Now that the Northern California Firestorm is almost 100% contained, I've been trying to get back into more of a normal life. Everyday thou, I'm stopped in thought and think of the magnitude of this unbelievable disaster and realize how lucky and fortunate we are. Serious pain goes out to the many friends that lost everything, it's just heartbreaking. Major props to all the men and women from all over the country and then some to come help in battling this monster of a fire. Their true bravery and skill saved many lives and us Sonoma County residents are forever grateful.

Long read. Well, not really, but it's longer than a caption.

I've already mentioned that SF was a disappointment photography-wise simply that I didn't opt to prioritise seeking out vantage points and pretty light over spending time with loved ones, but that's not what this post is about.

This is an image of an "affordable-housing block" nearing completion, sat in the middle of the Mission district, priced at nearly $3k/pm for very small flats. "Affordable", whatever that means in the context of SF. Anyway what this image doesn't show is the sheer deriliction and deprivation at street level just a few levels below.

We saw huge collections of tents scattered all over the downtown core of the city, collecting in every public realm that they could. Hundreds... thousands? The only other place I've ever been in my entire life that I've seen so many homeless and destitute people concentrated in one area was in Delhi. The sights and sounds of the Bay Area have many delights to enjoy, but this aspect is very hard to ignore.

Having lived in Edinburgh and London I am no stranger to full cities and stretched housing markets, but what I saw in San Francisco was heartbreaking and inexcusable. In one of the richest cities on earth lies this incredible disparity. Americans will, predictably, no doubt debate amongst themselves as to who is to blame, but it is nonetheless a shameful reality that needs sorted.

Vukovar is a city in Croatia, in the eastern regions of Syrmia and Slavonia. It contains Croatia's largest river port, located at the confluence of the Vuka and the Danube. Just a bit of recent history—The Battle of Vukovar began in 1991 and lasted for 87 days. The lightly armed citizens tried to defend their city from the Serbs, who were equipped with heavy armour and artillery. “The city suffered heavy damage during the siege and was eventually overrun. It is estimated that 1,800 defenders of Vukovar and civilians were killed, 800 went missing and 22,000 civilians were forced into exile.Several war crimes were committed by Serb forces after the battle, including the Vukovar massacre of up to 264 wounded patients and medical staff, taken from the Vukovar hospital. The damage to Vukovar during the siege has been called the worst in Europe since World II.” We visited with a woman in a neighboring town who saw first-hand some of the atrocities. Although she was only seven at the time, she remembers being pulled from school and told that they had to evacuate in three hours. The families tried to bring what they could, including their beloved pets. From the bus, the children saw the Serbian soldiers shoot and kill all of the pets that had been gathered up. Of course, this was only the beginning. She welcomed us into her home that had been completely restored after the war, and served us homemade cake, and brandy made by her parents. She then talked for an hour about what she had lived through, and it was heartbreaking. When I think back to my life here in America back in 1991, I was teaching and raising my family. I barely remember reading or seeing anything about this war. I was too busy with my own life. This trip made me realize that we should all consider ourselves very lucky to be living here in this country….

"...there's a story behind everything. How a picture got on a wall. How a scar got on your face. Sometimes the stories are simple, and sometimes they are hard and heartbreaking."

— Mitch Albom (For One More Day)

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All rights reserved. Use without permission is illegal.

Please NO glittery or big awards.

Raw shot taken at The Inevitability of Fate. Only manipulation was an adjustment to the head from being slumped forward.

It is an amazing installation...very poignant and heartbreaking...exceptionally conceived and executed. A must on your exploration list <3<3

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Cariacou/195/79/171

photo rights reserved by B℮n

Bosnia and Herzegovina often known informally as Bosnia, is a country in Southeast Europe, located within the Balkans. Sarajevo is the capital and largest city. Bosnia is not entirely a landlocked country as it may appear on a map – to the south it has a narrow coast on the Adriatic Sea long and surrounds the town of Neum. Many people still associate the country with the break-up of Yugoslavia in the heartbreaking civil war of the 1990's. The scars from that time are all still visible. But today's tourist are likely to remember the country for its friendly, modest and warm people. The country has turned into an exciting and versatile travel destination, with beautiful mountains, numerous medieval castle ruins, seven major rivers, impressive waterfalls. Overall, nearly 50% of Bosnia is forested. A country where Eastern and Western civilizations have met over the centuries. Today integration into the European Union is one of the main political objectives of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The local currency is the Bosnian mark. The euro is also accepted. Islam is the majority faith in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also Orthodox Christianity, and Roman Catholicism are all present. The wild and unspoilt nature makes it an ideal place for both adventurers and nature lovers. Mostar is the largest city in Hercegovina, with a small but thoroughly enchanting old town centre. Mostar has been most famous for this beautiful historic Ottoman-style Stari Most bridge, which spanned the Neretva river in what is considered the historic center of the city.

Mostar is situated on the Neretva River. Mostar was named after the bridge keepers (mostari) who in the medieval times guarded the Stari Most (Old Bridge) over the Neretva. The Old Bridge, built by the Ottomans (Turkish tribes) in the 16th century, is one of Bosnia and Herzegovina's most visited landmarks. The bridge was destroyed during the Bosnian War. The European Union has spent more than $ 15 million on restoration. The restoration was finished in 2004. In 2005, UNESCO inscribed the Old Bridge and its closest vicinity onto the World Heritage List. Today it is the city’s crown jewel, a grand stone bridge which sweeps across the water, making it the most photographed landmark in the entire country for good reason.

