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The Free Life Pond is an annex pond of the Han Chinese Buddhist temples. It is usually located in front of the Shanmen or the Hall of Four Heavenly Kings. The Free Life Pond embodies Buddhist thoughts of compassion and understanding of all living beings.
The Free Life Pond can regulate the air, inhibit dust, but also has the role of fire prevention. If the Buddhist temple is on fire, the water in the pond can be used to fight the fire.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_Life_Pond
El Estanque de la Vida Libre es un estanque anexo de los templos budistas chinos Han. Suele estar situado frente al Shanmen o Salón de los Cuatro Reyes Celestiales. El Estanque de la Vida Libre encarna los pensamientos budistas de compasión y comprensión hacia todos los seres vivos.
El Estanque de la Vida Libre puede regular el aire, inhibir el polvo, pero también tiene la función de prevenir incendios. Si el templo budista se incendia, el agua del estanque puede utilizarse para combatir el fuego.
Lingyin Temple (simplified Chinese: 灵隐寺; traditional Chinese: 靈隱寺; pinyin: Língyǐn Sì) is a Buddhist temple of the Chan sect located north-west of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. The temple's name is commonly translated into English as Temple of the Soul's Retreat, which is a literal translation of the Chinese. It is one of the largest and wealthiest Buddhist temples in China, and contains numerous pagodas and Buddhist grottoes.
The monastery is the largest of several temples in the Wulin Mountains (Chinese: 武林山; Pinyin: Wǔlínshān), which also features many grottos and religious rock carvings, the most famous of which is the Feilai Feng (Traditional Chinese: 飛來峰石窟; Simplified Chinese:飞来峰石窟; literally: "the peak that flew hither").
According to tradition, the monastery was founded in 328 AD during the Eastern Jin dynasty (266–420) by an Indian monk, named Huili in Chinese. From its inception, Lingyin was a famous monastery in the Jiangnan region.
During the Cultural Revolution, the temple and grounds suffered damage at the hands of red guards, but the students of Zhejiang University tried to protect the temple. The temple managed to avoid large scale destruction partly because of the instructions of Premier Zhou Enlai.
Today the temple is thriving as a destination for both pilgrims and tourists. It is regarded as one of the wealthiest monasteries in China, and regular pilgrims have included former paramount leader Deng Xiaoping.
The Wuling Mountains area is a major centre of Chan Buddhism in south-eastern China. A number of smaller temples are also located in the area. Today, Lingyin and the surrounding areas are marketed as the Lingyin-Feilai Feng Scenic Area, with ticketed admission.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lingyin_Temple
www.viajeachina.com/atracciones-de-hangzhou/templo-lingyi...
www.thechinaguide.com/es/sight/lingyin-temple
El templo de Lingyin (chino simplificado: 灵隐寺; chino tradicional: 靈隱寺; pinyin: Língyǐn Sì) es un templo budista de la secta Chan situado al noroeste de Hangzhou, en la provincia china de Zhejiang. El nombre del templo se traduce comúnmente al inglés como Temple of the Soul's Retreat (Retiro del Templo del Alma), que es una traducción literal del chino. Es uno de los templos budistas más grandes y ricos de China, y contiene numerosas pagodas y grutas budistas.
El monasterio es el mayor de varios templos de las montañas Wulin (chino: 武林山; pinyin: Wǔlínshān), que también cuenta con numerosas grutas y tallas religiosas en la roca, la más famosa de las cuales es el Feilai Feng (chino tradicional: 飛來峰石窟; chino simplificado:飞来峰石窟; literalmente: "el pico que voló hasta aquí").
Según la tradición, el monasterio fue fundado en el año 328 d.C. durante la dinastía Jin Oriental (266-420) por un monje indio, llamado Huili en chino. Desde sus inicios, Lingyin fue un famoso monasterio de la región de Jiangnan.
Durante la Revolución Cultural, el templo y sus terrenos sufrieron daños a manos de los guardias rojos, pero los estudiantes de la Universidad de Zhejiang intentaron protegerlo. El templo logró evitar la destrucción a gran escala en parte gracias a las instrucciones del primer ministro Zhou Enlai.
En la actualidad, el templo prospera como destino tanto para peregrinos como para turistas. Está considerado uno de los monasterios más ricos de China, y entre sus peregrinos habituales se encuentra el antiguo líder supremo Deng Xiaoping.
La zona de las montañas Wuling es un importante centro del budismo Chan en el sureste de China. En la zona también hay varios templos más pequeños. En la actualidad, Lingyin y sus alrededores se comercializan como Zona Escénica de Lingyin-Feilai Feng, con entrada.
China, Harbin, Songhua Jiang / River, waste "crumbles" from ice blocks for sculptures & constructions of the impressive buildings for the Harbin Ice & Snow Festival, sawed out rectangles of the rivers over 50 cm thick icecap.
The Songhua River is one of the primary rivers of China, flows about 1500 km from the Changbai Mountains on the China–North Korea border feeding the Amur River towards the Pacific.
Not only for its special position, but also as the centre of Heilongjiang's political, economic, educational & cultural life, Harbin is described as the pearl beneath the swan's neck. Lying on the east of the Songnen Plain, what is more, Harbin plays a vital role in communications between South & North Asia as well the regions of Europe & the Pacific Ocean.
Harbin was the birthplace of Jin, 1115-1234 & Qing, 1644-1911, Dynasties, the latter of which had a very considerable influence on modern Chinese history.
At the end of the 19th century, Russia built the terminus of the Middle East Railway here. Later, more than 160,000 foreigners from 33 countries migrated to Harbin, promoting the development of a capitalist economy in the city. The economy & culture of Harbin achieved unprecedented prosperity at that time & the city gradually grew into a famous international commercial port. Assimilating external culture, Harbin created its unique & exotic cityscape. The majestic St. Sofia Orthodox Church & Zhongyang Dajie each built in a European style have the effect of bringing you into an 'eastern Moscow'. Even though you are sure to be attracted by various exotic buildings, the Dragon Tower which embodies the wisdom of the Chinese people is a must on your journey.
Besides these rich cultural heritages, Harbin is favoured with beautiful natural scenery. Based on meandering Song Hua River & subject to severe low temperatures in winter, down to -30°C, when I took this Pictures the Temperature varied between -20°C & -26°C but dry air, Harbin boasts a unique ice & snow culture. So, Harbin is also called the "Ice City".
The impressive "Ice & Snow Festival" is the greatest & unusual one in the world, therefor Harbin is also called the "Ice City".
As well the large Siberian Tiger & white tigers research centre, with about 500 tigers & a few other species, does an important work to prevent this species from extinction. The Research centre can be visited, tours in small a bus are available, passing through wide natural, separated, sections, however the focus point is to save the tigers.
👉 One World one Dream,
🙏...Danke, Xièxie 谢谢, Thanks, Gracias, Merci, Grazie, Obrigado, Arigatô, Dhanyavad, Chokrane to you & over
16 million visits in my photostream with countless motivating comments
China, Harbin, the "Ice Cathedral" with its about 80 mtr tall steeple at the “Ice & Snow World” across the Song Hua River is Part of the Harbin Ice Lantern Festival, at Night all Sculptures are colourful lighted with LED.
