Start Point Lighthouse, Devon. So significant in human terms so insignificant in the Galactic.

VIDEO - YOUTUBE

Další FOTO, Next PHOTO ZDE / HERE

Nákladní vlak společnosti FCAB číslo 1212, míří z dolu Spence do přístavu Mejillones. Vlak v čele se stoji 3204 a 3206 je zachycen na severní větvi Prat - Pampa, kde tvoří železniční trať v poušti četné množství oblouků a horských průsmyků v jehož čele stojí vrchol Cumbre. Dlouhý vlak je možné zachytit i v obloucích či smyčkách tak, že je na konci vlaku viditelný postrk, v tomto případě se jedná o lokomotivu 3208. Ložené vlaky z dolu Spence jezdí v čele s dvojicí lokomotiv, na postrku jim vypomáhá samostatný stroj. Naopak prázdné soupravy z přístavu Mejillones jsou vedeny už pouze dvojicí lokomotiv stejné řady.

Tento vlak je nejdelším vlakem na sítí společnosti FCAB a jeho délka může dosáhnout 700 až 800 metrů. Kontejnery jsou ložené vytěženými minerály a k přepravě tohoto těžkého nákladu jsou použité lokomotivy řady 32xx - typu GT42AC s výkonem 3200 koní. Lokomotivy řady 32xx pochází od firmy Progress Rail Services Corporation, vlastněná firmou Caterpillar. Lokomotivy mají označení výrobce EMD GT 42AC a v Chile se jim přezdívá podle firmy, která je vyrobila „Progress“. Jedná se o mladé lokomotivy 3204 a 3206 vyrobené v roce 2018 a na postrku jen o rok starší stroj 3208. Celkem má FCAB ve flotile 14 těchto lokomotiv. Lokomotivy mají 12 válcový motor s označením 12-710, lokomotiva je 20,3 metrů dlouhá, její maximální rychlost je 100 km/h, a pojme 5000 litrů paliva, její váha je 120 tun, tažná síla lokomotivy se uvádí 3 207 kW.

Důl Spence se nachází nedaleko městečka Sierra Gorda jižně pod Calamou v nadmořské výšce 1750 metrů nad mořem, jedná se o povrchový důl, kde se těží měděné katody teprve od roku 2007 (výstavba dolu započala v roce 1996). Katody se získávají bakteriálním procesem louhování a extrakcí v rozpouštědlech, převážně kyseliny sírové, která se sem též vozí na vlacích. Koncentrát se přepravuje ve vozech mokrý a během cesty se zhutňuje, což zamezuje jeho výbuchu. Na jednom voze může být naloženo až 52 tun nákladu. Denně dojde v dole ke zpracování 95 000 až 100 000 tun koncentrátů. Roční objem těžby mědi dělá přibližně 835 tisíc tun, zanedbatelná není ani těžba molybdenu, kterého se zde vytěží 7,5 tisíce tun. Převážný odběr surovin potuje po oceánu do Číny, Spojených státu Amerických a Itálie.

ES

Tren de carga FCAB número 1212, rumbo desde la mina Spence al puerto de Mejillones. El tren liderado por 3204 y 3206 es interceptado en el ramal norte Prat - Pampa, donde la vía férrea en el desierto está formada por numerosos arcos y pasos de montaña encabezados por el pico de Cumbre. Es posible coger un tren largo incluso en curvas o bucles, de modo que se ve un empujador al final del tren, en este caso se trata de la locomotora 3208. Los trenes cargados de la mina Spence son conducidos por un par de locomotoras, asistidas por una máquina separada en el empujador. En cambio, los conjuntos vacíos procedentes del puerto de Mejillones ahora son impulsados ​​únicamente por un par de locomotoras de la misma serie.

