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SSR have begun 2025 with the purchase of C502, C503 and C508 from RailFirst Asset Management (formerly CFCLA) upon their return to NSW after 4 years in WA. This means they now own 9 of the 10 C class locomotives built (bar C501).
C502 and C508 are seen leading 2343 empty Allied grain through Gunning on a cold, windy and partly cloudy Summer afternoon.
(17/1/25)
©2022 Gary L. Quay
I have begun hiking regularly in the Columbia Gorge after years of sporatic treks. I hiked to Upper Latourell Falls this morning, and developed the film when I got home. It was a film-only hike, just like old times. I did not take the digital camera along, so I was left with my old method of a handheld meter, which would have served me well if I would have let it. I second-guessed the meter, thinking that the scene was 5 stops below full sun. It turns out that it was 7 stops. Luckily, I bracketed. This was an 11-second exposure.
Camera: Hasselblad 500CM
Lens: 50mm Zeiss Distagon with compendium shade and a yellow # 12 Wratten filter.
Film: Ilford Pan F+ developed in Photographers Formulary FA-1027
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Doc and our son-in-law John tackling our driveway early this morning.
Quite a lot of snow came down in a matter of a few hours. I think we will have well over a foot before it is all over. The big plows are out clearing our major roads, and many accidents have taken place by those who were not prepared or are inexperienced when it comes to winter driving.
Welcome to winter in Alaska everybody!
The church was begun by the Franciscans in 1520 in a site previously occupied by the small church of Santa Maria del Prato, belonging to the Humiliati. Works were however halted in 1537, and in 1591 the Lomellini family continued the reconstruction, directed by Taddeo Carlone.
In the early 17th century the rich Baroque decoration was executed, with Andrea Ansaldo in charge of completing the works, and in particular the dome. The current Neoclassicist façade dates to 1830-1840s, designed by Carlo Barabino. The church was damaged by Allied bombings during World War II.
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_della_Santissima_Annunziat...
The autumn has begun. The leaves are starting to fall. Green is turning into yellow, red and brown.
Even the flowers are losing their natural beauty. You can see it, you can feel it...the change's begun...
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you can try it on black, if you want (press L)
I've begun a Photo a Day project, you can view and read about it here.
This was taken on Velvia Professional 100 Film with my Holga. Double Exposure, aka Aimee's second personality. She's quite a feisty one. This photo was actually taken a couple of months ago, but I've finally figured out how to get my Negative Scanner to work. During the Epic Edits $50 Film Contest was when I actually bought it, but I just could not figure out how the software worked. I am unfortunately blessed with working with well made software built by a well made company. ; ) So it was a bit hard trying to understand how to use it. So, for the past couple of weeks I've just been looking at a lot of film photos. I'm really getting inspired. It's true there is a completely different look and feel to film. It's much more organic. The colors are extremely dense. So, made it a specific goal to learn how to use the damn Negative Scanner. So I've been scanning in all of my old photographs from school as well as taking some quite amazing new ones.
These next series of photographs will be ones from older prints, just a couple of years old.
Yes, my fine flickrfriends ...the revolution has begun, lock up your camera/your lens/your tripods/your fish and chips - no-one is safe - I repeat No -One !. They are on the march and coming to a beach near you - take flight whilst you can ;)
I've begun a Photo a Day project, you can view and read about it here.
This was I guess you can say my first official shoot for a specific person? It was with Laura's father who is like family to me. I told him I could take an hour out of my day to shoot him. This is one of the ones that came out. It's pretty fantastic. I'm really happy with it.
Let me know what you think.
Oh yes, and Thanksgiving photos should be coming soon. : ) It was fantastic.
Work has commenced on the cleared land next to the old Castle Bromwich station, meaning this shot will soon become more confined again. Trundling towards a red light, 70815 leads 6M50 Westbury Down Yard to Bescot Up Engineers Sidings.
Tower, part of the remains of Hadlow Castle, a large Gothick house of late C18 origins. Tower begun 1838 (lantern added in 1840) for Walter Barton May to the designs of George Ledwell Taylor (Thirsk); modelled in part on William Beckford's 1812 tower (collapsed 1825) at Fonthill, Wiltshire, designed by James Wyatt. Rendered brick to imitate stone with the finer architectural detail and decoration built up in the Roman cement render. Gothick.