It was said that some Fishermen made rough & simple Ice-Lanterns of ice just for lighting, with the Time passed, Ice-Lanterns embodied their Cultural Features & artistic Fascination gradually. The making of Ice-Lanterns & Ice Sculptures started in the 1960s.
Harbin is an interesting Chinese City in the Heilongjiang Province Northwest of China & is strongly influenced by Russian Citizen which first immigrated to Harbin a 120 Years ago.
Harbin was the birthplace of Jin, 1115-1234 & Qing, 1644-1911 Dynasties, the latter of which had a very considerable influence on modern Chinese history. At the end of the 19th century, Russia built the terminus of the Middle East Railway here. Later, more than 160,000 foreigners from 33 countries migrated to Harbin, promoting the development of a capitalist economy in the city. The economy & culture of Harbin achieved unprecedented prosperity at that time & the city gradually grew into a famous international commercial port. Assimilating external culture, Harbin created its unique & exotic cityscape. The majestic St. Sofia Orthodox Church & Zhongyang Dajie each built in a European style have the effect of bringing you into an 'eastern Moscow'. Even though you are sure to be attracted by various exotic buildings, the Dragon Tower that embodies the wisdom of the Chinese people is a must on your journey.
👉 One World one Dream,
🙏...Danke, Xièxie 谢谢, Thanks, Gracias, Merci, Grazie, Obrigado, Arigatô, Dhanyavad, Chokrane to you & over
14 million visits in my photostream with countless motivating comments
The palace had its origins in a single-storey structure without wings built for Alberto V d'Este (1385), a small retreat intended solely for suppers and diversions, as a sort of banqueting house, with an urban front and a garden front. As the equivalent of a Roman villa suburbana, the Palazzo Schifanoia long predated the first such pleasure villa built in Renaissance Rome, the Belvedere built for Nicholas V.
In 1452 Borso d'Este received the title of Duke for the imperial fiefs of Modena and Reggio Emilia that he held from Emperor Frederick III. The occasion for the cycle of frescoes was the expected investiture of Borso d'Este as Duke of Ferrara in 1471 by Pope Paul II. The subtext of the festivities embodied in the fresco cycle is the right ordering of mankind and nature under the good government of the Duke, the guarantor of peace and prosperity in the Este dominions. Under the commissions of Borso d'Este, the architect Pietro Benvenuto degli Ordini was called upon to develop a ducal apartment on an upper level, providing the building with a salone suitable for presentations of ambassadors and delegations, a counterpart of the governing structure of Ferrara housed in the former Palazzo della Ragione, destroyed in World War II. The palace was often used by Marfisa d'Este, a great patron of the arts.
There, in the Salone dei Mesi ("Hall of the Months"), Cosimo Tura's purely pagan cycle of the months presents the cycle of the year as an allegorical pageant with the appropriate Olympian gods presiding on their fanciful cars drawn by the beasts proper to each deity, with appropriate personifications of the constellations of the zodiac. The frescoes were realized circa 1469–70 by artisans of the d'Este household, the larger figures based on cartoons by Cosmé Tura, and the vignettes of the labors of the year and the activities of the Ferrarese court under the benevolent eye of Borso d'Este, flanked by astrological figures to designs by Francesco del Cossa and Ercole de' Roberti. The learned and elaborate scheme of the allegorical presentations must have come from the immediate circle of Borso d'Este, perhaps from the court astrologer, Pellegrino Prisciani, with some details drawn from Boccaccio's Genealogia deorum.
In the Sala delle Virtù ("Hall of Virtues") nearby, the sculptor Domenico di Paris painted the stucco reliefs in a frieze of putti and symbols of the Cardinal and Theological Virtues, under a painted compartmented ceiling.
The façade was originally decorated with a cornice of feigned battlements, its surface smoothly stuccoed and decorated with geometric designs of highly colorful imitation marbles, which have been lost, lending a somewhat dour public face to Palazzo Schifanoia that was not what Borso d'Este intended. The rich white marble entrance door survives, though its tinted colors have weathered away and art historians disagree whether it is to be attributed to the painter-designer Francesco del Cossa or to Biagio Rossetti. Above the arched door, flanked by pilasters, the Este arms are displayed and the unicorn, a symbol of ducal benevolence and the source of patronage. In 1493 the terracotta cornice was added to designs by Biagio Rossetti, who was also commissioned by Ercole I d'Este to extend the palace.
From the Salone dei Mesi the visitor once passed directly into the gardens reached by a monumental stair from the summer loggia, structures that were demolished in the 18th century. After the Este left Ferrara in 1598, the palazzo was inherited through successive heirs, eventually by the Tassoni family, its frescoes whitewashed over. Eventually, during administration of the duchy as part of the Papal States, with a Habsburg garrison, it became a tobacco warehouse and manufactory. When Palazzo Schifanoia came into the possession of the comune of Ferrara in the aftermath of World War I, only seven of the months in the Salone remained legible.
Palazzo Schifanoia forms part of the heritage of Ferrara conserved under the umbrella of the Musei Civici d'Arte Antica di Ferrara. The 14th and 15th century rooms contain collections of antiquities, a numismatic collection and medals cast by Pisanello and other Quattrocento artists to commemorate members of the Este family.
Wyverns embodying the strength of the earth. Known to roost in vast underground caves and the hollowed interiors of archtrees.
The Free Life Pond is an annex pond of the Han Chinese Buddhist temples. It is usually located in front of the Shanmen or the Hall of Four Heavenly Kings. The Free Life Pond embodies Buddhist thoughts of compassion and understanding of all living beings.
The Free Life Pond can regulate the air, inhibit dust, but also has the role of fire prevention. If the Buddhist temple is on fire, the water in the pond can be used to fight the fire.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_Life_Pond
El Estanque de la Vida Libre es un estanque anexo de los templos budistas chinos Han. Suele estar situado frente al Shanmen o Salón de los Cuatro Reyes Celestiales. El Estanque de la Vida Libre encarna los pensamientos budistas de compasión y comprensión hacia todos los seres vivos.
El Estanque de la Vida Libre puede regular el aire, inhibir el polvo, pero también tiene la función de prevenir incendios. Si el templo budista se incendia, el agua del estanque puede utilizarse para combatir el fuego.
Lingyin Temple (simplified Chinese: 灵隐寺; traditional Chinese: 靈隱寺; pinyin: Língyǐn Sì) is a Buddhist temple of the Chan sect located north-west of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. The temple's name is commonly translated into English as Temple of the Soul's Retreat, which is a literal translation of the Chinese. It is one of the largest and wealthiest Buddhist temples in China, and contains numerous pagodas and Buddhist grottoes.