Este tren es el más largo de la red FCAB y puede alcanzar entre 700 y 800 metros de longitud. Los contenedores están cargados con minerales extraídos y para transportar esta carga pesada se utilizan locomotoras de la serie 32xx, tipo GT42AC con una potencia de 3200 CV. Las locomotoras Serie 32xx son de Progress Rail Services Corporation, propiedad de Caterpillar. Las locomotoras llevan la denominación de fabricante EMD GT 42AC y en Chile reciben el sobrenombre de "Progreso" en honor a la empresa que las produjo. Se trata de las jóvenes locomotoras 3204 y 3206 fabricadas en 2018 y de la algo más antigua 3208. En total, FCAB tiene 14 de estas locomotoras en su flota. Las locomotoras tienen un motor de 12 cilindros con la denominación 12-710, la locomotora mide 20,3 metros de largo, su velocidad máxima es de 100 km/h, tiene una capacidad de 5000 litros de combustible, su peso es de 120 toneladas, la potencia de tracción de la La locomotora tiene una potencia de 3.207 kW.

La mina Spence está ubicada cerca del pueblo de Sierra Gorda al sur de Calama a una altitud de 1.750 metros sobre el nivel del mar. Es una mina a cielo abierto donde se extraen cátodos de cobre sólo desde 2007 (la construcción de la mina comenzó en 1996). Los cátodos se obtienen mediante un proceso bacteriano de lixiviación y extracción en disolventes, principalmente ácido sulfúrico, que también se transporta aquí en trenes. El concentrado se transporta húmedo en vagones y se compacta durante el viaje, lo que evita que explote. En un vagón se pueden cargar hasta 52 toneladas de carga. La mina procesa entre 95.000 y 100.000 toneladas de concentrados diariamente. El volumen anual de extracción de cobre es de aproximadamente 835 mil toneladas, la extracción de molibdeno tampoco es insignificante, de las cuales 7,5 mil toneladas se extraen aquí. La mayoría de las materias primas se llevan a China, Estados Unidos e Italia.

EN

FCAB freight train number 1212, heading from the Spence mine to the port of Mejillones. The train led by 3204 and 3206 is intercepted on the northern branch of Prat - Pampa, where the railway line in the desert is formed by numerous arches and mountain passes headed by the peak of Cumbre. It is possible to catch a long train even in curves or loops so that a pusher is visible at the end of the train, in this case it is locomotive 3208. Loaded trains from the Spence mine are led by a pair of locomotives, assisted by a separate machine on the pusher. On the other hand, empty sets from the port of Mejillones are now only driven by a pair of locomotives of the same series.

This train is the longest train on the FCAB network and can reach 700 to 800 meters in length. The containers are loaded with mined minerals and locomotives of the 32xx series - type GT42AC with a power of 3200 hp are used to transport this heavy cargo. The Series 32xx locomotives are from Progress Rail Services Corporation, owned by Caterpillar. The locomotives have the manufacturer's designation EMD GT 42AC and are nicknamed "Progress" in Chile after the company that produced them. These are the young locomotives 3204 and 3206 manufactured in 2018 and the slightly older machine 3208. In total, FCAB has 14 of these locomotives in its fleet. The locomotives have a 12-cylinder engine with the designation 12-710, the locomotive is 20.3 meters long, its maximum speed is 100 km/h, and it holds 5000 liters of fuel, its weight is 120 tons, the traction power of the locomotive is stated to be 3,207 kW.

The Spence mine is located near the town of Sierra Gorda south of Calama at an altitude of 1,750 meters above sea level. It is an open pit mine where copper cathodes have been mined only since 2007 (mine construction began in 1996). Cathodes are obtained by a bacterial process of leaching and extraction in solvents, mainly sulfuric acid, which is also transported here on trains. The concentrate is transported wet in wagons and is compacted during the journey, which prevents it from exploding. Up to 52 tons of cargo can be loaded on one car. The mine processes 95,000 to 100,000 tons of concentrates daily. The annual volume of copper mining is approximately 835 thousand tons, the mining of molybdenum is also not insignificant, of which 7.5 thousand tons are mined here. The majority of raw materials are taken to China, the United States of America and Italy.

