View allAll Photos Tagged Outside
Crocosmia flowers add wonderful drama to the summer garden.
"Flowers seem intended for the solace of ordinary humanity."
-- John Ruskin
One more attempt at tilt shift.... I don't have a special lens so I've been experimenting with GIMP (free alternative to photoshop).
I could have had a clear shot, but I thought this one with the little boy gave a better indication of the size of the area :)
The Badlands is a really unique place, near Caledon, Ontario and we had an amazing day there with loads of wonderful relatives one day back in August 2011 (my first trip to Canada, in fact my first trip outside the UK!!!! lol)
Here's some info from Wiki about the Badlands.... "The formation was exposed by poor farming practices in the 1930s that led to soil erosion and exposed the underlying shale. At one point in time, the Cheltenham Badlands were occupied by a large river. The hills signify the riverbed and as you follow the trail, you begin to see the river history of the badlands. Thousands of years ago, this lake dried out resulting in today's version of the Cheltenham badlands. The formation is mostly red in colour due to iron oxide deposits with some faint green streaks due to ground water percolation changing the red iron oxide into green iron oxide."
I know many of you in Canada are having really awful weather with record low temperatures, so hopefully this will warm you all up a bit :)
Take care everyone, and thank you all so much for the lovely comments on my previous uploads :)
At La Push beach, looking on to James Island with Little James Island on the far right. Also, if you look at the little blip dead center between the two middle seastacks, that is Gunsight Rock (a separate island). This weekend, I got a primitive cabin on this beach for really cheap; great deal considering your view and what's around in just a short drive.
Calmed the Pacific Ocean enough to almost be smooth. Single Image, 8 minute exposure with the B+W110 which actually should have been a little longer since I had to pull a lot of the foreground water from darkness. Doing these long exposures can be a challenge of your patience considering I like to move around and get different points of views all within the time frame of sunset. Anyways, thanks for viewing and your comments!
From Wiki:
James Island is an island at the mouth of the Quillayute River near La Push, Washington, reportedly named either for Francis W. James, the first white man to climb the island in 1885, though the Origin of Washington Geographic Names attributes the naming to a Quileute chief named Jimmie Howeshatta. Until the second half of the 19th century, the island was the site of a fortified village. After this, it was used as a site for growing crops for residents of the mainland, as well as a burial site for tribal chiefs. At 160 feet (49 m) in height, the island was also used as a lookout for spotting whales. The island was formerly a sea stack, connected to the mainland, until the US Army Corps of Engineers rerouted the Quillayute River, separating it. No people outside of the Quileute tribe are allowed on the island.
burning on the outside, bitter-cold within
my third piece in my "mini series" with flames. this was taken a couple days back...before i got my haircut...i hate getting haircuts haha. anyways, this has been the most i have uploaded continuously since i can remember...i will try to take some more shots if i have time. just so you guys know...the cake was yummy haha.
i was trying to beat the clock once again...didn't want the sun to go down. this is definitely my favorite time of the day to take a picture, but sometimes i just feel rushed. yes, the sky is real.
strobist info: bare sb-900 zoomed at 105mm camera left, bare sb-600
Réalisée le 25 novembre 2014 près de Kandy, Stri Lanka.
Made on November, 25th / 2014 near Kandy, Sri Lanka.
[Bretagne 2014] Many thanks to my mate Adrien from Bretagne for making me fly over Ouessant island during my visit in Brest. "Fox-Hotel-Papa-Yankee-Bravo" to land RWY25L.
Best on black.
I have a few shots I took last fall that I have been a little unsure of....since I don't really have anything new worth posting....
Taken along the Pinnacles Trail, Grayson Highlands State Park, VA.
I took this photo while visiting Turkey in 2011. The Manavgat Waterfalls a really beautiful natural place to visit. (Silversurfers picture of the day 31 Jan 2014).
IoHHHHHHHHH MuCH BiGGeR aND BeTTeR oN BLaCKI
HaPPY BoKeH WeDNeSDaY
First of all I have to excuse my late absence. Sometimes it is good to live without flickr.
And now I am back and I want not to write I am catching up or try to get time back.
Not possible.
See you on your streams, will be the right words.
Thank you, my wonderful friend Fulvio alias gismaster, for his amazing testi, he wrote.
