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“The key element of social control is the strategy of distraction that is to divert public attention from important issues and changes decided by political and economic elites, through the technique of flood or flooding with continuous distractions and insignificant information.”
― Noam Chomsky
Out of office for a few hours today, so not so many uploads (though plenty in one!). Was thrilled to find a good number of these lovely little ladybirds! One is with a 14-spot Ladybird for scale. Also found a larva, which *could* be that species, but can't be sure. It certainly was tiny!!
Wellington - Shropshire
as soon as I'm left alone
the devil wanders into my soul
and I pretend to myself
and I pretend to myself
I go out to the old milestone
insanely expecting you to come there knowing
that I wait for you there
that I wait for you there
come
come
come here at once
come
come
on a night with no moon
because
all of my being is now in pining
all of my being is now in pining
what formly cheered me now seems insignificant
insignificant
"the devil"
pj harvey
for 365 days, ♥ flickr group roulette ♥, and words on skin.
31/52
Over the weekend I’d been driving home and suddenly had to pull off because I felt so overwhelmed, after remembering just how small and insignificant I and everybody else is. And at the same time I felt so incredibly thankful to be something, regardless of how small and insignificant. I feel so fucking grateful to be here, in this body, in this life, on this rock hurtling around in circles through nothingness for who knows why. And I feel so grateful for this rock, for our beautiful home that’s withstood so much of our shit but I know is so tired. And I feel so sorry for it for having to put up with us, for even just the tiny blip on its lifeline that we are.
Anyhow yesterday I decided to cut out super early and go for a long solo hike to get away from all the human noise, and all the noise I make especially that just leaves me feeling toxic rather than heard or understood. And I packed some mirrors to give the earth some eyes (naturally), because I think we need to think of the world as less of a rock and more of a living thing, that suffocates when you throw a plastic bag over its face & feels warm when you embrace it & etc etc. I think it'd be good to feel that the Earth around us as staring back at us, and aim to make it feel proud of our actions towards it rather than ashamed, you know.
Just treat the Earth like you would treat your mom dudes. Or how you should treat your mom, at least. Like you wouldn't throw trash at your mom, or blow exhaust fumes in her face, or build strip malls on her. I guess you wouldn't walk on your mom but you get what I'm sayn. Just be respectful & have some damn manners & all that. Love yall, happy Wednesday.
<3
As a collective, man built the Lighthouse which is a significant part of this shot. However, man, himself is rather insignificant in respect to mother nature. Don't beleive me, Check out the man standing at sea level at the base of the cliff. Lighthouse is located on the Oregon Coast near Charleston.
Pont y Pandy - Slate Mill or Ynysypandy and Nant y Pandy, near Porthmadog . The most impressive and best location visited on the trip to North Wales was this glorious building. The light from the sun going down gave great colous and a perfectly clear night made for a spectacular display of stars as well as the Milky way. I felt quite insignificant when I looked in to the sky that night.
In this view there are no buildings, roads, footpaths or any sign of people apart from our insignificant tents to the bottom left. Standing in this place and knowing that it has looked this for thousands of years is a fantastic experience, particularly with an absolute firecracker of a sunset!
The workshop participants almost enjoyed this as much as me!
The Nikon FM2n is the best medium-compact mechanical shutter SLR camera ever made. There are other bodies from other manufacturers that have been favorably compared, such as the Olympus OM-3 and the Leica R6.2. These other cameras indeed have certain features, e.g., spot metering capability, that are not found on the FM2n. However, they have disadvantages, too. The Olympus system is smaller than Nikon, and lenses and accessories are presumably less abundant on the used market. The Leica system is substantially more expensive used, especially the lenses, and the Leica R series never became that popular (as opposed to Leica's M-Series). The design of the FM2n has been highly refined over several generations of the FM product line. It is part of the enormous Nikon system of manual focus and auto focus cameras. Many Nikon bodies are available on the used market. And the FM2n is just an absolutely great camera.
