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Head - LeLUTKA Lilly Head 2.5
Skin & Shape - Teo Sorbet - The Skinnery
Ears - Princess Ears by Swallow
Body - Lara by Maitreya
Hair - Brink by Stealthic
Eyes - Snow Eyes V1 by S0NG
Clothing:
Dress - Velvet Crush Dress - leather by ISON
Shoes - Wales by Essenz
Accessories:
Nails - Simple Serene mix & match coffin nails by e.marie
Rings - Wonder Rings by Kibitz
Necklace - Saint Chain and Choker by RAWR!
Pose Formal Vol 1 by Foxcity
Location - Backdrop Central
♥ MeHoney ( Sponsor ) - Stephanie
♥ Versois et Mailloux ( Sponsor) - Always Flirtin Earrings
♥ RAWR! ( Sponsor) - Hyperion Nails
Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius)
My best photos are here: www.lacerta-bilineata.com/ticino-best-photos-of-southern-...
More TICINO/TESSIN Wildlife Photos (all taken in my garden in Monteggio/Ti, Switzerland): it.lacerta-bilineata.com/ramarro-occidentale-lacerta-bili...
If you're interested, you'll find a more detailed closeup here (it's the 8th photo from the top): www.lacerta-bilineata.com/western-green-lizard-lacerta-bi...
My latest ANIMAL VIDEO (it's very brief but pretty unusual: a tiny wall lizard attacks two young great tits): www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQqkSsyrm7E
THE STORY BEHIND THE PHOTO: MY LONG AND ARDUOUS JOURNEY TO BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY
If you've set yourself the challenge of exclusively shooting the wildlife in your own back yard, you might find - as I did - that bird photography is really, really hard.
It's not that reptiles are easy to photograph either, mind - but at least the ones in my garden stay (for the most part) on the ground, and one can learn how to carefully approach them with a camera. They're also clearly egoists, which from a photographer's point of view is is a great character trait: if a lizard detects a human in its vicinity, it's only interested in saving its own skin, and it won't alarm its buddies.
But birds... oh man. Over the years, my feathered friends and I have developed a lovely routine that now defines our peaceful co-existence. As soon as I as much as open a window (let alone the door), I'm instantly greeted by an eruption of panicky fluttering and hysterical shouts from my garden: "SAVE YOUR WOMEN AND CHILDREN AND FLY FOR YOUR LIVES: THE HAIRLESS, PINK MONSTER IS COMING!!! (Yes, I speak bird, and I know that this is exactly what they are shouting 😉).
Needless to say, with the exception of the redstart I already showed here, all my efforts to get the kind of detailed shots I usually strive for with my nature photography ended in complete failure and utter disillusionment. I was ready to give up on stalking the winged misanthropes in my garden altogether, but then winter came - and changed everything.
One day this past January I observed my neighbor Signora P - a kind, elderly Italian lady - putting something on the low garden wall in front of my house. At first I thought she was just putting some treat there for her cat Romeo; the young tom patrols that wall constantly (it's his favorite spot in the garden, and during the warmer months he usually lurks in the thick foliage next to it to prey on lizards).
But once I detected a lot of movement on that wall through my window, I understood she had put a little pile of bread crumbs there; she was feeding the birds who soon arrived in flocks. This was certainly well-intended on my neighbor's part, but her noble action came with a catch, and I'm afraid quite literally.
When I took a stroll through my garden the next day I discovered a suspicious amount of feathers on the ground next to the wall. Romeo had apparently switched from his low-calorie summer diet (lizard) to more energy-rich meals consisting of "fowl" (it was winter after all, so from a nutritionist's point of view this made sense).
I would find fresh traces of Romeo's victims (mostly feathers, but also the odd wing) in my garden over the following days; so my first intuition that my neighbor was feeding her cat hadn't been that far off after all, as Romeo was now clearly being "served" fresh birds on a daily basis. And although the hungry visitors seemed to be aware of the danger and became slightly more prudent, they just couldn't resist the tasty snacks Signora P put on that wall - and neither could Romeo.
It was obvious that I had to act, but talking to my neighbor - who is as stubborn as she is kind - would have been futile, I knew that much. I pondered the matter long and hard - until a light bulb went off in my head. The idea was genius. If successful, what I had in mind would not only increase the birds' chances of surviving Romeo's appetite, but also greatly benefit my own photographic endeavors.
I started to enact my master plan the very next day by buying a giant bag of bird feed (consisting mainly of sunflower seeds) from the store. Then I dragged a huge piece of a tree trunk (approx. 120 cm in height) that we normally chop firewood on in the shed out into the garden and emptied almost half of the bag's content on top of it. Signora P's buffet for birds (and cats) was about to get some serious competition 😊.
