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Lincoln made significant design changes in 1935, both with their model designations and engineering of their well respected luxurious automobiles. These changes began with the elimination of the KA and KB chassis numbers determining the wheelbase. All cars would be considered K-Series and have model designations instead. Both 136-inch and 145-inch choices in wheelbase still existed, but now each chassis would be offered with your choice of body, so buyers no longer felt obligated to buy the longer wheelbase to have the most prestigious offerings from Lincoln.
Improvements for 1935 would include a better center of gravity by moving the passenger compartment forward a full 11-inches to distribute and balance weight more evenly on the axle centers. The engines were now installed with five rubber mounts along with an improved camshaft and needle bearing tappet rollers for more silent operation. They also offered a better, smoother suspension. An engine oil filter and free-wheeling were now standard equipment, and helical cut gears and new synchronizing allowed for better, easier shifts from the transmission. Although, the longer wheelbase proved more popular with sales totaling 820 vehicles, the more desirable today are the 136-inch special order models from the LeBaron and Brunn coachbuilding shops. Only 580 cars would find this well-balanced, shorter chassis in 1935.
The shear presence and design of this LeBaron Convertible Roadster is impressive. Its size, curves, color, design, and rarity really make it irresistible when viewing in person. The rake of the windshield and convertible top, the curvature of the crowned, skirted fenders, the overall shape of the rear deck hiding the rumbleseat, and the forward vee’d grille all comprise a sleek and stimulating Lincoln. All Lincoln owners in 1935 were honored with leather interior seating, Art Deco inspired two-gauge instrumentation clusters, locking glovebox, sidemounts with steel covers, rear luggage rack, 17-inch wire wheels and whitewall tires as standard equipment. The greyhound mascot on the radiator was now a fixed ornament as well. The L-head engine measures 414 cubic inches and produces 150 horsepower while paired to a three-speed manual transmission.
Hope ya'all enjoy ................
Although no significant accumulation of snow, we did get some recent snow flurries in the past couple of days.
In the Middle Ages there were several population movements due to a significant demographic increase and the desire to conquer new land to cultivate and possess. It is within this context that the Walser migration took place. This German-speaking ethnic group from the northern areas of Valais, from which the origin of the Walser name, left their native settlements to move gradually and extremely peacefully towards the Alps and the area of Grisons, Liechtenstein, Vorarlberg and Tyrol. Evidence of the first settlements of this population in Valsesia date back to the beginning of the 13th notably in Rimella, Rima and Alagna.
The community, made up of shepherds, settled in cottages scattered along side the mountain and with hard work they transformed woodlands into productive pastures. The soil was turned over and even the highest slopes were cultivated and aqueducts for the retrieval of water thaw were also built.
This new form of economy created new grounds for personal freedom and community autonomy, unusual for a time when taxes and servitude were part of everyday life.
Their houses were examples of extraordinary architecture, which are still considered as engineering masterpieces, studied and structured in minute detail in order to gain maximum functionality because of the harsh environmental conditions. Normally arranged on three storeys, there is a stone basement, generally dry, with an upper area made out of wood and divided according to the use. The sloping roof is made out of local stone slabs, whose noteworthy weight is supported by a brilliant structure of roof beams.
A pleasant valley of the meandering Muráň river south of Jelšava has a significant landmark. You cannot overlook the strategically interesting hill above the village of Šivetice, on which a brick Romanesque church dedicated to St. Margaret of Antioch was built in the middle of the 13th century. Šivetice belonged to the Jelšava estate back then and from the 15th century on was administered by the Castle of Muráň. In the past, the village was known for its typical ceramics.
The church has the shape of a rotunda with an internal diameter of 11 m and is one of the largest structures with circular footprint in Central Europe. In addition to the primary sacral significance, it is assumed that the rotunda originally served as a watchtower, taking into consideration its location on a hill and its proximity of a castle (that no longer exists). During the 14th century, the interior of the church was divided into a nave and a chancel by a monumental pointed triumphal arch. Original Romanesque murals depicting scenes from the legend of St. Margaret were covered by gothic paintings with the same theme and complemented with scenes of the Passion Cycle. Like many other Gemer temples, the rotunda of Šivetice belonged in the 17th century to the Evangelical Lutheran church. In the 18th century, the church was partially rebuilt into Baroque style and the bell tower with the entrance gate was inserted into the stone wall. A cemetery is surrounding the church nowadays.
Another one of the Bessa Skopar images taken with Bergger Pancro 400, developed by 2 bath Thornton technique.
This is a technical test: experimenting with Bergger Pancro 400, developed in the Thornton 2-Bath developer to see if it's a suitable combination.
Bath A; 13 minutes
Bath B: 5 minutes.
The Bath A went much longer than typical because Pancro 400 requires significantly longer development times than most other films. This 13 + 5 time gave me very good overall density, but a bit excessive contrast, with the brightest values going a bit too far, I think. Next time I would drop the Bath A time to 10 minutes.
