Just hanging out at the beach provides some great opportunities.

Thank you for taking the time to visit and as always, your views, comments, faves, and support are greatly appreciated!! :)

If you have any questions about this photo or about photography in general, I will do my best to help, just post a comment or send me a Flickr mail and I will respond as quickly as possible.

There 's nothing like cool temperatures and fresh air to raise the spirits. during my forays to the Alabama Hills the temperature can get up into the 100's and when they do, this is where I seek refuge. At around 9000 ft in elevation the difference in temperature is about 15 degrees and there nothing better the a fine mist that floats away from the falls right onto your weary soul.

Thanks for taking the time to take a look at my photos, and as always, your views, comments, faves, and support are greatly appreciated!! Have a great Weekend!! :)

If you have any questions about this photo or about photography in general, I will do my best to help, just post a comment or send me a Flickr mail and I will respond as quickly as possible.

For those of you new to photography, I would like to provide you with some very helpful videos that will help you get more from your photography. They where very useful to me while I was learning and I hope that they will help you out as well. Just click the link below and there are pre-made playlists on everything you could ever want to know about photography. I hope you enjoy them and as always my friends "Happy Shooting"

www.youtube.com/user/EricGaildot21Studios/playlists?sort=...

Fog and the sun rising can provide a nice opportunity to capture a scene. This picture of the tug boat slowly moving through the fog was taken a number of years ago in the Greek Isles. I just rediscovered the image in my archives and re-edited it.

In 1911, the Old Elbe Tunnel was built to provide a more direct route for dock workers over to the southern banks of the Elbe river from the Landungsbrücken piers in St. Pauli. A technical innovation at the time of its construction, the tunnel became a tourist attraction when the 'new' Elbtunnel and several bridges were built in the 1970s. Now pedestrians and bicyclists wishing to cross below the river can ride a free lift into the deep, and cars can use hydraulically driven cages for a small fee.

Explore the southern banks

The green dome at the Landungsbrücken points towards the 426 metres long underpass. The tunnel is used by city-dwellers to explore the remote corners of the port area or to get to Wilhelmsburg or Altes Land. The observation platform south of the river is also held in high regard among tourists and locals alike for its magnificent panoramic views of the city.

A historic site

Modern tunnels can’t compare to the Alter Elbtunnel, which has been a preserved historic site since 2003. The lamps symmetrically lining the arched tunnel walls create an otherworldly yet cosy atmosphere 24 metres below the river’s surface. The Alter Elbtunnel’s Art-Deco beauty, combined with the unique reliefs lining the bricked walls, make this attraction particularly popular with photographers.

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This species provides an example of sex role reversal with the females being more brightly coloured than the males. Females will also choose a male and then defend him against other females and when the chicks have arrived, the female scarpers and the male raises them on his own.

Thank you for taking a look at my images

Tumbling boulders provide a rock boundary for the waters of Burbage Brook; an incredibly scenic feature of Sheffield’s Padley Gorge and the Longsaw Estate; Hathersage, Peak District.

NB: It would be a crime as a photographer to visit this place without a camera of any description.

Created using: Topaz Labs, and Topaz Studio

The game provides a Kalah board and a number of seeds or counters. The board has 6 small pits, called houses, on each side; and a big pit, called an end zone, at each end. The object of the game is to capture more seeds than one's opponent.

provide us with memories. Broken as they may become; they endow hope by freeing us to embrace... gratitude.

- Katherine Walsh

South Hadley, MA

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Lions go through extensive mating rituals about every twenty minutes for several days. Sitting around watching them is super entertaining and provides opportunities to capture images like this from the Masai Mara region.

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The Eastern Meadowlark provides a bright splash of color on Florida's open grassy fields and prairies. Scan fence posts, low bushes or power lines for the adult bird with its yellow throat, breast and belly, and black "V" across the chest. Or listen for the sweet, melodious song: a plaintive, clear, descending whistle.

The eastern meadowlark breeds throughout eastern and central North America and in Mexico and parts of Central America and the Caribbean. This year-round Florida resident is not a lark, as its name suggests, but is in the same family as blackbirds and orioles. In size and shape, a perched meadowlark resembles a starling, but it is quail-like in its explosive take-off from the ground. Insects make up the bulk of the meadowlark's diet, but grass and weed seeds are also consumed.

