#osprey #florida_birds #florida #best_birds_planet #planet_birds #birdbrilliance #birdphotography #nature #wildlifephotography #birdextreme #bestbirdshots #discovertheworld #nature_perfection #wildlifeperfection #gregorymountainpacks #canon #gitzo #leofotousa #markins #manfrotto #TKpanel #luminarneo #adobe_LR_PS #nikcollection #topaz #dxo

Thanks for over 4 million visits.

... hat schon Moos angesetzt.

#MacroMondays

#Tool

A simple choice for "Tool": one of my – now that many of us mostly type on a keyboard – shamefully underemployed fountain pens. A classic, the Pelikan Souverän. The original model is black and green, but some 20 or so years ago, when I bought my pen, there also was a blue/black version that I chose. Apparently, Pelikan doesn't sell the blue version anymore, so my pen now seems to be a rarity of sorts.

Writing with a fountain pen is associated with beautiful handwriting, but, well, mine has always been messy, regardless of the writing tool I choose. In elementary school, we also got grades for our handwriting, and in the German grading system, which is a scale from 1 (excellent) to 6 (failed) I never exceeded a 3. So in my case, it's probably better if I type so it's readable, but it's still a pity that I use this beautiful pen so scarcely nowadays.

The setup was really simple, I put the pen on a small glass jar, placed both in front of a black foam sheet, natural light from above, a warm LED light from the left, and from the right I illuminated a gold-coated cardboard "reflector" (positioned on the left behind the pen) for more golden, warm tones. The nib and the small part of the fountain pen visible in my photo are 2,6 cm / 1,02 inches long.

HMM, Everyone!

In den Gassen der Johanniterfestung von Rhodos.

#osprey #florida #best_birds_planet #planet_birds #birdbrilliance #birdphotography #nature #wildlifephotography #birdextreme #bestbirdshots #discovertheworld #nature_perfection #wildlifeperfection #gregorymountainpacks #sony #gitzo #leofotousa #markins #manfrotto #TKpanel #luminarneo #adobe_LR_PS #nikcollection #topaz #dxo #capture_1 #rrs

#barred_owl #florida #best_birds_planet #planet_birds #birdbrilliance #birdphotography #nature #wildlifephotography #birdextreme #bestbirdshots #discovertheworld #nature_perfection #wildlifeperfection #gregorymountainpacks #canon #gitzo #leofotousa #markins #manfrotto #TKpanel #luminarneo #adobe_LR_PS #nikcollection #topaz #dxo #capture_1 #rrs

#green_heron #florida #best_birds_planet #planet_birds #birdbrilliance #birdphotography #nature #wildlifephotography #birdextreme #bestbirdshots #discovertheworld #nature_perfection #wildlifeperfection #gregorymountainpacks #canon #gitzo #leofotousa #markins #manfrotto #TKpanel #luminarneo #adobe_LR_PS #nikcollection #topaz #dxo #capture_1 #rrs

Across the Thames

"Don't forget: beautiful sunsets need cloudy skies."

~Paulo Coelho~

This photo was originally posted to my page in July 2019 as Sunset Dreams. Played around with a little more drama this time!

“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all the darkness.” ~Desmond Tutu~

It was a foggy morning here today and I couldn’t resist trying to capture some of the mood. This shot was looking down my driveway where a glimpse of the first rays of dawn were attempting to break the gloom.

Screws & Nails

I wish you a happy (Macro|Monochrome) Monday and a great week.

#bald_eagle #florida #best_birds_planet #planet_birds #birdbrilliance #birdphotography #nature #wildlifephotography #birdextreme #bestbirdshots #discovertheworld #nature_perfection #wildlifeperfection #gregorymountainpacks #canon #gitzo #leofotousa #markins #manfrotto #TKpanel #luminarneo #adobe_LR_PS #nikcollection #topaz #dxo #capture_1 #rrs

"#great_blue_heron #florida #best_birds_planet #planet_birds #birdbrilliance #birdphotography #nature #wildlifephotography #birdextreme #bestbirdshots #discovertheworld #nature_perfection #wildlifeperfection #gregorymountainpacks #sonyn #gitzo #leofotousa #markins #manfrotto #TKpanel #luminarneo #adobe_LR_PS #nikcollection #topaz #dxo #capture_1 #rrs"

Or: Parting should be painless?