In all, a good experiment and reasonable results.
This was using the pre-WW2 Voigtlanger Bessa: 1/2 second at f16 with a medium yellow filter. Apertures larger than f11 deliver rather poor results with this f3.5 Skopar, unless you like the "toy camera" look in your work.
Gorgeous red poppy from an envelope of random seed from a friend. Would love there to be loads more next year, except my significant other will want to rip everything out to prepare the bed over the winter for runner beans. I see a ‘situation’ brewing!!!
19th Pursuit Squadron, 18th Pursuit Group, Wheeler Field, Hawaii 1938
The P-26A marked a significant step in the evolution of fighter aircraft -- it became the U.S. Army Air Corps' first all-metal monoplane fighter in regular service. Affectionately nicknamed the "Peashooter" by its pilots, the P-26A could fly much faster in level flight than the Air Corps' older wood and fabric biplane fighters. The P-26A also had a higher landing speed. Although not initially delivered with wing flaps, P-26As were later fitted with them to reduce landing speeds.
Even with its monoplane design and all-metal construction, the Peashooter retained some traditional features, such as an open cockpit, fixed landing gear and external wing bracing. The P-26A became the last Air Corps fighter to have these obsolete characteristics.
The first of three prototype P-26s flew in March 1932. After purchasing these aircraft, the Air Corps ordered a total of 111 of the production version, the P-26A, and 25 of the later B and C models. Boeing delivered the first P-26As to the Air Corps in December 1933. The P-26 remained the Air Corps front-line fighter until 1938, when the Curtiss P-36A and the Seversky P-35 began to replace it.
The P-26 also flew in foreign air forces. In 1934 Boeing sold an export version to the Chinese, who flew it in combat against the Japanese. In December 1941, the Philippine government employed the then-obsolete P-26 against the Japanese in a futile effort.
This P-26A reproduction is painted to represent the commander's aircraft of the 19th Pursuit Squadron, 18th Pursuit Group, stationed at Wheeler Field, Hawaii, in 1938.
TECHNICAL NOTES:
Armament: Two .30-cal. or one .50-cal. and one .30-cal. machine guns; 200 lbs. of bombs
Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-1340 "Wasp" radial of 500 hp
Maximum speed: 234 mph
Cruising speed: 199 mph
Range: 360 miles
Ceiling: 27,400 ft.
Span: 27 ft. 11.5 in.
Length: 23 ft. 10 in.
Height: 10 ft. 5 in.
Weight: 2,197 lbs. empty; 2,955 lbs. maximum
"The original Renaissance town hall from 1569, rebuilt after its collapse in 1613 and later renovated, is a historically valuable piece of architecture and a significant landmark of the oldest development on Vyškov Square." - info from the National Heritage Institute.
"Vyškov (Hanačky Veškov, German Wischau; formerly also Víškov) is a town located in the northern part of the South Moravian Region in the Vyškov District on the Haná River, 35 km northeast of Brno. It lies almost in the middle of Moravia on the border of the Drahanská vrchovina, the Litenčické vrchy and the Hornomoravské úval lowland at an altitude of about 250 m above sea level. It is one of the border towns of the Haná region. It has a population of approximately 21,000 and is the fifth largest city in the South Moravian Region.
The name of the settlement was derived from the personal name Vyšek, which was a homely form of a name beginning with Vyše- (e.g. Vyšebor, Vyšehor, Vyšeslav ). The meaning of the place name was "Vyškův majek". The German name was created by phonetic modification of the Czech one.
It was called the "Moravian Versailles" or also the "Hanácké Versailles". The local railway station is called Vyškov na Moravě.
Moravia (Czech: Morava [ˈmorava]; German: Mähren) is a historical region in the east of the Czech Republic and one of three historical Czech lands, with Bohemia and Czech Silesia.
The medieval and early modern Margraviate of Moravia was a crown land of the Lands of the Bohemian Crown from 1348 to 1918, an imperial state of the Holy Roman Empire from 1004 to 1806, a crown land of the Austrian Empire from 1804 to 1867, and a part of Austria-Hungary from 1867 to 1918. Moravia was one of the five lands of Czechoslovakia founded in 1918. In 1928 it was merged with Czech Silesia, and then dissolved in 1948 during the abolition of the land system following the communist coup d'état.
Its area of 22,623.41 km2 is home to about 3.2 million of the Czech Republic's 10.8 million inhabitants. The people are historically named Moravians, a subgroup of Czechs, the other group being called Bohemians. The land takes its name from the Morava river, which runs from its north to south, being its principal watercourse. Moravia's largest city and historical capital is Brno. Before being sacked by the Swedish army during the Thirty Years' War, Olomouc served as the Moravian capital, and it is still the seat of the Archdiocese of Olomouc. Until the expulsions after 1945, significant parts of Moravia were German speaking." - info from Wikipedia.