I found this one perched on a fence post greeting the day just after Sunrise along Joe Overstreet Road in Osceola County, Florida.

Click below to hear Eastern Meadowlark!

www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/201...

Long Exposure of the Caerfanell river winding its way through the Talybont Forest in the Brecon Beacons National Park, Mid Wales, United Kingdom!

Due to the heavy rains that we recently experienced there was a swell in the river offering silky smooth white waters created from the long exposure being forced over the rocks and boulders!

– the better to provide an alibi for all the despair we are going to feel anyway.

Albert Camus

Topaz Studio

Texture with thanks to Alan- sunsetsailor

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Please, don't fave and run, you will get yourself blocked.

clustered bellflower - Campanula glomerata

Challenge 117 - NATURE'S GIFTS (2020 Art) - 5th place winner!

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Rhodanthe chlorocephala is a native Australian daisy belonging to the family Asteraceae. It is widely grown due to its attractive flowers and foliage, and because it’s hardy, adaptable and provides a good, fast ground cover. The flowers are long-lived and dry well. Rhodanthe chlorocephala subspecies rosea is the most widely grown subspecies and is commonly known as “Pink and White Everlasting”, “Rosy Sunray”, “Pink Paper-daisy” and “Rosy Everlasting”. It grows naturally in the south of Western Australia extending into South Australia. Rhodanthe chlorocephala subsp. rosea is an erect annual herb 20-60cm high with clumps of glabrous (hairless) grey-green stems and leaves 1-6cm in length. It has a large single flowering head at the tip of each stem. Flower heads grow to 6cm diameter, gradually decreasing as the flowering season progresses. The color of the bracts varies from deep pink (almost red) through pale pink to pure white, with a yellow or black centre.

Achillea tomentosa, commonly known as woolly yarrow, is a flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is sometimes kept as a garden plant, and occasionally naturalizes outside its original range of dry lowland habitats of southern Europe and (possibly) western Asia. 26258

Smuggler Cove and the shape it provides, inspires many images. It was evident early on that the clouds were going to deliver, so I made sure to get out to catch them. This time, the better shot was going to come from the cliff in the area rather than from the waters edge.

I made sure to visualize the photo prior and set up my tripod at the right spot. The clouds certainly delivered and their reflections were also terrific. Albeit unexpected, the absolute stillness of the ocean added to the final image.

www.photographycoach.ca/

Moerbrugge, Oostkamp, Belgium.

One of the oldest canals in Flanders (13th century), connecting Bruges with Ghent, it provides Bruges with water for its famous canals - without it, no Venice of the North! Both banks between Oostkamp and Beernem, are now a nature area, curated by Natuurpunt.

© 2021 Marc Haegeman. All Rights Reserved

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The Riffelsee lake trail provides scenic views of the highest mountains in the Alps, a lake surrounded by majestic mountains, unspoiled Alpine nature.

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Panorama of the Pennine Alps and Riffelsee lake, Valais, Switzerland. View from a height of 2815 m.

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See my new photos in the My Travels album:

Bedruthan Steps provides one of my favourite views on the north coast of Cornwall. This stretch of coast lies between Newquay to the south and Trevose Head to the north and features a number of headlands and sea stacks with numerous caves at the base of the cliffs. At low tide there are gorgeous golden sandy beaches revealed but at high tide when there is a strong wind blowing, the sea can be spectacular.

The people there behind the falls help provide some scale to this location and waterfall there in Oregon.

Ich melde mich für ein paar Tage ab. Tolle Motive erwarten mich und euch, wenn ich dann wieder zurück bin. Bis bald!

I'm signing off for a few days. Great motifs await me and you when I get back. See you!

3. Last light on Monte Rosa

November 2022

90 × 60 cm, Alu-Dibond

Italiano

Mentre la valle è già avvolta nell’ombra, le cime più alte del Monte Rosa vengono illuminate un’ultima volta dalla luce del tramonto. Un momento di quiete sopra un paesaggio in costante trasformazione.