#MacroMonday

#pair

Oh dear, this sure turned out differently... namely because one of these glass balls which sparkle so nicely in the sunshine decided to part with the stud while I was arranging it for the photo. Damn. Not that it actually surprised be, because that has happened before. I had them repaired, and I will get them repaired once again, soon, because these studs are summer favourites of mine, given to me by a dear friend ages ago.

Well, as I looked at the misery, I noticed that the surface with which the tiny glass "golf ball" was glued to the stud is shiny like a mirror – could I use that for the photo? I tried to arrange the studs so that the intact earring would be reflected in the mirror surface of the broken one and, for the sake of completeness, placed the broken-off stud behind the single glass ball. What I'd initially planned as a shiny, blingy glamour photo with lots of golden bokeh and a black background had turned into a "down to earth" version – ready for repair on the workbench ;)

Quickly focus-stacked today, and equally quickly processed in DXO PhotoLab 4 and Analog Efex (for a warmer look and the vignette), because I ran out of time again.

Happy Macro Monday, Everyone, stay safe and healthy!

#pelicans #florida #best_birds_planet #planet_birds #birdbrilliance #birdphotography #nature #wildlifephotography #birdextreme #bestbirdshots #discovertheworld #nature_perfection #wildlifeperfection #gregorymountainpacks #sony #gitzo #leofotousa #markins #manfrotto #TKpanel #luminarneo #adobe_LR_PS #nikcollection #topaz #dxo #capture_1 #rrs

Stone Rhyming Zone: Cyclone

The Flickr Lounge: Kitchen Accessories

In a land where milk and honey flow, not even a cyclone is dangerous for you. Well, maybe for your waistline. This is a vanilla soy milk / dark chocolate nibs cyclone from my milk frother (please see first comment). Normally I'm using chocolate soy milk for my coffee, but it was sold out for the weekend, so I went for vanilla and added chili chocolate nibs (used for hot chocolate).

Captured from above, handheld (with camera mounted on table top tripod which I put against my chest for stabilisation, and I was pressing my head against the cupboard, standing on tiptoes, though), wide open aperture (f2.8), regular kitchen light. The "eye" is the small black wisk wheel (size: 3 cm in diameter [1,18 inches]). Needless to say, this is not SOOC. I enhanced clarity and structure in LR and Nik's Viveza, and used the "Detail Extractor" filter in Color Efex.

A Happy Macro Monday, Everyone! Have a great week ahead!

Thank you for your comments and faves, they are always highly appreciated!

Soja-Vanille-Schokokrümel-Orkan ;-) Normalerweise nehme ich ja gleich Soja-Schoko für meinen Kaffee, aber die war aus, also musste Vanille ran bzw. rein in den Milchaufschäumer (siehe den 1. Kommentar) und ein paar Krümelchen Chili-Trinkschokolade von der Konditorei Simon in Passau für den Schokogeschmack obendrauf. Das Auge ist der Quirl (3 cm Durchmesser).

Aus der Hand fotografiert, aber mit Tischstativ (zur Stabilisierung gegen den Oberkörper gehalten, Kopf gegen den Hängeschrank gedrückt, aber auf Zehenspitzen, um die nötige Höhe zu bekommen und damit die Linse nicht sofort beschlägt), Offenblende, "normales" ( = was es da so gibt) Küchenlicht. Klarheit und Präsenz habe ich in LR und Niks Viveza erhöht und den "Detail-Extractor"-Filter in Color Efex angewendet.