Bosnië en Herzegovina informeel bekend als Bosnië, is een land in Zuidoost-Europa, gelegen op de Balkan. Sarajevo is de hoofdstad en de grootste stad. Veel mensen associëren het land nog steeds met het uiteenvallen van Joegoslavië in de hartverscheurende burgeroorlog van de jaren negentig. De littekens uit die tijd zijn allemaal nog zichtbaar. Maar de toerist van vandaag de dag zal het land waarschijnlijk herinneren vanwege zijn vriendelijke, bescheiden en warme mensen. Het land is een opwindende en veelzijdige reisbestemming geworden, met prachtige bergen, talloze middeleeuwse kasteelruïnes, zeven grote rivieren, indrukwekkende watervallen. In totaal is bijna 50% van Bosnië bebost. Een land waar oosterse en westerse beschavingen elkaar door de eeuwen heen hebben ontmoet. Tegenwoordig is integratie in de Europese Unie een van de belangrijkste politieke doelstellingen van Bosnië en Herzegovina. Mostar ligt aan de rivier de Neretva. Mostar is vernoemd naar de brugwachters mostari die in de middeleeuwen de Stari Most oude brug over de Neretva bewaakten. De oude-brug, gebouwd door de Ottomanen Turkse stammen in de 16e eeuw, is één van de meest bezochte bezienswaardigheden van Bosnië en Herzegovina. De brug is tijdens de Bosnische oorlog verwoest. De Europese Unie heeft meer dan 15 miljoen dollar uitgegeven aan restauratie. De restauratie is in 2004 voltooid. In 2005 heeft de UNESCO de Oude Brug en de dichtstbijzijnde omgeving op de Werelderfgoedlijst gezet. Tegenwoordig is het het kroonjuweel van de stad, een grote stenen brug die over het water is gespannen waardoor het niet voor niets het meest gefotografeerde monument in het hele land is.

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Test della Fujifilm X100T Cromata acquistata dall’amico Raffaele Tranchina di SicilyFoto di Palermo, realizzati una serie di scatti per testarla ho impostato velocemente alcuni parametri a me congeniali ed effettuate alcune riprese, questa è il File numero 015. Si è rivelata una eccellente macchina con una lettura abbastanza precisa sull’intero fotogramma. Ma io ho voluto modificare alcuni valori per la tipologia del mio modo di fare fotografia.

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Test Fujifilm X100T Chrome bought by his friend Raffaele Tranchina SicilyFoto of Palermo, made a series of shots to test it I quickly set some parameters to me congenial and made some shots, this is the File number 015. It proved to be an excellent machine with quite accurate readings across the entire frame. But I wanted to change certain settings for the type of way I do photography.

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Dati Tecnici

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a) Fujifilm X100T + Fujinon ASPHERICAL Lens Super EBC 23mm f/2,0 + Filtro Leica UV (ripresa effettuata prima dell'aggiornamento del firmware alla versione 1,11 del corpo macchina) firmware attuale v.1,10;

b) Tempo 1/60s con apertura diaframma a f.2,8 +1,5 di stop in manuale (a mano libera);

c) Lettura Esposimetrica effettuata con esposimetro della macchina impostata su "Media a Prevalenza Centrale" (ma per mio convincimento personale ho effettuato 5 misurazioni a luce incidente con il Sekonic Dual Spot F-L778 con lettura impostata a 1° per confrontarla con la lettura della macchina e con compiacimento la lettura finale equiparandola a quella media ottenuta dalla somma delle letture effettuate con quella dell’esposimetro della macchina era abbastanza simile, però, ho voluto effettuato quella correzione di +1,5 di stop per dare un tocco personale. Inoltre, ho sistemato un filtro Giallo medio che rende la sensibilità cromatica della ripresa simile a quella dell'occhio umano".

d) Impostazione nel corpo camera FujiFilm X100T: ISO/ASA 2000, DR (100%), Modalità AF (Area), WB Bilanciamento del Bianco (Auto), Simulazione Film (Provia Standard), Colore (+1), Nitidezza (0), Tono Alte luci (0), Tono Ombre (0), Riduzione disturbo (+1), Gamma Dinamica (Auto), Qualità Immagine (Fine), Filtro ND (On), Dimensione Immagine (3:2 - L);

e) Tecnica di ripresa esposimetrica con il sistema dell”Esposizione a Destra;

f) Prima Post-Produzione (leggerissima file quasi perfetto) per la correzione del bilanciamento cromatico/tonale (dopo la desaturazione) delle varie aree e zone di colore per compensare l’intensità di luce (ore 12,30 di ripresa) con Nikon Capture NX 2;

g) Seconda Post-Produzione con Adobe Photoshop CC per il bilanciamento delle zone d’ombra (Lievissima file quasi perfetto);

h) Post-Produzione di completamento con Nikon Capture NX 2 e CorelPhoto-Paint X5 per il completamento e la sistemazione finale del "Sistema Zonale".

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Mio breve Curriculum Vitae su LinkedIn: - My Brief Curriculum Vitae on LinkedIn:

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Visualizza il profilo di Luigi Mirto/ArchiMlFotoWord

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Tutti i diritti riservati ©2017 da ArchiMlFotoWord/Luigi Mirto/Photography

Nessuna immagine o parte di essa può essere riprodotta o trasmessa in qualsiasi forma e con qualsiasi mezzo senza preventiva autorizzazione.

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All rights reserved ©2017 by ArchiMlFotoWord/Luigi Mirto/Photography

No images or part thereof may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means

Without prior permission

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Luigi Mirto/ArchiMlFotoWord's most interesting photos on Flickriver

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Da Ascoltare guardando l’immagine e leggendo Ia poesia

From looking at the picture and listen to reading poetry

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Miriam Stockley – Fantasy – Album Eternal

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Il confine della solitudine

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tristi e….

malinconici i socchiusi

occhi delle velate

donne, avvolte nel

loro funebre mantello

dal cuore spezzato

dall’onore leso.