Il ghiacciaio del Grenz scende dal massiccio del Monte Rosa e si unisce al ghiacciaio del Gorner, che all’altezza del Gornersee (a sinistra nell’immagine) è ormai quasi scomparso. Questo lago temporaneo d’acqua di fusione appare in estate al confine tra i due ghiacciai, quando l’acqua si accumula in una depressione naturale sul ghiaccio. Non appena le temperature scendono, il lago scompare.

Ciò che rende il Gornersee così particolare è il suo svuotamento naturale, a volte improvviso. Quando il livello dell’acqua raggiunge un punto critico, essa scorre attraverso canali subglaciali verso valle, in direzione del fiume Vispa. Un evento simile è noto come GLOF (Glacial Lake Outburst Flood), in cui enormi quantità d’acqua possono essere rilasciate in brevissimo tempo.

Per i glaciologi, il Gornersee è di grande interesse. Il lago offre preziose informazioni sul mondo nascosto sotto il ghiaccio: come si muove l’acqua di fusione, come si formano i canali di drenaggio sotterranei e quale ruolo gioca il cambiamento climatico in questi processi.

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Deutsch

Während das Tal bereits im Schatten liegt, werden die höchsten Gipfel des Monte Rosa ein letztes Mal vom Sonnenlicht erfasst. Ein stiller Moment über einer Landschaft, die sich ständig verändert.

Der Grenzgletscher fliesst vom Monte Rosa Massiv hinab und trifft auf den Gornergletscher, der auf Höhe des Gornersees (links im Bild) bereits fast verschwunden ist. Dieser temporäre Schmelzwassersee entsteht im Sommer an der Grenze der beiden Gletscher, wenn sich Schmelzwasser in einer natürlichen Senke auf dem Eis sammelt. Sobald die Temperaturen sinken, verschwindet der See wieder.

Besonders am Gornersee ist sein gelegentlich plötzliches natürliches Ablassen. Wenn der Wasserstand eine kritische Höhe erreicht, bahnt sich das Wasser über subglaziale Kanäle den Weg hinab in Richtung Fluss Vispa. Ein solches Ereignis wird als GLOF (Glacial Lake Outburst Flood) bezeichnet, dabei können in kurzer Zeit enorme Wassermengen abfliessen.

Für Glaziologen ist der Gornersee von grossem Interesse. Der See liefert Einblicke in die verborgene Welt unter dem Eis: Wie sich Schmelzwasser bewegt, wie unterirdische Abflusskanäle entstehen und welche Rolle der Klimawandel dabei spielt.

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English

While the valley is already in shadow, the highest peaks of Monte Rosa are lit one last time by the setting sun. A moment of stillness above a landscape in constant motion.

The Grenzgletscher flows down from the Monte Rosa massif and connects with the Gorner Glacier, which has already almost vanished near the Gornersee (left in the image). This temporary meltwater lake appears in summer on the boundary between the two glaciers, as meltwater accumulates in a natural depression on the ice. When temperatures drop, the lake disappears again.

What makes the Gornersee remarkable is its sometimes sudden natural drainage. When the water level reaches a critical height, it carves its way through subglacial channels downhill toward the Vispa River. Such an event is known as a GLOF (Glacial Lake Outburst Flood), during which immense volumes of water can be released in a short time.

For glaciologists, the Gornersee is of great value. It provides insights into the hidden world beneath the ice: how meltwater moves, how subsurface drainage channels form, and what role climate change plays in these processes.

To provide a transparent coffin so as to be visible even if a posture of loved one is put in the coffin.

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The decisive battle starts on June 1!

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Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's greed.

Mahatma Gandhi

The world says: "You have needs -- satisfy them. You have as much right as the rich and the mighty. Don't hesitate to satisfy your needs; indeed, expand your needs and demand more." This is the worldly doctrine of today. And they believe that this is freedom. The result for the rich is isolation and suicide, for the poor, envy and murder.

Fyodor Dostoyevsky, The Brothers Karamazov

He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have.

Socrates

When morality comes up against profit, it is seldom that profit loses.

Shirley Chisholm

Thank you for your kind visit. Have a wonderful and beautiful day! ❤️❤️❤️

Nanyuki

Kenya

East Africa

This monkey was photographed at The Mount Kenya Game Ranch animal orphanage founded by William Holden located near Nanyuki, Kenya.

