Martial Arts Achiever and Combat Sports
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Shot with my KODAK EKTAPRO PROJECTION FF LENS 85MM F2.8. A lens without an moving aperture, the focus is achieved by shifting the tubes that are mounted inside each other.
Absolutely manual, projection lens. So forgive the slight blurriness 😉
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
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Another shot from the World Heritage Site Stevns Klint, this time using long exposure. It was a very beautiful spring day but a little windy, which obviously affects the sharpness of plants and trees that moved during the exposure. I don't think it ruins the shot in any way though.
4m 23s is how long this shot was exposed. I used 15 stop ND filters to achieve the long exposure time. I used a reference shot without filters to calculate the exposure time using Photopills.
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...
A nice little spot with some small falls along the Girakool Loop Trail last week.
Did you know the Klingon word for waterfalls is bIQtIq.
You're welcome. Just don't ask me to pronounce it.
No filter was used here for the LE, it was achieved with the Olympus inbuilt ND function.
Have a great week & thanks for the visit & any comments. They are always appreciated!
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.
This, too, is from my archives, taken a number of years ago. I'm just guessing now, but I think it was about 2019. This is taken in my favorite rose garden, at Point Defiance Park, located in Tacoma, Washington. If you have never been before, and enjoy a beautiful rose garden--either just to walk through, or to take pictures of--this is definitely one for your bucket list! Hope y'all enjoy!
Rose Garden
Point Defiance Park
Tacoma, Washington
062519
© Copyright 2025 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 (13)
DSLR Autofocus, MASTER of Photography (13)
DSLR Autofocus, Premier Gallery (6)
DSLR Autofocus, GRANDMASTER of Photography (11)
Rainbow of Nature, 94 Total Awards
Rainbow of Nature, Hall of Fame (10)
The Challenge Factory, regular win, 020426
Frame It! Level 06
The Storybook Challenge, OTR medal winner, 040726
Castle an Dinas is a late Bronze Age hill fort in northern Cornwall. Some of its ditches and walls (three concentric rings in all) are still visible. The photos were taken on the day the Storm Dudley hit the British Isles. The force of the wind was strong enough to push me around and focussing was not easy. With a bit of determination, however, a lot can be achieved. Now, and then, in the Bronze Age. Helios 44M-7 at approx. F8.
I was invited to participate to the 2015 Athens Photo Walk and it was a great honour.
I feel grateful for I have met very interesting people, shared lovely photography moments and had a blast!
Thank you Thomas!
www.flickr.com/photos/ctmnet/21730394358/in/dateposted/
"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream."
~C. S. Lewis~
"A creative man is motivated by the desire to achieve, not by the desire to beat others."
~Ayn Rand~
"Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy."
~Norman Vincent Peale~
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.
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.
Sieben kecke Schnirkelschnecken
saßen einst auf einem Stecken,
machten dort auf ihrem Sitze
kecke Schnirkelschneckenwitze.
Lachten alle so:
"Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho!"
Doch vor lauter Ho-ho-Lachen,
Schnirkelschneckenwitze-Machen,
fielen sie von ihrem Stecken:
alle sieben Schnirkelschnecken.
Liegen alle da.
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!
Josef Guggenmoos
Thank you very much for all your nice visits, comments and favourites! ❤
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)
This absolutely was one of those, how the hell did I achieve that?! Moments. I was outside a Lidl store in Storkow, discovered these spiders clinging to the windows, on the other side of said windows were stacked up plastic bottles, still in their plastic wrapping. This male Bridge Orb Weaver caught my eye, principally due to the extra leg span, as well as the tendency they have to be somewhat more nomadic than the larger females. However, this one was quite still giving me a golden op to get a decent enough macro, BUT, what happened was, the flash went through the window, hit the plastics on the other side bouncing back and with the general debris on the glass, created this space effect.
I cannot fail to also mention the window was peppered with bird shit, which I think also augmented the effect, thus the Comet Catcher was created.
I hope everyone is well and so as always, thank you! :)
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
I have finally finished my course and would like to share my final submissions with you. This is the first inspired by Andy Warhol.
1.Fifteen.
“In the future, everyone will be famous for 15 minutes.”
(Andy Warhol)
In today’s world of social media platforms, people are searching for their 15 minutes of fame. Celebrities seem to be the new gods. They are lauded and applauded. They are made larger than life and are given the gloss of perfection.
I chose to create a pop art photo of a singer song writer who could have achieved his 15 minutes of fame. I thought that by using vibrant colours and the same image, on vibrantly coloured backgrounds and applying different blendes, I could create a shot suggestive of the exaltation given to celebrities.