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….cupi e solitari

i luoghi, strazianti

saranno i giorni,

per sempre dissolti

dal dolore immenso

per i figli morenti

per sempre perduti

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E’ qui…,

che tutti i cuori

delle anime smarrite

s’incontrano….,

nel buio dei ricordi,

cancellati dalle onde che

perdutamente s’infrangono.

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Non odono più i sospiri,

del loro ferito cuore

…quel flebile palpito,

svaniscono i pensieri,

si dissolvono le menti

è la fine di un mondo

che….lentamente muore.

……………………..Luigi Mirto

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The border of loneliness

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sad and….

Melancholy the I narrowed

eyes veiled

women, wrapped in

their funeral cloak

heartbroken

by honor injured.

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.... dark and lonely

places, heartbreaking

they will be the days,

forever dissolved

from immense pain

for the children dying

forever lost

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It's here…,

all hearts

of lost souls

meet ....,

in the dark memories,

erased by the waves that

madly crashing.

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No longer hear the sighs,

of their wounded heart

... that weak heartbeat,

thoughts vanish,

dissolve the minds

èt is the end of a world

that…. slowly he dies.

...........................Luigi Mirto

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Miriam Stockley - Perfect Day - Album Miriam

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Italiano

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Questa immagine è tratta da un reportage in continua evoluzione che sto effettuando nella ricerca di particolari volti che esprimano particolari sensazioni, scene di particolare enfasi ambientale, espressioni e sentimenti profondi trasmessi attraverso semplici sguardi, di particolari posture del corpo o anche dai semplici abiti e decorazioni fisiche.

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Tali immagini verranno raccolte in un “Manuale Artistico Tecnico Fotografico” nella quale saranno descritte le particolari tecniche di ripresa, i materiali impiegati, l’attrezzatura fotografica, i luoghi e le condizioni sceniche ambientali.

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English

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This image is from a report in continuous evolution that I am making in the search for specific faces expressing particular feelings, scenes of environmental emphasis, expressions and deep feelings conveyed through simple look, a particular posture of the body or even from simple clothes and decorations individuals.

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These images will be collected in a "Artistic Photography Technical Manual" which will describe the special filming techniques, materials, photographic equipment, sites and scenic environmental conditions.

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"Give me back my broken night...my mirrored room, my secret life. It's lonely here, there's no one left to torture. Give me absolute control...over every living soul...and lie beside me baby...that's an order."

(Leonard Cohen "The Future")

Leonard Cohen turned 72 on September 21st. I missed it by that much...but hopefully this image, taken at the firefighter's burn last night will evoke a sense of that haunting song. "The Future" is set in a time right out of Cohen's mind...in a place that hasn't happened. The people are bleak and gray and hopeless. A relentless beat drives words laced with heartbreaking images and mind-numbingly horrific scenes.

I started listening to Cohen in college because I thought his stuff suited my carefully cultivated "The World Is Shit" personae. (And no...that attitude does NOT get you girls.) But the guy has a way of making himself heard to anyone willing to listen.

When I started LISTENING to Cohen and hearing 140 proof poetry put to music, hearing new ideas marching to a completely unique drumbeat, the pace of my own heartbeat was changed.

Thoughts and prayers to all the victims in Texas. So many heartbreaking pictures in the news.

I just now received a txt from a choir member asking for prayers for her nephew whose family lives in Katy and have been told to evacuate yesterday morning.

Praying for everyone's safety.

TGIF..wishing you all a lovely weekend. It was 119 degrees in my car ..I thought I was going to fry myself krispy. I pray for all the little animals that don't have shelter and water..it's heartbreaking. Take care and stay cool ♥

Heartbreaking scene of Prague beggars, so humble on their knees.

These who give certainly feel relieve and these who don't turn their head away.

The question remains: do people beg where there is no other alternative or where other people are willing to help.

"Al solito posto", racconto di Dino Buzzati compreso nel volume "Bestiario"..... forse il più straziante dei racconti. Un uomo torna nella sua vecchia casa di campagna, dopo molti anni dal suo trasferimento in città, con uno strano presentimento, come di aver compiuto, in un'altra vita, qualcosa di terribile.

"In the usual place", a story by Dino Buzzati included in the volume "Bestiario"..... perhaps the most heartbreaking of the stories. A man returns to his old country house, many years after moving to the city, with a strange feeling, as if he had done something terrible in another life.

www.anobii.com/it/books/bestiario/9788804352679/01aa79a75...

. . . state bird of Louisiana, sadly in the news, daily, unrecognizable . . . covered with blackish, oily goo. Just one very small (very important, as are they all) victim of a huge and horrific disaster. Heartbreaking.

Hello, hello. :) Today one of my best friends moved out from the condominium right across school, it was heartbreaking to help her clear out her stuff one by one until all that was left was an empty room. Graduation is so near, I can't believe I'm almost done with college =(.

This is for FF: Movie Scenes :) This is actually a general movie theme that I love: girl dressed up in a lace-y dress, looking out the window, or both; as can be seen in The Secret Garden, The Virgin Suicides and Lost in Translation. :) [all links lead to screen caps, btw]

EXPLORED - April 2, 2009 highest position #1!!! Thank you so much everyone and thank you, Flickr! :)

<3

Standing in the abandoned orangery of Château de Lavagnac, I was overwhelmed by the tragic beauty of this forgotten monument. Once called "the Little Versailles of Languedoc," this magnificent 17th-18th century château has been slowly deteriorating for decades, despite its protected historical status.