The monastery is the largest of several temples in the Wulin Mountains (Chinese: 武林山; Pinyin: Wǔlínshān), which also features many grottos and religious rock carvings, the most famous of which is the Feilai Feng (Traditional Chinese: 飛來峰石窟; Simplified Chinese:飞来峰石窟; literally: "the peak that flew hither").
According to tradition, the monastery was founded in 328 AD during the Eastern Jin dynasty (266–420) by an Indian monk, named Huili in Chinese. From its inception, Lingyin was a famous monastery in the Jiangnan region.
During the Cultural Revolution, the temple and grounds suffered damage at the hands of red guards, but the students of Zhejiang University tried to protect the temple. The temple managed to avoid large scale destruction partly because of the instructions of Premier Zhou Enlai.
Today the temple is thriving as a destination for both pilgrims and tourists. It is regarded as one of the wealthiest monasteries in China, and regular pilgrims have included former paramount leader Deng Xiaoping.
The Wuling Mountains area is a major centre of Chan Buddhism in south-eastern China. A number of smaller temples are also located in the area. Today, Lingyin and the surrounding areas are marketed as the Lingyin-Feilai Feng Scenic Area, with ticketed admission.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lingyin_Temple
www.viajeachina.com/atracciones-de-hangzhou/templo-lingyi...
www.thechinaguide.com/es/sight/lingyin-temple
El templo de Lingyin (chino simplificado: 灵隐寺; chino tradicional: 靈隱寺; pinyin: Língyǐn Sì) es un templo budista de la secta Chan situado al noroeste de Hangzhou, en la provincia china de Zhejiang. El nombre del templo se traduce comúnmente al inglés como Temple of the Soul's Retreat (Retiro del Templo del Alma), que es una traducción literal del chino. Es uno de los templos budistas más grandes y ricos de China, y contiene numerosas pagodas y grutas budistas.
El monasterio es el mayor de varios templos de las montañas Wulin (chino: 武林山; pinyin: Wǔlínshān), que también cuenta con numerosas grutas y tallas religiosas en la roca, la más famosa de las cuales es el Feilai Feng (chino tradicional: 飛來峰石窟; chino simplificado:飞来峰石窟; literalmente: "el pico que voló hasta aquí").
Según la tradición, el monasterio fue fundado en el año 328 d.C. durante la dinastía Jin Oriental (266-420) por un monje indio, llamado Huili en chino. Desde sus inicios, Lingyin fue un famoso monasterio de la región de Jiangnan.
Durante la Revolución Cultural, el templo y sus terrenos sufrieron daños a manos de los guardias rojos, pero los estudiantes de la Universidad de Zhejiang intentaron protegerlo. El templo logró evitar la destrucción a gran escala en parte gracias a las instrucciones del primer ministro Zhou Enlai.
En la actualidad, el templo prospera como destino tanto para peregrinos como para turistas. Está considerado uno de los monasterios más ricos de China, y entre sus peregrinos habituales se encuentra el antiguo líder supremo Deng Xiaoping.
La zona de las montañas Wuling es un importante centro del budismo Chan en el sureste de China. En la zona también hay varios templos más pequeños. En la actualidad, Lingyin y sus alrededores se comercializan como Zona Escénica de Lingyin-Feilai Feng, con entrada.
On Sunday I read an article in which Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London likened Scottish Nationalism (embodied most readily by Independence for Scotland, I assume) to racism.
www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/scottish-nationa...
At first, I assumed this was merely inaccurate, biased, incompetent or malevolent reporting from an outdated mainstream media channel… it wouldn’t be the first time. Having read the (rather patchy) article, it is clear that the intention to brand Scots as racists is not clear-cut.
However, Scots seeking independence are likened to those who voted for Brexit, in that they seek to divide people (maybe along lines of race, income and class). Essentially, Khan says we must all move in the right direction, which I assume is to conform to his vision of Blairite Labour Party values in a Globalist World. A vision which he believes can be achieved by voting Labour in Scotland under the leadership of Kezia Dugdale, Sadly, for Mr Khan it appears the vast majority of the Scottish electorate thinks otherwise, which is why they have voted for the SNP overwhelmingly.
Of course that leaves the subject of the EU referendum. By insinuation if you voted for the UK to exit the EU, (52% of the UK electorate), you are tarred with the ‘Racism brush’. Being concerned about the Sovereignty, democracy, prosperity, security and values of the nation state in general and your own country in particular is NOT racist. The self-proclaimed or so-called ‘Progressives’ of this world have used the ‘R word’ so many times, especially when it does not even apply, that it no longer has any meaning or shock value in closing down any debate. We should all be grateful for that.
However, in closing I would like to offer this other frightening possibility. If people start disbelieving repeated meaningless accusations of racism this may harm society in that genuine examples of foul racism are over-looked. So, please, anyone reading this text, do not rush to judgement, consider the evidence presented to you, find more evidence and then come to a reasoned stance. Don’t just assume your side of the argument is the only valid one. Thank you for reading.
Hello there. Relevant comments welcome but please do NOT post any link(s). All my images are my own original work, under my copyright, with all rights reserved. You need my permission to use any image for ANY purpose.
Copyright infringement is theft.
Embodying the spirit of "The Racetrack" a 1 x 1 set of ACes sprints westbound with coal empties as they are about to pass by the Metra station in Naperville. Upon arriving at Aurora, East End DS will be handing the train over to Mainline DS to run them across the Mendota Sub to Galesburg and beyond.
The building of the colonial period seems to embody the former greatness and spirit of the British Empire. Built in a neo-classical style, with Doric columns supporting a massive basement and a high portico in front of the main entrance, the building was the symbol of the entire Western civilization in Singapore - the "gateway of Asia". The building and the hotel are called "Fullerton" by Robert Fullerton, the first governor of the Straits Settlement. Singapore was the capital of British possessions in Southeast Asia and the governor required a residence corresponding to its status.
Essence is a gala gown that embodies the perfect balance between classicism and boldness. Its sculpted silhouette embraces the body with elegance, while the flowing skirt opens like a theatrical curtain. Embroidery and crystals, applied with sartorial precision, catch the light without ever flaunting it, turning every movement into a scenic gesture.
Essence is not just a gown — it is an identity. Everything about it speaks of a woman who knows how to be seen, but refuses to be defined. A woman who commands the stage without ever raising her voice.
Note: last frame is my Inspiration Maitre C.D. Even though I used AI for this video, the dress is identical to the original, except for the train, which being Mesh is not flexi.
Credits
marketplace.secondlife.com/p/Dellago-Essence-Rouge-Poison...
marketplace.secondlife.com/p/Dellago-Essence-Blanche-Nuag...
marketplace.secondlife.com/p/Dellago-Essence-Noir-Etoile/...
Beyond 2020
The attainment of a developed status by 2020 does not mean that we can then
rest on our laurels. It is an endless pursuit of well being for all our people. Our vision of a developed nation integrates this element of time within it as well. Only people with many embodied skills and knowledge and with ignited minds can be ready for such a long term vision. We believe that it is possible to develop our people to reach such a state, provided we can follow a steady path and make available to the people the benefits of change all through their lives. They should see their lives and those of others improving in actual terms, and not merely in statistical tables.