Summer 2019 I did a solo cycling tour across Europe through 12 countries over the course of 3 months. I began my adventure in Edinburgh, Scotland and finished in Florence, Italy cycling 8,816 km. During my trip I took 47,000 photos.
Now on Instagram.
Significant cloud build up is evident as 47739 speeds past Battledown flyover near Worting junction hauling the 5Q80 Cricklewood South Sidings to Eastleigh Arlington with unit 360111 for attention. Sun dipped immediately after this shot.
Whilst not a fan of the 47's, stemming from my teenage years when everything seemed to be hauled by a BR blue 47, this livery is particularly attractive in decent light. Cropped image
Friday 5 August 2022
This image is a significant departure from two hackneyed aspects of photography.
One, shooting the picturesque but the usual. This image is from my beloved Sequoia national park, but is not about those Brobdingnagian trees. Try a google search with 'Sequoia national park' and you will be squashed with a million variation of the same thing: Sequoia trees. While I love those trees and would like to present them in an unique way some day (working on it!), but for now, let me leave you with a river scene from the park that intrigued me in broad daylight.
Two, talking about daylight, many photographers (including yours truly, sometimes) gripe about shooting in flat light of the high sun. The monotonous light, as all of you know, washes away intricacies and mischievous details of color and texture from a scene. These details, which conveniently emerge in soft low light of dawn/dusk, is the language that our subconscious understands the best and therefore is our dormant code to like an image. This image – after trial and error in post-processing for more than an year – is my attempt at rescuing those wily subliminal attributes from a scene shot in broad daylight.
Tell me, how did I do? Do you like any of these departures?
Namtso is one of the three holy lakes in Tibet and significant for Tibetan Buddhists. Kora is a Tibetan word that means "circumambulation" or "revolution". Kora is both a type of pilgrimage and a type of meditative practice in the Tibetan Buddhism. Thus, Namtso Kora means pilgrimage walk around the Lake Namtso.
Namtso literally means heavenly lake in Tibetan language. Located around 240km northwest of Lhasa, capital of Tibet, it takes four hours’ driving from Lhasa. Extending 70 km from east to west and 30 km from south to north, the lake covers an area of 1,920 sq km and has an altitude of 4748 m above sea level. It is biggest lake in Tibet and the second biggest salt lake in China as well as one of the highest lakes in the world. The water in the lake is crystally clear and blue. The blue sky joins the surface of the lake in the distance, creating an integrated, scenic vista.
In every Tibetan year of sheep, thousands of Tibetan Buddhism believers will come here to worship this sacred lake. As a rule, they will walk clockwise along the Namtso Lake in order to receive the blessing of the gods.
There are several fine Tibet treks around the lake. The shortest one is roughly 4 kilometers and takes less than one hour. It starts from the accommodation area to a hermit’s cave hidden behind a large spinter of rock. The kora continues to a rocky promontory of cairns and prayer flags. At the promontory, pilgrims undertake a ritural washing in the lake. And then the trail continues past several caves and a prostration point where there are two rock towers looking like two hands. Pilgrims squeeze into the deep slices of the nearby cliff face as a means of sin detection or drink water dripping from cave roofs, even swallow holy dirt.
www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/b...
Also known as the peewit in imitation of its display calls, its proper name describes its wavering flight. Its black and white appearance and round-winged shape in flight make it distinctive, even without its splendid crest. This familiar farmland bird has suffered significant declines recently and is now an Red List species.
Overview
Latin name
Vanellus vanellus
Family
Plovers and lapwings (Charadriidae)
Where to see them
Lapwings are found on farmland throughout the UK particularly in lowland areas of northern England, the Borders and eastern Scotland. In the breeding season prefer spring sown cereals, root crops, permanent unimproved pasture, meadows and fallow fields. They can also be found on wetlands with short vegetation. In winter they flock on pasture and ploughed fields. The highest known winter concentrations of lapwings are found at the Somerset Levels, Humber and Ribble estuaries, Breydon Water/Berney Marshes, the Wash, and Morecambe Bay.
When to see them
All year round. Leaves upland areas after the breeding season and moves to lowland fields for the winter. Large numbers of N European birds arrive in autumn for the winter.
What they eat
Worms and insects
Population
UK Breeding:- 140,000 pairs
UK Wintering:- 650,000 birds
Breeding
The winter flocks begin to break up in February, when the birds will start to return to their breeding grounds.
The lapwing has a spectacular songflight. The male wobbles, zigzags, rolls and dives while calling to advertise his presence to rival males and potential mates. The birds tend to nest in loose groups. Individual territories are small about 0.4-0.8 ha and are only held until the chicks hatch.
In the breeding season, lapwings need a mosaic of habitats, because they need different conditions for nesting and for chick rearing.
The nest is a scrape in the ground, lined with a variable amount of plant material. The birds need a good all round view from the nest to spot predators, and nest either on bare ground or in short vegetation. They often choose rough or broken ground to aid concealment of the nest. Spring sown crops and rough grazing are ideal.
