Best seen click on all sizes original and check out the light.

Is the yellow light a signal to get ready to stop or to get ready to move on? This question is probably the simplest in a series that life randomly throws our way. There is no one answer that suits all; there is no simple answer too. However, the questions are always there and trying to answer them is the spice of an active, compassionate, and flexible life.

Psalm 86:15 NIV

But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,

slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

Month 6: Compassionate

 

For the passed 7yrs, March 3rd has been the toughest day to get through, in my personal life, for personal reasoning. And though, the very next day marks another incredible milestone for us, you've managed to mold such sadness, into a compassionate moment I'll never forget. The fact that you took the time to create a space of Zen, peace and positive messages to uplift my spirits, show your genuine concern for my mental health. And without such compassion, theres no telling how long I could have held it together. The willingness to put my wellbeing before your own, and even considering to remain silent to give me that moment of quietness. Who does that but a kind soul? I am truly captivated by you, and intertwine in your heart strings. Thank you for extending your hand and picking me up whenever I fall. Keep singing to my heart. Happy 6! I love you more than words.

Pisces (February 19 - March 20)

 

PISCES TRAITS

 

Strengths: Compassionate, artistic, intuitive, gentle, wise, musical

Weaknesses: Fearful, overly trusting, sad, desire to escape reality, can be a victim or a martyr

Pisces likes: Being alone, sleeping, music, romance, visual media, swimming, spiritual themes

Pisces dislikes: Know-it-all, being criticized, the past coming back to haunt, cruelty of any kind

“We need women who are so strong they can be gentle, so educated they can be humble, so fierce they can be compassionate, so passionate they can be rational, and so disciplined they can be free.” – Kavita Ramdas

 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=mw5VIEIvuMI

 

Here comes a wave

Meant to wash me away

A tide that is taking me under

Swallowing sand

Left with nothing to say

My voice drowned out in the thunder

 

But I won't cry

And I won't start to crumble

Whenever they try

To shut me or cut me down

 

I won't be silenced

You can't keep me quiet

Won't tremble when you try it

All I know is I won't go speechless

 

'Cause I'll breathe

When they try to suffocate me

Don't you underestimate me

'Cause I know that I won't go speechless

 

Written in stone

Every rule, every word

Centuries-old and unbending

"Stay in your place"

"Better seen and not heard"

Well, now that story is ending

 

'Cause I

I cannot start to crumble

So come on and try

Try to shut me and cut me down

 

I won't be silenced

You can't keep me quiet

Won't tremble when you try it

All I know is I won't go speechless

Speechless

 

Let the storm in

I cannot be broken

No, I won't live unspoken

'Cause I know that I won't go speechless

 

Try to lock me in this cage

I won't just lay me down and die

I will take these broken wings

And watch me burn across the sky

Hear the echo saying I...

 

Won't be silenced

Though you wanna see me tremble when you try it

All I know is I won't go speechless

Speechless

 

'Cause I'll breathe

When they try to suffocate me

Don't you underestimate me

'Cause I know that I won't go speechless

All I know is I won't go speechless

Speechless

   

They are compassionate, thoughtful and care about the women in their lives and in the world around them.

In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate.

May the magic of Christmas inspire us to be better, more loving, and more compassionate.

Beginning with the 2nd century B.C., and continuing into the 6th century A.D., the paintings and sculptures in the caves of Ajanta and Ellora, inspired by Buddhism and its compassionate ethos, unleashed a surge of artistic excellence unmatched in human history. These Buddhist and Jain caves are ornately carved, yet seem quiet and meditative and exude a divine energy and power.

 

About 107 km from the city of Aurangabad in Maharashtra, are the rock-out caves of Ajanta nestled in a panoramic gorge, in the form of a gigantic horseshoe. A set of 29 caves, Ajanta is among the finest examples of some of the earliest Buddhist architecture, cave paintings and sculptures. These caves comprise Chaitya halls or shrines, dedicated to Lord Buddha and Viharas or monasteries, used by Buddhist monks for meditation and the study of Buddhist teachings. The paintings that adorn the walls and ceilings of the caves depict incidents from the life of lord Buddha and various Buddhist divinities. Among the most interesting paintings are the Jataka tales, illustrating diverse stories relating to the previous incarnations of the Buddha as Bodhisattava, a saintly being who is destined to become the Buddha. These elaborate sculptures and paintings stand in impressive grandeur in spite of withstanding the ravages of time. Amid the beautiful images and paintings are sculptures of Buddha, calm and serene in contemplation.

 

The cave temples and monasteries at Ellora, excavated out of the vertical face of an escarpment, are 26 km north of Aurangabad. Sculptors, inspired by Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism, created elaborate rock carvings. Extending in a linear arrangement, the 34 caves contain Buddhist Chaityas or halls of worship, Viharas or monasteries and Hindu and Jain temples. Spanning a period of about 600 years between the 5th and 11th century A.D., the earliest excavation here is of the Dhumar Lena (Cave 29). The most imposing excavation is, without doubt, that of the magnificent Kailasa Temple (Cave 16) which is the largest monolithic structure in the world. Known as Verul in ancient times, it has continuously attracted pilgrims through the centuries to the present day.

 

Declared as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO since 1983, the paintings and sculptures of Ajanta and Ellora, considered masterpieces of Buddhist religious art, have had a great influence in the development of art in India. The creative use of colour and freedom of expression used in depicting human and animal forms makes the cave paintings at Ajanta one of the high watermarks of artistic creativity. The Ellora preserved as an artistic legacy that will continue to inspire and enrich the lives of generations to come. Not only is this cave complex a unique artistic creation and an excellent example of technological exploit but also, with its sanctuaries devoted to Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism, it illustrates the spirit of tolerance that was characteristic of ancient India.

Saint Ignatius DELGADO Y

Dominican Bishop

(1762-1838)

 

* Soldier of Evangelization.

 

With close to half a century of dedicated evangelizing mission in Vietnam and 43 years as a bishop, Saint Ignatius Y’s life was closely attached to the east vicariate of Tonkin, which encompassed the five current dioceses: Hải Phòng, Bùi Chu, Bắc Ninh, Lạng Sơn and Thái Bình. His works were spread over three royal reigns: from the Cảnh Thịnh’s reign with the early organizing struggles which helped him assess the needs of the new land, from which he planned and grew the east vicariate during King Gia Long’s reign to the point that the vicariate was strong enough to withstand the furious persecution under King Minh Mạng; and that was the season of bountiful harvest of “martyrs” in the vicariate. The growth in the number of native priests, religious, and converts annually was the strongest evidence of his dedication and leadership.

 

* The Mystery of God’s Will.

