View allAll Photos Tagged Refinement
[also from the Austria meet-up]
This is Esther. She is David's sister and just as amazing as he is :)
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This eye-catching roadside tableau in Ocean Park, Washington, features three beautifully restored Ford Model A automobiles—an iconic presence on American roads from 1928 to 1931, and still beloved by vintage car enthusiasts nearly a century later.
Left: 1928 Ford Model A Coupe
Identifiable by its straight windshield and simple fender design, the coupe body style (with rumble seat) was a popular choice for personal transportation in the late 1920s. With a 40-horsepower, 4-cylinder engine, the Model A was a major step up from the venerable Model T in terms of speed, comfort, and style.
Center & Right: 1929–31 Ford Model A Tudor Sedans
These closed two-door sedans offered practicality for families and middle-class buyers, with slightly more enclosed comfort and a backseat trunk or luggage rack for longer trips. The center car shows stylish two-tone paint and rear luggage, a nod to period touring. The rightmost Model A may be a 1930 or 1931 judging by the wheel design and subtle refinements in fenders and body lines.
🚗 Historical Context:
The Ford Model A, introduced in December 1927 as a successor to the Model T, marked a turning point in American automotive history. It offered a modernized driving experience with innovations like a standard clutch and brake pedal layout, safety glass, and improved suspension. Priced accessibly for the middle class, it sold nearly 5 million units in just four years, making it one of the most successful cars of its era.
This was a period of explosive growth in car ownership. With paved roads expanding and the first national highway systems forming, Americans began to embrace the idea of personal mobility, weekend drives, and auto tourism. Vehicles like these Fords helped weave rural towns and urban centers together, reshaping not just transportation—but American life.
This text is a collaboration with Chat GPT.
Big Boy 4014 is making its break-in run after a year long hiatus in 2020 with UP Train PCYDV 08. They're headed to Denver on the UP Greeley Sub. Thunderstorms are firing all over the area coming off the Rockies, one of them backlit over the train creating some dynamic light as the train passes the Agfinity Elevator and code poles at Henderson.
With over a year since the 4-8-8-4's most recent run in 2019, the UP Steam Crew has made numerous refinements to the locomotive, and this particular trip was to test those, along with LEAP PTC, which uses a unique system utilizing the trailing diesel locomotive as mother unit to operate the Wabtec I-ETMS on the steam locomotive leader.
This in preparation for "The Big Boy 2021 Tour", departing Cheyenne on August 5 for New Orleans, LA and arriving back on September 7. Included in that excursion is a fundraiser trip in Louisiana benefiting the Union Pacific Museum.
4014 was built by ALCO in November 1941 with a builder number 69585. The engine last ran on July 21, 1959 and was the second to last Big Boy to operate. It then spent 1962-2014 on public display at the Los Angeles Fairplex in Pomona, CA. It was removed from the RailGiants Train Museum in 2014. After a 5 year restoration in Cheyenne, WY at the UP Steam Shop, 4014 made its first runs in 2019, its first in 59 years.
Locomotives: UP 4014, UP 4015
7-8-21
Henderson, CO
Because the "spaceship-go-up" molecule must come from somewhere.
Also, holy crap this is the first single day build I have completed in a long time
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Taken for a competition. This was only the first round of 8 :) Thank you so much to everyone who voted!
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The Zorki 3 on the left, made in 1954, was the first model with a full range of slow speeds, using a front mounted slow speed dial like a Leica of the same period. A year later, the full range of speeds was combined into the single top-mounted speed dial in the 3M. The final triumph of the Soviet Evolution was the addition of flash sync and a self timer on the Zorki 4; this example is from 1963.
With the Zorki 4, perfection had apparently been achieved, and it remained in production nearly forever. The only further refinement was the addition of a rapid wind lever in the 1970s to create the final iteration, the Zorki 4K.
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(getting better: more than a month since the last self-portrait close up.)
I've always been a lone wolf and actually I quite like it. Being alone does not mean being lonely.
And how amazing is it that the english word contains 'wolf'..... which are besides ravens my favorite animals.
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Excerpt from www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=9727:
Sited in a landscaped garden amongst mature trees in a residential Gravenhurst neighbourhood, Bethune House is an attractive L-shaped, timber structure. Its gable roof is steeply pitched, while the clapboard exterior features bay windows, ornamental verge boards and a verandah. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.
Bethune House is a Recognized Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental values.
Bethune House is very closely associated with the early life of Dr. Norman Bethune in Canada. His birthplace acts as a memorial to his career and is a monument to social justice and human welfare, convictions held by Dr Norman Bethune. An internationally renowned figure, he became a strenuous advocate of socialized, easily available medical care. His achievements include several developments in the treatment of tuberculosis and in thoracic surgery, refinements in medical instruments, and the first practical use of a mobile blood transfusion unit.