The FM2n is the final all-mechanical version of the FM Series that began with the FM in 1977 as an upgrade to the classic Nikkormat FT3 (early 1977). The FM was subsequently updated and modernized with various versions of the FM, FM2 (1982) and FM2n which were developed over the years, with the FM2n finally introduced in 1984. The FM2n remained in production until 2001. There was actually one additional major upgrade after the FM2n, which was the FM3A (2001-2006; 1991). The FM3A is the most advanced of the FM Series, with a hybrid mechanical/electronic shutter, an FE2 style readout, and all of the other features of the FE2. From a technological point of view, the FM3A is really cool and unique. However, due to some of the feature advantages that I will discuss below, the FM2n is still a very attractive option for all manual film shooting . The FM3A is relatively more expensive on the used market, with relatively high prices for the occasional NIB sample, or even very clean used camera.
Check out the FM3A here:
www.flickr.com/photos/trphotoguy/23145338649/in/album-721...
The standard FM2n was available in silver chrome and black paint. Both look great.
There were a few special versions of the FM2n that were introduced. The most interesting one is the FM2/T (1993-1997). The FM2/T is exactly the same mechanically as the latest FM2n, except that the top and bottom covers are made out of titanium. Please refer to my separate page on the FM2/T, which is one of the most beautiful SLR cameras ever made:
www.flickr.com/photos/trphotoguy/16514084188/in/album-721...
My own experience with the FM line actually started with the FM2n. Previously, I had been using the Nikon F2 Photomic AS and Nikon FE combination; my F2 was the reliable all-mechanical body, and I used the FE as an electronic backup when needing something smaller than the F2, or when wanting to shoot quicker with the FE in aperture priority mode, or just for a different kind of film. (Back then, photographers still looked askance at electronic cameras compared with tried and true mechanical ones.) However, when I finally upgraded from the F2 to the new F3HP, it was time to switch around and get the FM2n as a mechanical backup to the electronic F3HP.
Since my experience with the FM Series started with the FM2n, and given that the FM2n would be the best body of the series to go with on the used market today, I will focus my comments on the FM2n.
As with the prior models of the FM Series, the FM2n takes either a 3V lithium battery, two 1.55V silver oxide batteries, or two 1.5V alkalines. Quite standard for Nikon bodies of the that era. I usually prefer to just go with a single 3V lithium to enjoy the long shelf life, but of course the other two types work fine too, as needed. Since the small batteries are used only for the light meter, they seem to last forever and are not necessary for camera operation at all shutter speeds.
The FM series is built with a copper-aluminum-silicon (copper-silumin) alloy body. I find the size and weight of the FM2n to be perfect, especially with wide-angle through medium telephoto Nikkor manual focus prime lenses. The body size is not too big or too small. Its size is large enough to hold securely, but still smaller than full size professional bodies like the concurrent F3HP. It is not as small as the Contax S2, Pentax MX, or even the Olympus OM-3, which are considered small compact bodies and sometimes feel a bit too small to get a good grip. The FM2n weighs in at only 540g without lens, and of course the weight of the batteries is insignificant, compared with the multiple AA batteries or other larger batteries in future electronic bodies. The FM2n fits great in a dedicated case, or a spongy snug-fit case, or a small camera bag with a few lenses. It is an excellent size for travel use.
The FM2n body by itself, like all those in the FM Series, feels a bit light and even insubstantial when held without a lens attached. However, once a lens is attached, the lens/camera combination has the perfect balance, size and weight. It has a highly luxurious and precision feel and sound when held in your hands and used. I most often use Ai-S primes from 20/2.8 to 200/4 and the system is wonderful to operate with all of those lenses. However, once you start getting into bigger and heavier lenses such as, for example, the 80-200/2.8, the camera feels a big too light and out of balance. Also, on fatter lenses, you may need to use a rubber tripod filler ring to keep the lens rings from touching the tripod head.