The animal orphanage at the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy is a unique facility to give orphaned, injured, neglected, abused or frightened wild animals a second chance. The orphanage provides shelter and professional care with the goal to release these creatures back into the wild where they belong.

Sykes' monkey (Cercopithecus albogularis), also known as the white-throated monkey or Samango monkey, is an Old World monkey found between Ethiopia and South Africa, including south and east Democratic Republic of Congo. It is named after English naturalist Colonel William Henry Sykes (1790-1872), and has been considered conspecific with the blue monkey (which in turn has included the golden and silver monkey), but has a large white patch on the throat and upper chest, and a grizzled (not blackish) cap. - Wikipedia

ENG: The Hörner gondola lift provides access from the Bolsterlang valley to the Weiherkopf peak at an altitude of 1665 meters and the Bolsterlanger Horn peak at an altitude of 1588 meters.

At an altitude of 1540 meters, the cable car ends between the two peaks and from here the very steep path then leads towards Weiherkopf. In the sloping terrain is then the launch site for the paragliders with a fantastic view - in good weather - over the Allgäu Alps in Germany to Tyrol in Austria.

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GER: Die Gondelbahn „Hörnerbahn“ erschließt vom Bolsterlang Tal aus den Weiherkopf Gipfel in 1665 Meter Höhe sowie den Bolsterlanger Horn Gipfel in 1588 Meter Höhe.

In 1540 Meter Höhe endet die Seilbahn zwischen den beiden Gipfeln und von hier aus geht dann der sehr steile Weg Richtung Weiherkopf. Im Hanggelände ist dann der Startplatz für die Gleitschirme mit einem fantastischen Blick - bei guter Wetter - über die Allgäuer Alpen in Deutschland bis hin nach Tirol in Österreich.

An American Robin (Turdus migratorius) provides an interesting silhouette on a snowy day in Maryland. A few days ago, I decided to take a walk in the snow near my house (snow in late March is pretty rare for Maryland). The snow was picturesque and it was fun seeing a few Robins feeding for worms in an exposed patch of grass. I got down on the ground and achieved just the right angle so that the nearby snow bank was in the foreground of my shot with distant snow in the background. This combination gave me a unique all-white background. I fixed my settings for a silhouette to give a bit of shadowy contrast to the high-key image. This shot was just what I had envisioned!

I’d like to dedicate this shot to a good friend of mine William McIntosh. I have spent the last 4 months shooting as much as I can with Bill and trying to gleen info from him about his weather prediction skills and gain some insight about his frame of mind about photography. He is a master of weather prediction IMHO and I have always admired his tenacity which has netted him some absolutely fantastic captures from Yosemite National Park and the Pacific Northwest. Bill contacted me during the week to see if I was up for a Banzai run to Yosemite Valley as he was predicting a passage in the storm which would provide a high probability of misty/snowy conditions like seen in many of his postings from there. Of course Bill was right on the money as was shown from some of the webcams provided there. But unfortunately I had to decline as I was starting to get sick with the Flu and didn’t want to drag him down with me. Today he contacted me again to see if I was up for some shooting at Corona Del Mar but I was still trying to fight off the Flu and as painful as it was had to opt out again. Later, today, as I was digging through my folder of processed photos I found this shot and the pain of declination returned. Sorry Bill, I was more worried about getting you sick then worsening my own condition. LOL. Thanks for the invite my friend and hope you had a great day at CDM. If you would like to see William’s amazing photography, you can visit his stream here.

www.flickr.com/photos/mtsacprof

Tale of the Take…

This is a side view of the arch found at Corona Del Mar, If you wanted to get a full view through the arch you would need to scramble along the cliffsides base there at a specific tide level, I say specific because if you time it incorrectly you wouldn’t drown but you would have to spend a long, cold night on the rocks or call the Coast Guard to come “fish” you out which carries along an $800 dollar or better rescue charge. I’m still hoping that Bill will show me the specifics of entering here at a time that would be safe to enter and exit during the sunset. See what I mean about his tenacity. :)

Please come over and check out my other photos, you might find something else you like. :)

Thanks for taking the time to take a look at my photos, and as always, your views, comments, faves, and support are greatly appreciated!! Have a great weekend everybody!! :)

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Copyright 2016©Eric Gail

Beauty berries provide a treat for the birds and other wildlife around. The berries begin to turn purple in August and continue to ripen until devoured or through April, whichever comes first.

