Anything that is prepared, constructed, or organized is done in order to allow the unpredictable “something” to appear and, in appearing, to create the real beauty of the picture, any picture.

Jeffrey Wall

Kehr hybrid magnolia, 'Anticipation', j c raulston arboretum, ncsu, raleigh, north carolina

(Elliot thinks to himself)

Hackers. We inherently trust no one, including each other. I'll never be able to tell her. There will always be this divide. And she knows it.

--------------

See this shot from Shine's point of view =]]

Texture from Of Shadows and Light

I live in San Diego, California, so I am no stranger to spectacular Pacific sunsets. That said, I spent several years at sea with the Navy and sunsets on the open ocean are on a different plane. While this is not from the deck of a ship, it is from Two Lovers Point on Tumon Bay in Guam.

I don't know if there is science to back up the theory that the cloud formations are inherently different...but I can say that I certainly miss this aspect of my former career.

A large and jumbo sized spirit tree on Ko Phi Phi Don.

Thaiger: Thai people classify themselves as adherents to Buddhism, but many things they believe and practice, are inherently part of Brahmanism, an early form of Hinduism, as well as folk animist religions. Such folk animist religions are better known as Animism.

Animism is best described as the worship of spirits, or ghosts. The word Animism comes from the Latin word anima and means breath, spirit, and life. Animists are said to believe that almost everything possesses a spirit including plants, animals, rocks, rivers, wind, sun, and other inanimate natural objects and that the physical world and spiritual world are intertwined.

thethaiger.com/news/national/thailands-fusion-of-religiou...

Silver Lake Bog, Adirondacks. I enjoy capturing the sense of forest. The forest is inherently mysterious, much obscure. There's a tendency for foreboding to accompany this. Here is an attempt, to allay foreboding, and retain mystery.

The Milky Way and the Constellation Scorpius rise over an Undisclosed Location.

Elitist or Entitled? which am I? I’m not sure where I fall…Hum let me see what the dictionary says:

Entitled- Definition….believing oneself to be inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment.

"his pompous, entitled attitude"

Elitist- Definition……..demonstrating a superior attitude or behavior associated with an elite.

"some that say he is a spoiled, elitist snob"

Neither sounds like a camp that I’d want to be in.

The motives for withholding locations are far ranging from “save the location”, to “save the animals” to “save the unprepared from themselves” undisclosed locations…….secret places, are we elitists or are we entitled? Those that cherish the outdoors have seen the ramifications of location over saturation, and they “are” concerned. Of course, it’s because these are the most beautiful places on Earth and they would like to see that future generations can enjoy them as well. Doesn’t sound bad to me? The problem than lies within the human spirit, the spirit to set out and seek what’s out there, to see and feel and smell it with our own senses and take in the scene in all it’s natural glory. If your an inhabitant of this planet than it’s you’re right to see it, of course it is!! The real problem is the person that just purchased a camera and has never been outside the city in his or her life, do i want to give out a location that I shot in the backcountry of the Grand Tetons? If I want to eliminate them than Yes, they would be grizzly scat by morning. But If I’m concerned for their safety or the preservation of the location than NO. How am I to decide who gets a location or not, by deciding am I than elitist? Man and his devices have traveled into the far reaches of this galaxy and beyond and found no solid evidence of life, and the fact that we have been on this planet for just the blink of an eye makes me think that this planet is a gift more than it is a privilege.

IMHO, This planet belongs to every human being but it is a gift and not a privilege!!! does that makes me elitist or just concerned? If you have no outdoor experience than please prepare yourself to see it safely and responsibly. :-)

For more information on how to prepare and behave in the wilds see the link below.

lnt.org/learn/7-principles

For more information about the LLL technique(LowLevelLighting) you can visit

lowlevellighting.org

Thanks for taking the time to take a look at my photos, I am always thankful for your views, comments, faves, and support, they are greatly appreciated!! Have a great day my friends!! :)

Always Respect Mother Nature And Your Fellow Man, So:

****TreadLightly>LeaveNoTrace> PackItIn/PackItOut****

Please do me a favor and follow me on my other social sites found below:

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Copyright 2018©Eric Gail

The VFW VAK 191B was an experimental German vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) strike fighter of the early 1970s. VAK was the abbreviation for Vertikalstartendes Aufklärungs- und Kampfflugzeug (Vertical Take-off Reconnaissance and Strike Aircraft). Designed and built by the Vereinigte Flugtechnische Werke (VFW), it was developed with the purpose of eventually serving as a replacement for the Italian Fiat G.91 then in service with the German Air Force.

Operationally, it was intended to have been armed with nuclear weapons as a deterrent against aggression from the Soviet Union and, in the event of a major war breaking out, to survive the first wave of attacks by deploying to dispersed locations, rather than conventional airfields, and to retaliate against targets behind enemy lines.

The VAK 191B suffered from a protracted development cycle, spanning ten years between inception and flight, in part due to changing requirements, partnerships changing, and the difficulty inherently associated in the development of VTOL-capable aircraft. Ultimately, during the late 1960s, VFW took the decision to demote the development programme from targeting the type's production and instead only to test-fly a limited number of prototypes, using the VAK 191B effectively as a technology demonstrator and experimental aircraft to support the company's other activities and future programmes. On 10 September 1971, the first prototype conducted the type's maiden flight. A total of 91 flights were performed prior to the retirement of all three prototypes in 1975. These aircraft have been preserved and two are now on public display in museums.

In 1957 - "Blast" and "Burst" Adolph Gottlieb balanced his canvas with two opposing forms. Inherently a tension formed between them. Not as much a dialogue, but rather a feeling.

Your eye instinctively goes from one form to the other, and a presence is delegated to the emptiness between them.