I wanted to capture the haunting contrast between the elegant architecture - these graceful arched windows with their delicate mullions, the vaulted ceiling that speaks of former grandeur - and nature's relentless reclaim of the space. The ferns and vegetation creeping across the gravel floor tell the story of abandonment, while the golden light filtering through the windows reveals both the enduring beauty and the heartbreaking decay.

This orangery, where exotic plants once flourished under careful cultivation, now hosts wild flora that grows unchecked through broken floors. My intention was to document this moment of transition, when heritage teeters between preservation and loss. Each photograph of Lavagnac feels urgent - a race against time to capture what remains of this architectural jewel before further deterioration erases its splendor forever.

This image serves as both an elegy and a call to action for our disappearing cultural patrimony.

Pretty hard to get westbound on the west end of the Dubuque Sub in the afternoon. It only happens a couple times a month if lucky. It is heartbreaking sometimes when you get weather or nice sunsets and to have nothing within 5-10 hours of my place. On this evening an empty ethanol train barely made it thru here before the color was gone. Couple NS motors power this ethanol train bound for spotting in western Iowa. Seen here 18 miles east of Waterloo.

The Cinder Cones of the Mojave National Preserve after a fresh spring rainfall—

The Recent Dome Fire has really spread havoc on this Beautiful Desert, burning over 43,000 acres - Definitely Heartbreaking to see the Destruction

27/365

tumblr.

inspired by meggie and amanda. :)

youre beautiful.

please, dont ever forget that.

after reading all the heartbreaking stories on sixmillionsecrets.com, i felt as if i HAD to do something. it made me realize that i get upset over the stupidest things, and theres a lot of worse things that people are going through. i cant believe all the pain people put themselves through, and i just want everyone to remember.. you ARE beautiful no matter what. and its not you thats ugly, its society. please dont ever feel alone or that no one loves you. if you ever do, just remember that i love you.thank you for all that you have done for me, flickr friends. :D

-

if you join ill love you forever:D

Happiness.Is.You. / © All rights reserved

A Black-crested Titmouse and a House Finch stopped by. I put out some oranges to see if I could attract an Oriole, a Tanager, or anything else then that might enjoy them.

We had to tape the post in the V because, sadly, a little finch got her leg caught there and didn’t survive. It was heartbreaking to find her like that, and we wanted to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

After a heartbreaking loss of our beloved Koukla , one of our indoor cats, we adopted this rescued Kitty !

Gentle Dimi went to sleep in my arms on Wednesday June 10 and crossed the rainbow bridge. He had tumors that had spread throughout his body. His vet had said he had a cyst. When it started growing and bleeding, we took him to another vet, and learned his true condition too late. We'd never even imagined.... Over just five days, we struggled with his true diagnosis, the possibility of surgery (amputation), and then the realization that surgery would have been futile...and the heartbreaking decision to release him from the suffering that seemed to increase by the hour.

Dimi was the gentlest and sweetest of creatures, and we will miss him forever. He would have been seventeen in six weeks. We laid him to rest underneath the apple tree in our yard, next to his dearest friend and brother Gali.

Dmitri: July 24, 2003 - June 10, 2020 ❤️

A pretty amazing session at Kerlingafjöll this weekend.

1. Being in the middle of the worst thunderstorm in Iceland for years. - Great

2. Being at a great spot to shoot the storm. - Great

3. Not getting a lightning strike in you frame. - Heartbreaking

To bad the thunderstorm was in the middle of the day. The short exposure needed rendered it next to impossible to get a flash in the frame. Only the dramatic clouds are pleasing enough for the eye though.

4th International Hamster Show Prague 18.9.2011 gosh so many babies for sale! but I was going to pick little Asterka there and then had to go to some Prague suburb I've never even heard of before to pick up Mr Bob so no more babies for me...heartbreaking isn't it?

2 ème journée de mon work shop avec Bertrant Meunier.

Le sujet sera le même que la veille : Les frontières de la ville.

La veille, traitée en noir blanc, ma série évoquait le coté sordide mais si attachant des ces abords des voies ferrées pénétrant nos villes. Avec ses frontières limites border line , et peuplés d'objets de nos rebuts, de nos pertes et de nos profits.

Ce jour, il sera question des abords dictatoriaux de nos cités :

Métal plat et lisse, bitume et lignes peintes en tous sens,

carrefours pompeux et navrants , fléchages rudimentaires et autoritaires, façades d'ambitions anonymes et froides comme un ciel d'hiver... bleu.

Une litanie.

...

2nd day of my work shop with Bertrant Meunier.

The subject will be the same as the day before: The boundaries of the city.

The day before, treated in black and white, my series evoked the sordid but endearing of these along the railway tracks penetrating our towns nearby. With its limitations borderline, and populated objects of our waste, our losses and our profits borders.

Date, will be discussed dictatorial outskirts of our cities:

Flat, smooth metal, asphalt and painted lines in every direction,

intersections pompous and heartbreaking, arrowings rudimentary and authoritarian, facades of anonymous and ambitions as a cold blue winter sky. ...

A litany.

2 ème journée de mon work shop avec Bertrant Meunier.

Le sujet sera le même que la veille : Les frontières de la ville.

La veille, traitée en noir blanc, ma série évoquait le coté sordide mais si attachant des ces abords des voies ferrées pénétrant nos villes. Avec ses frontières limites border line , et peuplés d'objets de nos rebuts, de nos pertes et de nos profits.

Ce jour, il sera question des abords dictatoriaux de nos cités :

Métal plat et lisse, bitume et lignes peintes en tous sens,

carrefours pompeux et navrants , fléchages rudimentaires et autoritaires, façades d'ambitions anonymes et froides comme un ciel d'hiver... bleu.