 

Ignatius Delgado Y was born on 11/23/1762 in the village of Vallafeliche, Saragozza province in the region of Aragon, Spain. At a young age, the sisters of Cistercian Religious Order heavily influenced Delgado. A bookworm, he diligently read the accounts of the sisters; moreover, his village, from hilltops through the woods to the valleys, was strewn with the footprints of these religious sisters in white habits, Saint Bernard’s daughters. As a result he bore the desire to offer his life to God in a monastery.

 

Nevertheless, God had a different plan. One day, a friend asked Delgado to join the Dominican Religious Order, he accepted. Then the two visited the monastery of St. Peter the Martyr of the Dominican Province of Aragon in Catalayud. He entered the novitiate at 18 and professed his solemn vows in 1781. While attending the major seminary in Orihuela, Delgado learned of the order’s mission in the Far East. In a letter dated 6/25/1780, the vicar Alonzo Phê in Vietnam detailed the works as well as the number of Christians, and requested more missionaries of “virtues, intelligence and courage.” Delgado’s heart was boiled with the desire for missionary work. In 1785, after discussing with the superiors, Delgado transferred to the Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Province and was sent to Manila, The Philippines, to continue his studies.

 

* The Young Bishop.

 

In 1787, Deacon Delgado was ordained a priest. The following year, among the 15 religious volunteered for Vietnam, the provincial selected Delgado and another religious. However, Vietnam was plunged into a civil war delaying the two missionaries in Macao and Malacca until 1790 when he arrived in the missionary land together with three other priests, one of whom was Fr. Henares Minh. Although fresh in Vietnam, all had heard of his talents and virtues when he was still in Manila and had special affection for him. After several months of learning Vietnamese, he was assigned to work at the seminary for two years, and then appointed vicar of the vicariate as well as the coordinator of Dominican priests for the next two years. His talents and virtues were recognized when Bishop Alonzo Phê nominated him to the Holy See to be the coadjutor bishop with the rights of succession. Pope Pius VI had officially approved in the pontifical letter of 2/11/1794, but his consecration was performed until September the following year in the joy of the entire diocese. The new bishop was only 33 years old.

 

Historians recognized that Bishop Ignatius Delgado Y had fit in with the missionary land since the beginning, from the climate, language, customs, to native delicacies. Four years of supervising the seminary and vicar’s duties added to his comprehension of the needs and progress of the diocese. Now in his new capacity, he became an effective and able collaborator to Bishop Alonzo Phê in diocesan administration and evangelization. In August 1798, when King Cảnh Thịnh issued the decree of persecution to destroy all the churches, to arrest all missionaries, priest as well as catechists, and to force Christians to renounce their faith Bishop Delgado Y quickly responded to the royal decree with a pastoral letter instructing clerics to put in safekeeping all sacramental materials, and to advise them, if necessary, to hide in the vicinity so that they could continue to meet their parishioners. He especially put his trust in the heavenly power in asking the faithful to fast on Wednesdays and recited the Litany of Saints daily to ask for peace.

 

In a report sent to the mother province, the bishop wrote: “... priests had to hide in trenches, in the woods or in the isolated fields, but still disguised themselves to visit the flock.” Even so the two bishops still paid pastoral visits to parishes in the diocese. Bishop Alonzo Phê, while visiting the Kim Bắc (Bắc Ninh) area, came down with malaria and passed away in Lai Ổn on 2/2/1799; the entire diocesan burden now fell on Bishop Delgado Y. In the funeral homily, Bishop Delgado Y remembered the example and the words his predecessor used to pray: “God, please put a fire under me, cut me up; don’t leave in this world so that I would be forgiven forever.” Bishop Delgado Y had carried on those tradition and example, forever accepting travails and sufferings to serve God among the people.

 

* Wisdom and Courage.

 

The task most closed to the bishop’s heart was visiting all his parishes no matter how far and perilous. Beginning in early 1803, this responsibility was shared the new Assistant Bishop Henares Minh (consecrated on 1/9/1803). At the time, the roads in the North were not as passable as they are now, the two bishops had to traveled thousands of kilometers of trails, river banks, through forests, over mountains... even so, not a single mission was not visited many times. At each parish, they gave practical instructions, corrected abuses, forbid heresies and rubbed out the practice of usury.

 

The period under King Gia Long’s reign through King Minh Mạng’s early days was the most peaceful relatively speaking, even though there were still some isolated harassments. Bishop Delgado Y had taken advantage of this opportunity to solidify the diocese; he concentrated on training native priests, rebuilt seminaries, especially in Ninh Cường, Lục Thuỷ, Tiên Chu and Ngọc Đồng. In only 10 years the number of priests doubled (in 1810 there were 54 European and Vietnamese priests). As a member of the Dominican community, the bishop received the most active support from the mother province; however, his main objective was to train diocesan priests who then could join the Dominican community if they so chose. Besides the 16 original Vietnamese Dominican priests, there were an additional 66 Vietnamese priests affiliated with the Dominican Order during Bishop Delgado Y’s to assist missionary works and sacramental services alongside diocesan priests.

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

admin30-06-06, 11:48 AM

During the 20 peaceful years, Christians were at liberty to attend daily masses and prayers, so they had ample opportunities to learn catechism and to lead better Christian lives. Many parishes celebrated public and solemn masses, attracting many pagans who came to explore Christianity and in turn abandoned many of their biases against the faith. For example, previously they criticized those who believed in Christianity as persons who abandoned their parents and ancestors until they saw that Catholics also had solemn rites for burying the dead as well as meaningful memorial masses for the deceased ancestors. As a result the number of converts increased significantly. In only 10 years, over 10,000 adults were baptized; the number of 114.000 Catholics at the time of Bishop Delgado Y’s consecration increased to 160.000 in 1815, living in 800 parishes[1] (http://www.gpnt.net/diendan/newthread.php?do=newthread&f=14#_ftn1).

 

Cognizant of the responsibility for those who went before him, the bishop commissioned a group of men to help him investigate the lives and works of the two priests, Castaneda Gia and Vinhsơn Liêm, who were martyred in Hà Nội in 1773. In 1818, the bishop completed the examination and sent the beatification request including all the collected facts and documents to Rome.

 

At the beginning of King Minh Mạng’s reign, epidemics wrecked havoc everywhere; in some cities thousands of persons were infected and died; the economy deteriorated; everyone became fearful, pagans as well as Christians swarmed into churches to beg for the holy water; even the king dared not leave the royal palace... Against this hopeless background, Bishop Delgado Y urged missionaries and Christians to demonstrate charity in caring for the sick and providing for the destitute, etc. This compassionate call for help endeared him more to the people.

 

Brewing Storms.

