The Village of Malone is the proud home to over 5,900 residents and many small and mid-sized businesses. This historic village, first settled in 1802, then incorporated May 14, 1853 as a agricultural

But with an historic grist mill, it’s a more uplifting story. There’s a plan to save it instead of knocking it down.

The former Horton Mill sits right on the Salmon River in downtown Malone. It was an active wheat grinding plant until about 1950.

124

One of the Calandiva line of double-flowered Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivars.

Although kalandiva is known as the “flower of fortune”, this does not mean that flowers attract money and good business. This name is related to wishes of happiness and good luck, that is, fortune has the connotation of lucky.

Delivering a calandiva meaning is to wish all the best for the person, that he conquers full happiness, love and luck in life. Mega special, don't you think?

Succulent plant, with leaves with lacy margins.

Its flowers can be simple or folded, both with a mix of different colors and with great durability.​

When the flowers are simple they are called Kalanchoe.​

And when the flowers are folded (multiple petals) Calandivas.

This critter--a Paper Wasp, I believe--was one of a large group that was attracted to something sticky that had been spilled on a railing. While the others went about their business, this one seemed to be checking me out. No wasps were harmed and no humans were stung during the making of this image, however. :-)

2015-10-16_Ilha_Porchat_0002

Placed in southeast of Sao Vicente island, one of the very first cities of Brazil, Porchat island is a pseudo island due to the fact that only in the high tide it is completely surrounded by water. This is well known due to its dancing clubs and a rich casino, which is no longer opened because of recent Brazilian restrictions on gambling businesses.

This image was taken from the top of Porchat Island toward to Sao Vicente Island, just before a morning storm, where the buildings are seeing in the background and smaller islands appear in the left and far right.

Only one after noon, sky mostly grey in grey, late afternoon some blue sky, just not enough time to take pictures, evaluate them and then come back and improv on them.

There are three of them, one for living and two commercial buildings with many businesses. This is a realtor’s dream, location, location and location.

But photographing them is more of a challenge. There is a limited choice of locations. To take them all, just from the other side of the river Rhine (Rechts Rheinisch. Or as a panorama from behind. Other than this from the bride, Severinsbrücke, from the floor. But they are huge, even with very wide angel from the floor, there is either not enough space, some other buildings, or converging lines.

Designed by Hadi Teherani, the won several prices.

Bridge between the main part oft the bulidging an the elevator / staircase on toward the river rhine side.

As always, if you enjoy the photo, feel free to leave a constructive comment, a like

Only one after noon, sky mostly grey in grey, late afternoon some blue sky, just not enough time to take pictures, evaluate them and then come back and improv on them.

There are three of them, one for living and two commercial buildings with many businesses. This is a realtor’s dream, location, location and location.

But photographing them is more of a challenge. There is a limited choice of locations. To take them all, just from the other side of the river Rhine (Rechts Reihnisch. Or as a panorama from behind. Other than this from the bride, Severinsbrücke, from the floor. But they are huge, even with very wide angel from the floor, there is either not enough space, some other buildings, or converging lines.

Designed by Hadi Teherani, the won several prices.

This view is in front of the elevator / stairs part of the building

As always, if you enjoy the photo, feel free to leave a constructive comment, a like

This apparel store/café as it looks is located in Gion Shirakawa Historic Preserved District. It is one of the Kyoto neighbourhoods where you can feel the authentic atmosphere of the old capital.

I read a news article at least seven years ago saying that Kyoto City was recruiting a business operator who would remodel a certain historic building in Gion District and utilize it in their business. I enlarged the small picture in the article and realized that the building in the subject was a fine restaurant that I had had dinner at before. The building, both exterior and interior, was a typical traditional one in the district - no large windows or feeling of openness on the facade. The owner had closed the restaurant for a reason and donated the property to the city, then they city proposed this plan to let somebody transform the building into something that they wanted for their business while keeping the good parts unique to old buildings in order to revitalize the district as well as to preserve the historic building in return for assisting some remodeling expenses and the rent.

This is *the* renovated building. When I walked past it 6.5 years ago, the exterior was still in the condition of the abandoned restaurant. This evening last year, I was overwhelmed by how it had transformed into another business. This is just one example of a successfully renovated case - there are many cases that the city is involved in across the old capital.