Photograph of Richard Macdonald's Nightfall Atelier against the bokeh of the Christmas Tree Lights: "Cloaked in the mysterious allure of twilight, an entrancing figure glides across a crescent moon. Poised between the spheres of the future and the past, Nightfall Atelier embodies the ethereal power of the present moment. The sensuous flow of the drapery and her half-hidden gaze embody a sense of magical possibilities."
A young Japanese warrior performs a mesmerizing dance with a traditional katana, her movements precise and fluid. As part of a Japanese cultural foundation's event, she embodies grace and strength, blending artistry with the spirit of the samurai. Her performance pays homage to centuries-old traditions, captivating the audience with every strike and step.
This building perhaps embodies Dunedin's wealthy inheritance. During the city's most prosperous years this railway station was the country's busiest, handling up to 100 trains each day.
Though there have been many debates about whether the building is actually beautiful or not, the overall effect is undeniably grandiose and the station is New Zealand’s most photographed building.
Construction began in 1903 and the station was officially opened in 1906. Dunedin's fourth railway station, it was designed in the fashionable, desirable and highly expensive Edwardian Baroque style. Unusually though, architect George Troup uses an experimental collaboration of Classical and Neo-Gothic imagery, which creates a grand and classically regimented structure, with an assorted and asymmetric countenance.
Neuschwanstein embodies both the contemporaneous architectural fashion known as castle romanticism, and King Ludwig II's enthusiasm for the operas of Richard Wagner. At the time of King Ludwig's death the palace was far from complete. He slept only 11 nights in the castle.
Founded in 1642, Kagetsu is perhaps the oldest restaurant in Nagasaki. Located in the old red light district of Maruyama, Kagetsu to this day serves exquisite shippoku cuisine, combining the best of Chinese, Western and Japanese cooking, embodying the spirit of Nagasaki's position as the gateway to Japan during the approximate 200 years of national seclusion in the Edo period. During this time, only the Dutch and Chinese were allowed the right to trade with Japan, and it was all done in Nagasaki.
Being the premier restaurant in Maruyama, Kagetsu had a very distinguished list of guests, both foreign and Japanese, including Sakamoto Ryoma and other revolutionaries who helped plot the downfall of the Shogunate. In a drunken state of excitement one night, Ryoma drew his sword and hacked away at some woodwork. The scars are still visible. And unlike the sword scars at the Teradaya in Kyoto, these scars are the real deal. So in case you are wondering, yes,Kagetsu survived the atomic bombing with minimal damage. It's location is protected by steep hills, which sheltered it from the shock waves.
Maruyama still has an active geisha community and it possible to arrange for geisha entertainment at Kagetsu while enjoying the amazing cuisine.
CHAI. Jabali new at the CHAI Mainstore for District 69 sales. Inspired by the Swahili word “Jabali,” meaning “rock” or “strong as a rock,” this piece embodies resilience and strength.
Add a touch of worldly charm and rugged elegance to your decor with our Jabali Wall Art.
The red sting costume of Andrej Ivakhnenko is one of several accents of the performance on the swinging sled rope. The Russian artist is surround by a very special flair. Andrej shows sensational top performances on the sled rope. The face gracefully, almost childlike, he embodies the theme of the game in perfection. Andrej has received several awards over the years: starting his career 1994 at the Cirque du Demain first in silver, later again in gold. He won the legendary dream dancer festival in Kassel and was second in the Japanese Diadogei World Cup.
This image captures the mesmerizing spiral staircase at Hide Restaurant in London, a true architectural marvel. The warm wooden tones and the fluidity of the curves create an organic movement, leading the eye downwards to the intricate patterns of the circular floor design. It’s a symphony of woodwork that embodies both form and function, inviting viewers to ponder its craftsmanship and artistry. This staircase is not just a means to traverse floors; it’s a statement piece that accentuates the beauty of natural materials and sophisticated design.
Designed by Atmos Studios and beautifully crafted from laminated oak, this structural staircase resembles a tree truck branching upwards, creating a dynamic and organic centerpiece.
Due to the limited time of stay in London, I just dropped by Hide one morning and asked for the permission to take some photos of their renowned staircase. I remember the three-storey restaurant was fairly full during my visit. I regret having missed the opportunity of enjoying a lunch or dinner, or even a cup of coffee there, as I only found out much later that it’s got a Michelin star …and an impressive wine list. I think I’ll be back one day:-)
Jan van de Velde II (Dutch, 1593-1641)
after Willem Buytewech (Dutch, 1591-1624)
These representation of Earth, Air Water and Fire embody everyday life – a markedly different approach from Goltzius’ personification of the elements as classical gods ( also in the exhibition ).
Much of this series is about complacency, about being trapped in your circumstances without realizing there is a way out. This image really embodies that for me, particularly in the way that we hold on to what we know even when the world around us is shifting; even when we are upside down and lost. To prefer familiarity rather than outside dangers. To rather rot in comfort than find fear in the unknown.
Or at least, that is my personal fear. That is what I see happening around me. That is what I won't let happen in my life.
--
"Circuit"
Model: Christin Purcell @jinxedorchid
Part of the series "Interval" for "Fine Art Photography: The Complete Guide" on Creative Live. To see how each image was made: www.creativelive.com/class/fine-art-photography-the-compl...
The Free Life Pond is an annex pond of the Han Chinese Buddhist temples. It is usually located in front of the Shanmen or the Hall of Four Heavenly Kings. The Free Life Pond embodies Buddhist thoughts of compassion and understanding of all living beings.
The Free Life Pond can regulate the air, inhibit dust, but also has the role of fire prevention. If the Buddhist temple is on fire, the water in the pond can be used to fight the fire.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_Life_Pond
El Estanque de la Vida Libre es un estanque anexo de los templos budistas chinos Han. Suele estar situado frente al Shanmen o Salón de los Cuatro Reyes Celestiales. El Estanque de la Vida Libre encarna los pensamientos budistas de compasión y comprensión hacia todos los seres vivos.
El Estanque de la Vida Libre puede regular el aire, inhibir el polvo, pero también tiene la función de prevenir incendios. Si el templo budista se incendia, el agua del estanque puede utilizarse para combatir el fuego.
Feilai Feng, or "the Peak that Flew Hither", also commonly translated as "Flying Peak" (Traditional Chinese: 飛來峰石窟; Simplified Chinese:飞来峰石窟), is located in front of the temple proper. The peak is so-named because it is made of limestone, giving it a craggy appearance very different from the surrounding mountains. Legend holds that the peak was originally from India (with some versions suggesting that it is Vulture Peak), but flew to Hangzhou overnight as a demonstration of the omnipotence of Buddhist law. A large number of grottoes can be found on the peak, such as Qinglin Grotto, Yuru Grotto and Longhong Grotto. Many rock reliefs dot the peak surface, and more are located in the various caves and grottoes throughout the peak. Within the main cave, dedicated to the bodhisattva Guanyin, there is a crack in the ceiling of the cave that stretches up to the surface, so that a person standing at a certain position can see a sliver of sunlight. This is known as the "one thread of heaven" (Traditional Chinese: 一線天; Simplified Chinese: 一线天; Pinyin: Yīxiàn Tiān).