Prunus incisa "Kojo-no-mai"
[Minor rant: I recently discovered the tone mapping persona in Affinity...I hate it when presets achieve far better results than I can. I'm definitely not keen on the idea of replacing my finely tuned editing (i.e fiddling with two dozen different sliders) with clicking just one button.]
This hasn't got the detail I normally like, as the year-old bush is only 60cm tall making it hard to get the focus I wanted. And the wind decided to blow! (Hoping the blossoms stay with me to give me a second chance. )
But I loved this more contrasty effect, compared to the slightly softer shots I've done recently.... feeling the need for a little more boldness!
Some of you may have heard of Fat Bear Week. It's a "competition" sponsored by the National Park Service in which the public votes for the fattest bear frequenting the famous Brooks Falls.
Last year's winner was bear number 747. Not sure which bear will win this year, but as you can see here, 747 looks like he's ready to take on all comers. He looks much like he did in 2020 when his weight was estimated at 1,400 LBS.
When this shot was taken, he still had another month to add more weight, which he will undoubtedly do. We watched him catch salmon after salmon in his favorite spot in the river...which no other bear would dare to challenge him for.
By the way, 747 was assigned that number by the park service prior to achieving his current massive size. A little clairvoyance involved I think.
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. 💖
First interviews recorded at a school, with the charity CAMFED that helps to keep girls in education, teaching the rights of both the individual and the community, and equipping both to achieve more. This student is doing fashion and wants to be both a designer and a model
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?
Taken for Saturday Self Challenge - 05/12/2020 - Shadowplay .
Well this week apart half a day with a short spell of sunshine ( when I was down at the dump ! ) there have not been any shadows to work with , so it had to be an indoor set up job . A couple of total failures including a pair of model Native American Indians which I had grand plans of putting them together with one flipped horizontally so the shadows were falling in different directions but fell down at the join . So after a few tries it came down to the swan and the fairy - the swan won and the fairy is in the first comment box , fair to say a little bit of influence from JoLynne's shot from last week as to presentation - thanks JoLynne .
and so to a song or two
First up one called " Shadowplay " by Rory Gallagher - who got mentioned by Jimi Hendrix in an interview -------------
When Mike Douglas asked Jimi "What's it was like to be the best rock guitarist in the world?" Jimi responded "I don't know, you'll have to ask Rory Gallagher" Despite the fact Rory toured the world and sold over 30 million albums, he never achieved mainstream fame.
And to make sure you are not nodding off --------------
" Shadows of the Valley "
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.
Pentax SMC Takumar 55mm, developed in Affinity Photo. This group of bushes is located right next to the parking lot at Piper's lagoon. I love the contrast of the white blossoms against the gnarly and lichen encrusted branches, but had not thought to try the Tak on it. In some ways it is the best results I have achieved to date, and these at the very end of the photoshoot when I was tired and ready to break my fast. Glad I stopped.
"Peace cannot be kept by force, it can only be achieved by understanding." - Albert Einstein
© Rui Almeida 2011 | All rights reserved.
All photos they may not be used or reproduced without my permission. If you would like to use one of my images for commercial purposes or other reason, please contact me. Depending on the situation may have to assign the work as specified by the author.
◘ No images in comments please, or you or you can be blocked, but group invites are welcome
For hubby xx
Zoom achieved in camera - had fun with this one!
For group theme 52 weeks of 2016
Theme: Zoom effect
Category: Technique
For the people who were wondering, why I wasn't taking pictures anymore...
I was very busy in the last 3 months with the writing of my phD-Thesis.
Today I finally submitted it!
Now I have to prepare my disputation...
and in 6 weeks from now it will be the end :) !
Another find on my hard drive.
In the evening before this photo, I discovered these two swallowtails hanging from a relatively tall blade of grass in a meadow not far from home. It was already quite dark (just before ten o'clock), a light breeze blew and I hoped to find her the next morning. That's how it was.
Fortunately, shortly after sunrise there was no wind directly on the ground and a few shots were taken when both butterflies were in the focal plane. With a reflector, I prevented the direct sunlight, to avoid unsightly reflections on the eyes of the butterflies. I achieved the balanced light in the sky by using a gray gradient filter.
(Nature Document, Southern Eifel, 6:03 am)
Ein weiterer Fund auf meiner Festplatte.
Am Abend vor diesem Foto entdeckte ich diese beiden an einem relativ hohen Grashalm hängenden Schwalbenschwänze auf einer Wiese nicht weit von zu Hause. Es war bereits ziemlich dunkel (kurz vor 10 Uhr), ein leichter Wind wehte und ich hoffte, sie am darauf folgenden Morgen noch so vorzufinden. So war´s dann auch.