Une litanie.

...

2nd day of my work shop with Bertrant Meunier.

The subject will be the same as the day before: The boundaries of the city.

The day before, treated in black and white, my series evoked the sordid but endearing of these along the railway tracks penetrating our towns nearby. With its limitations borderline, and populated objects of our waste, our losses and our profits borders.

Date, will be discussed dictatorial outskirts of our cities:

Flat, smooth metal, asphalt and painted lines in every direction,

intersections pompous and heartbreaking, arrowings rudimentary and authoritarian, facades of anonymous and ambitions as a cold blue winter sky. ...

A litany.

The rushing waters of Tanner Creek, flowing through lush temperate rainforest in the Columbia River Gorge earlier this summer. I'm so glad I got a chance to hike here one last time, as this is one of the sections that was hit hardest by the subsequent Eagle Creek Fire, and it may be quite a while before it looks anything like this again. Which is particularly heartbreaking for those of us who have been hiking here all of our lives, and for whom the Gorge is more than just a beautiful place to visit, but also the place we call home.

("Oh baby, baby, it's a wild world...and I'll always remember you just like a child, girl.")

This is an old picture. It was taken more than 50 years ago. Since I wasn't even an embryo at that time, I didn't take it.

But I happen to know the subject very well today. So I did a pile of post-processing on it.

("You know I've seen a lot of what the world can do

And it's breakin' my heart in two

Because I never wanna see you sad, girl.")

I WAS going to call it "Ghost Girl" but that was WAAAAY too cute.

She's about 3 years old here.

I look at this image and it's heartbreaking to me because I know now about the pain, the abuse, the betrayals...the literal horrors this little person was going to endure in the next twenty years.

I often wish that I had been there for just a few minutes to give her a hug and to hold her close and promise her that things will ultimately be okay...to encourage her fight and stand strong and never ever lose the vast store of love in her heart.

("But if you wanna leave, take good care

Hope you make a lot of nice friends out there

But just remember there's a lot of bad and beware.")

...oh...she did...

I am completely captivated by the eyes in this image...and I am captivated by them still.

She grew up to be someone many of you know. Want to see how she turned out?

Tomorrow.

Tomorrow...you'll know the REST of the STORY. (Okay...maybe you could just like PRETEND to be surprised...y'know...tomorrow.)

Posted with thanks to the anonymous photographer who made this image over five decades ago...and of course, Cat Stevens...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8pvXLVu8Yk&feature=related

I'm reposting this once again because I saw the weather reports from New England.

I'm reposting this because I just now saw a wonderful photostream of Boston and vicinity street photos. Such fun and so nostalgic for me... They were by fotosqrrl

The magnificent, Dusty Button, in Anthony Randazzo's lovely, wonderful class, onstage at The Boston Opera House, during The Boston Ballet Fiftieth Anniversary Alumni Reunion Weekend. Fantastic...:)

I was heartbroken to discover that the view from front row seats at the Boston Opera House cuts off the dancers' feet!!!! This may be okay for opera viewing, however, it is a disaster for dance photography!!!

I could get decent photos of dancers only when they were jumping! That was after the ballet class moved from the barre to combinations in "the center." Notice the missing feet of the dancers who are not jumping...(:-(

Another interesting observation. The dancers exhibit different dance styles. I imagine it's because the dancers are from all over the world...

The original was in Flickr's Explore. Highest position: 3 on Monday, September 29, 2014

IMG_2574 - Version 2

Of A ]» G e i s h a ’’

*Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiights*

Whaaaaaat a Looong Tiering Daay !!

x''')

I just Need To knw '' Why r winter Days Sooo LOOOONG '' ??

-.-'' Ugh !

Oh How I Miss -[ S U M M E R ,.

White Ibis and Roseate Spoonbill - Ibis & Spoonie

In the Wild - Saint Augustine, Florida U.S.A. - 11/1/21

*[left-double-click for a closer-look - first-cousins - treetop snags]

*[next-door neighbors - roosting/nesting area - pink/rose - spoon]

The Roseate Spoonbill is a wading bird of the ibis and spoonbill family. This species feeds in shallow fresh or coastal waters by swinging its bill from side to side as it steadily walks through the water, often in groups. The spoon-shaped bill allows it to sift easily through mud. It feeds on crustaceans, aquatic insects, frogs, newts and very small fish ignored by larger waders. The Roseate Spoonbill nests in shrubs or trees, often mangroves, laying 2 to 5 eggs, which are whitish with brown markings. Immature birds have white, feathered heads, and the pink of the plumage is paler.

White Ibises are large wading birds with football-shaped bodies. They have long legs and a long neck that they hold out straight in flight. Their bill is long and curved. White Ibises are wetland birds. They use freshwater marshes, coastal estuaries, mangroves, flooded pastures, mudflats, and swamps. They usually forage in shallow areas with less than 8 inches of water, but they also use lawns and parks especially in Southern Florida. Lots of them!

note: They specifically do their nesting in mangrove trees with water and alligators underneath them, knowing that the alligators will not ever allow 'nest-predators' to reach them. They feel very protected.

The only problem is; if a chick goes over the side of the nest, (and I've seen this happen), if it hits the water, heartbreakingly it is usually gone in less than five seconds, not by gators but by fish or turtles!

www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White_Ibis/id

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roseate_Spoonbill

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._augustine_florida

A reverse goldentail moray (Gymnothorax miliaris) poking out of some blade fire coral (Millepora complanata). Most goldentails are brown with yellow spots, but the uncommon reverse morph is yelllow with brown spots/streaks. But that isn't what is really rare in this image. The fire coral is.