An existential moment is loosely defined as the moment when you become aware of your existence, or how insignificant you are in the big scheme of things. My moment came on a multi day hiking trip in the wilderness of Northern California. But this moment can occur anywhere and at anytime--sometimes when things look the bleakest. I wonder if you can have more than one moment in your life?

Location: an insignificant part of my mind.

Image imagined in MidJourney AI and finished with Topaz Studio 2.0 and Lightroom Classic.

Location:

"Whatever you do in life will be insignificant but it is very important that you do it."

-Gandhi

233/365

august 21, 2010

thank you.

"The locust trees were in bloom and the fragrance of the blossoms filled the air. Cardiff Hill, beyond the village and above it, was green with vegetation, and it lay just far enough away to seem a Delectable Land, dreamy, reposeful

and inviting.

Tom Sawyer appeared ... with a bucket of whitewash and a long- handled brush. He surveyed the fence, and all gladness left him and a deep melancholy settled down upon his spirit......

Aunt Polly was determined to punish him by turning

his Saturday into captivity at hard labor, whitewashing a fence. .... Sighing, he dipped his brush and passed it along the topmost plank; repeated the operation; did it again; compared the insignificant whitewashed streak with the far-reaching continent of the unwhitewashed fence, and sat down discouraged."

Mark Twain

When I approached this man painting this infinite fence my intent was to make a picture where everything has a meaning. Where no one thing is the center of attention and all things are dependent upon each other to complete the narrative.

It took me a while to structure this shot getting that hill in the middle ground just above the fence line, that distant fence, the tree, and foreground all nicely tucked together.

There was an air of strangeness and beauty hovering above it all. I decided to leave the center empty and allow the viewer to read around the scene.

Is he in the act of painting? - or looking at the coyote out on the fallow field?

If you want to download or see the before and after of this picture go to my site: ift.tt/2mhclBu

Tiny But Full of Life is my representation of the feeling of being insignificant but, no matter what, you are full of life so, make it shine. The glow particles represent that you are alive and glowing.

Tiny But Full of Life is a photo post-processed as a Fine Art photo by me using Photoshop and Lightroom.

Please let me know what you think. | Visit my profile @ 500px ift.tt/2uz6njU

My wife and I visited the Death Valley National Park in October 2021. The park is home to the lowest point in North America, the Badwater Basin which sits at 282 ft below sea level. We got to the basin about 30 minutes before sunrise and had the entire basin just for us for an hour before other visitors started showing up. The incredible serenity of this place was a unique experience. We felt so insignificant, so small, in the middle of the vast flat landscape.

According to National Park Service, Badwater Basin was once the site of the large ancient inland Lake Manly. The lake had no outlet, leading to the accumulation of sediment and salt over time. When the lake eventually evaporated, concentrated salt deposits were left behind. Today, salt polygons form on the flats as groundwater rises up through these deposits and evaporates.

My Monday floral greeting is not only quite late today, but also very understated. After all, it doesn't always have to be glitz and glamour.

This white calla lily, in my opinion, does very well without all that and is still a feast for the eyes.

And with that, I wish you this week an appreciation for the beauty in simplicity. And with that, an appreciation for the simple and rather insignificant things in everyday life.

Mein montäglicher Blumengruß kommt heute nicht nur recht spät sondern auch sehr zurückhaltend daher. Es muss ja schließlich nicht immer Glanz und Gloria sein.

Diese weiße Calla kommt, nach meinem Empfinden, sehr gut ohne all das aus und ist trotzdem eine Augenweide.

Und damit wünsche ich Euch für diese Woche einen Blick und ein Gefühl für die Schöänheit in der Einfachheit. Und damit auch eine Wertschätzung für die einfachen und eher unbedeutenden Dinge im Alltag.

Despite its exposed position on the brink of the North Sea, the Moot Hall in Aldeburgh is one of the best preserved Tudor public buildings in Britain. Although no document exists that chronicles its beginning, experts have estimated a date of around 1550 as, during this time, Aldeburgh had emerged from being an insignificant fishing village into a prosperous ship-building and trading town.

www.suffolk-secrets.co.uk/blog/2018/10/the-history-of-ald...