The stone carvings on Feilai Feng are located in an area measuring 600 meters long and 200 meters wide. In total, there are 153 shrines and more than 470 pieces of carvings, among which 338 are relatively well-preserved, 96 carvings from the Yuan Dynasty as well as several from the Ming Dynasty.
Around 11 carvings date to the late Tang Dynasty and Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. These carvings dot the top of the peak and the mouth of Qinglin Grotto and they all prominently feature the “Three Saints of the West”, which refers to the triad of Amitābha Buddha and the Bodhisattvas Guanyin and Mahasthamaprapta from Pure Land Buddhism.
A total of 222 carvings were produced in the Northern Song Dynasty period, which feature a diverse range of Buddhist figures including the Six Patriarchs of Chan (or Zen) Buddhism, various arhats, Bodhisattvas and Buddhas such as Vairocana. One of the more prominent carvings from this period is a shrine to Budai, a monk who is traditionally regarded as an incarnation of Maitreya, surrounded by the Eighteen Arhats. This shrine stands at 3.6 meters high and 9.9 meters long, making it the largest shrine on Feilai Feng.
Most of the nearly 100 carvings produced during the Yuan Dynasty are located on the southern bank of Lengquan Stream and on the cliff near Qinglin Grotto and Yuru Grotto. The carvings from this period resembles the art styles of the Tang and Song dynasties, while also reflecting influences from Tibetan and Mongolian art.
www.viajeachina.com/atracciones-de-hangzhou/templo-lingyi...
www.thechinaguide.com/es/sight/lingyin-temple
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lingyin_Temple
Feilai Feng, o "el pico que voló hasta aquí", también traducido comúnmente como "pico volador" (chino tradicional: 飛來峰石窟; chino simplificado:飞来峰石窟), está situado frente al templo propiamente dicho. El pico se llama así porque está hecho de piedra caliza, lo que le da un aspecto escarpado muy diferente del de las montañas circundantes. La leyenda sostiene que el pico era originario de la India (algunas versiones sugieren que se trata del Pico del Buitre), pero voló a Hangzhou de la noche a la mañana como demostración de la omnipotencia de la ley budista. En la cima hay un gran número de grutas, como la Gruta Qinglin, la Gruta Yuru y la Gruta Longhong. Numerosos relieves rocosos salpican la superficie de la cima, y hay más en las diversas cuevas y grutas que la recorren. En la cueva principal, dedicada al bodhisattva Guanyin, hay una grieta en el techo que se extiende hasta la superficie, de modo que una persona situada en una determinada posición puede ver un resquicio de luz solar. Esto se conoce como "el hilo del cielo" (chino tradicional: 一線天; chino simplificado: 一线天; pinyin: Yīxiàn Tiān).
Las tallas de piedra de Feilai Feng se encuentran en un área de 600 metros de largo y 200 metros de ancho. En total, hay 153 santuarios y más de 470 tallas, de las que 338 están relativamente bien conservadas, 96 tallas de la dinastía Yuan y varias de la dinastía Ming.
Unas 11 tallas datan de finales de la Dinastía Tang y del Periodo de las Cinco Dinastías y los Diez Reinos. Estas tallas salpican la cima del pico y la boca de la gruta de Qinglin y en todas ellas destacan los "Tres Santos de Occidente", que hacen referencia a la tríada del Buda Amitābha y los bodhisattvas Guanyin y Mahasthamaprapta del budismo de la Tierra Pura.
En el periodo de la dinastía Song del Norte se produjeron un total de 222 tallas, en las que aparecen diversas figuras budistas, como los Seis Patriarcas del budismo chan (o zen), varios arhats, bodhisattvas y budas como Vairocana. Una de las tallas más destacadas de este periodo es un santuario dedicado a Budai, un monje que tradicionalmente se considera una encarnación de Maitreya, rodeado de los Dieciocho Arhats. Este santuario mide 3,6 metros de alto y 9,9 metros de largo, lo que lo convierte en el más grande de Feilai Feng.
La mayoría de las casi 100 tallas producidas durante la Dinastía Yuan se encuentran en la orilla sur del arroyo Lengquan y en el acantilado cercano a la Gruta Qinglin y la Gruta Yuru. Las tallas de este periodo se asemejan a los estilos artísticos de las dinastías Tang y Song, aunque también reflejan influencias del arte tibetano y mongol.
Purple embodies the balance of red’s stimulation and blue’s calm. This dichotomy can cause unrest or uneasiness unless the undertone is clearly defined, at which point the purple takes on the characteristics of its undertone. With a sense of mystic and royal qualities, purple is a color often well liked by very creative or eccentric types and is the favorite color of adolescent girls.
HOW THE COLOR PURPLE AFFECTS US PHYSICALLY
Uplifts
Calms the mind and nerves
Offers a sense of spirituality
Encourages creativity
THE MEANING OF PURPLE AROUND THE GLOBE
In Thailand, purple is worn by a widow mourning her husband’s death.
The purple in the U.S. military Purple Heart award represents courage. The Purple Heart is awarded to members of the United States armed forces who have been wounded in action.
In Tibet, amethyst is considered to be sacred to Buddha and rosaries are often fashioned from it.
A man with the rank of Roman Emperor was referred to as “The Purple” — a name that came from the color of the robe he wore.
In Japan, the color purple signifies wealth and position.
Purple was the royal color of the Caesars.
In pysanky, the traditional Ukrainian form of egg dying, purple speaks of fasting, faith, patience, and trust.
Purple denotes virtue and faith in Egypt.
In Tudor Britain, violet was the color of mourning, as well as the color of religious fervor.
Traditionally, in Iran, purple is a color of what is to come. A sun or moon that looks purple during an eclipse is an omen of bloodshed within the year.
From an astrological perspective, the color violet in all its shades and gradations is usually associated with the dreamy and creative pisces (I am :-)). Their ruling planet is Neptune - the planet of fantasy, enlightenment, transcendence.
For Smile on Saturday - precious purple
In Kyoto, for the Jidai matsuri festival a geisha embodies the famous female writer from the Heian period Murasaki Shikibu. She is dressed in Heian imperial court full attire called junihitoe (Literally : twelve-layer robe). This is an extremely elegant and highly complex kimono that was only worn by court-ladies in Japan. The various layers are silk garments and are only discernible around the sleeves and the neck. The arrangements of the layers and their colours were a good indication to any outsider what taste and what rank the lady had.
During the wedding of Masako, Crown Princess of Japan to the crown prince, she wore a junihitoe for the official ceremony. Japanese court ladies had a thick white make-up and wore their hair very long, only cut at the sides of their faces in a layered fashion. She is clutching a fan, an the important communication device at a time where court-ladies were not allowed to show their faces to a male outsider or a suitor.