Operation of the FM2n is really smooth. All of the top controls are on the right side of the camera. The shutter speed ring is tall, large and has an easy-to-turn knurled grip. It is easy to grab with thumb and forefinger when the film advance lever is pulled out to turn on the camera. The film advance lever motion is amazingly smooth, although the lever is single-stroke only, unlike the levers on the F, F2 and F3. But the stoke is not very big, so a quick easy stroke quickly winds to the next frame. ASA/ISO setting is embedded into the top of the shutter speed dial. Shutter speed and ISO markings are clear and easy to read. The ISO range of the FM2n is 12 - 6400, wide enough to handle virtually all situations. The small multiple-exposure lever is located under the film advance lever, out of the way but easy to turn when you need it. The mechanical shutter release button is large and located at just the right location near the front of the body. It takes a standard mechanical cable release. The shutter release button has a fairly long travel, but it works well with just the right amount of resistance to allow you to half press for an exposure reading, and then make a short continued push to achieve an immediate shutter release. The shutter has a relatively quiet, pleasing and precision-like sound. The film counter is just in front of release crank and is easy to read.
One of the biggest advantage of the Nikon film SLR lens mount (the "F mount") is that it is the only SLR camera mount that has stayed virtually the same from the time of the first Nikon F and Nikkormat FS/FT through to the most current small and full frame Nikon digital SLRs. Except for the requirement that relatively newer Nikon film SLRs require Ai or Ai-converted lenses, all manual focus Nikon F mount lenses can be used on autofocus bodies, and most full-frame auto-focus Nikon F mount lenses (pre-G type) can be used on all old manual focus bodies. I don't know of any other SLR manufacturer that can make such a claim. Thus, it is convenient to use the FM2N together with a modern Nikon autofocus film or digital SLR because you can often use the same lenses on both bodies.
Loading Nikkor lenses onto any FM Series is quick and positive. Just line up the black dot on the lens with the dot on the camera body and twist the lens counter-clockwise. Of course, there is no need to line up the claw on Ai Nikkor aperture rings with an exposure meet pin on the body; this old system became obsolete after the Nikkormat FT2/EL generation. Unfortunately, the FM Series lens mount lost the retractable meter coupling lever after the original FM body; thus the FM2n won't accept (in stop down mode) any pre-Ai or non-Ai's lenses that you might own. To remove a lens, just press the lens release button on the left front of the body and twist clockwise.
The only control on the top left of the camera is the film rewind/back opening mechanism. Twist the back opening lever counter-clockwise and put the rewind crank upwards to open the camera back. Since the camera only has a manual exposure meter mode, unlike the FE/FE2, the rewind crank mechanism includes no exposure compensation dial. Film loading is traditional style and almost foolproof. Like many Nikon and other cameras of this generation, you need to stick the film leader into a slot on the take-up spool and insure that the latch in the spool engages a film perforation. This system is more reliable than that on newer Nikon bodies where you simply lay the film leader flat next to an index line. With the FM2n, if you are careful when you load the film, you can get an extra exposure on frame 0.
The viewfinder of the FM Series has been gradually improved over the life of the series, but remains essentially the same in the FM2n version. A slight disadvantage of the FM series viewfinder is that, unlike the 100% frame coverage of a pro-level Nikon F series camera, the FM's frame coverage is only 93%. This is not unusual in a pro-sumer level camera, but you need to be aware that objects that are outside the field of view in will be captured on your film. (Maybe it wasn't a problem with mounted slides?) The viewfinder contains all of the information that you need for convenient camera setting. There is a mechanical readout for the selected shutter speed on the left side of the viewfinder. There is also a aperture direct readout (ADR) at the center top of the viewfinder. The exposure meter indicator on the right of the viewfinder utilizes three red light emitting diodes. This is my favorite type of exposure meter readout design, which I learned to like on the earlier Nikon F2 Photomic AS. It is also the same system as that on cameras such as the Leica M6TTL or current MP. First of all and most importantly, the diodes are easy to see in all lighting conditions, light and dark. The LEDs are bright enough to be clearly visible on a sunny day, but also not so bright that they blind you in a dark location. Also, exposure adjustment is extremely rapid and precise.
