The Antarctic Cormorant also referred to as the Antarctic Shag - - they were quite plentiful in some parts of the Antarctic - - in this particular sighting the one was the receiving party at Neko Harbour - - I was still on the zodiac when I took this shot, I really wanted the glacier background which would have been impossible once standing on the beach.

Antarctic Cormorant / Antarctic Shag - Neko Harbour

** This does not refer to anyone or anything in particular **

" I'm jealous of the rain

That falls upon your skin

It's closer than my hands have been

I'm jealous of the rain

I'm jealous of the wind

That ripples through your clothes

It's closer than your shadow

Oh, I'm jealous of the wind

'Cause I wished you the best of all this world could give

And I told you when you left me

There's nothing to forgive

But I always thought you'd come back

Tell me all you found was heartbreak and misery

It's hard for me to say

I'm jealous of the way

You're happy without me... "

- Labrinth -

www.youtube.com/watch?v=50VWOBi0VFs

Thank you so very much to my gorgeous friend Ms. B for posing for me. Hugs 💗

More commonly referred to as the Purple Swamphen or simply Swamphen and is easily recognisable by its size (similar to a chicken), large feet, red bill and bright plumage. The top part of the beak extends over the forehead of the bird and forms a front plate or shield; this is often a characteristic of many swamphens, coots and moorhens. In and around the island of Mallorca this relatively common bird is predominantly a purple/ blue colour whilst its nearby cousins on the African continent tend to have green coloured backs.

S'Albufera, Mallorca

PSA 2019 I scanned this photo into the computer two years ago and posted it on Flickr. With the new software Topaz introduced which turns jpegs into raw files, I wanted to try it. I was not sure a scanned image would work, but I saw nice improvement, although will never be perfect! If you have old images you would like to try, Topaz has a free 30 day trial...lol and I don’t get a referral fee :-).

Caineville or often referred to as “Swingarm City” is a dirt bike heaven. Caineville has open riding terrain with large, steep hills and drop offs, as well as technical single track trails and ridge-line trails. Some of the best freestyle motocrossers come here to ride and jump some of the biggest natural jumps in the world.

I'm referring here of course to the rather rare occurrence of deep blue sky and water that seems to only happen in the fall. Photo is taken in one of the quarries of the Rockport area.

We are getting pummeled by a Noreaster right now so I'm just going to sit back and look at this image of tranquility :)

They're estimating about 4 inches of rain and the wind will pick up tonight.

Originally referred to as Grand Canyon, Fredrick Schwatka renamed it in July of 1883 Miles Canyon after General Nelson Miles. Schwatka wrote, “Through this narrow chute of corrugated rock the wild waters of the great river rush in a perfect mass of milk-like foam, with a reverberation that is audible for a considerable distance.” Although accounts differ as to the ferocity of the rapids, there is no question that they were very dangerous. During the Gold Rush, hundreds of boats loaded with precious supplies were lost (as well as several lives) before the Northwest Mounted Police arrived to regulate traffic.

Eventually a wooden rail system around the canyon eliminated the need to battle this hazard. The hydroelectric dam constructed to provide power to Whitehorse has tamed Miles Canyon, but drifting through its 15 metre high basaltic walls is still a thrill

I took this photo of my favourite bridge at Derrybawn from the opposite bank of the Gleanealo river just for a change. I think it works ok though the light is always tricky here. It is my most favourite bridge but Im sure you know that already! Lol! Honestly though, so many here seem to like it too so your all to blame for encouraging me!

I find the name Derrybawn somewhat magical It comes from the Gaelige. " Derry " which is a corruption of the word "Daoire" [ Dirra } which means "Oak Trees " and " Bawn " {Bonn} means White.

So it means " The White Oaks ". Now you are all speaking Irish!!! In Ireland sessile oak trees are often referred to as white oaks. There is one giant tree still standing here which was obviously part of a great forest and I have some photos of it on here.

I do hope you like it.

Im off on holidays shortly for two weeks so Ill catch up when I get back.

Best of everything to all of you!

P@t.

Heres Mark Knofler and the late Liam O Flynn playing " An Droichead "- The Bridge;

www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLoAqCIS22o

Enjoy.

P.

My photos are also on Flickriver below on attaches link;

www.flickr.com/redirect?url=http://flickriver.com/photos/...

Im honoured that 2 of my photos of Bridges have been chosen for Giorgis Rodinos`s Stone Arched Bridges Gallery.

www.flickr.com/photos/141916128@N05/galleries/72157704494...

Everglades Snail Kites are a highly endangered bird in Florida! They are now referred to as Snail Kites and get their name for the fact that they feed almost exclusively on Apple Snails! They are a victim of poor water management, including water quality, high water levels, extremely low water levels. The water that is of extremely poor quality is because of recycling of farm water!

We were luck enough to see these Snail Kites mating on one of our trips to STA 5 in the wonderful early morning light!! As always thanks for looking and we will see you on Thursday!!

Mar & April: Photography exhibit at the J. N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge Visitor's Center, Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel, Florida

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If you would like to use one of our images for commercial use or if you find a picture that you would like for framing, please contact us at klshells@mindspring.com for services we have available.

Backlight is light that hits an actor or subject from behind, typically higher than the subject it is exposing. Backlighting an object or actor from the background creates more depth and shape to a subject.

Back lighting is a main component of the traditional three-point-lighting technique and is what makes a frame feel three-dimensional rather than flat. When a backlight hits a subject at an angle it is referred to as a kicker or rim light.