京都・祇園白川保存地区ののアパレル店／カフェ。以前は料亭でしたが市の再生プロジェクトによって生まれ変わったようです。

The Village of Malone is the proud home to over 5,900 residents and many small and mid-sized businesses. This historic village, first settled in 1802, then incorporated May 14, 1853 as a agricultural

But with an historic grist mill, it’s a more uplifting story. There’s a plan to save it instead of knocking it down.

The former Horton Mill sits right on the Salmon River in downtown Malone. It was an active wheat grinding plant until about 1950.

The Mottled Wood Owl is a large owl found around thick woody areas in the countryside. This is a true nocturnal owl active at nights and often hard to see in the day. But we got lucky this time as the day was quite cloudy and hence the owl was still active.

When the Owl came out of tree cover, the Shikra (Goshawk) which surprisingly was roosting and nesting (which I came to know after a few days) in the same tree attacked the Owl. The Owl isn't an agile flyer, and found itself challenged repeatedly by the Shikra which pecked the Owl several times on the head. The Owl had to land on bare trees and face the Shikra at which point the aggressor landed safely far away. The Shikra was attacking the Owl whenever it was flying and was at a disadvantage. This happened for a while after which the Owl disappeared into the canopy, while the Shikra went about on its day business!

This shot shows the Shikra ruffling some feathers of the Owl. The Owl seemed a bit annoyed, but didn't seem to care much or follow the Shikra. It landed on a perch and faced the Shikra at which point, the Shikra literally took flight!

Thank you so much in advance for your views, faves and feedback.

Nature about it's business. This small piece of Silver Birch is slowly being consumed by a fungus (Armillaria) and Wood Lice.

Have a great Monday everyone.

A Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba) taking off from the barbed wire fence it had been perched on! Taken at RSPB Saltholme the other day.

Now for something very light indeed. We have been looking at some heavy theological issues for Easter over the past two days, but this is just a piece of photo art.

Since I took a number of photos of our fireplace in readiness for the Pascal discussion, I thought I'd use some to set fire to one of our most historic old buildings in Launceston, Tasmania.

Sorry!

I love this old warehouse, and would be the last person to want to see any harm come to it. Built in 1842 by William Johnstone, the founder of a wholesale general merchants, wines and spirits business, this building is a very unusual warehouse complex thought to be unique in Australia.

Perhaps all those spirits in the warehouse have caught alight. Dear me!

The Village of Malone is the proud home to over 5,900 residents and many small and mid-sized businesses. This historic village, first settled in 1802, then incorporated May 14, 1853 as a agricultural

But with an historic grist mill, it’s a more uplifting story. There’s a plan to save it instead of knocking it down.

The former Horton Mill sits right on the Salmon River in downtown Malone. It was an active wheat grinding plant until about 1950.

New-Delhi (Inde) - Des ateliers de couture comme celui-ci, on en trouve partout en Inde. Une antique machine à coudre, une paire de ciseau datant de Mathusalem, un peu de savoir-faire souvent hérité d’une tradition familiale, suffisent à créer une entreprise artisanale. Cet homme est tout à fait capable de confectionner un costume ou une robe en quelques heures. Il reconnaît cependant que ces dernières années, la concurrence des produits manufacturés, souvent « made in china », ont incité de nombreux tailleurs à fermer boutique. Lui, il survit en recousant des accrocs sur des chemise, en changeant une fermeture éclaire sur un chemisier ou un pantalon. Les temps sont durs.

Sewing workshop

New-Delhi (India) - Sewing workshops like this one can be found everywhere in India. An antique sewing machine, a no less antique pair of scissors, a little know-how often inherited from a family tradition, are enough to create a craft business. This man is quite capable of making a suit or a dress in a few hours. He acknowledges, however, that in recent years competition from manufactured goods, often "made in china", has prompted many tailors to close up shop. He survives by patching up tears in shirts, changing a zipper on a blouse or pants. Times are hard.

Tree Trek...

Last week we packed up and headed for a local park, hiking deep into the woods.

I find that when I am surrounded by the wonderful quietness of the forest, I become acutely aware of the rustling of leaves and twigs as squirrels and other wildlife scurry about their day to day business. .

This photo is of a hiker who passes us on a wide trail in a part of the forest which is mostly tall pines and other fir tress, the forest floor is a bed of pine needles and other decaying debris. that feels soft and spongy beneath your feet while you hike through.

Thank you for visiting for marking my photo as a favourite and for the kind comments,

Please do not copy my image or use it on websites, blogs or other media without my express permission.