 

Edicts of persecution of 1825 and 1833 were not implemented meticulously in the east vicariate of Tonkin; the mandarins were sympathetic to Christianity, moreover they leaned toward Lê’s more than the Nguyễn’s, so procedural reports they sent to the king were only perfunctory. Suddenly on 4/17/1838, Mr. Vũ Văn Lân, a catechist working with Fr. Viên went to the chancery to collect schism, bringing with him 6 letters (to the two bishops, two European missionaries, and two Vietnamese priests); he was discovered and arrested. Governor Trịnh Quang Khanh gleefully sent the letters to the king. The mandarin of Hưng Yên was immediately removed; Governor Trịnh Quang Khanh was called back to the royal capital for censure. General Lê Văn Đức and 2000 soldiers were dispatched to Nam Định to help with the persecution of Christians; a storm was brewing in Nam Định. Spies were inserted everywhere. The seminaries of Ninh Cường and Lục Thuỷ as well as community houses were dismantled by the religious themselves to avoid scrutiny. Seminarians were scattered; sisters were sent home, and lay Christians had to find hiding places. The two bishops had to take refuge in the village of Kiên Lao.

 

* The Way of the Cross.

 

Kiên Lao was a large village where Christians alone amounted to 5000 persons. Parish elders arranged for the two bishops and two European missionaries to stay in four different homes. The home, where Bishop Ignatius Delgado Y was hiding in, was close to the home of a teacher, Mr. Hy, where he also held classes. The elders came and asked the teacher to temporarily relocated his classes. Suspicious by this strange request, he grilled the students who told him of Europeans hiding in town; he then went to the authorities with the information. On 5/27/1838 about 200 soldiers surrounded Kiên Lao under the command of Mandarin Lê Văn Thể. Soldiers searched casually and left. The missionaries thought that it was safe to resume normal activities. Unfortunately, soldiers returned the following morning to the homes where the missionaries were staying.

 

Fr. Jimeno Lâm and Fr. Hermosilla Vọng quickly mixed in with the crowd and escaped. Bishop Henares Minh was sneaked to another house (he would be captured a week later). Bishop Delgado Y, at 76 years old, being carried away in a hammock by Christian men, was discovered by soldiers and arrested. They bound the bishop, left him in the hammock, and carried him back to the village temple as they yelled and hollered with joy that they forgot to look for the rest of the missionaries.

 

The mandarin asked the bishop: “Where did you come from?” The bishop replied: “I’ve just arrived in this village. The people here have no relationship with me.” The mandarin continued: “You are arrested, you can commit suicide like other brave men.” The bishop answered: “We are not allowed to commit suicide which is a cardinal sin. But if you condemn me to death for my faith, then I am very happy.”

 

In the afternoon, the bishop was taken to Xuân Trường prefecture. That night, Mandarin Lê Văn Thể ordered the bishop confined in a wooden cage which was made of tree branches so tightly pegged together that a hand could not go through. There was a small trap door on top where food could be delivered to the prisoner. The cage was so small that the prisoner could not stand up, and it would be his home until his death.

 

When Governor Trịnh Quang Khanh was informed, he immediately sent 100 soldiers to escort the prisoner to Nam Định at 11:00 AM on May 30. All the province mandarins together with 2000 soldiers were waiting for the “bid prey” which were just captured. Banners were fluttering, drums were rolling, and gong sounds were reverberating... with all the pageantry, the authorities had inadvertently received the hero of faith in the reception ceremony reserved for a king. Meanwhile the bishop knelt and prayed in the cage, clutching in his hand a small prayer book that he had with him since his capture.

 

Miseries that the bishop had to suffer during his 43 days in the cage were indescribable, food deprivation, interrogations, and being spit at. After interrogation, as soldiers were drenched with sweat in the hot sun or frozen in the cold night dew, the bishop never revealed a name nor any location besides his personal information.

 

Occasionally the bishop told the mandarin and soldiers: “You do not understand Christ’s religion, if you do, you will convert.”

 

On June 14, Governor Trịnh Quang Khanh sent the death sentence petition the royal court, but King Minh Mạng did not approve because he still wanted the missionary to admit to being a “spy”. Of course, the bishop would not agree with the allegation. One day, he told the mandarin: “I have been in Tonkin for 48 years, I have papers from the former king (Gia Long) permitting me to preach. Just take me to the royal court; if the king wants to broil my flesh, I let him... you should not prolong this trial and inconvenienced the guards.”

 

* To Glory.

 

The sentence from the second trial was sent to the royal city and was approved by the king, however, the respectable bishop died before the signed sentence arrived in Nam Định. With the old age of 76 plus his failing health due to illness, a month and a half in the cage drained his strength and he rested in peace on 7/12/1838 after 43 years of ministering as a bishop. Soldiers tied a piece of oil-soaked cloth to his toe and burned it to see if he was really dead, then they informed the governor. Nevertheless the governor decided: “Just carry out the sentence to let people know how serious his offense is.”

 

Soldiers carried the bishop’s cage to the execution site in Bảy Mẫu, took his body out, and then severed his head under the witness of the mandarins and several Christians. The martyr’s body was carried away and buried by Christians at a church destroyed previously in Bùi Chu. The bishop’s head was displayed in public for three days, and then thrown in Vị Hoàng River. Three months later, his head was recovered by a fisherman, brought back and buried together with his body.

 

On 5/27/1900 Pope Leo elevated the bishop of the Order of Preachers, Ignatius Delgado to the rank of blessed

How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these.

- George Washington Carver

  

France summer 2012 .

Intended to be seen on black. Best to press L.

Passolungo, Lev Tostoj

 

Here is my favorite Tolstoy: when he talks about animals his good soul, intransigent but compassionate, fair rather than intelligent, emerges in full force, "old Tolstoy who is so difficult to love" because without complacency, and so he gets to the bottom, he narrates masterfully the death of the horse, after passionately describing its life. What a miserable figure for men! How superior is the horse!

 

Ecco il Tolstoj che preferisco: quando parla di animali la sua anima buona, intransigente ma pietosa, giusta più che intelligente, emerge a piena forza, "vecchio Tolstoj che è così difficile amare" perché senza compiacenza, e così arriva fino in fondo, narra magistralmente la morte del cavallo, dopo averne descritto con passione la vita. Che misera figura per gli uomini! Di quanto è superiore il cavallo!

 

www.libraccio.it/libro/9788877104922/lev-tolstoj/passolun...

 

it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cholstom%C3%A9r

 

www.anobii.com/it/books/passolungo-storia-di-un-cavallo/9...

 

Processed with Bing Image Creator

HBM! Have a wonderful week everyone.

  

Thanks for visiting and for your feedback.

Be giving, forgiving, compassionate, and loving.

For all of the displaced people, missing people and families of those who lost their lives in Japan because of the earthquake and subsequent tsunamis.

May 2010 be safe and compassionate the world round:

 

Happy New Year!