My reasoning was as follows: not only would the birds be lured away from the fatally low garden wall to a place where they were safe from the cat - there was nothing around that tree trunk that provided cover for a predator, and the birds had a nice 360° view around it at all times - but I was also able to photograph them while hiding in the shed.
However, in order for my plan to work there was one little extra measure I had to take, and it was one that risked lowering my own life expectancy considerably once the owner of the property - my mom - discovered it. You see, our shed is completely windowless, so if I wanted to use it as a blind, I had no choice but to cut a hole into one of its wooden walls... which I promptly did (I figured all's fair in love - and photography 😉).
Granted, I have absolutely zero carpentering skills, and it showed. That hole was an ugly mess: the shed's wall seemed to have had an encounter with Jack Nicholson's ax-wielding lunatic character from the film 'The Shining'. Needless to say, I was incredibly proud of my work (I mean, come on: there now was a hole where before there wasn't a hole, and it was big enough for the lens of my camera to peek through, so it was mission accomplished as far as I was concerned).
Now all I had to do was wait for the birds to discover the tree trunk. In the meantime I started to mentally prepare myself for the inevitable confrontation with my mom and go through possible explanations for that splintering hole in the wall (it was either gonna be a rabid woodpecker attack or an emergency rescue mission with a feeding tube for a little kid that had accidentally locked himself inside the shed - both seemed valid options, though I slightly preferred the locked-in kid due to the involved drama and heroism 😉).
A whole day went by, and not a single bird visited the sunflower seeds. I had expected that it might take a few hours until the first of the ever curious great tits or blue tits would show up, but given how tiny my garden is, an entire day seemed excessive. Then another day came and went: the birds kept flocking to the bread crumbs on the wall, and my tree trunk kept collecting dust. To add injury to insult, a few fresh feathers on the ground were proof that Romeo was still feasting.
It was incredibly frustrating: I provided my winged guests with a much better view - plus a higher chance of surviving the cuisine - than Signora P's place; I risked (almost) certain death at the hands of my own mother (OK, the act of vandalism on the shed I had committed for my own benefit, but still), yet the birds kept ignoring me.
Then, after three days, just before sunset, I spotted a single blue tit on the tree trunk picking away at the sunflower seeds.
When I got up the next morning I immediately realized that the loud noise that accompanies each and every tit activity had shifted from the wall to the shed. At last the dam had broken: there was a flurry of movement around the tree trunk, and I counted at least 5 different species of birds feasting on the sunflower seeds.
From day 4 onward my plan worked beautifully: the birds now indeed mostly ignored Romeo's "snack wall" and kept to the tree trunk. And yes, I was able to play peeping tom from behind the shed's wall and photograph them!! 😊
Thus, dear readers, I finally managed to produce some acceptable bird photos, and I had even saved my feathered friends from a deadly foe in the process. All through winter and spring I took advantage of my new bird hide, and in late May I started mixing some cherries with the sunflower seeds. The idea was to attract a Eurasian jay (Garrulus glandarius), and as you can see, it worked!
It took me almost three weeks and more than a few tricks to capture that clever fella, but given how long I've been rambling here already, that's a story for another day. As for my mom, she still doesn't know about the hole in the wall, so please don't snitch! 😉.
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 🙏 😊 ❤!
P.S. if anyone has their own funny tale about the obstacles we photographers are prepared to overcome for a desired photo, please write it in the comments: I love such stories 😊
I am wearing:
* UC Laima Sweater coat. exclusive for FaMESHed (NEW)
* {Limerence} Dreada Hair (long) RARE from the Dreada Gacha, exclusive for The Gacha Garden (NEW)
* ::SG:: Rings Shoes. Find them at Le Six event
Catwa bento head - Catya
Maitreya Lara body
Lara Hurley skin - Beth
IKON Promise Eyes - Coffee
The scene:
* [ zerkalo ]All White - Canopy and Couch. Find them at Le Six event and Heart Box - White
* ::KKs:: la coiffeuse and 2lace curtains (straight). Find them at Le Six event
* The Silas Gallery Bouguereau Gacha - 2. Cupid & Psyche. Find them at Le Six event
* Scarlet Creative Daisy Bird Cage Aged, Amelie Mansion , Campbell Candles, Sofia Candelbra and Meribel Comfort Rug - Light
MudHoney Iracebeth Chair - White.