© NICK MUNROE (MUNROE PHOTOGRAPHY)

You can contact me

by email @

karenick23@yahoo.ca

munroephotographic@gmail.com

munroedesignsphotography@gmail.com

or on Facebook @

www.facebook.com/MunroePhotography/

On Instagram

www.instagram.co

Absolutely love Martial Eagles. They must have the fanciest trousers in the business!!! This one seemed a little less pleased to see me than I was to see it!

Didn't realise how big these eagle can get! Apparently they can have wingspan up to 2.27m (7ft5!!!!) making them one of the largest eagles!

"The only barrier to truth is the presumption that you already have it." ~ Chuck Missler

Sunset on the night we finished harvest this year. Definitely had some barriers in the farming business this year, but we managed to make it through...hoping for a less stressful 2020!

Happy Holidays all!

Along with wheat, Canola is crop often found growing in the Palouse. This field is a couple of miles west of Colfax, Washington.

I'll be traveling on business this week and may not have much time to review and comment on all of your wonderful photos but will do so whenever possible.

Only one after noon, sky mostly grey in grey, late afternoon some blue sky, just not enough time to take pictures, evaluate them and then come back and improv on them.

There are three of them, one for living and two commercial buildings with many businesses. This is a realtor’s dream, location, location and location.

But photographing them is more of a challenge. There is a limited choice of locations. To take them all, just from the other side of the river Rhine (Rechts Rheinisch. Or as a panorama from behind.

Other than this from the bride, Severinsbrücke, from the floor. But they are huge, even with very wide angle from the floor, there is either not enough space, some other buildings, or converging lines.

Designed by Hadi Teherani, they won several prices.

As always, if you enjoy the photo, feel free to leave a constructive comment, a like

"A photographer must learn to photograph everything." (André Kertész)

Channeling Warhol? Make of it what you will ... I can't take it back now. It aPEELed to me at the time (truly sorry for that).

- Praia Grande, Portugal -

***********************************

Another (updated July 2026) poem from my talented niece:

'Bananas in Theory and Decline'

A profound and evocative fruit,

Though not thin-skinned,

Bananas are easily bruised.

Though they cluster in bunches

And hang out conspicuously,

Whether alone or in a mob, they deteriorate.

When someone is acting outside norms,

Someone may opine they are acting “bananas.”

Who decided this?

The same person who knows where “Smithereens” is?

For, I have never witnessed a banana act.

If someone witnesses some absurd act

and states, “That’s bananas!”

The obvious reply would be,

“Of course—

it’s not apples and oranges, is it?”

The empty banana peel

Will always rest in a curved smile—

Less appealing as it browns.

My banana is empty,

Did it just slip away

Leaving only its hide to mark its dearth?

Imagine my surprise when I learned the banana

Is classified as a berry?

C. Hill, 2025

Many narrowboats host their own businesses, this fine example is a floating Sweet Shop named Bon Bon Voyage, what a brilliant idea.

On the narrowboat Oakfield based at Ebley Wharf, seen at Great Haywood

Mussoorie India business

this series was shot in 1986. contax 35mm

i used filters from force forge and sagelight

Hallstatt had over 1 million visitors in 2019, most one ethnic group who were on bus tours from Vienna. There are so many people that there the crowds is pushing and shoving in all public places--the streets and main square. A visit during the day is a pretty hideous experience. But after 5:00pm, the town clears out as the day/hour visitor board their dozens of buses and leave in clouds of diesel smoke.

Built in 1282 under the supervision of Duke Albrecht, Rudolph’s Tower was originally built to protect the locals involved in salt mining business. This is undoubtedly one of the best things to do in hallstatt. What you will truly enjoy here is the funicular lift which takes you for a breathtaking 3-minute journey which will otherwise take an hour. The skywalk here stands at 1148 feet over the cliff edge. If you are looking forward to refresh yourself amidst the nature, this is certainly one of the top things to do in hallstatt.

The views and town is amazing!

Everyone the must visit this place. I will come soon again.

Highly recommend for this city.

ছবি তোলার ক্যামেরা ক্রেডিট Dr. রাজর্ষি সান্যাল

Fifteen years ago today, DMIR 207, 413, and 416 lead a single car from the UP interchange through Saunders, WI on their way home to Proctor on Oct. 16, 2005. Fall color ran over a week early this year and is all gone here south of Superior in 2020.