The New York Times articles on the world refugee problem:

 

CRISIS IN THE BALKANS: THE REFUGEE DRAMA; Refugees Tell of Methodical Emptying of Pristina

www.nytimes.com/1999/04/02/world/crisis-balkans-refugee-d...

 

Syria: Typhoid Threatens Refugees

www.nytimes.com/2015/08/20/world/middleeast/syria-typhoid...

 

CRISIS IN THE BALKANS; Refugee Flood Swamps Havens

www.nytimes.com/1999/03/31/world/crisis-in-the-balkans-re...

 

U.N. Dispute Brings West Bank Differences to the Fore

www.nytimes.com/2014/01/21/world/middleeast/un-dispute-br...

 

Washington Post

Conditions are horrific at Greece’s ‘island prisons’ for refugees. Is that the point?

www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/conditions-are-horrif...

 

Sent home to a deadly nightmare by Trump’s America

www.washingtonpost.com/news/theworldpost/wp/2018/01/15/lg...

 

17 photo stories from 2017

www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/12/31/17-p...

 

To curb the migrant crisis, the world must invest in Africa

www.washingtonpost.com/news/theworldpost/wp/2017/12/19/in...

 

There is so much more to read and perhaps if we read and understand the situation better we will be more compassionate.

Sincerely if the world worked together unselfishly we could accommodate most, if not all of the refugees. I hope that this will happen in 2018!

 

Thank you for your kind visit. Have a wonderful and beautiful day! ❤️ ❤️ ❤️

 

Gangaramaya Temple, Colombo

 

~ Teyata Om Bekanze ~

Basilica Magistrale di Santa Maria della Steccata

I saw the yard dog at the center of street. It was look like upset. i feel sorry for it

May I live this day

Compassionate of heart,

Clear in word,

Gracious in awareness,

Courageous in thought,

Generous in love.

— John O’Donohue

 

•*¨♪ღ♪ ¨*•

 

Texture: Distressed Textures

 

Thanks to everyone who takes the time to view,

comment, fave and invite my photo, much appreciated :o)

 

老街物語 - 化善堂 / 慈悲喜捨 - 常樂我淨

The story of the Ancient streets - Hwasun hall / Compassionate and willing to give - Happy forever, my heart is pure

古い街の物語 - 化善堂 / 思いやりと喜んで与える - 永遠に幸せ、私の心は純粋です

La historia de las calles antiguas - Sala de Hwasun / Compasivo y dispuesto a dar - Feliz por siempre, mi corazón es puro

Die Geschichte der alten Straßen - Hwasun Halle / Mitfühlend und bereit zu geben - Für immer glücklich, mein Herz ist rein

L'histoire des rues anciennes - Hwasun hall / Compatissant et prêt à donner - Heureux pour toujours, mon cœur est pur

 

Anping Tainan Taiwan / Anping Tainan Taiwán / 台灣台南安平

 

{View large size on fluidr / 觀看大圖}

 

Melody 曲:JAPAN / Words 詞:Sheesen / Singing : Sheesen

{ 夢旅人 1990 Dream Traveler 1990 }

 

家住安南鹽溪邊

The family lives in nearby the Annan salt river

 

隔壁就是聽雨軒

The next door listens to the rain porch

 

一旦落日照大員

The sunset Shineing to the Taiwan at once

 

左岸青龍飛九天

The left bank white dragon flying in the sky

One of two photos taken from the 34th floor balcony of our condo building. Thanksgiving day today is sunny and windy. The lake had a sheen on it .

 

Thanks for visiting, enjoy your day.

~ a fragrant circle of plumeria blossoms in lulu's tree ~

 

❀

 

compassionately pink for the CURE

 

october is breast cancer awareness month, so please spread the word to your friends and loved ones!

to get those mammograms! and do your breast checks! and have your doctor do the checks too!

amigas and amigos, both!

 

❀

 

it was 3 years ago today that my mother had lifesaving breast cancer surgery

for her, the place the mammogram showed was not cancer .. yet .. her doctor felt something else which hadn't shown up on either mammogram or ultrascan .. and that place did turn out to be cancer ...

 

so ~all 3~ checks are so important! .. xox

  

love you ❀

  

And the most Compassionate

...who turns out to be a jerk, and--after much general angst and some awesome, emotional musical numbers--the nice, compassionate guy wins the day by standing up for the girl at the end. :)

 

I shot photos at our local high school's dress rehearsal for the musical "Back to the 80s" last night. (lots of great music and nostalgia there, by the way.) To my own surprise, I contacted the school drama instructor yesterday morning and asked if I could take photos at the dress rehearsal so that I could move freely about the auditorium and get shots to submit to our little local town magazine. She was very excited about the idea! I got many shots and edited a few this morning that the students are enjoying sharing on their Insta accounts to promote the show (I watermarked the ones I shared with them, and even that is new and seems very bold to me)... even while battling those awful, glaring, straight-down-on-their-faces stage lights. I'm getting used to them with all the Show Choir photos I like to take (many of those to come during show choir competition season for my 17-year-old son, starting next month). But, I still have that imposter complex and wonder who on earth I think I am calling someone and saying that I am a photographer! I wonder when/if that will end? I look forward to seeing if that imposter complex does end at some point, as I continue studying and learning and practicing.

Anyway, it was a great show, and I am so glad the students are excited about the photos! I chose an emotional song from the second act for my 11/365. :)

Lost the battle against the elements. Other trees bow compassionately over the fallen friend.

Captured with a fisheye lens.

for all hu have compassionate!this guy live in Uzhgorod,its city where much tourist,like you!in twenty-four hours he get 20-30$,teacher get 100-150$ monthly ! & hu now millionaire from thicket???

I've learned a few things in my life so far... but some of the most valuable lessons I've learned have been about being compassionate. Thinking of others before yourself.

Message from the Universe:

 

"One kind person can make such a difference. One compassionate hand placed on a hand in distress can make such a difference. One phonecall, one thank-you note, one sweet text message can make every bit of difference.

One smile in the grocery store, one proclamation of forgiveness, one loaf of freshly baked bread, one handmade card, one offer to help can make such a huge difference.

 

It's the little things that make the heroes. It's the one thing, after one thing, after one thing. It's that one person who makes the difference.

 

Be the one."