Within the context of a traditional three-point-lighting setup, a backlight reduces the flatness of the image against a background caused by the key light and fill light by separating a subject from the background.

Because back light photography hits a subject from behind at a higher angle, it gives a sense of depth and space behind the subject. Back light not only exposes the rim of an actor, but can help expose the space behind them to create a more three-dimensional image.

Thank you for visits, comments and favs!

Vielen Dank für Eure Besuche, Kommentare und Sternchen!

Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit permission. © All rights reserved

Epipactis palustris - var ochroleuca (Orchidaceae) 188 23

Epipactis palustris name (palustris) refers to its usual choice of a wet marshy habitat. This preference is reflected in the orchids unsurprising common name of the Marsh Helleborine.

This is a species with a huge distribution across temperate Europe and Asia from Britain and Scandinavia in the west to Siberia in the East. It can grow in dense colonies, particularly in the damp, alkaline conditions it prefers such as dune slacks and base rich fens. Epipactis palustris is not however restricted to calcareous soils and although usually in smaller numbers, seems perfectly capable of thriving not just in neutral conditions but also in moderately acid ones.

Unlike many of the members of the Epipactis genus, Epipactis palustris does not seek out shade and indeed will not flourish if surrounding vegetation gets too rank or high. Although its roots require an uninterrupted supply of moisture, the visible parts of the plant seek full sun and this accounts for its total suitability to life in the wet slacks of large dune systems. It is not however a deep rooted orchid and in fact has only a shallow root system which is well suited to vegetative reproduction in wet ground. These shallow roots also maintain the plants nutrient supply by staying clear of the deeper and poorly oxygenated permanent water level.

This is not a particularly variable species but forms with reduced dark pigmentation are common. Here, the red pigmentation is absent altogether, this variant being known as var ochroleuca.

Source: John and Gerry's Orchids of Britain and Europe

The term Geranium refers, in general, to a group of herbs and small shrubs of the genera Geranium and Pelargonium. It gathers about 300 species, many native to temperate and tropical regions of altitude, of which several are cultivated as ornamentals or for the extraction of tannins and tinctures.

Geranium can be divided into groups, such as: upright geranium; pending geranium; English geranium; fragrant geranium; herbaceous geranium and succulent geranium.

The photos presented in this series are from Pelargonium peltatum (pending geranium), Geraniums with narrow stems and leaves similar in shape to ivy are called “Ivy-leaved Geraniums” or “Pelargonium peltatum”. It behaves like a vine and the flowers have narrower petals and fewer floral heads.

The flowers can be single or folded and can be colored crimson, scarlet, salmon, pink and white. The strong colors and double flowers are the preference of the majority of the public in southern Brazil.

Wollongong informally referred to as "The Gong", is a city located in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. Wollongong lies on the narrow coastal strip between the Illawarra Escarpment and the Pacific Ocean, 68 kilometres (42 miles) south of central Sydney. Wollongong had an estimated urban population of 302,739 at June 2018, making it the third-largest city in New South Wales after Sydney and Newcastle and the tenth-largest city in Australia by population. The Wollongong metropolitan area extends from Helensburgh in the north to Shell Cove in the south. It sits within the Wollongong Statistical District, which covers the local government areas of Wollongong, Shellharbour and Kiama, extending from the town of Helensburgh in the north, to Gerroa in the south. Geologically, the city is located in the south-eastern part of the Sydney basin, which extends from Newcastle to Nowra. Wollongong is noted for its heavy industry, its port activity and the quality of its physical setting, occupying a narrow coastal plain between an almost continuous chain of surf beaches and the cliffline of the rainforest-covered Illawarra escarpment. It has two cathedrals, churches of many denominations and the Nan Tien Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in the southern hemisphere. Wollongong has a long history of coal mining and industry. The city attracts many tourists each year and is a regional centre for the South Coast fishing industry. The University of Wollongong has around 38,000 students and is internationally recognised. 49897

The term Geranium refers, in general, to a group of herbs and small shrubs of the genera Geranium and Pelargonium. It gathers about 300 species, many native to temperate and tropical regions of altitude, of which several are cultivated as ornamentals or for the extraction of tannins and tinctures.

Geranium can be divided into groups, such as: upright geranium; pending geranium; English geranium; fragrant geranium; herbaceous geranium and succulent geranium.

The photos presented in this series are from Pelargonium peltatum (pending geranium), Geraniums with narrow stems and leaves similar in shape to ivy are called “Ivy-leaved Geraniums” or “Pelargonium peltatum”. It behaves like a vine and the flowers have narrower petals and fewer floral heads.

The flowers can be single or folded and can be colored crimson, scarlet, salmon, pink and white. The strong colors and double flowers are the preference of the majority of the public in southern Brazil.

Refers to the pools of water which are frozen over.

I am inspired by many things. Musically by the genius of Miles Davis, hence my title which refers to, IMHO, one of the best jazz albums of all time. Likewise I come to Flickr for photographic inspiration. My views on photography and indeed the many genres of photography that I attempt have been heavily influenced by so many talented people here on Flickr. One of them is Joseph Pearson Images, a London architectural photographer who has photographed so many of the same buildings and structures around London that I have but both of us do it in our own way. Its always interesting for me to see his take on a building that I am very familiar with myself and see what his 'eye' picked out. Usually it's something I've missed and so my education continues!

