blurry picture.

i'm experimenting with texture. something i've always been afraid of.

What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from. -T.S. Eliot

Theo, doing the first section of the ropes course. He went across, followed by Milana and Carl, but Evan was not so sure. Evan, Avery, Madeleine and her dad went around to the easier starting section instead.

www.messersmith.name/wordpress/2010/01/01/start-with-fish/

Man, I can't believe that it's 2010 already. I just got used to writing year numbers beginning with "2". Now I have to retain my hand to leave out the "00" in the middle. What a bummer! I'll probably jump ahead and start writing 20010. Hey wasn't that a "thirties-something" TV series? No, wait, it's the ZIP code for Washington, DC. See, I'm aimlessly rambling already. I hope that that's not an omen.

Anyway, let's start with things that are not  fish. This is not a fish:

As any fool can see, it's a spider, a very familiar spider, on a yellow flower. I cannot stop taking pictures of these amusing little spiders. They are certainly prolific. On many days there will be one of these little fellows on nearly every blossom. I suspect that it also has a very specialised hunting technique targeted to insects that feed on and pollinate these flowers. It is obviously an ambush predator, as are many spiders. It does not depend on its web, which you can see if you click to enlarge. The web wraps around the central parts of the flower and may or may not take part in the capture. These spiders eat tiny striped-wing flies on which I have often seen them feeding.

And, this also is not  a fish, though the name implies otherwise:

It's a Starfish (Linckia multifora)  on the old catamaran at the Eel Garden near Pig Island.

And, neither is this a fish. I got this shot to illustrate that everywhere you look in the sea you find the spiral. It's one of natures' most common themes: It is, of course, coral. Specifically, it's Acropora clathrata.  Now you know. Isn't that a relief?

Now, these are  fish. This rather disorganised mob of Striped Catfish (Plotosus lineatus)  are regrouping after being startled out of their tiny wits my me attempting to get close enough for a picture: They will shortly resume their normal feeding habit of marching above the sand in a line like soldiers policing up cigarette butts.

And, this is also a fish, the Pixy Hawkfish (Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus): A very pretty fish it is. These look very much more interesting against a dark, blurred background. You can then better see the delicate structure of its dorsal fin, an exercise in excess detail. You can see what I mean in this post featuring the Dwarf Hawkfish, a closely related species. By the way, this is the red variation of the species. The other variation is less colourful.

So, let's finish up with everybody's favourite fish - Nemo: Nemo, a Clown Anemonefish (Amphiprion percula)  is here with friends and me today to wish you a very happy New Year.

Now I have to start thinking seriously about my New Year's Resolution.

The Beginning - Loading the bus for the first time. The stay in Ankara was just over night. We visited the Ataturk Mausoleum and the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. The museum houses the greatest collection of Hittite antiquities in the world. The Hittite civilization flourished in central Anatolia in the second millennium BC and at one time rivaled that of ancient Egypt. Catahoyuk is believed to be the oldest city in the world and dates from approximately 6000 BC, it is located near Konya. A replica of a house in Catahoyuk has been created in the museum.

Beginnings of a new quilt. Blogged

I like a condition like this.

beginning is charming.

Chinese Lion Procession (Beginning at 'The Bull')

It's Lunar New Year's Eve / Chinese New Year's Eve for The Year of the Rabbit.

I popped up to Costa at Next before this event was due to start around 12pm.

After they headed down St Martin's Walk (Central Street), I then headed to the West Mall for the 2nd floor balcony views of the next bit.

Is it the end or is it the beginning?

My aunt and uncle giving my cousin away in Santa Barbara, CA. Both mom and dad walked her down the aisle and it was such a beautiful moment.

New Beginnings

Although weather is still quite warm these days in germany, leaves are falling everywhere. Just the right to right time to pick up my X100 and photograph in the setting sun.

the future

Use this link to view available class dates and enroll online!

www.stitchlab.biz/Classes/beginning_one.html

Laurainspain and l are doing a swap, this is a nice frame l have in mind for her mosaic . Yes Laura , l am actually starting on it!!!

note to travelers: this is not a typical staircase. it's freaking steep. i'm not saying you shouldn't climb it. i mean, if you've gone all the way out there, i would hope you're getting as intimate as possible with these historical temples. just exercise caution is all.

Taken at Beaver Marsh, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio. Unfortunately it was cloudy for the whole time of the the total eclipse, but I was able to get a few shots of it starting and ending.

After tough day of fence erecting in the hot sun as a favour for an inlaw

growth

Beginning the Walk. Contax 139 Quartz, Carl Zeiss Vario Sonnar 3.3/28-85, Kodak Ektar 100. © All Rights Reserved. This image may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying, and recording without my written consent.

Fishtrap Creek Park, Abbotsford, B.C.

THE YORK DANCE ENSEMBLE

BEGINNINGS and ENDINGS

Holly Small, Artistic Director

February 11-13, 2015

Sandra Faire and Ivan Fecan Theatre

York University

PROGRAM

SAMAN

Staging & Direction: Shabrina Mardevi

Special thanks to the Indonesian Consul General Mr. Julang Pujianto and

the Godhong Maple Indonesian Arts Community

TIPPING POINT (premiere)

Choreography: Tracey Norman

FLESH AND A BROKEN WHISPER

Choreography: John Ottmann

COUNTERPOINT CLOUD/PROJECT (2013)

Choreography: Carol Anderson

TWIST OF FATE (premiere)

for Fern Small and Oliver

Choreography: Holly Small

Photos by: David Hou

(All rights reserved)

Mohawked beginning tuba player learning the reality of his instrument. Its heavy.

one of my recent collages, size: 35X45 sm

by Ray Dominguez in the beginning Computers in Art class.

At last the marigolds are starting to come out of hiding

We were just getting started when we came across this baby in her mother's arms. She was so cute trying to wave back to us.

Kiev>area opposite the Historical Museum

The beginning of my collection. Started late February.

Week 12: Gratitude.

I have been blessed with the opportunity to move from Ohio to Dallas, TX for a job. I have been extremely grateful for this opportunity. However, I feel more thankful for my amazing support system (from my parents to friends) who have helped me with this new journey.

Hey guys! So I made a new Flickr. This was mostly due to the fact that I'm trying to distance myself from my old "laurel kennedy" alias for good reasons, but also because the editing quality on my old photos is really poor. To be honest, I didn't know how to edit it all. To be honest, I still don't know how to now. However, I want to make an honest effort to improve my photos from here on out, because Disney photography is something that means the world to me, and I'm thankful for every visit to the parks to take new photos to share with you. So to sum it up: Sorry for the confusion, but I'm still Charlotte and I will be uploading here from now on. I've just returned from a short trip, and I have some new pictures on the way along with some older ones that I'd like to reedit and improve. I hope you'll stick around for the ride. See ya real soon!

by Mike Beaulieu in the beginning Computers in Art class.