 

I had a couple of rough days. Out sick for two days that actually necessitated the rare visit to the doctor's office that always prompts an endless lecture from the doctor. When I was finally well enough to crawl out of bed and get out I went to check on something at the slaughterhouse... knowing that Bumbo the Clown was eventually going to go back to the Slaughterhouse and leave a Bumbo button for me, I wanted to surprise Bumbo so I left a gift bag....nothing big...just something that I hoped would bring a smile. I wanted to see if it was still there. It wasn't. I was disgusted, thinking once again people had disappointed me by ruining something left in kindness for someone else. And then, as I was about to leave, I saw one of the Bumbo records! YES! Bumbo had been there.... which meant only one thing... well, actually two things.... it meant that they had found their gift bag.... AND somewhere there was a Bumbo button for me!! I ran back to the car and got my flashlight and started to search. The buttons were hidden well, but I found them! There were 3. I took 2 (because I lose everything, so I wanted a spare!) and I left one for someone else to find. Random acts of kindness.... this TOTALLY MADE MY DAY!! And when I got home, I found that Bumbo had left me a message on Facebook telling me where to find the buttons and thanking me for the gift bag. I'm really glad I didn't see the message before I went. The surprise was much more fun! Thank you Bumbo the Clown... whoever you are!!!

 

Random acts of kindness....

Ice coffee on my desk at work.

People that fan out scratch off lottery tickets in front of me and say "pick one."

Or...."I found a tripod, do you want it?"

Or..."If you are really that scared, I'll come stay with you."

Kind words from online friends.

Texts and calls from friends.

 

...And clown buttons....hidden on top of a door jamb in one of my favorite abandoned places.... and the promise...

"if I win the powerball I will hide a ridiculous amount of $$$ in your window-house (or whatever you call that place!)"

 

LOL!!

 

Be the one. Be the hero. ♥

  

The Gray Hawks have come back to last years nest sight. This is the female who has been here for about 2 weeks. Noticed the male just yesterday. One must wonder about their migration, where they went for the winter and how they find their way back to same place. A delight for this compassionate observer.

Huachuca Canyon Cochise County Arizona

A gift from my two oldest friends on my special birthday this year

Pentax Lx SMC Pentax-M Macro 1:4 100mm TMAX 400 Eco-Pro 1:1 05/30/2021

12_100 x Flowers

 

" The compassionate person understands that there is a time for talk and a time for silence"

... Pablo Casals

 

Heartfelt thanks to all who sent out positive vibes to our dear friend in NZ ... the miracle we had hoped for occurred last night and for now they appear to be out of immediate danger. If you can spare some more, could you please keep them coming ... they are in the path of a bushfire not yet under control, just contained for now, pending weather conditions.

To those who see with loving eyes,

life is beautiful...

 

To those who speak with a tender voice,

life is peaceful....

 

To those who help with gentle hands,

life is full...

 

and to those who care with compassionate

heart, life is good beyond all measure..

 

GOD BLESS...

women are performing the ritual prayer...

During my spring break in 2013, made my first ever trip up to the CSX River Sub around Iona Island. Immediately, I was drawn in to the beauty of the area and the plethora of vantage points at photographing the trains, both on the CSX and on the MetroNorth running the opposite side of the river.

 

This day was not only a first for me in this area, but it was also the first day of the newly elected Pope Francis as the earthly leader of the Roman Catholic Church, a leader who promoted compassionate love, mercy, and forgiveness, even to those whom many cast aside.

 

Today, as we mourn the loss of Pope Francis, we remember his work, we mourn his lose, and we pray for the Cardinals as they discern his successor.

 

CSX Q008

Iona Island, NY

photo rights reserved by B℮n

 

Wat Si Phan Ton is known for its beautiful architecture and the use of gold-colored sheet metal to cover the buildings and structures. This gives the temple its distinctive shiny golden appearance, which contributed to its nickname Golden Temple. Buddhist monks live in Wat Si Phan Ton, including the venerable monk Chao Abbot. In Thai temples such as Wat Si Phan Ton, monks perform several roles: Prayer and Meditation, Buddha's Teachings, Community Service, and Almsgiving. Monks may be involved in community service, such as providing spiritual guidance to those in need, attending ceremonial events, and providing moral support. They follow a strict set of precepts and devote their lives to the pursuit of spiritual development, meditation and spreading the Buddha's teachings. Monks spend a significant portion of their time in prayer and meditation. This enables them to achieve inner peace and gain profound insights. Monks can be involved in community service, such as providing spiritual guidance to those in need, attending ceremonial events, and providing moral support. In Buddhism, it is considered virtuous to give food and donations to monks. Monks often enter the community early in the morning to receive alms as a way to promote spiritual connection. Monks lead a simple lifestyle and have minimal material possessions. They wear traditional orange robes and shave their heads as a sign of renunciation of worldly vanity. Wat Si Phan Ton is not only a place of worship, but also a cultural and historical site.

 

Wat Si Phan Ton is a striking Buddhist temple located in Nan, Thailand, and it is sometimes affectionately referred to as the Golden Temple because of its dazzling golden appearance. At the entrance of the temple you will find two impressive 6-headed statues of golden dragons, which play an important role in the local culture and symbolism. Also called "nagas", these golden dragons are mythical creatures that feature prominently in Southeast Asian mythology and religion. They are often associated with water and fertility and are considered to have protective powers. Nagas can be found in many Buddhist temples and shrines, often in the form of statues, paintings or reliefs. The golden dragons at the entrance of Wat Si Phan Ton in Nan serve as symbols of protection and prosperity for those who visit the temple. The temple is an important spiritual and cultural site in Nan. It is not only a place of worship and meditation, but also a symbol of the region's rich Buddhist tradition and cultural heritage.

 

Wat Si Phan Ton staat bekend om zijn prachtige architectuur en het gebruik van goudkleurige bladmetaal om de gebouwen en structuren te bedekken. Dit geeft de tempel zijn opvallende glanzende gouden uiterlijk, wat heeft bijgedragen aan zijn bijnaam Golden Temple. Bij de ingang van de tempel vind je twee indrukwekkende 6 koppige beelden van gouden draken, die een belangrijke rol spelen in de lokale cultuur en symboliek. Deze gouden draken, ook wel naga's genoemd, zijn mythische wezens die een prominente plaats innemen in de Zuidoost-Aziatische mythologie en religie. Ze worden vaak geassocieerd met water en vruchtbaarheid en worden beschouwd als beschermende krachten. In veel boeddhistische tempels en heiligdommen zijn naga's te vinden, vaak in de vorm van beelden, schilderingen of reliëfs. De gouden draken bij de ingang van Wat Si Phan Ton in Nan dienen als symbolen van bescherming en voorspoed voor degenen die de tempel bezoeken. Er wonen boeddhistische monniken in Wat Si Phan Ton. In het Boeddhisme wordt het als deugdzaam beschouwd om voedsel en donaties te schenken aan monniken. Monniken gaan vaak in de vroege ochtend de gemeenschap in om aalmoezen te ontvangen als een manier om spirituele verbondenheid te bevorderen. Monniken leiden een eenvoudige levensstijl en hebben minimale materiële bezittingen. Ze dragen traditionele oranje gewaden en scheren hun hoofd als teken van verzaking van wereldse ijdelheid. Wat Si Phan Ton is niet alleen een plek van aanbidding, maar ook een culturele en historische plek.