Yesterday Joseph posted a picture of one of my favourite underground stations here in London, Southwark station, and it got me looking back at some of the pictures I've taken over the years in this most photogenic of stations. I was surprised to see that I'd never posted this escalator shot so thought I'd do so now. Taken pre-covid, way back in 2019.

The Shard, also referred to as the Shard of Glass, Shard London Bridge and formerly London Bridge Tower, is a 95-storey skyscraper in Southwark, London

oliver@br-creative | @facebook | @500px | @Getty & Flickr Market

Skógafoss 20200731

Skógafoss (Forest waterfall) is often referred to as one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland. It has all the ingredients of great natural wonder. The amount of water is excessive, the form of the waterfall is almost perfect in its rectangular shape, the 60-meter drop makes it impressive, and the width of 25 meters puts it into a great perspective.

The cliffs around the waterfall are former sea cliffs when the shoreline was by Skógarfoss but has now moved five km south. On the eastern side of the waterfall, you'll find steps to the most popular hiking routes in Iceland, towards the Fimmvörðuháls pass. Once there, you are halfway to the beautiful Highland oasis of Þórsmörk. Hiking the Skógaheiði moors, you will be amazed at the sheer number of waterfalls and rapids adorning the Skógá River. Indeed, there are 22 of them, each more beautiful than the other. It is a feast of waterfalls.

Source: Hit Iceland

Hampi or Hampe, also referred to as the Group of Monuments at Hampi, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Hampi (City), Vijayanagara district, east-central Karnataka, India. Hampi predates the Vijayanagara Empire; it is mentioned in the Ramayana and the Puranas of Hinduism as Pampa Devi Tirtha Kshetra. Hampi continues to be an important religious centre, housing the Virupaksha Temple, an active Adi Shankara-linked monastery and various monuments belonging to the old city.

Hampi was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire in the 14th century. It was a fortified city. Chronicles left by Persian and European travellers, particularly the Portuguese, say that Hampi was a prosperous, wealthy and grand city near the Tungabhadra River, with numerous temples, farms and trading markets. By 1500 CE, Hampi-Vijayanagara was the world's second-largest city, after Beijing, and probably India's richest at that time, attracting traders from Persia and Portugal. The Vijayanagara Empire was defeated by a coalition of Muslim sultanates; its capital was conquered, pillaged and destroyed by sultanate armies in 1565, after which Hampi remained in ruins.

Located in Karnataka near the modern-era city of Hosapete, Hampi's ruins are spread over 4,100 hectares (16 sq mi) and it has been described by UNESCO as an "austere, grandiose site" of more than 1,600 surviving remains of the last great Hindu kingdom in South India that includes "forts, riverside features, royal and sacred complexes, temples, shrines, pillared halls, mandapas, memorial structures, water structures and others".

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hampi

Wollongong informally referred to as The Gong, is a city located in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. Wollongong lies on the narrow coastal strip between the Illawarra Escarpment and the Pacific Ocean, 68 kilometres (42 miles) south of central Sydney. Wollongong had an estimated urban population of 302,739 at June 2018, making it the third-largest city in New South Wales after Sydney and Newcastle and the tenth-largest city in Australia by population. The Wollongong metropolitan area extends from Helensburgh in the north to Shell Cove in the south. It sits within the Wollongong Statistical District, which covers the local government areas of Wollongong, Shellharbour and Kiama, extending from the town of Helensburgh in the north, to Gerroa in the south. Geologically, the city is located in the south-eastern part of the Sydney basin, which extends from Newcastle to Nowra. Wollongong is noted for its heavy industry, its port activity and the quality of its physical setting, occupying a narrow coastal plain between an almost continuous chain of surf beaches and the cliffline of the rainforest-covered Illawarra escarpment. It has two cathedrals, churches of many denominations and the Nan Tien Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in the southern hemisphere. Wollongong has a long history of coal mining and industry. The city attracts many tourists each year and is a regional centre for the South Coast fishing industry. The University of Wollongong has around 38,000 students and is internationally recognised.

Wollongong Harbour is a great spot to relax and take in amazing coastal views. There are also plenty of paths, pools and parks around the harbour if you prefer to be active. The small sandy beach at Wollongong Harbour is known as Brighton Beach. Although the waters may seem calm most of the time, this is an unpatrolled beach and is not a suitable location for swimming. It can also have water quality issues, particularly after rain. 50456

The title could be referring to the three arches there in this view, but it was really intended for the three people there that I left in the frame sitting on the rocks in the large arch opening taking in that pretty sunset view. They held pretty still for this 30 second exposure ... and I left them there not cloning them out to help show the scale of this impressive rock formations there in Utah.

The history of Quaglietta begins when, to stop the Saracen incursions in the Sele Valley, it was decided to build 3 fortresses: Valva, Senerchia and Quaglietta, (which however at the time was called castrum Quallectae).

The first settlement was therefore a military fortress built on a rocky spur (284 m above sea level) to which a village was added over time.

The name has nothing to do with quails as many believe but with the ancient Latin name of the area or Acque electe which translates as pure water and refers to the richness and purity of the waters that flow in the area.

Although the town is closely linked to the municipalities of the Sele Valley belonging to the province of Salerno, it is part of the province of Avellino and is a fraction of the municipality of Calabritto.

The 1980 earthquake hit this town hard but it was renovated with great attention and today the ancient medieval village retains its ancient splendor and is a tourist attraction.