They lay clutches of four cryptically coloured eggs from late March to early June, and chicks hatch 3-4 weeks later. They are covered in down when they hatch, and are able to walk about and feed within hours.
Soon after hatching, the parents will lead them to suitable feeding areas, where the supply of surface invertebrates is good and the vegetation low. They particularly need to have nearby grassland, especially if it contains flood pools and damp patches.
The transfer between the nesting and chick-rearing habitats can be hazardous, and chick survival often depends on how far they have to travel. The families stay in the chick-rearing habitat until the young are ready to fly at 5-6 weeks old. Lapwings only rear one brood a year, but may lay up to four replacement clutches if the eggs are lost.
Legal status
The lapwing is fully protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981; it an offence to kill, injure or take an adult lapwing, or to take, damage or destroy an active nest or its contents.
The only exception is legitimate farming practices that cannot be reasonably delayed, although farming methods can often be modified to reduce the impact on the lapwings.
Population trends
Lapwing numbers have decreased in Britain since the middle of the 19th century. The early declines were caused by large scale collection of eggs for food. Introduction of the Lapwing Act in 1926 prohibited this, and was followed by a considerable recovery in bird numbers.
Since the 1940s lapwing declines have been driven by large-scale changes to farming. Large areas of grassland were converted to arable, marginal land was drained and improved, and chemicals were introduced for fertilisers and pest control with increasing reliance on them. By 1960 the lapwing population had stabilised at a lower level.
Another sharp and sustained decline started in the mid-1980s, with range contractions in south-west England and in parts of Wales. This followed further intensification and specialisation - abandonment of rotations, switch from spring to autumn sown crops, increased drainage, increased use of agrochemicals. Such changes have resulted in much of the arable land becoming unsuitable for nesting by April because the crop grows too high. Tillage, drainage and pesticides have also caused a reduction in food availability.
As pasture land is improved, the resulting increased risk of trampling by livestock, earlier cutting for silage and lower food availability have affected lapwings adversely. Phasing out of rotational farming and shift of arable to the east of England and pastureland to the west of England has removed the habitat mosaic that is essential for successful chick rearing.
Mosaic where grass and spring tillage fields are close together has declined significantly in recent years, and the loss of this prime habitat has resulted in a decline in lapwing numbers.
Nest failures on arable land come from egg losses during cultivation and from predation, and poor chick survival due to crop growth. Crop growth can also shorten the laying season.
The declines in lapwing population have been greatest in southern England and Wales, where the farming changes have been greatest and farmland is the only suitable habitat for the lapwing. Between 1987 and 1998 lapwing numbers dropped by 49% in England and Wales. Since 1960 the numbers dropped by 80%.
The birds have fared better in Scotland, where the crucial changes to farming were introduced later than in England and Wales. However, even there the numbers have dropped by 29% since 1987.
Lapwings have to fledge at least 0.6 young per pair each year to maintain the population. They usually can achieve this in rough grazing and unimproved pastures, but often not on arable land or improved grassland. Since the birds cannot produce enough chicks to offset the natural mortality of adults, population declines.
It is possible to halt and reverse the decline in lapwing numbers with sympathetic farming methods, which include creation of a mosaic of spring sown crops and grassland, managing grazing pressure and maintaining damp areas on unimproved grassland. Agri-environment schemes in each part of the UK provide grants to help land-owners manage their land to help lapwings.
Survival
Egg survival and hatching success varies depending on the habitat, and appears to have declined in some habitats over the past decade.
Main causes of nest failure are predation, agricultural activity and desertion. While the birds often re-lay, changes in cropping practices often result in the habitat being unsuitable for replacement clutches because the vegetation has grown too tall, thus shortening the potential breeding season.
Only about 25-40% of chicks survive to fledging. Most of the chick mortality occurs in the first few days after hatching, when chicks are most vulnerable to cold or wet weather, and when they may be undertaking hazardous journeys from nesting to feeding areas. The further chicks have to go, the lower their survival.
Once the birds have reached adulthood, they can expect to live a further 4-5 years. The oldest known individual was about 20 years. Lapwings normally breed one year after fledging.
One of the most beautiful insects in the world and one very culturally significant to the Indigenous people of the Western Arnhem Land. 'Alyurr' is the name given to this hopper, a child of the lightning man Namarrgon, with its appearance sparking the start of the annual wet season.
The hopper is associated with the Pityrodia shrub, which has declined rapidly through changing fire regimes, taking the hopper with it. They are now listed as near threatened and are mainly found in the escarpments which are refuges from fire.
contact me on nick.volpe3@hotmail.com for usage of this image.
Mount Macedon Memorial Cross and garden..
After the Shrine of Remembrance, Mount Macedon Memorial Cross is considered to be the most significant war memorial in Victoria. Located on the summit of the mountain within the War Memorial Cross Reserve, this imposing structure stands 21 metres high and commemorates all those who served in wars and conflicts.