Bethune House is a good example of a typical middle-class residence found throughout Canada in the late 19th century. The influence of the picturesque is seen in the steeply pitched roof, the vertical emphasis of the massing and its asymmetrical plan. It exhibits good functional design and craftsmanship.
Bethune House is compatible with the present character of its residential setting and is familiar to those visiting the region.
The character-defining elements of Bethune House should be respected.
Its good quality materials and craftsmanship, as evidenced in:
- the two-storey, asymmetrical, L-shaped plan;
- the steeply-pitched gable roof, the ornamental verge-boards and the brick chimneys;
- the clapboard exterior walls, the symmetrical arrangement of the windows, the bay windows and the verandah;
- the centre hall plan with informal layout of rooms and the interior details.
The manner in which Bethune House is compatible with the present character of the residential setting and is a familiar local landmark, as evidenced by:
- its overall picturesque appearance which complements the landscaped grounds and harmonizes with the residential structures on John Street;
- its role as an interpretive memorial that make it familiar to the community.
Macro Mondays - Eye theme
Cyborg eyes. With enough refinement, this could lead to implants that restore eyesight while preserving the natural look
The west iwan (rectangular hall opening onto a courtyard) at Jameh Mosque, a virtual museum of Islamic architecture over a period of 800 years. The style ranges from the understated elegance of Seljuks, through the Mongol period and on the the refinements of the more baroque Safavid style. At 20,000 sqm, It is also the largest mosque in Iran.
✨ Available Sept 28: OOAK Laced Palomino Roan Tobiano – Elegance in Detail ✨
🔥 This asymmetrical texture pack brings together a rare and refined combination of traits: a radiant palomino base, intricate lace roaning, minimal tobiano leg markings, and a unique irregular face stripe. Each element complements the next, creating a complete, harmonious package that sets this horse apart as a true one-of-a-kind.
Included in this OOAK Package:
🐴 Hand-painted 2048px Coat Texture
✨ Custom Mane & Tail Textures
️ Eye & Eyelash Textures
🐾 Hoof Texture & Polish Options
🎨 Matching Materials
💎 Exclusivity: This is a true one-of-one creation. Its elegance and balance make it instantly memorable—a champion in both the ring and the stable. Once sold, it will never be repeated.
🎤 Available exclusively for live auction at The Dog & Pony Show 2025, starting September 28th at 12 PM SLT.
View the live demo & full information here:
maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Elysian%20Veil/184/13/34
The story behind this lot:
This Laced Palomino Roan Tobiano is a horse defined by refinement, individuality, and balance. The golden palomino coat carries a luminous sheen, enriched by intricate lace roaning along the topline that catches the eye under any light. Minimal tobiano markings are restricted to the legs, adding contrast without overwhelming the base coat, while the irregular stripe down the face adds character and distinction.
Together, these details create a horse that is more than the sum of its parts—an athlete whose presence is instantly recognizable and impossible to forget. This horse’s proven success in competition comes not only from movement and athleticism, but also from a striking, harmonious appearance that leaves a lasting impression in every arena.
The Laced Palomino Roan Tobiano is not just a competitor, but a complete package: elegance, individuality, and championship quality refined into one unforgettable horse.
Secure the Laced Palomino Roan Tobiano, a complete package of refinement, individuality, and championship presence.
There are different accounts of how the British got their hands on Looty and a handful of other Pekingese. Looty was one of five lapdogs brought back to England after the raid. Two went to the Duchess of Wellington, two to the Duchess of Richmond and Looty was presented to Queen Victoria in April 1861 by the then 26-year-old Captain Hart Dunne. Perhaps not surprisingly, Looty preferred boiled rice with chicken and gravy to the food given to the Queen’s other dogs. The Queen had a portrait of the dog painted by Friedrich Keyl at Windsor in 1861. A facsimile was released to newspapers and magazines fuelling a national interest in the little dog. Looty also enjoyed interest in the States with Harper’s Weekly reporting that the other royal dogs took exception to her ‘oriental habits’. Looty and her friend destroyed the rose’s garden of Buckingam Palast, Victoria decided to give them the opportunity to help the Yorkshire minor…The Yorkshire Terrier was a byproduct of the Industrial Revolution in England, and for dogs in those days, it was “earn your keep,” or else. Yorkies were originally bred for hunting rats in mines by blue collar miners, and while those dogs were a slightly larger than they are now, it wasn’t by much.
Early Yorkies were kept by hard bitten men who relied on the tough little buggers to control vermin in the mines and textile mills in which they worked. We think we can imagine what life was like in those days, but honestly, we really can’t. The men who had left behind farm life to earn a living in towns and cities for the first time in their lives were met with a setting that was crowded and smelly, in large part because there was no sewage, garbage collection, or running water. And then there were the rats. These creatures infected food, chewed on goods (or your toes), and created a stink. The men needed help, and it came in the form of an easy-to-carry and cheap-to-feed dog, the Yorkie’s ancestor. Not to diss cats, but a good ratting dog in that environment was faster than a cat and had more drive for the work.
