playing field of the noblest games of all, ready to silently take over the place of the true king, queen, and their acolytes. Man, will they be angry once they realise what just happened. Will they? I'd say, "Power to the People" and game on ;) It's the season of the Pawns. Maybe this is also just another variant of suicide chess (in German, it's Räuberschach, "robbers' chess"), the only chess I ever played successfully.
I was ready to skip. I'm not a huge fan of board games, although I always quite enjoyed Scrabble, Monopoly, and Trivial Pursuit. And of course, we played "Mensch ärgere Dich nicht" (MDGA, which was inspired by Ludo and Pachisi) and a game called Malefiz (another descendant of Pachisi) when I was little. "I don't like board games" also means that there are none at home. Other than the very basic compendium of games I bought (you guessed it) for our last "game pieces" theme. It comes with three puzzle-like cardboard game board pieces (one sticks them together like puzzle pieces to get the whole game board – a simplistic game in itself, if you like). One side has a chess board print (used as background), the other the classic MDGA design, and game pieces for the latter and also for checkers. And chess pieces? There are none, which is a bit of a bummer.
None of the components is special in any way, which made me think of either skipping or buying a board game with interesting game pieces (a stupid idea). But then I remembered my old, truly vintage travel/pocket chess. It's a "De La Rue & Cos. Improved Pocket Chess Board With Chess Men Complete". It's foldable like a book, made of very sturdy cardboard, and the game board part has slots under each square where you can put in the cardboard "chess men" for each move. I thought I'd hide the wooden game pieces behind the cardboard chess pieces of the vintage pocket chess: "Trojan horse style". Theme participation ensured, money saved :)
Size info: The wooden MDGA pieces are 2,5 cm/0,98 inches tall, and the entire scene has a width of 6,5 cm/2,55 inches.
HMM, Everyone!
Same hill as below a couple of months on, minus the geese. There was a field of ostriches behind me, maybe I should have photoshopped some of them onto the brow of the hill :-)
❤Sponsor Vulnus store.❤
(For the link to work, copy the address and paste it into the address bar of your browser without @.)
➡ Vulnus
🚕Taxi: @maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Embrace%20the%20Ocean/253/64/22
👪Group: secondlife:///app/group/6579ceff-4576-a764-7e76-daf2a0534752/about
👲Owner/Creator: www.flickr.com/photos/192036763@N05
In game: 2876aaa2-a0e6-47fb-a14a-fc50317894f9 Vᴜʟɴᴜs (vulnuscouture)
HEAD:
Hair: Exile:: Shiloh www.flickr.com/photos/kavarcleanslate/51856866663/in/date...
Creator: dc9e7c01-9cd9-44ca-ae5f-f27c6a7968d3 Kavar Cleanslate www.flickr.com/photos/54832439@N03/
BODY:
❗Top/pants: from Vulnus Naris Set ( Size for: Legacy, LaraX, Maitreya, Waifu, Reborn, PetiteX, Perky ) Shown on Legacy. www.flickr.com/photos/192036763@N05/53511357124/in/datepo...
(❗❗❗ATTENTION❗❗❗ You can find these clothes at Swank Events 98a319d0-f551-4f88-136f-e4d7ff47e185 @maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Swank%20Events/127/126/38 186b4733-dba8-4222-973b-31032d344eb9 SEBiz2015 www.flickr.com/groups/swank_events_sl_catalogue/ www.flickr.com/groups/swank_sl/pool/ :)
CP 7018 and UP 6310 guide Canadian Pacific train 286 South passed all the Milwaukee artifacts at Rondout Tower. Two heritage units from different era's.
Rondout, IL
2020.08.15
The bridge was designed by Chris Wilkinson of the architectural practice of Wilkinson Eyre. They describe the Arch as follows: "The design achieves visual complexity from geometric simplicity. The 25m high arch is parabolic in form, its trapezoidal section tapering in opposite directions in both plan and elevation. Two sets of cable stays are arranged to interlock and overlap, fanning out in opposite directions to create a set of planes which twist and change as the driver passes below."
The construction of the bridge formed part of the regeneration of the Hulme district of Manchester, both by re-establishing the former route of Stretford Road, which had been cut into two halves by the construction of Princess Road in 1969, and by providing a local landmark. It was opened on 10 May 1997 by Alex Ferguson.
Thirsty male Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata) at canal (Serangoon River) beside Hougang Ave 7.