La storia di Quaglietta inizia quando per frenare le incursioni di saraceni nella Valle del Sele fu decisa la costruzione delle 3 fortezze: Valva, Senerchia e Quaglietta, (che però all'epoca si chiamava castrum Quallectae) .

------------------------------

Il primo insediamento fu quindi una fortezza militare costruita su uno sperone roccioso (284 m sul livello del mare) a cui nel tempo si aggiunse un borgo.

Il nome non ha nulla a che fare con le quaglie come in molti credono ma con l'antico nome latino della zona ovvero Acque electe la cui traduzione è acqua pura e fa riferimento alla ricchezza e purezza delle acque che sgorgano in zona.

Pur essendo il paese strettamente legato ai comuni della Valle del Sele appartenenti alla provincia di Salerno fa parte della provincia di Avellino ed è una frazione del comune di Calabritto.

Il terremoto del 1980 ha colpito duramente questo paese che però è stato ristrutturato con grande attenzione e oggi l'antico borgo medievale conserva l'antico splendore ed è una attrazione turistica.

Sansia Old Street” generally refers to the southern section of Minquan St., and is about 200 meters long. The buildings have stood since the earliest period of the Republic of China. Various words on the building fronts represent surnames, names, and shop names, and their signage is very different to today’s. The buildings are equipped with magnificent verandahs, which are the most impressive parts of the buildings along this street. Their decorated archways are rich in culture and they play a valuable role in reminding people of the need to preserve historical relics. The outer walls of the buildings are　built with red brick, while the inner walls were made of clay. The outer parts of the buildings are decorated with a variety of patterns, and in particular the second-floor windowsills, making them all the more beautiful. There are many with traditional Chinese patterns, animal motifs, and even foreign patterns. Opposite Minquan St. is a smaller wall, known for its unique styling, featuring solid, hollow, and framed styles of decoration.

Just after arriving at Reine.

This is a simple shot processed under the scene-referred paradigm with Darktable from RAW. You can read additional technical information in my profile (about section).

Estany de les Obagues de Ratera - Lagunas Llosas

This is a long exposure shot (8 seconds) processed under the scene-referred paradigm with Darktable from RAW. It was taken with:

- Haida Neutral filter of 10 steps (3.0 ND)

- 'Gobe' CPL Polarizer Filter.

You can read additional technical information in my profile (about section).

Referring to this daughter, Helios said,

“Again I make day balanced equally with dark on my homeward course when I bring in the leafshaking course of the autumn Season Phthinoporon, and drive with lesser light to the lower turning-point in the leafshedding month.”

bit.ly/1Lehltg

Reconnaître un grimpereau des jardins ou des bois à sa morphologie

Il est possible également de distinguer un grimpereau en se référant à son plumage. Les deux espèces présentes des apparences différentes, qui peuvent toutefois se révéler plus trompeuses que prévu. Il se peut, en effet, que l’identification visuelle d’un seul critère soit suffisamment proche de l’autre espèce pour porter à confusion. Vous devrez alors être en mesure de retrouver au moins trois critères parmi les listes suivantes pour justifier votre observation.

Le bas-ventre est-il brun sale ? Il s’agit du grimpereau des jardins. Le bas-ventre est-il d’une nuance allant du blanc immaculé au léger brun ? C’est un grimpereau des bois – vous reconnaîtrez surtout son apparence bien propre.

Identifiez la barre alaire et les motifs. S’agit-il de gradins sombres, en escalier inégaux ? C’est un grimpereau des bois. Le grimpereau des jardins, lui, a un motif clair et régulier.

L’oiseau a-t-il un sourcil blanc marqué, qui tire vers la nuque ? C’est un critère qui identifie un grimpereau des bois.

Observez les pointes des rémiges. S’il y a de nettes tâches blanches, il s’agit d’un grimpereau des jardins. Autrement, les tâches confuses, sales, rappellent davantage un grimpereau des bois.

L’alula est-elle blanche ? Pensez grimpereau des jardins. Si elle est noire, ou seulement avec quelques traces de blanc, c’est un grimpereau des bois.

Enfin, c’est le bec qui pourra vous aider à finaliser votre observation. S’il est long, avec des griffes courtes, vous observez sûrement un grimpereau des jardins. L’autre espèce aura un bec court avec des griffes plus longues.

Être attentif à l’environnement de l’espèce : jardins ou bois ?

Il peut sembler évident, à la lecture des noms des deux espèces, de savoir comment les différencier. Bien sûr, c’est par l’environnement de l’oiseau que vous saurez, en premier lieu, s’il s’agit davantage d’un grimpereau des jardins ou des bois. Pour autant, ce n’est pas aussi évident que cela. Si les ornithologues ont mis du temps à distinguer deux espèces, c’est avant tout parce que des zones de sympatrie existent. Dans ces régions, les deux espèces se voient alors cohabiter. Cela ne se fait pas toujours dans la bonne entente : elles peuvent se montrer agressives l’une envers l’autre.

Toutefois, dans la majorité des cas, c’est bien le milieu qui vous permettra de distinguer un grimpereau des jardins à celui des bois. Dans le premier cas, il se trouvera généralement dans des boisements de petites tailles. Il apprécie les parcs, les vergers, les bosquets. Vous le trouverez facilement dans des lieux où les hommes vivent et sont en contact fréquent, étant de nature anthropophile. Il se trouvera plutôt dans les plaines et les vallées du territoire européen, ne grimpant pas au-delà des 1500 mètres d’altitude.