Last year the bleaching event decimated blade fire corals. They went from relatively common in the shallows of Bonaire to almost all gone. This is all the more tragic because blade fire corals are currently critically endangered according to the IUCN red list.

In fact, it was the living blade coral that attracted my attention. I was surprised when the moray appeared. Apologies for the less than positive commentary. Watching the demise of corals that I once took for granted has been heartbreaking.

Byron Conroy, an incredible underwater photographer, recently wrote an article about how the changes in our oceans are calling for change in underwater photography. A sobering and insightful read: insidescuba.online/p/coral-reef-crisis-diving-photography...

Abandoned Shady Grove Park Pool Lemont Furnace Fayette County Pa.

If you didn't swim under this fountain by about 5 or 6 yrs old, you just weren't much with your peers. The pool has changed dramatically since the 50's when I used to swim there. My grandparents swam here as did my parents. After the turn of the century, amusement parks were used by the trolley company owners to entice folks to ride on Saturdays and Sundays offering excursions to the parks. The West Penn Electric Railway had a stop for Shady Grove Park as it was between Connellsville and Uniontown. The park is now a mere shadow of it's former self having had rocket planes, merry -go-round, bumper cars.

What used to be: www.flickr.com/photos/lionel682/5092524287/in/album-72157...

This has been an extremely stressful, upsetting week but I'm happy to say Scotch is still with me and barring any unforeseen complications, now has a new lease on life.

It's easier to talk about now but without the surgery he had on Friday, this would've likely been the end of the road for Scotch. In fact, as awful as it sounds to say, I was desperately trying to prepare myself for this possibly being his final weekend with me.

He's resting comfortably and healing from surgery to repair his almost fully paralyzed larynx, a condition called Laryngeal Paralysis. I'll spare the technical details but essentially the mechanisms that help allow air in and out when breathing were losing functionality and the result is basically a slow suffocation. If you imagine a drain that's slowly getting clogged until absolutely no water can escape, that's similar to LarPar and Scotch was nearing that that inevitable end.

Something changed over the last week following his birthday and his strained breathing now verged on total distress and despite being so happy, it didn't seem like he could continue like this much longer. 5 minute walks outside would lead to 45 minutes of uncontrollable panting and in turn, the panting was developing into silent strained gasps, with him moving his head and neck around trying to find a position that would allow air in. He literally looked like a fish out of water and it was extremely hard to watch, since all I could do was pet him and try to keep him calm. I called the specialty vet first thing on Thursday morning, relayed my concerns, and asked if he could come in to see if he's still healthy enough for the surgery. They asked if Monday would be OK to come in and that's when it sort of sank in how bad his condition had gotten. I told them I didn't think he could survive until Monday and I'd take an appointment with whomever can do the surgery. That night was very difficult for me and it seemed like his fate would ultimately be decided in the morning when the vet would let me know if he was still a candidate for the surgery or if it was beyond that point. My concerns this summer were about the risks, tremendous cost, and whether at this point he could handle a major surgery again but this became the last resort and I hoped for some type of last minute reprieve.

People always tell you that when it's time to say goodbye to a pet, you just know and for the last few months, I wondered if one day I'd wake up and see something that made me realize and understand this. Each day that his breathing worsened, he still was always extremely happy and trying to run or play even if it was exacerbating his condition. Even this last week when it seemed like he was a few days away from losing all ability to breathe, I saw no sign from him that he was ready to give up and it was heartbreaking to think of having to potentially put down a dog who still desperately wanted to be here.

When we all headed to the vet, the doctor was one of the more calming and reassuring vets I've ever met and I left Scotch there relatively confident I'd get to see him again soon. After the anesthesia kicked in, they did find his airway almost completely closed and shut down and a few hours later, I received the call that the surgery was a success and everything was textbook. Probably the biggest relief I've had in as long as I can remember. My brother and I drove to the hospital this afternoon when he was ready for release and he was so happy to see us. His breathing was already close to normal and he even looks younger. A smiling dog is nice but a dog who spends most of his time awake smiling because he can't catch his breath is not and seeing him without that huge grin was amazing.

He has to stay calm for a few more days (even though he's already trying to run everywhere) and then in a few weeks, he'll get the stitches removed from his neck and can go back to...normal activity. This surgery will not reverse the damage done or other aspects of his older age and he now has some risk of aspiration from food and/or water that can lead to pneumonia but he alive which is the important thing and will presumably be able to do anything a healthy senior dog can other than swim and eat certain foods or treats. We will be able to go on walks for as long as he wants, he'll be able to run off leash, and now can enjoy the mountains a few hours away once the snow starts to fall. To say I'm happy is an understatement and I'm so glad my his time isn't yet up. Who knows, maybe he will start enjoying the car again and can come with me to shoot some sunsets, just like we used to.

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So...on to tonight's photo. This a 4 shot panorama from last sunday at Venice Beach. I spent the majority of the time there shooting straight out to sea, facing West and watching this amazingly moody sky. I think now on every single trip to Venice, I've attempted to take various panoramas of the pier, but rarely at this size. There was virtually no color out at sea other than a few stray purple/pink clouds, the thin ribbon of a sunset that swept across the horizon just below the cloud cover and the dark ominous blue and gray sky that never really changed much. I was fascinated by these conditions and figured I'd continue to photograph that view until it was too dark to effectively shoot in that direction. As usual, the views facing more South towards the pier and East towards the town of Venice and the boardwalk were better lit and there was actually some break in the clouds as well. I went with the 4 overlapping panels because I really wanted to capture the shifts in color and light that start over by the homes along the boardwalk and end out at sea. The sky to the right of the image is the same dark cloud mass present in nearly all my previous posts from this day. This color didn't last too long but fortunately I had enough time to get enough images for the panorama to mostly match up. When his health was fading, my desire to go out and shoot decreased dramatically and I started to skip beautiful sunsets to hang out with Scotch. Now that he's on the mend, I hope to get back into my routine soon.