Zum Glück war kurz nach Sonnenaufgang kein Wind direkt am Boden und ein paar Aufnahmen gelangen, als sich beide Falter in der Schärfeebene befanden. Mit einem Reflektor verhinderte ich die direkte Sonnenbestrahlung, um unschöne Reflexe auf den Augen der Schmetterlinge zu vermeiden. Das ausgewogene Licht am Himmel erzielte ich durch den Einsatz eines Grauverlauffilters.
(Naturdokument, Südeifel, 6:03 Uhr)
Danke für deinen Besuch! Thanks for visiting!
bitte beachte/ please respect Copyright © All rights reserved
Orcutt Ranch Horticulture Center
West Hills, California
042216
© Copyright 2016 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 (11)
DSLR Autofocus, MASTER of Photography (10)
DSLR Autofocus, GRANDMASTER of Photography (12)
Seeing as the news reports our cellphone costs as being amongst the highest in the world..the title should have been 'high price' ;)
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*slightly larger image uploaded than usual, with my new monitor even I have trouble with the smaller images I uploaded thus far*
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~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)
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
The Female Blue-black Grassquit (Volatinia jacarina) captured at The Lost City of Falan in Tolima, Colombia, is an exquisite example of avian beauty in her natural habitat. This shot features her perched gracefully on a branch, her subtle brown plumage blending harmoniously with the lush green foliage. The soft, diffused light highlights the intricate feather details, adding depth and texture to the image. Achieving this shot was particularly challenging as she was actively engaging in "leap display," a behavior where she jumps up and down on a branch to establish territory and attract mates. This required a shutter speed of 1/60 and an ISO of 3200 to capture sufficient light without motion blur.
From a technical perspective, the low light conditions and her dynamic behavior posed significant challenges. The high ISO setting was crucial to ensure her delicate details were well-defined despite the dim lighting. The shallow depth of field isolates her from the background, emphasizing the Grassquit's intricate plumage. This image exemplifies the meticulous approach needed to capture wildlife in its most natural and undisturbed state, reflecting my commitment to conservation photography. The balance of light and shadow in this composition speaks to the serene and hidden beauty of the forest environment.
©2022 Adam Rainoff Photographer
Thanks to TheOneVeyronian's help and feedback, I've added holes into the ballcups of the hand and the fingers. This should make the assembly of the fingers easier.
If you have already purchased a pair, or if you plan on getting one, or several (as a reminder, here's the link), please give me your feedback so I can try to improve what needs to be improved.
PS : I used the possibility to render custom Blender files offered by Mecabricks to make this render, which saved me an insane amount of time. The grainy effect was achieved by using the rubber Material in Mecabricks' template.
We just adore these wonderful birds!
Not least because of the crazy gravity defying angles they achieve., this isn't a tiny 'fluff-ball' of a bird., yet there seems to be no limit to its 'gymnastic' abilities
Fun to watch and a little bit different., they are always great to photograph
Shetland has now got a large wind farm, with turbines marching across the hillside. These have only been installed in the last few years. Given how windy the islands are and the UK in general doesn't quite have the rabid anti-windfarm lobby that occurs here I didn't hear much about protesting this. However, I am sure there would be some. Unlike, Iceland where geothermal energy is useful for both heating and electricity generation and is readily available.
This is an AI overview of the Viking Wind Farm "The primary wind turbine farm in the Shetland Islands is the Viking Wind Farm, a 443MW project with 103 turbines, which recently achieved full operational capacity, becoming the UK's most productive wind farm. It harnesses the islands' strong wind resources to generate enough electricity for approximately 500,000 homes and helps support the UK's net-zero targets. Other projects include the Energy Isles Wind Farm, an 18-turbine development on the island of Yell with a capacity of 126MW.
Viking Wind Farm
Capacity: 443 megawatts (MW).
Turbines: 103 turbines.
Output: Can power the equivalent of nearly half a million homes annually.
Significance: Expected to be the UK's most productive onshore wind farm and play a vital role in the country's decarbonization goals.
Status: All turbines were installed by August 2023, and it is now fully operational.
Other Projects
Energy Isles Wind Farm: An 18-turbine development on the island of Yell, with an installed capacity of about 126MW, capable of powering around 157,000 homes.
Shetland's Renewable Energy Future
Onshore and Offshore Potential: Shetland possesses significant wind resources, with plans for further wind farms and the development of tidal and green hydrogen projects, such as the Orion project.