Lady Murasaki was a Japanese novelist, poet, and a maid of honor of the imperial court. She is best known as the author of The Tale of Genji, written in Japanese between about 1000 and 1008, one of the earliest and most famous novels in human history.
The Jidai Matsuri (Festival of Eras) is held annually in Kyoto on October 22. The festival commemorates the transfer of the capital to Kyoto in 794 and was first held in 1895.
The festival is a procession of approximately 2,000 people from the Old Imperial Palace to the Heian Shrine. The participants wear period costumes representing styles from throughout Kyoto's history, beginning with the modernized soldiers of the Meiji era, corresponding with the end of the Kyoto capital in 1868, back to the founding of the capital with characters from the Heian period.
Claude Estèbe (c) 2009
Emu Spiritual Meaning
The emu, as a spiritual symbol, often embodies strength, endurance, and a connection to the earth. People who resonate with the emu spirit animal are typically strong-willed, resilient, and grounded individuals who find strength in difficult circumstances. The emu’s presence in spirituality often emphasizes the importance of staying focused on life’s journey, regardless of obstacles.
Model Anna embodies fearless sophistication in a luxurious studio portrait series featuring silky satin and plush faux fur. Shot against a painterly beige background, the images blend fine art fashion photography with sensual intimacy and high-end editorial allure.
Layers and Folds. © Copyright 2022 G Dan Mitchell.
The complex geology of badlands terrain, Death Valley National Park.
The landscape of Death Valley National Park is extremely varied. The popular imagination first focuses on scenes of sand dunes, the classic signifier of “desert.” But the place is full of canyons, stream beds, surprising instances of water, mountain peaks, and even forests of several types. All of these are special, but scenes like this one may embody one of the the most common elements of this landscape, the exposure of its underlying geology.
The area of this photograph is incredibly complex. It is a maze of small, eroded formations and canyons, all of them interconnected. Underlying this are uplifted layers of material in colors ranging from nearly black to nearly white, interspersed with surprising bits of red, blue, and green. I photographed here early in the morning because the light was softer and richer and because the low angle of the sun entering the scene from the side delineated the eroded features.
G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.
Commentary.
What magic does this village possess?
Considerable, if film settings are anything to go by.
Films like “Goodnight, Mr. Tom,” “Went the Day Well,” and
“Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang,” use this place as the village setting.
Similarly, television dramas like Marple, Jonathan Creek
and Midsomer Murders have centred their characters in
this archetypal English village.
In the brilliant comedy, “Vicar of Dibley,” all village exterior shots were filmed here.
It must epitomise all the essential qualities associated
with an iconic English village, and it does!
From the Cobstone Windmill above the village,
the valleys, fields, woodland, meadows, hedgerows,
streams and hills provide a succulent green tapestry
of undeniable beauty in this chalkland haven in the Chiltern Hills of Buckinghamshire.
The village is England in microcosm, the customary public house – the “Bull and Butcher,”
the cosy, red-bricked and flint, rose-covered cottages,
the ancient Parish Church of St.Mary-the-Virgin
and surrounding graveyard, the footpaths, lanes, farms, and country estates embody a film-makers romantic vision of England, at its best.
It is a proverbial gem!
“There will always be an England while there’s a country lane……..”
The Free Life Pond is an annex pond of the Han Chinese Buddhist temples. It is usually located in front of the Shanmen or the Hall of Four Heavenly Kings. The Free Life Pond embodies Buddhist thoughts of compassion and understanding of all living beings.
The Free Life Pond can regulate the air, inhibit dust, but also has the role of fire prevention. If the Buddhist temple is on fire, the water in the pond can be used to fight the fire.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_Life_Pond
El Estanque de la Vida Libre es un estanque anexo de los templos budistas chinos Han. Suele estar situado frente al Shanmen o Salón de los Cuatro Reyes Celestiales. El Estanque de la Vida Libre encarna los pensamientos budistas de compasión y comprensión hacia todos los seres vivos.
El Estanque de la Vida Libre puede regular el aire, inhibir el polvo, pero también tiene la función de prevenir incendios. Si el templo budista se incendia, el agua del estanque puede utilizarse para combatir el fuego.
Lingyin Temple (simplified Chinese: 灵隐寺; traditional Chinese: 靈隱寺; pinyin: Língyǐn Sì) is a Buddhist temple of the Chan sect located north-west of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. The temple's name is commonly translated into English as Temple of the Soul's Retreat, which is a literal translation of the Chinese. It is one of the largest and wealthiest Buddhist temples in China, and contains numerous pagodas and Buddhist grottoes.
The monastery is the largest of several temples in the Wulin Mountains (Chinese: 武林山; Pinyin: Wǔlínshān), which also features many grottos and religious rock carvings, the most famous of which is the Feilai Feng (Traditional Chinese: 飛來峰石窟; Simplified Chinese:飞来峰石窟; literally: "the peak that flew hither").
According to tradition, the monastery was founded in 328 AD during the Eastern Jin dynasty (266–420) by an Indian monk, named Huili in Chinese. From its inception, Lingyin was a famous monastery in the Jiangnan region.
During the Cultural Revolution, the temple and grounds suffered damage at the hands of red guards, but the students of Zhejiang University tried to protect the temple. The temple managed to avoid large scale destruction partly because of the instructions of Premier Zhou Enlai.
Today the temple is thriving as a destination for both pilgrims and tourists. It is regarded as one of the wealthiest monasteries in China, and regular pilgrims have included former paramount leader Deng Xiaoping.
The Wuling Mountains area is a major centre of Chan Buddhism in south-eastern China. A number of smaller temples are also located in the area. Today, Lingyin and the surrounding areas are marketed as the Lingyin-Feilai Feng Scenic Area, with ticketed admission.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lingyin_Temple
www.viajeachina.com/atracciones-de-hangzhou/templo-lingyi...
www.thechinaguide.com/es/sight/lingyin-temple
El templo de Lingyin (chino simplificado: 灵隐寺; chino tradicional: 靈隱寺; pinyin: Língyǐn Sì) es un templo budista de la secta Chan situado al noroeste de Hangzhou, en la provincia china de Zhejiang. El nombre del templo se traduce comúnmente al inglés como Temple of the Soul's Retreat (Retiro del Templo del Alma), que es una traducción literal del chino. Es uno de los templos budistas más grandes y ricos de China, y contiene numerosas pagodas y grutas budistas.
El monasterio es el mayor de varios templos de las montañas Wulin (chino: 武林山; pinyin: Wǔlínshān), que también cuenta con numerosas grutas y tallas religiosas en la roca, la más famosa de las cuales es el Feilai Feng (chino tradicional: 飛來峰石窟; chino simplificado:飞来峰石窟; literalmente: "el pico que voló hasta aquí").
Según la tradición, el monasterio fue fundado en el año 328 d.C. durante la dinastía Jin Oriental (266-420) por un monje indio, llamado Huili en chino. Desde sus inicios, Lingyin fue un famoso monasterio de la región de Jiangnan.