C’est tout le contraire du grimpereau des bois qui s’épanouira davantage dans les hauteurs. Il apprécie les environnements montagneux et, surtout, les forêts de conifères. Vous le trouverez sans doute dissimulé sur l’écorce d’épicéas, de mélèzes, de sapins ou encore de pins. Puisqu’il apprécie être seul, caché au possible, il se sent le plus à l’aise au sein de forêts denses. Des randonnées en montagne jusqu’à 2200 mètres, alpines par exemple, vous permettront sans doute de le croiser.

Le chant, meilleur moyen d’identifier un grimpereau

C’est, pour les véritables amateurs parmi vous, la méthode d’identification d’un grimpereau la plus efficace. Plusieurs autres facteurs permettent, en effet, de différencier un grimpereau des jardins d’un grimpereau des bois, mais le plus évident sera son chant. Surtout si vous êtes déjà sur le terrain, car il n’y aura alors qu’à tendre l’oreille pour distinguer l’un de l’autre. La diversité acoustique de la famille des Certhiidés, en effet, permet d’explorer largement votre potentiel en ornithologie acoustique.

Colorado National Monument (locally referred to as The Monument) is a National Park Service unit near the city of Grand Junction, Colorado. Spectacular canyons cut deep into sandstone, and even granite–gneiss–schist, rock formations. This is an area of desert land high on the Colorado Plateau, with pinion and juniper forests on the plateau. The park hosts a wide range of wildlife, including red-tailed hawks, golden eagles, ravens, jays, desert bighorn sheep, and coyotes.[3] Activities include hiking, horseback riding, road bicycling, and scenic drives; a visitor center on the west side contains a natural history museum and gift shop. There are magnificent views from trails and the Rim Rock Drive, which winds along the plateau - as well as from the campground.[4] Nearby are the Book Cliffs and the largest flat-topped mountain in the world, the Grand Mesa.

The Laguna Verde covers an area of 1700 ha, and a narrow causeway divides it into two parts. It is at the southwestern extremity of the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve and Bolivia itself. It has mineral suspensions of arsenic and other minerals which renders colour to the lake waters. Its color varies from turquoise to dark emerald depending on the disturbance caused to sediments in the lake by winds.

In the backdrop of the lake there is the inactive volcano Licancabur of 5,868 metres (19,252 ft) in elevation, which is a nearly perfect cone. It is believed that an ancient crypt used to be at its peak.

Icy winds are a common phenomenon there and lake waters can attain temperatures as low as -56 degree C but because of its chemical composition its waters still remain in a liquid state. It is 30 km away from Palques Lake.

***

"Licancabur" Volcano derives from the Kunza words used by the Atacameño people to refer to the volcano: lican ("people", or pueblo) and cábur ("mountain"); thus, "mountain of the people". It is also known as "Volcan de Atacama" and "Licancaur".

This is a long exposure shot (15 seconds) processed under the scene-referred paradigm with Darktable from RAW. It was taken with:

- Haida Neutral filter of 10 steps (3.0 ND)

- 'Gobe' CPL Polarizer Filter.

You can read additional technical information in my profile (about section).

Terracotta invetriata refers to Italian terracotta, a glazed ceramic, typical of the Renaissance artists of the Della Robbia workshop. Its original terracotta colour gives way to the very bright fired colours of the ceramics of the alla robbiana workshop (often limited to the main blue and white colours). It was used to make coloured bas-reliefs, in particular and almost exclusively by the Della Robbia workshop, a family of Italian artists of the Renaissance.

So, has he completely lost it? No, not the driver, me. Well, who refers to oneself in the third person? That may be one indication of losing it. Actually, no to that as well. Now that I have proven to myself that I am capable of using HDR responsibly, I thought I may as well give into the temptation that devil software is throwing at me and apply this process in a manner that results in something completely different. I always wanted to do a minimalist color image without completely giving up on color because I am addicted to it. Quite like the effect “contrast optimizer” has on the bucket loader. That’s why I cropped top and bottom to feature the loader a bit more prominently. The reason the sides are uncropped is because I liked the effect on the fence to the right of the loader and on the faux brick wall to the left of the loader. And no, not to worry, you won’t see too many of these shots going forward. No sense in getting carried away. Less is usually more unless we are dealing with Marzipan which is powerful enough to make me .…

Losing My Religion – R.E.M.

La coulée verte près de Balard sur l'ancienne petite ceinture

De Zalmhaven, also referred to as Zalmhaven Toren, is a project that includes a 215m residential tower in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Other parts of the project are two buildings of 70m each. The project was approved by the city in February 2010.

The 215m high residential tower houses 295 apartments and a parking garage. The tower and a second office building are designed by Dam & Partner architects, with Claus en Kaan Architecten designing a residential unit it is one of the tallest residential towers in Europe and the tallest building in the Netherlands.

In September 2016, the Rotterdam city council approved the plan. After fifteen years of preparation, construction started on 25 October 2018. With Zalmhaven I, the Zalmhaven has a height of 215 meters. The building itself is 203 m and the mast takes up the last 12 m.

On December 15, 2020, the construction of Zalmhaven II and III reached the highest point. Zalmhaven I reached its highest point in September 2021 and the entire project is completed in 2022.

