View allAll Photos Tagged Gate
Family and I headed down to the Florida for a couple of weeks and took the kids to Disney World (of course). They had a blast.
Took about 800 - 900 photos total between the 6D and GR. A ton to go through. Will be posting several here over the next little while.
Starting with this one. Shot through the car window on the way into the park...
Canon 6D / 24-105mm f4L
Beyond the gate, a rusted roof on a barn and a windmill in distress is a typical rural scene in Iowa.
Happy Windmill Wednesday!
Florence Baptistery (Firenze, Italy).
The massive doors—seventeen feet high—were created by the eminent Florentine goldsmith, sculptor, and designer Lorenzo Ghiberti (1378-1380–1455).
Ghiberti placed ten brilliantly visualized scenes from the Old Testament amid surrounding frames that include twenty-four heads and twenty-four statuettes of Biblical heroes, heroines, prophets, and sibyls, all enclosed within a lush frieze of the flora and fauna of Tuscany. All offer proof of Ghiberti's unique ability to combine compositional strength with the utmost delicacy, creating rich pictorial effects and perspectives that were unprecedented. He employed various grades of relief in combination—some figures are shown nearly in the round, while others barely rise above the surface—a subtly intricate modeling technique that he practiced magisterially. The whole was enhanced through the use of fire gilding. It took twenty-seven years (1425–52) for Ghiberti's workshop to design and make the massive doors; the recent conservation effort to bring them back to their original splendor has taken an equivalent amount of time.
At the Iron Gates, the Samaria Gorge is so narrow that you can almost touch both sides as they rise up sheer 350 metres above your head.
The Samaria Gorge is located in west Crete, in the White Mountains. It is said to be the longest gorge in Europe (which I doubt).
The gorge is 16 km long (its width varies from 150 meters to a mere 3 meters), starting at an altitude of 1,250m at the northern entrance, and ending at the shores of the Libyan Sea in Agia Roumeli. The walk through Samaria National Park is 13 km long, but one has to walk another three km to Agia Roumeli from the park exit, making the hike 16 km.
In contradiction to what you can read in many guidebooks, the walk is quite easy and pleasant.
The world heritage-listed cottage was built in 1887 and is a significant part of the colonial history of Parramatta.
"Originally there was a smaller cottage that was built here by Lord Fitzroy after his wife tragically died in a carriage accident at the George Street gatehouse and he couldn't stand driving through the gatehouse any more so he opened up the Macquarie Street side so he didn't have to keep driving past where his wife died," he said.
"Then there was a gatehouse built to guard the entrance and then it was renovated in the 1880s to become the cottage that it is now."
The cottage is currently being utilised as Tea Rooms.
Nandi (Sanskrit: नन्दी, Tamil: நந்தி, Telugu: న౦ది) is the name for the bull which serves as the mount (Sanskrit: Vahana) of the god Shiva and as the gatekeeper of Shiva and Parvati. In Hindu Religion, he is the chief guru of eighteen masters (18 siddhas) including Patanjali and Thirumular. Temples venerating Shiva display stone images of a seated Nandi, generally facing the main shrine. There are also a number of temples dedicated solely to Nandi.
The application of the name Nandi to the bull (Sanskrit: vṛṣabha) is in fact a development of recent centuries, as Gouriswar Bhattacharya has documented in an illustrated article entitled "Nandin and Vṛṣabha". The name Nandi was earlier widely used instead for an anthropomorphic deity who was one of Shiva’s two door-keepers, the other being Mahākāla. The doorways of pre-tenth-century North Indian temples are frequently flanked by images of Mahākāla and Nandi, and it is in this role of Shiva’s watchman that Nandi figures in Kālidāsa’s poem the Kumārasambhava.
ETYMOLOGY
The word “Nandi” is believed to be derived from the ancient word “Pandi” meaning bull or its has origins in the Sanskrit language where it means 'of Shiva', 'attendant of Shiva', or happy.