The Paimio Sanatorium, designed by Alvar Aalto, is a significant example of functionalist architecture and is renowned for its innovative design tailored to the needs of tuberculosis patients.
Built between 1929 and 1933 near Turku, Finland, the sanatorium was conceived as a "cathedral to health and an instrument for healing" before effective medical treatments for tuberculosis were available.
Aalto's design for the sanatorium emphasized the importance of natural light and fresh air, with patient rooms oriented to maximize sunlight and views of the surrounding pine forest.
The building's aesthetic features include white walls and muted green ceilings, which were intended to create a calming environment for patients.
The interior design also focused on minimizing noise and discomfort, with specially designed sinks and curved furniture to reduce disturbances.
The color scheme of the sanatorium was carefully chosen, with elements like banana-yellow stairs with turquoise trim, pink light in the cafeteria, and mint-green details in communal areas and patient rooms.
These choices reflect Aalto's belief in the interplay between functionality and aesthetics, aiming to provide a soothing and uplifting environment for patients.
The Paimio Chair, a notable piece of furniture designed by Aalto for the sanatorium, exemplifies his innovative use of materials and ergonomic design. Made from bent birch wood, the chair was designed to support patients in a reclining position, aligning with the therapeutic goals of the sanatorium.
Overall, the Paimio Sanatorium is a testament to Aalto's holistic approach to architecture, where every detail was considered to enhance the well-being of its occupants
Namtso is one of the three holy lakes in Tibet and significant for Tibetan Buddhists. Kora is a Tibetan word that means "circumambulation" or "revolution". Kora is both a type of pilgrimage and a type of meditative practice in the Tibetan Buddhism. Thus, Namtso Kora means pilgrimage walk around the Lake Namtso.
Namtso literally means heavenly lake in Tibetan language. Located around 240km northwest of Lhasa, capital of Tibet, it takes four hours’ driving from Lhasa. Extending 70 km from east to west and 30 km from south to north, the lake covers an area of 1,920 sq km and has an altitude of 4748 m above sea level. It is biggest lake in Tibet and the second biggest salt lake in China as well as one of the highest lakes in the world. The water in the lake is crystally clear and blue. The blue sky joins the surface of the lake in the distance, creating an integrated, scenic vista.
In every Tibetan year of sheep, thousands of Tibetan Buddhism believers will come here to worship this sacred lake. As a rule, they will walk clockwise along the Namtso Lake in order to receive the blessing of the gods.
There are several fine Tibet treks around the lake. The shortest one is roughly 4 kilometers and takes less than one hour. It starts from the accommodation area to a hermit’s cave hidden behind a large spinter of rock. The kora continues to a rocky promontory of cairns and prayer flags. At the promontory, pilgrims undertake a ritural washing in the lake. And then the trail continues past several caves and a prostration point where there are two rock towers looking like two hands. Pilgrims squeeze into the deep slices of the nearby cliff face as a means of sin detection or drink water dripping from cave roofs, even swallow holy dirt.
Closest to my camera above is the Memphis/Arkansas Bridge that is a significant historic bridge all on its own. However, what makes this setting even more unique is that this bridge sits right next to two even more significant historic bridges, the Frisco Bridge (railroad bridge in the middle) and the Harahan Bridge (or Big River Crossing that is farthest away from the camera above). Three historic cantilever truss bridges over the Mississippi River side by side by side with two of those bridges being nationally significant...there is no other historic bridge trio like this in North America.
The first bridge, the Memphis/Arkansas Bridge was built to provide a new crossing for vehicular traffic, replacing the two cantilevered vehicular traffic decks that are on the Harahan Bridge (or Big River Crossing). Harahan Bridge was designed by famous bridge engineer Ralph Modjeski. Although he had died by the time the Memphis/Arkansas Bridge was built, his firm, Modjeski and Masters was the engineering firm for it as well. Contractors for the bridge included the Harris Structural Steel Company of South Plainfield, New Jersey, the Virginia Bridge Company of Roanoke, Virginia (formerly the Virginia Bridge and Iron Company), and the Merritt-Chapman & Scott Corporation of New York, New York. Although this bridge carries heavy Interstate Highway traffic, it retains good historic integrity with no major alterations including the pedestrian sidewalks that remain on the bridge with original railings.
