View allAll Photos Tagged DISCERN
Doug Harrop Photography • August 12, 1975
CP Rail's premier passenger train, The Canadian hits the west switch Rogers siding in British Columbia. A maintenance crew, up bright and early can be discerned in the shadows, no doubt offering the train a first rate roll-by.
Rogers Pass is a high mountain crossing through the Selkirk Mountains of British Columbia, but the term also includes the approaches used by the CP Rail and the Trans-Canada Highway, in the heart of Glacier National Park.
Rogers Pass is the lowest route between the Sir Donald and Hermit ranges of the Selkirks, providing a shortcut along the southern perimeter of the Big Bend of the Columbia River from Revelstoke on the west to Donald, near Golden, on the east.
The pass was formed by the headwaters of the Illecillewaet River to the west and the Beaver River to the east. These rivers are tributaries of the Columbia, which arcs to the north.
Weather is not a friend for comet ZTF observation, during the last days here. Continuous overcast for several days. There were only small periods of "clear" sky during the morning of Jan. 24, 2023. When I say "clear", imagine there was a medium African dust transfer (yes, we have it also in winter nowadays), thick smoke from fireplaces, high moisture and almost the whole night it was cloudy with rain and thunderstorms around. This image is a stack of 15 photos at about 4 am local time when it finally cleared for some minutes. Under these conditions, I'm "happy" that one can discern all 3 tails (dust, ion and antitail). I hope it will eventually clear out for at least 1 night towards 30/1.
EXIF: Canon 70D, Tamron 70-200 @ 200 mm, f/2.8, iso 1600, 15x45'' lights with iOptron Skytracker, no darks, flats, bias.
Photography and Licensing: doudoulakis.blogspot.com/
My books concerning natural phenomena / Τα βιβλία μου σχετικά με τα φυσικά φαινόμενα: www.facebook.com/TaFisikaFainomena/
This adult Black-crowned Night Heron shows the distinctly stocky profile of the species in flight. The large red eye is discernible at a great distance. This individual was seen at wetlands east of Elliston Lake in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Just a tulip that wouldn't open, sitting in front of the window in the morning light. I like the way the sunlight behind warmed up the whole thing. And I like the blue-purple markings on a basically white ground. The title, of course, is from the John Denver song, Sunshine On My Shoulders.
The result of a multi-image focus stack, this image should reward pretty close examination. Maximum viewing size on your computer can be found by opening the image in a separate window, making that window maximum size, typing the letter "L" on the keyboard, and then clicking the cursor as long as a '+' appears in it, typically twice.
If you find this image to your liking, you can find more tulips in my Tulips album (click just a bit to the right of this spot).
BTW, I've taken to putting a white rim around these images on black because, on my iPhone flickr app, it is otherwise difficult to discern the image's edges. I made it tiny because, while large mats look lovely on my desktop monitor, they make it hard for my tired old eyes to view an image on my iPhone's small screen.
Please feel free to have a browse of my Cyber Art Gallery - Exhibition:
www.flickr.com/photos/terryeve-draughting-ltd/albums/7217...
Artist Statement:
This painting explores the theme of resilience and the human spirit in the face of nature’s overwhelming forces. The scene is dominated by a vast, glowing sky of intense red and orange hues, where low-hanging clouds shroud the distant mountains, leaving only one faint peak visible—its form barely discernible through the light-filled, almost suffocating atmosphere. This dramatic and otherworldly sky serves as a metaphor for the unpredictability and harshness of the environment, a force that both obscures and illuminates.
In the foreground, a statue of two famous climbing friends stands perched on a rock promontory, straining to see through the thick mist and clouds that envelop them. The figures, though bronze and silent, are imbued with a palpable sense of tension, their bodies leaning forward as if trying to push through the heavy, oppressive weather. The monument captures a moment frozen in time—a tribute not only to their climbing achievements but also to the persistence of the human will in the face of nature’s often impenetrable obstacles.
Surrounding them, the moorland stretches out, its grass and scattered boulders rendered with subtle highlights that cut through the glowing orange haze. These elements, scattered and seemingly random, stand out starkly against the mist, suggesting a delicate interplay between clarity and obscurity. The contrasting colours—earthy tones punctuated by flashes of light—serve to ground the viewer in the scene, while the intense glow of the sky suggests an otherworldly presence, an invisible force that looms large over the landscape.
The quiet, isolated moorland surrounding the climbers speaks to the solitude and determination inherent in their journey. The occasional highlighted detail in the grass and rocks hints at the fragility and fleeting beauty of moments in nature, where the mundane becomes extraordinary when viewed through the lens of challenge and awe.
This work reflects not only the physical environment but also the emotional and mental landscapes navigated by climbers and adventurers. The towering sky and obstructed view suggest both the enormity of nature’s power and the unyielding drive of those who venture into it. Through this painting, I aim to convey a sense of awe, struggle, and perseverance, exploring the ways in which both nature and human endeavour coexist in a world that is at once beautiful, terrifying, and full of potential for discovery.
Please feel free to have a browse through my Favourite Artistic Creations Album:
www.flickr.com/photos/terryeve-draughting-ltd/albums/7217...
Cuillin mountaineers
This bronze sculpture was erected in 2020 at Sligachan to honour Collie and MacKenzie who created many of the climbing routes in the Cuillin mountains.
John MacKenzie was a local who started climbing the Cuillin in his younger days and he teamed up in the mid 1800s, with Norman Collie, a famous mountaineer who often visited the Isle of Skye.
Regrettably the light wasn't playing during our recent climb of An Teallach.
This is a summit view from Sgurr Fiona, which although not quite the highest point of the An Teallach ridge is regarded by many as the central point.
To the top left lays Lord Berkeleys Seat with its the super vertical eastern face just showing. In the middle distance lay the Fisherfield wilderness, an area I have spent many a day hiking through and just in front of the Corbet, Beinn Dearg Mor lays the Loch na Sealga. Prominent here and catching the glint of the sun is the Abhainn Strath na Sealga, which although shallow often has to be waded through when hikes towards A' Mhaighdean are undertaken. I recall one long hike when we returned to make a crossing in the pitch black. The only reason we knew where we were was the faint smokey aroma we could discern from the nearby Shenavall Bothy.
L’animal reprend progressivement le pouvoir sur le parc, de plus en plus déserté par les bipèdes touristiques, et habité en soirée par une brise glacée qui annonce l’hiver.
Les habituels corvidés du parc profitent des dernières lueurs du jour pour jouir de leur indépendance spatiale, sous l’admiration béate et statufiée des batraciens de plomb doré, privés de liberté et de conscience par la discipline du troupeau, et qui s’exclament en chœur “Whaoo ! Magnifique ! Merci pour le partage !”, hypnotisés par un tel déploiement d’audace de la part des créatures célestes…
Serait-on là en présence de corbeaux “influenceurs” ?
On se croirait sur Facebook… Ou même sur Flickr, parfois ! 😊
La pensée philosophique du jour :
Autrefois, le corbeau savait que “Tout flatteur… etc”…
Mais la tendance est en train de s’inverser avec les blogueurs et les réseaux sociaux, où tout “flatté volontaire” (i.e : Dont le seul objectif mégalomane est d’empiler les futilités quotidiennes, pour sombrer sous la flatterie de milliers de désœuvrés internautiques) profite opportunément de son succès virtuel pour tondre la laine sur le dos de ses inconscients “followers” qui, plongés dans leur torpeur extatique, ne se rendent même plus compte de leur dévotion aveugle envers leur “influenceur” (mot terrifiant et révélateur, au pire de servitude, et au mieux d’absence de personnalité)
Et McFly et Carlito montent au paradis du vide !
La Fontaine, reviens vite nous enseigner un peu de discernement dans le jugement, et de pondération dans le superlatif… Avant qu’il ne soit trop tard !
Yet, remember me if I go far away.
If old love gets tangled in meshes of new love,
If I stay close yet you cannot discern
If I exist or not, still remember me.
If tears dangle between eyelids,
If the play ends once in sweetness of night,
Yet, remember me.
If chores are stuck in an autumn morn,
Remember me.
Even in remembrances if eyes do not glisten
Yet, remember me.
Friends, I share a few lines of Tagore as transliterated by my partner, before I take leave.
Yes, leaving tonight for a long trek in the Himalayas. I'll meet you all again on June 21.
