Thanks for over 4 million visits.

#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

#anhinga #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

Laida, al fondo se ve Mundaka. Vizcaya.

#northern_mockingbird #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 #capture 1

“She turned to the sunlight

And shook her yellow head,

And whispered to her neighbor:

"Winter is dead.” A.A. Milne

This shot has been taken during one of my sunrise sessions in Rosolina Mare (see my What a meaningful world... for information about that peculiar location).

I was going back home and the sky was animated by an everchanging play of the sun with the clouds. And the bird was there, alone, flying straight away from the rays of sunlight towards the bowels of a dark cloud. The story was set, the actors were playing their roles. I framed without thinking and captured the moment.

I offer this story to all my Flickr friends while saying good bye: I will be away for some weeks - no computer, no internet connection but my phone, so no further uploads for quite a while. I will have a look to your photos when I can and comment how I can (I do not love commenting on the phone since the screen is small and I often need to go back to the photo while commenting and the app is not designed for such operations). Be well, my friends - I will try too... :-)

Single shot processed by luminosity masks in the Gimp, with some substantial final work with Nik Silver Efex and Nik Color Efex Pro 4.

Apfel oder Halbmond ;)

"Where flowers bloom, so does hope." Lady Bird Johnson

I chose this title because my orchids bloomed for the third time under my care! I've never had much luck with these flowers and don't know how long this run will last, but I have hope!

#bald_eagle #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

#tri_colored_heron #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 #capture 1

The Helix, Falkirk

The third in my series from the Kelpies. This time processed using Nik software - Silver Efex Pro2 to bring out the drama of the sky.

#sunset #florida #sunset #waterscape #landscape #nature #discovertheworld #nature_perfection#gregorymountainpacks #sony #gitzo #leofotousa #markins #manfrotto #TKpanel #luminarneo #adobe_LR_PS #nikcollection #topaz #dxo #capture_1 #rrs

Mesh Head - Sunny / Genesis Lab Group Gift

#MacroMondays

#Jewelry

I've recently found it very helpful to pick one specific item for an MM theme and stick to it instead of randomly photographing this and that and getting frustrated in the process. Provided I know what I want to photograph, that is.

So for "Jewelry", the abovementioned specific item is a ring that my mother, magrit k., had got made in the mid-eighties but her style changed, so, years ago, she gave it to me. The ring is made of a slim, round silver ring band, a cabochon-style round golden center part, and a tiny opal with iridescent green and turquoise tones set on top of the golden center part. I like its simple design and modern looks that stood the test of time.

Next to daylight, my only other light source was an LED lamp I held so the stone would be backlit to highlight its iridescence. Tiny as it is (2 mm/0,078 inches in diameter), the opal's colours are vibrant and, depending on the direction of the light (or how I wear it), there also are hints of apricot and light blue in addition to intense turquoise green.

HMM, Everyone, and have a nice week ahead!

P.S. I'm busy today and will catch up with you tonight.

Looking Southwest from the Hiking Trail bridge over the Merced towards Taft Point and Cathedral Rocks.

Thank you very much for your kind comments and faves.

Lens: Sigma 105 mm f/2.8 Macro 1:1

Thanks for over 4 million visits.

Braunschweig/Niedersachsen GER

Not what I had in mind when I started shooting. I used a pipette to make ink droplets, and wanted to write the word "drop" in Braille on a CD. It actually worked, but I rather prefer the blurry version where only the bokeh of those pinpoints of light on the droplets is sharp. But with no drops clearly visible, I had to come up with something else for MM's pool, so for the fun of it, and to get a real drip / droplet, I played around with the ink, inkwell, and the dropper. It was a really shaky affair, because I was kneeling in front of the camera, operating it with my right hand, and holding the pipette / dropper in my left hand to make the droplets / drips. Of about 70 shots only a few turned out fairly sharp ;-). One droplet made with red ink looked like a little face or skull, but I decided on this one, because by pure chance I had hit the shutter button in the exact moment when the droplet / drip started to fall. Those funny blurry lines you can see are ink splashes, I suppose, because I've noticed that the ink splashed around everywhere when I made the drops. I'm glad I had the UV filter attached ;-).

Size of the inkwell's neck: 3 cm / 1,1811 inches

Thank you for your kind comments, I appreciate every single one, and your faves!