12 June 2021 - A while ago, a pet, a critically endangered male Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata) escaped from its owner. It stayed in a canal (Serangoon River) beside Hougang Ave 7 during its short span of freedom. Widely regarded as the world’s most beautiful duck, the male Mandarin Duck is known for its eye-catching plumage. When rumors got to us about this rare and enchanting escapee, we rushed to the spot. The place was very crowded cos this Mandarin Duck had already achieved quite a lot of fame due to many reports and news about its beauty. We noticed that some kind soul has put a huge package of cooked rice into the canal, perhaps for the survival of the Ducky Celebrity. Fortunately we managed to secured a nice place and shot numerous pics of this gorgeous duck.
Update: 1st July 2021 - Heard that the escapee Mandarin Duck was caught by relevant authorities and returned to its owner. Its brief adventure sadly over. However, after its first try at freedom, it managed to escaped many more times and back to captivity, again and again.
Note: The Mandarin Duck is not a resident of Singapore. It is the native of Northern East Asia, eg: Japan, Korea, China and East Russia. And the Mandarin Duck is an endangered species.
*Note: More pics of Birds in my Wild Avian Friends Album.
Determination is a human character trait whereby we become intent on achieving a goal. This form of resolve can be either positive or negative. However, what I want to write about is the positive side of determination. The side that makes us think of a firmness of purpose, and the resolve to be willing to do whatever it takes to get to where it is we want to be. The determination that sees us overcoming any obstacles. Now, what I talk about is not some revolutionary change that you want to bring about - to me, that is a different kind of determination - instead, I speak about determination on a personal level. A willpower to be a better person than the one you were yesterday. To overcome any personal falls and pull ourselves back up. To not stop doing what it is we love just because others think it worthless. To ignore the negative little voice inside our heads telling us we can't do that, don't even attempt that, you might as well quit now, don't even try, just give up. To feel fear and to see the risks and then to have the determination to close our eyes to them so that in the end we can reap the rewards. The determination that sees us never giving up on life.
"Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall." - Confucius
Copyright © 2014 Amy Morris. All Rights Reserved.
After L134 passed we'd achieved our goal but a quick check revealed there was another train not too far off so we hung around for it, our 7th here at Doswell and 17th of a fabuloud day, before heading down to Richmond town for some fabulous food and adult beverages. Amtrak regional train 95 from Boston to Norfolk slams south over the Buckingham Branch diamonds on Main 3 of CSXT's RF&P Sub at about MP CFP21.7. The train is framed between HN tower at right which was built in 1929 and has been closed since 1958 and the passenger station at left built in 1927 and now home to BB offices.
To learn much more about this photogenic and historic junction and see some older photos here are three sites worthy of a look:
www.thedieselshop.us/Doswell.HTML#:~:text=In
www.piedmontsub.com/Doswell.shtml
railfanguides.us/va/doswell/index.htm
Unincorporated Doswell
Hanover County, Virginia
Friday March 31, 2023
Alors que le rideau se lève sur cette nouvelle année, je tiens à vous remercier du fond du cœur pour votre soutien, vos likes, vos commentaires et votre présence tout au long de 2024. 🌟
As the curtain rises on this new year, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support, likes, comments, and presence throughout 2024. 🌟
Cette photo est une ode à l’espoir, à la lumière et au renouveau. Peu importe les défis, chaque feu d’artifice nous rappelle qu’on peut toujours briller, même dans l’obscurité. 🌠
This photo is an ode to hope, light, and renewal. No matter the challenges, every firework reminds us that we can always shine, even in the darkest moments. 🌠
Pour 2025, je vous souhaite des rêves sans limites, du courage pour les réaliser et une montagne d’amour et de joie à partager. N’oubliez jamais : chaque jour est une nouvelle scène pour écrire votre propre histoire ! ✨
For 2025, I wish you limitless dreams, the courage to achieve them, and a mountain of love and joy to share. Never forget: each day is a new stage to write your own story! ✨
Merci d’être là, et continuons à illuminer Second Life et la vie ensemble. 💖
Thank you for being here, and let’s keep lighting up Second Life and life together. 💖
Attica Zoological Park, Greece. Walk around the planet.
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
Marriage is not about compatibility, companionship or extracting happiness. It is an opportunity to achieve a union that will open up a greater opportunity - Sadhguru
Thank you for your kind visit. Have a wonderful and beautiful day! xo💜💜
“Se vivi la tua vita nella maniera corretta i risultati si prenderanno cura di loro da soli ed i sogni verranno da te,
se vivi adeguatamente i sogni verranno da te”
[Se avete 10 minuti guardate questo video... non sarà tempo perso]
Randy Pausch Last Lecture: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams [versione integrale]
DO NOT use my pictures without my written permission, these images are under copyright. Contact me if you want to buy or use them. CarloAlessio77© All rights reserved
SSC - White
Achieved very quickly this week! The idea came to me almost instantaneously. This is a white Solanum, from my garden where it is climbing up a trellis and it has been in flower for a long time. I believe it is related to the potato family. I have simply presented it on a blank canvas.