As I stand, take steps, hold my camera in my hands, see the sunset light and the road or yard in front of me, press and release the shutter, hear the click of the shutter opening, be mindful that the camera’s sensor is recording the light shining into it, hear the shutter close, feel surprised and inspired by the beautiful images that are captured and shown on the back of my camera and remember that though it seems insignificant this truly is a big victory for me to be moving forward. This all has a deep, helpful, nourishing, inspiring effect on me. It doesn’t magically erase the extreme difficulties and struggles and it does help me survive and move through them in a healthy way.

Moving Forward is a collection of abstract, ICM (intentional camera movement) images taken in moments of desperation, while trying to survive and find a healthy way to cope with the intense effects of trauma, CPTSD, anxiety and depression. The practice of therapeutic photography and healing actions of taking steps and moving forward come together in this photo project. May it be a source of hope, inspiration, peace or encouragement for you.

You can read more about this zine and photo project here: amandacreamerphotography.com/2023/02/18/photo-project-mov...

You can order the Morving Forward zine here: www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/2406230

Lighthouse "Gellen", Island of Hiddensee, Baltic Sea / Germany

Hiddensee is a relatively small island of approximately 17 km length (10.5 miles) and 250 metres (270 yd) wide but is 'equipped' with two lighthouses, out of which only one is a real 'lighthouse' and this one - on the photograph - is a 'beacon' (new word I just learned; in German = "Leuchtfeuer" which literally translated to English means "shining fire"). It was built in 1904.

I wondered if there is a difference between a lighthouse and a beacon, as both show the way for navigation. When I started to explore, I learned that the term "beacon" (German: Leuchtfeuer) is the generic term for lighthouses, lightships, tall buoys, pier lights, leading lights, cross lights etc., used for safe navigation. In other words: a lighthouse is the most famous and representative beacon :-).

Despite its rather insignificant size, the island has a varied history. First it was populated by Germanic tribes, who at some point moved south. Their place was taken by Slavic tribes, coming from the east. In the heyday of the Vikings (9 - 10 century) the island was conquered by the Viking king Waldemar I of Denmark. At some point in history it again became German.

Looking quite insignificant in its surroundings 70814 drifts by Washwood Heath with 6V25 Bescot Up Engineers to Hinksey Sidings conveying just a single wagon.

This was taken on a day when the waves down the mumbles were supposedly massive. As in, reach up onto the shore and drag you down, massive.

Me and Phil just missed them though due to uni work, but when we got there they were still rough.

There's nothing quite like the power of nature to make you feel so small and insignificant.

With this re-edit, I hope to have at least started to do the day justice.

Original: flic.kr/p/jMfocC

Teide National Park

You simply must not miss this wonderful National Park.

The other-worldly landscapes here will leave you speechless. The pure, clean air of Spain's highest peak will refresh your lungs as you wander amidst solid volcanic magma feeling almost insignificant in this impressive UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The landscape is breathtaking from every angle. The landscape and vegetation and the fauna as well seem taken from another planet

Cañadas del Teide is a gigantic caldera spanning 17 km (10.5 miles) across, from which the summits of Pico Viejo and Mount Teide rise up to 3,718 m (12,198 ft), making this Spain's highest point and the third tallest volcano in the world. Its snowy white peak contrasting with tongues of black lava petrified on the slopes is a unique combination that never fails to surprise.

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Parque Nacional del Teide

No puedes perderte esa maravilla de Parque Nacional.

Los paisajes te parecerán de otro planeta. Respirarás el aire puro del pico más alto de España. Caminarás entre la lava volcánica y te sentirás minúsculo al ver el impresionante entorno declarado Patrimonio de la Humanidad por la UNESCO.

El paisaje es sobrecogedor se mire por donde se mire. El paisaje y la vegetación y la fauna son como de otro planeta.

Las llamadas Cañadas del Teide forman una gigantesca Caldera de unos 17 km de diámetro sobre la que se asienta el Pico del Teide, de 3.718 metros, que supone la mayor altura de España y el tercer volcán más alto del mundo. La nieve del pico junto a las coladas de lava que se derraman por sus laderas forman una combinación única que no te cansarás de admirar.