Plan: The tower was added at the south east corner of the original house (built by May's-father) with the stable courtyard to its north east. The main house was dismantled in 1951: what is left today is the stable courtyard, converted to housing, with the tower in the south east corner linked to the courtyard buildings by a freestanding wall, formerly the west wall of the house. Tower octagonal on plan with a circular stair turrett adjoining at the south west and a doorway on the north face. A lower, rectangular tower adjoins at the west. The original function of the main tower, beyond advertising the wealth and architectural ambition of the family, is obscure. The interior is relatively plain, especially when comapred with the lavish Interior of the house. It does not appear to have been heated originally and the smaller tower, between it and the house, was used as accommodation for men servants prior to 1951 (Thirsk).
Exterior: An extraordinary landmark, especially in the flat Hadlow landscape. 170 feet high, plus the lantern and covered with quite delicate Gothick detail in Roman cement, becoming progressively more elaborate on the upper stages. Slender 3-tier gabled projections to each of the cardinal faces with diagonal buttresses, steep gables and tall crocketted pinnacles. The 3-stage stair turret has a pierced parapet and lancet window. The stages of the tower are marked by string courses of various designs, some enriched with fleurons. The faces of the tower are divided by buttresses which rise above the pierced parapet as tall pinnacles with gabled crocketted pinnacles. Tall, buttressed, pinnacled lantern largely obscured by scaffolding at time of survey (1988). Various tall, Gothick windows, matching on each stage. The lower stage windows are 2-light and transomed with flamboyant tracery and moulded architraves with engaged shafts with capitals; incised crosses above the windows and, above them, a string course with a tier of engaged battlementing. The second stage also has 2-light transomed windows with quatrefoil windows above. Similar, narrower windows to the third stage with pairs of lancets above. The fourth stage has smaller transomed windows, each wall face covered in blind arcading in 2 tiers. The fifth stage also has 2 tiers of decoration, the lower tier trefoil-headed arcading, some blind, some glazed, the upper tier decorated with blind tracery and incorporating corbelled projections. Some of the Roman cement detail has fallen away. The gabled projections each have 2 tiers of tall lancet windows with moulded architraves, the embrasures filled with cusped lattice with traceried windows just below the gables. The north projection has a very tall, chamfered 2-centred doorway. The adjoining 4-storey servants' tower is embattled with a rounded projecting stair turret at the north west and various Gothick windows: lancets, 2-centred with cusped Y tracery and timber flamboyant traceried windows in square-headed embrasures.
Interior: Plain by comparison with the exterior but preserving some original doors with applied Gothick panelling. A remarkable example of ambitious Gothick design and an outstanding landscape feature.
The May family was essentially local and sum of the wealth used on the tower may have derived from hop-growing (Thirsk).
Introducing a new series I started in Autumn of 2025 and have begun sharing on my Instagram but havent quite made it over to flickr yet. Its called The Long Dark, and its a set of about 30-60 images where I try to capture the low light and dark season here in Western Washington. Really excited about this series and it will be much of what I post for the first quarter of 2026. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to everyone!
I begun the year of 2021 doing street photography at the ice rink in Broken Arrow and I finished 2021 at the ice rink. Thanks for all that came on the ride with me throughout 2021.
I've begun a Photo a Day project, you can view and read about it here.
If you vote yes on Prop 8, you are denying my parents the right to get equal opportunity and equal tax benefits that's given to married couples. It has nothing to with changing marriage or saving marriage or saving families. It has to do with EQUALITY. It has to do with giving each and every person the right that they promised by being apart of this country. It has nothing to with the churches, that's why it's the separation of church and state. Last time I checked, it was the State and the government that gave people rights. Not churches. Churches are based on each and everyone's own religion. That's why we have different churches in the country. And also, that was the whole reason we left England in the first place. It was to get out of the Church of England. Please people, we are human beings. These are rights of humans, me and you and your best friend and your parents. We are all the same, we are built in human blood, we are all the same no matter who we love.
Work on the North and South Tyne Piers was begun in 1854 by the newly formed Tyne Improvement Commission, for the protection of shipping entering and leaving the river. The principal architect and engineer was James Walker, until his death in 1862 (whereupon John F. Ure took over). Construction was delayed by storm damage in 1862, which led to parts of the foundations having to be rebuilt. The South Pier was finished in 1895 and its lighthouse was operational that same year (it was equipped with a third-order fixed optic and a clockwork occulting mechanism, by Chance Brothers & Co.).