Cream and Crimson window decal representing Indiana University. The primary campus (9 total) is located here in Bloomington,IN. My parents, my spouse, my four daughters and I are alumni. My oldest granddaughter will likely enroll for the 2021 freshman class. (I assumed that “Black” is not a color per se. The subject of Black/White as color is debated on the web with no true consensus.) The decal is on a dark rear widow of my MINI which I selectively under exposed to achieve the background.
DEDICATED TO MYSELF WISHING THAT MY REGRETS WILL NEVER REPLACE MY DREAMS!
Chalkis is situated in the middle of the western coast of Evia island occupying the two banks of the Evripos Strait.The water flow in the channel changes directions about every 6 hours, and sometimes the current can reach the speed of 15 km (9 miles) per hour. Chalkis is the capital of Evia prefecture and lies about 81 km from Athens. It is a cosmopolitan city with seaside restaurants and cafes, archaeological and folklore museums and traditional two story houses.
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 Sunday 10th, November 2013, on a few hours outing from Athens with my beloved English wife Theresa Jane Brown.
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:
* RED CARPET HALL OF FAME
* BEST OF RED CARPET HALL OF FAME
House of Culture , Helsinki – architect Alvar Aalto, 1955 to 1958
The House of Culture in Helsinki is Aalto in his 'red brick period'. He achieves the free-form curves of the concert hall walls using wedge-shaped bricks, arranged variously with their shorter edge facing inside or outside the wall. The impact of the solid brick walls must be seen in the context of what had gone before. In Finland, the National-Romantics had used wood and granite to show closeness to Finnish nature, while the modern movement, as elsewhere, used more abstract white plaster surfaces, which did not wear well particularly in the Finnish climate. Aalto's red brick was therefore a bigger statement than it now seems: a man-made material that keeps its individuality and local personality. The House of Culture combines a concert hall in curved red brick, an office building, a conventional rectangle in form, but with a visually striking facade brought alive by greening copper, and a lecture-theatre block connecting the two.
The House of Culture (Kulttuuritalo) serves as a centre for the cultural work of various trade-union organizations. The office part has five storey’s with 110 offices, meeting rooms and two flats. In the lecture and conference room section, in the middle of the U-shaped complex, are a lecture hall, study rooms, discussion rooms, a library and a records room. The concert and congress hall is the main feature of the group. The hall, with 1500 seats and a stage 200 sq m, is primarily intended for concerts, but is also used for lectures. The various parts of the building are linked together along the street by a canopy 60m long, under which are the main entrances. The free asymmetrical form of the hall entailed the development of a new facing element, a wedge-shaped brick, with which all the curves of the irregular exterior could be realized.
The office wing is dressed in the iconography of a modernist office block, the theatre is crowned with the copper pitch roof of the traditional civic monument, while the porch oscillates between being a private entry or a public arcade.
I rarely take photos with shutter speeds greater than a second. In water motion a shutter speed of a half a second is usually ideal for getting the texture in the water I desire. However some 6 years ago I would often take a image of 30 seconds or more, occasionally to achieve a misty sea more often though it was to create a dynamic sky. Today’s photo is an example of this taken in December 2017. How often do you reach for the ND64, ND100 filters?
Continuing with a series of images shot on iPhone 6s - with intentional camera movement to achieve the blur - in Tokyo last April.
Big things planned for my Tokyo photographs.
Stay tuned.
You can see more here.
~Attire:
::GB:: Gabriel - Leather Asymmetric Coat, Bustier & Skirt
~Shoes:
::HH:: Hucci - Hollis Boots
~Hair:
Mina - Hattie Hair
~Accessories:
-MONCADA PARIS - Kylie Eyewear
.::Nanika::. - Lisa Earrings
MAJESTY - Lucite Circle Bag
+Half-Deer+ Pomeranian Walking Companion (RARE)
home alone 48...make of it what you will ;-)
This weeks message is "Go With the Flow"
A Taoist story tells of an old man who accidentally fell into the river rapids leading to a high and dangerous waterfall. Onlookers feared for his life. Miraculously, he came out alive and unharmed downstream at the bottom of the falls. People asked him how he managed to survive. "I accommodated myself to the water, not the water to me. Without thinking, I allowed myself to be shaped by it. Plunging into the swirl, I came out with the swirl. This is how I survived."