 

www.flickr.com/photos/brancusi/7552293350/in/photostream/...

 

And that slaughter to the nation

Shall steam up like inspiration,

Eloquent, oracular;

A volcano heard afar.

 

And these words shall then become

Like oppression’s thundered doom,

Ringing through each heart and brain

Heard again, again, again –

 

Rise like lions after slumber

In unvanquishable number

Shake your chains to earth like dew

Which in sleep had fallen on you.

Ye are many. They are few.

 

Shelly

The original Byzantine paintings from the end of the 17th century, famous for their compassionate and humble figures, are still preserved in the narthex and in the space of the porch. The coat of arms of the Cantacuzino family – the two-headed eagle holding the two symbols of imperial power: the scepter and the cross – and the sculptures of Moses and his brother Aaron decorate the splendid rock portal from the entrance, a central element of the "Brancovenesc" style.

 

Las pinturas bizantinas originales de finales del siglo XVII, famosas por sus figuras compasivas y humildes, aún se conservan en el narthex y en el espacio del porche. El escudo de armas de la familia Cantacuzino, el águila bicéfala que sostiene los dos símbolos del poder imperial: el cetro y la cruz, y las esculturas de Moisés y su hermano Aarón decoran el espléndido portal de roca desde la entrada, un elemento central del estilo "Brancovenesc".

 

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinaia_Monastery

 

Sinaia. Romania Europe

“Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man”

For this week's theme: "Being Compassionate"

 

"we live with the scars we choose"

I hear that saying a lot, on the internet, from people.

As a person, I've always found it easier to be compassionate towards others than towards myself.

I find it difficult to like myself and forgive myself for past and present mistakes/wrongdoings.

I live with scars.

We all have them, physical or emotional or both.

So here's to loving oneself;

to moving forward;

to trying to be better in every facet of one's life;

to being happy;

For all those out there who have ever felt unsure about their own love for themselves:

You can have some of my love,

I have plenty to give;

I'm only now just figuring out how.

Ladies and gentlemen... ... ... The Ninja.

 

Wow, a Kinnikuperson ninja!

He looks tough!

 

"Fear me."

 

Yep, we're working on that.

Just need to ask you some questions.

And, as a warning, its in the Q&A that any fear we might have had of you goes out the window.

So, what's your name?

Or are you just THE Ninja? As in you are the epitome of-

 

"I am The Ninja. I am also known as Ninja Ned."

 

...

*SNRIK*!!

HAHAAHA!!

'Ninja Ned'??

See, this is what I was talking about. It's difficult to fear a ninja named 'Ninja Ned'

 

"I'm also known as... ザ・ニンジャ."

 

Okay, that just sounded like 'The Ninja' with an accent.

 

"I was originally a kind and compassionate friend that wanted to protect my loved ones, but, after the destruction of my village, I became a more cold, mysterious and cruel Chojin, helping Satin and Akuma Shogun in their evil schemes. I am a deceptively deadly opponent and I have been known to show a rather sadistic side while fighting."

 

Okay, good motivation.

Wow, a Kinniku-origin that kind of makes sense.

Don't ask him to expand on it. Let's just stop while we're ahead.

 

"Before I became a Devil Chojin, I believed in the importance of loyalty! I trusted my fellow ninja! Ayame, Gounen, Saizou, and Kasumi were my elite followers. You can imagine how devastated I was to see Saizou betray my village! I loved Saizou like a brother!! How it pained me to dismember him as he died a slow, excruciating death."

 

...

Um...

Well, betrayal is a hard thing.

This Ninja is really going on about his feelings.

Isn't that kind of un-ninjalike?

It could be that-... oh, he's still going.

 

"But I maintain my LOYALTY! Now that I am bitter, twisted, and sadistic, I am with the Devil Knights and I am loyal to them! I am part of the Chojin Blood Oath Brigade! C-BOA represent! Once, when I was almost to be defeated by Crowman, Brocken Jr. and the other Justice Chojin reminded me of my brotherhood in the Chojin Blood Oath Brigade, and I fought harder and won the match!! C-BOA!! For LIFE!"

 

Crowman?

I don't think we've seen Crowman yet.

What do you want to bet he looks like a crow?

I'm assuming so, being a Kinnikuperson and all.

 

"That fight with Crowman! What a battle! It was at the Tokyo Silver Pavilion. First, a swarm of crows descended on the pavilion! Then they began dropping stones!"

 

A swarm of crows flies over... there are worse things they could drop.

 

"I caught one of the stones and realized it was silver! The crows kept dropping the silver stones until the entire Silver Pavilion was coated in shining silver!!"

 

If it's called the 'Silver Pavilion', wouldn't it have already been silver?

Shh! Be quiet so he can finish. He's dangerously close to breaking out into a full blow origin.

Sorry!

 

"Then, Crowman himself materialized on top of the building. I opened the combat, testing him with a kick but he mocked me for bein a student of Goldman!"

 

We haven't heard anything about Gold-

SHUSH!!

Sorry.

 

"We exchanged a thundering series of blows until Crowman used a Raven Wing Strike... only to realize that he only attacked a log that I used as a diversion! HAHA!"

 

Huh? How do you use a log as a diversion in a wrestling match?

Maybe it's a Ninja thing?

Ninja use logs??

SHH!!!

Sorry.

 

"Then Crowman pulled a dumbbell from his feathered costume, which he used to reveal a ring beneath the pavilion! Crowman then revealed this pavilion as the place where Silverman trained the Ancient Chojin who would go on to become Devil Chojin and Justice Chojin!"

 

Thaaaat's... a lot of historical stuff that means nothing to us.

How do you use a dumbbell to reveal a ring?

 

"As I was distracted, Crowman knocked me into the ring. I attempted a jutsu, which failed, but Crowman revealed that the Ninja's techniques rely on speed, which he also possesses and thus can counter any jutsu!"

 

Jutsu bummer.

Sounds like a lot of revealing going on.

Yeah revealing why The Ninja is gonna lose this fight.

 

"Crowman proceeded to use a Parrot Back Body Motion on me, followed by a Crow Beak to the face. He attempted many, many Crow Beaks, but I began to dodge them. I used another log to evade the attacks, and the canvas became covered with feathers shed from Crowman! And do you know what I did??"

 

Does it involve another log?

I'm still on Parrot Back Body Motion. Where'd a parrot come in??

 

"I used one of the feathers and designed a brand new jutsu against Crowman, right there, ON THE SPOT! I coated Crowman in the feathers on the canvas. I then tried to set them aflame, but Crowman used a Crow Feather Shield, which formed a barrier to stop the flames."