I normally set the shutter speed first, depending on what I am trying to do. Then push the shutter release button down half way and twist the lens aperture ring on the lens until only the center LED circle lights up. As you move away from correct exposure, the LED display changes to a combined +o or o- (when you are over or underexposed by between 1/5 and one stop-), and finally to a single + or - (when you are over or underexposed by more than one stop).The three-diode system of the FM Series is superior to the match needle system of the aperture priority capable FE Series and the hybrid FM3A. While the match needle system is nice and clear in bright light, it is almost impossible to see the display to adjust exposure in dark environments - although the meter itself is very sensitive. On the other hand, an advantage of the match needle system is that you receive direct visual indication of a wider range of exposure divergence, compared with the LED system. Also, you can directly see intermediate shutter speeds in Aperture Priority mode.
The FM2 and FM2n exposure meter uses a pair of silicon photodiodes (SPDs) for exposure measurement. This was the latest generation of exposure meter technology, after Cadmium Sulfide (CdS) technology in the Nikkormat FT (1965) through the FT3 (1977) and gallium-arsenide-phosphide photodiodes in the original FM (1977). Silicon photodiodes provide quick response and stability, and apparently lower manufacturing cost for Nikon, compared with the prior generation. Exposure measurement range of the FM2n is EV 1 to EV 18 at ASA/ISO 100 and with a 50mm f/1.4 lens. This supports a aperture/shutter speed range of 1 sec. at f/1.4 through 1/4000 sec. at f/8. That range is pretty good for most situations, and a step up from the Nikkormat FT - FT3's range of EV 3 - EV 17. The FM2n is exactly on par with the Nikon F3HP. However, it is not as sensitive as the EV -2 to EV +17 range on the F2 Photomic AS, or the EV 0 to EV 21 range of the Nikon F4.
Since the FM Series cameras have manual exposure mode only, there is obviously no exposure lock button. Exposure lock is one thing that can be frustrating on cameras like the F3HP and FE/FE2. It is often easier, even on these cameras with aperture priority mode, to just use manual exposure mode and set the exposure directly. It is quicker and more comfortable than pointing the camera to where you can measure the proper exposure, pushing the exposure lock button an holding the button down will recomposing a shooting. Anyway, you don't need to worry about any of that on the manual mode only FM2n.
The center of the viewfinder display, with the standard K2-Type focusing screen, contains a small central horizontal split image, surrounded by a microprism donut, which is further surrounded by a large matte donut and a 12mm diameter circle. But utilizing both the split-image and microprism collar, you can manually focus on almost any subject very quickly. Turn the camera at a slight angle when focusing if necessary to find a straight line. I can't resist pointing out that with well-maintained manual focus Nikkor primes, such as Ai-S lenses, focusing ring operation is buttery smooth, with just the right amount of viscous resistance. With the no-slip knurled focusing rings, focusing is quick and accurate. The FM2n system provides three different interchangeable focusing screen types for various applications.Mostly, the standard K2-Type screen is sufficient. The B2 type screen removes the split image and microprism focusing aids, while the E2 type is the same as the B2, except with horizontal and vertical etched lines. FM/FE series focusing screens were improved (from the "K" series to the "K2" series) to provide a brighter viewfinder image starting with the FM2/FE2 generation. Focusing screens were further improved on the final FM3A to avoid split-image blackout with lenses with maximum aperture of f/5.6 or less.
The outer circle encloses the central area which carries a 60% exposure meter weight, with the area outside the circle comprising the remaining 40%. The most important thing to know about an exposure measurement system is how it weights various areas of the viewfinder image so that you can determine how to use it in each situation. The 60/40 system works fine for most situations. It is vast improvement over the classic full-frame averaging system, which was used on Pentax Spotmatic models, the earliest Nikkormat FT, and other cameras. For these averaging systems, if you wanted a proper exposure, you could not include a bright light or big sky in any area of the frame. Still, with the 60/40 system, you need to determine where to point the camera when manually setting the exposure. Find an areas that is representative of the subject, but which is not overly influenced by a bright light, a bright sky, a dark background, etc. Also make sure to select an area that approximates 18% gray, such as a dense area of green trees in a landscape image. If you cannot find an area that is equivalent to 18% gray that fills the 12mm circle, for example, inside the Haleakala volcano crater on Maui, HI, or a bright snowscape, then you need to manually compensate the exposure by appropriately changing the aperture or shutter speed.
