.... if the most exciting event is a nap on a shoe.

It has been raining almost all day which means that Cleo is comatose, Fynn is out all day and enjoys getting wet and Linus is bored. When I took some photos of shoes he joined me and eventually fell asleep on my props. There is another capture of the shoes in the comments. They belong to my niece Natalie who temporarily lives in Cleo's hibernation room in the basement. I love Natalie but what really drives me nuts is that she leaves her stuff everywhere, especially her shoes. As the weather was too bad for taking photos outdoors I thought I could just as well use the shoes for some photos, mainly in order to test different types of lighting. For the photo in the comments I used an external flash plus the softbox. It was really very dark and I think the lighting worked pretty well although I still needed the tripod. For the Linus photo I only used the softbox and a reflector, the flash was off.

* One of the most extraordinary aspects of the city of Bologna is its amazing range of porticos. Today the historic centre of Bologna, that is to say the area included into the city walls of the thirteenth century, contains some 38 kilometres (23 miles) of porticos build during a long historic period from the eleventh to the twentieth century. It was very hot while we there but you could walk almost everywhere in the shade of these porticos. No doubt in bad weather you would be equally protected from rain and snow. Many Italian cities had extensive systems of porticos but most got rid of many of them to allow the roads to be widened. Bologna has chosen to put people before cars, which is a change. They are very pleasing to walk through, light and shadows constantly change under them. I took quite a few shots of these architectural features some of them will no doubt appear later in my stream.

THANKS FOR YOUR VISIT AND FOR TAKING THE TIME TO WRITE A COMMENT IT’S MUCH APPRECIATED AND SO MUCH MORE INTRESTING THAN JUST GIVING A FAVE

Warsaw, Poland

Huawei P9 Lite

Oh, Sunlight! The most precious gold to be found on Earth.

Pukekura Falls.... most likely the waterfall is not a natural one. It was ennobled by hand before the visit of the young Queen Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Philip, to New Zealand in the summer of 1954; and now there is a pump which makes the waterfall alive.

Waterfall height: 12m

Pukekura Falls are best viewed at night, during the Festival of Lights. The park is beautiful at any time of day or year, but every summer Pukekura Park hosts the spectacular Festival of Lights. From December to February, hundreds of lighting displays turn the park into a huge, illuminated fantasyland.

The most difficult action shot in my series was this oncoming sprint towards me. Not having eye autofocus and a slow fps I knew this shot would require some luck and concentration. The final outcome was 2 acceptable shots in this challenging situation. Click for large view.

Tune ♥

Location The Nest Sunbird ♥

Credits ♥

I'm still working on some edits to put shots up on another site. This is an old photo from my archives that has been reworked and resized. There are several that have similar looks to them, owing to the fact that the storm that rolled through Daytona Beach Shores that day was so impressive that I took tons of shots. All were taken from the balcony of the condo I was staying at. Unfortunately, all were taken with a point & shoot camera, so the clarity is mediocre on most, and there was just so much I could do with editing, but still, the images do convey the incredible force of nature in a powerful way.

The sunset shots were taken after the storm had passed, and that's not the sun glowing THROUGH the clouds that you see, but the REFLECTION of the sun off the clouds, as the sun sets in the west here, and these views are facing east, northeast or southeast towards the Atlantic.

The shot called Stormy Day was right before the storm hit, and Stop! You're Going the Wrong Way! was also at the beginning of the storm. Oddly enough, there was little or no rain, and the lightning and thunder produced by the thunderhead stayed mostly inside of the cloud itself. I suppose I should have been inside while it went through, but I was so captivated by it that I couldn't stop taking photos! These are among my most colorful, but that is mostly from the editing. The colors after the storm were much more pastel, and the storm itself wasn't as dark looking. These images create the mood I experienced looking at the beauty of it all, so I hope you enjoy!

In most years, this area at the Kane Boat landing would be flooded by Bighorn Lake (Reservoir). However, on June 19 202,1 the lake level was still low and the Bighorn River meandered across the grass covered lake bottom. Off in the distance a dust storm moves along the base of the hills.