The VFW VAK 191B was an experimental German vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) strike fighter of the early 1970s. VAK was the abbreviation for Vertikalstartendes Aufklärungs- und Kampfflugzeug (Vertical Take-off Reconnaissance and Strike Aircraft). Designed and built by the Vereinigte Flugtechnische Werke (VFW), it was developed with the purpose of eventually serving as a replacement for the Italian Fiat G.91 then in service with the German Air Force.

Operationally, it was intended to have been armed with nuclear weapons as a deterrent against aggression from the Soviet Union and, in the event of a major war breaking out, to survive the first wave of attacks by deploying to dispersed locations, rather than conventional airfields, and to retaliate against targets behind enemy lines.

The VAK 191B suffered from a protracted development cycle, spanning ten years between inception and flight, in part due to changing requirements, partnerships changing, and the difficulty inherently associated in the development of VTOL-capable aircraft. Ultimately, during the late 1960s, VFW took the decision to demote the development programme from targeting the type's production and instead only to test-fly a limited number of prototypes, using the VAK 191B effectively as a technology demonstrator and experimental aircraft to support the company's other activities and future programmes. On 10 September 1971, the first prototype conducted the type's maiden flight. A total of 91 flights were performed prior to the retirement of all three prototypes in 1975. These aircraft have been preserved and two are now on public display in museums.

view of Kostel Svatého Víta (Saint Vitus Church) from Vltava Bridge (Most dr. Edvarda Beneše)

Český Krumlov (German: Krumau or Böhmisch Krumau, also spelt Krummau) is a town in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 13,000 inhabitants. It is known as a tourist centre, which is among the most visited places in the country. The historic centre with the Český Krumlov Castle complex is protected by law as an urban monument reservation, and since 1992, it has been a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its well-preserved Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture.

The Saint Vitus Church in Český Krumlov is a significant sight of the late Gothic from 1407-1439 with later modifications. In 1995, the Church was declared part of the National Cultural Heritage.

The history and development of the church are inherently connected with the two noble families - the Rosenbergs and the Schwarzenbergs, who made Český Krumlov their settlement town and the church of St. Vitus thus represented the main sanctuary of the Rosenberg dominion and the Duchy of Krumlov. The church was rebuilt several times during the rule of the Eggenbergs. The first church built at its present location was founded in 1309. The first presbytery was built in 1317 by Peter I of Rosenberg and in 1340 it was rebuilt under the leadership of Master Linhart. However, the main and monumental reconstruction was initiated during the reign of Rosenberg Henry III. Indeed, the original church was not able to accommodate enough believers of the ever-growing settlement town, and it was, therefore, necessary to build a new church. The current building dates back to 1407 to 1438, while the foundations of the original church were used and, for example, the nave masonry dates back to the second half of the 14th century. We know from the preserved contract between the pastor Hostislav and Master Jan that it was explicitly stated that eight columns should be used to support sexpartite vaulting according to the pattern of the church of Sts. Jiljí in Milevsko and the net vault inspired the cathedral of St. Vitus in Prague by Petr Parléř. Although Master Jan Staněk, a member of the Prague Stonemason Family, started the construction, he did not continue to participate in it for unknown reasons. The new church was consecrated by the Passau bishop Leonard von Laiming in 1439.

Before 1500, an organ loft was built and another major intervention was the construction of a massive Rosenberg mausoleum and a new altar with the Rožmberk rider (coat of arms). However, both elements were gradually removed at the urging of the local Jesuits. Further major expansion occurred between 1725 and 1726 when Český Krumlov became the seat of the Schwarzenbergs. They built a new chapel of St. John of Nepomuk, the guardian of the House and the Dominium. The chapel also had a so-called Heart Tomb, where the hearts of the Krumlov dukes were deposited

The last important stage was a drastic neo-Gothic reconstruction in the 19th century when Baroque elements were removed and, unfortunately, many elements of the Pre-Baroque. Thus, in 1893–1894, the original Baroque onion dome tower was removed and replaced by the current Neo-Gothic tower. The church was then restored in 1899–1900. A thorough interior repair and equipment repair was carried out in 1936.

Lage Vuursche - Baarn (NL), 26 oktober 2015

Amethistzwam met een speling der natuur op de bovenkant..:))

Laccaria amethystina

NL: Rode Koolzwam - De amethistzwam (Laccaria amethystina), ook wel rodekoolzwam genoemd, is een zwam uit het geslacht van de fopzwammen, een plaatjeszwam zonder manchet. De paddenstoel is vanwege de kleur genoemd naar de kwartsvariëteit amethist. De amethistzwam is eetbaar.

E: Amethyst deceiver - As with other members of the genus Laccaria, this species is edible, though generally not considered a choice edible.[citation needed] While not inherently toxic, in soils that are polluted with arsenic, it can bioaccumulate a high concentration of that element.[2]

D: Violetter Lacktrichterling oder Violetter Bläuling - Der Violette Lacktrichterling ist wie alle Lacktrichterlinge essbar und mit seinem milden Geschmack als Speisepilz gut geeignet. Exemplare mit rein violetter Färbung sind für den Verzehr besser geeignet. Allerdings weist Marcel Bon in Pareys Buch der Pilze darauf hin, dass unter anderen der Violette Lacktrichterling noch immer sehr hohe Cäsium-137-Werte nach der Reaktorkatastrophe in Tschernobyl 1986 aufweist.

F: Laccaire améthyste - C'est un comestible honorable, aussi bon - certains disent meilleur - que le type. Il vient en abondance et ne pose (contrairement à laccata) aucun vrai problème d'identification. Le stipe fibreux n'est pas consommé.