With love and best wishes !! And, surely a twilight capture of Mt. Thalaysagar and Mt. Bhrigupanth from the bank of Kedartal. Garhwal Himalayas, India
Película cristiana 2020 | "No os metáis en mis asuntos" Quitar la traba en el camino del reino celestial
El Señor Jesús dijo: “Pero, ¡ay de vosotros, escribas y fariseos, hipócritas!, porque cerráis el reino de los cielos delante de los hombres, pues ni vosotros entráis, ni dejáis entrar a los que están entrando” (Mateo 23:13). Estas son las palabras del Señor Jesús maldiciendo a los fariseos. Al principio, los pueblos judíos no tenían ningún discernimiento sobre los fariseos, creyeron en sus palabras y se resistieron y rechazazon al Señor Jesús, finalmente fueron maldecidos y condenados por Dios y se convirtieron en sus víctimas y en sus objetos fúnebres. En el asunto de recibir la venida del Señor, al principio la protagonista en la película también cree en las palabras de los pastores y ancianos como los pueblos judíos. Más tarde, a través de leer las palabras de Dios y comunicarse con sus hermanos y hermanas, gradualmente tiene el discernimiento de los pastores y ancianos y ve que en el asunto de investigar y acoger la venida del Señor, ellos no solo no buscan humildemente la verdad según las palabras del Señor, sino que juzgan y condenan a Él en función de su propia idea. Al final, la protagonista dice a los pastores y ancianos: “No os metáis en mis asuntos”, rompe la obstrucción de ellos y acaba recibiendo el retorno del Señor. ¿Quieres saber cómo la protagonista distingue a los pastores y ancianos? ¿Y cómo recibe al Señor con éxito? Mira la película en vivo “No os metáis en mis asuntos”, te llevará a escapar de la obstrucción de los demás y a dar la bienvenida al regreso del Señor.
Las escrituras tomadas de LA BIBLIA DE LAS AMERICAS® (LBLA) Copyright © 1986, 1995, 1997 por The Lockman Foundation usado con permiso. www.LBLA.com.
The tents and "provisional structure" in Reeves' painting conjure many realities today beyond basic camping, including issues of migration, homelessness, pilgrimage, and protest. The title references the moment at dusk when it becomes difficult to discern the exactitude of one's surroundings. Through paint and elements of collage, Reeves aims to create a psychological expression of the "gleaming hour" and its fleeting impressionistic uncertainties.
Taken in the wild west, just east of Prince George, British Columbia, Canada.
We were on the hunt to find our first Yellow-bellied Flycatcher somewhere in the boondocks east of Prince George.
Dave heard it call after we found the promising habitat. Dave with his young 'rabbit ears' found the source of its call in the dark and thick forest. It hung out for about 30 seconds to a minute; I took this shot of its 'yellow belly' then, after it discerned our presence, it did an about face and was gone... gone... gone.
No matter! We did our usual *Lifer* high five and were feeling pretty good, somewhat boastful, but circumspect and seemly. You might say....we mutually displayed humble high opinions of each other. :-)
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
More wabi-sabi, and yet another tulip; there appears to be no end to these tulips, as I've got another dozed or so in this batch, and two more batches coming up right behind them!
What I like here is the way the petals seem to almost swirl around the curving stem, as if it were doing the twist, pointing to the two top corners, and those blue "eyes" in the pistils.
The result of a multi-image focus stack, this image should reward pretty close examination. Maximum viewing size on your computer can be found by opening the image in a separate window, making that window maximum size, typing the letter "L" on the keyboard, and then clicking the cursor as long as a '+' appears in it, typically twice.
If you find this image to your liking, you can find more wabi-sabi - and an account of my understanding of the meaning of that term - in my wabi-sabi album, more tulips in my Tulips album, and more dancing flowers in my Tiny Dancers album.
BTW, I've taken to putting a white rim around these images on black because, on my iPhone flickr app, it is otherwise difficult to discern the image's edges. I made it tiny because, while large mats look lovely on my desktop monitor, they make it hard for my tired old eyes to view an image on my iPhone's small screen.
Depending upon ticket sales, weekday variants of the Rio Grande Zephyr were often as few as four cars in length. Train No. 17 is stopped briefly in Provo, Utah the evening of April 22, 1976. You can discern a ghostly image of the train conductor at the steps of the first dome car. F9 5771’s headlight projects a large shadow of a nearly Union Pacific block signal on a grove of trees. Next stop, Utah’s Capital City.
Los desastres de los últimos días son cada vez más grandes, y todos queremos recibir el regreso del Señor a la mayor brevedad y ser llevados al reino de los cielos. Pero ahora que los desastres han llegado, ¿por qué algunas personas aún no han recibido al Señor con éxito? Esto se debe principalmente a que en el asunto de dar la bienvenida al Señor, han pasado por alto algunos versos importantes, que son la forma correcta que el Señor nos ha dicho para acogerlo. Tales como:
El Señor Jesús dijo: “Mis ovejas oyen mi voz, y yo las conozco y me siguen” (Juan 10:27).
“He aquí, yo estoy a la puerta y llamo; si alguno oye mi voz y abre la puerta, entraré a él, y cenaré con él y él conmigo” (Apocalipsis 3:20).
“El que tiene oído, oiga lo que el Espíritu dice a las iglesias” (Apocalipsis 2:7).
De las palabras de Dios, se puede ver que el Señor buscará a Sus ovejas a través de expresar palabras cuando regrese en los últimos días, así que debemos aprender a escuchar la voz de Dios al esperar la venida del Señor. Y solo los que saben escuchar la voz de Dios pueden seguir Sus pasos, al igual que Pedro, Juan y otros discípulos, quienes reconocieron al Señor Jesús como el Mesías venidero por Sus palabras, lo siguieron firmemente y obtuvieron Su salvación. Ahora el Señor ha vuelto a la carne, ha expresado nuevas palabras y ha llevado a cabo nueva obra. ¿Cómo podemos discernir la voz de Dios y seguir los pasos del Cordero a partir de las nuevas palabras del Señor regresado?
Las escrituras tomadas de LA BIBLIA DE LAS AMERICAS® (LBLA) Copyright © 1986, 1995, 1997 por The Lockman Foundation usado con permiso. www.LBLA.com.
PEACE VALLEY PARK, Doylestown, PA USA
©Harris Brown-ALL rights reserved. This image may not be used for ANY purpose without written permission.
Nikon D500 camera with Nikon 500mm f4 G VR lens and 1.4 converter.
1/2000 f5.6 ISO1250
Three rare visitors decided to spend the night at our local nature center. It wasn't long before word got out attracting many birders and photographers. In contrast to most bird species, the female Phalaropes are the more colorful sex, while the males are drab and have most of the nest duty. These birds spend the winter in South America and migrate to the Arctic Circle to breed-quite a journey.
Thanks to all who take the time to view, comment on and favor my images. It is very much appreciated.
You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Psalm 139: 1-3
Ya, I agree, and then having the thing processed, processed... oh, so processed (like... was a freekin' texture even really needed here?). Guilty on all counts! I plead, hands raised in surrender, failure.
But... the story is on that aeroplane up there (I don't see no aeroplane up there), well, you see the vapour trail, don't you? Well, in front of that is a plane and she was on it.
You see, the incident at the Walmart wasn't quite the end. I never saw her again at the hospital, mainly due to her shifts and the altered circumstances of the final and very sad stage in that macabre melodrama; the sole purpose for me being there all along. For anyone who has followed this story line, you will remember that Diane and I parted in the parking lot of the Walmart on discernible but uncertain terms. Of note, I had mentioned about the God of Fate in our conversation and the little, wicked games he likes to play with me. Well, sure enough, a few weeks later, I had been out to a bar to see a band and who is there having a girly night with her besties?
I will cut the details short: alcohol lowers ones protective shields, lingering curiosities always kill the cat, it is dark outside in the parking lot when one's friends are supposed to be out there and they ain't, very dark...
I knew she was flying out of Buffalo the next day to see her Gran in Hoboken and with the kiss still smoldering in my memory, I sat like a dumbfounded fool watching as the plane streaked across the sky...
He had done it again... damn!
The stork in our hometown, in the middle of the night, against the full moon.
This is a single shot, thats why the moon does not have correct sharpness, as depth of field is not enough to cover 90m to 380000km. f/16 at least made some structures on the moon discernable.
This photograph was taken from the North Bank of River Thames looking in the direction of London Bridge, with reflections in the river. It was a wonderful sunset with captivating and colourful cloud formations, as the sun gently descent to the horizon. Two vessels (HMS Belfast and Berlin Valletta) and Tower Millennium Pier could be discerned in the foreground.