 

Wait. You were trying to set the feathers on fire... so he put up a shield of feathers so you couldn't set the feathers on fire?

Shh!

I'm not shushing! That doesn't make any sense!

Right, and we definitely expect the Kinnikustories to make sense.

 

"Crowman followed with a Raven Wing and a Crow Feather Fireball. This engulfed me in flames, but I used my cape to change the canvas into a lake, and dived inside to douse the flames!!"

 

What!?

How would your cape turn the wrestling canvas INTO A LAKE??

I feel like we're not getting all the details.

 

"I then removed the cape to change the canvas into a fiery pit, and then performed a Back-Flip Skewer! Crowman was sent hurtling into the lava of the pit, but built a quick nest to protect himself."

 

Sure, at this point, why not?

I think we're overdue for another log appearance.

 

"My attack was reversed with a Crows Bombs Away, which sent ME into the pit! I broke free with an elbow drop and a drop kick, and removed the fiery pit to put back on my cape."

 

This is making so little sense, I can't even visualize it.

I know! There are silver droppings, lakes of water, lakes of fire lava, and suddenly an elbow drop!

 

"It is then that I realized my friends had come to support me. I told them that I did not need their support, as I was fighting as a Devil Chojin for General Devil, and I threw a smoke bomb into the ring! I followed with an Air Shuriken, which pinned Crowman to a pillar of the ring, and I delivered a crushing series of blows against him."

 

Did you notice the smoke bomb?

I know! Logs, smoke bombs, weird transformative capes.

A most unusual ninja.

 

"Crowman started to knock away the shuriken, before countering with a Crow Beak. I then revealed that I took the blow on purpose, as it gave me an opening to strike Crowman's chest! I was prepared to die to obtain victory in battle! BUT... Crowman descended again with a Peacock Feather Blade and Crow Beak Scissors, and finished with a Crow's Prey Skewer. I was stunned! I had no strength left!"

 

Oh, no! Well, that was that.

Just enough time to hit the concession stand before the next act!

 

"BUT THEN... I looked out of the ring, and I saw that my friends had assumed a formation to send signals to me in the ring. This triggered my Friendship Power!!"

 

That sounds like a My Little Pony thing.

I'd like to see the formations they were signaling with!

HAHAHA!

 

"I gained the upper-hand and trapped Crowman in the ropes. I then turned the ropes to steel, which added extra pressure onto Crowman's body parts! I was trying to break him! But Crowman used a Parrot Back Body Motion to break free and trade places with me! I realized I could not win in that situation, so I used a Ninja Face Copy, which allowed me to copy Crowman's appearance and his skills. Crowman countered with his own switch attack! We kept trading places until it appeared that Crowman placed me in the ropes and dismembered me!!"

 

It appeared that way??

I'm completely lost in what's going on.

 

"The crows flew down and began FEASTING ON MY BODY PARTS! BUT!!! I then revealed my true form, that what looked to be me dismembered in the ropes was Crowman and I was alive and well... AND THE WINNER!!! The Crowman was thus defeated and killed. I took the dumbbell from Crowman and left with a jutsu."

 

...

Wow, okay.

Lots of switching going on at the end.

I still don't know what a 'jutsu' is.

 

💪M💪U💪S💪C💪L💪E💪

 

A year of the shows and performers of the Bijou Planks Theater.

 

M.U.S.C.L.E. No. 26, "The Ninja"

 

Painted by Paprika, thus losing all collectible value forever.

"What is more pleasant than the benevolent notice other people take of us, what is more agreeable than their compassionate empathy? What inspires us more than addressing ears flushed with excitement, what captivates us more than exercising our own power of fascination? What is more thrilling than an entire hall of expectant eyes, what more overwhelming than applause surging up to us? What, lastly, equals the enchantment sparked off by the delighted attention we receive from those who profoundly delight ourselves? - Attention by other people is the most irresistible of drugs. To receive it outshines receiving any other kind of income. This is why glory surpasses power and why wealth is overshadowed by prominence."

 

Caterina Fake, Co-founder of Flickr, 2005.

 

A couple of years ago I wrote a post called Top 10 Tips for Getting Attention on Flickr that proved fairly popular. A lot has changed at Flickr in the past 2 years though and how imagery is rated and ranked on the site has also changed. That said, I thought I'd write a fresher updated post on the top 10 ways, presently, to get attention on Flickr.

 

Back in 2006 when I wrote my original article on how to achieve popularity on Flickr my photostream had been viewed almost 400,000 times. According to a Flickr stats page that's been added since that time, the view count for my pages on Flickr now stands at 9,953,328. It should pass 10 million sometime this week. I'm averaging about 14,000 page views a day on Flickr.

 

Some of how one gets attention on Flickr has remained the same since 2006. Other stuff has changed.

 

1. Take great pictures. This was my number one way to achieve popularity on Flickr in 2006 and remains the number one way today. Despite all the other things that you might do to promote your photography, none of it will matter if your photos are not interesting. Everyone can be creative. Some are more creative than others. Sometimes your gear and photo processing matters, other times it doesn't. I've seen incredibly beautiful and creative photos taken with a $10 toy camera. And I've seen incredibly beautiful and creative photos taken with a $40,000 digital Hasselblad. I've seen people upload interesting things from a crappy iPhone camera and I've seen people upload interesting things that they spent 8 hours on Photoshop with. But, the better your photos are the more likely that you will get attention. Taking great photos is a prerequisite to everything else in this article.

 

This said, there are certain types of photos that tend to become more popular on Flickr than others. Provocatively posed female self portraits or photos of attractive women in interesting poses, extremely saturated photos rich with eye candy like color, cityscapes, night photography, photos depicting movement and motion, silhouettes, dramatic architecture, unique portraits, creatively arranged macros and cross processed and some film photography.

 

2. The order that you post your photos to Flickr counts. The number one way that your photos will likely be seen in Flickr comes from your Flickr contacts looking at their Flickr contact's photos. At present Flickr allows you to set your contacts most recent photos to their last photo, or their last 5 photos. Anything beyond 5 photos in a single batch upload will largely be buried on Flickr. If you are uploading more than 5 photos at once, make sure that you upload your best 5 photos last and what you consider your very best photo last of all. Frequently people will upload a batch of 30 photos from a concert or something with no thought as to which will be the last 5 of the 30 in order.

 

3. Consider places outside of Flickr to promote your photography. Do you have a blog or a photoblog? If you want more attention on Flickr you should. Flickr makes it very easy to blog your photos, you simply cut and paste the html code above your photo and you are now photoblogging with a direct link back to your photo. My blog, thomashawk.com is my number two external referrer of pageviews to my Flickrstream. Are you on FriendFeed yet? You should be. It's easy to set up and makes sure more people see your photos. Pownce (when it is working) is another place to post interesting photos.