While the Frisco Bridge was designed by one of the greatest bridge engineers of the 19th Century, the Harahan Bridge was similarly designed by one of the 20th Century's greatest bridge engineers, Ralph Modjeski. As such, works by two of the greatest engineers of their respective centuries can be seen side-by-side. This affords a unique comparison between both engineering thinking, and also changing needs of two different periods in railroad history. The Harahan Bridge was designed to carry railroad traffic in between truss lines, and highway traffic on cantilevered decks outside of the truss lines. The construction of the Memphis/Arkansas Bridge ended the use of the Harahan Bridge for vehicular traffic. In 2016 however, a unique project converted the north vehicular deck into a pedestrian walkway named the Big River Crossing. This new walkway is unique because of its size, and also because it is rare for a railroad company to allow a public walkway to exist on one of their bridges. As might be expected, substantial fencing separates pedestrians from the railroad tracks. However, the truss is so large that despite the fencing, the walkway still offers excellent up-close views of the impressive details of the trusses. Another important aspect of the walkway is that despite addition of modern railing on the outside, the original riveted lattice railings for the vehicular deck were not removed. This helps convey the former vehicular usage of the deck, and also maintains the original appearance of the bridge. As part of the walkway, a modern full-color decorative lighting system was also installed, allowing for impressive light shows to bathe the entire bridge in a rainbow of animated colors. Note that if you visit this bridge in the evening and do not see the lights in operation, it may be due to a train or barge in the area, as this was a condition for the operation of the lighting system.
Finally, the Frisco Bridge is one of the most important historic bridges in the country, all on its own. It is one of the few surviving cantilever truss bridges that date to before 1900 in North America. Completed two years after the larger and more famous Forth Bridge in Scotland, this bridge is nevertheless significant in terms of American history as one of the earliest large-scale cantilever truss bridges. It is also the crowning achievement of engineer George Morison, who designed some of the first large-scale metal truss bridges in America, including many record-breaking spans. Most of his large-span truss bridges were simple spans however, so this cantilever truss bridge stands out as unusual among his bridges. Sadly, nearly all of Morison's bridges have been demolished, and even among those which remain today, not all are being preserved. Even this monumental, nationally significant historic bridge was as of 2016 facing the most significant alteration to its historic integrity since its construction in 1892: the entire western approach system was being demolished and replaced! While this does not affect the cantilever spans, this is regardless an alarming and disappointing outcome. The replacement of these spans is an unfortunate casualty of this bridge's remarkable status as a railroad bridge that continues, despite its age, to be used today by an enormous amount of railroad freight trains. As might be expected of such a large bridge, more than one notable engineer was involved with it, and many contractors fabricated and constructed the bridge. In addition to Morison, who was chief engineer, noted engineer Alfred Noble was resident engineer for the project. Union Bridge Company, Pencoyd Iron Works, and the Pennsylvania Steel Company all played a role in fabrication. The main superstructure contractor was Baird Brothers of Pittsburgh. There is 2,597 feet of the bridge that is composed of the cantilever through truss spans and the deck truss span is at the western end. The total length of the bridge including approaches is roughly 5,000 feet.
Historically, the Frisco Bridge was listed with the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) as a Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1987. And the Memphis/Arkansas Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) on February 16, 2001.
Three bracketed photos were taken with a handheld Nikon D7200 and combined with Photomatix Pro to create this HDR image. Additional adjustments were made in Photoshop CS6.
"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ~Jeremiah 29:11
The best way to view my photostream is through Flickriver with the following link: www.flickriver.com/photos/photojourney57/
Die erste urkundliche Erwähnung der römisch-kathiolischen Kirche stammt aus dem Jahre 1187. Der Kirchenbau hat mehrere Brände im Laufe seiner Geschichte erlebt, die im Anschluss oftmals zu wesentlichen Veränderungen führten. Sie weist hauptsächlich romanische, etliche gotische und innen auch einige barocke Stil-Elemente auf. Die Kirche, wie sie sich heute präsentiert, ist so groß und hoch, dass ich sie selbst aus einiger Entfernung trotz 35mm Weitwinkel-Objektiv nicht gänzlich abbilden konnte. Gesehen von der Burg Petersberg.
The first documented mention of the Roman Catholic church dates back to 1187. The church building has experienced several fires in the course of its history, which often led to significant changes. It has mainly Romanesque, several Gothic and inside also some Baroque style elements. The church as it presents itself today is so large and high that I was unable to take a complete picture of it even from a distance despite using a 35mm wide-angle lens. Seen from Petersberg Castle.
"The universe is wider than our views of it." ~Henry David Thoreau
The Seattle skyline, seen from the top of Mailbox Peak, with the Olympic mountains behind.
The Dodson House, built in 1894, is significant for its association with persons who played important roles in both the social & economic development of the small West Tennessee town of Humboldt. The house is an excellent example of Queen Anne architecture and is located in the older residential neighborhood of the town.
W.H. Dodson, a Humboldt banker, organized and established the Haywood County Bank in Brownsville, Tennessee in 1889. His son, William, was duly elected assistant cashier of the financial institution. William remained with the bank until the fall of 1892 when he moved to Humboldt and established a real estate company. In February 1893, William Dodson purchased a town lot from W.N. Bennett for the amount of eight hundred dollars. Early in 1894, he began to oversee the construction of this Queen Anne style residence which was completed by that fall.
After William Dodson's death in 1904, his son George moved from Knoxville to Humboldt and practiced law in Humboldt for four years before purchasing the Ford automobile dealership. In 1931 William Hooper, grandson of William Dodson, moved into the family home after graduation from Vanderbilt University. He soon became associated with Dodson Ford dealership and in 1950 he purchased all rights to the dealership. Mr. Hooper was active in community affairs and served on the Humboldt Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the West Tennessee Strawberry Festival Board, and the Ford Dealer Council Board (Memphis District).