Ref www.webtenerife.com/que-visitar/parque-nacional-del-teide...

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Parco Nazionale del Teide

Il picco più alto della Spagna (3.718 metri), dichiarato dall’Unesco Patrimonio Mondiale dell’Umanità, costituisce una visita da non perdere. Bello e grandioso, ti farà sentire minuscolo.

Il crateere conosciuto come Las Cañadas, ha preso il suo nome dalla struttura più tipica del parco: la Cañada, pianura sedimentaria situata normalmente ai piedi delle pareti o anfiteatro del cratere.

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Parc Nacional del Teide

No pots perdre't aquesta meravella de Parc Nacional

Els seus paisatges et semblaran d'un altre planeta.

Respiraràs l'aire pur del pic més alt d'Espanya. Caminaràs entre la lava volcànica i et sentiràs minúscul en veure l'impressionant entorn declarat Patrimoni de la Humanitat per la UNESCO.

El paisatge és colpidor es miri per on es miri. El paisatge i la vegetació i la fauna són com d'un altre planeta.

Les Cañadas del Teide formen una gegantina Caldera d'uns 17 km de diàmetre sobre la qual s'assenta el Pic del Teide, de 3.718 metres, que suposa la major altura d'Espanya i el tercer volcà més alt del món.

La neu del pic al costat de la lava que es vessa pels seus vessants formen una combinació única que no et cansaràs d'admirar.

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Espero que os guste

Spero vi piaccia

Hope you like it

Espero us agradi

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1 Corinthians 1:28-29 “God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world —what is viewed as nothing—to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, so that no one may boast in His presence.”

Taroko gorge, Taiwan. Steep, steep marble gorges, tunnels cut through mountains, many rockfalls every year, incredible place.

A sad man walks down a side street next to Roger's Place Arena - in Edmonton. There is no hockey due to the pandemic.

IMGP6777

This was my first experience on a ship out to sea and I was struck with amazement at the vastness of the water, the sky, the enormity of everything and how small and insignificant I was in it all.

Photography on the water, for me became a different and interesting sensation as well, being rocked from side to side, trying to keep the horizon and focus, composition, while moving forward or in this case backward. I have a short attention span anyway :) and saw so many things at once through the lens.

"The presence of curved blades / on the gates withheld / climbers from reducing it / to insignificant metal."

The huge scale of the Greenland landscape can be overwhelming and make one feel quite insignificant, as this image of a photographer on the NE shore of Milne Land demonstrates. The snowy mountains of Renland are in background and one of the low Bjorne Islands in the middle. Scoresby Sund, East Greenland.

19/03/2020 www.allenfotowild.com

This region is called Moravia, in the Czech Republic.

Living in it:

Catholics

evangelicals

communists

atheists

Mormons

Jehovah's witnesses

Orthodox

Muslims

Asians, perhaps Buddhists

Some foolish gypsies without religion

Jews (after the 2nd World War, leaving only 6)

Everyone here has a church, or a place for meditation.

It works!

There are not detonate bombs like Paris or Brussels.

We want it to be still! Forever!

We are insignificant country!

OFFENSIVE NAMES FOR WOMEN.

NOT VERY NICE AND HARD TO TRANSLATE.

=============================================

OUDERWETSE SCHELDNAMEN VOOR VROUWEN,.

NIET ERG AARDIG EN LASTIG TE VERTALEN

BOERENTRIEN:

lompe boerenmeid, bij uitbr. lomp vrouwspersoon

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clumsy peasant girl, by extension clumsy woman.

ZEURKOUS:

iemand die altijd zeurt; evenzo ZEURPIET en ZEURZAK

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someone who always complains (kous = sock)

KATTEKOP

vinnige, snibbige vrouw

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

snappy woman

MUTS

domme vrouw. domme, onbenullige vrouw.

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

stupid woman. stupid, insignificant woman.

