View allAll Photos Tagged Freezing-Temperatures
During my previous visit to Joshua Tree National Park, I spent most of the time with teddy bears and could not photograph the iconic Yucca trees. I did take few shots but with harsh daylight, those photographs did not turn out as I expected. This time, it being night, I got an opportunity to experiment a bit.
The composition was perfect for the start trail but again felt lazy due to below freezing temperatures. Better luck the third time. Canon 5D Mark IV proved to be quite an amazing camera for night shots. I could get noise-free results up to ISO 800 without any post processing and of course, the f/2.8 lens did help quite a bit here. This particular photograph was taken at ISO 100, f/2.8 with an exposure of 5 minutes and it looks like a day shot with that moonlight.
43/100 for the 100 Flowers group. We were wallowing in an amazing display of flowers on our visit to Victoria, BC., made all the more wonderful by the weather back home in Calgary on our return: snow and freezing temperatures.
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A "field of crystal" at Shawangunk Grasslands. Every tree, every blade of grass was encased in a layer of ice. Melting snow followed by overnight freezing temperatures created this incredible sight.
This morning, despite the freezing cold of -4 degrees, the sun radiated a surprisingly refreshing warmth. I had the opportunity to capture the rich colors that emerge when the sun graces us with its presence. I chose to experiment with my heavy and old style. FX lens, Nikon 80-200 f2.8, Instead of the Nikon 500mm f5.6 PF, I explored the natural habitat of Charnwood Water, which I visited last week.
My photo targets were gray squirrels, which are accustomed to the presence of humans and my favorite bird species, the Robin. I had to get quite close before pressing the shutter, compensating for the disadvantage of the 200mm focal length. Despite the freezing conditions, I occasionally took off my gloves, aiming to press the shutter in different environments with changing bokeh - background.
Winter, with its freezing temperatures, has special appeal for wildlife photography for three important reasons. First, many species are at their best; resident birds are showing off their vibrant plumage and mammals are donning their thick winter coats.
"I captured some of these moments with my camera this morning, and I hope you enjoy watching these images as much as I did while shooting them."
Best viewed in lightbox - please click on the image or press L.
Do robins puff themselves up?
Male robins will always attack any intruder into their space, occasionally – though fortunately not often – fighting to the death. Both sexes of robins have red breasts and both puff out their chests as a sign of aggression.
Here are some fun facts about Robins, the nations favourite garden bird.
Robins are very territorial and you'll usually only see 2 together when they're mating.
In fact, they're so territorial that they often fight to the death defending their area.
They are very loyal to their food sources. The Robin you see in your garden is most likely the same one each time.
Young Robins do not have red breasts. They are brown and lightly speckled, only growing their red feathers after their first moult.
Its nearly impossible to tell apart the male and female Robin by sight.
They are ground feeding, insectivorous birds; mostly feeding on worms and insects found in freshly turned soil (as well as fruit).
Females often eat the shells of their hatched young for an extra boost of calcium.
Robins (both male and female) have such driven parental instincts that they have been found to feed the chicks of other species.
They used to be members of the Thrush family alongside Blackbirds, Redwings, Fieldfare, Mistle and Song Thrushes, however, they're now classified as as Old World Flycatcher.
Although they may look the same, each Robin has a completely unique red breast pattern.
I hope you enjoy my photos as much as I enjoyed taking them.
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I appreciate it very much, wish you good luck and good light.
© All rights belong to R.Ertuğ. Please do not use this image without my express written permission. If you want to buy or use it, contact me via Flickr mail. Your comments and criticism are highly appreciated.
Lens - handheld. The aperture is f4.5 - f8 and is full length. All my images were converted from RAW to JPEG.
Thanks for stopping by and looking :)
Everything might happen now...
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Taken in Helsinki,Finland..That silver man was a performer,who stood motionless acting like statue in freezing temperatures...
One scene that Willie and I knew we wanted to photograph in the Eastern Sierras was sunrise at Mt. Tom. One of the most iconic and largest peaks in the Owens Valley region, there are many ways to photograph Mt. Tom but we felt this angle showed off its best side. The combination of trees, meadow, and mountains, along with the line running up Mt. Tom, make for a spectacular scene.
It was freezing when we woke up. Let me correct myself ... it was *well* below freezing. It was barely over 5°F when we set out and on that day we didn’t see above freezing temperatures for many hours. This morning was also cloudy and as we drove to our spot we started to get really excited — there was going to be a ton of color in the sky.
Willie and Alan had scouted this location a month or two previously but Willie’s GPS unit somehow deleted the coordinates. Alan’s attempt to remind us of the spot resulted in the wrong location. I think we did 4 U-Turns before finally getting to the spot we wanted! The light to our east was going crazy and as soon as I put the car in “Park” we were grabbing our gear and running through the snow to setup our tripods.
To the east the color in the sky looked like a giant explosion — massive oranges filled the sky and slowly faded to pink. To the east, in the direction we were shooting, the sky filled up with wonderful streaks of pink. The clouds provided a nice amount of layers to contrast the sky with pink and purple lines. We came home cold but happy campers!