The bushes are deciduous but the berries remain. The bushes benefit from a heavy trim in the spring after the berries are gone or mostly gone. It helps them branch and grow more berries the following season.

People often make jam out of the berries. Although I am not sure why, they don't have a lot of flavor. I added some to a salad once and it was pretty but again, not much flavor so I believe beauty berries are best left as a food source for wildlife.

Have a splendid day and happy snapping :)

CREDITS - BLOG

The All American Park in Quincy, Illinois provides this beautiful view of the Bay Bridge (on the left) and the Quincy Memorial Bridge (Highway 24, on the right). Large barges headed up the Mississippi River frequently pass beneath the bridges.

Quincy is a beautiful river city. According to Wikipedia, "In the fall of 2010, [it] was listed as eighth in the top fifteen small cities to raise a family in the United States by Forbes magazine for its commute times, high school graduation rate, median household income, home ownership rate and cost of living. Forbes compared 126 cities with a population under 100,000 and ranked them on these five quality-of-life measures."

I also found this to be of interest, "During the winter of 1838-1839, five thousand members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Mormons, on their way west, were driven from their homes in Missouri and arrived in Quincy. Though vastly outnumbered by the new arrivals, the residents of Quincy provided them food and shelter. Joseph Smith then led his followers 40 miles (64 km) up river to Nauvoo, Illinois. The kindness extended by the people of Quincy continues to be remembered by Mormons. In 2002, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir gave a benefit concert in Quincy, with the proceeds donated to the city as an expression of gratitude."

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© Stephen L. Frazier - All Rights Reserved.

All material in my photo stream may NOT be reproduced, copied, edited, published, transmitted or uploaded in any way without my permission. My photos are Copyrighted "Stephen L. Frazier" and All Rights Reserved.

The only tree we have that actually provides us with fruit is this Victoria plum which grows in a sheltered corner of the garden. Every year we anxiously watch as the lovely white blossoms unfurl, and pray that there will not be a frost harsh enough to kill the flowers. If that happens there will be no fruit come September! This year we have had constant frosts, but so far the flowers have survived! So we have fingers crossed for a plum harvest once again!

Happy Bokeh Wednesday!

My Bokeh set: Here

my Plum blossom set: Here

Spring through the lens: Here

Short brake from Costa Rica.. family gathering in Florida provide another opportunity to get shots of this rarity. Dense morning fog overcome with with dehaze in Lightroom. Airboat tour.

From Wiki:

Nests and forages year-round in freshwater wetlands of southern Florida, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Locally endangered species in the Florida Everglades, with a population of less than 400 breeding pairs. Research has demonstrated that water-level control in the Everglades is depleting the population of apple snails. However, this species is not generally threatened over its extensive range. it might be locally increasing in numbers, such as in Central America.

This is a gregarious bird of freshwater wetlands, forming large winter roosts. Its diet consists almost exclusively of apple snails, (especially the species Pomacea paludosa in Florida, and species of the genus Marisa). Snail kites have been observed eating other prey items in Florida, including crayfish in the genus Procambarus, crabs in the genus Dilocarcinus, black crappie, small turtles and rodents. It is believed that snail kites turn to these alternatives only when apple snails become scarce, such as during drought, but further study is needed. On 14 May 2007, a birdwatcher photographed a snail kite feeding at a red swamp crayfish farm in Clarendon County, South Carolina.

The presence of the large introduced Pomacea maculata in Florida has led the snail kites in North America to develop larger bodies and beaks to better eat the snail, a case of rapid evolution.[17] These non-native snails provide a better food source over the smaller native snails and has had a positive effect on their population

Brambles and scrub provide good habitat for Dunnock which usually feed on the ground. The Dunnock was once misleadingly known as the Hedge Sparrow. For a long time it was thought to be related to the Wren. New research places them within a large group consisting of sparrows, finches and pippits.

Tunnel View provides one of the most famous views of Yosemite Valley. From here you can see El Capitan and Bridalveil Fall rising from Yosemite Valley, with Half Dome in the background. This viewpoint is at the east end of the Wawona Tunnel along the Wawona Road (Highway 41).