.

My Flickr stream photos best to see on Portfolio | Fluidr

it would be called sure-thing-taking :-)

Tim McMahon

HPPT!!

cercis, smooth redbud, 'Celestial Plum, j c raulston arboretum, ncsu, raleigh, north carolina

This modern JUMO Originals SAMIA Dress is inherently feminine, boasting sophistication for almost any event with its large-scale blooms which are truly lovely and quite a statement-maker.

The exquisite details like its laced bodice/hem, meadow motif, belted waistline, and strapless neckline exudes sweetness – giving it a spot-on choice for those with an affinity for romanticism.

This SAMIA Dress fits Maitreya, Belleza, Slink, Legacy, and Signature mesh bodies

I paired this beautiful dress with Heartsdale Jewelry's [HJ] Cascade Collection earrings and bracelets to complement its look.

This JUMO Originals SAMIA Dress and Heartsdale Jewelry's Cascade Collection are new releases and now exclusively available at the SWANK Fall into Autumn Event for November.

Swank Event Landmark:

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Swank%20Events/128/124/39

The VFW VAK 191B was an experimental German vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) strike fighter of the early 1970s. VAK was the abbreviation for Vertikalstartendes Aufklärungs- und Kampfflugzeug (Vertical Take-off Reconnaissance and Strike Aircraft). Designed and built by the Vereinigte Flugtechnische Werke (VFW), it was developed with the purpose of eventually serving as a replacement for the Italian Fiat G.91 then in service with the German Air Force.

Operationally, it was intended to have been armed with nuclear weapons as a deterrent against aggression from the Soviet Union and, in the event of a major war breaking out, to survive the first wave of attacks by deploying to dispersed locations, rather than conventional airfields, and to retaliate against targets behind enemy lines.

The VAK 191B suffered from a protracted development cycle, spanning ten years between inception and flight, in part due to changing requirements, partnerships changing, and the difficulty inherently associated in the development of VTOL-capable aircraft. Ultimately, during the late 1960s, VFW took the decision to demote the development programme from targeting the type's production and instead only to test-fly a limited number of prototypes, using the VAK 191B effectively as a technology demonstrator and experimental aircraft to support the company's other activities and future programmes. On 10 September 1971, the first prototype conducted the type's maiden flight. A total of 91 flights were performed prior to the retirement of all three prototypes in 1975. These aircraft have been preserved and two are now on public display in museums.

Of the many candid portraits I've snapped over the years, I think this one is my favorite. It was taken in 2011 when I visited a village of Quechua people high in the Andes.

It was like stepping into a National Geographic magazine.

When I say "high" I mean this village was a 5 hour drive from the nearest town on a dirt one-lane mountain road with switchbacks.

The color is not enhanced in any way although I did apply a hint of Lomo. The Quechuas have an inherently technicolor world, and I love it.

And it was....People in the loop watch as Black Lives Matters activists march through the streets. I was trying to place myself in their position for a minute even though I was a participant and not a spectator.....and all of the emotions that one can have when one sees so many of the people in their city marching for justice.

One of the chants at the four protests I have attended is "Out of your homes and into the streets" and while I think that's a great chant during non-pandemic times, we have to remember, one of any of these people might be with the cause but may be caring for someone with Covid or is immunosuppressed or may have tested positive with no symptoms or mild symptoms....so we need to use caution and empathy with what we say.

As someone who advocates also for children (and adults) with different ability levels, sometimes physical, I have struggled with protests sometimes as I have also seen them as inherently ableist. Though I have participated in protests aimed at improving health care for people with disabilities and there were attendees that were not able to walk without supports, I realize that this is an extra challenge in a huge crowd especially when there is an increased possibility of catching Coronavirus. So, it's true now more than ever assumptions are dangerous and should be avoided. We can experience and share in human moments even if there is height separating us.

**All photos are copyrighted**

Total of four exposures. Only one was used for the sky. Manually masked and merged.

Just loved the colors and temperature resulting, we do have a really amazing (and quite protective) atmosphere and urgently need to start taking care of it.

Thank you all for watch, comment and/or award.

(Please use "Actions > View all sizes" to see the detail in the picture, stay away from the black flash slideshow, its antialiasing feature inherently causes some noticeable amount of blurring. Thanks!)

Effective Seal: The precise, flat, and circular surface of the rim provides a consistent "sealing surface" or "land" that the bottle cap can crimp onto securely, ensuring an airtight and liquid-tight seal. This is especially crucial for carbonated beverages, as the seal must contain the high internal pressure (which can reach up to 90 psi in some sparkling beverages) and prevent the gas from escaping.

Structural Integrity: A round shape is inherently strong and efficient at distributing pressure evenly. Sharp corners or alternative shapes (like square) create stress points that are prone to breaking under pressure or impact. The rounded rim and neck design help manage forces encountered during bottling, shipping, and handling.

Something that inherently has very little going for it in terms of the interest you take in it, can become infinitely more interesting when rendered as a photograph :-)

Grant Mudford

HMM! Justice Matters! Indict Trump!

prunus mume, white japanese flowering apricot, 'Big Joe', j c raulston arboretum, ncsu, raleigh ,north carolina

Somewhere in the plains. This is an oldy I just resurrected. There is something inherently melancholy and nostalgic in an old school that is no longer in use. Doubly so when any playground pieces are still there.

There is something so inherently adventurous about train tracks and the possibilities of where they can take you. Another cold and bleak day this time in the East Bottoms of Kansas City. I searched out this local food truck/establisment called Pigwich. I've been hearing such wonderful things about. In my search I came across this scene. These tracks lead East across Missouri towards Chicago and St. Louis. The grit of the frame was intruiging enough for me to dare I say stop on the tracks and snap off a few before making my way across. I chose an off center composition. Hope you all enjoy.

