I love backlighting．我愛逆光．私はバックライトが
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** 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 💗
Tessin
My best photos are here: www.lacerta-bilineata.com/ticino-best-photos-of-southern-...
Whole PHOTO SERIES about my garden on my blog: www.lacerta-bilineata.com/post/western-green-lizard-lacer...
My latest ANIMAL VIDEO (warning, it's a bit shocking): www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T2-Xszz7FI
AUDIO (if you want to hear the sounds of my garden in the early morning): www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfoCTqdAVCE
ABOUT THIS PHOTO:
Partly out of fear to bore the Flickr community with too many lizard photos, I thought it would make for a nice change - yet in keeping with the main theme of my gallery - to give interested nature and reptile fans the opportunity to get a sense of the lacerta bilineata habitat where I photographed all the animals on this page.
So this is the second of a (as yet planned) series of pictures (if people like them there will be more) that will show you where all the reptile "action" took place: my garden in the beautiful community of Monteggio in the Malcantone region of the Ticino, Switzerland.
The pictures were taken over a period of over a decade, so there were obviously some changes in the garden during that time, but If you focus on the palm tree - which has grown considerably over the years but is visible in all the photos I plan to upload - you get a sense of the geography of the place.
In summer, which is when this photo was taken, the micro-climate in this particular area of the Ticino can be almost tropical in the sense that it's hot and very humid with frequent thunderstorms and heavy rain, and I often refer to my garden (half-)jokingly as my "little Swiss rainforest". I guess you can see how animals - particularly lacerta bilineata and other lizards - would feel at home in this "tropical paradise" of mine :-)
Apparently - as I learned in the comments here on Flickr - the occurrence of this particular lizard species is a very good indicator that an ecosystem is intact, and my family and I always took great care not to interfere too much in our garden and let nature roam as free as possible.
In return, over the years we were rewarded for this "calculated inaction" with a wide variety of species of plants, insects, lizards and snakes visiting - or by now residing permanently in - our little nature refuge, some of which I managed to capture on camera.
As mentioned before, if people like these photos or are interested in other flora and fauna from my private jungle, I'll upload one every once in a while between lizards, so let me know in the comments if you're interested in seeing more of these or if I should stick to just reptiles ;-)
As always, thank you so much for your interest and feedback, stay safe - and have a great week everyone!
Lacerta
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
Graffiti referring to the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992-1995). Location: abandoned bobsleigh track.
Sarajevo Olympic Bobsleigh and Luge Track, situated on Trebević mountain and overlooking the City of Sarajevo, was built for the 1984 Winter Olympics.
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.
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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M20 (often referred to as "Trifid nebula") is a collection of three different nebulae in the Sagittarius constellation, around 9000 light years from earth.
Not only is this a collection of three different nebulae; it’s also three completely different types:
- Dark nebula: this part consists of dark dust clouds that absorb/block any light from stars behind it. You can see this as the black lines in the center of the image.
- Emission nebula: this part consists of clouds of hydrogen that get ionized (think of it as getting energized and glowing) due to the presence of nearby stars. You can see it as the red'ish part of the image.
- Reflection nebula: this part consists of clouds of interstellar dust, which reflect the light of nearby stars. You can see this as the blue part of the image.
Setup:
Planewave CDK24
Moravian C3-61000 Pro
Planewave L-600
Image acquisition details:
14x900" HA
12x600" Red
12x600" Green
12x600" Blue
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.
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".
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.
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).
Often referred to as one of the most tranquil places in New York City, High Rock Park is noted for its quiet ponds and deep woods. High Rock Park is one of nine parks in Staten Island’s 2,500 acre Greenbelt and has been recognized as a Natural Environmental Education Landmark.
High Rock Park contains five ponds and various wetlands, including Stump Pond, Hourglass Pond, Walker Pond and Loosestrife Swamp.
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.”
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.
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).
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.
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.
Physocarpus, commonly called ninebark, a genus of flowering plants in the family Rosaceae.