Tanti granzie, caro
Grande abbraccio, Fu
Look HERE for one of flickers highest technical know-how and one wonderful friend over a long time now.
Grazie, carissimo per l´amicizia
This shot you see here, I worked with Lightroom on it.
My wonderful FLiCKRfriend Natalia alias Kiwi_GaL, asked me to try here new filters application for Lightroom and Photoshop.
Here my first result and hey, the RAW Filter is called Spice it up.
LoL
This unbelievable Presets and Actions, you see here on Natalias private website.
Go and look and I am sure you would like to have them also, go for them.
For more pictures worked with all those applications go here and look in the new group Sweet Treat Lightroom Presets & Actions
Thank you so much, Nat.
The music today goes out to one of the all time favourite dancers.
Look here and……………..
On a blustery day in January, I found myself searching for remnants of Americana in the form of derelict railway stations, signals and factories in a frozen Buffalo, New York. With nipping winds, blowing snow and cloudy weather, making up most of the day it seemed like it was a complete bust. However, nearing the end of the less than desirable day, the sun came out, covering much of Buffalo in a rich golden glow. The blowing snow, and the setting sun created an almost surreal environment for this stopped Norfolk Southern train on the outside of town.
The Inca tern (Larosterna inca) is a seabird in the family Sternidae. It is the only member of the genus Larosterna.
This uniquely plumaged bird breeds on the coasts of Peru and Chile, and is restricted to the Humboldt current. It can be identified by its dark grey body, white moustache on both sides of its head, and red-orange beak and feet.
The Inca tern is a large tern, approximately 40 cm long. Sexes are similar; the adult is mostly slate-grey with white restricted to the facial plumes and the trailing edges of the wings. The large bill and legs are dark red. Immature birds are purple-brown, and gradually develop the facial plumes.
The Inca tern breeds on rocky cliffs. It nests in a hollow or burrow or sometimes the old nest of a Humboldt penguin, and lays one or two eggs. The eggs are incubated for about 4 weeks, and the chicks leave the nest after 7 weeks.
The Inca tern feeds primarily on small fish, such as anchovies. The species spots its prey from the air, diving into the water to grab meals with its pointed beak. Its call is a cat-like mew.
Santa Barbara Zoo. California.
Vor ein paar Wochen gab es einen Abend, wie ihn sich jeder Landschaftsfotograf nur wünschen kann. Dunkle Wolken, Regen, Sonne, einen Regenbogen und ein Licht, das einem glatt die Sprache weg bleibt.
Ich war so glücklich, mich an diesem trüben Nachmittag und Abend dazu entschlossen zu haben, nochmal rauszugehen! Sowas hatte ich mir zwar erhofft - doch dass es dann so eintrifft! Wunderbar =)!
Had to go to Brisbane so JF & I decided to photograph some city scapes and a shot or two of the moon setting over a lake on the way down the mountain. Quite pleased with the Brisvegas jaunt, this to me is a reminder that nature reins supreme and should she shake her mighty fist we are all undone no matter what, will post later the city skyline, arrived home to this and more for about an hour had the most awesome sky. This is two minutes from where I live so luck is a lady
Autumn in this part of the world although does not get the imported beautiful rusty colours of the deciduous trees but has a unique look after a good season as this has been with the green grass forming seed heads which turn a golden yellow and with the intermittent sunlight is quite a sight to see, with the patchy sunlight late this afternoon made for interesting shadow on the rolling hills.
Is still mumbling and grumbling outside threatening to swing back this way
Light pours into the surrounding hills over a very windswept lake
Image copyright www.kevinobrian.co.uk/
Over Loch Awe on a long weekend riding around the West Highlands -- my first trip to the Highlands. I stayed just around the corner at Dalmally with the idea of shooting this. The B&B landlady said she'd had people come back again and again over the years because they just didn't get the shot.
I have been wanting to photograph this church at night for 29 years - because of its pristine architecture and its beautiful setting in the hills of Marin County.
Every time I passed it, there were two large Sodium Vapor street lights (toxic burnt orange color) lighting both the Church and the atmosphere surrounding it.
Then a couple of months ago, I passed it going to Pt. Reyes and there it stood in Natural moonlight - reflecting the glow of the neighboring street lights and the two big red lights outside the Fire Department on the side of the Church that was in the Moon's shade.