Sofia, Bulgaria: Orlov Most Metro Station, Line 3; Opened 2020

Acacia pycnantha, most commonly known as the golden wattle, is a tree of the family Fabaceae. It grows to a height of 8 metres and has phyllodes instead of true leaves. The profuse fragrant, golden flowers appear in late winter and spring, followed by long seed pods. Wikipedia

The golden wattle is the floral emblem of Australia with its masses of sunshine yellow balls of flowers brightening the bush and gardens in late winter to early spring. It grows from 2 to 10 metres tall and is fast growing, but sadly can be short lived. Adapts to most soils as long as they are free draining, and can take some frost and dry periods. Performs best in temperate climate zones. A useful plant- the flowers are fragrant and can be used for making perfume, the seed is edible and the bark is rich in tannins. Green seed can be cooked like peas. Ripe seed can be baked then ground with a mortar and pestle into a low glycaemic flour.

Note– this plant originates from South Australia, but has become a problem plant in some areas where it is becoming weedy and competing with the natural species. Southern Western Australia is one area where this happening. (Gardening with Angus)

All attention focuses on the specific instant, almost too good to be true, which can only vanish in the following one :-)

Willie Ronis

HMM! HPPT! Character Matters!

echinacea, coneflowers, sarah p duke gardens, duke university, durham, north carolina

* My Garden with Textures

LENSBABY Sol 45 mm f/3.5 Sony

While most people were enjoying there extra hour in bed i was leaving my house at 5.45am and heading towards Bath. The plan was to head for Bathampton but due to road closures because of Bristol/Bath Marathon and getting a bit lost i ended up at Limpley Stoke. I had been there before but never with my camera and the mist rising before dawn made me stop there and try to get some images. I hope you enjoy what i captured.

Bridge.

Sam & Patches have their Xmas portrait

At Towneley park,

Burnley

Lancashire

.

Praha (CZ) 01-08-2016

Karlův most s Pražským hradem a Katedrálou svatého Víta.

Karelsbrug met de Praagse Burcht en de Sint-Vituskathedraal.

Charles Bridge with Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral.

Karlsbrücke mit der Prager Burg und dem Sankt Veitsdom.

Pont Charles avec le château de Prague et la cathédrale Saint-Guy.

Puente Carlos con el Castillo de Praga y la Catedral de San Vito.

Ponte Carlo con il Castello di Praga e la Cattedrale di San Vito.

Ponte Carlos com o Castelo de Praga e a Catedral de São Vito.

-99174BJ-

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You may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.

This INCLUDES also usage on SOCIAL MEDIA and on websites

except when usage is embedded or made by linking,

but NOT by copying and pasting.

This image is protected by Dutch and international copyright laws.

Boxing Day in the fog.

Ship graveyard in Bangladesh

One of the most polluted places on earth is considered the “ship graveyard” in Bangladesh. Every year, more than two hundred ships find their last refuge here and provide jobs for local residents. All decommissioned ships understand to the last screw. This is done in appalling conditions and for a ridiculous reward, but due to the lack of alternatives, people agree to such work.

Читтагонг- один из крупнейших в мире центров по слому кораблей. Здесь одновременно работало до 200000 человек.

После Второй мировой войны судостроение стало переживать небывалый подъем, огромное количество металлических кораблей строилось по всему миру и все больше – в развивающихся странах. Однако вскоре возник вопрос по утилизации отработавших свое кораблей. Более экономичней и выгодней оказалось производить разбор старых кораблей на металлолом в бедных развивающихся странах, где десятки тысяч низкооплачиваемых трудящихся демонтировали старые корабли в несколько раз дешевле, чем в Европе.

Плюс ко всему немаловажную роль сыграли такие факторы, как строгие требования охраны здоровья и окружающей среды, дорогостоящие страховки. Все это сделало слом кораблей в развитых европейских странах невыгодным. Здесь такая деятельность ограничивается, в основном, утилизацией военных судов.

Утилизация старых судов в развитых странах в настоящее время чрезвычайно высока также из-за дороговизны: стоимость утилизации токсичных веществ, таких как асбест, ПХБ и содержащих свинец и ртуть — зачастую выше, чем стоимость металлолома.

Одним из самых загрязненных мест на земле считается «кладбище кораблей» в Бангладеше. Ежегодно, более двухсот кораблей находят здесь свое последнее пристанище и обеспечивают работой местных жителей. Все списанные корабли разбираются до последнего винтика. Делается это в ужасающих условиях и за смешное вознаграждение, но из-за отсутствия альтернатив люди соглашаются и на такую работу.

Прежде чем начинается основная работа, корабль доставляют в Читтагонг и сажают на мель. Далее снимают и сливают все, до чего дотянутся: начиная топливом и маслом, заканчивая мебелью и оборудованием. Все материалы отправляются на переработку.