WHEN & WHERE

Venice Beach Pier

Venice, California

October 30th, 2016

SETTINGS

Canon T4i

EF-S 18-135mm IS STM

4 panel panorama

@18mm

ISO 200

f/7.1

1/8th second

**I also wanted to thank everyone who took the time to listen to me rant about Scotch's health on here and offered support while I was trying to deal with and understand it all. As I've mentioned, I always grew up with dogs in the family but I was either too young or too far away to have any sort of knowledge on dealing with the last chapters in their lives so it's been a lot of learning as I go with Scotch. You all were very helpful and reassuring and I truly appreciate it!**

This is Molly, my cat.

She has recently realized that she's a "prisoner" in our home. She has been depressed since then. Everyday I feed the feral cats and she sees them walking freely outside. It's heartbreaking... She spends part of her day on this window.

Love is totally heart breaking, but it's the most beautiful thing you would ever feel♥

explored

"Al solito posto", racconto di Dino Buzzati compreso nel volume "Bestiario"..... forse il più straziante dei racconti. Un uomo torna nella sua vecchia casa di campagna, dopo molti anni dal suo trasferimento in città, con uno strano presentimento, come di aver compiuto, in un'altra vita, qualcosa di terribile.

"In the usual place", a story by Dino Buzzati included in the volume "Bestiario"..... perhaps the most heartbreaking of the stories. A man returns to his old country house, many years after moving to the city, with a strange feeling, as if he had done something terrible in another life.

www.anobii.com/it/books/bestiario/9788804352679/01aa79a75...

Bing Image Creator

The Train Gods were kind to this working stiff on Valentine's Day when a afternoon Q434 with one of those nice Belle schemed SD70MACs leading (a lot of these have been bouncing around CSXT last couple of weeks) came north. Of course the train jumped me at Alsen and I had to make a heartbreaking u-turn knowing I just lost the Catskill Bridge shot in perfect light. I chased the train north and had to settle for a near dusk grab shot as it approached Ravena. At least the days are starting to get a little longer so it was possible to still get this freight in daylight.

Beauty and the Beast

A tragic reminder of our impact on wildlife. This bird has fishing line likely permanently embedded in her mouth or throat.

Heartbreaking to me.

Ever wish you had extra time with someone?

Ever been a fraction too late to say I Love You, You Mean the World to Me.

If anyone feels like that now, call them, text them, email them and tell them. It’s a heartbreaking prospect not to.

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Infant hats for 14-17 weeks gestation (Pink), 21 - 24 weeks gestation (Yellow) and 36-40 weeks gestation (Aqua). It is amazing how incredibly small these hats are.

Halos supports families suffering an infant loss. They create Angel Boxes and Early Loss Comfort Packages. These hats are among the items included in the box. Halos is run by parents who have suffered their own loss of a child. They rely on generosity of others for handmade items like these hats, blankets, burial gowns made from donated wedding dresses, and several other items.

Making things for places like Operation Gratitude is rewarding. Making things for Halos is heartbreaking knowing that reason they are needed is because someone has lost a child. Heartbreaking but definitely needed.

Here's a picture I had planned to post last year, had already written the text below, but forgot about the picture as time went by.

I have mixed feelings about this picture. The fires in California created smoke that swept across 100's of miles. There were no clouds as the sun set this evening, but the smoke created a beautiful sunset, yet horrific knowing less than 75 miles away lives were being lost and changed forever as fires raged.

All-in-all, this past week has been a bit rubbish, heartbreakingly traumatic funeral, follow-up hospital visit after surgery on my foot (thanks, chemo) and a healthy dose of poison via canula. I am grateful that this weird drug has been invented and that I'm able to have it, so many in the United Kingdom are denied this treatment because they're caught up in the post code lottery, but it's still tough having it. I am achy in my bones and really longing for a chilled glass of wine, but we don't have any in the house so it'll be a long longing...

This is the last image I will post from my winter trip to the Prairies. I hope you have enjoyed them and not found that I've posted too many (I can't help it; I get attached to them!). Thank you to everyone who commented or faved any of the images. It means a lot to me.

This beautiful old elevator at Dankin took a hit and lost some of its roof since I last saw it in 2016. In just the 4 1/2 years that I have been photographing elevators on the Prairies, many of my favourites have been lost to lightning strikes, demolition or simply to time. On the last full day of my December Prairies trip, I drove 4 hours just to see Dankin A and B (which is out of view to the right) and I'm glad I did because now that Dankin A is open to the elements, I don't think it will be around for long.

It's so odd, the feeling I've developed for these elevators. As I saw these two in the distance, I felt a joy as if I was seeing old friends, but it was bittersweet, too, because seeing them knocked around like that is heartbreaking. They are still standing but maybe not for as long as I hoped they would be.

I've written a short blog post about my trip, if you'd like to read it.

If you'd like, take a look at my other Prairies images, as well as my ongoing project to photograph old, abandoned grain elevators. As well, if you're feeling particularly interested, you can read an essay I wrote for Nathan Wirth's Slices of Silence blog on my feelings of connection to the places I shoot, especially the Prairies.