Up until 1861, the fact that Yorkies had been kept and bred by miners was a bit of a secret because it didn’t fit the narrative of a breed that appeared in its first dog show that same year. Thanks to the breed’s quick wit and appeal, it moved easily from rat dog to lady’s pet during the Victorian era. The breed’s environment may have changed from gritty mine to pretty parlor, but it never lost its tough terrier roots.
nationalpurebreddogday.com/the-tough-yorkie-never-underes...
"The story is that in the palace there were found these little dogs that nobody really saw before because they were a very secret, personal part of the emperor's empresses and the eunuchs of the palace and so on," design historian Sarah Cheang says
Dr Cheang is fascinated by why to this day, stately homes in Britain are filled with Chinese things. Buckingham Palace’s 39-acre garden fulfils many roles. Described as ‘a walled oasis in the middle of London’, the garden is the largest private garden in the capital and boasts 325 wild-plant species, 30 species of breeding birds, and over 1,000 trees, including 98 plane trees and 85 different species of oak. Like the initial garden in Beijing, Victoria designed a paradise in the meddle of London, administrative "Forbidden City is man-made, it's rigid, formal, symmetrical. The Old Summer Palace was much, much richer and more beautiful." When said in the language of Fengshui, movement of air and water… Today it is a self-regulating eco-system fed from the Buckingham Palace bore hole. A ‘long-grass policy’ has encouraged the natural lakeside environment to flourish, and the area is now a favourite nesting site for a variety of water birds. The garden provides a habitat for native birds rarely seen in London, including the common sandpiper, sedge warbler and lesser whitethroat.
She says there's a strong myth that Pekingese are 'special palace dogs'.
"They become imperial loot. They become these treasures that formerly belonged to the emperor. Hence the decision to call this one dog that's gifted to Queen Victoria, Looty," she says.
"It says a lot about how acceptable it was to loot. This was normal. The British had this God-given right to go out into the world and take stuff."
Hilary Du Crow has been breeding Pekingese dogs around the world since she was 10.
She says the Queen having the dog was a big endorsement.
"The fact that the Queen had one is clearly an influence on why it became such a big deal," she says.
In the decades that followed other Pekingese were brought over.
"The dogs that you have today were descended from ones that came out later, like about 15 years later," she says.
By 1901 a breeding population was established, and the dogs became very fashionable and very popular. Queen Victoria very knew about the Chinese culture and of his numerous refinement. The gardens of the Victorian era are a copy of the Chinese gardens and the art of Feng Shui.During the destruction of the Summer Palace after the Boxer rebellion (other name of dog which the Queen baptized),a lot of extraordinary animals were sent to Buckingam Palace.Small in size but big in personality, comes from China, it was removed by the Summer Palace and given to queen Victoria. His turbulent character destroyed the rosebushes of Buckingam Palace.e queen offered a couple of these dogs-lions to miners of Yorkshire. Dr Cheang says the popularity of the Pekingese reveals a lot about how the British feel about an imagined Far East.
"I think that the connection to the exotic is part of its appeal," she says.
"They are supposed to be like little miniature Chinese emperors sitting on cushions.
"The breeders are trying to breed them to look a certain way and create what they see as a Chinese object."
An attempt to forge a connection with a palace that was razed to the ground.
"It's an important dynamic within imperialism that you have a constant nostalgia for the thing that you're in the act of destroying," Dr Cheang says.
"At the same time as you disrupt local cultures and seek to destroy them, often in order to dominate, you are mourning the loss of those cultures and trying to act in ways to preserve them. "It's important to not just to laugh at these dogs, but to take seriously what was done in terms of violence, in terms of finding yet another way in which to assert ideas about British superiority," she says.
"These dogs were actually important tools of British imperialism.
"It's not all a laughing matter."
The Old Summer Palace has other names these days — "China's national ruin", its "ground zero".
Hear how Beijing's rulers have ensured its story has become intertwined with China's national identity on Stuff the British Stole. You can listen now on ABC Listen, or wherever you get podcasts.
www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-11/pekingese-dog-looty-from-b...