Nikon D800 w/Nikkor 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF:
80mm, f/11, ISO 100, 0.4 sec
Viewed best nice and large
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1800-1900
In September 1835, JH Vivian, the local MP, liased with the Institution for the provision of a lifeboat in Mumbles. This lifeboat was controlled and funded by Swansea Harbour Trustees. It was taken over and funded by the Institution in 1863. Lifeboats have always been stationed at Mumbles but the station was known as Swansea until 1904. The branch continued to be called Swansea, Mumbles and Port Eynon until 1910.
S. S. SAMTAMPA
In the early days the lifeboat was kept close to the cliffs in Mumbles and was launched and re-housed along a stone slipway, which still exists today.
After the First World War, a boathouse with slipway was erected alongside Mumbles pier to make the launching of the lifeboat a more simple process. For 4 years 1814 – 1818 the wooden slipway (which is used today) had no boathouse, merely the lifeboat retained at the top of the slip ready for launch.
On 27 January 1883 four of her crew lost their lives when the lifeboat whilst on service got thrown violently against the side of the German barque Admiral Prinz Adalbert. The coxswain Jenkin Jenkins lost two of his sons who were on board that day.
It was 1866 before The Mumbles had a permanent lifeboat station although moves to found one began in 1832 when Silvanus Padley, son of the clerk of the Swansea Harbour Trustees, led a rescue of the crew of the Ilfracombe Packet which went aground near the harbour entrance. The trustees decided to obtain plans and costs for a lifeboat which could be used in similar circumstances.
It wasn't until 1835 when the MP for Swansea, John H. Vivian, approached the Lifeboat Institution to supply a lifeboat which would be maintained by the Harbour Trust, but placed at The Mumbles. On the 17th of October a 26 foot, six oared lifeboat was ordered from Taylor of Blackwall and would have been delivered soon after its completion in December 1835.
The boat was initially kept at The Mumbles but saw no service, then in the summer of 1841 she was repaired and moved to Swansea and then converted to pull 12 oars in 1850. In 1855 she was deemed to be unserviceable "she has never been thought a good boat for which reason the Trustees have refused to spend much money on her". At this time the Trustees ordered a new boat to be built by Forrestt & Co of Limehouse, she carried a crew of thirteen pulling ten oars. This boat made only one known service to the brig Success which had stranded in gales on Neath Bar.
Although the lifeboats had made only one rescue, local pilots and others had performed rescues on their own initiative and had been rewarded by the Lifeboat Institution.
In March 1863 a group of men formed the Swansea Branch of the R.N.L.I. and the Harbour Trust boat was replaced with and identical pattern which was named Martha and Anne after the daughters of Michael Steel of Oxford who's legacy had paid for her.
Because of the lack of service at Swansea where a story in the town was that a large glass case was to be built "to stow away the lifeboat in front of the Town Hall". The editor of the local paper, "The Cambrian" commented that "Not Swansea but The Mumbles should be the lifeboat's station, and not the pilots, but the coastguard or the hardy fishermen of the village should be her crew".
In 1866 the Martha & Anne was moved to The Mumbles where she was housed on the shore under the shadow of Mumbles Hill and was launched and re-housed along a stone slipway by means of block and tackle.
Noteworthy Dates
1835 Silver medal awarded to William Evans for rescuing two of the three crew from the sloop John which went aground at Neath on 26th October 1835.
1838 Silver medal awarded to John Reeve, master of schooner Wave, for rescuing the three crew from the sloop Feronia which was wrecked on the Mixon on 24th July 1838.
1839 Silver medals awarded to Captain Thomas Jones, Captain John Howell, Captain Charles Sutton, Captain Joseph Foley, Arthur Rees and Lewis Jenkins for rescuing five men from the brig Thomas Piele which was wrecked near Port Talbot on 20th January 1839.
1840 Second service clasp to silver medal awarded to Captain Joseph Foley for rescuing two of the three men from the Mary bound from Cork to Portsmouth, which was wrecked near Port Talbot on 20th January 1840.
1874 On 12th August The Board of Trade forwarded binoculars which had been received by them through the Foreign Office from H.M. The Emperor of Germany for presentation to the coxswain of the lifeboat in recognition of the services rendered by the boat when the German ship Triton of Eckernford was wrecked on the Mixon Sands on the 29th August 1987. The German Consul General was also instructed to pay £4 to the crew of the lifeboat.
1883 On the 27th of January, when trying to rescue the crew of the German barque "Admiral Prinz Adalbert" from the windward side, the lifeboat was thrown violently against her and swept over successive ridges of rocks by heavy seas. Four of the crew, John and William Jenkins, William Mack and William Rogers lost their lives, and the remainder were seriously injured, Coxswain Jenkin Jenkins lost two out of the four of his sons and his son-in-law (William Mack) who were in the boat and a third son received a broken leg. The Institution granted £800 towards the fund raised for the widows and orphans. The Silver Medal was awarded to the coxswain. The carpenter of the German barque also lost his life.
1884 New lifeboat house constructed at a cost of £350.
1888 Slipway constructed at a cost of £110.
1896 Compensation paid for the damage to oyster beds over which the lifeboat had to be taken for a low water launch on 27th July.