Two contemporaneous Nikon bodies with the FM2n, the F3HP and the FA had different exposure metering patterns. The F3HP applies a heavier weight of 80% to the viewfinder's 12mm circle, making it easier to isolate an area that is 18% gray, without surrounding high-contrast areas influencing the exposure reading too much. The FA is the first Nikon body to include a multi-segment metering pattern, in addition to 60/40 centerweight. The 5-segment pattern on the FA and first generation software were the first Nikon attempt to correct the weaknesses of the traditional center-weight averaging system. While early multi-pattern systems on cameras such as the FA, F4, F800 and F90/F90x did a pretty good and steadily improving job in most low contrast situations, in difficult situations, they still didn't work as well as the center weight system with appropriate exposure compensation, which was found on the FM2n. Of course, you have to know what you are doing in such situations! On later-generation cameras, the more highly refined high-tech multi-pattern (matrix) systems, such as on the F5, F6 and the newest digital SLRs, finally do a good job even with difficult lighting. Modern Nikon bodies generally use a 75/25 weight in their default center-weight metering modes.
The latest FM2n incorporates a vertical-travel, metal focal plane shutter with aluminum curtains. Older versions of the FM2N have shutters with titanium curtains. Shutter speed range on the FM2N is 1 sec. through 1/4000 sec. For those of us who started back when the fastest shutter speed as 1/1000 sec. or even slower, 1/4000 sec. sounds amazingly fast. In fact, 1/4000 sec. is plenty fast enough for most situations with film. On the slow end, the camera itself can only operate up to 1 sec., but it is an easy matter to calculate and shoot exposures of any length at the Bulb setting, using a tripod, a standard shutter release cable, and a hand-held light meter. Of course, since the camera has a mechanical shutter, you can shoot exposures of any length and never worry about draining your battery. One slight disadvantage of the FM2n's mechanical shutter is that it cannot be set for intermediate shutter speeds. On an electronic body such as the FE2 or FM3A, you can utilize any intermediate shutter speed in aperture priority mode. (Of course, unlike the FE/FA series, the FM-series meters can't measure Bulb setting shutter speeds.)
There are just a few more features that should be mentioned. On the right front side of the body are located a depth-of-field preview lever and a self timer lever. Like many other cameras, you can check actual depth of field at the set aperture by pressing the depth-of-field lever. The image darkens if the lens is not set to maximum aperture, but you can get a good idea of the expected DOF with your lens/aperture combination. Actually, this lever is not really required with manual focus Nikkor lenses, because such lenses include an easy to read DOF index on the lens barrel. Many AF Nikkor lenses also have DOF index marks. The FM Series bodies have a mechanical self-timer with a delay of up to approximately 10 seconds. While these cameras do not have a mirror lock-up switch per se, you can simulate MLU by using the self-timer lever. When the shutter release button is pressed after the self-timer is set, the mirror swings up at the start of the timer count.
Finally, a hot-shoe contact is installed on top of the prism housing for flash photography. The FM2n does not support automatic TTL flash control. You need to use an FE2 or FM3A if you want that feature. (If you know how to use guide numbers and manual flash, you can still do full-flash or fill-flash photography without any problem, of course). However, the FM2n, like the FE2, has a very fast maximum flash synch speed of 1/250 sec. There is an extra contact on the hot shoe that communicates the flash charging status to the camera a lights a red diode "ready light" in the viewfinder when the flash is ready to shoot. Of course, the FM2n works with any Nikon flash unit. The contemporaneous SB-24 and SB-26 work great. However, if you will be doing a lot of flash photography in the FM line, the FE2 and FM3A are more useful as they both offer automatic TTL flash control.