A short hike by a nearby creek yielded this image. I wasn't actually there to photograph this kind of stuff, I went there to capture flow patterns in the water close up. But it turned out I still have a lot to learn shooting that. In the end I shot something that I feel comfortable with: Out of focus highlights or bokeh balls. If you look closely, you might discern the swirl pattern that this lens produces.
In the heart of a dense forest, a half-elf named Rya woke up with no memory of her past. She knew nothing about herself, except her name, and that she possessed strange markings on her skin that seemed to glow in the dark.
Lost and confused, Rya wandered the forest, hoping to find some answers about her identity. She came across a group of travelers who were making their way to a nearby village. They offered to take her with them, and she gratefully accepted.
The villagers were friendly and welcoming, but they too were puzzled by Rya's markings. They told her about an old sage who lived deep in the forest, who might be able to help her uncover the secrets of her past.
With renewed hope, Rya set out to find the sage. After days of wandering through the forest, she finally stumbled upon a hidden cave that led to the sage's dwelling.
The sage was a kind and wise old man who had spent many years studying ancient texts and artifacts. He examined Rya's markings and told her that they were a symbol of great power and magic, but he could not discern their purpose.
Despite his best efforts, the sage could not help Rya unlock her memories. He feared that she might never know the secrets of her past, but he encouraged her to embrace her unique abilities and use them for good.
Rya settled in the village, working hard to earn her keep and make a life for herself. She learned to control her magic and discovered that she had a talent for healing. The villagers came to rely on her for her skills and kindness, and she became a respected member of their community.
Years went by, and Rya continued to live a peaceful life in the forest. She never did uncover the secrets of her past, but she learned to accept that some things are meant to remain a mystery. She was content knowing that she had found a place where she belonged and had made a difference in the lives of others.
#Human #Elf #DnD #MemoryLoss #Secrets #Journey #
What I'm Wearing: Inspired look for DnD Character
Meli Imako: Full Perm SAVE! 4IN1 Medieval Fantasy Archer Outfit Top Pants Boots Gloves For Legacy Maitreya Slink Belleza
marketplace.secondlife.com/p/Full-Perm-SAVE-4IN1-Medieval...
YOSHI - Christine Eyes - Artic
marketplace.secondlife.com/p/YOSHI-Christine-Eyes-Artic/2...
DOUX - Savannah hairstyle [BLOGGER PACK]
marketplace.secondlife.com/p/DOUX-Savannah-hairstyle-BLOG...
.Petrichor:Viscivorus Skin (Femme):// Alcedo
marketplace.secondlife.com/p/P-Viscivorus-Skin-Femme-Alce...
LeLUTKA EvoX: Irina Head 3.1
maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LeLutka/134/104/22
Legacy MeshBody
maps.secondlife.com/secondlife//97/32/26
Photo take at Sunny's Studio
maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sunny%20Photo%20Studio/130...
Backdrop: FOXCITY
Pose: FAE
He was 'unnaturally friendly' and followed me about for some time. Perhaps he was hoping for food but it didn't seem so, there seemed to be another reason that I could not discern?
I'm buried in my photo archives ... help! :)
- Petrified National Forest, Arizona, USA (2015) -
Shooting stars can be very colorful. While the human eye generally cannot discern many colors, cameras can do so more often. The colors of shooting stars usually come from ionized chemical elements released when the meteoroid disintegrates. Blue-green comes from magnesium, calcium radiates purple, and nickel glows green. Red, on the other hand, generally comes from ionized nitrogen and oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere.
@Ciel des Hommes
Perseid Fireball 2023
📷 Canon EOS Rebel T5i ( 700D )
EF-S18-55mm F/3.5-5.6
ISO 800
ExpTime 30.6s
F/5.6
18mm
Their view of the Ohio River is blocked by the downriver sections of Maysville, Kentucky's flood wall. The Lee Hotel, built in 1835, with its wrought iron balconies, is to the left. Houses make up the rest of this block. Robert Dafford's mural of Tobacco is barely discernible on the first section of the flood wall to the right.
A stare is a prolonged, fixed look, often implying rudeness, surprise, or an uncomfortable level of attention.
A gaze also means to look steadily and intently, but can have more positive connotations, such as looking with wonder, admiration, or earnestness.
Other words, depending on the specific emotion or context, include:
Glare or glower: To look with a fixed, angry, or sullen gaze.
Fixate: To focus one's eyes or attention on a single point for a long time.
Ogle or leer: To stare in a way that suggests improper or sexual interest.
Peer: To look closely or with difficulty, often to discern something.
Scrutinise: To examine something with great care and attention to detail.
Penetrating gaze or piercing stare: A descriptive phrase that suggests the person looking can see right through you or knows what you are thinking.
Judging.
Mid Devon Show, Knightshayes Court, Tiverton, Devon, UK.
What I like here is the color, and the chaos of the petals of this tulip. I know, it hardly looks like a tulip, but I'm told by the family horticulturist that it most certainly is a tulip. Indeed, it is the same tulip I posted a few days ago with water droplets all over it; clearly there was just a bit of aging between the two shots.
The result of a multi-image focus stack, this image should reward pretty close examination. Maximum viewing size on your computer can be found by opening the image in a separate window, making that window maximum size, typing the letter "L" on the keyboard, and then clicking the cursor as long as a '+' appears in it, typically twice.
BTW, I've taken to putting a white rim around these images on black because, on my iPhone flickr app, it is otherwise difficult to discern the image's edges. I made it tiny because, while large mats look lovely on my desktop monitor, they make it hard for my tired old eyes to view an image on my iPhone's small screen.
We were in "la pointe du raz" (Bretagne, France) waiting for sundown.
I started to take some 5 photos vertically for a pano, but I realized that the pictures came out, somewhat blurred, light was appropriate so ...
what was my surprise to discern a curtain of water that was coming straight at us.
This was the result, I hope you like it.
Nos encontrabamos en "la pointe du raz"( Bretagne, France) esperando a la caida del sol.
Yo comence a sacar unas 5 fotos en vertical para realizar una pano, pero me di cuenta que las fotos salian, algo borrosas, la luz era adecuada asi que...
cual fue mi sorpresa al vislumbrar una cortina de agua que se aproximaba directo hacia nosotros.
Este fue el resultado, espero os guste.
The Great Andromeda Galaxy, M31, is the closest spiral galaxy to ours - and considered our mirror image. Visible by the unaided eye, from darker suburban skies, it occupies a region of the sky equivalent to almost 6 full moons - about 3 degrees. Between its size and brightness, M31 is easily discernible in even wide field DSLR images of the night sky - even relatively shot exposures without tracking.
Two satellite galaxies of Andromeda are also visible - M110 (top, center) and M32 (below and right of center).
Looks like my sensor needs some cleaning... dark areas in the extended nebulosity (top and left) are likely dust on the sensor.
50% scale - crop
M31-f56_sig18apTifap_crop50r85q
20171116 - Newtown, PA
Nikon D5500
Nikon 300mm ED f/4.5 MF @f/5.6
30sx45, 3200iso
iOptron SkyTracker Pro
Regim Sig18 stack w/darks & flats
Affinity Photo
From the archives... I visited Homer in February while it was still in Winters icy grip. I love the mountains on the far side of Kachemak Bay. There are alpine glaciers there which are hard to discern in winter with snow everywhere, but generally they're the very smooth areas in the valleys between the mountain peaks. The center of the image is the Homer Spit. It's a four mile long, narrow intrusion of land into Kachemak Bay. It's where the Homer harbor is along with lots of very small business selling food, fishing, flying, adventure tours, and a variety of kitsch for the tourists that you might expect.
More interesting for my visit was the road to Homer from Anchorage, which I had not experienced at this time of year. It can be treacherous, especially going over Turnagain Pass whenever snow or ice is on the road.
Taken 28 February 2019
Yes, you may have seen these bits of grass before; it is the same subject as grass #3, 2021, but a different set of exposures with, I think, a significantly better result. I hope you concur.
And yes, more wabi-sabi and more miscanthus, a genus of grass that grows over much of our back field, this is the eighth in this series taken this year. For me, these are all about the form of the lines about the frame, as well as the texture and color of the leaves of the grasses themselves.
As a multi image focus stack, it should reward pretty close inspection; maximum viewing size on your computer can be found by opening the image in a separate window, making that window full screen, typing the letter "L" on the keyboard, and then clicking the cursor as long as a '+' appears in it, typically twice.
If you find this image to your liking, you can find more wabi-sabi - and an account of my understanding of the meaning of that term - in my wabi-sabi album, and more grasses in my Grasses album.