1897 Mumbles Railway and Pier Company constructed a mooring slipway free of charge to the Institution.
1900 – 2000
On 1 February 1903 the lifeboat was capsized on service to SS Christina of Waterford at the entrance to Port Talbot harbour. This capsize resulted in a loss of 6 out 14 of her crew. In 1941, a Bronze Medal was awarded to Coxswain William J Gammon and to Mechanic Robert T Williams for the rescue of 10 crew of the steamer Cornish Rose of Liverpool.
1944 saw the presentation of a Gold medal to Coxswain Gammon, Mechanic W G Davies and Bowman Thomas J Ace for the rescue of 42 crew from the Canadian frigate Chebouque.
Yet again, tragedy struck the station when on April 23, 1947; the Edward Prince of Wales was capsized and wrecked in heavy seas with total loss of her eight crew. She had gone to help the SS Samtampa with a crew of 39 off Sker Point. The death toll that night was no less than 47. As a mark of respect following the loss during the Samtampa disaster the new lifeboat was named after the Coxswain; the William Gammon serviced the coast until 1974 and was then donated to Swansea Museum.
In 1964 a Silver medal was awarded to Coxswain Lionel Derek Scott and the Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum to eight other crew for the rescue of the crew from the Dutch vessel Kilo. 1965 saw the introduction of an inshore, D-class lifeboat at the station. Operational in summer months only with the cost defrayed by the Rotary Club of Swansea. In 1968 coxswain Lionel Derek Scott was awarded Bronze medal with an addition monetary award to him and his crew for the rescue of seven crew from the sand dredger Steepholm which grounded on the Tuskar Rock, Porthcawl.
1971 brought about more awards for the station when Helmsman Alan Richards Jones and crewmembers Peter Allan Algie and Anthony David Lewis for the rescue of three men from a cabin cruiser on 3 October 1971.
In 1981 the Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum was awarded to coxswain Lionel Derek Scott BEM when he put out his rowing boat to the aid of two men who had capsized in dinghy approximately three-quarters of a mile out to sea in choppy seas and freezing conditions on 22 December.
1902 Additional rocket distress signal post erected near the coastguard look-out on Mumbles Head.
1903 On the 1st of February the lifeboat, which had put out with the intention of helping the SS Christina of Waterford, which had grounded at Port Talbot on the previous evening, found that her help was not wanted, and made for Port Talbot harbour. The lifeboat capsized off the entrance with the loss of six out of fourteen of her crew. The Institution granted £1,200 towards the fund raised locally for the dependants. One of the rescued, Tom Michael, was a survivor of the 1883 accident. Those lost were Coxswain Thomas Rogers, Second Coxswain Daniel Claypit, D.J.Morgan, George Michael, James Gammon and Robert Smith. The lifeboat was damaged beyond repair.
1916 New slipway and approach gangway constructed.
1922 Alterations and extension of slipway carried out at a cost of £1,800.
1935 Centenary Vellum presented.
1941 Bronze Medal awarded to Coxswain William Gammon and to Mechanic Robert T Williams for the rescue of the crew of ten of the steam ship Cornish Rose of Liverpool which was dragging her anchors in Swansea Bay on the 20th January 1941. It was pitch dark, which was exacerbated by mist and rain squalls. A whole south gale was blowing and there was a heavy breaking sea. The vessel was very close to the shore and rolling heavily and the ordinary perils of the sea were greatly increased by the coastal defences consisting of iron rails driven into the foreshore and sticking out of it. It was a bold and skilful rescue.
1944 Gold medal awarded to Coxswain William Gammon and a Bronze Medals to Mechanic WG Davies and Bowman Thomas J Ace for the rescue of the crew of 42 of a Canadian frigate Cherboque smothered in heavy seas on Port Talbot bar on the 11th of October 1944. Twelve times in the darkness and in heavy squalls of hail, the coxswain circled round though the surf and brought the lifeboat along side the frigate for her men to jump. The rescued Canadians spoke afterwards of the work of their rescuers as "magnificent" and "almost miraculous". Two of the lifeboat men were over seventy years old while another two were in their sixties, the average age of the crew was 55. The Maud Smith award for the bravest act of life-saving in 1944 was awarded to Coxswain WJ Gammon for his service.
1947 On the 23rd of April the Edward Prince of Wales was capsized and wrecked with the loss of her crew of eight after she had gone to the aid of the SS Samtamper with a crew of 39 off Sker Point. The Institution made a grant of £500 to the local fund and pays service scale pensions to the dependants. The death toll that night was 47. The names of those lifeboat men lost were Coxswain William J Gammon, Second Coxswain William Noel, Mechanics William G Davies and E Griffin, WRS Thomas, WL Howell, WR Thomas and R Smith.
1948 The Royal Humane Society awarded a Bronze Medal and thanks certificate to Mechanic RJ Gammon for his efforts on the 18th of November when a frogman engaged on renovation work lost his life.
1964 Silver Medal awarded to Coxswain Lionel Derek Scott and the Yhanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum to eight other members of the crew of the lifeboat:- Second Coxswain W Davies, Mechanic J Gammon, Assistant Mechanic W Tucker, Signalman J Bailey, K Kostroman, G Parsons, H Randall and J Witford, for the rescue of the crew of the Dutch motor vessel Kilo from their burning ship in a violent storm on the night of 17th of November 1963.