The lighthouse currently displays an occulting sector light with white, red and green sectors; the green sector is used to indicate safe waters near the coast to the north of Tynemouth, while red indicates an area with numerous wrecks to the east and south of the lighthouse. The pier is 5,150 ft (1,570 m) long (accessible from South Shields seafront, it is open to the public except in bad weather).
It was originally intended that the North (Tynemouth) Pier and lighthouse would mirror their South Shields counterparts, but a series of breaches and collapses meant that the North Pier was completed much later and to a different design. Following completion of the North Pier, in January 1908 the South Pier Lighthouse was provided with a bell, which sounded once every thirty seconds during foggy weather (in contrast to the reed fog horn sounded from the North Pier light).
On 20 October 2023, Storm Babet hit the North East Coast with high winds. The South Pier Lighthouse lost its dome, lantern and optic due to waves breaching the pier wall. The pier parapet was also severely damaged. Twelve months later a new dome and lantern were installed on the lighthouse.
There is a third lighthouse, just upstream of the pier, on the Herd Groyne at South Shields (which was constructed in 1861–67 to preserve Littlehaven Beach, then known as Herd Sands, which had begun to be washed away by the change of currents caused by the new piers). This very unusual lighthouse resembling a 1940s sci-fi movie space craft was built by Newcastle-upon-Tyne Trinity House in 1882 (ownership was passed to the Tyne Improvement Commission the following year). It consists of an upper hexagonal part (including the lantern) of wood and corrugated iron construction, sitting on twelve cylindrical steel legs. The whole structure is painted red and stands 49 ft (15 m) in height. The Groyne shows an occulting light which marks a safe entrance course between the piers, showing white to a vessel approaching from seaward on the correct course, green to a vessel off-course to the north, and red to one off-course to the south.
In 1928, both the South Pier and the Groyne lights were converted from incandescent gas to automatic electric operation. They were run off mains electricity (the gas lights being retained as an emergency standby). At the same time each lighthouse was equipped with an electrically activated fog bell; these were switched on and off remotely from a control hut in the pier blockyard. In the event of a power cut, each bell was designed to keep ringing for a further six hours. In 1961 the Commissioners installed a groundbreaking system by which the two fog bells would be switched on and off by the keepers on duty in the Tynemouth Pier lighthouse, using an 'infra-red ray' beamed across the river. This was in turn replaced by a radio link to an automatic fog detector when the latter lighthouse was automated in 1967. At the same time the South Shields lights were themselves fully automated, with the addition of standby diesel alternators and automatic lamp changers.
In 1999, the white sector of the light was intensified by the addition of a PEL sector light above the optic, with the same occulting characteristic but a range of 19 nautical miles (rather than 13, as previously). The installation of this powerful light (which is visible during the day as well as by night), rendered the High and Low Lights of North Shields redundant, and they were therefore decommissioned at the same time. The Herd Groyne lighthouse was refurbished and repainted in 2014, and again (with support from the Barbour Foundation) in 2024.
Both lighthouses continue to act as navigational aids to ships entering the River Tyne, though in 2015 it was stated that the fog bells on the two lighthouses were no longer operational. Port of Tyne (as successor to the Tyne Improvement Commission) has been 'custodian' of the lighthouses and pier since 1968.
I've begun to offer a new type of newborn session | "half & half". Half studio, half home.
I love the variety of images that these produce.
More info:
Begun in 1153 in a Romanesque style and completed in the 1300s in the Gothic style, the Baptistery (Battistero di San Giovanni) in Pisa is the largest in Italy. It contains some important furnishings, including a font and Pisano pulpit.
History of Pisa Baptistery
Construction on the baptistery began in the Romanesque style under Diotisalvi in 1153. Nicola and Giovanni Pisano gave the upper part a Gothic transformation between 1277 and 1297 and Cellino di Nese added the Gothic dome in the 1300s. It was finally completed in 1363.
What to See at Pisa Baptistery
Italy's largest baptistery (54.86m tall and 104m in circumference), the Battistero di San Giovanni is also slightly taller than the Leaning Tower across the square. As it shares the same unstable ground as the tower, the baptistery also has a slight lean of 0.6 degrees towards the cathedral.