BIRTH OF NANDI
There was a Sage named Shilada who underwent severe penance to have a boon - A child with immortality. Lord Indra pleased of the austerities of Shilada appeared in front of him to offer a boon. After hearing the request of Shilada and his desire to have an immortal child, Lord Indra suggested him to pray to Lord Shiva who could provide the boon; nobody else could provide such a boon. Sage Shilada continued his penance for thousand years. He was totally immovable for many years, so the termites settled on his body and slowly started to build up their nest. Finally, his whole body was covered up by them. The insects started to eat his flesh and imbibed his blood. At last, only bones remained. Lord Shiva appeared in front of him and provided the boon for an immortal child. Moreover, Lord Shiva provided Sage Shilada his old form with a single touch. Sage Shilada performed Yagna and a child appeared from the sacrificial fire. His body was clad in armour made out of diamonds. The celestial dancers and singers performed on this auspicious occasion and the deities showered flowers on the child. The boy was named ’Nandi’ - who brings joy. Shilada brought the child home, immediately the boy lost his divine appearance to an ordinary child. The child completely forgot all about his birth. Sage Shilada was worried about the sudden change. He devoted his time for the bringing up the child, his education etc. By the age of seven the boy was well versed in Veda and all sacred texts. One day the two deities - Mitra and Varuna visited Sage Shilada. At the first sight of the boy, they commented: Though the boy had all auspicious signs, he would have a very short life. The boy would not live after the age of eight. Sage Shilada was mortified at this remark. Nandi could not bear his father's sorrow, he began to pray to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva appeared before him and blessed him. Lord Shiva adorned the boy with a necklace around his neck which he was wearing, and made him immortal. Lord Shiva blessed the child and declared that he would be worshiped along with Him and become his vahana(vehicle). Immediately the boy got all the divine powers and transformed into half bull-half human. Then he and Shilada went to Lord Shiva 's abode to live.
IN HINDUISM
Bulls appear on the Indus Valley seals, including the 'Pasupati Seal', which depicts a seated figure, and according to some scholars is similar to Shiva. However, most scholars agree that the horned bull on the Indus Valley seals is not identical to Nandi.
The various descriptions on Nandi in the Hindu Religion texts include:
Some Puranas describe Nandi or Nandikeshvara as bull faced with a human body that resembles that of Shiva- in proportion and aspect, although with four hands, two hands holding the Parasu (the axe) and Mruga (the antelope) and the other two hands joined together in the Anjali(obeisance). Brahma Vaivarta Purana mentions Krishna himself to have taken the form of a bull as no one else in the Universe can bear Shiva.
Vehicle of Shiva: The bull Nandi is Shiva's primary vehicle and is the principal gana (follower) of Shiva.
Gate keeper of Shiva's abode: The close association of Shiva and Nandi explains the presence of a statue of Nandi at the gate of many temples dedicated to Shiva. It also explains why the word "nandi" in the Kannada, Telugu and Tamil languages is used as a metaphor for a person blocking the way. In Sanskrit, a bull is called "vrisha", which has another connotation - that of righteousness or Dharma. It is important to seek the blessings of Nandi before proceeding to worship Lord Shiva.
Chief in Shiva's army: Some Puranas mention that Nandi lead the Shiva Ganas, Shiva's attendants.
A Guru of Saivism: In addition to being his mount, Nandi is Shiva's foremost disciple. In the Natha/Siddhar tradition, Nandi is one of the primal gurus. He was the guru to Siddhar Thirumulanathar, Patanjalinathar and others.
From the yogic perspective, Nandi/Nandhi/ Nandikeshvara is the mind dedicated to Lord Siva, the Absolute. In other words, to understand and absorb Light, the 'experience and the wisdom' is Nandi which is the Guru within.
Spiritually, Nandi represents an individual jiva (soul) and the message that the jiva should always be focussed on the Atman (Paramatman).
LEGENDS
According to some puranas, Nandi was born to sage Shilada who got him by the grace of Shiva.