In addition to the vast selection of Nikkor (and third-party) lenses that are available for the Nikon F mount, the FM2n also accepts various other useful Nikon accessories. One of the most useful is the MD-12 motor drive. This motor drive unit works on all FM Series bodies (and even the Nikon FA) and allows rapid fire or remote shooting up to 3.2 frames per second. Years ago, I used to keep it attached to the camera and carried it around much of the time. However, the MD-12 is quite heavy, especially when loaded with the eight required AA batteries. These days, it would obviously be better to use a more modern camera is you want portable and higher-speed motor drive. Other useful optional accessories (which work with all FM and FE series bodies) are the MF-16 data back, the DB-2 Anti-Cold Battery Pack (particularly useful for the FM2n, which would be the perfect camera to take on a dog sled expedition to the North Pole!), the DR-3 and DG-2 viewfinder eyepieces, and various eyepiece correction lenses.
Copyright © 2013 - 2016 Timothy A. Rogers. All rights reserved.
(DSC_1616fin1)
AKA the Holocaust memorial.
It is extremely difficult to shot such a subject and not being insignificant or, on the other hand, exceed in drama.
I have developed at least five different versions of this photo, an in the end I decided to publish this in which I take the freedom of giving a different interpretation of the monument, turning its dark gray into a much lighter one.
Also on INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/cinghius74/
I often take photographs of people in amongst a landscape. I love how when we are in these surrounding we realise how small and insignificant we are in comparison to mother natures creations
I really think the fellow seen on the left crossed over some barrier to reach that vantage point.
Grand Canyon National Park, North Rim, Arizona.
~ Goethe
Nature will bear the closest inspection. She invites us to lay our eye level with her smallest leaf, and take an insect view of its plain.
~ Henry David Thoreau
People are not disturbed by things, but by the view they take of them.
~ Epictetus
"You'll come to learn a great deal if you study the Insignificant in depth."
-Odysseus Elytis-
I sometimes enjoy the irony that the macro world presents. The reality is this: these are cooling jackets inside a small vacuum tube. In processing the image, I was struck by how large it began to appear. And, shooting through the curved glass added a mysterious motion blur, as if the blades were spinning. With the illusion complete, you'd think you were looking at huge whirring turbines installed in a mega power installation somewhere deep inside a mountain. It really is intriguing how something so small can look so big.
During the last few months, David_W_1971 & I have been working on an ID guide to the 'Micro Ladybird' species in Shropshire. David's done the lion's share with most of the superbly detailed photos, and putting the guide together. We hope it will be useful in helping people to identify their finds in Shropshire, and beyond. We will be adding more species as and when they turn up in Shropshire. We've already had a new species turn up just last month - Scymnus femoralis!
The full guide can be downloaded here: drive.google.com/drive/folders/1n2jitUAbb0nrKTHQ0eQlO7Jdw... with more ID resources for other Families here:
drive.google.com/drive/folders/1wUeiPcfPbWcTGUia7IHknho2Z...
El poderoso paisaje, corresponde al descenso desde termas de colina en Chile, un lugar magico entre montañas donde te sientes insignificante pero a la vez tremendamente bendecido por la naturaleza y su entorno.
- Un abrazo foto-vidente y gracias por pasar !
________
The powerful landscape corresponds to hill descent from hot springs in Chile, a magical place between mountains, where you feel insignificant yet tremendously blessed by nature and environment.
- Photo- sighted A hug and thanks for stopping by !
Another one of those insignificant flowers growing in the grass and seldom noticed - diameter approx 5 mm.
Taken along the Schapenberg MTB trail, Sir Lowry's Village, Western Cape.
Shortly after noon on Friday, June 3, 2016, a Union Pacific a 90+ tank car oil train containing volatile Bakkan oil derailed at Mosier, Oregon in the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area.