The lower register of the baptistery is 12th-century Romanesque (with round blind arches), while the upper parts are predominantly 13th-century Gothic (with pointed arches).
The exterior of the second register was decorated with statues and designs by Giovanni Pisano; most of these have been removed to the nearby Museo dell'Opera del Duomo and only a few have been replaced with copies.
The square main portal bears interesting reliefs by an unknown artist of the 13th century. The left side depicts the Labors of the Months while the right side portrays the Apostles (in pairs), the Harrowing of Hell, and King David.
The two-level architrave depicts the Life of St. John the Baptist (bottom) and Christ with the Virgin Mary, John the Baptist, the Four Evangelists, and Angels. On the archivolt, the 24 Elders of the Apocalypse flank the Lamb of God. The lunette contains a copy of Giovanni Pisano's Madonna, the original of which is in the Museo dell'Opera.
The other portal is also nicely decorated, including an architrave depicting the Annunciation and Saints.
The interior is fairly plain, dimly lit and not especially attractive, but it includes two great treasures: the first of the great Pisano pulpits and the large baptismal font in the center.
The baptistery's pulpit is a masterpiece carved in 1255-60 by Nicola Pisano. It was the prototype for a series of four monumental pulpits he created with his son Giovanni (the last, Giovanni's greatest work, is in Pisa's Duomo; the other two are in Pistoia and Siena).
The pulpit's high reliefs, which depict scenes from the life of Christ, are strongly influenced by classical art - including the Roman sarcophagi and Greek vase now in the Camposanto. Many of the figures look like pagan gods christianized as Madonnas and saints.
The central baptismal font was carved and inlaid in 1246 by the Gothic sculptor Guido Bigarelli da Como (active 1238-57). In the center of the font is a 20th-century statue of St. John the Baptist, to whom the baptistery is dedicated.
The baptistery is renowned for its perfect acoustics - choir concerts held inside can be heard from miles away. You can test the acoustics by arriving when it is least crowded (such as first thing in the morning), getting as close to the center as possible and sounding a loud note - it will echo around the room as it fades.
Quick Facts on Pisa Baptistery
Names: Baptistery of St. John · Battistero di San Giovanni ·
Country: Italy
Styles: Romanesque; Gothic
Dedication: St. John the Baptist
Dates: 1153; 1300s
Coordinates: 43.723293° N, 10.394075° E
Hours: Apr-Sept: daily 8am-7:30pm
Mar and Oct: daily 9am-5:30pm
Nov-Feb: daily 9am-4:30pm
I've got a reputation of being a man with a gift of words
a romantic poetic type or so they say
but I find it hard to express the way I feel about you
without getting involved with the old cliches.
In the old cliches, it's the old cliches.
This song's begun so many times but never
in a way that you won't consider to be an old cliche.
I want to say that I need you, I miss you when you're away.
And how it seemed like fate - o here we go - the same old cliches.
It's the same old cliches.
It's not that I'm embarrassed or shy, well, you know me too well
but I want to make this song special in a way that you can tell.
That it's solely for you and nobody else
for my best friend, my lover, when I need help - cliche - cliche?
Everything I want to say to you is wrapped up in an old cliche
I'd waited so long to find you, I'd been through the heartbreak and pain,
but of course you already know that cos you've been throught the same.
That's why I'm trying to say with my deepest sincerity
that's why I'm finding it comes down to the basic simplicities
the best way is with an old cliche
it's simply the best way is with an old cliche
always the best way is with an old cliche
I'll leave it to the best way, it's an old cliche
Florence Cathedral, formally the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore, is the cathedral of Florence, Italy. It was begun in 1296 in the Gothic style to a design of Arnolfo di Cambio and was structurally completed by 1436, with the dome engineered by Filippo Brunelleschi. The exterior of the basilica is faced with polychrome marble panels in various shades of green and pink, bordered by white, and has an elaborate 19th-century Gothic Revival façade by Emilio De Fabris.
The cathedral complex, in Piazza del Duomo, includes the Baptistery and Giotto's Campanile. These three buildings are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site covering the historic centre of Florence and are a major tourist attraction of Tuscany. The basilica is one of Italy's largest churches, and until the development of new structural materials in the modern era, the dome was the largest in the world. It remains the largest brick dome ever constructed.