The Missabe ran this Steelton Switch on Wednesdays and Sundays out of Proctor over the Interstate Branch (now CN's Superior Sub.) to interchange with the UP at Tomco/South Itasca. I followed this job almost all day on this particular Sunday, and they would have about 10 cars for the UP before returning with this single car, which is probably heading up to LP in Two Harbors. This train used to be longer when more bentonite came off the CNW for the pellet plants but by this time it seemed like the BNSF had most of this business. This was the second fall of CN ownership of the DM&IR and the Steelton Switch wouldn't last much longer.

Not sure what type of commercial business this was, but I love the building and the fact it'll be preserved. Might have been an old bar-b-que joint or some other type of eatery. Looks like a take out window on the left.

My favorite way to enjoy My bird photography is to quietly observe a bird while it goes about its business. This Great Egret was no exception.

When I arrived at this location, the target bird was resting in a location just out of view. I set up My chair and, dressed in camo, I took up a location next to some trees.

I was waiting for quite a while, when the Egret arrived, flying a short distance to the sheltered brook, where it proceeded to feed. After a short stroll around in the water, feeding on the many small fish, it exited onto the snow covered bank and to an area, just out of sight to rest.

This activity repeated itself, several periods of rest, feed, rest, etc. It was awesome to watch and observe this amazing bird that really should be spending its time in a much warmer climate.

When the bird was safely out of sight, I packed up My things and quietly left the location, glad to soon feel the warmth of My cars heater, permeating My frozen limbs.

The Great Egret looks in very good health. It was feeding well and it's plumage is immaculate. I hope this bird survives the coming weeks and makes it to spring.

Water Retention Ponds,

Sackville,

New Brunswick

January 2023

394A8378.1

"It costs less at Sterchi's"

STERCHI BROS. STORES. Located on highway 22 between Gray and Haddock, is a survivor from when the roofs of barns were used to advertise businesses. This barn advertises Knoxville-based Sterchi Brothers Furniture Company [It Costs Less at Sterchi’s],

I just got back from a few days of shooting Loons and Grebes around Kamloops, BC. There are many small lakes in the area, most of which see boat traffic. The advantage to shooting in the area is that the water birds are quite accustomed to the boats and are easier to approach in a kayak - after you have been sitting there a couple minutes, most species will essentially ignore you and go about with their business.

This elegant little Eared Grebe is voguing for the guidebook cover...

Ontario food trucks usually close after Canadian Thanksgiving, which was two weeks ago. Happily, this one in Tweed was still doing business this week. And the fries were good too.

© AnvilcloudPhotography

My favorite way to enjoy My bird photography is to quietly observe a bird while it goes about its business. This Great Egret was no exception.

When I arrived at this location, the target bird was resting in a location just out of view. I set up My chair and, dressed in camo, I took up a location next to some trees.

I was waiting for quite a while, when the Egret arrived, flying a short distance to the sheltered brook, where it proceeded to feed. After a short stroll around in the water, feeding on the many small fish, it exited onto the snow covered bank and to an area, just out of sight to rest.

This activity repeated itself, several periods of rest, feed, rest, etc. It was awesome to watch and observe this amazing bird that really should be spending its time in a much warmer climate.

When the bird was safely out of sight, I packed up My things and quietly left the location, glad to soon feel the warmth of My cars heater, permeating My frozen limbs.

The Great Egret looks in very good health. It was feeding well and it's plumage is immaculate. I hope this bird survives the coming weeks and makes it to spring.

Water Retention Ponds

Sackville,

New Brunswick

January 11, 2023

394A8740.1

Constructed in the roaring 20's with art deco design elements it was recently razed. Auburn was the home to factories that produced luxury autos such as Auburns and Cords-Vehicles depicted in The Great Gatsby. A town of wealth it produced a lot of very good architecture(for Indiana). The lot will most certainly become home to another niche upper middle class nouveau riche (again by Indiana standards) business. This cluster fuck situation is the result of late capitalism's obsession/necessity to erase and destroy the dead labor of previous forms of capitalism in an effort to conceal the contradictions of capitalism and class conflict

Victor, Colorado

The Boston stores became part of Bergner's and Carson Pirie Scott a few years ago. The whole operation went out of business this year.

I know, I've AWOL again, but as you can see, I've been somewhat restricted, hehe. Seriously, I've not been able to get out and about with my camera for various reasons, including a trapped nerve in my shoulder, but things have improved and I hope to get back to business this year - I've even gone pro with flickr to prove it!

This photo, was taken on a tour of Kingston (Ontario) penitentiary last September - an amazing visit we undertook whilst out there visiting family.