1965 Inshore lifeboat station established in May with a D class lifeboat. Operational summer months only. The cost defrayed by the Rotary Club of Swansea.
1968 Bronze Medal to Coxswain Lionel Derek Scott and an additional monetary award to him and each of the lifeboat crew for the rescue of seven crew members of the sand dredger Steepholm which grounded on Tusker Rock in a fresh west-south-westerly wind with a moderate to rough sea. Six of the Steepholm crew were rescued from life-rafts after which the lifeboat returned to the casualty for the master. As he jumped aboard the lifeboat , the vessel was caught by heavy sea and he fell between the Steepholm and the lifeboat. Fortunately the Second Coxswain and another member of the crew were able to grab him before he fell into the water and he was pulled aboard unhurt.
1971 Silver Second Service Clasp awarded to Coxswain Lionel Derek Scott BEM, in recognition of his courage when he put out in a small outboard motor dinghy and rescued a man after his canoe capsized in a fresh easterly wind and a very confused sea off Mumbles Head on 12th April 1971.
1971 The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum awarded to helmsman Alan "Tudy" Jones, crew members Peter Algie and Anthony Lewis for the rescue of three men from a cabin cruiser on 3rd October.
1972 A framed letter of Appreciation signed by the Chairman of the Institution Commander FRH Swann, was presented to crew member W "Ginger" Clements in recognition of his action when he leapt aboard the yacht Karfinn to secure a tow-line. During the service by the lifeboat on 19th December in an east-south-easterly gale and rough sea with skill and determination managed to prevent the yacht from sheering uncontrollably during the tow back to Swansea.
1980 Coxswain Lionel Derek Scott was presented with an engraved statuette of a lifeboatman by Mr. Raymond Baxter, Chairman of the RNLI Public Relations Committee at the International Boat Show, Earls Court, on 9th January, in recognition of his radio and television broadcasts and numerous public talks.
1981 The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum accorded to Coxswain Lionel Derek Scott BEM in recognition of his skill and determination when he put out in his rowing boat, and with great physical effort rescued the crew of two of a dinghy which had capsized approximately tree quarters of a mile off Southend beach in a gentle breeze and a choppy sea with freezing temperature on 22nd December.
1982 The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum accorded to Helmsman Anthony David Lewis in recognition of the calmness and determination he displayed when on the 21st August he swam from the lifeboat to an unoccupied cabin cruiser which was burning fiercely and drifting towards a crowded Mumbles Pier. Having secured a line to the craft he returned to the lifeboat and towed her to deeper water where sank.
1985 150th Anniversary Vellum Presented to the Station.1985 saw the new Tyne class lifeboat ‘Ethel Anne Measures’ into service at Mumbles. The Tyne class boat, powered by two Detroit Tank Engines could reach speeds of 18 Knots and revolutionised fast slipway boats.
1994 New inshore boathouse constructed on the existing site of the old D class boathouse. As well as housing the inshore lifeboat it includes an inflatable boarding boat, changing/drying room, toilet, crew room, kitchen and office.
1994 New D class lifeboat placed on service. A new D-class boathouse was erected in place of the existing house, soon after, new D-class D463 ‘Nellie Grace Hughes’ was placed on service. The old inshore boathouse is still used by Mumbles Rowing Club and Mumbles Pier and can be seen opposite the new Station.
2004 New D class lifeboat (IL1), 'Peterborough Beer Festival II' is placed on service.
2006 ALB 'Ethel Anne Measures' leaves the station and is replaced by 'Babs and Agnes Robertson'.
The Present
The Mumbles Lifeboat Station continues to serve the area with an All Weather Lifeboat (ALB) and an Inshore Lifeboat (ILB).
In 2004 Peterborough Beer Festival II was placed on service at the Station. Produced by Avon Inflatables of Llanelli this new generation D-Class Inshore Lifeboat (designated IB1) embraces modern technology and new materials to improve response times as well as crew comfort and safety. (For more information about IB1 click here ). The ILB continues to be the workhorse of the Station and accounts for some two thirds of our calls.
Peterborough Beer Festival II was donated to the RNLI by CAMRA (The Campaign for Real Ale) through donations received at the Peterborough Beer Festival. This was CAMRA’s second donation of a Lifeboat to the RNLI; their first, Peterborough Beer Festival 1 is serving the North East of England at Redcar.
On Raft race day in July 2006, after 21 years service, our ALB, Ethel Anne Measures left the Station and was replaced by another Tyne Class Lifeboat Babs and Agnes Robertson. Babs and Agnes came to us from Peterhead and will see us through to 2011 when we expect to receive a new Tamar Class ALB – see The Future below.
In 2006 and 2007 we were the third busiest Station in Wales. In both years we helped the most number of people for an individual Station in Wales.
The Future at Mumbles Station
In 2002 a Coastal Review conducted by senior RNLI officials determined that The Mumbles Lifeboat Station be earmarked for a new Tamar Class Fast Slipway Boat (FSB2). The recommendations of the delegation, which included the building of a new boathouse and slipway, were endorsed by the Trustees of the RNLI.