The cathedral is the mother church of the Archdiocese of Florence, whose archbishop is Giuseppe Betori.The Duomo viewed from the heights of Piazzale Michelangelo
Santa Maria del Fiore was built on the site of Florence's second cathedral dedicated to Saint Reparata; the first was the Basilica di San Lorenzo di Firenze, the first building of which was consecrated as a church in 393 by St. Ambrose of Milan. The ancient structure, founded in the early 5th century and having undergone many repairs, was crumbling with age, according to the 14th-century Nuova Cronica of Giovanni Villani, and was no longer large enough to serve the growing population of the city. Other major Tuscan cities had undertaken ambitious reconstructions of their cathedrals during the Late Medieval period, such as Pisa and particularly Siena where the enormous proposed extensions were never completed.
City council approved the design of Arnolfo di Cambio for the new church in 1294. Di Cambio was also architect of the church of Santa Croce and the Palazzo Vecchio. He designed three wide naves ending under the octagonal dome, with the middle nave covering the area of Santa Reparata. The first stone was laid on 9 September 1296, by Cardinal Valeriana, the first papal legate ever sent to Florence. The building of this vast project was to last 140 years; Arnolfo's plan for the eastern end, although maintained in concept, was greatly expanded in size.
After Arnolfo died in 1302, work on the cathedral slowed for almost 50 years. When the relics of Saint Zenobius were discovered in 1330 in Santa Reparata, the project gained a new impetus. In 1331, the Arte della Lana, the guild of wool merchants, took over patronage for the construction of the cathedral and in 1334 appointed Giotto to oversee the work. Assisted by Andrea Pisano, Giotto continued di Cambio's design. His major accomplishment was the building of the campanile. When Giotto died on 8 January 1337, Andrea Pisano continued the building until work was halted due to the Black Death in 1348.
The Duomo, as if completed, in a fresco by Andrea di Bonaiuto, painted in the 1360s, before the commencement of the dome
In 1349, work resumed on the cathedral under a series of architects, starting with Francesco Talenti, who finished the campanile and enlarged the overall project to include the apse and the side chapels. In 1359, Talenti was succeeded by Giovanni di Lapo Ghini (1360–1369) who divided the centre nave in four square bays. Other architects were Alberto Arnoldi, Giovanni d'Ambrogio, Neri di Fioravanti and Andrea Orcagna. By 1375, the old church Santa Reparata was pulled down. The nave was finished by 1380, and only the dome remained incomplete until 1418.
On 19 August 1418, the Arte della Lana announced an architectural design competition for erecting Neri's dome. The two main competitors were two master goldsmiths, Lorenzo Ghiberti and Filippo Brunelleschi, the latter of whom was supported by Cosimo de Medici. Ghiberti had been the winner of a competition for a pair of bronze doors for the Baptistery in 1401 and lifelong competition between the two remained sharp. Brunelleschi won and received the commission.
Ghiberti, appointed coadjutor, drew a salary equal to Brunelleschi's and, though neither was awarded the announced prize of 200 florins, was promised equal credit, although he spent most of his time on other projects. When Brunelleschi became ill, or feigned illness, the project was briefly in the hands of Ghiberti. But Ghiberti soon had to admit that the whole project was beyond him. In 1423, Brunelleschi was back in charge and took over sole responsibility.
Work on the dome began in 1420 and finished in 1436. The cathedral was consecrated by Pope Eugene IV on 25 March 1436, (the first day of the year according to the Florentine calendar). It was the first 'octagonal' dome in history to be built without a temporary wooden supporting frame. It was one of the most impressive projects of the Renaissance. During the consecration in 1436, Guillaume Dufay's motet Nuper rosarum flores was performed.
The decoration of the exterior of the cathedral, begun in the 14th century, was not completed until 1887, when the polychrome marble façade was completed with the design of Emilio De Fabris. The floor of the church was relaid in marble tiles in the 16th century.