It was Nandi who cursed Ravana (the demon King of Lanka) that his kingdom would be burnt by a monkey (Vanara). And later Hanuman burnt Lanka when he went in search of Sita, who was kept prisoner by Ravana in Ashok Vatika. In one puranic story, it is stated that once Siva and Parvathi were playing a game of dice. For any game there has to be an umpire, who has to declare who is the winner. Siva and Parvathi agreed to have Nandi (the divine bull) as the umpire. Nandi is a favorite of Siva, as he is Siva's vehicle. Although Siva lost the game, Nandi declared him the winner. It is stated that Parvathi was indignant over Nandi's partiality for Siva and cursed him that he should die from an incurable disease. Thereupon Nandi fell at the feet of Parvathi and pleaded for forgiveness. "Mother forgive me. Should I not show at least this amount of gratitude to one who is my master? Is it not humiliating for me to declare that my master has lost the game? To uphold his honor I no doubt uttered a lie. But am I to be punished with such severity for so small an offence?" Nandi prayed for forgiveness in this manner. Parvathi forgave Nandi and taught him the means to atone for his lapse. She told him. "The Chaturdasi day in the month of Bhadrapada is the day when my son's birthday is celebrated. On that day you have to offer to my son what pleases you most (green grass)". This means that one atones for one's sins when one offers to the Lord what is most pleasing and enjoyable to him. For Nandi the most enjoyable and relishing food is green grass. As directed by Parvathi Nandi worshipped Ganapathi by offering green grass. Nandi was then relieved of his dreaded disease. His health improved and by the grace of Parvathi he was redeemed.
When the positive forces, the devas, and the negative forces, the asuras, joined together on a rare occasion to churn the ocean with a mountain to obtain the nectar of immortality they utilized Vasuki, the serpent, as the rope. The devas pulled from one end and the asuras from the other. Lots of precious herbs and gems were produced during the Churning and one of them was a poison (halāhala) which became human karma. This "poison" was so dangerous that none of the devas or asuras wanted to go near it. It was extremely sticky and coming into contact with this poison, i.e., human karma, would drag the divinity down to the realms of human suffering and ego. As everyone else ran away, Lord Siva, followed by Nandi, came forward to help as he was the only one who could counteract this deadly poison. Siva took the poison into his hand and drank it, the descent of the poison was in turn stopped at His throat, by His divine consort. Siva is therefore also known as Nīlakaṇṭha (the blue-throated one) and Viṣakaṇṭha (the poison-throated one). Nandi saw some of the poison spill out of Siva's mouth and immediately drank if off the ground. The devas and asuras watching were shocked and wondered aloud what would happen to Nandi. Lord Siva calmed their fears saying, "Nandi has surrendered into me so completely that he has all my powers and my protection".
LARGEST NANDIS IN INDIA
1. Lepakshi, Andhra Pradesh
2. Brahadishwara Temple, Tamil Nadu
3. Chamundi Hills, Mysore, Karnataka
4. Bull Temple, Bangalore, Karnataka
5. Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu
6. Hoysaleswara Temple, Halebidu, Karnataka
7. Shanthaleswara Temple, Halebidu, Karnataka
8. Vadakkunnathan Temple, Thrissur, Kerala
9. Virupaksha Temple, Hampi, Karnataka
10. Nandi Temple, Western Group of Temples, Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh
11. Kedareshvara Temple at Balligavi (Karnataka)
12. Doddabasaveshvara temple, Kurugodu Bellary dist
The Amida Hall Gate is one of the two most prominent gates at Higashi Honganji that open onto Karasuma Street. This gate is smaller than the Founder’s Hall Gate, the main entrance to the temple, but more ornate. It is distinguished by its curved gables and undulating bargeboards, which connote elegance and nobility.
The decorative bronze details underneath the bargeboards depict auspicious plants and animals. The roof is covered with shingles of hinoki cypress bark, a style of roofing used in Japan since ancient times.
The gate does not have the usual wooden-bar threshold, symbolizing that the teachings of Jodo Shinshu (True Pure Land), the school of Buddhism to which Higashi Honganji belongs, are open to everyone. The gate’s current version was completed in 1911 to replace a structure that burned down in 1864, and is slightly off-center in relation to the Amida Hall beyond it. This is because the gate was built to align with the street in front of it. That road led directly to the gate in previous centuries, but the two are now separated
by the heavily trafficked Karasuma Street.