Grebe chicks enjoy very special treatment captured in this photograph, it has always amazed me how diligently wildlife cared and provides for their off spring.

You can also see grebe feet, which don't have the webbing common in ducks, grebe legs are located at the very back of body which makes them very clumsy on land.

These boats provide a ferry service across the Looe River to East Looe when there is sufficient water. It saves a walk down to the bridge and back again on the other side. West Looe and East Looe were once separate towns, but became united at the end of the 19th century. East Looe is by far the largest of the two and was once an important port for the export of tin and copper ore from the mines on Bodmin Moor, as well as farm and other produce. Some of the former warehouses can be seen on the other side of the river. The arrival of the railway and the end of the mining industry led to Looe's decline as a port and it became a popular seaside resort.

Dunes, Soft Light. © Copyright 2022 G Dan Mitchell.

Details of sand dunes in soft evening light, Death Valley Naitonal Park.

Sand dunes are always fascinating subjects, both for their appearance as part of the larger landscape and because they contain almost infinite varieties of smaller subjects, textures, colors, and variations in light. I made a wild guess recently that I’ve probably been to Death Valley perhaps twenty-five times. You’d think that I might start to tire of the dunes or run out of things to photograph there… but there’s not sign of this happening.

We went to these dunes late in the day and had them entirely to ourselves. The light was challenging, as clouds were building to the west. As the clouds moved the light increased and decreased, but overall it remained quite soft the entire time. But this just provides another variation on how we can photograph this subject, and the soft light lets me reveal some subtle details that can be lost in brighter conditions. I made some post-processing choices here that highlight the variations in light and the soft forms of the dunes.

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

These trees are on Milner Lane adjacent to the Hetchell Wood Nature Reserve, West Yorkshire. The reserve lies between the villages of Wothersome, East Rigton, Thorner and Scarcroft

Hetchell Wood is a mix of woodland, species rich grassland and wet flushes, Hetchell Wood provides a tranquil retreat on the edge of the conurbation of Leeds. The variety of habitats provide refuge for the rare species which were once widespread in the local landscape.

Olhão is a small town in the Algarve less than 10km from Faro, the main town in the region. The town has a significant tourist interest today but previously fishing was its main activity. Many fishermen provide fish to the famous covered market in Olhão today.

What makes a visit and a walk in Olhão interesting is its architecture. The old fishermen's district is made up of small white houses with cubic shapes. As most houses do not have gardens, terraces are arranged on the roofs and the alleys flowered by the inhabitants. Google

PS With its cubist lines and white-washed walls, the houses of Olhão are a sign of its people’s commercial and emigrational links with Morocco.

Barbondale provides one of the western entrances to the Yorkshire Dales National Park and runs from the Lune Valley near Kirkby Lonsdale along to Dentdale. It is one of the Dales that is also in the county of Cumbria following the boundary re-organisation in 1974. A stream known as Barbon Beck flows south-west through the dale to join the River Lune. Barbondale is possibly one of the least well-known of the Yorkshire Dales, though it is one of my favourites. There is just the one settlement, the village of Barbon at the western entrance to the dale. This is a mile or so out of shot to the left. The surrounding fells rise to over 2,200 feet above sea level. Because of the nature of the countryside, sheep farming predominates and there are several small farmsteads dotted along the dale. The woods on the left of the picture are part of Barbon Manor Estate.

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.

Esztergom was the capital of Hungary from the 10th till the mid-13th century when King Béla IV of Hungary moved the royal seat to Buda. During the same period, the castle of Esztergom was built on the site of ancient Roman castrum. It served not only as the royal residence until the 1241 (the Mongol invasion), but also as the center of the Hungarian state, religion, and Esztergom county.

After changing his residence to Budapest, Béla IV gave the palace and castle to the archbishop. Following these events, the castle was built and decorated by the bishops. The center of the king’s town, which was surrounded by walls, was still under royal authority. A number of different monasteries did return or settle in the religious center.

Meanwhile, the citizenry had been fighting to maintain and reclaim the rights of towns against the expansion of the church within the royal town. In the chaotic years after the fall of the House of Árpád, Esztergom suffered another calamity: in 1304, the forces of Wenceslaus II, the Czech king occupied and raided the castle. In the years to come, the castle was owned by several individuals: Róbert Károly and then Louis the Great patronized the town.