Lying on the wet grass again to capture these lovely and tiny wild Daisies in one of the green prairies of El Capricho, in my humble opinion the most beautiful park in Madrid.

Looking carefully this picture, I found a tiny Mosquito posed on the grass. Sometimes, you discover insignificant details that are hidden to the naked eye.

Although I stained my hoodie with mud, I would do it again to enjoy the pleasure of contemplating these small flowers with my telezoom.

I take advantage to wish you a great and peaceful Tuesday.

Press "L" to enlarge the picture.

Available in fineartamerica:

fineartamerica.com/featured/sun-kissed-wild-daisies-in-el...

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Margaritas silvestres besadas por el sol en el Parque del Capricho, Madrid, España

Tumbado de nuevo sobre la hierba mojada para capturar estas preciosas y diminutas Margaritas silvestres en una de las verdes praderas de El Capricho, en mi humilde opinión el parque más bonito de Madrid.

Mirando detenidamente esta foto, me encontré con un diminuto Mosquito posado sobre la hierba. A veces, descubres detalles insignificantes que están ocultos a simple vista.

Aunque me manché la sudadera con barro, volvería a disfrutar del placer de contemplar estas pequeñas flores con mi telezoom.

Aprovecho para desearos un gran y tranquilo martes.

Pulsa "L" para ampliar la imagen.

Disponible en fineartamerica:

fineartamerica.com/featured/sun-kissed-wild-daisies-in-el...

Telling a story in three simple images let's start with 1) The Good

The Maine Central Railroad was a proud, frugal but also modern, and profitable affair. The small Northern New England Class 1 was beloved by its family of employees and loyal fans both. The 'Pine Tree Route' made its money serving Maine's once dominant paper industry but seemed willing serve every customer siding no matter how seemingly small or insignificant. This logo began to fade from the scene not long after Gullford Transportation Industries purchased the venerable road in 1981 and history has not been kind to the old MEC.

This rusted and faded reminder of better days is found on the flank of an ancient Russell snowplow seemingly long forgotten about in the yard at Northern Maine Junction.

Hermon, Maine

Friday May 13, 2022

Those seemingly insignificant experiences are gradually nourishing our growth.

the pavement is a grid. a map of light and stone. shadows cut across it, long and sharp. geometry of absence. a figure walks in the upper left corner. small, almost insignificant. her shadow stretches before her, a dark arrow pointing the way. she follows it, across the illuminated squares.

Many Chihuahuas ran on treadmills for hours to produce this wonderful art for your enjoyment.

Lydd Town Railway Station, situated 7 miles from Appledore, was a principal station on the New Romney Branch Line. The station had two platforms as well as a passing loop and a signal box on the down side.

The station closed on 6th March 1967 in the face of dwindling passenger traffic and insignificant freight returns, yet the line remained open today for freight traffic to serve the nuclear power station at Dungeness.

These photographs, taken in July 2016, showcase the site as it stands today.

Inspiration for the framing of the shots came from the 1975 New Topographics exhibition.

New-Delhi (Inde) - La "momordica charantia », c'est ce légume vert au premier plan de la photo. Une sorte de courge amère. On l'appelle aussi concombre indien.

Ce ne sont pas les légumes qui m'intéressaient pour cette photo. J'ai été attiré Par la pancarte en hindi qui était pour moi une légende à elle seule, localisant la photo.

Mais ce n'était pas suffisant sous peine d'obtenir une photo insignifiante. Il me fallait un second élément d'information pour localiser plus encore cette image. Je me suis posté devant l'inscription. J’ai attendu quelques instants qu'une indienne passe sur la partie gauche. Je n'ai pas attendu plus de 20 secondes et cette femme en sari jaune est apparue.

Comme l'ardoise était l'élément principal, la mise au point a été faire sur elle pour que le reste dans la scène soit légèrement floue. Pas trop quand même ; juste ce qu'il faut pour que l'on comprenne au premier coup d'oeil que nous sommes sur un marché.

Promotion on the "momordica charantia"!