These falls are on Gates Mills Creek, which continues to flow meeting the Chagrin River in Gates Mills, Ohio. There was once a small bridge over the ravine, but it was demolished some years ago, presumably to help the ravine be restored to its original form. The county still maintains an easement where the bridge once stood, but there is no place to park a car. The falls can still be viewed by those willing to hike or ride a bike to the area, then climbing down a rocky and slippery escarpment. The ravine can also be viewed from above the falls by walking toward the ledge of the falls (see link below) but I would advise using the strongest of caution if doing this. The creek bottom is extremelly slippery, and going over the falls would not be a pleasant experience.
Secret tip of top notch photography when not in the mood to drag out a tripod, use the flash on auto focus and let it focus! After that turn on manual focus and put the flash down without moving the camera.
Gated doors and "no admittance" sign at the rear of a warehouse along Wayne Avenue. Twin Towers neighborhood, Dayton, Ohio
My friend Angie. "Hands" portfolio for school. Spring 2006. Developed in darkroom, contrast filter used. Kodak T-MAX Black and White 400 ASA film.
Gates
Why build gates? Do we think
we are chaining something
out, or something in? Rust
brings reason to them; winter
tests their welding. Let’s
face it: they sag open, like
unsutured wounds. Their struts
hang like shards of crumbling
structures: which they are.
I’d like to build a gate before
my knowing. That would bar
the way, and half-disrupt
my going. There would be
no shame in bodgy building:
the worst would be redeemed
by rust and bleeding.
Poem by Giles Watson, 2012.
The Hotel van Eetvelde, one of Victor Horta's most famous buildings. Nicely set just above the Square Marie-Louise, for the enjoyment of passers-by.
This shot is a little out of focus because when I saw the truck coming and thought of the shot, I turned around so quickly to catch it that I almost fell! Plus, the truck whizzed past really, really fast. Still, I love that reflection and just had to post it...
This vehicle is a warranty backed production performance model of the Mitsubishi Evolution. Littered with aftermarket parts, this street car is right at home on a racetrack. Much like Monticello Motor Club, where creator Ryan Gates put it through it's paces.
For more information please visit - 311RS.com/
A panel from the "Gates of Paradise" the doors to the Florence Baptistry in Italy.
The panels are by Ghiberti and depict scenes from the Old Testament.
These doors were dubbed by Michelangelo "the Gates of Paradise" because of their beauty, and they were said to have begun the Renaissance.
Taken at the Golden Gate Highlands National Park, Free State, South Africa with a Pentax K1000; scanned negative
So we go inside and gravely read the stones
All those people,all those lives
Where are they now ?with the loves the hates the passions just like mine
They were born and then they lived and then they died
Seems so unfair and i want to cry...
...A dreaded sunny day so i meet you at the cemetary gates
Keats and Yates are by your side
While Wilde is on mine..
Exterior of structure shows minimal signs of damage. Inside of building there is signs of h20 damaged. Perimeter fence needs repair, front portion of fence is down and gate is broken due luting. All signage will need to be repaired or replaced. Down gate was pushed back up to prevent further loss of property.
Photo by USFWS.
Chicago
Cloud Gate on the AT&T Plaza
Cloud Gate is British artist Anish Kapoor's first public outdoor work installed in the United States. The 110-ton elliptical sculpture is forged of a seamless series of highly polished stainless steel plates, which reflect the city's famous skyline and the clouds above. A 12-foot-high arch provides a "gate" to the concave chamber beneath the sculpture, inviting visitors to touch its mirror-like surface and see their image reflected back from a variety of perspectives.
Inspired by liquid mercury, the sculpture is among the largest of its kind in the world, measuring 66-feet long by 33-feet high. Cloud Gate sits upon the At&T Plaza, which was made possible by a gift from AT&T.