De Zalmhaven contains 452 apartments and penthouses, 33 townhouses, a parking garage, offices, commercial spaces and a restaurant. The townhouses have a private roof terrace and the apartments and penthouses all have one or more outdoor spaces. The basement accommodates a five-story parking garage with 456 spaces. An inner garden will be realized in the lobby. A roof garden will be realised on the parking garage that is only accessible to the residents of De Zalmhaven. The apartments and penthouses in De Zalmhaven II and III have their own entrance at Gedempte Zalmhaven, but residents also use the facilities in De Zalmhaven I.

Lyon Saône, also known simply as Lyon or Lyon-sur-Saône, refers to the city of Lyon, located in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France. The name "Saône" comes from the river that runs through the city, dividing it into two parts: Lyon on the east bank and Lyon-sur-Saône on the west bank.

Lyon is the third-largest city in France and is renowned for its historical significance, architectural heritage, gastronomy, and vibrant cultural scene. The city has a rich history dating back to the Roman times, and its old town, known as Vieux Lyon, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Saône River, along with the Rhône River, plays a significant role in the city's geography and has contributed to its economic development over the centuries.

Tourists and locals alike enjoy strolling along the banks of the Saône, where they can find picturesque quays, charming bridges, and stunning views of the city. The riverbanks are also dotted with bars, restaurants, and recreational spaces, making it a popular area for leisure activities.

In addition to the Saône River, Lyon is famous for its culinary delights, especially its unique bouchons (traditional Lyonnais restaurants) serving delicious local dishes. The city's cultural attractions include numerous museums, theaters, and music venues, making it a hub for art and entertainment in the region.

Overall, Lyon Saône is a city that blends history, culture, and modernity, making it a must-visit destination for travelers seeking a taste of authentic French lifestyle.

Camera obscura (plural camera obscura or camerae obscurae from Latin, meaning "dark room": camera "(vaulted) chamber or room," and obscura "darkened, dark"), also referred to as pinhole image, is the natural optical phenomenon that occurs when an image of a scene at the other side of a screen (or for instance a wall) is projected through a small hole in that screen, as a reversed and inverted image (left to right and upside down) on a surface opposite to the opening. The surroundings of the projected image have to be relatively dark for the image to be clear, so many historical camera obscura experiments were performed in dark rooms.

The term "camera obscura" also refers to constructions or devices that make use of the principle within a box, tent or room. Camerae obscurae with a lens in the opening have been used since the second half of the 16th century and became popular as an aid for drawing and painting. The camera obscura box was developed further into the photographic camera in the first half of the 19th century when camera obscura boxes were used to expose light-sensitive materials to the projected image.

The camera obscura was used as a means to study eclipses, without the risk of damaging the eyes by looking into the sun directly. As a drawing aid, the camera obscura allowed tracing the projected image to produce a highly accurate representation, especially appreciated as an easy way to achieve a proper graphical perspective.

A camera obscura device without a lens but with a very small hole is sometimes referred to as a "pinhole camera", although this more often refers to simple (home-made) lens-less cameras in which photographic film or photographic paper is used.

The earliest known written record of the camera obscura is to be found in Chinese writings called Mozi and dated to the 4th century BCE, traditionally ascribed to and named for Mozi (circa 470 BCE-circa 391 BCE), a Han Chinese philosopher and the founder of Mohist School of Logic. In these writings it is explained how the inverted image in a "collecting-point" or "treasure house" is inverted by an intersecting point (a pinhole) that collected the (rays of) light.

The Greek philosopher Aristotle (384-322 BCE), or possibly a follower of his ideas, touched upon the subject in the work Problems - Book XV, asking:

"Why is it that when the sun passes through quadri-laterals, as for instance in wickerwork, it does not produce a figure rectangular in shape but circular?”

and further on:

“Why is it that an eclipse of the sun, if one looks at it through a sieve or through leaves, such as a plane-tree or other broadleaved tree, or if one joins the fingers of one hand over the fingers of the other, the rays are crescent-shaped where they reach the earth? Is it for the same reason as that when light shines through a rectangular peep-hole, it appears circular in the form of a cone?"

Many philosophers and scientists of the Western world would ponder this question before it became accepted that the circular and crescent-shapes described in this "problem" were actually pinhole image projections of the sun. Although a projected image will have the shape of the aperture when the light source, aperture and projection plane are close together, the projected image will have the shape of the light source when they are further apart.

The title refers to a dip in the dock or a dip in the water or both. It is funny that the dock only fell in right in the middle. It looks like a lot of the decking boards are missing. I think the entire dock would have to be repaired which is running about twenty thousand dollars right now. My guess is that this is a dangerous, deteriorated, decayed, defunct dock. I am sure I am missing some descriptive “D” words. Have at it please. The more the better.

Tateyama is a large volcano. The name does not refer to a specific peak but to the group of peaks associated with the volcano.

Murodou (室堂) as well as Midagahara (弥陀ケ原) and Bijo-daira (美女平) to the west are a sequence of lava plateau.

Murodou (室堂) is located at an altitude of 2,450 m. There is a transfer station between Tateyama Tunnel Trollybus and the bus service to/from Bijo-daira (美女平) near Tateyama town proper. There is a network of trails marked by poles to explore the volcanic terrain in Murodou including hotsprings, ponds, religious buildings etc.

Tateyama is directly hit by the northwestern monsoon in winter. There is no weather station in Murodo as it is completely closed down from December to early April due to heavy snowfall. Unazuki weather station, not far from Murodou in the the Kurobe-gawa gorge, records an average annual precipitation of 3,587 mm. Murodou is supposed to have more precipitation. Wettest months are December and January.