The derailed oil train stretched from the smoke and flames on the west of Mosier to Mosier's far east side. As successive derailed cars burned, they set on fire the next car.
The top inset zoom emphasizes the proximity of the tank cars to the elementary school which was in session that day. The nearest tank car was roughly 500 feet from the school.
We are incredibly lucky that the usual June west winds - which blow 20-40 miles per hour - were absent.
With June high winds fanning flames, an uncontrollable chain reaction of successively exploding tank cars and wild fire might have obliterated the elementary school and town of Mosier.
On July 13, 2016, The Oregonian reported:
"At the time of the derailment, the NTSB, in a move criticized by [Sen.] Wyden at the time, cited a lack of staffing in its decision not to investigate the derailment.
"The agency [NTSB] added that it did not send a team to Mosier because the incident involved no injuries or deaths and because initial findings provided by Union Pacific Railroad, first responders and the Federal Railroad Administration "indicated that the circumstances of this incident did not pose any new significant safety issues."
Wow! Does that mean all of the safety implications were already known and not addressed, or that the new safety issues posed were insignificant? I'm appalled.
“You are not welcomed here Argemedes.”
“Do you two insignificant children honestly believe you can stop me?”
“We will defend our home to the end reinforcements are coming behind us.”
“I am just passing through, I do not want any trouble. Leave me be.”
“Then we will escort you, your reputation of honesty is the only thing that is sheathing out swords.”
Flori seems quite small and insignificant amongst an avenue of trees we came across, on the banks of the river Aveyron, near Najac, in southern France.
Insignificantly, taken only from my iPhone 7 a day back. It had been a dull early morning, but as we arrived the Sun came out and the light streamed into the tiny Church through the beautiful Chagall designed stained glass windows. This window on the East Wall depicts a tragedy of a young woman drowning with her companion from a sailing accident off the coast of Rye in Sussex. The girl's father was Jewish but the mother and her two daughters were Anglican, and All Saints in the Weald of Kent was their place of worship.
The former Norman Church, built on the site of earlier Saxon Church, was largely rebuilt in the 18thC, and, as a memorial for the daughter, the Church was to be restored in 1966, and Chagall accepted the Commission for the Window.
Portraying the young woman drowning it is sad but beautiful, with the Mother in the lower corner cradling her two baby daughters. Yet, the girl climbs the ladder to live again. Chagall was present at the ceremony and was so delighted he offered to design all the windows in All Saints, and the offer was accepted.
Less than a mile away Thomas a Beckett preached beneath a Yew Tree which remains to this day. After his murder, a Chapel was built in his name, known as the Capel. Once surrounded by hop fields and apple orchids, the Capel has been designated as a World Heritage Site.
One of the London families who came each year for generations to pick hops, was the family of my wife June. So in the fields to the side of the Capel from a baby and a young girl, and a young woman, June picked hops. Sadly hop picking by hand all came to an end in the late fifties and a tradition was ended.
After June"s passed away from Covid just over a year ago, we were given permission to plant a Cherry Sapling in the grounds and around June' ashes were scattered.
And me, my family did not go Hopping. Except during the War we lived in Flats by East Lane in South London. Above us in 1943, lived Daisy and her family who did go hopping. But Daisy could not read and write so my mum helped her to carry out the necessary writing. While carrying this out my Mum said to Daisy, I could take my family. So that September, we too pushed our Hopping Carts to London Bridge Station. Somehow we missed the special steam train and arrived in Kent late. The farmer sent a horse and cart to pick up the two families and when we arrived, all the huts were filled. So the farmer made ready the upper floor of his barn and we took over opposite sides, and our families picked the hops. I was Eight. One sunny day on our way to the Hopfield, a farm hand came down the road between the two churches, shouting Italy Has Surrendered.
And where was our farm. It was the other side of the Capel to June's farm, but we never did meet then.
Ah, the joy of sipping on the yellow nectar of these fuzzy red Hot Lips! Yes, that's what these flowers are really called!