The legend could be born in shelters of the light and the real history.A Shih Tzu (English: /ˈʃiːtsuː/; Chinese: 西施犬; pinyin: xīshī quǎn), also known as the Chrysanthemum Dog, is a toy dog breed, weighing 10–19 pounds (4.5–8.6kg) when fully grown. The exact origins of the breed are unknown, but it is thought to have originated in Tibet and then been developed in China.The name comes from the Chinese language word for "lion" because this kind of dog was bred to resemble "the lion as depicted in traditional oriental art." (The Pekingese breed is also called "lion dog" in Chinese.) "Shih Tzu" is the Wade-Giles romanization of the Chinese characters 獅子, meaning lion; Wade-Giles romanization was in use when the breed was first introduced in America; but, in modern times, Pinyin romanization is used, rendering it shīzi. The Mandarin Chinese pronunciation is approximately shirr-dzə. The Shih Tzu is also known as the "Xi Shi dog" because Xi Shi was regarded as one of the most beautiful women of ancient China.[9] Shih Tzu were nicknamed the Chrysanthemum Dog in England in the 1930s..The dog may also be called the Tibetan Lion Dog; but whether the breed should be referred to as "Tibetan" or "Chinese" is a source of argument, the absolute answer to which "may never be known"DNA analysis placed the ancestors of today's Shih Tzu breed in the group of "ancient" breeds indicating "close genetic relationship to wolves".Another branch coming down from the "Kitchen Midden Dog" gave rise to the Papillon and Long-haired Chihuahua and yet another "Kitchen Midden Dog" branch to the Pug and Shih Tzu. It is also said that the breed originated in China, hence the name "Lion Dog", in 800 B.C. There are various theories of the origins of today's breed. Theories relate that it stemmed from a cross between Pekingese and a Tibetan dog called the Lhasa Apso. Dogs during ancient times were selectively bred and seen in Chinese paintings. The dogs were favorites of the Chinese royals and so prized that, for years, the Chinese refused to sell, trade, or give any away. The first dogs of the breed were imported into Europe (England and Norway) in 1930 and were classified by the Kennel Club as "Apsos". The first European standard for the breed was written in England in 1935 by the Shih Tzu Club,and the dogs were recategorised as Shih Tzu. The breed spread throughout Europe, and was brought to the United States after World War II, when returning members of the U.S. military brought back dogs from Europe, in the mid 1950s. The Shih Tzu was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1969 in the Toy Group.The breed is now recognized by all of the major kennel clubs in the English-speaking world.[1] It is also recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale for international competition in Companion and Toy Dog Group, Section 5, Tibetan breeds. In the United States, the Shih Tzu ranked the 15th most popular breed in 2013, falling slightly in popularity since 2012, when it was placed in 11th position.A couple of days after the first assault on the palace, the foreign hostages' deaths were announced, at which point the burning of the summer palace was ordered in retribution. The destruction was dressed up as an act of rough justice, but an awful lot of soldiers and officers simply helped themselves to the astonishing treasures that lay before them. A Pekinese dog was among the haul: presented later to Queen Victoria, it was re-named "Looty", in honour of the manner in which it reached British shores.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shih_Tzu
Yorkshire terrier, also called Yorkie, breed of toy dog developed about the mid-1800s in ... black-masked face with short muzzle, considered sacred in ancient China .... Lions, for instance, have sharp teeth and claws and are good at chasing
global.britannica.com/animal/Yorkshire-terrier
The Yorkshire Terrier is a small dog breed of terrier type, developed during the 19th century in Yorkshire, England, to catch rats in clothing mills..The defining feature of the breed is its maximum size of 7 pounds (3.2 kg), although some may exceed this and grow up to 15 pounds (6.8 kg). It is placed in the Toy Terrier section of the Terrier Group by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale and in the Toy Group or Companion Group by other kennel clubs, including the American Kennel Club. A popular companion dog, the Yorkshire Terrier has also been part of the development of other breeds, such as the Australian Silky Terrier. It has a grey, black, and tan coat, and the breed's nickname is Yorkie.The Yorkshire Terrier (also called a "Yorkie") originated in Yorkshire (and adjoining Lancashire), a county in northern England.In the mid-19th century, workers from Scotland came to Yorkshire in search of work and brought with them several different varieties of small terriers. Breeding of the Yorkshire Terrier was "principally accomplished by the people—mostly operatives in cotton and woolen mills—in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire." Details are scarce. Mrs. A. Foster is quoted as saying in 1886, "If we consider that the mill operatives who originated the breed...were nearly all ignorant men, unaccustomed to imparting information for public use, we may see some reason why reliable facts have not been easily attained.The breed sprang from three different dogs, a male named Old Crab and a female named Kitty, and another female whose name is not known.[8] The Paisley Terrier, a smaller version of the Skye Terrier that was bred for a beautiful long silky coat, also figured into the early dogs. Some authorities believed that the Maltese was used as well.[9] "They were all originally bred from Scotch Terriers (note: meaning dogs from Scotland, not today's Scottish Terrier) and shown as such...the name Yorkshire Terrier was given to them on account of their being improved so much Yorkshire."Yorkshire Terriers were shown in a dog show category (class) at the time called "Rough and Broken-coated, Broken-haired Scotch and Yorkshire Terriers". Hugh Dalziel, writing in 1878, says that "the classification of these dogs at shows and in the Kennel Club Stud Book is confusing and absurd" in lumping together these different types.In the early days of the breed, "almost anything in the shape of a Terrier having a long coat with blue on the body and fawn or silver coloured head and legs, with tail docked and ears trimmed, was received and admired as a Yorkshire Terrier". But in the late 1860s, a popular Paisley type Yorkshire Terrier show dog named Huddersfield Ben, owned by a woman living in Yorkshire, Mary Ann Foster, was seen at dog shows throughout Great Britain, and defined the breed type for the Yorkshire Terrier.