BTW, I've taken to putting a white rim around these images on black because, on my iPhone flickr app, it is otherwise difficult to discern the image's edges. I made it tiny because, while large mats look lovely on my desktop monitor, they make it hard for my tired old eyes to view an image on my iPhone's small screen.
I've tried to capture the surf vibe at Key West beach, Mullaloo. Using a longish exposure Í've tried to show the fluidity of the surf whilst maintain the surfers as discernible entities. I'm impressed with how they turned out
I had a choice of two to post .. this one or the next one which was a brocken spectre of Mist & Paddy & me .. I chose this one as at least Mist is properly discernable rather than a bit of streaky shadow! (have a look and see if you agree). Anyway's been fun having Mist as showgirl this year .. this photo shows off just where she likes to be .. so you can imagine (if you don't look at my photostream next year!) her on a mountain top with the wind blowing gently in her fur and half closed eyes of contentment (that is however amongst all the other slightly wilder mountain episodes!)
I arrived at this jungle river in the dry season and the water level was so low that their was no discernible flow. A stark contrast to the rushing torrent of the wet season. The upside was a near perfect reflection of the sunlit foliage upriver. Photographed in Khao Sok, Thailand.
The tulips are back! The tulips are back. Are you as excited as I am?
Still, more wabi-sabi; that may never change. This one fell over the side of the vase, so I shot it like this; I tried it right side up, but I liked this better somehow - or did I try it upside down, as this was how I found it? Life just gets more unclear as I get older; I'd anticipated it would be the other way around! As usual, my interest here is in color and texture, and above all the way the lines move around in the frame.
BTW, I've taken to putting a white rim around these images on black because, on my iPhone flickr app, it is otherwise difficult to discern the image's edges. I made it tiny because, while large mats look lovely on my desktop monitor, they make it hard for my tired old eyes to view an image on my iPhone's small screen.
Island Of Madagascar
Off The East Coast Of Africa
Best seen in lightbox. www.flickr.com/photos/42964440@N08/52958991484/in/datepos...
The common brown lemur (Eulemur fulvus), is a species of lemur in the family Lemuridae. It is found in Madagascar and Mayotte.
The common brown lemur lives in western Madagascar north of the Betsiboka River and eastern Madagascar between the Mangoro River and Tsaratanana, as well as in inland Madagascar connecting the eastern and western ranges.
The common brown lemur has a total length of 84 to 101 centimeters, including 41 to 51 centimeters of tail. Weight ranges from 2 to 3 kilograms. The short, dense fur is primarily brown or grey-brown. The face, muzzle and crown are dark grey or black.
The common brown lemur's diet consists primarily of fruits, young leaves, and flowers. In some locations it eats invertebrates, such as cicadas, spiders and millipedes. It also eats bark, sap, soil and red clay. It can tolerate greater levels of toxic compounds from plants than other lemurs can.
Consistent with its large range, the common brown lemur occupies a variety of forest types, including lowland rainforests, montane rainforests, moist evergreen forests and dry deciduous forests.
They normally live in groups of 5 to 12. Groups occupy home ranges of 1 to 9 hectares in the west, but more than 20 hectares in the east. Groups include members of both sexes, including juveniles, and there are no discernible dominance hierarchies.
They are primarily active during the day but can exhibit cathemeral activity and continue into the night, especially during full moons and during the dry season. – Wikipedia
Category: Single Shot
IG: victorlimaphoto
Story:
Captured at Vallecito, near San Pedro de Atacama, this image showcases a rugged Martian-like desert foreground beneath a pristine night sky. Towering rock formations stand in silence as the Milky Way cuts diagonally across the heavens, revealing intricate dust lanes and glowing emission nebulae. A faint band of zodiacal light, enhanced by the Gegenschein, stretches across the sky, crossing the galactic core and adding a subtle luminous bridge that merges interplanetary dust with the Milky Way’s star clouds. The reddish airglow amplifies the scene’s otherworldly tones, while the exceptionally dark skies of the Atacama Desert allow fine galactic details to emerge vividly in a single frame.
Between the rock formations, near the horizon, the Small Magellanic Cloud can be spotted as a faint, diffuse patch of light. This irregular dwarf galaxy orbits the Milky Way and lies roughly 200,000 light-years away. Despite its size, it contains billions of stars, active star-forming regions, and dense nebulae, making it a fascinating companion to our galaxy. Its visibility in this image highlights the extraordinary darkness and clarity of the Atacama Desert skies, where even distant satellite galaxies become discernible to the naked eye.
EXIF:
Canon 6D Ha-modified
Rokinon 12mm f/2.8 Fisheye Lens
Exposure: 20s · f/2.8 · ISO 10.000
Location: Vallecito, Atacama Desert, Chile.
A frontal view of this old jalopy that I posted a few days ago left it hard to discern what year and make it was due to a lack of identifying details. Some said ‘35 Plymouth and some said ‘35 Ford. I decided to post this side view in hopes of resolving that question. From the front they do look pretty similar. I’m really bad about not providing information about the objects I photograph. My primary interest is usually the artistic aspects of an image. How to present the object in it’s best possible relationship to its surroundings is my main concern. This is in the very small town of Daleyville Wisconsin, so a look at Google Earth may provide further views. It sits right beside route 78 in the center of town.
The namesake feature of the Golden-throated Barbet is, ironically, small and sometimes hard to see, but at least in this image it is discernible. This bird was literally at the end of the road (the part open to the public) that led up a high ridge in the Doi Lang area of Doi Pha Hom Pok National Park, Chiang Mai province, Thailand. This Golden-throated Barbet was feeding on the berries of the tree in which it was seen.
More wabi-sabi, and yet another tulip; there appears to be no end to these tulips, as there's a seemingly endless supply at the grocer's, and since I almost never throw them away, the supply just keeps growing. Indeed, I strongly suspect that at least one of these beauties has already appeared in another image in my photostream.
I think what I like most here is the way the image pulls my eyes back and forth from one blossom to the other, and then down to the dancing stems. And, of course, I'm always smitten by the texture and color of these withered flower parts.
The result of a multi-image focus stack, this image should reward pretty close examination. Maximum viewing size on your computer can be found by opening the image in a separate window, making that window maximum size, typing the letter "L" on the keyboard, and then clicking the cursor as long as a '+' appears in it, typically twice.
If you find this image to your liking, you can find more wabi-sabi - and an account of my understanding of the meaning of that term - in my wabi-sabi album, more tulips in my Tulips album, and more dancing flowers in my Tiny Dancers album.
BTW, I've taken to putting a white rim around these images on black because, on my iPhone flickr app, it is otherwise difficult to discern the image's edges. I made it tiny because, while large mats look lovely on my desktop monitor, they make it hard for my tired old eyes to view an image on my iPhone's small screen.
A footbridge now crosses the river Lha-chu and above it, nestling in the cliff face is the rebuilt Kagyu monastery of Choku Gonpa (4770 m), which was originally founded by Nyepo Drubtob in accordance with a prophesy of Gotsangpa.
The manastery was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution as whas 99% of all monasteries in Tibet.
The view of the south face of Gangs Rinpo Che, Gangs Ti Se or Kailash mountain, if clear, is striking. Below the monastery, but not discernible, is the Langchen Bepuk (Hidden Elephant Cave) where Padmasambhava stayed and meditated when he came to Mount Kailash
Free Library of Philadelphia. The angle and head positions here make their relative size difficult to discern, but the eye color leaves no doubt as to who is who.
Imaged during the evening of the 21st April 2021 and the rising sun's light has began to illuminate the great crater Copernicus.
The terraced walls of the left side of crater are being strongly illuminated together with the central peaks of Copernicus.
Most of the right hand side of the crater remains in inky darkness with the peaks of the crater's rim forming beautiful silhouettes.
The ejecta blanket surrounding the crater is also nicely highlighted showing a lot of textured detail. About three quarters of the floor of Copernicus is boulder strewn. The top left quadrant (visible in this image) is by contrast comparatively smooth!
Copernicus forms a nice duo with crater Eratosthenes mostly in the frame upper right.
Between the two and slightly to the right the ghostly outline of flooded crater Stadius can be discerned. The crater has been almost obliterated by basaltic lava flows in the millennia since its formation....
Imaged with a Celestron C11 SCT and a ZWO290MM camera/Baader long pass filter.
Thanks for looking!!
Title.
September beach.
(iPhone 13 Pro shot)
Motosuka Beach. Kujukuri Beach. Sanmu City. Chiba Prefecture. Japan. 2025. … 1 / 1
(Photo of the day. Unpublished.)