The Ottoman conquest of Mohács in 1526 brought a decline to the previously flourishing Esztergom as well. In the Battle of Mohács, the archbishop of Esztergom died. In the period between 1526 and 1543, when two rival kings reigned in Hungary, Esztergom was besieged six times. At times it was the forces of Ferdinand I or John Zápolya, at other times the Ottomans attacked. Finally, in 1530, Ferdinand I occupied the castle. He put foreign mercenaries in the castle, and sent the chapter and the bishopric to Nagyszombat and Pozsony.

However, in 1543 Sultan Suleiman I attacked the castle and took it. Esztergom became the centre of an Ottoman sanjak controlling several counties, and also a significant castle on the northwest border of the Ottoman Empire. In the 17th century Esztergom was besieged and conquered several times during the Ottoman-Habsburg Wars. Most of the buildings in the castle and the town that had been built in the Middle Ages were destroyed during this period, and there were only uninhabitable, smothered ruins to welcome the liberators.

In 1761 the bishopric regained control over the castle, where they started the preliminary processes of the reconstruction of the new religious center: the middle of the Várhegy (Castle Hill), the remains of Saint Stephen and Saint Adalbert churches were carried away to provide room for the new cathedral.

www.spottinghistory.com/view/4624/esztergom-castle/

There is no place near where I live that provides a prettier view of a park bench than this one at the Lake Woodruff National Wildlfe Refuge. To be honest, I'm always a little surprised by the close proximity of the benches to the water in this place, considering there are many very large alligators hiding in those canals! They would need less than a split second to grab someone and drag them into the canal to drown for dinner or a late night snack, lol! Personally, although I've gotten tired there before, I don't use the benches. Call me chicken, but like they say, "better a live chicken than a dead duck"!

These boats provide trips for holidaymakers when the tide is right. West Looe and East Looe were once separate towns divided by the Looe River, but became united at the end of the 19th century. East Looe (on the left) is by far the largest of the two and was once an important port for the export of tin and copper ore from the mines on Bodmin Moor, as well as farm and other produce. Some of the former warehouses can be seen on the other side of the river.

Sacha

Autumn colors always provide beautiful pictures! Sacha is a very musical girl. She took lessons from me for a while and every time we were together I was amazed how musical and creative she could be. She got the ukulele from grandpa and grandma and she is of course very happy with it.

I reached out to her mother to ask if she would like to help me build my portfolio. She responded very nicely and we immediately set a date. I knew her family a little bit and I knew they were warm people, so I assumed it would be a lot of fun. We met at their home, after a delicious espresso and biscuits we went straight to the woods. Here we took a lot of photos, everyone was so nice and that is certainly reflected in the photos. Thank you Lizz for your trust in me.

Beaches provide a sensory stimulation for the dogs. The texture of sand feels different under their paws, which can be exciting and fun for them. Plus plenty of new smells that pique a dog's curiosity.

The mouth of the harbour provides access to the Solent. It is best known as the home of the Royal Navy, HMNB Portsmouth. Because of its strategic location on the south coast of England, protected by the natural defence of the Isle of Wight, it has since the Middle Ages been the home to England's (and later Britain's) navy. The narrow entrance, and the forts surrounding it gave it a considerable advantage of being virtually impregnable to attack from the sea. Before the fortifications were built the French burned Portsmouth in 1338. During the civil war parliamentary forces were able to carry out a successful cutting-out expedition within the harbour and capture the six-gunned Henrietta Marie.

Nature comes sometimes and provides a soft mask of white. Masks can cover a multitude of things and for many reasons. This same photo I believe is a nice capture of Nature and her splendor. A cold day creeps in and we get a quick surprise of snow cover. At times it’s not what we planned for. The Creator doesn’t seek our permission or approval when it’s decided that the weather forecast is about to change our daily pace. We slow down our activities and maybe even alter our plans accordingly. One thing for sure is that we can’t change the weather so why not enjoy it. One method I use is to capture by photograph a segment of Nature at her best. She invites us with the wonder as to what lies “Beneath The Mask” Thanks for viewing my work,