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I had an amazing time meeting Jonas Hafner this weekend. It was the first time I managed taking selfportraits with some staying with me and watching it. At first it was really hard but then it got better and in the end it nearly felt naturel. Probably only because Jonas was so patient and helpful and never laughed at me :) Thank you so much Jonas! Click here we had fun:)
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Another street shot taken with my Sony RX100. I liked the pose of the moment with the serious intent of the stare and the body language of the aerobics trainer toward the little girl on her three-wheeled plastic scooter (which almost every little kid has in Beijing). The trainer appears to be saying: "Get right back in there, missy!". Meanwhile the little girl seems to be willfully and blissfully ignoring her command, as she makes a get-away on on her little pink scooter.
I liked the mix of colours, the triangle of composition with the headshot of the model in the background, as well as the accentuation of size difference between the girl and the trainer, as the trainer is closer up while the girl is further away in the scene. Some of the English in the ad is also a bit stilted and comical as well.
Although the image is cropped in pretty tightly, so as to cut out some distratcting background elements, the crop also seems to further enhance the sense of how tall the trainer is in contrast to the girl on the right.
The headhsot of the model in the middle appears in a multiple exposure image just a few images farther down in my photostream (taken with my Nikon D500).
Post work was done mainly in Capture One, along with some HDR effects in Photomatix. A few refinements in tone, colouring and contrast were made in PS and I corrected for a tiny bit of barrel distortion from the lens in Lr. I also cleaned up some noise from the HDR processing in Photomatix and later in Topaz Denoise. The HDR rendering in Photomatix added some nice highlights to the gym outfit and brought out some of the muscle tone in the trainer.
The west iwan (rectangular hall opening onto a courtyard) at Jameh Mosque. It was originally built by the Seljuks but later decorated by the Safavids. It has mosaics that are more geometric than those of the southern hall.
Jameh Mosque is a virtual museum of Islamic architecture over a period of 800 years. The style ranges from the understated elegance of Seljuks, through the Mongol period and on the refinements of the more baroque Safavid style. At 20,000 sqm, It is also the largest mosque in Iran.
Panorama of Devils Cornfield, an arrowweed forest, at Death Valley National Park. I'm standing on the doorsill of the Toyota FJ Cruiser to take this. It's about the right height to look out across the top of them to get a feeling of depth. Stitching by PanoramaStitcher and numerous refinements by Affinity Photo 2.
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new dress = new photo :)
behind-the-scenes video: yay!
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For several years, I noticed a particular man on my train. He used to get off at the same station as me and without fail he was always carrying various large parcels wrapped in brown paper. I never discovered what the parcels contained but this was the inspiration for my latest short story, CANVAS, where the protagonist decides to find out. In the fictional world, the answer involves a fair amount of bloodshed. Read the story here: www.redhanded.dk/here-there-will-be-stories/canvas/ or on Kindle: www.amazon.com/dp/B07XY8LLLD/ref=sr_1_4?qid=1568721635&am...
I think there is a monster living inside all of us.
You can see what everybody else creates here.
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The 1935 Lancia Augusta Drophead Coupe was an elegant and compact luxury car, featuring innovative engineering like a narrow-angle V4 engine and advanced independent front suspension for its time. With its drophead (convertible) body style, it offered both style and sophistication, appealing to the elite European market. Built with typical Lancia precision, the Augusta combined performance, refinement, and cutting-edge design in a charming pre-war package.
From One Penny to Utopia
Sensing cultural empowerment
And the euphoric rise of the imperialist spirit
All of the romantic adventures
And the courageous attacks
Surviving those deemed as inferior
And observing the tormented
Then returning to refinement and grace
And feeling satisfied by the tasting
Sublimity
Awe-inspiring
Stories of journeys into the unknown lands
Read more: www.jjfbbennett.com/2020/06/from-one-penny-to-utopia.html
One-off sponsorship: www.paypal.me/bennettJJFB
Reminiscing about my prior visit to Pehrson. A train of empty well cars is brought to be stored in the siding with heritage unit UP 1989 in the mix. The distant Oquirrh Mountains and the wide expanse of Rush Valley dominates the scene.