Took this last month when the dogs traveled with us to Arkansas on some family business. This is Angel, enjoying the view when we stopped for burgers- we ALL got burgers! :)

As photographers, whether we know it or not, we all have some tendencies that we follow when we're looking to frame up a shot. If y'all haven't figured out yet, I LOVE pastoral rural scenes and working trains into landscapes. I was in Roanoke for other business this past fall, but Sunday was a stunningly beautiful day, and the temptation to get out with the camera was too much for me just to drive back to Alexandria. As many of my friends love to give me grief for, Shawsville is one of my absolute favorites places to watch trains. I was going to go for the traditional fence shot with this incredible late afternoon lighting when this orange tree caught my eye, and all I needed was a train. In absolutely perfect late afternoon lighting, NS 195 pulled the hill as the last fading rays cast over the fields of Shawsville.

No telling what type of business this was originally many moons ago. Mother Ocean is a marine and nautical consignment shop, specializing in used parts, dive and snorkel gear plus local art. I believe they have since relocated. Looks like it might have been a clothing boutique at one time according to the faded sign under the Mother Ocean sign.

Now out of business, this restaurant should have paid more attention to their menu than their decor. The place had a great eclectic and fanciful look, but the food and atmosphere left much to be desired.

p.s. This is right next door to my dentist's office, so this is how I kill time waiting for my appointment... :)

We are on stay at home orders again, we are only supposed to go out for work, grocery shopping, exercise, etc... The government means business this time, all non essential stores are closed except for curb side, places like Walmart have to close off non essential areas. This time is for 28 days.

Back to hobbies and binge watching what ever is left on Netflix

Don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without explicit permission.

© All rights reserved

I feel fortunate to have seen servals on several occasions. I find them to be very beautiful and graceful cats. And they are not too spooky. I have often found them to be a bit shy at first and move away from the vehicle but then settle down and go on about their business.

This guy was prowling thru the tall grass, presumably looking for some breakfast. If he found some, it was after we left. Hope he did.

Canandian Pacific Railways built demonstration famrs in the early part of the twentieth century. Supposedly this one just outside of Vulcan, Alberta was built around 1912. The concept was to show prospect homesteaders what was required to farm , and homestead on the vast Canadian prairies. Of course CPR had an interest in doing business this way in order to drum up business for the railways. It's hard to determine how long this particular farm operated, but one could guess it was operational up the 1930's. Long since abandoned and left to the birds and the elemnts one must wonder how much longer it will be around.

North County Transit District owns the right of way along it's tracks, some of which are less than 5 feet from unstable cliffs above the beaches in Del Mar. They now want to build a fence to cut off all human traffic from million dollar homes on the East side of the tracks from Oceanside in the North to DelMar in the South, bisecting all traffic to the beach and businesses. This photo shows people covering their ears as the trains roar by with horns blaring to make people move away. The police are now warning and fining people walking along the tracks.

1998.11

Canon A-1, Agfacolor 100

Philippines

This was taken from the deck of SuperFerry 12 sailing from Manila to Cebu after a heavy thunderstorm. The long linear range of this negative film allowed capture of the setting sun without over saturation. Hence, the sun retained its red colour without resorting to an ugly red filter.

The ship was built as New Miyako (ニューみやこ) for Hankyu Ferry (阪九フェリー株式会社) in Japan in 1984 with a speed of 22.5 knots. In 1996, it was sold to WG&A and renamed SuperFerry 12, and eventually sent to Bangladesh and sold for scrap in 2021 as COVID caused a crash in the travel business.

This is the last of the 60 photos in the album My repertoire.

Érigé à Bruxelles sur le boulevard Anspach entre 1868 et 1873 d’après les plans de l'architecte Léon-Pierre Suys, le bâtiment de la Bourse de Bruxelles ou la Bourse (en néerlandais : Beurs van Brussel ou de Beurs) s’inscrit dans le programme d’assainissement et d’embellissement de la ville, du voûtement de la Senne et de la création des boulevards du centre. Cet édifice imposant répond au besoin essentiel à l’époque de créer un centre où traiter les affaires commerciales alors en pleine expansion. Ce monument qui allie grandeur et fantaisie occupe l’emplacement de l’ancien marché au beurre, lui-même implanté sur les restes de l’ancien couvent des Récollets. L’édifice éclectique mêle les emprunts au style néorenaissance et Second Empire dans un foisonnement d’ornements et de sculptures dues à des artistes renommés dont Auguste Rodin.