Ich wünsche Euch einen schönen Montag, Ihr Lieben!

... une fois le soleil couché

U.S. Camp St Thois

#osprey #florida #best_birds_planet #planet_birds #birdbrilliance #birdphotography #nature #wildlifephotography #birdextreme #bestbirdshots #discovertheworld #nature_perfection #wildlifeperfection #gregorymountainpacks #sony #gitzo #leofotousa #markins #manfrotto #TKpanel #luminarneo #adobe_LR_PS #nikcollection #topaz #dxo #capture_1 #rrs

This unusual rock near Cape Naturaliste derives its name from its distinctive conical shape.

“Happiness held is the seed. Happiness shared is the flower.” John Harrigan

The way to Salentein

Post processing made by nik collections Silver Efects.

#snail_kite #florida #best_birds_planet #planet_birds #birdbrilliance #birdphotography #nature #wildlifephotography #birdextreme #bestbirdshots #discovertheworld #nature_perfection #wildlifeperfection #gregorymountainpacks #canon #gitzo #leofotousa #markins #manfrotto #TKpanel #luminarneo #adobe_LR_PS #nikcollection #topaz #dxo #capture_1 #rrs

#windowwednesday

You've seen this window before, in an autumn version (please see the first comment). This is the "Urban Jungle" in June, and it seems as if Sleeping Beauty aka Rosebud has chosen it as her summer residence. Summer in the city – really? While many people flee their city during the summer months, it's actually the best time of year in Berlin, there's a certain magic about it that makes it worthwhile to actually spend the summer months right here, in the city, and not in a countryside summer home (well, that's at least what we Berliners think).

Again taken with the GR III, and this time I'd stepped back a little further, behind a parked car, so this is a wider view than before. Happy Window Wednesday, Everyone :)

Dornröschens Sommerresidenz

Das könnte man fast meinen – allerdings gibt es in Berlin den einen oder anderen Vorgarten, der dies vermuten lassen würde. Wer weiß, vielleicht wird Dornröschen im Sommer ja auch zur Vagabundin und bleibt mal einen Tag hier, dann dort, und am nächsten Tag wieder woanders. Ein bisschen Abwechslung von ihrem Glas"bett" und den sieben Zwergen, die ihr bestimmt auch manchmal auf die Nerven gehen ;)

Das Fenster habt Ihr im Herbst schon einmal gesehen (es ist auch noch einmal im ersten Kommentar zu finden). Wieder mit der GR III aufgenommen, nur bin ich dieses Mal ein bisschen weiter zurück gegangen, hinter ein geparktes Auto, sodass hier mehr vom Haus zu sehen ist. Ich wünsche Euch eine schöne Restwoche, liebe Flickr-Freunde!

"The flower that follows the sun does so even on cloudy days." ~Robert Leighton~

#Donnerstagsmonochrom

#MonochromeThursday

An attempt at street photography on the Marschallbrücke, one of the many heritage-protected bridges across the Spree in Berlin's government district. This bridge is located at the heart of the government district, with many of the most important government buildings (particularly the Reichstag building, the seat of our government) within walking distance.

On a sunny afternoon, the bridge's railing creates a nice shadow play. This was the day before the heatwave started, so many people were out and about, enjoying a work break or simply the sunny weather. I still managed to get a few shots of the empty bridge with only the shadows, but found the "human element" made it more interesting. I was kneeling to get a low POV and fill most of the frame with the shadow patterns, and when I saw a woman approach, I decided to include her walking legs ;) This also spared me from having to anonymise her face.

In case you are wondering what the round shadow behind the lady's shadow is: It's from a lifebuoy on the bridge's railing.

Happy Monochrome Thursday, dear Flickr friends!

Gotta love the bales. Drove past them the other day and they're still there. May be visiting them again soon.

“Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn.” Elizabeth Lawrence

A beautiful afternoon on the lake at Hagan Stone County Park, Greensboro, NC