New-Delhi (India) -The "momordica charantia" is this green vegetable in the foreground of the photo. A kind of bitter gourd. It is also called Indian cucumber.

It's not the vegetables that interested me for this photo. I was attracted by the slate in Hindi which was for me a legend in itself, locating the photo.

But it was not enough under penalty of obtaining an insignificant photo. I needed a second piece of information to further locate this image. I stood in front of the registration. I waited a few moments for an Indian to pass on the left side. I didn't wait more than 20 seconds and this woman in a yellow sari appeared.

As the slate was the main element, the focus was made on it so that the rest of the scene is slightly out of focus. Not too much all the same ; just what is needed to understand at first glance that we are on a market.

One of those chance arrangements of completely unrelated and insignificant items that from a particular point of view and framed by the camera take on a mysteriously appealing visual order and something like beauty. I don't think I could or would make this kind of arrangement myself, for the sake of art, yet when approached by chance, it seems as if the arrangement has been preconceived.

View Large On Black

“If one keeps loving faithfully what is really worth loving, and does not waste one's love on insignificant and unworthy and meaningless things, one will get more light by and by and grow stronger. Sometimes it is well to go into the world and converse with people, and at times one is obliged to do so, but he who would prefer to be quietly alone with his work, and who wants but very few friends, will go safest through the world and among people. And even in the most refined circles and with the best surroundings and circumstances, one must keep something of the original character of an anchorite, for other wise one has no root in oneself; one must never let the fire go out in one's soul, but keep it burning. "

-- Vincent van Gogh

If you're drawn to wide open spaces in an emotional/spiritual sense, then there's nothing quite like bearing witness to a new day in Death Valley. I sometimes seek the quiet aloneness that comes from a stark view in a desolate landscape. It's easy to feel insignificant in the face of it, yet it's also easy to become absorbed into a much larger, infinite state of mind..

Death Valley CA

There is nothing insignificant in the world. It all depends on the point of view.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

It has certainly been a joy to get back to using my Nikon D850 again. The Leica D-Lux 7 is a handy camera to have in the pocket, but it is very limited in scope compared to the full frame DSLR. It is not insignificant that the D850 is referred to as a "baby medium format camera". It gives that performance and the images (235MB in TIFF files) are always best viewed large.

After my visit to Melbourne (which you have been looking at for the past month or more), two things forced a layoff from actually taking photographs: The first is that I felt extremely burnt out by the whole social media rigamarole. Frankly I am sick of trying to produce pictures that will garner more views and faves (I gave up chasing Explores a long time ago as Flickr and I continue our cool relationship, and I can't be bothered faving 1000 photos a day to attract the algorithm's attention).

I needed to get back to taking the sort of photographs that reflect who I am and the artistic influences that I respect. And secondly, a change of employment meant that my time has been limited, but I have come to see this as a blessing. Less really is more. So after a deliberate layoff from using a camera for nearly two months, I ventured out for the first time last Saturday to capture some late afternoon street shots and sunsets. I'll let you be the judge, but I was very pleased with the results.

I've used the last two months to think more deeply about my compositions. I've been reading all the time and of course, looking at photographs. I've always been a person that believes sound theory leads to better practical results - and this seems to be very true in photography.

"Among the Reeds" is a direct homage to one of the pioneers of artistic landscape photography, the East Anglian P.H. Emerson (1856-1936). In the previous posting I have described his work in relation to Nancy Newhall's fine biography. I commend it to you.

The light traveled millions of kilometers to find me here, on the insignificant blue rock under all the leaves and trees. What are the odds, really? My photons, all mine! Don't aim your camera into the sun, though...

... when fences become insignificant

Every time I visit this place I get the same feeling of excitement. It's the size or the metallic shine of these titans, the minute-changing weather and everything else about this surrounding that makes you feel so small and insignificant, but also very lucky to be able to experience it's brutal beauty. Very few people actually climb these peaks of Korab mountain. They're not the highest, maybe not the most difficult in the world, but they always make you stop on your way and keep your eyes on this nature's ensemble for as much as you can.