The two Sodium Vapor street lights pointing right at the Church are gone. 25 Minutes.
This Holiday Season I wish that each of my Flickr friends give and receive exactly what they wish for. I wish for you a peaceful heart, the company of those that cherish and appreciate you, joy in the belief that you can rise above your challenges and that the world will be illuminated by goodness and light. For all the problems that beset this fragile Earth....it is still incredibly beautiful. Enjoy this moment. Namaste
66707 passes Wilsons crossing at Grange Farm, Northampton as it works 4M23 10:45 Felixstowe-Hams Hall. 4th May 2011
Garden of the Gods Park
Colorado Springs, CO.
Winter's morning breaks into day but the clouds just didn't want to go away. This was about the only blue sky I would get to see on one of winter's final days.
Poznan, Poland
Outside of Wilson park Poznan. Spent the afternoon walking around, enjoying the snowfall on this day. This was before Christmas and was the first real snow of the season. Not yet as cold either. This is just outside of a lovely little park here in Poznan, Park Wilson.
If you ever drive in Poland, remember lights are required to be on at all times FYI....its the law!
One of my favourite reserves in the whole North of England due to it's open plan nature. There are many lakes, ponds, reedbeds and meadows. There are lots of nature trails and as you walk around you can see the wildlife and observe it from the paths.
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/s/staidans/
St Aidan's is a perfect place to get close to nature and relax, unwind or exercise in a stress-free environment. Just outside Leeds on the banks of the River Aire, it's a big new space to walk, run, cycle, or ride your horse and enjoy the wildlife that surrounds you.
It has a wide range of wild plants and animals, and is home to thousands of birds, brown hares, roe deer, wild flowers and insects - all living in a stunning landscape of vast reedbeds, grassland, woodland, lakes, ponds and islands.
With a variety of circular paths of varying lengths and large areas of open grassland, St Aidan’s is a great place for families to enjoy the outdoors, share a picnic and play together.
Over 7.5 miles (12 km) of footpaths, bridleways and cycle routes connect the surrounding communities, with links to national footpath and cycle networks. St Aidan's is a fantastic place for locals wishing to explore the wider countryside or as a destination for people who love nature.
Opening times
St Aidan's is an open access site. Opening times apply to the visitor centre and car park. From March-October they're open from 9.30 am to 5 pm. From September-February it's 9.30 am to 4 pm. They're closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Entrance charges
Entry to the site is free but donations to help us continue our work are welcome. There is a car park charge of £2.50 per car for RSPB non-members. RSPB members and disabled badge holders park for free.
Information for dog owners
Dogs are allowed on the reserve as long as they are kept on a lead in the appropriate designated zones. There are some less sensitive areas within St Aidan's where dogs are allowed off the lead. Please check with staff before letting dogs off the lead.
Star species
Our star species are some of the most interesting birds you may see on your visit to the reserve.
Bittern
Bitterns are brown, secretive herons, camouflaged to hide amongst reeds. Visit in spring to hear male bitterns 'booming' or summer to watch the parents making feeding flights.
Great crested grebe
Watch the amazing courtship ritual of great crested grebes on the open water in spring. You may see pairs performing their 'weed dance' when they present one another with weed and patter across the surface of the water together.
Little owl
You may be lucky enough to find one of these compact owls perched in a tree or on a fencepost. They become very active at dusk and you may hear their shrill calls.
Marsh harrier
Look for marsh harriers gliding over the reedbed with their wings held upwards in a shallow 'v'. In spring, pairs perform their breathtaking 'skydancing' displays high in the sky.
Skylark
Spring visits will be enriched by the beautiful song of skylarks. They rise up into the air from the grassland until they are barely visible and only their song can be heard
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/s/staidans/seasonal_highli...
Seasonal highlights
Each season brings a different experience at our nature reserves. In spring, the air is filled with birdsong as they compete to establish territories and attract a mate. In summer, look out for young birds making their first venture into the outside world. Autumn brings large movements of migrating birds - some heading south to a warmer climate, others seeking refuge in the UK from the cold Arctic winter. In winter, look out for large flocks of birds gathering to feed, or flying at dusk to form large roosts to keep warm.