There are over 2,000 species of Psychotria, the genus under which Hot Lips falls. Where does Hot Lips grow? Psychotria elata is part of the tropical rainforest understory flora of the Americas. It is a unique plant with small insignificant yellow flowers but fabulous red lip-like bracts. The plant can difficult to grow because it requires specific growing conditions.
Hot lips grows as a shrub or small tree. The plant has deeply veined simple leaves of matte green. The flower is actually a pair of modified leaves that "pout" around the tiny star-like white to cream flowers. These become small bluish-black berries. The plant is very attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds.
Heliconius melpomene, the postman butterfly, common postman or simply postman, is one of the heliconiine butterflies found from Mexico to northern South America. Several species in the genus have very similar markings and are difficult to distinguish.
Postman, Heliconius melpomene cythera, longwing
Hot Lips, labios de puta, psychotria peoppigiana
Wings of the Tropics, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami FL
August 20, 2010
Malibu Beach
The sea makes me feel insignificant, but damn I still admire its beauty.
Upon reading about cosmic insignificance at a young age, I have always been a firm believer in the idea that one crucial component and evolutionary advantage humans possess is self-importance and selfishness, in which we as individuals are dogmatic in ensuring our own comfort and autonomy, allowing us to accomplish before we recognize how insignificant we are.
"Who are we? We find that we live on an insignificant planet of a humdrum star lost in a galaxy tucked away in some forgotten corner of a universe in which there are far more galaxies than people."
Carl Sagan
We all of us little ones send you great joy and gladness in the day. We are standing upraised so that you can see that none, however small in size are insignificant. We all have a purpose. Ours is to lift up our heads and bring happiness to every being who looks toward us with love.
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"We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop." - Mother Teresa
Appreciating what is small but not insignificant...
Both grass seed-heads and hoverflies are vital contributors to the life cycle, natural balance and survival of this planet we all live upon.
The Queen of the Alps (Eryngium alpinum), also knows as the alipne holly, is a pretty darn beautiful flower and as a not insignificant bonus
This photo was taken in The Narrows, Zion National Park Utah
TRIBUTE to MY FATHER "My father didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it." -- Clarence Budington Kelland, U.S. Writer
...a tribute to my Dad.... "How true Daddy's words were when he said: 'All children must look after their own upbringing.' Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands."
-- Anne Frank, German Jew and Holocaust Victim
I love this shot of this lone hiker in the image- shows a sense of scale of this grand place......Just the same as a father might feel insignificant in the World......But today we honor fathers as the most "unsung, unpraised, unnoticed, and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society." -- Billy Graham, Christian Evangelist
Almost this time last year, I took an epic hike through "The Narrows" in Zion National Park.... it was the 2nd trip I have taken to a NP and dropped my camera in the water....I slipped- camera and I went for a quick dip in the water. I still have the bruise on my leg a year later ;-) ...the camera dried out and started worked again the next day... but the rocks are super slippery especially when hiking back with the flow of the water... and numb cold feet from having been hiking through the water for 3-6 hours...
I HAVE to GO BACK... this hike is calling my name... :D
I hope you enjoy, best viewed L!
Thanks for your visits, have a great weekend! Happy Fathers Day Fathers! :D
One of the most interesting things about night shooting to me is how the long exposure can amplify the most insignificant seeming light source. While shooting the Milky Way over Crater Lake, I ended up with this massive reflection of Mars. I also thought I might be picking up a bunch of faint meteors, but they turned out to be planes. I couldn't see anything up there with the naked eye, but most of my exposures had 2 or 3 planes passing through.
Beneath heaven's vast expanse we stand,
Mere whispers in cosmic grains of sand.
Insignificant sparks 'midst celestial fire,
Our existence but a fleeting desire.
Stars alight in ancient ballet,
Mock our presence, here to stay.
Heaven's canvas, infinite and bright,
Reminds us of our transient light.
Yet in our brevity, a chance to find,
Meaning in moments, heart and mind.
For though we're small in heaven's embrace,
Our lives still hold a sacred grace.
by me
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