Bad Katz Mesh Cat Pose 3 White
{anc} VintageRosePillow and flottante puppy. cream . sitA
*alirium* DwarfForest [OldGold] and DownyGrass [Green]
Apple Fall Roses Box (Champagne)
Soy. Powpon Pouf
[ keke ] windflower . blush
dust bunny . white rose vase
The pose is from Luanes World BENTO poses - "What Truly Matters" Exclusive for Tres Chic opening november 17th. (NEW)
在這人生旅途中難免會有悲傷與挫折，在這一路風風雨雨當中，學會成長並且茁壯，也因為有這些歷練，讓我們能夠更了解人生，也更懂得珍惜擁有....所以.......『No matter how bad your heart has been broken, the world doesn't stop for your grief. The sun comes right back up the next day 』: )
This work is done in solidarity with our precious black friends who desperately need our help to bridge the gap between right and wrong!
New York Times
March on Washington 2020: Protesters Gathered to Demand Racial Justice
www.nytimes.com/2020/08/28/us/march-on-washington-2020.ht...
Washington Post
March on Washington updates: Sharpton bemoans ‘broken promises’ as thousands march in D.C. to demand racial equality
www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2020/08/28/march-on-washi...
Thank you for your kind visit. Have a wonderful and beautiful day! ❤️❤️❤️
I am white working class British woman who plays with gender, sexuality, race and culture daily in my photography in Second Life. I hope I always portray these images in a respectful way and will strive to continue to do so.
“Black lives matter is not a black people's movement - metoo is not a women's movement - pride is not a gay people's movement - it's all humanity's movement - a movement for being accepted as humans by the humans.”
Abhijit Naskar
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I bought a Nikon D850 this year, it cost me a arm and a leg but I have it..... and that's about it 😂. It is far superior to what gear I had so far, but... I don't use it any differently that I had so far... :| . Rather than investing money in a expensive camera I should had bought a better tripod ( I have good lenses I only need a 600 mm) and I should had invest in traveling or doing something else. I don't regret buying it... but since I have it is stays in the dark.I really hope I will have some time to travel a little bit, the place where I am is quite dull and I don't really like taking portraits or human related, and I should really learn to do better images and create my own style. Do you have any photo equipement that you bought but don't use?
Skulls and roses Kunglers Raven for Shop and Hop Gift
Hair Usagi Society Jinhsi
Skin Ives Medea for The Astrophe Gift
Eyes Martyr for The Astrophe Gift
Spiral Earring Axia Spral for Wasterland Gift
Tattoo Miamai Dark Mermaid for Shop and Hop Gift
Tattoo Voodoo Arachveil for FLF-o-Ween Gift
Dress Elune Scarlet for Satan Inc.
Boots Tentacio No Matter for Access
The Fox & the Broomstick Aardvark for Satan Inc.
Scary Cats Trap for Wasterland Gift
Backdrop K&S Witch's House
from the series : To Be Unwanted
giclee print on Fuji Archival Pearl.
sizes: 24" x 16"
PV photos:
www.facebook.com/ingridnewtonphotography/posts/1276836392...
...how hurt you are, no matter what you've been through,
you have to keep your head up and look ahead.
I'd like to be the sort of friend
that you have been to me;
I'd like to be the help that you've been
always glad to be;
I'd like to mean as much to you
each minute of the day
As you have meant, old friend of mine,
to me along the way.
I'd like to do the big things
and the splendid things for you,
To brush the gray out of your skies
and leave them only blue;
I'd like to say the kindly things
that I so oft have heard,
And feel that I could rouse your soul
the way that mine you've stirred.
I'd like to give back the joy
that you have given me,
Yet that were wishing you a need
I hope will never be;
I'd like to make you feel
as rich as I, who travel on
Undaunted in the darkest hours
with you to lean upon.
I'm wishing at this Christmas time
that I could but repay
A portion of the gladness
that you've strewn along the way;
And could I have one wish this year,
this only would it be:
I'd like to be the sort of friend
that you have been to me.
(Edgar Guest)
Starry Matters
maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sunny%20Photo%20Studio/197...
This pic was taken on location at SLAM Old Harbour.
It's a fantastic sim with a realistic feel, a real hidden gem intricately and beautifully designed by the talented Phuk. Lots to explore in the mountains behind the harbour too.
Grab your sou'wester and hitch a ride on a trawler to maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SLAM/187/32/22
I had a talk with this silly little grasshopper. I specifically recommended a remedial course in camouflage or crypsis, and a beginning course in "Visually Hunting Predators."
This silly grasshopper reminded me of the people who see no need to get a vaccination.
Resist the Disgraceful Orange Cockroach Putin Puppet!
HPPT!! a plea for Trump to resign appeared as a full page ad in the New York Times this past Sunday... a link follows...
www.reddit.com/r/MeidasTouch/comments/1j1ujpq/comment/mfo...
rose, 'Secret', little theater rose garden, raleigh, north carolina