The RNLI are absolutely committed to ensuring the charities money is spent wisely. The specific conditions of the sea bed at Mumbles risked increasing the cost of the project and so delays resulted whilst further studies were commissioned. Armed with new and clarifying information a further Coastal Review was conducted in 2007 and the same conclusions were made. The Trustees of the RNLI have committed funds to build a new slipway and boathouse to receive a Tamar Class Lifeboat in 2011.
The Tamar is bigger and faster than the Tyne and includes the computerised Systems and Information Management System (SIMS) that enables crew to control many of the lifeboat's functions remotely from the safety of their seats. Other features include advanced seats that reduce the impact on the crew as the lifeboat crashes through waves, and a powered Y boat stored behind a transom door to allow immediate deployment.
Information taken from www.mumbleslifeboat.org.uk/history.html
The Calgary training train departs De Winton as the precipitation intensities.
Hard to believe what 24hrs can do. The previous day of 17 degree C and partly sunny skies is replaced with freezing temperatures and a rain/snow squall mix the next day.
Undaunted by the wind, rain and near freezing temperature, 34046 ‘Braunton’ masquerading as 34052 ‘Lord Dowding’ flies through Madeley, Staffs, with the Salisbury - Chester 'Chester Chuffer'. The steam loco was attached to 67018 at Bescot. 15th December 2018.
Venus reflects off a frozen beach as the Southern Arm of the Milky Way stretches across the sky in Sea Isle City, New Jersey.
As I stepped onto the frozen sand and breathed in the 10 degree air, I noticed something I had never seen at the beach. The slow rolling waves were leaving behind slushy piles of ice before they made their retreat back into the ocean. When I noticed the ice, I knew I needed to include it as I framed my shot. A long exposure at night will generally turn even a rough ocean to a smooth, calming scene. However, the flat water can easily appear featureless and uninteresting. For this reason, another focal point is often needed to anchor the foreground to complete a strong composition. In this case, I thought the ice at the edge of the frame was both uncommon and had enough texture to be a strong point of interest in the shot.
Although the Milky Way is visible year-round, different parts are visible at different times of the year. The more dense portion seen in this photograph, often referred to as the Southern Arm, is just becoming visible again late in the evening. Shortly after the Milky Way rises past the horizon, the planet Venus follows and shines brightly into the early hours of the morning.
It wasn't easy to drag myself out of a warm bed at 1AM to brave the below freezing temperatures, but it ended up being well worth the effort. Once I arrived at the beach and looked up to the beautiful clear sky, I almost completely forgot about the arctic like conditions...almost. More from Sea Isle City Soon! Hope you enjoy it!
Nikon D800e / Nikon 14-24 f/2.8
Instagram: @JackFusco
Night Photography Workshops
A cold, cold winter day in the snow at Morton's Overlook in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Morton's Overlook is located along US Hwy 441 near Newfound Gap in the GSMNP, between Gatlinburg TN and Cherokee NC. Gatlinburg TN is an extremely popular spot for vacation and adventure at any time of the year, and this is one of the classic Smoky Mountains landscapes. I'm still thawing my fingers out from the freezing temperatures and high winds we encountered the day I shot this. Hope you enjoy it, comments welcome! ;-)
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Single exposure shot with a Nikon D700 and the 17-35mm 2.8 lens, CP and ND Grad.
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© 2012 Dave Allen Photography, All Rights Reserved. This image may NOT be used for anything without my explicit permission.
Zinnia elegans (syn. Zinnia violacea) known as youth-and-age, common zinnia or elegant zinnia, is an annual flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is native to Mexico but grown as an ornamental in many places and naturalised in several places, including scattered locations in South and Central America, the West Indies, the United States, Australia, and Italy.
Description
The uncultivated plant grows to about 15 cm (5.27 in) in height. It has solitary flower heads about 5 cm (2 in) across. The purple ray florets surround black and yellow discs. The lanceolate leaves are opposite the flower heads. Flowering occurs during the summer months.
History
The species was first collected in 1789 at Tixtla, Guerrero, by Sessé and Mociño. It was formally described as Zinnia violacea by Cavanilles in 1791. Jacquin described it again in 1792 as Zinnia elegans, which was the name that Sessé and Moçiño had used in their manuscript of Plantae Novae Hispaniae, which was not published until 1890. The genus was named by Carl von Linné after the German botanist Johann Gottfried Zinn, who described the species now known as Zinnia peruviana in 1757 as Rudbeckia foliis oppositis hirsutis ovato-acutis, calyce imbricatus, radii petalis pistillatis. Linné realised that it was not a Rudbeckia.
Cultivation
The garden zinnia was bred via hybridisation from the wild form. Zinnias are popular garden plants with hundreds of cultivars in many flower colours, sizes and forms. There are giant forms with flower heads up to 15 cm (6 in) in diameter.
Flower colours range from white and cream to pinks, reds, and purples, to green, yellow, apricot, orange, salmon, and bronze. Some are striped, speckled or bicoloured. There are "pom-pom" forms that resemble dahlias. Sizes range from dwarf varieties of less than 15 cm (6 in) in height to 90 cm (3 ft) tall. The powdery mildew common to zinnias in humid climates is less common in recently developed varieties, which are resistant.