Images:
ELLEGARDEN … The End of the World
youtu.be/3hAKmshltDY?si=3dlYv3ccvIMJwnjj
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
My new novel
B♭ (B Flat)
Volume 17😄
The following is still in its draft stage and will be revised further.
Key parts are not disclosed.
The order of the content shown here is mixed.
(Of course, this is not the final version.)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
My new novel
B♭ (B Flat)
Columbia Point Residences, a redevelopment of an old warehouse district near the piers of Red Hook that look south over New York Harbor, sat with Williamsburg’s commercial and arts quarter to its north, a reclaimed stretch of landfill between them transformed into a quiet new neighborhood of low-rise detached houses.
On the freshly paved streets the laughter of children echoed, and the soft afternoon sun gently lit the roof tiles and white exterior walls. The wind carried a cool, saline scent from the sea, and, far off in the harbor, a ship’s horn punctuated the calm.
Residents were building new lives here, apart from the city’s daily tumult.
At three in the afternoon the light was still mild, gilding the leaves of the street trees. Mariners’ Row—this new residential enclave—presented itself with almost calculated perfection: rows of white houses, straight sidewalks flanking them. The scent of new construction and still-wet paint hung faintly in the air.
Mark Sanchez stood by the large living-room window and imagined a happy future for his family.
His unit, ERO, was the field force within ICE responsible for immigration enforcement and removals—hardened by the harsh realities of carrying out deportations—contrasted with HSI’s international-crime investigations. But here, behind the glass, he was simply a father and a husband.
Rachel had begun preparing dinner in the kitchen. Children’s voices drifted from the distant school-bus stop.
— Calm. Perhaps life is distilled on a Sunday at three in the afternoon, — he murmured inwardly.
The afternoon light slanted more and more; shadows reflected in the window stretched. On the neighborhood street, an old man walked slowly, pushing a cart as he walked his dog. The crossing laughter of children made that scene seem like an emblem of a gentle, innocent world.
Inside the house, the children were absorbed in play, and Rachel greeted them with a smile. The outside air was mild, the breeze only slightly warm; curtains swayed softly.
Mark opened the front door and checked the mailbox. There were notices about the new school and an announcement for a local disaster-preparedness drill.
At three in the afternoon, as the second hand crept forward, silence deepened.
Beside the house’s foundation concrete there was a faint tremor.
In the afternoon hush, the harbor horn and the rustle of leaves in the breeze filled the soundscape—sounds that masked a subtle detonation so that the surrounding residents did not notice. Smoke rose slowly; there was no fierce blaze at the moment of explosion, only fine dust quietly filling the air. The collapse did not happen all at once but proceeded slowly and inevitably. Part of the exterior wall developed quiet fissures; glass trembled and fractured into fine shards. Wooden posts toppled one by one without a sound, the house crumbling inward as if in a muted dance. A small shock set off a chain reaction of charges that dismantled the structure from within—silently yet surely. The exterior split without fanfare; windows became powder; wooden supports began to fall.
But the noise had been suppressed to the greatest extent possible; the neighborhood’s residents scarcely noticed anything had occurred.
In the distance, silhouettes of buildings slumped and settled. Not only Mark’s house but a blue house about three hundred meters across the street, and a white house further in, kicked up clouds of dust.
Three houses vanished in an instant.
The wind halted for a moment; only the leaves of the street trees trembled.
Mariners’ Row’s afternoon regained its former stillness, as if nothing had happened.
Yet everything had changed.
By planting small, distributed charges of C4 at several points in the foundation concrete and detonating them in precisely timed, ordered sequences, the shockwave could be minimized while the skeleton of the structure was collapsed from the inside.
Rafi’s knowledge of architecture had made possible not mere destruction but a “quiet collapse.”
“Use only the force that’s necessary”—that was his credo.
From a rooftop some distance away, Rafi watched the scene unfold; a deep silence flowed through his chest. For him, it was both an outcry and a prayer. The silence dwelling in destruction was the expression of his tangled feelings.
From childhood, Rafi had found refuge only in silence. The clamor of children playing in Gaza’s dusty alleys, the thunder of airstrikes—these had only wounded him more deeply. In a rundown corner of Gaza, the small Rafi leaned against a wall. When the roar of bombardment receded, the brief stillness was a salvation.
His mother’s tears, his father’s anger—the chaos of it all—the boy sought only a place without sound. He fled inward to a world without noise.
Tinkering with the innards of a broken radio with small hands, Rafi first understood the relation between destruction and quiet. A ruined radio, after it lost its sound, simply remained there in material form, silently.
As he grew, his inner life knotted into complexity. He studied architecture at the Islamic University to make shapes and manipulate structures as a way to steady the disorder within him. Even the days bent over blueprints failed to soothe the quiet madness hidden under his skin. When he faced a building plan, his hands trembled; in his head the calculated beauty of structure mixed with the cool cruelty of demolition.
Then he found a method to produce the silence he had once sought: planting bombs.
For him, it was the only way to externalize his pain. The C4 placed silently at a building’s core crystallized the intersection of his desire to destroy and his thirst for silence. Israel’s attacks on Gaza had stoked his rage, but the true explosion had been nurtured in the quiet of his childhood. For Rafi, releasing explosives without sound was a ritual of severing himself from the world’s noise.
Rafi’s heart could find rest only in the stillness of destruction; he was trapped in a darkness no one noticed.
Without sound, unnoticed by anyone, he broke his world and obtained silence.
And no one knew that his cry was hidden within that quiet destruction.
Construction of Columbia Point Residences had begun in 2024. The three collapsed houses had been occupied by staff of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement—ICE—and its Enforcement and Removal Operations, ERO.
They took off their uniforms, sat at these tables with their families. By day they detained migrants and sent them out of the country; by night they held children on their laps and drank beer.
To Rafi, those two faces were one mask. Smile and cruelty breathed under the same skin. It was almost impossible to discern the boundary. He had seen the light in those houses many nights—the silhouettes at dinner through the curtains, laughter. There were no faces of the detained among them.
Each night Rafi never missed the five prayers. His fingertips turned sacred pages of the Qur’an; Arabic verses rang in his heart. “True strength lies in patience; vengeance is entrusted to God”—that phrase steadied him, lending calm. His anger was forbidden to flare; it lived quietly inside.
Recent news repeated the same refrain daily—“a million deported annually,” “military bases converted to detention centers,” “raids even on pending family applications”—numbers passing through the broadcast with a dry sound. But behind those numbers were names: his mother’s name, his sister’s name, the old man next door. Those names did not run on the news; they had no voice.
Rafi thought: this is not policy but selection—sorting who to keep and who to cast aside on sheets of paper. His faith taught mercy and justice, yet the world trampled those teachings. “God is the judge; we are only witnesses”—he repeated in his heart, while refusing to look away.
People in the city sought ways to lighten their lives. Yet tariff hikes made the very air heavy. Bread, nails, gasoline rose in price; sighs filled the shopping streets. Oddly, ICE and ERO garages always housed new vehicles; uniforms looked uncreased and shoes had thick soles. It was the result of budget and protection, the payoff for casting others aside.
Rafi kept calm. To erupt in emotion was to feed the enemy’s desire. So he hid his anger. The fire burning within him was tended like a vow to God—silent and steady.
Stories of neighbors taken in the night, a child crying as someone was seized—each one settled into him and became fuel. But it never flared. It only fed the coals and raised the burn temperature. From the outside, he seemed a gentle man. Inside, however, a balanced plan of destruction was quietly taking shape.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
My new novel:
B♭ (B-flat)
There’s still more to come. 😃
(This is not the final draft.)
Set in New York City.
16
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/54811315069/in/dateposted...
15
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/54793744070/in/dateposted...
14
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/54771288620/in/dateposted...
13
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/54769008619/in/dateposted...
12
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/54758538180/in/dateposted...
11
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/54743658539/in/dateposted...
10
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/54737038151/in/dateposted...
9
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/54720346098/in/dateposted...
8
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/54713957969/in/dateposted...
7
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/54703714420/in/dateposted...
6
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/54696914108/in/dateposted...
5
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/54686544606/in/dateposted...
4
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/54653035442/in/dateposted...
3
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/54639396885/in/dateposted...
2
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/54628511025/in/dateposted...
1
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/54599616429/in/dateposted...
Soundtrack.
music.apple.com/jp/playlist/b-my-novel-soundtrack/pl.u-47...