This weekend my beloved KC Chiefs are in the playoffs. The city is once again excited at the prosepect of a local team going far into the big dance. We're hoping a little of the Royals magic has swept across the parking lot to the boys in red.

Mike D

Taken @ Bella's Lullaby

“A cry for attention is positioned as a crime, as if attention were inherently a selfish thing to want. But isn’t wanting attention one of the most fundamental traits of being human—and isn’t granting it one of the most important gifts we can ever give?”

― Leslie Jamison ―

The Empathy Exams

The most important gifts we can ever give is paying attention to someone, truly listening, acknowledging, and understanding them is an act of empathy and love.

Instead of dismissing cries for attention, we should see them as opportunities to offer care and connection.

Wanting attention is one of the most fundamental traits of being human.

From birth, humans seek attention, babies cry to be fed, children seek approval, and even adults need validation and emotional support. It is a natural and universal part of being human.

🎧 ♫ 🎼♫🎼 Listen ♫ 🎼♫🎼

💖In advance I want to thank each one of you for your always kindness, support, beautiful awards, favs, and messages. Please know that I see and read them all, even if I do not reply back to them, I appreciate them all so much as well as each on of you for taking the time.

Time available

Resource organization

Inherently subjective

A point of discussion could be had regarding analog vs Digital ---

This is a really great camera and lens, but it's too clinical...

I wouldn't go so far as say it's sterile, but digital, all digital no matter what level does not have the capacity to produce the nuances which are so appealing with analog.

Case in point; go to any of Édouard Baldus' images from the mid 1800's and witness the atmospherics they so inherently carry.

those are SOOC with no post processing 150 years ago.

Now one must post process a digital picture so as to shed it's contrasty definition and starkness.

The VFW VAK 191B was an experimental German vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) strike fighter of the early 1970s. VAK was the abbreviation for Vertikalstartendes Aufklärungs- und Kampfflugzeug (Vertical Take-off Reconnaissance and Strike Aircraft). Designed and built by the Vereinigte Flugtechnische Werke (VFW), it was developed with the purpose of eventually serving as a replacement for the Italian Fiat G.91 then in service with the German Air Force.

Operationally, it was intended to have been armed with nuclear weapons as a deterrent against aggression from the Soviet Union and, in the event of a major war breaking out, to survive the first wave of attacks by deploying to dispersed locations, rather than conventional airfields, and to retaliate against targets behind enemy lines.

The VAK 191B suffered from a protracted development cycle, spanning ten years between inception and flight, in part due to changing requirements, partnerships changing, and the difficulty inherently associated in the development of VTOL-capable aircraft. Ultimately, during the late 1960s, VFW took the decision to demote the development programme from targeting the type's production and instead only to test-fly a limited number of prototypes, using the VAK 191B effectively as a technology demonstrator and experimental aircraft to support the company's other activities and future programmes. On 10 September 1971, the first prototype conducted the type's maiden flight. A total of 91 flights were performed prior to the retirement of all three prototypes in 1975. These aircraft have been preserved and two are now on public display in museums.

European hornet closeup (Vespa crabro), 10-2022, Ticino, Switzerland

My best photos are here: www.lacerta-bilineata.com/ticino-best-photos-of-southern-...

European hornet (Vespa crabro), 10-2022, Ticino, Switzerland

If you're interested, you can find my best photos of the WILDLIFE IN TICINO, SWITZERLAND here: fr.lacerta-bilineata.com/l%C3%A9zard-vert-occidental-lace...

THE STORY BEHIND THE PHOTO:

I guess you can tell by the look on its face that this is not a happy hornet. That's not unusual for hornets - truth be told, variations of "not happy" "angry", or at least "badly irritated" seem to be pretty much their natural state of mind - but what's interesting about the fella above is that he also wasn't exactly sober.

To spell it out more clearly: that was one hammered hornet. It was so drunk in fact, it couldn't fly for two seconds straight without crashing. I shot that photo in my garden last fall, but as with all my pictures, I'll try to give you a bit more context.

Every year at least one hornet queen decides that some crack or hole inside the thick stone walls of my 400-year old house in Ticino is the perfect place to raise her royal family.

That in itself wouldn't pose a problem, but if there's one thing we know about "royals", it's that they're a complicated bunch (though it has to be said for both princes William and Harry that they rarely build little palaces inside the walls of some stranger's house, but I digress).

There is a slight potential for conflict; in my experience, all hornets are born with a sweet tooth and a bad temper, and particularly when there's ripe figs in my garden, tensions can rise.

That is entirely my fault though, because I still sometimes foolishly try to negotiate the human place in the food- (or rather: fruit-) chain, despite knowing perfectly well that fig season isn't the time to want to improve human-hornet relations, as any attempt in that regard will inevitably follow the same frustrating pattern:

Human: "Oh hello there Ms Hornet, how nice to meet you here at the fig tree - isn't the weather just lovely?"

Hornet: "Bzzzzzz. I have a sting. Bzzzzz. Go away. Bzzzzz."

Human: "There is really no need to be so angry, dear Ms Hornet: we're all friends here, and there's enough figs for all of us! How are the kids, I mean... larvae?"

Hornet: "Bzzzzzz. I have a sting. Bzzzzz. Go away. Bzzzzz."

Human: "Jeez, OK - relax! I can see you have a sting, I'm going, all right? You can have all the figs Ms Hornet, see: I'm already leaving!"

Hornet: "Bzzzzz. Yes, I have a sting. Bzzzzz. Don't come back. Bzzzzz."

And that's how THAT conversation goes.