Physocarpus are deciduous shrubs with alternately arranged leaves. The leaves are palmate with 3 to 7 lobes and often toothed edges. The inflorescence is a cluster of bell-shaped flowers with 5 rounded white or pink petals and many stamens. The fruit is a flat or inflated dehiscent follicle. The genus name Physocarpus comes from the Greek for "bladder fruit", referring to the inflated fruits of some species. The common name ninebark refers to the peeling bark of mature branches, which comes away in strips.
Physocarpus opulifolius is cultivated as an ornamental plant.
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.
It is a member of the bird family Columbidae (doves and pigeons). In common usage, this bird is often simply referred to as the 'pigeon'. The domestic pigeon descended from this species. Escaped domestic pigeons have raised the populations of feral pigeons around the world. Wild rock doves are pale grey with two black bars on each wing, whereas domestic and feral pigeons vary in colour and pattern. Few differences are seen between males and females. The species is generally monogamous, with two squabs (young) per brood. Both parents care for the young for a time. Habitats include various open and semi-open environments. Cliffs and rock ledges are used for roosting and breeding in the wild. Originally found wild in Europe, North Africa, and western Asia, pigeons have become established in cities around the world. The species is abundant, with an estimated population of 17 to 28 million feral and wild birds in Europe alone. 15770
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.
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.
A regatta is a term commonly used in the world of sailing to refer to a competitive event where boats, typically sailboats, race against each other. Regattas can vary widely in scale and format, from small local races to large international competitions. Here are some key points to note about regattas:
Racing Format: Regattas feature organized racing events with specific rules and courses. The format can include different types of races, such as fleet races (where multiple boats race against each other), match races (one-on-one competition), or distance races (longer courses that test endurance).
Classes and Categories: Boats participating in a regatta are often grouped into classes or categories based on factors like size, design, and performance. This ensures fair competition and allows sailors with similar boats to compete against each other.
Competitors: Regattas attract a diverse range of participants, from amateur sailors and local yacht club members to professional racers and international teams. The level of competition can vary, with some regattas focused on fostering community participation, while others are highly competitive.
Events and Festivities: Regattas often extend beyond the races themselves. Many regattas incorporate social events, parties, and gatherings, fostering a sense of camaraderie among sailors and providing opportunities for networking and socializing.
Local and International: Regattas can be local, regional, or international in scope. Some famous international regattas, like the America's Cup or the Volvo Ocean Race, draw global attention and feature top-level professional sailors and cutting-edge technology.
Traditions: Regattas often have their own unique traditions and rituals, which can vary by location and the history of the event. These traditions can include ceremonial flag-raising, prize-giving ceremonies, and more.
Spectator Sport: Many regattas are open to spectators, allowing them to watch the races from the shore or designated viewing areas. Some regattas, like Cowes Week, are famous for their onshore festivities, making them attractive not only to sailors but also to spectators.
Safety and Rules: Regattas prioritize safety, with strict rules and regulations in place to ensure the well-being of participants. Organizers also monitor weather conditions closely to determine whether races should proceed.
Diverse Types: Regattas can focus on various types of sailboats, including dinghies, keelboats, multihulls, and more. They can also be specific to certain age groups or skill levels, making the sport accessible to a wide range of participants.
A regatta is a thrilling and organized sailing competition that brings together sailors of all levels and backgrounds to race their boats while fostering a sense of community and celebrating the sport of sailing. Whether you're a seasoned sailor or a spectator, regattas offer an exciting and enjoyable experience on the water.
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
The Palace of Holyroodhouse commonly referred to as Holyrood Palace or Holyroodhouse, or Holyrood Castle, is the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland. Located at the bottom of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, at the opposite end to Edinburgh Castle, Holyroodhouse has served as the principal royal residence in Scotland since the 16th century, and is a setting for state occasions and official entertaining. Queen Elizabeth II spends one week in residence at Holyroodhouse at the beginning of each summer, where she carries out a range of official engagements and ceremonies. Source: Wikipedia
Le palais de Holyroodhouse, communément appelé palais de Holyrood ou Holyroodhouse, ou château de Holyrood, est la résidence officielle du monarque britannique en Écosse. Situé au bas du Royal Mile à Édimbourg, à l'opposé du château d'Édimbourg, Holyroodhouse est la principale résidence royale d'Écosse depuis le XVIe siècle et sert de cadre à des événements officiels et à des divertissements officiels. La reine Elizabeth II passe une semaine en résidence à Holyroodhouse au début de chaque été, où elle effectue une série d'engagements officiels et de cérémonies. Source : Wikipédia
Mont d'Hermone is a worthwhile mountain with no particular difficulties and beautiful panoramic views over the Chablais region (France).