The following have won the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:
'Benary's Giant Salmon Rose'
'Benary's Giant Scarlet'
'Dreamland Mixed'
'Dreamland Rose'
'Dreamland Scarlet'
'Dreamland Yellow'
'Purple Prince'
'Short Stuff Orange'
'Zinderella Peach'
'Zowie! Yellow Flame'
Other cultivars include 'Magellan', 'Envy Double', 'Fireworks', 'Blue Point Purple', 'Profusion Cherry', 'Profusion Orange', 'Star Gold', 'Star Orange', and several white-flowered types such as 'Crystal White', 'Purity', and 'Profusion White'. Mixed-colour seed selections are available.
Growth
Zinnias grow easily and prefer well-drained, loamy soil and full sun. They grow best in dry, warm, frost-free regions, and many kinds are drought-tolerant. As they do not tolerate freezing temperatures, in temperate zones they must be sown after all danger of frost has passed. Alternatively they may be sown under cover, and carefully transplanted into their final positions when the soil warms up.
Rapha’s Supercross series visited Nobeyama last weekend, Japan’s highest town, nestled in the Yatsugatake Mountains at an altitude of 1,345m. Now in its seventh year, the event began with fresh snow and freezing temperatures and ended in torrential rain for the UCI Elite races, where the mud became so deep even the strongest were challenged in two days of some of the most entertaining bike racing on the planet.
For the full photo story follow the link here (英語と日本語)
It’s a spring sunset at the Racetrack in Death Valley National Park, and the sky is on fire. On a very special trip to Death Valley where I took my Dad on a whirlwind tour we made an evening visit here with the last light of the day. When we arrived the Sun had already dipped below Ubehebe Peak and literally everyone else had left. But, there was still light to be had and we hiked the 1/2 mile or so out onto the playa where the moving rocks are aplenty. What had been scattered showers all afternoon had settled into some relatively thick but low banks of clouds and as we wondered out there I really didn’t think anything interesting was going to happen as the sun finally set. Having visited the Racetrack six times before I had the impression that there hasn’t been a movement event here in some time. That special combination of water, freezing temperatures, and wind, doesn’t seem to have made fresh rock tracks in the playa for awhile. I noticed that the tracks that were there had eroded a bit and in the dwindling light were emphasized by the difference in sheen off the surface of the dry mud. I wasn’t even really planning to take many photos except a couple of my Dad and I in this unique place, but then the unmistakable signs of an impending color explosion arrived and I lined up a shot with this rock and its trail made clearer by the specular reflection of the bright patch in the sky to the northwest. And then the Sun dipped below the clouds, shining through a brief unseen window to the west between the mountain tops of successive mountain ranges and the low clouds. It is the most magical sunset I have witnessed at the Racetrack, and I am so happy to have shared it with my Dad. We were the only souls there for miles.
Who guards the north? The featured picture was taken last March in Finnish Lapland where weather can include sub-freezing temperatures and driving snow. Surreal landscapes sometimes result, where white alien-looking sentinels seem to patrol the landscape. In actuality though, the aliens are snow-covered trees, and the red hut they seem to be guarding is an outhouse. Far in the distance, behind this uncommon Earthly vista, is a beautiful night sky which includes a green aurora, bright stars, and streaks of orbiting satellites. Of course, in the spring, the trees thaw and Lapland looks much different. via NASA ift.tt/2iAz7AY
Take at 10:55 AM this morning on my walk through Humber Bay Park West in Toronto. It was -3 C feeling like - 7 C. I was dressed warmly and enjoyed the hour outdoors.
Thanks for visiting and for your feedback. Enjoy your Sunday and week ahead.
(Lepus americanus) Johns Family Nature Conservancy south of Kelowna, BC.
Also called the varying hare, or snowshoe rabbit, this is a species of hare found in North America. Named "snowshoe" because of the large size of its hind feet, [which] prevent it from sinking into the snow when it hops and walks. Its feet also have fur on the soles to protect it from freezing temperatures.
For camouflage, its fur turns white during the winter and rusty brown during the summer. Its flanks are white year-round. The snowshoe hare is also distinguishable by the black tufts of fur on the edge of its ears. Its ears are shorter than those of most other hares.
In summer, it feeds on plants such as grass, ferns, and leaves; in winter, it eats twigs, the bark from trees, and plants and, similar to the Arctic hare, has been known to occasionally eat dead animals.[3] It can sometimes be seen feeding in small groups. This animal is mainly active at night and does not hibernate. The snowshoe hare may have up to four litters in a year, which average three to eight young. Males compete for females, and females may breed with several males.
A major predator of the snowshoe hare is the Canada lynx. Historical records of animals caught by fur hunters over hundreds of years show the lynx and hare numbers rising and falling in a cycle, which has made the hare known to biology students worldwide as a case study of the relationship between numbers of predators and their prey.