История этого места начинается в 1960 году. Именно в этом году судно Alpine после шторма было выброшено на берег. Попытки снять его с мели не привели к положительным результатам и через пять лет корабль списали. Судно купила местная компания и при помощи дешевой рабочей силы разобрала на металлолом. И уже в 90-х годах здесь образовался один из крупнейших центров по утилизации кораблей.

It has a 600 ft. (183 m) wide crater.

Most of the volcano is covered by snow.

After the Arenal, climbing a steep snow (glacial) ridge. Extra 32 minutes for me. It normally takes 40 minutes.

We left from the Hut at 2:00 am.

It is 6:20 am (sunrise time).

***

With its elevation of 5,023 metres (16,480 ft), Tungurahua just over tops the snow line (about 4,900 metres (16,100 ft)).

Tungurahua's top is snow-covered and did feature a small summit glacier which melted away after the increase of volcanic activity in 1999.

***

The glacier is small and represents only the final 40 minutes of the climb.

Crampons are recommended.

The rest of the climb is scree and demanding, especially if it is muddy.

The wader most likely to be found along Ireland’s rocky shoreline. Mainly a winter visitor from northeast Canada and northern Greenland but good numbers pass through Ireland in spring and autumn en route to/from arctic and subarctic breeding grounds. About the size of a Starling, with a stocky build and short orange legs. In winter, its dark brown upperparts, white underside and black breast crescent make it difficult to see amongst seaweed. Spring birds are brighter and show rich chestnut markings on the wing and back. In flight, Turnstones show a series of black and white stripes, resembling a miniature Oystercatcher. Usually occurs in small flocks, moving with head down, constantly flicking over seaweed fronds, pebbles and beach debris with its short, stubby bill, in search of sand hoppers and other invertebrates.

Known in North America as the 'Ruddy Turnstone', there is also a second species, the 'Black Turnstone', which lives on the Pacific coast of North America.

Comments are always welcome and favs most appreciated.

Comentarios y favs son siempre bienvenidos

© Photography of Ricardo Gomez Angel

All rights reserved. All images on this website are the property of Ricardo Gomez Angel. Images may not be reproduced, copied or used in any way without written permission.

© Fotografía de Ricardo Gomez Angel

Todos los derechos reservados. Todas las imágenes contenidas en este sitio web son propiedad de Ricardo Gomez Angel. Las imágenes no se pueden reproducir, copiar o utilizar de ninguna manera sin el permiso escrito

The plumage of most kingfishers is bright, with green and blue being the most common colours. The brightness of the colours is neither the product of iridescence or pigments, but is instead caused by the structure of the feathers, which causes scattering of blue light (the Tyndall effect).

The kingfishers have long, dagger-like bills. The bill is usually longer and more compressed in species that hunt fish, and shorter and more broad in species that hunt prey off the ground. The largest and most atypical bill is that of the shovel-billed kookaburra, which is used to dig through the forest floor in search of prey. They generally have short legs, although species that feed on the ground have longer tarsi. Most species have four toes, three of which are forward-pointing.

The irises of most species are dark brown. The kingfishers have excellent vision; they are capable of binocular vision and are thought in particular to have good colour vision. They have restricted movement of their eyes within the eye sockets, instead using head movements to track prey. In addition, they are capable of compensating for the refraction of water and reflection when hunting prey underwater, and are able to judge depth under water accurately. They also have nictitating membranes that cover the eyes to protect them when they hit the water; the pied kingfisher has a bony plate which slides across the eye when it hits the water.

The Continental Mark II is an ultra-luxury coupé that was sold by the Continental Division of Ford for the 1956 and 1957 model years. The only product line ever marketed by Continental during its existence, the Mark II served as the worldwide flagship vehicle of Ford Motor Company. The vehicle derived its name from European manufacturing practice, with "Mark II" denoting a second generation (succeeding the 1939–1948 Lincoln Continental).

As the most expensive American-produced automobile of the time, the Mark II was marketed against the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud. Produced solely as a two-door hardtop coupe, the Mark II used standard Lincoln mechanical components, including its "Y-block" V8 and automatic transmission. The rest of the vehicle was largely hand-assembled, leading Ford to lose thousands of dollars for each example produced.

Following the 1957 model year, Ford discontinued its flagship Continental division, with the division phased into Lincoln from 1958. For 1969, Ford revived the chronology of the Mark series with the debut of the (second) Continental Mark III coupe, leading to five successive generations; the model line currently ends with the 1998 Lincoln Mark VIII coupe. In modified form, Lincoln still uses the four-point star emblem introduced by the Mark II; each version of the Mark series (and the 1982-1987 Lincoln Continental) was styled with a "Continental" spare-tire trunklid.