The exterior walls are faced in alternate vertical and horizontal bands of polychrome marble from Carrara (white), Prato (green), Siena (red), Lavenza and a few other places. These marble bands had to repeat the already existing bands on the walls of the earlier adjacent baptistery the Battistero di San Giovanni and Giotto's Bell Tower. There are two side doors: the Doors of the Canonici (south side) and the Door of the Mandorla (north side) with sculptures by Nanni di Banco, Donatello, and Jacopo della Quercia. The six side windows, notable for their delicate tracery and ornaments, are separated by pilasters. Only the four windows closest to the transept admit light; the other two are merely ornamental. The clerestory windows are round, a common feature in Italian Gothic.
“...anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” 2 Corinthians 5:17
HST power car 43084 leads Grand Central's 1A60 06.41 (I think) Sunderland - King's Cross past Yaxley (south of Peterborough).
I'd come here for rail blue-liveried 87002 hauling a rake of Cargo-D mark 2 air-con coaches (in matching BR blue and grey livery) on a southbound charter train - see this photo - as well as a class 92 and then class A4 steam loco Bittern (with two tenders) on separate northbound charters (the latter shot wasn't so good), but also photographed several other things between.
Grand Central had begun passenger operations just a year and a half previous (a week before Christmas 2007), using a fleet of three 2+5 HSTs on services between Sunderland and London; by now, the company was operating three return trips per day (which required two trains in service), but was about to introduce a fourth, using a class 180 "Zephyr" DMU acquired from First Great Western. The HST power cars, having been stored out of use for several years after being stood down by Virgin Cross Country, were very unreliable at this time. They eventually underwent a major overhaul which included replacing the original Paxman "Valenta" engines with the same MTU engines fitted to those operated by the East Coast Main Line franchisee, and all six power cars were renumbered in the 434xx series (so 43084 became 43484). After Grand Central stopped using HSTs at the end of 2017, they moved to East Midlands Trains, and after their use on the Midland Main Line ceased the power cars were acquired by Rail Adventure, which usually uses them in pairs coupled back-to-back as conventional locos.
Grand Central's original livery was overall black, with silver or bronze passenger doors, bronze indicating first class accommodation. The introduction of the class 180s (now known by the First Group name of "Adelante") saw the addition of an orange stripe to the livery (perhaps reflecting GNER dark blue with a red stripe), the shade of orange being changed several years later.
Visit Brian Carter's Non-Transport Pics to see my photos of landscapes, buildings, bridges, sunsets, rainbows and more.
Although when taking this picture it was almost 90f and humid. Certainly didn't feel like it but it won't be long until the colors start happening.
Bath, Somerset UK.
The Circus is an example of Georgian architecture in the city of Bath, begun in 1754 and completed in 1768. The name comes from the Latin 'circus', which means a ring, oval or circle.
Divided into three segments of equal length, the Circus is a circular space surrounded by large townhouses. Each of the curved segments faces one of the three entrances, ensuring that whichever way a visitor enters there is a classical facade straight ahead.
The Circus, originally called King's Circus, was designed by the architect John Wood the Elder, although he never lived to see his plans put into effect as he died less than three months after the first stone was laid. It was left to his son, John Wood the Younger to complete the scheme to his father's design.
Wood's inspiration was the Roman Colosseum, but whereas the Colosseum was designed to be seen from the outside, the Circus faces inwardly. Three classical Orders, (Greek Doric, Roman/Composite and Corinthian) are used, one above the other, in the elegant curved facades. The frieze of the Doric entablature is decorated with alternating triglyphs and 525 pictorial emblems, including serpents, nautical symbols, devices representing the arts and sciences, and masonic symbols. The parapet is adorned with stone acorn finials. (from Wikipedia)
copyrighted © Marzouq Almosawy
All images appearing in the Almosawy Photostream are the exclusive property of him and may not be reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without the written permission of Marzouq Almosawy. .
Begun in 27BC and opened in 125AD. A former Roman temple and, since 609AD, a Catholic Church. It has been in continuous use throughout its history!
After what was the shortest summer I can remember, my "early maples" have begun to appear as noticeable splashes of color in an otherwise still green landscape. I always wonder what it is that triggers these individual trees so in advance of their brethren who experience precisely the same conditions, and I inevitably engage in evaluating and assigning various anthropomorphic reasons for this behavior. I'm certain there is a scientific explanation but it's far more fun to assume the role of tree psychologist:
Dr. Walden: Now then, Acer saccharum...just lay down here on the ground and tell me why you felt it necessary to change color prior to the normal pattern as expressed and established by your peers...