Architecturally, the Dodson House is a good example of the Queen Anne style residence. Although the interior of the house was altered by the Hooper family, much of the original fabric was retained. The present owners, who purchased the house in 1980, are restoring the interior and plans have been developed for the restoration of the exterior. For these reasons, this house was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 25, 1982. All of the information above was found on the original documents submitted for listing consideration and can be viewed here:
npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/AssetDetail/3c8027bf-8931-4c2a-8f7...
Three bracketed photos were taken with a handheld Nikon D7200 and combined with Photomatix Pro to create this HDR image. Additional adjustments were made in Photoshop CS6.
"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ~Jeremiah 29:11
The best way to view my photostream is through Flickriver with the following link: www.flickriver.com/photos/photojourney57/
END: 2024.12.31
今年(2024)是龙年，在这一年即将结束之际，我给大家准备了一份特别的礼物——青龙
祝大家龙年大吉，喜迎来年
感谢关注
2024 is the Year of the Loong, and as we approach the conclusion of this significant year, I am pleased to present you with a special gift - Loong.
I extend my heartfelt wishes for a prosperous and joyful New Year.
Thank you for your attention.
INCLUDING: Loong
♥ ♥ Taxi to Mainstore ♥ ♥
The Pinwheel (Messier 101) is a large spiral galaxy that appears in the constellation Ursa Major (a.k.a. "The Big Dipper"). Physically, it is significantly larger than our own Milky Way galaxy while its apparent visual diameter is about the same size as the full moon. This wide-field image covers nearly two and one-half degrees on the diagonal and includes many smaller background galaxies (most notably NGC 5474 on the lower right and the edge-on spiral galaxy NGC 5422 on the upper left).
Image capture was done over three evenings in January 2015 using an unmodified Sony NEX-5R digital camera (ISO 800, 99 seconds x 329, producing a total exposure integration time of just over 9 hours). The imaging telescope was a 5” refractor working at an effective focal length of 528mm at f/4.2. The setup also included the use of a light-pollution filter that causes about a two-thirds f-stop loss in broadband light transmission (a necessary "evil" given my significantly light-polluted, red-zone skies).
Image processing was done with PixInsight v1.8, Photoshop and Lightroom CC2014.
This photo is best viewed against a dark background and at full size (1920 x 1280 pixels, press the "L" key to enter the Flickr light box and then click to enlarge the image).
All rights reserved.
It is one of the most significant Victorian era boomtowns in Australia. Just months after Victoria was granted separation from New South Wales, the Victorian gold rush transformed Ballarat from a small sheep station to a major settlement. Gold was discovered at Poverty Point on 18 August 1851 and news quickly spread of rich alluvial fields where gold could easily be extracted. Within months, approximately 20,000 migrants had rushed the district. Several Australian mining innovations were made at the Ballarat diggings including the first use of a Chilean mill in 1851 and the first use of a mine cage in 1861. Unlike many other gold rush boom towns, the Ballarat fields experienced sustained high gold yields for decades.
Mason Farm, NC. The Beaver moon was significant to both Native Americans and early settlers. It's the first full moon of November, and it usually coincides with the first frost of the season. At this time the beavers have their plushest coats in preparation for the winter ahead. It was a time to set out beaver traps. Fortunately, beaver fur is no longer in such high demand, and now the beaver can spend its time creating magnificent wetlands for the benefit of all creatures, and the benefit of the planet.
Joseph Aspdin of Leeds patented Portland Cement on 21 October 1924. While it revolutionised modern building, it has also contributed significantly to global warming. Nevertheless, it is not only still much in use but also being further developed to be more eco- and user-friendly as well as self-cleaning.
John Smeaton of Leeds is thought to have created the first modern concrete, a mixture of limestone and clay which was resistant to water, whilst he was preparing his work on the Eddystone Lighthouse around 1755.
Joseph Aspdin on Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Aspdin
Archaeologists working on the site of Brunel’s Great Western Dockyard development next to Brunel’s ss Great Britain, have discovered what is thought to be the first ever substantial use of Portland cement in the construction of a major building.
www.culture24.org.uk/history/archaeology/industrial+archa...
Originating in Leeds
www.mylearning.org/jpage.asp?jpageid=719&journeyid=200
The development of Portland Cement
www.buildingconservation.com/articles/prtlndcmnt/prtlndcm...
The history of concrete and cement
inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blconcrete.htm
Portland Cement on Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portland_cement
Ordinary Portland Cement with extraordinarily CO2 emissions. What can be done to reduce them?
www.buildingforafuture.co.uk/autumn05/ordinary_portland_c...