Other's have expressed it better than I could, but 1989 perhaps has the most "what were they thinking?" Heritage Unit scheme in the fleet with the gray nose. While the aspen gold and black lining is an obvious tribute to the passenger scheme on the DRGW, the gray feels like a pale imitation of the silver tones the original inspiration once used. If the current UP heritage fleet was ever retired, I feel like an approach similar to Norfolk Southern's units with more literal translations of the original schemes would be the best approach for replacements; but it is hard to knock UP as the forerunner of the shockingly fan favorite trademark protection heritage unit scheme for lacking the refinement their successors had.
Lahore Fort started life as a defensive wall on the banks of River Ravi by the earliest settlers who founded Lahore. It was attacked, damaged, demolished, and rebuilt into various structures several times over, until it acquired its present general form under Emperor Akbar in 1566. Succeeding emperors, Sikh conquerors, and British colonists used the fort as the seat of their governance, and added their architectural influences to the citadel to give it its present configuration.
Ornate carvings directly on the stone pillars evidence the meticulous details and refinements that Mughal architects are famous for.
For more detailed information on Lahore Fort, please see: sites.ualberta.ca/~rnoor/lahore_fort.html, and
Escape to your own private oasis nestled deep within the lush jungle of Le Chateau. Introducing the Hacienda Libra, an exclusive homestead entire private region.
We are thrilled to announce that for the first time ever at Le Chateau, we are offering the unique opportunity to enjoy your own private sim. Indulge in the epitome of opulence as you immerse yourself in the rich ambiance of colonial Spanish-inspired architecture, reminiscent of the grand estates of South America.
Immerse yourself in the enchanting spirit of South America, where every corner of this stunning estate tells a story of elegance and refinement.
Don't miss your chance to rent your own private sim at Le Chateau.
Visit it here : maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Libra%20Isle/87/113/21
Big Boy 4014 is making its break-in run after a year long hiatus in 2020 with UP Train PCYDV 08. They're headed to Denver on the UP Greeley Sub. past the Nunn Elevator as a father and sun exchange waves with the engine crew.
With over a year since the 4-8-8-4's most recent run in 2019, the UP Steam Crew has made numerous refinements to the locomotive, and this particular trip was to test those, along with LEAP PTC, which uses a unique system utilizing the trailing diesel locomotive as mother unit to operate the Wabtec I-ETMS on the steam locomotive leader.
This in preparation for "The Big Boy 2021 Tour", departing Cheyenne on August 5 for New Orleans, LA and arriving back on September 7. Included in that excursion is a fundraiser trip in Louisiana benefiting the Union Pacific Museum.
4014 was built by ALCO in November 1941 with a builder number 69585. The engine last ran on July 21, 1959 and was the second to last Big Boy to operate. It then spent 1962-2014 on public display at the Los Angeles Fairplex in Pomona, CA. It was removed from the RailGiants Train Museum in 2014. After a 5 year restoration in Cheyenne, WY at the UP Steam Shop, 4014 made its first runs in 2019, its first in 59 years.
Locomotives: UP 4014, UP 4015
7-8-21
Nunn, CO
The Delivery of the Keys, or Christ Giving the Keys to St. Peter is a fresco by the Italian Renaissance painter Pietro Perugino which was produced in 1481–1482 and is located in the Sistine Chapel, Rome.
The commission of the work originated in 1480, when Perugino was decorating a chapel in the Old St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Pope Sixtus IV was pleased by his work, and decided to commission him also the decoration of the new Chapel he had built in the Vatican Palace. Due to the size of the work, Perugino was later joined by a group of painters from Florence, including Botticelli, Ghirlandaio and others.
While the work was still being created, a visit from Alfonso II of Naples resulted in his addition to the far left of the group of foreground figures. To balance out the image, an apostle was added above St. Peter.
The scene, part of the series of the Stories of Jesus on the chapel's northern wall, is a reference to Matthew 16 in which Jesus says he will give "the keys of the kingdom of heaven" to Saint Peter. These keys represent the power to forgive and to share the word of God thereby giving them the power to allow others into heaven. The main figures are organized in a frieze in two tightly compressed rows close to the surface of the picture and well below the horizon. The principal group, showing Christ handing the silver and gold keys to the kneeling St. Peter, is surrounded by the other Apostles, including Judas (fifth figure to the left of Christ), all with halos, together with portraits of contemporaries, including one said to be a self-portrait (fifth from the right edge). The flat, open square is divided by coloured stones into large foreshortened rectangles. In the center of the background is a temple resembling the ideal church of Leon Battista Alberti's On architecture; on either side are triumphal arches with inscriptions aligning Sixtus IV to Solomon, recalling the latter's porticoed temple. Scattered in the middle distance are two scenes from the life of Christ, including the Tribute Money on the left and the stoning of Christ on the right.