Acer saccharum: Well, Doc...I was feeling a bit bland and under the weather...so I decided to do something different...you know...to make me stand out.
Dr. Walden: And how did that make you feel?
Acer saccharum: At first I suppose a bit gaudy and pretentious...but then proud to be leading the way into the new season.
_________________________
Original in comments embellished with textures from Karen Burns (www.flickr.com/people/vintagefindings/)
Dr. Walden: And why did you feel it necessary to take a perfectly good photo and add to it?
A. Walden: I'm not really sure. Probably for reasons similar to those of Acer saccharum...
Okay, now I'm just showing off.
For some reason, even though Attack of The Clones is probably my least favorite of the Star Wars prequels (but not my least favorite SW movie overall), I freakin' love the sets based on it from 2002. Unfortunately I don't actually have most of those sets. The only ones I do have are The Geonosian Canon, Tusken Encounter, and The Republic Gunship.
I have however been collecting the figures over the course of many years, and now I have em all, plus a Padme I threw together from both new and old parts.
Since taking this pic I've also gotten the actual old-school Windu from 2005 that doesn't light up but eehh, I didn't wanna retake the pic and re-edit and all that.
Anyways, cheers folks, and screw sand.
So, it continues to snow. Trying to make the most of this dismal spring, I have begun exploring the “other” way to photograph snowflakes: using backlighting on glass. View large!
“Transmitted light” is the microscopy term for light coming from behind your subject, passing through it and interacting with it to reveal your image. This is the way snowflakes have been photographed for well over a century, and only with modern cameras and software has “reflected light” images been made possible (which is what all of my other snowflakes consist of). Still, there can be great allure in the photographic beauty this older technique produces!
Colourized light will interact with the crystal differently, highlighting different hues on the facets and contours of the crystal. The colour is not applied in post-processing, as such a technique would not show the complex interactions you see in the crystal where the two colours meet. Instead, a coloured filter is placed over my flash that has many transitions of hues.
This coloured filter uses the principles of birefringence to create the colour. Bire-what? It’s a colourful bit of physics that can be easily created by putting two polarizing filters in opposition to one another, and in between them put a piece of cheap plastic. You can read more about the phenomenon here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birefringence - highly technical, sure… but the effect makes for a great vari-colour filter for my photographic experiments.
The snowflake is on a microscope slide, and my wireless flash is positioned directly behind it. While this could easily be done on a tripod, I opted to stick with what I know and shoot this handheld. Because the snowflake can appear flat to the camera, focus stacking is not required. Only one frame was used to create this image.
Since my “The Snowflake” poster is complete I feel I can switch up my shooting techniques as I no longer need consistent results. This initial experiment has given me a ton of ideas to work with next year, marrying different techniques and approaches together for some truly unique creations. What about shooting these on an angle, with a combination of front-lighting and backlighting?
The results are less “scientific” than my regular snowflakes, but the aesthetic quality is certainly eye-catching. With my current snowflake projects completed, next winter my creativity will be unchained. :)
For my book on the science and photography of snowflakes, check out Sky Crystals: skycrystals.ca/book/ - 304 page book with more than you could have imagined to know about these winter gems.
For my print “The Snowflake” which took over 2500 hours to produce, go here: skycrystals.ca/poster/ - worth the look, you can easily get lost in the details!
Now we wait... The rain has begun and it's going to get a bit breezy later today. People in my area were asked to get supplies, prepare our homes and stay put. This is so that people in evacuation zones could get out more quickly. Most of my neighbors and I will be hunkering down in our homes and hoping that the electricity stays on. Counting my blessings regarding the storm, my neighborhood is several miles away from storm surge dangers. Our homes were built after hurricane Andrew came through Florida, so our homes are built to the latest standards for hurricanes. Most of us have brand new roofs that were put on this spring.
Also, I am personally blessed to have a lot of wonderful neighbors that have offered to assist me after the storm if needed. Some have offered to have me come over before the storm so I won't be alone. That is so sweet of them since they know my husband MUST report to work. That being said, I have to say that Jack, my husband of thirty-three years is the most incredible blessing, storm or no storm. It would take several books to tell you how amazing he is so, I'll just keep that to myself.