Note: I gave a brief explanation of this novel in the following video:
youtu.be/3w65lqUF-YI?si=yG7qy6TPeCL9xRJV
iTunes Playlist Link::
music.apple.com/jp/playlist/b/pl.u-47DJGhopxMD
My new novel:
B♭ (B-flat)
Notes
1. "Bombay Blood Type (hh type)"
•Characteristics: A rare blood type that lacks the usual ABO antigens — cannot be classified as A, B, or O.
•Discovery: First identified in 1952 in Mumbai, India (formerly Bombay).
•Prevalence: Roughly 1 in 10,000 people in India; globally, about 1 in 2.5 million.
•Transfusion Compatibility: Only compatible with blood from other Bombay type donors.
2. 2024 Harvard University Valedictorian Speech – The Power of Not Knowing
youtu.be/SOUH8iVqSOI?si=Ju-Y728irtcWR71K
3. Shots Fired at Trump Rally
youtu.be/1ejfAkzjEhk?si=ASqJwEmkY-2rW_hT
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Title.
九月の海辺。
( iPhone 13 pro shot )
本須賀海岸。九十九里浜。山武市。千葉県。日本。2025. … 1 / 1
(今日の写真。それは未発表です。）
Images:
ELLEGARDEN … The End Of The World（歌詞、和訳付き）
youtu.be/3hAKmshltDY?si=3dlYv3ccvIMJwnjj
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
僕の新しい小説。
B♭ （ビーフラット）
第17弾。 😄
以下は、まだ初稿の段階です。まだ推敲します。
重要な部分は公開していません。
公開している内容の順番はバラバラです。
(もちろん最終稿ではありません。)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
僕の新しい小説。
B♭ （ビーフラット）
ニューヨーク港を南に望むレッドフックの埠頭に近い、古い倉庫街を開発したコロンビア・ポイント・レジデンシズは、北側にウィリアムズバークの商業・アート地区を背にし、その間の埋立地を再造成した、低層戸建て中心の静かな新興住宅街だ。
新しく舗装された道には、子供たちの笑い声がこだまし、午後の柔らかな陽射しが屋根の瓦や白壁の外壁を優しく照らしている。風は海からの冷たい香りを運び、港湾の遠くで聞こえる船の汽笛が静けさにアクセントを加えた。
住民たちは日常の喧騒から離れ、ここに新たな生活の基盤を築いている。
午後３時の陽射しは、まだ柔らかく街路樹の葉を黄金色に染めていた。
マリナーズ・ロウの新興住宅街は、まるで計算されたように完璧な整列を見せている。白壁の戸建てが並び、まっすぐな歩道が両脇に伸びる。新築の香りと、まだ新しいペンキの匂いが微かに漂っていた。
マーク・サンチェスはリビングの大きな窓から外を眺めながら、家族の幸せな未来を思い描いていた。
彼が属するEROは、ICEを構成する２部門のうちのひとつ、HSIの国際犯罪捜査に比べ、EROの移民の強制執行や送還を行う現場部隊で培った厳しい現実もあったが、ここではただの父親であり夫だった。
レイチェルはキッチンで夕食の準備を始めている。子供たちの声が、遠くのスクールバス停から聞こえてきた。
ー 穏やかだ。日曜日の午後３時に、人生は集約されているかもしれない ー
彼は胸のうちでそうつぶやいた。
午後の光は徐々に斜めになり、窓ガラスに映る影が伸びていく。住宅街の通りでは犬の散歩をする老人が一人、手押し車を押しながらゆっくり歩いていた。子供たちの笑い声が交差するその風景は、穏やかで無垢な世界の象徴のようだった。
家の中では子供たちが遊びに夢中になり、レイチェルがにこやかに声をかけている。外の空気は穏やかで、風はわずかに暖かく、揺れるカーテンが優しく靡いていた。
マークは玄関のドアを開け、郵便受けを確認する。ポストには新しい学校の案内と地域の防災訓練のお知らせが入っていた。
午後三時、秒針がゆっくりと動く中、静寂が深まっていった。
家の中心、基礎のコンクリートのすぐ脇が微かに揺れた。
午後の静けさの中、遠くからは港湾の汽笛と、風に揺れる街路樹の葉擦れの音が響いていた。それらの環境音が、わずかな爆破音をかき消し、周囲の住民が気づくことはなかった。煙はゆっくりと立ち上り、爆発の瞬間に生まれる激しい炎はなく、ただ細かな粉塵が静かに空気を満たした。倒壊は一気ではなく、ゆっくりと、しかし確実に進んだ。外壁の一部が静かに亀裂を生み、ガラスは微細に震えながら割れていく。木製の柱が一本、また一本と音もなく倒れ、家全体が内側から崩れていく様は、まるで静かな舞踏のようだった。爆薬はわずかな衝撃で連鎖反応を起こし、家の構造を静かに、しかし確実に破壊していく。外壁は音もなく割れ、ガラスは粉々になり、木製の柱が倒れ始めた。
しかし、騒音は極力抑えられ、周囲の住民たちは何が起きたのか気づきにくいほどだ。
遠くで小さく崩れ落ちる建物のシルエットがあった。マークの家屋だけでなく、通りを挟んで３００mほど先の青い家、そして、そこからさらに奥へ進んだ白い家から砂埃が舞い上がった。
3軒の家が瞬時に消えた。
風が一瞬止み、街路樹の葉が揺れる音だけが響く。
マリナーズ・ロウの午後は、再び何事もなかったかのように静けさを取り戻した。
しかし、すべては変わってしまったのだ。
基礎のコンクリートに小分けしたC4を複数箇所に埋め込み、微細なタイミングで順序良く起爆させることで、衝撃波を最小限に抑えつつ構造の骨組みを内側から崩していく。
ラフィの建築学の知識が、単なる破壊ではなく「静かなる崩壊」を可能にしていた。
「必要な力だけを使う」——それが彼の信念だった。
ラフィは遠くの建物の屋上からその光景を見つめ、胸に深い静寂が流れた。彼にとって、それは叫びでもあり、祈りでもあった。破壊の中に宿る静寂こそが、彼の複雑な感情の表現だったのだ。
ラフィは幼いころから、静寂の中にしか安らぎを見いだせなかった。
ガザの埃っぽい路地裏で遊ぶ子供たちの喧騒も、爆撃の轟音も、彼の心を深く傷つけるだけだった。廃れたガザの街角で、幼いラフィは静かに壁にもたれかかっていた。爆撃の轟音が遠ざかる瞬間、その静寂は彼にとって一瞬の救いだった。
母の涙、父の怒り、そのすべてが混ざり合う騒乱の中で、彼はただ「音のない場所」を求めていた。彼は音のない世界へと逃げ込んだ。
小さな手で壊れかけたラジオの中身をいじりながら、ラフィは初めて「破壊」と「静けさ」の関係に気づいた。壊れたラジオは、音を失った後に、ただ静かにそこに物質としての形状を保っていた。
成長するにつれ、彼の内面は複雑に絡み合った。
イスラム大学の建築学部に進んだのは、形を作り、構造を操ることで、彼の心の乱れを制御しようとしたからだ。大学で建築を学ぶ日々も、彼の心の奥底に潜む静かな狂気を癒すには足りなかった。建物の設計図に向き合うとき、彼の指先は震え、頭の中で計算される構造の美しさと破壊の冷徹さが入り混じった。
そして彼は、かつて自分が求めた静寂を「作り出す」方法を見つけた。
爆弾を仕掛けること。
それは彼にとって、自分の痛みを外に放つ唯一の手段だった。
建物の中心に静かに仕掛けられたC4は、彼の「破壊への欲求」と「静寂への渇望」が交錯した結晶だった。イスラエルによるガザ攻撃は彼の憎悪を燃え上がらせたが、真の爆発は幼少期の沈黙の中でじわじわと育まれていた。彼にとって、爆薬を音もなく解き放つ行為は、世界の騒音から自分自身を切り離す儀式だったのだ。
ラフィの心は、破壊の静けさの中にしか安息を見出せず、誰も気づかない闇に囚われていた。
音もなく、誰にも気づかれずに、彼は自らの世界を破壊し、静寂を手に入れる。
そしてその静かな破壊の中に、彼の叫びが隠されていることを、誰も知らなかった。
コロンビア・ポイント・レジデンシズは、２０２４年に工事の着工が始まった。崩壊した三棟に住んでいたのは、米国移民税関取締局のICEとその強制退去執行部門であるEROの職員たちだった。
彼らは制服を脱ぎ、この家で家族と食卓を囲む。昼間、移民を拘束し、国外へ送る彼らが、夜には子どもを膝に抱き、ビールを飲む。
ラフィには、その二つの顔がひとつの仮面にしか見えなかった。微笑みと冷酷が、同じ皮膚の下で息をしている。その境目を見極めることは、ほとんど不可能だった。彼は何度も、職員たちの家に灯る明かりを見た。カーテン越しに見える食卓の影、笑い声。そこには、拘束された者たちの顔はひとつもなかった。
ラフィは毎夜、沈黙のなかで五回の礼拝を欠かさなかった。彼の指先は厳かにクルアーンのページをめくり、アラビア語の詩句が心に響いた。
「真の強さは忍耐にあり、復讐は神の手に委ねられる」—その言葉が彼を支え、冷静さを与えた。
怒りは熱く燃え上がることを許されず、静かに内側で息づいていた。
最近のニュースは、毎日が同じ旋律を繰り返していた。
ー 「年間百万人送還」「軍事基地を収容所に転用」「家族申請中でも摘発」 ー
数字は乾いた音を立ててニュースの中を流れていく。
だが、その数字の裏側には名前があった。母の名、妹の名、隣に住んでいた老人の名。それらはニュースには載らず、声にもならなかった。
ラフィは思った。これは政策ではなく、選別だ。残す者と捨てる者を、書類の上で振り分ける作業だ。
彼の信仰は慈悲と正義を説く。だが今の世界は、その教えを踏みにじっていた。
「神は審判者、我らはただ証人」 — 彼は心の中で繰り返しながらも、見過ごすことを拒んだ。
街では誰もが生活を軽くする方法を探していた。だが、関税の引き上げは空気までも重くした。パンも、釘も、ガソリンも値を上げ、ため息が商店街を満たした。
不思議なことに、ICEやEROの車庫にはいつも新しい車が並んでいた。制服は新品のように皺ひとつなく、靴底は厚かった。それは予算と保護の結果であり、他者を切り捨てた見返りでもあった。
ラフィは冷静だった。
感情を爆発させるのは、敵の望むところだ。だから彼は、怒りを表には出さなかった。彼の内に燃える火は、神にささげる誓いのように、静かに、確実に燃え続けていた。
夜中に連れ去られた隣人の話。拘束の最中に子どもが泣き叫ぶ声。その一つ一つが、彼の胸の奥で沈殿し、火種になった。
しかし、決して燃え上がることはない。ただ、確実に燃料をくべ、燃焼温度を上げていく。外から見れば、彼は穏やかな男だった。
だが、内側では均衡の取れた破壊の計画が静かに形を成していた。
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
僕の新しい小説。
B♭ （ビーフラット）
舞台はニューヨークです。
16
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/54811315069/in/dateposted...