A Happy Macro Monday, Everyone!

Meine eigentliche Idee war, das Wort "Drop" in Braille-Schrift auf einer spiegelnden Oberfläche (CD) mit Tintentropfen (mit einer Pipette) zu schreiben. Das klappte auch gut, aber es gefiel mir die unscharfe Variante, bei der nur das Bokeh der Lichtpünktchen auf den Tropfen scharf ist, besser. Aber: keine sichtbaren Tropfen, kein geeigneter Beitrag fürs "Drips, Drops and Splashes" Thema. Also habe ich mit der Pipette und den Tintenfässchen ein bisschen herumprobiert. Eine recht wackelige Angelegenheit, weil ich vor der Kamera kniete und mit der linken Hand die Tröpfchen machte, und so wurden von gut 70 Aufnahmen auch nur wenige scharf ;-). Ein Tropfen sah sogar aus wie ein Gesicht, aber ich habe mich dann für dieses entschieden, weil ich per Zufall just in dem Moment auf den Auslöser drückte, als der Tropfen herunterfiel. Diese hellen Linien sind wohl Tintenspritzer, weil beim Tröpfchenmachen überall kleinste Spritzer herumflogen. Wie gut, dass der UV-Filter immer auf der Linse ist ;-)

Vielen Dank für Eure tollen Kommentare und Faves!

Einen schönen MM und auch sonst Montag für Euch!

Nordharz/Niedersachsen GER

Taraxacum officinale, the common dandelion (often simply called "dandelion"), is a flowering herbaceous perennial plant of the family Asteraceae (Compositae).

It can be found growing in temperate regions of the world, in lawns, on roadsides, on disturbed banks and shores of water ways, and other areas with moist soils. T. officinale is considered a weed, especially in lawns and along roadsides, but it is sometimes used as a medical herb and in food preparation. Common dandelion is well known for its yellow flower heads that turn into round balls of silver tufted fruits that disperse in the wind. These balls are called "blowballs"[5] or "clocks" in both British and American English. (Wikipedia)

#anhinga #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

#swallow_tail_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

that my computer decided not to crash while doing things in Lightroom or with NikFilters....

🌿 U predolujnoj tišini, sitni leptir Leptidea sinapis pronašao je zaklon među cvjetovima livadske kadulje. Iako bez sunca, trenutak je zabljesnuo svojom tišinom i bojama prirode.

In the stillness before the storm, a delicate Wood White butterfly (Leptidea sinapis) found shelter among the meadow sage blossoms. Despite the absence of sunlight, the moment glowed with the quiet strength of nature.

In the stillness before the storm, a delicate Wood White butterfly (Leptidea sinapis) found shelter among the meadow sage blossoms. Despite the absence of sunlight, the moment glowed with the quiet strength of nature.

#sandhill_crane #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

6 portrait exposures stitched in Lightroom.

It was interesting how various photo merge options in Lightroom and Photoshop resulted in substantially different perspectives and quirks. At the end, the default merge in Lightroom yielded the most realistic panorama.

Thank you very much for your kind comments and faves.

This landscape photograph captures a dramatic weather moment over Illgill Head, Wasdale, in the heart of England's Lake District. Heavy clouds gather above Wast Water while shafts of sunlight break through, creating a natural spotlight across the mountainside. The image explores the relationship between light, weather, and landscape, showcasing the rugged beauty and ever-changing atmosphere that define this iconic valley.

The composition layers rolling foreground textures, woodland, lake, and mountain, while the descending sunbeams provide a powerful focal point. This photograph aims to convey both the scale and serenity of Wasdale, highlighting one of the most spectacular landscapes in Cumbria.

#IllgillHead #Wasdale #WastWater #LakeDistrict #Cumbria #LandscapePhotography #NaturePhotography #EarthFocus #OurPlanetDaily #DiscoverEarth #MoodyGrams #LandscapeLovers #MountainPhotography #Sunbeams #CrepuscularRays #DramaticSky #FineArtLandscape #OutdoorPhotography #ExploreBritain #BritishLandscape #VisitCumbria #NaturePerfection #EarthPix #WonderfulPlaces #StayAndWander #ScenicViews #NatureLovers #HikingUK #LakelandFells #LightAndShadow