Jack is the Deputy Chief Operating Officer for Tampa Bay water. He and his team have packed their bags and are heading to work just in case a public water system emergency occurs, they will be ready to handle what ever comes up. I can't go into detail about their protocol. I will just say I believe that Tampa Bay is in good hands when it comes to clean water flow. Just like I am always in good hands around here.
Jack turned this place into a little fortress before he left for work and has set up all kinds technology to keep tabs on me while he is away during the storm. One example is the indoor cameras he has rigged all over the house so he can make sure the house is intact and I am safe. He can look at the cameras at anytime from any location on his phone and get a real time, live view. Of course, I told him I am putting a towel over those cameras until the wind picks up :)
Unless she changes direction, Irma should be in my area about Two A.M. bringing sustained winds of up to 140 MPH with some stronger gusts. She should be gone by eight A.M. according to the current predictions. That is always subject to change. I am only looking at updates every couple of hours. I am prepared for the worst, and hoping for the best :)
Butterfly update:
There have been a lot of butterflies in the yard all week. I hope they find somewhere safe to hang out during the storm. I have viceroy pupas at this time but since I was on vacation last week and I have been prepping for Irma this week I don't have any caterpillars to feed. The butterfly in this image is a palamedes. I'm always excited when one of these beauties visits the yard. So I was doubly pleased to see two in the yard a couple of days ago.
If the electricity holds out, I hope to be able to post a macro Monday shot I took on Wednesday. I'm pretty sure the electric will go out at some point but probably not until after Two A.M. Okay, now I'm just rambling :)
I hope you have a pleasant day. Happy snapping.
-Midnight Raid-
Operation Cetshwayo has begun and Oceania is here to aid the Union of Free Africa. In a massive blow to the Eurasian allied forces in Zambia, a munitions depot north of Senanga has been captured by Oceanic forces. Under the cover of night, Oceanic forces raided a warehouse loaded with outbound weapons and ammunition meant to aid the Zambian forces fighting the UFA on the front lines.
“Sir, the depot has been secured. We only suffered one casualty. What’s our next move?”
“Move the munitions to the loading bay, we will have a team there for pick up in 1 hour.”
“Johnson, get your team and load up these RPG-7 crates and get them down to the loading bay. AND BE CAREFUL, we don’t want the same thing to happen to us like those UFA guys way over near Bulawayo ”
“Yes sir. Right Away. . . HEY! BE CAREFUL WITH THAT!”
“Wilson, get someone to help you drag these Eurasian pigs into the ditch over here. I don’t want to keep walking over them.”
“Yes sir.”
“Everyone we move out at 0200. We have a platoon on their way to take over from us. We’ve got a long war ahead of us, lets go get some sleep. You've earned it.”
I hope you enjoyed my first entry for the World In Darkness contest. More scenes on the way.
-Mason
Begun with the front facade in the Romanesque style in 1196 (after its predecessor was destroyed following a lightning strike), it was finally completed in 1521, by which time the Gothic style had been adopted (as exemplified by the tall pointed windows farther back).
This was the same year Martin Luther was ex-communicated and summoned to the Diet of Worms, where his pronouncements led to his further conviction as a heretic by the Emperor Charles V. On the other hand, the congregation at St. Thomas (like others) included many who supported his theses, and three years later it threw their lot in with him - one of the earliest to do so. St.-Thomas is now considered the unofficial ''cathedral'' of Protestantism in Alsace.
I've begun a Photo a Day project, you can view and read about it here.
I have a story to tell you tomorrow about Photo 16. This was our failed attempt at going down to the Canon Repair Center in Irvine for Justin Edwards, my room mate. He's been having line streaks show up in his photographs to compensate for the high noise. The high noise being iso 500. Yeah, major issues. We got lost in East Los Angeles with this beautiful sunset which I'll be posting more of later, but I'm very tired. This is my favorite of the night. After the gorgeous sunset, Aimee, Jay and I all went to Wingstop which is the most amazing place in the world.
The huge Glasgow Cathedral viewed from the nearby Necropolis. Begun in the 12th century it is the only Medieval cathedral in mainland Scotland to survive the Reformation era (when the church broke with Rome, during the wave of Protestant revolution across Christendom). It is tied to the city's patron saint, Saint Mungo, whose tombs lies in the crypt. Glasgow University's first classes were held with the precincts of the Cathedral in 1451 before moving across the city. A landmark and tourist site, it is also still an active site of worship