Spring
Look out for marsh harriers displaying over the reedbeds, great crested grebes performing their elaborate courtship dances and returning swallows skimming low over the water and grasslands as they collect insects. Listen out for skylarks filling the air with their song, the deep booming of male bitterns, male snipe 'drumming' as they vibrate their tail feathers to attract females and lapwings calling as they perform their aerobatic displays. Enjoy the fusion of colour as wildflowers burst into bloom and a host of brightly-coloured butterflies and dragonflies take to the wing. Spring is also a great time to see kestrels. You can often see several hovering around the site at the same time as they hunt for voles in the grassland. Kestrels have also been seen nesting in the huge dragline.
Summer
Watch overhead for herons and little egrets dropping into the reeds to feed, female bitterns flying low over the reedbeds as they seek out food for their chicks or marsh harriers passing food to each other in flight. Keep an eye on the open water for lines of young ducklings paddling along behind their parents or young great crested grebes riding around on their parents' backs and admire the abundant lilypads on the lakes. Stoats, weasels and water voles are often seen at this time of year as are basking butterflies and dragonflies hawking the waters edge. Thousands of black-headed gulls set up a colony at this time of the year filling the air with their calls. Summer is the best time to spot the elusive black necked grebe as it will have its fluffy youngsters in tow. Avocets also nest at this time of year. St Aidan’s is a good place to spot this iconic bird that is the logo of the RSPB.
Autumn
Autumn sees the arrival of migrant birds, such as black-tailed godwits, ruffs and green sandpipers. Local birdwatchers will also spot a few rarities such as spoonbills and pectoral sandpipers. Huge flocks of lapwings arrive to spend winter with us and can be seen around pool edges and on grassland. Short-eared owls hunt over the reedbeds and our winter wildfowl begin to arrive. Look out for flashes of blue as kingfishers flit up and down the river.
Winter
Waders and wildfowl such as lapwings, curlews, wigeons, teals, shovelers and goldeneyes gather in big numbers, roosting and feeding across the grasslands and pools. Water rails can be spotted feeding on frozen pools, or you can listen out for their strange, pig-like squealing! The elusive bittern is also drawn out into the open at times. One of the most awesome spectacles in winter is seeing massive flocks of roosting birds panic and fly into the air as peregrines hunt over the site. Look and listen out for overwintering stonechats. Their calls sound like two pebbles being knocked together!
Facilities
Facilities
•Visitor centre
•Car park : There's a car park charge of £2.50 per car for RSPB non-members. RSPB members and disabled badge holders park for free. We have cycle parking and a height restriction of 2.7 m (8' 10'') for vehicles.
•Toilets
•Disabled toilets
•Baby-changing facilities
•Picnic area
•Group bookings accepted
•Guided walks available
•Good for walking
•Pushchair friendly
Nature trails
Bowers Bimble: Starting from the car park, this 0.9-mile (1.5 km) flat trail takes you on a short walk around Bowers Lake then through grassland and wild flower meadows. Great for a relaxing stroll (20-30 minutes).
Lowther Loop: For a walk through shady woodland glades and along the banks of the River Aire, venture onto this 1.3 mile (2 km) flat trail. In wet winter months, it’s a welly boot walk (60 minutes).
Hillside Hike: For stunning landscapes and panoramic views of the nature park and surrounding areas, t ake a hike onto the hillside. This trail is 1.3 miles (2 km) with some steep hills and inclines, which wind through the trees and grassland (40-60 minutes).
Reedbed Ramble: To explore the magic of the whispering reedbeds, take a walk on this 1.7-mile (2.8 km) flat route that runs around the edges of the reedbeds and loops back to the main entrance (40-45 minutes).
As the new custodians of St Aidan's, we are aiming to improve the accessibility of our paths as soon as we can. Please contact us for updates on footpath and bridleway conditions.
Refreshments available
•Hot drinks
•Cold drinks
•Snacks
•Confectionery
By train
The nearest train stations are Woodlesford (3.2 miles), Castleford (3.2 miles) and Garforth (4.3 miles). If you're going to be walking or cycling from the station to St Aidan's, choose Woodlesford station. Turn left out of the station then left onto the main road. When you get to the bridge over the Aire and Calder navigation, cross it, then turn right and walk along the riverbank until you reach St Aidan's. If you're going to take a taxi from the station to St Aidan's, head towards Castleford station as it's easier to get a taxi there.