Grid Connection: The construction of the Viking wind farm includes a new undersea cable to export the additional power to the Scottish mainland and beyond, helping to stabilize the grid and connect Shetland to the national grid.
Community Benefits: These projects are designed to retain the benefits of the renewable energy sector within the Shetland community and help reduce reliance on diesel and natural gas. " www.vikingenergy.co.uk/
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"Goodbye Self-portrait"
(November 14th, 2021)
Terlingua Ranch, Texas, U.S.A.
I travelled again to the Chihuahuan Desert like usual in November, which is the best time for me and other desert lovers, I guess. I like thinking about it as my place on Earth.
That day was quite intense for me. First,I had my my first real morning photoshoot at the sunrise. I woke up about 5.30 AM. I couldn't sleep any longer. I couldn't stay in bed either. I had so much energy that I could move mountains. I remember I wanted to achieve the unachievable, and indeed, it happened that my day was rich in all kind of emotions and adventures.
After taking a few pictures with the Mesa Hideout in the morning sharp light, I was ready to go hiking in the desert about 8 AM. The drive to the destination was the worse ever through the desert. I had to wear a face mask so I could breathe in the dusty air that was entering inside the car. It took almost 1.5 hours to reach the visitors center from my place. Phew! Then about half an hour to get to the headtrail. It happened to be really hot about midday, and the trail was exposed for most of it. After completing my last hike in Big Bend, I felt accomplished. However, it was hard to imagine to return back to my Mesa Hideout the same way we came without being lost at least a few times, so we took a longer 2-hour drive that seemed safer.
I took this self-portrait the last day of my stay in Terlingua ranch. I had the best time ever shooting at the soft pleasant light of the Golden Hour. This is a reflection in one of the windows of the Mesa. I want to remember it as my goodbye to this incredible place on the Earth.
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About the project:
I wish to look at myself in all reflected streets and places I will be passing by. These self-portraits are inspired by Vivian Maier's self-portraiture: www.vivianmaier.com
A story draws on relationships in the exterior landscape and projects them onto the interior landscape. The purpose of storytelling is to achieve harmony between the two landscapes, to use all the elements of story...in a harmonious way to reproduce the harmony of the land in the individual's interior. Inherent in story is the power to reorder a state of psychological confusion through contact with the pervasive truth of those relationships we call "the land".
~Barry Lopez, Crossing Open Ground.
Nikon D700, Nikkor 105mm Micro,
1/4 s @ f/7.1,
ISO 100
Maersk Achiever arriving in to Kirkwall this afternoon. South Easterly Gales have resulted in a good swell, this coupled with the flood tide makes the entrance a bit lumpy!
I just love the name! :). The brown ones are females, black with colourful beaks are males. I had to post this together with the following sitting shots as it shows the progressive stages of take off of these birds. It's awkward and they struggle to get lift off. They use their feet to run on top of the water until they are airborne. Note the front one is airborne. The ones immediately to the left and right are in running modes - water walking lightly on the top of the water. I like the technique of the one of the right - practiced perfection. The two males in the back are clumsy and slow, feet dragging, but eventually they achieve lift off. A fun thing to watch. I only wish I had taken a video at some point. I keep forgetting I have video mode on this camera.
Well, I achieved two of those. Get to this stretch of the WCML at Watford Gap. Easy. Find the gap? Well, it may not look it, but this was squeeky bottom time with the cloud!!! A massive bank of cloud was just clearing behind me, and the sun was farting about in a few bubbles of cloud which were just on the edge. The sun is poking through a small gap here. I did not do so well with minding the gap, being a bit too slow at framing 67027 evenly between the gap in the catenary posts. I am losing my touch. This is 1Q27 Crewe-Derby via London Euston. The rest of the day turned out to be a complete farce, but I will not go on about that.
27th May 2020
Taken on a wet, damp and overcast day in Knysna. The wind was blowing gently through the trees so I manage to get a sense of movement in the branches and leaves which I wanted to try achieve in the image.
The spectacled weaver (Ploceus ocularis) is a species of bird in the family Ploceidae. It is found widely in woodland, forest edge and gardens of East, Middle and Southern Africa, but is absent from the most arid regions (such as the Karoo) and dense, primary rainforest.
It is found in open woodland, forest margins, bushy thickets, wooded valleys, along riverine woodland, savanna with sparse trees, and gardens.
It is mainly insectivorous, including crickets, moth caterpillars, beetle larvae; also spiders, centipedes, small crabs; geckos 3 cm long; berries; whole flowers; and nectar. The typical call while feeding is a characteristic descending series of whistles,'tee-tee-tee-tee". #7DWF