Yet despite our occasional differences (like when I nearly died of smoke inhalation because Her Royal Hornet Majesty had decided my chimney was another suitable place for her nest), I'm happy to report we generally get along quite well, unless... - well, unless the hornets are intoxicated.

It's one of nature's lesser known facts (or perhaps its dirty secret) that many of our friends in the animal kingdom occasionally like to get high, and hornets are no exception. Not on anything illegal, mind; they are law-abiding insects after all, so you won't see them smoke crack or snort cocaine (although with some hornets I wouldn't rule that out completely 😉).

No: their usual drug of choice is alcohol, which my irritable neighbors find - surprise! - in my fig tree. Once some of the overripe fruit start to ferment, their potent juices become a magnet for hornets - and that's when the trouble starts.

It should come as no surprise that "hornets and hooch" are an inherently problematic combination. Because the crux with alcohol is this: it doesn't alter your personality, it only brings out the character traits that are already there without a filter, so you just become a terribly unrestrained version of yourself when you drink too much.

Which with hornets - who aren't the most cheerful bunch even on a good day - is a recipe for disaster. They are MEAN drunks - and I'm not kidding, oh boy. All that bottled-up anger constantly boiling underneath that shiny, chitin surface from the moment they hatch is finally released into the world, and it's not a pleasant sight, let me tell you.

Alcohol REALLY doesn't seem to improve their mood, and the other animals in my garden all agree (and I concur) that the fig tree would be a much happier place if the hornets just smoked weed and listened to Bob Marley instead (if them getting high can't be avoided altogether).

To be fair though, not all hornets have a drinking problem. Most of them behave responsibly and "don't drink and fly" (which I'm sure is a motto that gets taught in hornet school from an early age). And they don't get high all year long: It's only when fall arrives that the hornets like to have a merry get-together in my fig tree to get a good "buzz on".

But you know how it is: just like with any good party, there's always the ONE guy who can't hold his liquor and basically turns into your angry, drunk uncle at Christmas who starts picking fights with every one at the dinner table and insists on letting you know - very loudly - what he thinks about Trump or Biden or the Corona virus once he's had one too many.

Which finally brings me back to the fella in the photo above, because apparently he was THAT guy. That particular "drunk uncle" hornet sat underneath the fig tree on a fallen (and pretty rotten looking) fruit and was deep into its cups. As soon as it saw me, it started to buzz angrily and seemed intent on a confrontation, but it didn't manage to get airborne for more than a second.

After a few more failed attempts to lift off and a few more angry "Bzzzzzz" sounds (I think I actually did hear the words "Trump", "Biden" and "Corona" in there 😉), it just went back to boozing on the juices of the spoiled fig on the ground.

I left it to its own devices, happy that I got this quite expressive shot. 😊

P.S. I think it was actually a crazy, drunk AUNT - not an uncle 😉)

P.P.S. Just to make sure we understand each other (maybe as a disclaimer for readers who come to this gallery for the first time and aren't familiar with my kind of humor): I love the fact that these beautiful insects visit my garden. Watching how these efficient predators hunt wasps, horseflies or other insects is incredibly fascinating (adult hornets themselves mainly feed on sugary plant juices, but they hunt because their young need protein to grow).

Hornets may seem like they're constantly angry (which to me is funny - hence this text), but they're not; they're actually very peaceful towards humans, and even when you compete for a ripe fig with them, their furious buzzing is mostly just a bluff, and I've never been stung (and I don't know anyone who has).

Due to the unfounded fear many people have of hornets, who often get exterminated because they're confused with common wasps, this species is threatened in many countries (in Germany for example, hornets are a protected species). But unless you step (or sit) on them or destroy their nest, hornets don't attack, and even when they're drunk, they are usually so incapacitated that they are completely harmless (just like your uncle/aunt 😉).

So if you have hornets in your garden, just enjoy watching them and please don't harm them! 🙏 🙏 ❤ ❤

With that being said, I hope you like the photo and wish you all a wonderful weekend! Many greetings from Switzerland, and as always: let me know what you think in the comments 🙏 😊 ❤!

The Laguna Garzón Bridge in Uruguay is a 202-meter circular structure designed by Rafael Viñoly. It connects the department of Rocha (East) with Maldonado (West), crossing the Laguna Garzón—a body of water separated from the Atlantic Ocean by a narrow strip of sand.

Its unusual ring shape serves two main purposes: it inherently forces drivers to slow down for safety and transforms the crossing into a pedestrian-friendly public space with panoramic views. Engineered with widely spaced pillars, the design also minimizes continuous water shading, protecting the lagoon's fragile ecosystem and its status as an Important Bird Area. In the distance, toward the upper left, the seaside resort of José Ignacio can be seen.

Für die Logistik der Stahlwerke in Salzgitter und Peine sowie dem Walzwerk in Ilsenburg verkehren täglich mehrere Übergaben von DB Cargo im nördlichen Vorharz. Diese werden aber nicht direkt von DB Cargo befördert, sondern von den Verkehrsbetrieben Peine-Salzgitter, dem Haus-EVU der Salzgitter AG. Mangels eigener Großdieselloks die die von Natur aus sehr schweren Stahlzüge alleine über die anspruchsvollen Vorharzstrecken befördern können, bedient sich die VPS für die Traktion wiederum eines angemieteten Blue Tigers der HVLE - Eisenbahn im Jahr 2020. Als V330.8 mit dem ER53846(Ilsenburg - Seelze Rbf Ost) durch Goslar rollt, wird sich der Lokführer darüber aber wohl kaum Gedanken gemacht haben.