By bus
The nearest bus stop is just outside the entrance to St Aidan’s, on Astley Lane. The Number 167 Leeds to Castleford bus stops here and is run by Arriva Yorkshire.
By road
Reach us from junction 46 of the M1. Follow the A63, signposted Selby and Garforth. At the roundabout, take the fourth left for Wakefield A642, Swillington and Oulton. Follow the A642 for 1.5 miles then turn left on to Astley Lane. St Aidan's is 1.8 miles on the right.
From Castleford, follow the A656 (Barnsdale Road) north out of the town centre for 1.4 miles. Turn left onto Station Road towards Allerton Bywater and travel 1.2 miles. Turn left onto the Leeds Road (next to the yellow corner shop). St Aidan’s is 0.5 miles along the road on the left.
Sonoma, CA - Had a visit to Cornerstone and walked the campus with camera in hand. Lots of art to explore and photograph. There is something to be said about experiencing art on the canvas of the outdoors.
Sandhills are the most common of all the world's cranes. A fossil from the Miocene Epoch, some ten million years ago, was found to be structurally the same as the modern sandhill crane. Today, these large birds are found predominately in North America. They range south to Mexico and Cuba, and as far west as Siberia.
Migratory subspecies of sandhill cranes breed in the Northern U.S., Canada, Alaska, and Siberia. Each winter they undertake long southern journeys to wintering grounds in Florida, Texas, Utah, Mexico, and California. En route, more than three-fourths of all sandhill cranes use migratory staging areas in a single 75-mile (120-kilometer) stretch along Nebraska's Platte River.
Most sandhill cranes live in freshwater wetlands. They are opportunistic eaters that enjoy plants, grains, mice, snakes, insects, or worms. They often dig in the soil for tubers and can sometimes cause significant crop damage, which brings them into conflict with farmers.
I found this one at "Camp Lester" on the Kissimmee River in Polk County, Florida.
CREEPY. CREEPY. HOUSE.
Valorie and I headed out together for some night shooting. She picked this location and we, both, excitedly headed out with expectations and ideas.
Upon arriving at the sight, my heavy duty spotlight did not hold a charge, so we couldn't "survey" the scene like we wanted, so loaded up gear, turned on flashlights and started walking through the chest high wheat field.
Quickly, we both got the heebie-jeebies.
This is the second abandoned farm house I've shot at and both make the hair on my arms stand up, but this one much more so than the other.
We took a quick tour through the house, testing our steps, hoping the floor would hold, then did some shots around the outside of the house and then moved back inside.
At this point, I must give truck loads of credit to Valorie for being the bravest girl I know. We did a few test shots inside the house together to figure out light levels and wow- when we turned off the flashlights, the place just got so creepy. --BUT- for this shot, Valorie had to stay in the house- while I went out in the field to shoot.
So, she stayed in the house, ALONE, IN THE DARK, at this place!
Like I said, truck loads of credit to her. Saying she took it for the team doesn't begin to explain things.
So, we shot into the night with plans of camping nearby, but she was so on edge with her heart thumping from the house experience that she cancelled camping and decided we were heading back to sleep in our safe bed! I understood :-)
It was really an amazing adventure and we both came away with some great images. She took some interest in shooting some of her own and I had a great time watching her take wonderfully to the night time shooting.
We've got some more projects coming down the line that may really grab your interest. But for now, we'll be on the couch catching up on sleep :-)
Thanks for the visit-
cropped the original as per suggestion received from viewer....thanks bluestardrop! Obviously I should have worked more on this one before I uploaded.
Best viewed large!
When looking at this photo Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" plays in my head. The creek doesn't look particularly menancing or anything...the song just popped into my head and won't go away!!
Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. I am doing better...still have some issues that require more testing, an appointment scheduled for April 16 which I am hoping we can get bumped up sooner...I am ready to just feel good again!! But my energy is much improved and so a little outing this morning with my husband for fresh air and picture taking :)
Thanks for taking a look!! I hope you all have a wonderful Sunday afternoon. We have a snow storm heading for us this evening!!