Intended as a successor to the Lincoln Continental, effectively making its predecessor a Mark I, the Continental Mark II made its world debut at the Paris Motor Show in October 1955.The Mark II debuted in the United States at Ford Motor Company headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan. With a $9,966 base price (equivalent to $95,100 today), the Mark II was the most expensive domestic-produced automobile sold in the United States at the time. The only extra cost option offered for the Mark II was a $595 ($5,700 today) air conditioner. Despite its high price, Ford Motor Company estimated it lost nearly $1,000 ($9500 today) for every unit produced

To streamline production, powertrain components were adapted from the Lincoln model line and checked through the division's quality-control program during production. The 368 cubic-inch Lincoln Y-block V8 powered the Mark II, paired with the 3-speed Turbo-Drive automatic transmission. For 1956, the engines produced 285 hp, increased to 300 hp for 1957

Total productions for the two years produced was 3005 units including about one half dozen preproduction and prototypes.

”The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.” — Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

...most of which failed to mature.

I'm sorting old photos and posting some interesing ones. This image was uploaded to Flickr on Apr. 1, 2022.

Thank you to everyone who visits, faves, and comments.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY FROM THE TEDDY BEARS

Korana, Karlovac

Stari Most

also known as Mostar Bridge,

is a rebuilt 16th-century Ottoman bridge in the city of Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina that crosses the river Neretva and connects the two parts of the city.

The Old Bridge stood for 427 years, until it was destroyed on 9 November 1993 by Croat paramilitary forces during the Croat–Bosniak War.

Subsequently, a project was set in motion to reconstruct it; the rebuilt bridge opened on 23 July 2004.

The bridge is considered an exemplary piece of Balkan Islamic architecture and was commissioned by Suleiman the Magnificent in 1557.

It was designed by Mimar Hayruddin, a student and apprentice of architect Mimar Sinan who built many of the Sultan's key buildings in Istanbul and around the empire.

@Wikipedia

I consider street photo one of the most difficult styles of photography as your subject is constantly changing. You are not capturing a bridge or a river or a colorful fall forest. You are capturing moments from the city, an urban scenery, you are capturing expressions of random people while they are not posing for you, people doing their every day thing. So quite often I am trying to focus on something static on the street, something that caught my eye and then wait until the "right people" get into my frame. I think I got lucky on this one, as it felt like these 2 guys were just leaving the area after not finding what they were looking for (404 error, web administrators may get the joke). Picture taken at Little Five points, in Atlanta, GA.

Shurik'n - Samouraï

www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMBTDuvl6dQ

Κατα τη γνωμη μου η φωτογραφια δρομου ειναι ισως το πιο δυσκολο ειδος φωτογραφίας καθως το θεμα σου αλλαζει συνεχως. Δεν φωτογραφιζεις μια γεφυρα, ενα ποταμι η ενα πολυχρωμο δασος το φθινοπωρο. Στη φωτογραφια δρομου το θεμα ειναι οι στιγμες σε μια πολη, ενα αστικο σκηνικο, οι εκφρασεις τυχαιων ανθρωπων που ομως δεν ποζαρουν για σενα, τυχαιοι ανθρωποι που κανουν καποιες κινησεις ρουτινας. Ετσι συχνα προσπαθω να εστιασω σε κατι στατικο, σε κατι που τραβηξε την προσοχη μου και επειτα να περιμενω μεχρι οι "σωστοι ανθρωποι" να μπουν στο καδρο μου. Νομιζω σταθηκα αρκετα τυχερος εδω αφου οι 2 αυτοι τυποι εμοιαζαν να απομακρυνονται απο την περιοχη αφου δεν βρηκαν αυτο που εψαχναν (σφαλμα 404, οι web admins μαλλον θα πιασουν το αστειο). Η φωτογραφια τραβηχτηκε στην περιοχη Little Five points στην Atlanta της πολιτειας της Georgia.

Most of the old warehouses along the River Trent in Newark have either been demolished or, as in this case, been developed into businesses and offices with many becoming desirable riverside apartments.

Most plants cannot live in saltwater, since the water drowns their roots and the salt poisons their systems. Seaweed, however, is not a true plant and does not use systems that can be waterlogged. It has thick, rubbery stems that protect it from the corrosive ocean water, and uses simplified versions of roots and leaves to hold it in place and absorb sunlight. More complicated types of seaweed even have specialized bladders that allow it to float.