For the logistics of the steelworks in Salzgitter and Peine as well as the rolling mill in Ilsenburg, there are several daily transfer trains from DB Cargo in the northern Vorharz. However, these are not transported directly by DB Cargo, but by Verkehrsbetriebe Peine-Salzgitter, the in-house EVU of the Salzgitter AG. Due to the lack of its own large diesel locomotives, which can haul the inherently very heavy steel trains on thier own over the demanding Vorharz routes, the VPS uses a rented Blue Tiger from the HVLE. However as V330.8 with the ER53846 (Ilsenburg - Seelze Rbf Ost) rolls through Goslar , the locomotive driver is unlikely to have given it much thought.

I have been asked why I shy away from that modern contrasty look in my mono images. Following Henry Wessel's practice of measuring the quality of a print, I look at it to have the 'light and shadow' which inherently existed at the time of it's making.

Henry Wessel; "Allow the light of the scene to present itself naturally", be generous with your shadows. they should be 'descriptive' open areas.

Canon sure shot WP-1

The aesthetics of centering the subject is the fodder of endless debate. Picking up any college 101 photography composition book and you will immediately be led away from this type of 'boring' structuring. The counterpoint being that if we are to create naturalistic images then shouldn't they mimic the way we 'see' the world. That of course being - straight on... The skill lies not in the composition (which is another argument), but in structuring of a scene which is inherently pleasing to the eye...

Now that I've stirred the pot, I am of the school that we as photographers do not compose. We are given a scene which is already composed and we move around to structure that composition. Cinematographers and their stage directors compose. Ok, I'm ready ----

I don't like much to heavily post-process my pictures. While on the subtle unavoidable verge between photography and digital art, I try to stay on the first side. I'm not a purist either; I claim no one should be: Our very sense of situation is now articulated by the camera's interventions (Susan Sontag, On Photograpy). Add the camera's engineers' taste and lenses features to that and RAW post-processing becomes just a photographer's claim over what inherently belongs to her/him. Which is a mere illusion, truth to tell, since once you press the shutter, the image is not longer yours. It's just another preposterous and unavailing intent to catch a grasp of reality in Plato's cave, while barely getting a phenomenological reflection of our own inner personal world... until we share it. Sharing overcomes our personal limitations. Sharing on the Internet is one of the most incredible sociological experiments we've been performing over the past few decades.

Postprocessing technical specs LR 5: auto profile lens correction. Heavily edited with Color Effex Pro 4 (only global adjustments, no U-points): Tonal Contrast (5/80/35/0) + Detail Extractor (25/75/0; shadows & highlights adjusted separately) + Reflector Effex (Gold source; 27/58/80/189) + manual adjustments on camera RGB levels and curves + Colorize (method 6, strength 13%). Define 2: manual noise measure and reduction.

Canon sure shot WP-1

Ilford Delta 100

SOOC

I have been asked why I shy away from that modern contrasty look in my mono images. Following Henry Wessel's practice of measuring the quality of a print, I look at it to have the 'light and shadow' which inherently existed at the time of it's making.

Happy Sliders Sunday!!!

Just added the stardust and colors of the sky.

"Life is inherently risky. There is only one big risk you should avoid at all costs, and that is the risk of doing nothing."

-Denis Waitley

Whether one interprets the six days of Genesis as literal or typological intervals (the Church Fathers favored the latter), the narrative arc of creation is inherently temporal. It is rooted in sequence—a first, next, and last, with one creative act layered upon the next. The luminaries were ushered into being ahead of breathing creatures and given the vocation of marking time (Gen. 1: 14, 15), thus manifesting temporality in visible signs. The last layer of creation was unfurled when God, resting from His labors, “blessed the seventh day and sanctified it” (Gen. 2: 3). This final day of creation is a proxy not just for all subsequent Sabbaths, but for all of time on earth—the way it goes forth yet returns, always, to rest in the peace of eternity. When reading this narrative, it is difficult to see the baseness of time Plato and others lamented—in these first few scenes of Genesis, change is holy. Each new development brought about more life and beauty than before—making God’s love more manifest and capable of being encountered. Likewise, each addition to creation was beheld and blessed by its Maker before He moved to the next.

-Time and Despondency: Regaining the Present in Faith and Life Copyright © 2017 Nicole M. Roccas

I stumbled into an article written by a Chinese scholar who has been living in America for forty years - it was in Chinese and this is essentially a machine translation :

I mentioned in my last article that Britain had dominated the world earlier than the United States by 100 years. But Britain has now outlived her ultimate prosperity being stagnant overall but nonetheless wealthy. On the other hand, the way United States took over the world's hegemony was more abrupt, and it's decline is so much faster. In terms of major social, political, and economic indicators, the degree of zombification and decay in US has left the United Kingdom way behind.

What I mean by zombification is particularly relevant in terms of vertical mobility as far as the whole economy is concerned. The chance of the children from the lower class getting into the middle class, with the middle class students merging with the elites are so slim. By elites, I am not referring to the cultural elites, either scholarly or ideologically, but the oligarchs who dominate and monopolize all the economic achievements, what the Americans call the "top 1% ". Ever since the late stage of Cold War, American society, which originally exemplify high vertical mobility, geared into a reversal. After the Cold War, this process continued to accelerate. Today, the United States is stuck with the lowest social mobility among the the advanced countries. To make things worse, not only is there a wide and deep divergence dividing the classes up, actually not only is the lower class but even the middle class are also being ransacked systemically, so that the gap is getting wider and wider. Say for instance, the median income as a whole in US has become basically stagnant for the past 30 years. And more than 90% of the economic growth in the period went into the pocket of the top 1%. Such phenomena also happened in the United Kingdom, but only to a lesser extent by far.