This photo was taken at the end of April.

You can ski in Tateyama until June. There is no lift but instead you can take bus to climb back to Murodou.

Silverback gorillas live high in the mountains in two protected parks in Africa. They are also referred to as mountain gorillas. Silverback gorillas continually wander through their home ranges of 10 to 15 square miles, feeding and resting throughout the day. Because gorillas are nomadic, they build new nests each day at dusk, constructing them out of bent branches in a tree or of grasses on the ground. Silverback gorillas have long black hair and their thick, shaggy coats help to keep them warm in cold climates. Adult male mountain gorillas are called Silverbacks because of the silver saddle of hair on their backs. Mountain gorillas have a stocky build, with a broad chest, long, muscular arms and wide feet and hands. Their arms are longer than their legs. Gorillas live in groups. Each gorilla family has a silverback as leader who scares away other animals by standing erect on its hind legs, tearing up and throwing plants, drumming on the chest with its hands or fists, stamping its feet, striking the ground with its palms and galloping in a mock attack on all fours!

Silverback Gorillas are around six feet tall – about the height of an adult male – while females are around five feet tall. Silverback gorillas weigh approximately 350 pounds- about twice the weight of normal adult man. Gorillas are herbivores, and eat only plants. They spend most of their day foraging for food and eating bamboo and leafy plants

Silverback gorillas were not even known to exist until 1902.Today, their habitat is being destroyed when people use the land for farming and the trees for fuel. Gorillas are also killed by poachers and sometimes get caught in poacher’s snares meant for other animals. The Silverback Gorilla is the most endangered species of Gorilla.

Bactrain refers to two humped camels.

One of my favorite places to visit is the zoo. I can practice my photography and still be outdoors. Who doesn't enjoy a day at the zoo, I have loved it since childhood.

Besides the obvious, there are certain benefits to being what some of my former colleagues would refer to as "careful" with money. The more kindly former colleagues that is, I should add. Others wasted no time in coming up with rather more abusive terms for my steadfast refusal to throw away my hard earned on fast cars, champagne lunches and visits to Monte Carlo, but I would just smile and remind them that they'd still be working long after I'd retired. That tended to either stop them in their tracks with dumbstruck expressions, or had the opposite effect of exacerbating the tirade. Still, I'd just smile as I opened my home made cheese salad while whichever friend it was lavished another fiver on a disappointing looking sandwich and an overpriced coffee.

I often earned similar brickbats for refusing to join in the incessant charge along the highways and byways, driving at a benign pace rather than hammering along the outside lane at eighty-five miles an hour. I prefer to watch the fuel consumption reading rather than the speedometer you see. When I was younger, and very probably heading for a midlife crisis, I owned a white Vauxhall Astra GTE. It was very fast and it made me drive like a fool. It also used a lot of petrol. Now I have a modest Skoda that can get halfway across the country and back to Luton Airport without me having to refill the tank.

So there are aspects of Iceland that suit me, despite the fact that things are generally quite expensive in comparison to where I live. The jaw dropping landscape is something of course that very much ticks my boxes, but while many visitors seem to struggle with the fifty-five miles per hour speed limit, I don't. I simply pop the rental car into cruise control, set the speed and steer contentedly through the beauty around us - trying to concentrate on the road of course - the scenery can be distracting.

Other aspects of Iceland can be a trifle worrisome though. Last time we were here, we parked freely and quite legitimately on a patchy pull in, before walking the short distance to the triple waterfall of Kirkjufellsfoss. It was close to midnight under the twenty-four hour daylight glow, and only a small number of togs were around to compete for position with. On the other side of the pull in was another bit of scrubby ground beside the beach where we could also have parked for free. But three years on, things have changed. A brand new car park with number plate recognition cameras awaits the visitor, and swiftly relieves them of a thousand krona, regardless of how long they're planning to stay for. Needless to say, the waterfall was surrounded by a large number of visitors, many of them armed with tripods and cameras, all after that classic shot of Kirkjufell that looks so familiar. Admittedly there was still a pull in nearby, but there was also a sign that suggested our car might get towed away if we parked there, so we didn't stop for long.

But on the plus side, this aversion to parting with money for no good reason eventually added some unexpected shots to the catalogue, including my previous post, "Night Traffic." Our irritation at the prospect of coughing up the cash had taken us to a generous lay-by overlooking the sea. From there it was a leisurely fifteen minute amble along a footpath back towards the waterfall, and directly past the lake, where Kirkjufell gives away mirrorlike reflections on still days without charging a bean. And when the sky is doing interesting things at the end of a wet and grungy day, that seems like a reward worth grabbing with both hands.

We took a number of shots here, starting well before sunset and pushing on into the blue hour. I'd had a plan to revisit a patch of marshy ground I'd found the previous evening, but the presence of a growing number of togs along the bank of the lake appealed to my better nature as I wondered how easily they'd be able to clone me out of their sunsets. So here I stayed, enjoying the fact that I hadn't paid a thousand crowns for the privilege. It wasn't a bad spot from which to watch the day ebb away.

Orchis militaris (Orchidaceae) 142 23

The name of this widespread but beautiful orchid refers to the helmeted, soldierly appearance of the individual flowers.