Detail of the central building
The style of the figures is inspired by Andrea del Verrocchio. The active drapery, with its massive complexity, and the figures, particularly several apostles, including St. John the Evangelist, with beautiful features, long flowing hair, elegant demeanour, and refinement recall St Thomas from Verrocchio's bronze group in Orsanmichele. The poses of the actors fall into a small number of basic attitudes that are consistently repeated, usually in reverse from one side to the other, signifying the use of the same cartoon. They are graceful and elegant figures who tend to stand firmly on the earth. Their heads are smallish in proportion to the rest of their bodies, and their features are delicately distilled with considerable attention to minor detail.
The octagonal temple of Jerusalem[citation needed] and its porches that dominates the central axis must have had behind it a project created by an architect, but Perugino's treatment is like the rendering of a wooden model, painted with exactitude. The building with its arches serves as a backdrop in front of which the action unfolds. Perugino has made a significant contribution in rendering the landscape. The sense of an infinite world that stretches across the horizon is stronger than in almost any other work of his contemporaries, and the feathery trees against the cloud-filled sky with the bluish-gray hills in the distance represent a solution that later painters would find instructive, especially Raphael.
The building in the center is similar to that in Marriage of the Virgin by Perugino, as well as that painted by Perugino's pupil Pinturicchio in his Stories of St. Bernardino in the Bufalini Chapel of Santa Maria in Aracoeli.
The fresco was believed to be a good omen in Papal conclaves: superstition held that the cardinal who (as selected by lot) was housed in the cell beneath the fresco was likely to be elected. Contemporary records indicate at least three popes were housed beneath the fresco during the conclaves that elected them: Pope Clement VII, Pope Julius II, and Pope Paul III.
Like a Victorian confection reflected in the waters of Central Park's Lake, the Bow Bridge gracefully gathers lovers of New York in real life. In reel life the Bridge has been a magnificent setting in films such as Manhattan, The Way We Were and Keeping the Faith.
Crafted of cast iron, it was designed with Classical Greek refinement during the mid 19th century by Calvert Vaux and Jacob Wrey Mould. Found mid-park at 74th Street, west of Bethesda Terrace, the bridge spans 60 feet with a walkway constructed of ipe, a South American hardwood that turns a rich deep red when wet. In 2008, eight three and a half foot tall planting urns were returned to the Bridge through historic reconstruction almost 80 years after the original ones went missing.
My replica of the gorgeous couch by JumboCollection. I made it a LE of only 3. The first piece is an iridescent, pale pearly rose couch accented with the sparkle of Aurora Boreale Swarovski crystals. An embodiment of luxury and refinement!
Camera: ONDU MultiFormat Mk I pinhole camera @ 6x12
Red Adox filter
Pinhole: f/160
"Focal length": 40mm
Exposure: 10 secs
Film: Foma Fomapan 400 Action developed in Kodak Xtol Replenished
Bought a barely used Ondu Multiformat Mk I. I think the previous owner had given up on it, as it is a pain to wind the film on. This has been solved by Ondu on later models (Mark II & III).
The camera has a very nice design and finish, and I am confident that I can make it work better. Later models have more refinements, but the photographic results will be the same (except for the rise function).
Step inside the intimate Prince of Wales, and you enter a world you won't find anywhere else.
Located in the heart of historic Niagara-on-the-Lake, the Prince of Wales is an oasis of Victorian elegance filled with 21st century comforts. The hotel was named in honour of a royal visit in 1901, when the future George V stayed here. Today, every guest experiences the sophistication and refinement of that bygone age.
Niagara-on-the-Lake was named the Prettiest Town in Canada in 1996 by Communities in Bloom, a nationwide beautification program [2]. The town is now a tourist magnet, located at the northern terminus of the Niagara Parkway, a scenic drive and biking/walking path.
First photo from last week's Flickr meet-up. It was so amazing to see everybody again and meet some new wonderful people. Biggest thanks to Curtis for hosting all of us!!!!!
This is Nikolas who is still my favorite model and such an impressive young man. He inspires me not only as a photographer but also as a person. He is a talented singer and storyteller, he lives vegetarian and he is incredible kind. How could one not love him?
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I tried GSO RC10f8 again after addition of TS Extension for The Baffle Tube. Stray lights disappeared. I could have finished refinement of the OTA twelve years after purchase. I hope to image nebulae and comets with this one.
TS Optics Extension for the Baffle Tube of 10" RC Telescopes:
www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/language/en...