I have been saying for the last few years that such a change started in early 1970s when the American oligarchs pushed back against President Johnson ’s “Great Society" policies. Actually, there were three main axis:

1) Deteriorating quality of the public education has left the middle and lower class students with a higher hurdle when competing for university placement, so they are categorically excluded from the elite class. This problem comes not only from the lousy Libtard "education experts" but also through the encouragement and indulgence of the vested class both by means of propaganda and political shaping. The United Kingdom has at least recognized the severity and has set about making reforms; the United States is devoid of both the will and the capability to reform.

2) De-industrialization and financialization of the economy came just too rapid, making the transition of the middle class impossible. Financial sector is inherently disposed to monopolize the whole of market profits. Globalization has further promoted the outsourcing of manufacturing jobs, a great impetus to give up employment in lieu of higher profits. Under Liberal Economics-led policies, both countries are pushed to the extreme in the pursuit of forever higher return rate. Britain and US work from shoulder to shoulder in this respect. As such, the salaried class are left with no choice other than either unemployment or the impotence to demand any salary increase or both. Britain has at least universal health insurance and other welfare protections whereas the United States is somewhat inferior to the Third World countries in these aspects.

3) The rotting of the ruling class and the foolishness of voters from the lower and lower middle class complement each other, ensuring that any reforming force is "turned the other way round", cracking and deepening the division even further. I have already illustrated this process several times before logically and with supporting evidence, but the development of the past two years, and the retrogression especially after the election of President Trump ( such thing as tax cuts for the wealthy people), nonetheless is beyond the imagination of any people of the right mind. Such historic populism is phenomenal, it's a great leap forward from quantitative to qualitative change !

***

See w th your own Eyes How Viruses Spread in Air : you can jump in from min.2 onwards

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WOiVqbWzIc&t=201s

Michelangeli plays Galuppi - Sonata

(1962)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRVg_qqcRSw

(? year )

www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDVEihRst1c

(1965, remastered)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=SraXVQRpIZg

Scarlatti by Clara Haskil

www.youtube.com/watch?v=277kOiSj8QQ

www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYX26WNq6w0

Erik Satie : Paris in Oil Paintings

www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fuIMye31Gw

With the sun not yet over the horizon, the first light is still amazingly bright. This was the second of two sunrise shoots during our visit to Point Pelee a couple of days ago - an unusual occurrence for me due to my inherently lazy nature. A cup of coffee nearly strong enough to dissolve a spoon, and my under estimation of how hot it was, helped in waking me up.

On the previous morning, we were greeted with a heavy fog that obscured the sun altogether and didn't clear until much later.

This time, a low lying mist added some interest with an otherwise clear sky. Fortunately, I'm not the only lazy photographer as on both occasions, we had this usually popular location to ourselves.

Pimpla rufipes can reach a length of about 15 mm (0.59 in) with a rather slender body. These wasps are generally black with bright orange legs. The hind legs are larger than the other pairs. The ovipositor is straight, quite short and thick, however the male Pimpla rufipes does not have an ovipositor. These wasps are often mistaken for Apechthis compunctor due to having similar size, and the males of both of the species are indistinguishable from photographs. The main key difference between these two species is the ovipositor: Pimpla rufipes females have a straight ovipositor while Apechthis compunctor females have curved ovipositors.

The front wing of Pimpla rufipes is 5.5 to 15 mm long. Its hind tibia is without a pale submedian band and the abdomen is finely mat to subpolished, usually rather closely dotted with tiny holes. Its first tergite is long, with a prominent dorsal hump centered just beyond the middle. The upper valve of ovipositor is also not or only weakly flattened.

Pimpla rufipes have preferences in choosing their hosts that are affected by various factors. Research was conducted on cylinders which represent the hosts Pimpla rufipes would normally puncture. The first factor is the texture of the host; smooth cylinders were punctured more often than cylinders that had been roughened with sandpaper. The second factor is colour; the wasps discriminated between yellow and blue cylinders and could remember to associate the colours as a presence of a host, where blue was inherently preferred over yellow.The last known factor is whether or not a cylinder/host is open or closed ended, where only cylinders that were close ended were frequently punctured. These factors are tested by the female wasp using its antennae which send vibrations to make the object resonate before determining if the host will make for a suitable oviposition site. It is still unknown how these vibrations are created from the antennae, and the antennae are not utilized as drumsticks. However it is known that the wasp does not use a stridulatory organ to generate these noises. This is all part of Pimpla rufipes exploratory behaviour, and acoustic probing allow the females to find and locate prey.

One last shot in my little series of Non-hierarchal images wherein I tried to give equal weight of presence to all the various characters in the scene while trying to stay on the tracks of New Topographics.

I have been asked why I shy away from that modern contrasty look in my mono images. Following Henry Wessel's practice of measuring the quality of a print, I look at it too have the 'light and shadow' which inherently existed at the time of it's making.

A respectable White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virgianus) buck emerges from a cottonwood hollow nestled in an expansive prairie. Adams County, Colorado.

Though there is nothing inherently spooky about this photo, to me, it is still in the spirit of the season. Many believe that modern day Halloween traditions and festivities have their root in Celtic rituals that celebrated the harvest and the changing of seasons as fall gave way to the lean times of winter.

This transition of seasons also triggers a change in the most beloved, revered game mammal of North America - the white-tailed deer. Bucks, antlers hardened and necks swollen with muscle turn from gentle, nervous creatures of shadow to emboldened warriors full of lust and rage. They emerge from these shadows to seek out the opportunity to breed, and in their wake leave a trail of blood and broken tines.

The buck here had emerged from the dense cover of the cottonwoods pictured in the background on the trail of a group of does. He tested the air and earth for their pheromones, gauging their reproductive readiness, all the while scanning the tree line for would be competitors that might challenge his right to procreate.