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photo rights reserved by B℮n

Bosnia and Herzegovina often known informally as Bosnia, is a country in Southeast Europe, located within the Balkans. Sarajevo is the capital and largest city. Bosnia is not entirely a landlocked country as it may appear on a map – to the south it has a narrow coast on the Adriatic Sea long and surrounds the town of Neum. Many people still associate the country with the break-up of Yugoslavia in the heartbreaking civil war of the 1990's. The scars from that time are all still visible. But today's tourist are likely to remember the country for its friendly, modest and warm people. The country has turned into an exciting and versatile travel destination, with beautiful mountains, numerous medieval castle ruins, seven major rivers, impressive waterfalls. Overall, nearly 50% of Bosnia is forested. A country where Eastern and Western civilizations have met over the centuries. Today integration into the European Union is one of the main political objectives of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The local currency is the Bosnian mark. The euro is also accepted. Islam is the majority faith in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also Orthodox Christianity, and Roman Catholicism are all present. The wild and unspoilt nature makes it an ideal place for both adventurers and nature lovers. Mostar is the largest city in Hercegovina, with a small but thoroughly enchanting old town centre. Mostar has been most famous for this beautiful historic Ottoman-style Stari Most bridge, which spanned the Neretva river in what is considered the historic center of the city.

Mostar is situated on the Neretva River. Mostar was named after the bridge keepers (mostari) who in the medieval times guarded the Stari Most (Old Bridge) over the Neretva. The Old Bridge, built by the Ottomans (Turkish tribes) in the 16th century, is one of Bosnia and Herzegovina's most visited landmarks. The bridge was destroyed during the Bosnian War. The European Union has spent more than $ 15 million on restoration. The restoration was finished in 2004. In 2005, UNESCO inscribed the Old Bridge and its closest vicinity onto the World Heritage List. Today it is the city’s crown jewel, a grand stone bridge which sweeps across the water, making it the most photographed landmark in the entire country for good reason.

Bosnië en Herzegovina informeel bekend als Bosnië, is een land in Zuidoost-Europa, gelegen op de Balkan. Sarajevo is de hoofdstad en de grootste stad. Veel mensen associëren het land nog steeds met het uiteenvallen van Joegoslavië in de hartverscheurende burgeroorlog van de jaren negentig. De littekens uit die tijd zijn allemaal nog zichtbaar. Maar de toerist van vandaag de dag zal het land waarschijnlijk herinneren vanwege zijn vriendelijke, bescheiden en warme mensen. Het land is een opwindende en veelzijdige reisbestemming geworden, met prachtige bergen, talloze middeleeuwse kasteelruïnes, zeven grote rivieren, indrukwekkende watervallen. In totaal is bijna 50% van Bosnië bebost. Een land waar oosterse en westerse beschavingen elkaar door de eeuwen heen hebben ontmoet. Tegenwoordig is integratie in de Europese Unie een van de belangrijkste politieke doelstellingen van Bosnië en Herzegovina. Mostar ligt aan de rivier de Neretva. Mostar is vernoemd naar de brugwachters mostari die in de middeleeuwen de Stari Most oude brug over de Neretva bewaakten. De oude-brug, gebouwd door de Ottomanen Turkse stammen in de 16e eeuw, is één van de meest bezochte bezienswaardigheden van Bosnië en Herzegovina. De brug is tijdens de Bosnische oorlog verwoest. De Europese Unie heeft meer dan 15 miljoen dollar uitgegeven aan restauratie. De restauratie is in 2004 voltooid. In 2005 heeft de UNESCO de Oude Brug en de dichtstbijzijnde omgeving op de Werelderfgoedlijst gezet. Tegenwoordig is het het kroonjuweel van de stad, een grote stenen brug die over het water is gespannen waardoor het niet voor niets het meest gefotografeerde monument in het hele land is.

The Captain Joe Byrd Cemetery is a chilling reminder of how wrong life can go. The bodies of Offenders who die in prison may be claimed by their families. Or if no one wants them or can afford the costs, they are buried here. It is heartbreaking to me to know the lives they wrecked and their own, with the carved prison numbers permanently engraved.

Towards the end of the Clone Wars, Jedi Knight Tali Vale and her company of Clone Troopers were tasked to infiltrate a Separatist encampment in one of Muunilinst's major metropolitan areas. En route, the Captain at the head of the company received Order 66 from the Chancellor himself, declaring all Jedi traitors to the Republic and subject to execution. Thoughts among the clones varied. To some, this was simply another order to be executed. To others, including the Captain, this meant executing a trusted friend.

In the end, despite the years of comradery, they carried out their orders. Most of the troopers moved on quickly, however for some, the heartbreaking look she gave them would be ingrained in their minds for years to come.

Some quick notes: This build is my application for Dark Times. As far as inspiration for the build goes, I have to give credit to the plethora of castle builds I've come across on Flickr. They've provided a pretty good source of inspiration for the archway and statues.

Portraits - a photoset by fifichat1 on Flickriver

personal favourites on Flickrock ( nice presentation )

(one of my personal top 10, definitely)

Thank you,all !

It's my most interesting picture (2010),according to Flickr , my favourite ,forever, according to me :)))

and my most honoured one / FP by Admins' choice or winner in several portrait-contests here and out of the Internet in a French Photo magazine Réponses Photo / ethnic portraits contest , only printed on paper , only monochrome - Thanks!

Gallery of winners : Kurt Peiser Gallery, Portaits contest / First Place

Analog picture-Tri-X (it was my favourite film because of its grain)

Nikon F801.Nikkor 85/1,8 AF

January / February 2006 . Burma .Mandalay area

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in fact this is the scan of the printed image , not of the negative , so I did not have to do post-processing, or almost ; just had to crop from horizontal to square ,and I applied a sepia toning to the reflection on the left side

And the grain isn't made with a software !!!

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"Black and white are the colours of photography. To me they symbolize the alternatives of hope and despair to which mankind is forever subjected. "

Robert Frank

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