I had a different plan for this weeks photo, and it did not work out. I had this idea last night, and it also did not come out as planned. I became so frustrated with the details of the photo, and my inability to achieve the results I wanted, that i don't even remember what point i was trying to make. So, I begrudgingly accepted what I had and posted it. After sleeping on it the message became clear.
We cannot always control the events of our lives. even the little details tend to go awry. A zipper breaks, the road is closed, they are out of your flavor of ice cream, or you photo is not what you wanted. It is by accepting what comes our way, and going with it, that we will reach our destination.
So, I am not thrilled with the photo, but I get the message, and that is good.
Lesson 2
When all else fails, laugh at yourself!
In an attempt to annihilate my digital camera's sensor, i pointed it directly at the sun and achieved a nice "special effect". I edited slightly afterward, otherwise, SOOC.
“Only once in your life, I truly believe, you find someone who can completely turn your world around. You tell them things that you’ve never shared with another soul and they absorb everything you say and actually want to hear more. You share hopes for the future, dreams that will never come true, goals that were never achieved and the many disappointments life has thrown at you. When something wonderful happens, you can’t wait to tell them about it, knowing they will share in your excitement. They are not embarrassed to cry with you when you are hurting or laugh with you when you make a fool of yourself. Never do they hurt your feelings or make you feel like you are not good enough, but rather they build you up and show you the things about yourself that make you special and even beautiful. There is never any pressure, jealousy or competition but only a quiet calmness when they are around. You can be yourself and not worry about what they will think of you because they love you for who you are. The things that seem insignificant to most people such as a note, song or walk become invaluable treasures kept safe in your heart to cherish forever. Memories of your childhood come back and are so clear and vivid it’s like being young again. Colours seem brighter and more brilliant. Laughter seems part of daily life where before it was infrequent or didn’t exist at all. A phone call or two during the day helps to get you through a long day’s work and always brings a smile to your face. In their presence, there’s no need for continuous conversation, but you find you’re quite content in just having them nearby. Things that never interested you before become fascinating because you know they are important to this person who is so special to you. You think of this person on every occasion and in everything you do. Simple things bring them to mind like a pale blue sky, gentle wind or even a storm cloud on the horizon. You open your heart knowing that there’s a chance it may be broken one day and in opening your heart, you experience a love and joy that you never dreamed possible. You find that being vulnerable is the only way to allow your heart to feel true pleasure that’s so real it scares you. You find strength in knowing you have a true friend and possibly a soul mate who will remain loyal to the end. Life seems completely different, exciting and worthwhile. Your only hope and security is in knowing that they are a part of your life.”
― Bob Marley
TDT(Copyright 2018) All my images are protected under international authors copyright laws and may not be downloaded, reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without my written explicit permission
Thanks to everyone that views and comments on my images - very much appreciated.
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. On all my images, Use without permission is illegal.
Sony ILCE-7RM5
I watched this colt and its sibling walk with their parents looking for food in Beluga Slough. When the parent would find food it would share the food with the colt as though still training them as to what was edible. Rather raggedy looking, I think of this colt as more of a teenager who has lost that cute look of the fairly young but hasn't achieved the full feathers of an adult.
Taken 29 July 2018 at Beluga Slough, Homer, Alaska.
Three Different Lighting Treatments for a random city scene in Knight City. These effects were achieved by manipulating the Haze and Haze Density Values in Windlight
Minor changes like this can really affect the overall mood of the theme.
www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/b...
Also known as the peewit in imitation of its display calls, its proper name describes its wavering flight. Its black and white appearance and round-winged shape in flight make it distinctive, even without its splendid crest. This familiar farmland bird has suffered significant declines recently and is now an Red List species.
Overview
Latin name
Vanellus vanellus
Family
Plovers and lapwings (Charadriidae)
Where to see them
Lapwings are found on farmland throughout the UK particularly in lowland areas of northern England, the Borders and eastern Scotland. In the breeding season prefer spring sown cereals, root crops, permanent unimproved pasture, meadows and fallow fields. They can also be found on wetlands with short vegetation. In winter they flock on pasture and ploughed fields. The highest known winter concentrations of lapwings are found at the Somerset Levels, Humber and Ribble estuaries, Breydon Water/Berney Marshes, the Wash, and Morecambe Bay.
When to see them
All year round. Leaves upland areas after the breeding season and moves to lowland fields for the winter. Large numbers of N European birds arrive in autumn for the winter.
What they eat
Worms and insects
Population
UK Breeding:- 140,000 pairs
UK Wintering:- 650,000 birds
Breeding
The winter flocks begin to break up in February, when the birds will start to return to their breeding grounds.