"In the face of all the present turmoil and unrest and unhappiness...what can a photographer, a writer, a curator do?...To make people aware of eternal things, to show the relationship of man to nature, to make clear the importance of our heritage, is a task that no one should consider insignificant...These are the days when eloquent statements are needed." - Letter from Beaumont Newhall to Ansel Adams in 1954

“To hear never-heard sounds,

To see never-seen colors and shapes,

To try to understand the imperceptible

Power pervading the world;

To fly and find pure ethereal substances

That are not of matter

But of that invisible soul pervading reality.

To hear another soul and to whisper to another soul;

To be a lantern in the darkness

Or an umbrella in a stormy day;

To feel much more than know.

To be the eyes of an eagle, slope of a mountain;

To be a wave understanding the influence of the moon;

To be a tree and read the memory of the leaves;

To be an insignificant pedestrian on the streets

Of crazy cities watching, watching, and watching.

To be a smile on the face of a woman

And shine in her memory

As a moment saved without planning.”

― Dejan Stojanovic

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❤️ I’m off in a few days, on holiday to Yorkshire, Leeds. My first visit there, so I’m excited. Not sure I will witness anything like this view taken in Manhattan, NYC, but the difference will be no doubt embraced:-)

Dear friends I thank you, from deep in my heart.. for your presence here. It means so much to me, i promise you.

If there are more streams to visit and more commenting to do, I’ll be on to it, on my return.❤️

Ten years ago, I never would have considered myself the type of person to get up early on a Spring Break two days in a row to catch a sunrise (two days in a row of sunsets as well) but now, when I am trying my best to meditate, I think about how with each breath the sun comes up a little more and there is a little more illumination of the canyon each time...millions of years of Earth revealed and suddenly turning all shades of brown and red like a magic trick so that it goes all across the sky and then comes back down again and we slowly prepare to sleep with deep blues and purples soothing us on every exhale.

I wasn't sure I was going to really get too much out of seeing The Grand Canyon in real life but I found myself making so much sense of the present moment as completely insignificant in comparison to the rest of it. Time is expansive and to think how short even a very long lifetime is adds quite a bit of perspective.

But, while we are here, we are each here for a reason and we must complete our soul's purpose . We have to look deep into ourselves and ask what this is and we must try our best to love and learn as much as we can here. Most days, this battered ADHD infected planet doesn't seem like a gift but when we look at a beautiful tree or mushroom or canyon, how can we not see it as the most miraculous present we've ever received?

**All photos are copyrighted**

Polygala vulgaris L. Capture: Llanars, Ripollès, Girona, Catalonia.

FLOR: 4-7 mm.

ENGLISH:

Polygala vulgaris, known as the common milkwort, is a herbaceous perennial plant of the genus Polygala in the family Polygalaceae.

The biological form of Polygala vulgaris is hemicryptophyte scapose, as its overwintering buds are situated just below the soil surface and the floral axis is more or less erect with a few leaves.

Polygala vulgaris reaches on average 7–35 centimetres (2.8–13.8 in) in height. The stems have many branches and are woody at the base. It has alternating pointed leaves, almost glabrous, 2 to 4 mm wide and 10 to 20 mm long. Basal leaves are spatulate, with rounded apex, while the upper leaves are lanceolate.

The flowers are gathered in long terminal inflorescences. The colour of the corolla varies between blue and violet, it can rarely occur in purple forms. The flower's outer three sepals are normally small, green and insignificant, whilst the inner two sepals are bigger. The inner sepals are usually shorter than the petals. The stalks of the eight stamens are joined together to form a tube, and united with this tube, one on either side, are two tiny petals. On the lower side of the flower lies the third petal; it too, is joined to the stamen tube, but it is larger, and fringed. The flowering period extends from May through July.

Common milkwort is quite similar to the heath milkwort (Polygala serpyllifolia), but in this species the inner sepals are usually longer than the petals. The heath milkwort can be all the same colours except for white. These four possible colours account for the milkworts' Irish folk-name of 'four sisters.