15
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/54793744070/in/dateposted...
14
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/54771288620/in/dateposted...
13
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/54769008619/in/dateposted...
12
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/54758538180/in/dateposted...
11
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/54743658539/in/dateposted...
10
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/54737038151/in/dateposted...
9
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/54720346098/in/dateposted...
8
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/54713957969/in/dateposted...
7
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/54703714420/in/dateposted...
6
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/54696914108/in/dateposted...
5
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/54686544606/in/dateposted...
4
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/54653035442/in/dateposted...
3
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/54639396885/in/dateposted...
2
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/54628511025/in/dateposted...
1
www.flickr.com/photos/stealaway/54599616429/in/dateposted...
Soundtrack.
music.apple.com/jp/playlist/b-my-novel-soundtrack/pl.u-47...
追記 この小説を多少説明しました。
youtu.be/3w65lqUF-YI?si=yG7qy6TPeCL9xRJV
メモ
1
「Bombay型（ボンベイ型、hh型）」
•特徴：通常のABO血液型を持たない（A、B、Oに分類されない）特殊な型。
•発見地：1952年、インド・ムンバイ（旧ボンベイ）で初めて確認。
•発生頻度：インドでは1万人に1人程度だが、世界的には約250万人に1人とも。
•輸血制限：同じBombay型しか輸血できない。
2
2024年ハーバード大学首席の卒業式スピーチ『知らないことの力』
youtu.be/SOUH8iVqSOI?si=Ju-Y728irtcWR71K
3
Shots fired at Trump rally
youtu.be/1ejfAkzjEhk?si=ASqJwEmkY-2rW_hT
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Photograph portraying the bivouac Carpano (2.865 m) by night.
Single shot, taken at moonlight, phase 50%. The refuge interior (blankets, cots) can be discerned thanks to the light of some candles.
In the Alps, especially in Italian territory, the term "bivouac" also refers to this kind of tiny structures, permanently unattended, for use by climbers to retreat and overnight.
This is located in a secluded area of the Gran Paradiso National Park (Italy).
These shelters always remind me the US mailboxes :-) (just bigger, of course!), or, with a little bit more of imagination, even small spaceships coming from alien worlds. That's why I always try to create an atmosphere like "hey, visitors have arrived among us"… also a sort of TARDIS time machine, as seen in the Doctor Who sci-fi series.
_____________________
©Roberto Bertero, All Rights Reserved. This image is not available for use on websites, blogs or other media without the explicit written permission of the photographer.
Devocionales diarios | Ya que crees en Dios, deberías vivir para la verdad
El problema común que existe en todas las personas es que entienden la verdad pero no la ponen en práctica. Esto es porque, por una parte, no están dispuestos a pagar el precio y, por otra, su discernimiento es deficiente. Son incapaces de ver más allá de muchas de las dificultades de la vida cotidiana tal y como son, y no saben practicar adecuadamente. Ya que las experiencias de las personas son demasiado superficiales, su calibre muy pobre y el grado en el que entienden la verdad muy limitado, no tienen manera de resolver las dificultades con las que se encuentran en la vida cotidiana. Creen en Dios sólo de palabra y son incapaces de traer a Dios a su vida cotidiana. Es decir, Dios es Dios, la vida es la vida, y es como si las personas no tuvieran relación con Dios en su vida. Esto es lo que piensa todo el mundo. Creyendo así en Dios, en realidad las personas no serán ganadas y perfeccionadas por Él. De hecho, no es que la palabra de Dios haya encontrado una expresión completa, sino que la habilidad de las personas para recibir Su palabra simplemente es demasiado inadecuada. Podría decirse que casi nadie actúa según las intenciones originales de Dios. Más bien, su fe en Dios va según sus propias intenciones, las nociones religiosas que tuvieron en el pasado y su propia manera de hacer las cosas. Pocos son aquellos que sufren una transformación después de aceptar la palabra de Dios y comienzan a actuar de acuerdo con Su voluntad. En lugar de eso, persisten en sus creencias equivocadas. Cuando las personas comienzan a creer en Dios, lo hacen basándose en las reglas convencionales de la religión y viven e interactúan con los demás completamente sobre la base de su propia filosofía de vivir. Podría decirse que este es el caso de nueve de cada diez personas. Hay muy pocos que formulan otro plan y pasan página después de comenzar a creer en Dios. La humanidad ha fracasado al considerar la palabra de Dios como verdad o al tomarla como tal para ponerla en práctica.
Tomemos la fe en Jesús, por ejemplo. Tanto si alguien acabara de empezar a creer como si lo hiciera desde hacía mucho tiempo, todos utilizaban simplemente los talentos que tenían y demostraban las habilidades que poseían. Las personas simplemente agregaron “fe en Dios”, estas tres palabras, a su vida habitual, pero no hicieron ningún cambio en su carácter y su fe en Dios no creció en lo más mínimo. Su búsqueda no era ni caliente ni fría. No decían que fueran a renunciar a su fe, pero tampoco se consagraban por completo a Dios. Nunca habían amado verdaderamente u obedecido a Dios. Su fe en Dios era una mezcla de lo genuino y lo falso, se aproximaban a ella con un ojo abierto y otro cerrado, y no eran sinceros en la práctica de su fe. Continuaban en tal estado de desconcierto hasta acabar muriendo confundidos. ¿Qué sentido tiene esto? Ahora, para creer en el Dios práctico, debes tomar el camino correcto. Si crees en Dios, no debes buscar solo bendiciones, sino amar y conocer a Dios. Por medio de Su esclarecimiento, mediante tu búsqueda individual, puedes comer y beber Su palabra, desarrollar un entendimiento real de Dios y tener un amor real por Dios procedente del fondo de tu corazón. En otras palabras, cuando tu amor por Dios es el más genuino y nadie puede destruirlo o interponerse en el camino de tu amor por Él, entonces estás en el camino correcto de la fe en Dios. Esto prueba que perteneces a Dios, porque Dios ya ha tomado posesión de tu corazón y nada más puede poseerte. Mediante tu experiencia, el precio que has pagado y la obra de Dios, eres capaz de desarrollar un amor espontáneo por Dios y, cuando lo hagas, te liberarás de la influencia de Satanás y llegarás a vivir en la luz de la palabra de Dios. Solo cuando te has librado de la influencia de las tinieblas puedes decir que has ganado a Dios. En tu creencia en Dios, debes intentar buscar esta meta. Esta es la responsabilidad de cada uno de vosotros. Ninguno de vosotros debería estar satisfecho con el estado actual de las cosas. No podéis tener dudas respecto a la obra de Dios ni tomarla a la ligera. Debéis pensar en Dios en todos los aspectos y en todo momento, y hacer todas las cosas por Su causa. Y cuando habléis o actuéis, debéis poner primero los intereses de la casa de Dios. Solo así podéis ser conforme al corazón de Dios.
