View allAll Photos Tagged EXPLORATION
Classified in "Arctic Explorations that Payed Off".
Meet Château des Anges. A post-mediaeval castle that was once surrounded by an immense park. It belonged to a very noble family of counts. It just had everything: a grapevine, vast orchards, fountains, stables, arable lands for crops and livestock, woods, a lake. Ownership changed quite often and the castle wasn't maintained as it should be. The last owner left the place in 1970. It is untouched ever since.
Plan A
My first attempt, spring 2009. The bridge connecting mainland to the castle's peninsula is fenced off. I slip through and check the front door. A flashback to 1970 twirls up in my mind: maybe they just left the place to get some smokes? And vanished, while leaving the front door open. Not. Of course it's sealed, what was I thinking.
Plan B
Inflatable boats, y'all. Pumping some air in some plastic. Load our gear and set sail. Peddling like there's no tomorrow. There's a thin line between exploring and transatlantic sailing.
I informed a fellow explorer of my boat plan, and we wanted to set off and explore this castle together. But he beat me to it. But he wanted to beat me. On an early morning he pulled out a rubber boat, started pumping, and took off. Unfortunately the boat plan didn't succeed. The island to embark on is completely overgrown by impenetrable bushes with sharp thorns, spines and prickles. After working one hour trying to make an entry through that jungle - bloody hands, ripped up shirts and a leaking boat inclusive - the plan was cancelled.
Plan C
Waiting. For a harsh winter. And ice. I waited 8 months to explore this baby. On one of the coldest winter mornings NeQo and me set off. It was -10°C. There wasn't a single soul for miles. Just us, this decayed castle, and Mister Winter.
The lake was frozen solid and we didn't have any difficulties wading through the thorned bush. We arrived at the castle. The backdoor of the terrace was open. Of course it was open. What was the owner thinking? Some schmuck would cross the water - or even better - cross the ice in the event of winter?
And there we were. Setting foot in an untouched place that's been decaying since the seventies. Forsaken. Since long. But captured in our minds. For ever more.
Explored with NeQo.
Boeing 737-205/Adv (cn 23465/1226) Now replaced by 737-700s to shuutle personnel to the North Slope oil fields. Formerly LN-SUU with Braathens and PP-SPB with VASP.
Rolleiflex Automat
Zeiss Opton Tessar T 75mm f/3.5
Rollei yellow filter
Ilford Pan F 50
Xtol 1:1 7:45 @ 20c
DLSR Digitized
CC Photoshop
Retired from Shell... all my life I've worked (living in Houston) for oil or oil field services companies with a few brief exceptions. I've come to understand and appreciate the value of oil and how it truly enriches our lives in ways you never realize since everyone thinks of it as gasoline that powers an evil gasoline engine. Exploration is a necessity, as is drilling, until the day that we find something that will replace so much of the things we depend on other than gasoline.
Not a band wagon - just saying.
Vill and me visited some haunted mansions for fun. It made for some good picture opportunities.
(These pics were taken before Halloween of course..I am running behind with posting :-)
Exploration Days, heart
June 19-21 at MSU, nearly 2,500 youth and chaperones from every MI county come stay on campus for 4-H Exploration Days-- a pre-college program to meet new people and experience the life of a Spartan.
Photo credit: Mariah Montenegro
Sentimental Exploration's.
Metaphysics literarische Ästhetik systematische Dialoge Inspirationen ausgerichtet,
milieux philosophiques matérielles fondamentales visions subordonnées embrassant principes,
poesie composte esterni drammi legislative beni leggi concorsi di assistenza,
plé rannáin fóillíochta mearbhall tuiscint dealbh bhréige le chéile codanna údaraithe,
gwybodaeth ystyriaethau parhaus strategaethau reslo rhifyddol gwyddorau gwleidyddol arddangos gwallau,
similes species, perpetuis plures differentias rerum est episodic quae praestat casus tragoediis,
necesaria conexión prosa perceptible revelar secretos opuestos cosas inanimadas articulos para recreo o funciones se separa,
υποχωρώντας υπόλοιπα αυτοσυνείδησης γνωρίζοντας προς τα μέσα νόηση εκπρόσωπος αποφάσεις ξεφυτρώνουν απόψεις σαφή,
medidas distintas subsequentes autênticos princípios infinitos beleza modelar reino habita razões luminar,
基礎原理静止自然熟考文字行為を見つめ別送知覚フィギュア.
Steve.D.Hammond.