Durante la Revolución Cultural, el templo y sus terrenos sufrieron daños a manos de los guardias rojos, pero los estudiantes de la Universidad de Zhejiang intentaron protegerlo. El templo logró evitar la destrucción a gran escala en parte gracias a las instrucciones del primer ministro Zhou Enlai.
En la actualidad, el templo prospera como destino tanto para peregrinos como para turistas. Está considerado uno de los monasterios más ricos de China, y entre sus peregrinos habituales se encuentra el antiguo líder supremo Deng Xiaoping.
La zona de las montañas Wuling es un importante centro del budismo Chan en el sureste de China. En la zona también hay varios templos más pequeños. En la actualidad, Lingyin y sus alrededores se comercializan como Zona Escénica de Lingyin-Feilai Feng, con entrada.
Figureheads are the carved wooden sculptures that decorate the prows of sailing ships. In the perilous life of an ocean-going ship, figureheads embodied the spirit of the vessel, offering the crew protection from harsh seas and safeguarding their homeward journeys.
As such, they were often lovingly cared for by the crew. The superstitions of seamen meant that the figurehead held great significance to those on board and they would go to great lengths to protect it.
Figureheads were often female but not exclusively so. A female may have been popular because the ship itself is always referred to as a ‘she’. As women were often not allowed on board, the figurehead itself might also represent the sole female on the ship.
The origins of the figurehead and other forms of ship decoration goes back thousands of years. The decoration and carving of vessels was common among seafaring civilisations of the ancient world, with evidence of Egyptian figureheads dating back to around 3000 BC.
The precise motive behind mounting a carved figurehead at the bow of a ship or boat is uncertain. It is believed these iconic objects held a strong magical or religious significance relating to a ship 'seeing' its way safely through the sea.
www.rmg.co.uk/discover/museum-collections/ship-figurehead...
More Pictures on MOCpages:
www.moc-pages.com/moc.php/452180
Straight out of Star Wars Episode 6 - Return of The Jedi
Made this for a local LUG contest and won second place which was pretty rad! The intent was to build a scene from Star Wars that focused on your favourite character. While Arvel Crynyd is not at all my favourite character, I do love this scene from the movie and I always love how almost any character in Star Wars has a rich backstory, even those dudes that only appear for a few seconds in a movie or TV show. So I wanted to both capture my love of those random background characters, my love of Rebel pilots as well as the heroes of the Rebellion and the hope that they embody.
Perhaps no flower embodies the rugged spirit and natural beauty of New Hampshire like the beloved lupine. Each June, these three-foot-tall purple, pink, and white wildflowers shoot up through the rocks of the craggy mountain sides marking the unofficial start of summer.
And as the lupines sprout up, so do the photographers. These flowers are a staple of every regional landscape photography calendar, the darlings of every wannabe instagram influencer, and an emerging hot spot for portrait and even dog photographers. Given their natural beauty, it's difficult to make a really bad photograph of the lupines. At the same time, given the volume of lupine photographs made each year, it's difficult to make a really good photograph that stands out.
On the morning I made this photograph, I found myself in a lupine field along with a growing number of photographers, despite my 4:00 am alarm clock. The conditions were pleasantly foggy and a little hazy due to the recent Canadian wildfires, which afforded me some distinctive atmosphere that I hadn't found in prior years photographing the lupines. Nonetheless, I hadn't found a photograph that felt truly unique until this little bird swooped into a vertical lupine, expertly estimated the stem's tensile strength, and transformed it into a perfect little perch. Thanks to the Merlin Bird ID app on my phone, I later learned that she is a Savannah Sparrow. While the lupines had a lot of visitors that morning, not all of them were human. I managed to make a few frames, and then she was off.
Model Anna embodies fearless sophistication in a luxurious studio portrait series featuring silky satin and plush faux fur. Shot against a painterly beige background, the images blend fine art fashion photography with sensual intimacy and high-end editorial allure.
I went and listened to this guy talk at the Portland Art Museum today as part of their Brown Bag Lunch Lecture series. He was great. He did exactly what he needed to do, which was tell his own stories. I heard a piece of great advice several years ago that has stuck with me: Don't photograph for your audience; make your own photos and then find the audience that appreciates them. I was reminded of that today because Peter embodies that philosophy so well. Some of his photos are funny. Some are irreverent. Some are cringe-inducing and others head-scratching. But he has made all of them for himself. He doesn't play to an outside audience, though he does enjoy sharing them with audiences when they are finished. I think this puts him a great place and he consistently makes photos that those of us happen to enjoy too. If you are looking for somebody to follow on Flickr, a good Portland-based film photographer in specific, check him out.
Hasselblad 500C / Kodak Portra 400
This snowflake embodies so many things, both in the art of capture and the magic of physics. A dense and infinitely detailed beauty. View large!
This snowflake means a lot to me. I was very tired when I went to go and shoot this snowflake, at the tail end of a beautiful snowfall providing giant crystals. Most were asymmetric in some way, but a final look discovered this gem: one of the last to fall, and one of the most balanced. After photographing this one, I was content to crawl into bed and call it a night.
Most of this snowflake features surface details facing the camera, and it brings up a choice: should you hide these features on the opposite side and clean up the surface? Or should you revel in the texture and complexity of such a detailed crystal? This snowflake allows for both, because a transition happened between front and rear detail just as the branches formed.
It’s not uncommon for the side featuring surface texture to shift, but it’s important to note that only one side will have these ridges and ridges at a time. The opposite side is always smooth and relatively uncluttered – at most featuring curved lines growing inward towards the center. The center of this snowflake features a smooth surface, accented beautiful by a gem-like hexagon created by crystal splitting.
“Crystal Splitting” happens when a cavity in the outward-growing side of a snowflake expands to cut the snowflake into two new planes – parallel and growing outward together. The usual outcome is that one plate will extend the footprint beyond the other, starving the competition of available water vapour (building blocks). One plate stays small, the other grows large, branches out, and becomes the snowflake shape we see. The smaller hexagon remains, growing slowly, and adds beauty to the center.
Sometimes after taking a test shot of a snowflake like this, I’d use my small artist paintbrush and flip it over – showcasing the smoother surface over the majority of the crystal and letting the larger geometry stay visible. Because of the center here, I left it as is – the “cluttered” detail exists in the branches, but it all leads back to a much more pristine center when the snowflake was younger. Yes, you can tell the entire history of a snowflake just my looking at it; looking back towards the center like you’re looking back in time.