Despite its wide Euro-Siberian range, it is a local species, although it may be abundant in its preferred sites in continental Europe. The distribution of this orchid ranges from Great Britain in the north, across the northern Mediterranean, to Russia in the east. It is uncommon in Mediterranean regions and also in the UK.

Its habitat requirements are varied and, while in Britain it is exclusively a gully plant, in France and Switzerland there are colonies that thrive in bogs with their feet literally in standing water. In Europe, where Orchis militaris grows in large numbers with both Orchis simia and Orchis purpurea, hybridization is common and the resulting progeny can appear in a bewildering and often very attractive variety.

This is Elizabethtown or E-Town as they refer to it down here in extreme southern Illinois on the Ohio River. Things don’t change much in these quiet, sleepy little southern river towns. The old buildings and old hand painted signage remind you of a much earlier time. Hollywood should come down here with their cameras and do a retake on To Kill A Mockingbird or some other old southern themed novel. The first time you come rolling down the hill and the town itself unfolds before your eyes, be prepared to be stunned by a strange feeling that you’ve been suddenly transported back into the 1930’s or 40’s. I think I actually gasped, the feeling was so great. Your camera will feel hot within your hand as you are suddenly faced with so many photogenic objects at once to consider. No joke! Coca Cola better get down here while the signage is all still intact. I’ve never seen so much in one small place. Plan a trip and be sure to stay in the old Rose Hotel which is one of the oldest buildings in Illinois and has a magnificent view of the beautiful Ohio River. It doesn’t get any better than this. Cheers.

We often refer to this little beauty, because of its black facial mask, as the "Bandit Bird"

They are apparently monogamous within a breeding season and only infrequently will males be seen with two mates in their territory. Females, however, show no fidelity to their mates and often attract other males with their calls.

If you like this and some of my other images, I invite you to take a look at my wildlife/birding blog, which I try to update every few days. ... grenfell.weebly.com and my web page at www.tekfx.ca

I appreciate your feedback and comments! so feel free to contact me for any reason. I can be reached at billm@tekfx.ca or on Flickrmail

All images are copyright. Please don't use this, or any other of my, images, on websites, blogs or any other media without my explicit written permission © All rights reserved

Could do with a stained glass window..

The Cathedral quarries are a small network of inter-linked quarries above Little Langdale. The system is best known for its main chamber, which stands forty feet in height, and is lit by two windows off the main quarry. It is frequently referred to as Cathedral “Cave”. Source: www.visitcumbria.com/amb/cathedral-cave/

Commonly referred to as the "hummingbird moth" due to its size and hummingbird-like characteristics, but it is far from being a bird. This species is accurately identified at the White-lined Sphinx moth. It mostly pollinates flowers during the night, early morning, or late afternoon. It is a very important insect for the Arizona desert ecosystem.

Referred to as living fossils, they are the only living genus of a class of plants over 100 million years old, which formed Paleozoic forests so predominant in coal. They reproduce by spores and once established are very difficult to eradicate. A fascinating plant.

Circular Quay is a harbour, former working port and now international passenger shipping terminal, public piazza and tourism precinct, heritage area, and transport node located in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, on the northern edge of the Sydney central business district on Sydney Cove, between Bennelong Point and The Rocks. It is part of the local government area of the City of Sydney.

The Circular Quay area is a popular neighbourhood for tourism and consists of walkways, pedestrian malls, parks and restaurants. It hosts a number of ferry wharves, bus stops, and a railway station. Often referred to as the "gateway to Sydney", the precinct has views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House and is a common location for viewing Sydney New Year's Eve fireworks.assenger shipping terminal, public piazza and tourism precinct, heritage area, and transport node located in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, on the northern edge of the Sydney central business district on Sydney Cove, between Bennelong Point and The Rocks. It is part of the local government area of the City of Sydney.

The Circular Quay area is a popular neighbourhood for tourism and consists of walkways, pedestrian malls, parks and restaurants. It hosts a number of ferry wharves, bus stops, and a railway station. Often referred to as the "gateway to Sydney", the precinct has views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House and is a common location for viewing Sydney New Year's Eve fireworks.

Having been referred to as a “cluster of tree houses”, a “crumpled paper bag” and an “urban sandcastle”, the Dr Chau Chak Wing building’s unique masonry façade—contorting and twisting in a three-dimensional plane for the full height of the 14-storey structure—created structural engineering challenges requiring innovative solutions.

In collaboration with UTS and the brick supplier, AECOM (an infrastructure consulting firm) developed a unique brick, tie, mortar and backing system that solved the load, constructability and complex geometrical issues, allowing a near impossible feat of engineering to be realised. This unique solution makes this brick facade one of its kind.

The mansion house (sometimes referred to as Margam Castle) in Margam Park, near Port Talbot in South Wales. This building dates from construction from 1829 to 1839, built for the Mansel Talbot family, who gave their name to the nearby industrial town. Listed Grade 1, it passed out of the Talbot family hands in 1942, but was in a ruinous state when acquired by the County Council in 1974.

Worse was to come in 1977 when fire gutted much of the inside, but continuing restoration work has brought some parts back into use, with the Drawing Room, Library and Dining Room available for events, whilst the Staircase and Entrance Hallways are open to the public.

The house is set in parkland that extends to over 850 acres, the area including woodland, moorland, a lake, formal gardens and a superb orangery and six Scheduled Ancient Monuments. Two are Iron Age hill forts, two are medieval religious sites, one is a museum and one is a World War II installation. There is also a railway linking the main car park to the house.