Built in Brussels on the boulevard Anspach between 1868 and 1873 according to the plans of the architect Léon-Pierre Suys, the building of the Bourse de Bruxelles or the Bourse (in Dutch: Beurs van Brussel or Beurs) The program of sanitation and beautification of the city, the vaulting of the Senne and the creation of the boulevards of the center. This imposing building responds to the essential need at the time to create a center to deal with the then growing commercial business. This monument, which combines grandeur and fantasy, occupies the site of the old butter market, itself located on the remains of the former Récollets convent. The eclectic edifice combines the borrowings of the Neo-Renaissance style and the Second Empire in an abundance of ornaments and sculptures by renowned artists including Auguste Rodin.

One of the most entertaining things about self-driving safaris is that once you're parked and quiet, the animals ignore you and just go about their business. This lion (and the others) walked so close to our vehicle a couple times that we rolled up the windows (just in case).

Nxai Pan National Park, Botswana

For the first time in 7-8 years the ‘Christmas Markets’ returned to Albert Square in the centre of Manchester. Due to the renovations to the ‘Town Hall’ the Square has been closed; the renovations are not yet complete but the Square was open for business. This image was taken during the ‘Blue Hour’.

I may have told this story before but as it means so much to me I shall repeat it as

I am 75 years old now and feel I should.

This is an image of a young Saddleback called a "Jackbird".

As a young man in my early twenties, I was working in heavy bush near the Waingakia and Mangatutara watershed in the Motu, with my Father an old bushman very experienced with the nuances of that environment.

He was my hero and my mentor.

Anyway here we were skining a line of Possums for their fur when suddenly a large group of Whiteheads ( A small native bird ) came twittering and fluttered through the trees busy about their business.

This of course was not unusual but some loud calls coming from their midst were.

I remember throwing down my pack with astonishment with Dad saying loudly "Jacks ".

Now I was not familiar with such a name.

.He had his own names for many things so I did not take that much notice being young and a "know-all".

We ran after the flock and apart from a fleeting glimpse never saw the maker or makers of those loud distinct calls as they quickly disappeared down a steep gully to be swallowed up by the dark bush.

However as and ex Wildlife service personnel I was familiar with Saddlebacks and instantly knew who the calls belonged to.

I sat sunned at what had taken place, knowing also that being the general area where the last North Island recording of this species was officially made in the early 1900's made it all seem surreal.

It was years later I discovered that the young Saddleback were called Jackbirds and yet my Dad knew the name "Jacks".

It may be a a coincidence of course , however I believe he would not have known that name from reading or such. I knew him well not just as a Father but as a mate and friend and a valuable teacher of natural things, but He was not learned in an academic way.

Observation and experience was his tutor.

To express my meaning, he called Kōkako, "Bush Crows", his name for them if you understand what I mean.

It,s a memory of Gold that I shall never forget. so small yet so large to me.

I lost my Dad soon after this event to cancer so I never got to question him about "Jacks" but I'll never forget the experience and never forget the name "Jackbirds".

Looking in the back window of a place called Deston. It has a larger than life statue of a woman playing a guitar and singing. I loved all the leading lines and surreal look to the place.

HWW!

The Caged Bird Sings...

I drove past the front of this building and was immediately struck by the statue in the window and had to turn around and get a picture. She seemed larger than life, and was singing expressively, though trapped in the window. I parked at the back parking lot and looked in to see what kind of business this was. I loved the way the light was streaming in from the window, softly defining the stairs, furniture and the statue, giving a glimpse to the poor, but free, ordinary world outside.

This is a very familiar spot that I've visited quite a few times. Conditions were great on this morning and the mallards were taking off one by one as a started working this scene. But there was a problem I didn't want to admit -- I just wasn't feeling it. Maybe I was too familiar with the setting and, well, ducks were plentiful this time of year.

Finally after 4 months I looked at this again and put some imagination and will power into producing it. Only then did it grow on me and get to turn into something I liked. Funny business this thing called art.

Excuse the radio silence but I had to go to Helsinki on business this week. I wasn’t intending on photographing a rainbow the other evening before I left, but as the unexpected heavy thundery shower passed the sun broke though near to sunset. I could not resist a rainbow but I had not expected a full and double rainbow! The drone was struggling in the high winds. These are so big at sunset that a std 24mm camera is not enough, so this is a 15 shot panoramic stitch. More rainbows from last week to come!