Here is a view of the OTA with TS extension:
www.flickr.com/photos/hiroc/52504139488
Here is a frame of the object taken with the OTA with no extension:
www.flickr.com/photos/hiroc/52490891703
equipment: Guan Sheng Optical Ritchey–Chrétien telescope RC 10" f8 with aigrette pattern mask on the vanes, TS 2.5" field flattener and Canon EOS R-SP4II, modified by Seo-san on Vixen AXD Equatorial Mount, auto guided at a star with Fujinon 1:2.8/75mm C-Mount Lens, Pentax x2 Extender, ZWO ASI 120MM-mini, GPUSB, and PHD2 Guiding
exposure: 15 times x 120 seconds, 18 x 30 sec, 20 x 8 sec, 20 x 4 sec, and 20 x 2 seconds at ISO 1,600 and f/8.0
site: in my backyard at the bottom of almost the center of the world worst light pollution dome over Tokyo
C'est un trou de verdure où chante une rivière,
Accrochant follement aux herbes des haillons
D'argent ; où le soleil, de la montagne fière,
Luit : c'est un petit val qui mousse de rayons.
Arthur Rimbaud
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First I wanted to go to a millinery but then I thought it is time for some creepy-crazy thing :)
You can see what everybody else creates here.
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Al-Ashraf Qaytbay was a mamluk purchased by Sultan al-Ashraf Barsbay (ruled 1422–1438) and served under several Mamluk sultans, the last of whom – Sultan al-Zahir Timurbugha (ruled 1467-1468) – appointed him amir al-kabir, the commander-in-chief or highest position for an amir under the sultan.
Qaytbay succeeded Timurbugha as sultan at the age of 54, and ruled for nearly 29 years from 1468 to 1496, the second-longest reign of any Egyptian Mamluk sultan (after al-Nasir Muhammad). His period was marked by external threats and internal rebellions, notably from the rising Ottomans, which required costly military expeditions, as well as by financial problems. Nonetheless, he is also known as an effective ruler who brought long-term stability while he remained in power, and he is especially notable as one of the greatest patrons of architecture in the Mamluk period, and particularly of the Burji Mamluk period which was otherwise marked by Egypt's relative decline. He is known for at least 85 structures which he built or restored in Egypt, Syria, Palestine, and Mecca, including 17 in Cairo, and this period is characterized by a refinement of the Mamluk architectural style which included greater decorative details.
Qaytbay's funerary complex was one of his earliest architectural commissions; construction work for the complex began in 1470 and the mausoleum was completed in 1474.
The construction period was long by Mamluk standards; however, Qaytbay's complex was on a large scale and constituted an entire royal quarter or walled suburb in the then-lightly urbanized desert cemetery area east of Cairo – now known as the Northern Cemetery (or qarafat al-sharqiyya, "Eastern Cemetery", in Arabic.
This desert area was developed by the Burji Mamluks in the 15th century as the cemeteries extended northwards from the Citadel, and its religious establishments took advantage of a caravan trade route which ran through it from Cairo to the Red Sea in the east and to Syria in the north.
Qaytbay's large complex, like others built by Mamluk amirs and sultans, combined various charitable and commercial functions, which might have contributed to his family's financial future after his death.
“I love tulips better than any other spring flower; they are the embodiment of alert cheerfulness and tidy grace.. Their faint, delicate scent is refinement itself; and is there anything in the world more charming than the sprightly way they hold up their little faces to the sun. I have heard them called bold and flaunting, but to me they seem modest grace itself, only always on the alert to enjoy life as much as they can and not be afraid of looking the sun or anything else above them in the face.”
― Elizabeth von Arnim, Elizabeth and Her German Garden
Textures added by:
Evelyn Flint- www.flickr.com/photos/evelynflint/16461013133/in/set-7215...
Skelatelmess - www.flickr.com/photos/skeletalmess/8519280793/
Elne - www.flickr.com/photos/neighya/18489875900/in/pool-thestoc...
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Il convento venne costruito assieme alla chiesa di San Bernardino per disposizione di Federico da Montefeltro.
Il progetto e la successiva realizzazione dell'opera vengono oggi attribuiti all'architetto ducale Francesco di Giorgio Martini (con l'aiuto nella direzione dei lavori del giovane e promettente Donato Bramante).
Il convento, dei Frati Minori, pare contrastare la raffinatezza della chiesa con l'austerità e la semplicità dei tradizionali edifici francescani.
L'edificio ha il suo fulcro nel chiostro a pilastri architravati.
The convent was built together with the church of San Bernardino by order of Federico da Montefeltro.
The project and the subsequent realization of the work are today attributed to the ducal architect Francesco di Giorgio Martini (with the help in the direction of the works of the young and promising Donato Bramante).
The convent, belonging to the Friars Minor, seems to contrast the refinement of the church with the austerity and simplicity of the traditional Franciscan buildings.
The building has its fulcrum in the cloister with architraved pillars.
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