If you’d like to know more about the science of snowflakes with an exhaustive and comprehensive tutorial on how to photograph and edit these little gems, check out my book Sky Crystals:
Hardcover: www.skycrystals.ca/book/
eBook: www.skycrystals.ca/ebook/
Other things you might be interested in:
2018 Macro Photography Workshop Schedule: www.donkom.ca/workshops/
2018 Ice Crystals Coin from the Royal Canadian Mint featuring my snowflakes: www.mint.ca/store/coins/coin-prod3040427
“The Snowflake” print, taking 2500 hours to create: skycrystals.ca/product/poster-proof/
Photo Geek Weekly, my new podcast: www.photogeekweekly.com/
Lagazuoi – a masterpiece of nature that embodies the Dolomites in all their glory. This majestic peak rises like a silent guardian above a landscape unlike any other: rugged peaks, gentle valleys, and a sky that glows with the first light of day. Here, where time seems to stand still, raw stone meets the delicate hues of dawn – a symphony only the mountains can compose. Lagazuoi is not just a mountain but an experience, a place that inspires awe and touches the soul. A true dream for every photographer, hiker, and nature lover.
Description
The forces of nature are relentless. Like the falling snow of the sky and the shifting sands of the beach, the pavilion embraces local wind, snow, and sun conditions. Following these directions of force, the pavilion’s wings embody movement by harnessing snow and mitigating strong winds. Beach towels have been formed into dynamic concrete panels with varying openings. These panels control the amount of light and snow allowed to enter, while also creating unique views outwards. Together, the panels and wings protect users and encourage them to engage with their surroundings. Where the lifeguard station, beach towels, and marine ropes are more frequently used in the summer, the pavilion achieves resilience by employing these objects in the winter. The pavilion acts as a shelter for the community where winter conditions are celebrated by harnessing and adapting to natural forces. Source: winterstations.com/pastwinners/swinter-station/
Check out our Website
Small wonders, right? That’s what this series is all about, and this gem embodies that. A very small snowflake, one of the smallest I’ve ever seen grow branches. View large!
I know that the “thin film interference” colours are much loved, so here’s a dainty little one, almost feeling like this should be a footnote in an episode of Dr. Who. What do you see in the middle? I see eyes and a smile, maybe even rosy cheeks.
I’ll need to keep this post a little shorter as it has been a long day with little sleep, but this snowflake has an interesting “splitting” mechanism at play. See about 1/3rd of the way up the branches? The cavities growing inside the ice expand to cover the entire growing edge, and it splits. My working theory is that the thinner of the two edges will grow faster, in this case universally the bottom one. This is based on the “knife edge instability”, for those curious enough to look it up. :)
There is one unusual thing here that I can’t explain. The branch at roughly 8 o’clock, in the area just before the above-mentioned split, has a faint circle visible. Normally these circles are associated with inward growth… but that doesn’t have the same characteristics here. A mystery to be sure! What would cause an unusually-placed circle to be watermarked on the snowflake? That’s a fun double-entendre.
If you’d like to know more about the science of snowflakes with an exhaustive and comprehensive tutorial on how to photograph and edit these little gems, check out my book Sky Crystals:
Hardcover: www.skycrystals.ca/book/
eBook: www.skycrystals.ca/ebook/
Other things you might be interested in:
2018 Ice Crystals Coin from the Royal Canadian Mint featuring my snowflakes: www.mint.ca/store/coins/coin-prod3040427
“The Snowflake” print, taking 2500 hours to create: skycrystals.ca/product/poster-proof/
Photo Geek Weekly, my new podcast: www.photogeekweekly.com/
Pyramid lake is quickly becoming one of my favorite places to go for sunrise and sunsets, and just to go and shoot. It truly is a beautiful place that embodies the beauty of the high desert.
This is 13 shots stitched together in Photoshop and edited in lightroom
embodied in a feather
symbol of a soul
purity of selflessness
divine simplicity at whole
floating perchance on
scentless breeze so soft
constant
maybe going someplace
maybe a bit of both.
spirit on a pilgrimage
still moving always there
heedless of time and needful winds
fate weaves without a care. - author unknown
Created for MacroMondays - Theme - Simplicity
Also for Sliders Sunday
Thank you in advance for your visits and comments! They are much appreciated.
The image captures a breathtaking view from the Empire State Building at sunset, overlooking the sprawling expanse of Manhattan. The sky is ablaze with a gradient of warm hues, transitioning from deep orange near the horizon to soft purples and pinks as it meets the darkening blue above. The cityscape below is a mesmerizing grid of towering skyscrapers, their windows glinting with the last rays of sunlight.
The iconic Chrysler Building is prominently visible, its Art Deco spire shimmering in the golden light. The Hudson River to the west reflects streaks of orange and pink, contrasting with the deep shadows of the buildings lining its banks. Farther away, the Statue of Liberty can be glimpsed, faint but dignified against the glowing horizon.
The bustling energy of Manhattan is palpable even from this lofty height, with tiny dots of headlights and streetlights beginning to illuminate the streets below as the city transitions into evening. The atmosphere is both serene and electric, embodying the magic of a New York sunset.
Embodied nostalgia - from Girlhood to Womanhood
We (women) might not shared similar childhood due to different interests and generations, but in the end...
They defined who we are as women today and they are precious!
So don't let anyone say so ~
...
ILLIT 'NOT CUTE ANYMORE'
www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_RYZsOfpKY&list=RDx_RYZsOfpK...
My final and second inspired look *
Amidst the whispers of a forgotten era, a stone bird perched silently, its wings outstretched in perpetual yearning. It starkly contrasted the grandeur and artifice surrounding it, symbolising a reality untouched by illusion. Its form seemed to pulsate in the stillness with a longing for liberation, a silent echo of the countless souls who had once sought solace within these walls. Frozen in mid-flight, the bird embodied their collective desire to transcend the artificial and find truth in the unyielding embrace of the stone.
The Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains in California are increasingly popular place for fall color photography. Perhaps no other location embodies that popularity more than North Lake, which is I think the California equivalent of Maroon Lake in Colorado. After heavy snow clouded out sunset the night before, I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect when I ascended the road late here. Arriving a little before 5:30 am, I snagged the last parking spot and made my way to the lake’s edge where I met what must have been at least 50 other photographers already there. The snow turned out to have spectacularly frosted the landscape, providing white accents to to everything. Clouds overhead with clearing to the east set the stage for a light show. When the light finally arrived, I found that my favorite moment was before the sun dipped below the cloud’s edge, instead causing the cloud to glow right above the aspens on the northwest side of the lake. Deep blue shadow clouds contrasted with the warm glow of the rising sunlight, and the wind was nearly perfectly still.
"For this challenge, I have chosen to embody the spirit of the Sagittarius Zodiac, the Huntress. In the future, tools such as firearms and other such weaponry may be unnecessary with the innovation of cybernetic implants. As a bounty hunter, I have a multitude of tools and implants for my trade hidden within my arms, and even fingertips. My eye is equipped with a scanning device which aids in tracking my targets. The blue scheme reflects the color of the birthstone of December in which most Sagittarius people are born. I chose a cyberpunk aesthetic because its very nature is dystopian, futuristic, and Avant Garde. The future will have styles unlike that which we've seen, or can truly predict, which cyberpunk depicts expertly."
I am wearing a jacket and top from Angel Craft, undergarments from Mindy Lingerie, and boots from Sheba. I added cybernetic arms from Underground, a security eye from Ruva, and further enhanced my look with makeup from Rubedo.