 

4. Do you have your settings on Flickr configured for maximum exposure? After Flickr itself, Google drives more traffic to my Flickrstream than any other source, even my blog. Yahoo search and both Google and Yahoo image search drive traffic as well. But your photos will be blocked from appearing in search engines unless you authorize Flickr to display your images in search engines. Make sure your photostream is set to not "hide your stuff from public searches," here.

 

Same goes for the Flickr API. Lots of people are using the Flickr API in interesting ways. I get traffic from places like Flickrleech, Compfight, Technorati and lots of other places that use the Flickr API to extend your photos outside of Flickr. Make sure that you've authorized Flickr to allow API access to your photos here.

 

5. Explore. Explore still remains the number one way to get photos viewed on Flickr. Explore uses Flickr's "Magic Donkey" algorithm to each day highlight 500 of what Flickr feels are the best photos on Flickr for that day. It's a very popular section of the site despite the fact that everyone seems to constantly hate Explore and decry its mediocrity in selecting exceptional photos. Explore has changed and evolved a lot since it was first introduced at Flickr a few years back. Initially things like *when* you posted your photos mattered.

 

Whether or not Flickr chooses your photos for Explore is still very much a mystery. But there are some things that we do know. The more faves, comments, tags, etc. your photo gets, the more likely it is that it will appear in Explore. Explore also uses averaging in their algorithm now. This means that if your average photo gets 5 faves, then you'll need to do considerably better than average if you hope to see that photo in Explore.

 

Photos are also constantly dropping in and out of Explore. I've got 157 photos in Explore at present but I've had 446 that have appeared in Explore at one time or another. You can check out which and how many of your photos that have been showcased by Flickr in Explore here. Just change my Flickr ID at the link above for your own.

 

6. Groups. Speaking of Explore, if you really want to get a particular photo in Explore consider adding it to a group that encourages tagging, faving and comments of photos. Photo critique groups are good examples of this. Some of the photo critique groups play games where tagging and commenting on a photo are part of the game. Flickr does not distinguish between a photo that has been commented on or tagged organically vs. one that is included in some sort of photo critique game. If you want to boost the likelihood that your photo will be selected for Explore consider putting a strong photo into one of these pools. Photo critique groups on Flickr run the gamut from nice and friendly photo critique groups like TWIP's, to hostile and brutal photo critique groups like DeleteMe Uncensored (note NSFW and maybe not the best group if you are easily offended).

 

Whatever the case, the key to groups is participation. If you simply dump a bunch of photos blindly into random groups you will likely not get much benefit. In fact, Flickr actually penalizes photo rank if someone posts their photo to too many groups. But posting your photo to selective groups where you participate will encourage activity on your photos and photostream.

 

7. Tag for Exploration (especially your most popular photos). Why has this photo of mine been viewed over 27,000 times on Flickr? Well in part because it shows up on the first page search results on Flickr for the search term guitar. And why does it show up in searches for the word "guitar?" Because I've got the photo *tagged* guitar. By tagging your photos appropriately you can ensure that more people will see them in search. Think of other ways that you can tag your photos. Are all of your photos taken in San Francisco also tagged "California?" They should be. Are all of your photos tagged "self portrait" also tagged with your name? Again, they should be.

 

The better you keyword and tag your photos, the more likely they will show up in searches that take place on Flickr. Even if you think that your photos will never be popular enough to rank highly in search, remember that there are other ways that Flickr users can filter search. You can search just by your contacts photos on Flickr for instance. So even if you don't have the most popular sunset photo amongst millions on Flickr, you might have the most popular sunset photo amongst your contacts because you tagged it.

 

A note that I've seen some people on Flickr abuse tags. They will tag every photo with girl, sunset, cat, etc. Even if these things are not in their photo simply to try and trick people into getting to their photos through search. This sucks. I'm not sure what/if/how Flickr penalizes people who do this, but it's a crappy thing to do and ruins the search experience for everyone. Tag early and often, but only tag your photos with tags that truly are accurate and descriptive.

 

8. Geotag. One of the more interesting ways to find photos on Flickr is through exploring photos that are geotagged on a map. When I'm going to a new place that I'm not familiar with, frequently Flickr's "Explore the World Map," is one of my first destinations. But of course your photos will not show up here if they are not geotagged. The best way to geotag your photos is actually at the file level before you upload them. I use Geotagger on the Mac which allows you to use Google Earth to geotag your photos. You can also download the free software program from Microsoft Pro Photo Tools to geotag photos on a PC.

 

Check what Flickr considers your most popular photos and make sure that you geotag (and more descriptively tag) these photos especially -- even if you have to geotag these shots on Flickr using their tools. Geotagging has been documented by Flickr staff as increasing the Flickr "interestingness" rating of a photograph.

 

9. Consider creating a few "best of" sets and feature them prominently on your Flickrstream. Frequently when people first discover your photostream they don't have time to check out your entire stream. But if you make it easier for them and create a few sets that highlight some of your best work they may stick around longer. I've created two such sets myself. My 10 faves or more set and my 25 faves or more set. These sets highlight what are some of my best work according to the Flickr community and are my two most visited sets on Flickr. As my photos are faved 10 or 25 times I add the tag fav10 or fav25 to these sets and then use SmartSetr to automatically generate these sets.

 

Make sure also that you change your Flickr page layout from the boring default one to one that highlights your collections and sets better.

 

10. Tell everyone you know about your Flickrstream. Are you active on other social networks? Is a link to your Flickrstream prominently displayed on your blog? On your Facebook profile page? Be sure to include a link to your Flickrstream in every profile that you are on with other sites. Consider buying Moo cards (even though Moo.com has been lousy for me lately and won't let me buy anymore cards from them) which highlight your photostream that you can give out to people that you run across while out shooting. Tell your friends and family and your offline "real life" contacts about your Flickrstream.

 

Bonus tip: Reciprocation. Above everything else, perhaps the most important thing about Flickr is that it is a community and a reciprocation based community. If you think that you can just post your photos on the site and they will garner thousands of faves and views simply because, you are wrong. Even the best photos on Flickr will not get very much attention if you simply upload them to the site and never participate.

 

Flickr has been built to encourage reciprocation. In fact a recent study cited reciprocation as the number one key to popularity on Flickr. Every single time you fave or comment on someone else's photo you are giving them a link back to your own photostream. While you may not have the time to check out *everyone* who faves your photos, spend time each day faving and commenting on other people's photos on Flickr. By sharing with others the fact that you appreciate their photos they will return the favor. Be generous with your faves and comments. Remember, other people like the attention as much as you do.

 

On digg here.

 

Update: An interesting link to comments Flickr staff have made about the Explore algorithm here. Thanks, Ole!

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Ephesians 4:32