About 7 years after Japan first staked it’s claim on Mercury and began mining the planet for Magnesium ore in an effort to curb reliance on the Russo-Sino Confederacy, the miners began taking scrap and creating maglev tracks and racing modified mining buggies and carts.
Within 20 years, the planetary pastime was refined and became increasingly dangerous, high tech, and profitable in its own right.
Bleeding edge technology not commonly used for terrestrial race applications became commonplace due to the lack of safety regulations pertaining to anything but the extraction of ore, an inherently risk seeking populace of thrill and adventure seekers now a generation deep.
Usually events were matched in three way heats to extend the festivities over the course of a full Mercurian day, or almost 2 months long on Earth. Pilots could expect to cross between scorching heat and bitterly freezing temperatures making the need for robust propulsion systems and life support systems paramount.
Here we see from left to right a Klandonian MKIV, adorned in spoilers which have less to do with producing downforce in a minimal atmosphere and more importantly work to transfer heat to or from the core of the vehicle depending on daytime or night time racing.
The Titan Industries Marauder is the only design produced from a manufacturer based on Mercury, and it’s record number of podium finishes is there to prove it. With a similarly complex set of veins and spoiler surfaces to mitigate heat and provide what aerodynamic modulation it can, it is slightly more delicate than the rest but otherwise supremely tuned to its environment.
Last in this heat is the Subaru Pleiades - a newly designed introduction from the Japanese automobile manufacturer. Hoping to stake a name for themselves in the fastest growing segment of industry and Motorsport entertainment, their cutting edge design was produced in partnership with Titan Industries but takes bold steps away from the reliance on heat sinks, diffusers, and spoilers, and focuses on a robust more rally like design. Not to be easily outdone, the vehicle shares the same power plant as the competitors but recirculates the heat in an ingenious internal channeling system that primes the fuel delivery system for more powerful combustion less reliant on external conditions and is thusly much more consistently performing in its output.
Events rarely end without one or two pilots meeting a glorious end by nightfall, but the prestige and a chance at the grand prize of a peripheral mining colony is too much for many young miners to pass up.
Here at one of the first officially recognized long distance tracks, Hi Bakudan Raceways (re-named after the tremendous and fatal collision during its inaugural race when it was simply known as The Path) all are expected to survive, but the odds are ever shifting.
Racers built by Shawn Davis
Starting Grid built by Peter Carmichael
The winter morning I photographed this scene was cold. The below-freezing temperatures formed rime ice on trees and shrubs on the west side of Blue Ridge Mountains. Clouds covered the sky, allowing the low sun to shine for brief seconds through a few small breaks. I stepped on the ground of the Crescent Rock at one of those moments and got attracted to the beautiful light on the mountain slope. By the time I set up my camera, the clouds had rolled in tighter and blocked the sun. It took me another ten minutes of waiting before the next break allowed the light to illuminate the curves of the Hawksbill Mountain and letting me make the exposure.
As snow falls, wind bites, and freezing temperatures chill to the bone, here's a reminder of Summers lost. It grew to nearly eighteen feet in our back garden. Hope it brings a smile to your face and a warm glow.
We have only had a few hours of freezing temperatures so far this season, so I had to rush out to get these. The ice is all gone now...
I'm surprised with the above freezing temperatures the past couple of days that more of the ice on the ponds and lakes around here hasn't melted.
There is some open water, but not much.
I feel bad for these guys,\ that depend on fishing for food.
I caught this heron up at the Warminster Community Park today while I was checking to see if there was anything interesting floating around in with the Canada Geese.
There wasn't.
I really like how this turned out. I took my tripod with me tonight in the below freezing temperatures and it was worth it. I really like how the exterior doors are a silhouette with the second set of entry doors lit up from the light between the two sets of doors.
Scanned off an original slide I bought in a charity railway jumble at a heritage railway. original slide is underexposed and has no details on the mount except a processing date of 03/08. I think it is 55019 Royal Highland Fusilier so its a shot in preservation. Nigel Pitt says its Milford Tunnel between Duffield and Belper. This apparently was the Deltic's last mainline run on the Deltic Preservation Society
Fusilier Farewell railtour which was notorious for the freezing temperatures and no heat and toilet facilities in many of the coaches ! The photographer must have froze solid to get this nice shot.
Like to see the pictures as Large as your screen? Than why not take the Slideshow : www.flickr.com/photos/reurinkjan/sets/72157622436074363/s...
Weather on the Tibetan Plateau.
Amdo (northeast Tibet) has huge rolling grasslands giving way to high mountain ranges and is home to many nomads. While Amdo is not as high as Changtang, winter is still long and cold. With an average elevation of over 3400m and sitting in the most northern region of Tibet, winter can come early. Freezing temperatures are common by mid-Septemeber. Amdo also gets more snow than most regions of Tibet. If you have ever seen a picture of Tibetan nomads in snow, chances are it was taken in Amdo. Winter temperatures can easily get to -20C (-4F) and the high areas of Golok Tibet Autonomous Prefecture can get to -30C. Summers are short, but pleasant in Amdo with temperatures getting up to 24C (75F) by mid-July (nights are still cold though).
kekexili.typepad.com/life_on_the_tibetan_plate/2007/01/ti...