The Dent d'Oche (Haute-Savoie - France) was formerly known as the Dent d'Houche. The teme Oche designates an indentation or notch, whether in Chablais dialect (ouche), Old French (osche), Prelatin (osco) or Vulgar Latin (coccia), and refers to the Col de Planchamp, which forms an indentation between the Dent d'Oche and the Château d'Oche.
Le Mont d'Hermone est une montagne digne d'intérêt qui ne présente aucune difficulté particulière et qui offre de beaux panoramas sur le Chablais (France).
La dent d'Oche (Haute-Savoie - France) était autrefois dénommée dent d'Houche. Le teme Oche désigne une entaille ou une encoche que ce soit en patois chablaisien (ouche), vieux français (osche), en prélatin (osco) ou en latin vulgaire (coccia) et fait référence au col de Planchamp qui constitue une entaille entre la dent d'Oche et le Château d'Oche.
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.
Sunrise in Moll del Petroli (Petrolium dock), Badalona.
Simple shot in Manual mode with 416 seconds (7 minutes) of exposition. A double filter (Haida ND3.0 and Haida ND1.8) was used.
This shot was taken and published in 2019, being processed under the display-scene workflow. Now I repeated the process under the scene-referred workflow and version 6 of the Filmic module in Darktable. The result is much more realistic.
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 Pyramids of Hunger are structures designed by the Russian engineer Alexander Golod. They refer to the so-called "energy pyramids", which in occultism are considered transformers or accumulators of some unknown science of "bioenergy".
In the CIS, a lot of pyramidal constructions of the Hunger construction were built, the most famous of which was the pyramid, destroyed by the hurricane on May 29, 2017, built on the 38th kilometer of Novorizhskoe highway. The Pyramids of Hunger caused a wide public response in connection with the speculative pseudo-scientific statements of the author that the form of the pyramids proposed by him allegedly "harmonizes the structure of the surrounding space", bringing it in line with the ideal proportion of the golden section and thus correcting defects caused by unreasonable activities as a community of people. and nature itself.
There is no information on any positive changes in the environment and society on the territories adjacent to the Famine pyramids. According to the conclusion of Academician Eduard Kruglyakov, Chairman of the Commission on Combating Pseudoscience of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the magical properties of the pyramids, declared by the Hunger and other construction workers, have no scientific basis.
Пирамиды Голода — сооружения, разработанные российским инженером Александром Голодом. Относятся к так называемым «энергетическим пирамидам», которые в оккультизме считаются преобразователями или накопителями некой неизвестной науке «биоэнергии».
В СНГ построено множество пирамидальных сооружений конструкции Голода, самым известным из которых являлась разрушенная ураганом 29 мая 2017 года пирамида, возведённая на 38-м километре Новорижского шоссе. Пирамиды Голода вызвали широкий общественный резонанс в связи со спекулятивными псевдонаучными заявлениями автора, что предлагаемая им форма пирамид якобы «гармонизирует структуру окружающего пространства», приводя её в соответствие с идеальной пропорцией золотого сечения и исправляя тем самым дефекты, обусловленные неразумной деятельностью как сообщества людей, так и самой природы.
Сведений о каких-либо положительных изменениях в среде и обществе на прилегающих к пирамидам Голода территориях нет. По заключению председателя комиссии по борьбе с лженаукой РАН академика Эдуарда Круглякова, волшебные свойства пирамид, заявляемые Голодом и другими их строителями, не имеют под собой научных оснований.
ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Пирамиды_Голода
#пирамида #голод #москва #россия #зима #снег #пейзаж #никон #pyramid #hunger #moscow #russia #winter #snow #landscape #nikon #D3200
The Lake Placid Club built the first ski jump on this site in 1920, using the hillside itself as the jump surface. The jump was referred to as the Intervales 35-meter jump. On February 21. 1921, the first competition was held at this site, drawing 3,000 spectators. The record jump for the day was 124 feet, set by Antony Maurer. In 1923, the jump was enlarged to fifty meters, and in 1927, a new steel tower was built, raising the jump to 60 meters. In 1928, the tower was raised to 75 meters; this was the tower used for the 1932 Winter Olympic Games. In 1977, the old tower was demolished to make way for new 70 and 90-meter jumps, used for the 1980 Winter Olympic Games. In 1994, the landing hills were re-graded to bring the jumps into compliance with current rules, and increasing their height to 90 and 120 meters 170
Often referred to as a sign that a relative that has passed on ,comes to let you know they re around and watching over you ..I d like to believe it s true ..tomorrow (3rd) is the 6th anniversary of my sister Liz's passing and on Tuesday it would have been Mum s 90 th Birthday ....
Lunada Bay
Palos Verdes Estates, CA
01-16-22
The title refers to the evening I lost the ability to start my Mini convertible, at the point where I'd already taken some photos here at the canyon entrance view, and was going to go over to Bluff Cove to get the skyfire, but couldn't start the car.
While I was giving the insurance operator information so he could send someone to jumpstart the car, I was still taking photos here at Lunada, so got the whole sunset, including the skyfire from the same spot. (I like to try and vary my views, from Christmas Cove all the way to Bluff Cove if possible while the sun is setting if I'm on this side of the Peninsula.
Hadn't photographed a sunset down near the water in Bluff Cove and I wasn't going to try after hiking all the way from Abalone to Sacred Cove just a few hours earlier. However, because of not being able to move away from this spot, this was truly my last Lunada Sunset at least until I got the car back from the Mini dealership.
It was a beautiful sunset too. And I was sitting in my car an hour later when the guy from the towing place showed up. It was completely dark by then, except for the porch lights of the homes across Paseo del Mar.
Arabic QUBBAT AS-SAKHRAH, also erroneously referred to as the MOSQUE OF OMAR, this shrine in Jerusalem is the oldest extant Islamic monument. The rock over which the shrine was built is sacred to both Muslims and Jews. The Prophet Muhammad, founder of Islam, is traditionally believed to have ascended into heaven from the site. In Jewish tradition, it is here that Abraham, the progenitor and first patriarch of the Hebrew people, is said to have prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac. The Dome and Al-Aqsa Mosque are both located on the Temple Mount, the site of Solomon's Temple and its successors.
The Dome of the Rock was built between AD 685 and 691 by the caliph 'Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, not as a mosque for public worship but rather as a mashhad, a shrine for pilgrims. It is virtually the first monumental building in Islamic history and is of considerable aesthetic and architectural importance; it is rich with mosaic, faience, and marble, much of which was added several centuries after its completion. Basically octagonal, the Dome of the Rock is more typically Roman or Byzantine than Islamic. A wooden dome--approximately 60 feet (18 m) in diameter and mounted on an elevated drum--rises above a circle of 16 piers and columns. Surrounding this circle is an octagonal arcade of 24 piers and columns. The outer walls repeat this octagon, each of the eight sides being approximately 60 feet (18 m) wide and 36 feet (11 m) high. Both the dome and the exterior walls contain many windows.
Christians and Muslims in the European Middle Ages believed the Dome itself to be the Temple of Solomon (Templum Domini). The Knights Templars were quartered there in the Crusades, and Templar churches in Europe imitated its plan.
#MacroMondays
#Candle
Mikado, also known as pick-up-sticks or jackstraws, is a game of skill of European origin that, at least according to (German) Wikipedia, was already played in ancient Rome. It is named after the highest scoring stick (blue), the "Mikado", which refers to the Japanese emperor.
This is a slightly different, new type of Mikado, and its rules are simple: clear the game board without tossing the burning candle over or lighting the "active" playing candles in the process, and do it before the red candle burns down (which happens quite fast with these thin candles).
Initially, I wanted to build a much larger Mikado pile with more candles, but they kept rolling away, so I focused on creating a nice-looking pile instead.
Size info: Each candle (except the lit red one, which I cut in half) is 6 cm/2,36 inches long, so together with the negative space (I also slightly cropped the image), the width is about 2,75 inches.
HMM, Everyone!