El mayor defecto de la gente en su fe en Dios es que solo creen de palabra y Dios está totalmente ausente de sus vidas cotidianas. Todas las personas, de hecho, creen en la existencia de Dios; sin embargo, Dios no es parte de su vida diaria. De la boca de la gente salen muchas oraciones a Dios, pero Él tiene poco lugar en sus corazones, y por eso Dios la pone a prueba una y otra vez. Ya que las personas son impuras, Dios no tiene otra alternativa que probarlas para que se sientan avergonzadas y lleguen a conocerse a sí mismas en medio de las pruebas. De otro modo, la humanidad se convertiría en los descendientes del arcángel y se volvería cada vez más corrupta. En el proceso de su fe en Dios, cada persona desecha muchos de sus motivos y objetivos personales bajo la incesante purificación de Dios. De lo contrario, Dios no tendría manera de usar a nadie ni de hacer en la gente la obra que debe hacer. Dios primero purifica a la gente y, mediante este proceso, las personas llegan a conocerse a sí mismas y Dios puede cambiarlas. Solo entonces puede Dios obrar Su vida en ellas y solo así puede el corazón del hombre volverse por completo a Dios. Y por eso digo que creer en Dios no es tan sencillo como dice la gente. Tal como lo ve Dios, si solo tienes conocimiento, pero no tienes Su palabra como vida, y si estás limitado únicamente a tu propio conocimiento, pero no puedes practicar la verdad o vivir la palabra de Dios, esto es prueba de que todavía no tienes un corazón que ame a Dios y muestra que tu corazón no le pertenece. Se puede llegar a conocer a Dios creyendo en Él: esta es la meta final y el objetivo de la búsqueda del hombre. Debes dedicar esfuerzo a vivir las palabras de Dios, para que puedan hacerse realidad en tu práctica. Si solo tienes conocimiento doctrinal, entonces tu fe en Dios se quedará en nada. Solo si luego también practicas y vives Su palabra tu fe puede considerarse completa y de acuerdo con la voluntad de Dios. En este camino, muchas personas pueden hablar de mucho conocimiento, pero en el momento de su muerte, sus ojos se llenan de lágrimas y se odian a sí mismas por haber desperdiciado toda una vida y haber vivido en vano hasta la vejez. Solo entienden doctrinas, pero no pueden poner en práctica la verdad o dar testimonio de Dios; en cambio, simplemente corren de acá para allá y están sumamente ocupados; y solo al borde de la muerte ven finalmente que carecen de un verdadero testimonio, que no conocen a Dios en absoluto. ¿Y no es ya demasiado tarde? ¿Por qué no aprovechas el día y persigues la verdad que amas? ¿Por qué esperar hasta mañana? Si en vida no sufres por la verdad o buscas obtenerla, ¿es posible que desees sentir arrepentimiento en la hora de tu muerte? Si es así, entonces, ¿por qué creer en Dios? En verdad, hay muchos asuntos en los que las personas, si les dedican el más mínimo esfuerzo, pueden poner la verdad en práctica y así agradar a Dios. Por el mero hecho de que los corazones de las personas están poseídos por demonios, no pueden actuar por el bien de Dios y se precipitan constantemente en beneficio de su carne, sin obtener nada al final. Por esta razón, las personas están afligidas de continuo por problemas y dificultades. ¿No son estos los tormentos de Satanás? ¿No es esta la corrupción de la carne? No debes tratar de engañar a Dios hablando sin parar. Más bien, debes actuar de manera tangible. No te engañes a ti mismo; ¿qué sentido tendría eso? ¿Qué puedes ganar por vivir por el bien de tu carne y afanarte por el beneficio y la fama?
De “La Palabra manifestada en carne”
Para conocer más: Por qué creer en Dios
Poison Oak can be found in a variety of forms. In this case, it is a vine. Once the leaves fall it is harder to discern that it is indeed poison oak, so the best thing to do is avoid bare vines in the wild. There is quite a bit of poison oak in this location, covering the bank of a dry creek.
Liberdade e responsabilidade
Tudo na criação está em permanente processo de transformação e
aprimoramento.
Assim também ocorre com os homens. Em sua condição de espíritos, trilham
marcha ascendente rumo à angelitude.
Foram criados em estado de absoluta simplicidade e ignorância, Mas possuem,
desde o princípio, os embriões de todas as virtudes.
Nas primeiras experiências foram conduzidos grandemente pelos instintos.
Gradualmente tomaram ciência de seu potencial e passaram a fazer opções.
Titubeantes no princípio, desenvolveram a consciência de si próprios e da
sua vontade.
Um elemento primordial do progresso consciente é o livre-arbítrio.
As espécies animais e vegetais são conduzidas pelas forças da natureza, em
suas etapas de elaboração. Já os homens podem escolher os caminhos que
trilham.
O progresso espiritual pressupõe o desenvolvimento da faculdade de discernir
o bem e o mal. Para a aquisição desse senso moral, para crescer em
entendimento e compreensão, são imprescindíveis à liberdade de opção. Quanto
mais o espírito burilam seu intelecto e exerce sua vontade, mais liberdade
tem. Seu leque de opções aumenta. Mas não é somente a liberdade que ganha
expressão.
Com o conhecimento e o lento evoluir do ser, ele se torna mais responsável
pelo que faz. Quando o instinto predomina, a responsabilidade é ínfima.
Quando a vontade e a consciência regem o destino, torna-se inarredável a
responsabilidade.
O homem é intrinsecamente livre em seus atos e pensamentos, mas responde por
tudo o que faz e pensa.
As leis humanas são freqüentemente burladas e enganadas, contudo, nos
estatutos divinos não há qualquer falha.
Sendo as leis divinas inscritas na consciência de cada homem, elas jamais
são burladas. Ninguém escapará de si próprio.
Cada qual é livre para pensar, falar e agir. Mas essa liberdade sempre deve
respeitar os direitos do próximo.
A movimentação do livre-arbítrio jamais deve causar sofrimento e coerção
para outrem.
Quem se permite infelicitar o semelhante, infelicita-se a si próprio.
O desrespeito à dignidade e à felicidade alheias aprisiona o seu autor.
O homem que provoca sofrimento prepara para si um cárcere de sombra e
desgraças. Talvez ele engane a justiça humana. Quiçá logre anestesiar a
própria consciência por um tempo. Mas cedo ou tarde, nesta encarnação ou em
outra, despertará para a realidade. Sua consciência o chamará a prestar
contas de seus atos.
Então, a dor infligida ressurgirá no íntimo do ser. Entre inibições e
complexos, lutas e sofrimentos, ele se acertará com as leis divinas.
Reflita na responsabilidade que você possui, em sua condição de homem livre.
Você pode muito. Pode escolher ser honesto ou desonesto, misericordioso ou
cruel, leal ou traiçoeiro, útil ou inútil. Mas responderá por seus atos. Não
se trata de pecado e castigo, mas de responsabilidade.
Pense nisso!
Textos da Equipe de Redação do Momento Espírita.
A receding tide...
*********************************
A couple of friends have thought this is a Monochrome, although it wasn’t shot or processed as such. It’s SooC. But I found desaturating it in an editor makes no discernible difference, so it’s “nature’s monochrome”!
...porque, hoy, el Día Internacional de los Derechos Humanos me recuerda que hay mucho por hacer, porque millones y millones de personas viven desposeídos de todo, despojados de libertad, a merced de la guerra, de las injusticias, del hambre, de intereses políticos... ; sus derechos conculcados, desposeídos de dignidad.
Creo en el poder transformador del ser humano más allá de las utopías; por eso, quiero pedir y pido una mochila de luz para cada uno de nosotros, que nos acompañe, nos ayude a discernir, ver y actuar en pro de un mundo donde no hayan de celebrarse más "Días Internacionales de...."