Autumn is a special, important time for so many species, ourselves included. Happy Halloween to all my Flickr friends!

All life is inherently broken from the start, Percival. Take solace in that. There is no perfection in life. Otherwise, what would be the purpose of death? It's to try to find ways to better yourself before the end that gives us purpose. You are all broken, but also understand - mortals can achieve great things.

Low-altitude framing of a massive white cloud with cotton-like appearance in a bright blue sky. The prominent cloud formation in the upper-middle section draws the eye and provides a focal point.

The natural contrast between the vibrant blue of the sky and the pure white of the cloud is inherently appealing and visually calming. The subtle variations in cloud density and shading add textural interest.

The image evokes feelings of tranquility, peace, and expansiveness.

Beyond physical vastness lies a metaphysical dimension that invites exploration. From sprawling landscapes to infinite skies, the sheer expansiveness of our natural world offers insights that can deepen our understanding of ourselves and the universe.

While a common subject, the specific perspective and lighting captured in this particular moment contribute to its unique aesthetic. It's a reminder of the beauty in everyday phenomena.

that’s what gives the medium a lot of energy. But it also creates problems that you have to solve :-)

Pieter Hugo

HMM! Season's Greetings! Peace Now!

prunus, weeping Fuji cherry, 'Shikizaki', j c raulston arboretum, ncsu, raleigh, north carolina

In Being who we inherently desire to become we grow past failure from strength to strength ..

Quotes Mrs Happy Face

Queens Toronto

Cathja

The Cathja is a fully converted and fully mobile 38 metre Dutch Barge. Situated on an idyllic Thames mooring in Old Isleworth, the barge provides space for people who have experienced mental health problems to explore their creativity in a safe and supported environment.

Users determine their own frequency and duration of their involvement. There is no expectation to 'produce' so objects created are not judged, analysed or sold. The creation of objects, whether utilitarian or 'artistic', is an inherently healing and restorative process.

The Cathja service has achieved outstanding results in enabling people to grow away from the dependent, patient role.

The Cathja barge history:

The Cathja is a 38 metre Dutch Barge. She was probably built in the 1930s and her working life would have been on the canals and rivers of Europe. She is not a sea going vessel although many of the inland seas in Holland are such that she had to be able to negotiate rougher conditions than the barges that traded on English canals.

Cathja would have been operated as a family business with a husband and wife team, possibly with their children, leading a somewhat itinerant life. It is likely that the name Cathja is derived from a combination of the names of the skipper and his wife. Living accommodation was minimal and restricted to the back cabin so that the maximum area was given over to the hold for carrying cargo. The sorts of cargo carried would have included grain, fertiliser, coffee beans etc.

The back cabin remains with many original features and currently provides the office space for the charity. The wheel house is a more recent addition and is the 'tea room' for the activity. As the barge is fully mobile, the tea room also accommodates the ship's wheel and all the instrumentation. The wheelhouse is collapsible in order to negotiate the low bridges that are often found on the smaller waterways.

After being 'decommissioned' the Cathja had several short term owners, including a British gentleman who intended to convert her for use as a floating restaurant. This last project foundered as Cathja was damaged by rough seas in the Channel and was rescued and brought to a mooring on the Thames where she lay largely uncared for. She was purchased in an almost derelict state by the charity in 1996.

A mooring was found for her in Isleworth, being the historic wharf where coastal trade took place. The original crane used for unloading still stands as a monument to this phase of the area's history

* All Saints' Church is the oldest parish church in Isleworth in the London Borough of Hounslow in south-west London.

Its 14th-century Kentish ragstone tower and foundations are the only pre–20th-century parts to survive.[1] It faces the Thames before Church Street skirts away from the river to pass Syon Park. The parish itself is pre-Norman. A vicar replacing its rector is recorded in 1290 in records associated with Syon Abbey who gave his family £2 and a new robe each year and daily meat and drink at the upper table in the abbey hall, while his servant was to be fed at the grooms' table. The patron of the church became the trustees of St George's Chapel, Windsor, due to the dissolution of the monasteries.[2] By the end of the 17th century, Sir Christopher Wren was approached to draw plans for a new body of a much-dilapidated building. His project was deemed too expensive until 1705, when Sir Orlando Gee (MP), of Syon Hill in the parish, left £500 towards the work in his will; he is commemorated in a marble monument by Francis Bird.[3] This sum, combined with funds raised through subscriptions, ensured that the work took place (with modifications) in 1705–1706.

Happy Halloween! I know...cute, not "creepy". However, there are LOTS of people who have a strong fear of black cats. In folk-lore, they are often depicted as the familiar of witches, and inherently evil.

©R.C. Clark: Dancing Snake Nature Photography

All rights reserved

For the game of "schnapsen", popular in Austria

For the "Looking Close ... on Friday" challenge, "playing cards"

My husband and I like to play a round of Schnapsen after lunch. I look forward to it every day although I was never before a card player at any time in my life. I have become quite competitive! One round is short enough that it doesn't interrupt the day but is a lot of fun.

Here a description of the game from the internet.

"Schnapsen (or Schnapser) is a popular Austrian two-hander. It is essentially a tightened-up version of the classic German game Sechsundsechzig. Other closely related games include Tausendeins (Austria), Tute (Spain), Tyziacha (Russia, Ukraine and Poland) and Snapszli (Hungary), but anyone familiar with any member of the Ace-Ten family (such as Pinochle) will grasp the essentials quickly. Schnapsen is an inherently tense game that requires a lot of concentration and so isn't good for socializing, but it's a challenging game whose interest never wavers."

Amit Ray