This picture was taken on the 26 of September. ( altitude 4343 m)
It's quite a sight as the fog alternately engulfs and reveals the freighters. The extremely cold weather causes Lake Superior to create steam due to the temperature difference between the water and the air. It's beautiful to watch but the downside for a photographer are those same freezing temperatures. 345.2
Active Assignment Weekly (Jan. 27) - Frozen
It is constantely above freezing temperature here at the moment, so no chance to get any natural ice. Instead I made some ice cubes in the freezer and filled them in a glass.
They are illumnated by a speedlight from behind. The background is a sheet of paper with a hole for the flash.
In post-processing adjusted contrast/exposure and shifted the hue to make the wooden table appear bluish.
Each year with Christmas approaching, Bath has its Christmas Market, this attracts visitors from far and wide having travelled by both road and rail. Not for the first time I ventured from Porthcawl to capture the majesty of a steam working in a delightful situation. The down-side of such a jaunt is all the traffic encountered whilst trying to get home, with traffic problems in Bath, Bristol and on the M4 around both Newport and Cardiff!
The Railway Touring Company organised an excursion that departed from Poole at 06.50 on 30 November 2017 with a choice of destinations (Bath or Bristol), it was originally booked for 60009, but UK Steam Info reported that the A4 was 'unavailable,' the substitute was ex-LMS 'Black 5' number 45212, an engine I remember well from my spotting days around the Manchester area in the mid-1960s. In glorious conditions of wall to wall sunshine and close to freezing temperatures the excursion is seen near to the village of Newton St Loe, between Bath and Bristol. (This image has had a few fellow photographers removed on Photoshop - wonderful invention!)
Being greeted by this spectacular view and sunrise at Crater Lake, made my 4am wake up call and thirty minute drive from our campsite to the summit all worth while. Enduring the near freezing temperatures and bone chilling wind chill were worthy sacrifices in exchange for standing high atop the rim of this marvel of mother nature.
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So beautiful then . . . now they are having an unseasonably cold winter with frequent freezing temperatures.
The class "PL" leads a westbound train over the Lyndhurst Drawbridge. Weeks of below freezing temperatures have caused the Passaic River to freeze over.
NJT 1113 @ Lyndhurst Drawbridge, Lyndhurst, NJ
NJTR PL42AC 4000
Rodolfo, of the Flying Wallendas. High wire act in sleet and near freezing temperatures. First Night, Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO.
Who guards the north? The featured picture was taken last March in Finnish Lapland where weather can include sub-freezing temperatures and driving snow. Surreal landscapes sometimes result, where white alien-looking sentinels seem to patrol the landscape. In actuality though, the aliens are snow-covered trees, and the red hut they seem to be guarding is an outhouse. Far in the distance, behind this uncommon Earthly vista, is a beautiful night sky which includes a green aurora, bright stars, and streaks of orbiting satellites. Of course, in the spring, the trees thaw and Lapland looks much different. via NASA ift.tt/2iAz7AY
Soon to be tropical force winds near Ocean City with this wintry blast of a storm. Would not want to be out taking this same shot tonight or tomorrow in the near freezing temperatures blowing that hard :)
After nearly two straight weeks of sub-freezing temperatures, the Chicago River looked gorgeous as ever.
Twitter: @ChiPhotoGuy Facebook: NUPhotography Instagram: Nick_Ulivieri Chicago photography blog
I've been on holiday for the past few days...a holiday that coincided with one of the biggest snow storms we've had here in New Zealand in recent years, luckily we weren't too badly affected in Kaikoura where I was staying (apart from closed roads and freezing temperatures). The mountains behind the town were wonderful with their coating of snow (when you could see them that is!) This was taken in a rare moment when the cloud lifted.
Flypaper texture processing. I've also done a plain version see below -it's always hard to know when to texture when not to, especially for landscapes so in this case I've posted both :-)
Morning rush hour commuters wait for an L train in sub-freezing temperatures at a Chicago Transit Authority elevated rapid rail station, Diversey.
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Today cryobiology is a tangible branch of biology that studies the effects of living things in extreme below freezing temperatures.
There are many distinctions in the cryo-science practice and the freezing of non-living matter, but in cryobiology the main focus is in the study of preserving life in biological matter including proteins, cells, tissues, organs and organisms in their entirety.
In recent years, with support of emergency medicine, the basis that cryobiology may surpass organ transplantation and may have the ability to increase the length of a life may be slowly becoming a reality... (read more) - the frozen fountain of youth -
fun facts:
The word cryobiology is derived from the Greek words 'cryo' meaning 'cold', 'bios' meaning 'life' and 'logos' meaning 'study of' or 'science'.
The freezing temperatures in cryo-science may range from very cold, sub zero, hypothermic conditions to extreme temperatures of –300 °C.
As a result of the below freezing temperature measurement studies, scientists created a new temperature scale from the commonly known Fahrenheit and Celsius, which they call the Kelvin and Rankine scales: whereas –300 °C or –508 °F translates to –27 K (conversion_calculator)
My OM-D EM-1 with the Oly 12-40mm 2,8 on our 1 hour walk today. Below freezing, lots of snow fall, and 62 pictures. Zoom and camera worked fine.