The lapwing has a spectacular songflight. The male wobbles, zigzags, rolls and dives while calling to advertise his presence to rival males and potential mates. The birds tend to nest in loose groups. Individual territories are small about 0.4-0.8 ha and are only held until the chicks hatch.
In the breeding season, lapwings need a mosaic of habitats, because they need different conditions for nesting and for chick rearing.
The nest is a scrape in the ground, lined with a variable amount of plant material. The birds need a good all round view from the nest to spot predators, and nest either on bare ground or in short vegetation. They often choose rough or broken ground to aid concealment of the nest. Spring sown crops and rough grazing are ideal.
They lay clutches of four cryptically coloured eggs from late March to early June, and chicks hatch 3-4 weeks later. They are covered in down when they hatch, and are able to walk about and feed within hours.
Soon after hatching, the parents will lead them to suitable feeding areas, where the supply of surface invertebrates is good and the vegetation low. They particularly need to have nearby grassland, especially if it contains flood pools and damp patches.
The transfer between the nesting and chick-rearing habitats can be hazardous, and chick survival often depends on how far they have to travel. The families stay in the chick-rearing habitat until the young are ready to fly at 5-6 weeks old. Lapwings only rear one brood a year, but may lay up to four replacement clutches if the eggs are lost.
Legal status
The lapwing is fully protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981; it an offence to kill, injure or take an adult lapwing, or to take, damage or destroy an active nest or its contents.
The only exception is legitimate farming practices that cannot be reasonably delayed, although farming methods can often be modified to reduce the impact on the lapwings.
Population trends
Lapwing numbers have decreased in Britain since the middle of the 19th century. The early declines were caused by large scale collection of eggs for food. Introduction of the Lapwing Act in 1926 prohibited this, and was followed by a considerable recovery in bird numbers.
Since the 1940s lapwing declines have been driven by large-scale changes to farming. Large areas of grassland were converted to arable, marginal land was drained and improved, and chemicals were introduced for fertilisers and pest control with increasing reliance on them. By 1960 the lapwing population had stabilised at a lower level.
Another sharp and sustained decline started in the mid-1980s, with range contractions in south-west England and in parts of Wales. This followed further intensification and specialisation - abandonment of rotations, switch from spring to autumn sown crops, increased drainage, increased use of agrochemicals. Such changes have resulted in much of the arable land becoming unsuitable for nesting by April because the crop grows too high. Tillage, drainage and pesticides have also caused a reduction in food availability.
As pasture land is improved, the resulting increased risk of trampling by livestock, earlier cutting for silage and lower food availability have affected lapwings adversely. Phasing out of rotational farming and shift of arable to the east of England and pastureland to the west of England has removed the habitat mosaic that is essential for successful chick rearing.
Mosaic where grass and spring tillage fields are close together has declined significantly in recent years, and the loss of this prime habitat has resulted in a decline in lapwing numbers.
Nest failures on arable land come from egg losses during cultivation and from predation, and poor chick survival due to crop growth. Crop growth can also shorten the laying season.
The declines in lapwing population have been greatest in southern England and Wales, where the farming changes have been greatest and farmland is the only suitable habitat for the lapwing. Between 1987 and 1998 lapwing numbers dropped by 49% in England and Wales. Since 1960 the numbers dropped by 80%.
The birds have fared better in Scotland, where the crucial changes to farming were introduced later than in England and Wales. However, even there the numbers have dropped by 29% since 1987.
Lapwings have to fledge at least 0.6 young per pair each year to maintain the population. They usually can achieve this in rough grazing and unimproved pastures, but often not on arable land or improved grassland. Since the birds cannot produce enough chicks to offset the natural mortality of adults, population declines.
It is possible to halt and reverse the decline in lapwing numbers with sympathetic farming methods, which include creation of a mosaic of spring sown crops and grassland, managing grazing pressure and maintaining damp areas on unimproved grassland. Agri-environment schemes in each part of the UK provide grants to help land-owners manage their land to help lapwings.
Survival
Egg survival and hatching success varies depending on the habitat, and appears to have declined in some habitats over the past decade.
Main causes of nest failure are predation, agricultural activity and desertion. While the birds often re-lay, changes in cropping practices often result in the habitat being unsuitable for replacement clutches because the vegetation has grown too tall, thus shortening the potential breeding season.
Only about 25-40% of chicks survive to fledging. Most of the chick mortality occurs in the first few days after hatching, when chicks are most vulnerable to cold or wet weather, and when they may be undertaking hazardous journeys from nesting to feeding areas. The further chicks have to go, the lower their survival.
Once the birds have reached adulthood, they can expect to live a further 4-5 years. The oldest known individual was about 20 years. Lapwings normally breed one year after fledging.