Most grand old houses in the northeast still have the classic mail slot, they say, though many have been moved up a bit from the very bottom of the door, to accommodate the postmen's backs......I'm trying to decide if the slightly faded part on the bottom of this door could have been where the original slot was, tho the wood doesn't look cut, just faded.....

Yamachiche, Québec.

Most of the times when I go out shooting, I hope for something and often settle for less, and sometimes nothing at all. This time I got more than I wished for. This little guy was just about done with a night of hunting and decided to have a bite out of its last catch before resting for the day.

We can see on this shot the portion of the prey that was set aside to finish later. That is when I decided to leave, the rest was probably a very quiet owl going to rest.

Quand je pars en photo, j'ai toujours une idée de ce que je souhaite rencontrer. Plus souvent qu'autrement je dois me contenter de moins, et souvent de rien du tout. Ainsi va la vie quand on dépend autant sur la chance. Cette fois j'ai eu beaucoup plus que j'espérais. Cette petite nyctale venait tout juste de se percher avec sa proie après probablement une longue nuit de chasse. Avant de se retirer pour la journée, elle a décidé de manger une partie de sa proie.

On peut voir sur cette prise une partie de la proie qu'elle a mis de côté. J'ai quitté tout de suite après cette prise pour respecter son repos...après avoir été témoin de son repas.

Clothing and shoes

Credit: :::WILD:::Fashion Shelly Dress and Mosquito's Way - Juliet --- both products are found in SENSE event --- more details in Blogg .

My Blogg

lunarubydeveraux.blogspot.com/2020/12/most-girls.html

My flickr

www.flickr.com/photos/rubynandahar/

Song

www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBB_QOZNEdc

Amsterdam - Amstel / Zwanenburgwal.

"There are only five things that are worthwhile and I name them in order of importance:

Amsterdam, early spring, the last 10 or 14 days of August, women and the incomprehensibility of God.

The most important thing I mentioned first."

Quote from: "Het Einde" (The End) by Nescio, pseudonym of J.H.F. Grönloh (1882 - 1961).

2 photo stitch.

"...Among the most clever of these cactus spine-dodgers is the desert cactus wren, which can perch upon the branches or dive into a tree of the awful Bigelow's cholla with perfect impunity. In fact, the cactus wren finds the company of cactuses so congenial that she not only spends a great deal of her time foraging for insects among their branches, but chooses to rear her family in a nest embraced and fortified by their needles. I doubt if there is a member of the wren family that better provides for the protection of her home.

Those who are used to associating the word "wren" with the tiny, sprightly, and vivacious bird of the Eastern States, with its happy, jocund, and joyous song, will find it hard to see how the cactus wren can be called a wren at all, for he is such a different fellow from the bird of their acquaintance. On the whole he is rather a coarse-looking bird with no prepossessing characters as to either form or color. Comparatively, he is rather a good-sized bird, having a length of eight inches from bill to tail-tip. The general color-tone is brownish gray with whitish under-parts prominently speckled with round and linear black spots, especially on the throat and fore part of the breast. The bill, like that of the rock wrens, is slightly bent. The song is an odd one and hardly musical, consisting generally of only a coarse prolonged clatter or low "chut-chut-chut." It is especially noticeable in the spring during the nesting season. The males are then unusually quarrelsome, hot-tempered, irascible fellows, pursuing one another in flight over long distances, scolding and giving vent to their peppery tempers and jealousies in shrill, angry, jaylike notes of warning."

Denizens Of The Desert

Edmund C Jaeger

ebird.org/view/checklist/S57093011

One of Savannah’s most beloved attractions is Forsyth Park. Among the park’s abundant greenery is the dense urban forest of gnarled live oaks draped with Spanish moss. The old Oak trees are as iconic to the city of Savannah as its man-made historic treasures.

Since the early 19th century, Savannah planted out trees in its streets and squares to provide shade in the summer and beauty the year round, earning it the title of “The Forest City.” Today, its arching live oaks, swathed with picturesquely gothic drapes of Spanish moss, are one of the city’s most charming and typical sights.

This photo was edited with Skylum's Luminat AI software.

Most of my work focuses on calm, still waters and the occasional boat. I find a sense of peace in the early mornings. Mostly quiet with very little going on. This is why I spend my days waking up at 3am and travelling to locations.

www.facebook.com/PCFphotography-108314137578283/