Self-cleaning concrete
www.cement.org/tech/self_cleaning.asp
John Smeaton on Wikipedia
This image represents a significant amount of discovery, experimenting, planning, and happy accidents. In the end, you’re looking at a collection of tiny Gooseneck Loosestrife flowers, plucked from their stem and placed inside a crystal geode, and illuminated with ultraviolet light.
The full details made it into my new book as the last example in the “MasterClass” section, and you can find that here: skycrystals.ca/product/pre-order-macro-photography-the-un... . The quick version still provides plenty of details, if you’d like to read on!
It turns out that Gooseneck Loosestrife is quite a fluorescent flower, giving off the look of floral fireworks. I often walk around my gardens at night with a UV flashlight to see what new flowers will glow / fluoresce that I haven’t explored, and to say these flower stalks got my attention is an understatement. After waking up the next morning, I knew what puzzle pieces to fit together.
The flowers were small enough to fit inside a “tunnel” geode I had bought a few years prior. I had always thought it would be a neat photographic subject, but never found the right theme. The same is true for the Laowa 24mm F/14 2x Macro Probe lens. Really neat concept, but not useful in every scenario. I started putting all these pieces together: the probe lens has a small enough barrel that it could actually fit inside the crystal tunnel.
With an intense and narrow UV LED flashlight, the Convoy C8, positioned on the other side of the geode filling the tunnel with UV radiation, I’d be able to make the flowers glow and appear as beacons inside the darkness. The flashlight is positioned on a Platypod Max with a gooseneck arm, which gives a lot more flexibility than a tabletop tripod when you need a precise trajectory of light to hit your subject. The idea was coming together, but there’s a curveball in play: the front of the 24mm probe lens contains a ring of LED lights. You wouldn’t think that should be a problem, but…
“White” LEDs don’t properly exist. In order to generate white light from an LED, we use an ultraviolet LED surrounded by various phosphors which fluoresce into the visible spectrum, a way of translating a narrow band of UV radiation into white visible light. A win for science! However, these phosphors are activated by UV light, even if it’s coming from an outside source. This means that the ring of LEDs, even when off, fluoresces orange. At first I was contemplating ways to cover these up, but no – the true gift here was to work with this “happy accident”. The orange glow you see in the front of the image is from the LED lights in the probe lens.
Focus stacked a few frames for a bit of added depth, but not much. This image works well when things fall out of focus. Plenty of fine tuning in post-production, but the “magic” is a natural in-camera fabric woven with equal parts art and science. Again, if you’re curious what steps go into constructing images like this from initial idea through completed results, check out the book in the above link!
South of Punta Gorda, the Fort Myers Division mainline track condition is significantly improved, allowing for trains to reach speeds of up to 40 mph ‘till Bayshore; since the SGLR’s ‘Murder Mystery Dinner Train’ operates on this stretch of track, it must be kept maintained at a higher standard to allow safe operation of the passenger service, which includes the use of 135 lbs rail and, in some sections, steel ties. The DeSoto Turn’s are permitted to operate at maximum authorized speed as well, making chases on this stretch a challenge.
As for our subject, the Seminole Gulf Railway’s Thursday-edition southbound DeSoto Turn could finally break out of the 10 mph speed restriction that had been holding them back for hours and start pushing 40 mph, the maximum authorized speed for freight trains. Passing by Best Aggregate Carriers, a frequently served SGLR customer, just south of MP AX943 at 10:38, the two ex-LMX B39-8E’s and their 41 car train continue their southbound journey at speed. 15 miles farther down the line at Bayshore, the DeSoto Turn would stop to serve customers at an industrial park before ending their run at Hanson Yard.
Dating back to 1903, the then-named Fort Myers Extension was constructed by the Atlantic Coast Line in an effort to extend the former-Florida Southern Railway’s Charlotte Harbor Division south to Tico and Fort Myers, with the first train arriving at the namesake city on May 10th, 1904. Freight traffic has always been present throughout the lines history and changes in ownership between the ACL, SCL, SBD, CSX and SGLR [starting in 1987]. Although the frequency of said services fluctuated, it still proved to be a vital link connecting southwestern Florida to the Lakeland and Tampa rail hubs, with the Seminole Gulf diligently maintaining rail customers in the greater Fort Myers area allowing for scenes like this to still exist.
•
Tropical Gulf Acres, FL
SGLR Fort Myers Division
Date: 08/10/2022 | 10:38
ID: SGLR DeSoto Turn
Type: Local
Direction: Southbound
Car Count: 41
1. SGLR B39-8E #595
2. SGLR B39-8E #593
•
© Vicente Alonso 2022
My decision to feature the South Pond as the first image for this project was influenced by the significant the pond has undergone. This past autumn was exceptionally warm and very dry. By, only a small area retained a minimal amount of water. Christmas brought over eight inches of fresh snow followed by 50-degree temperatures and more than an inch of rain. Two days after Christmas, the stream opened up and fed pond. Within two days, the pond filled with over six feet of water. By January 3rd, we experienced extremely cold temperatures, freezing the pond solid.
Life revolves around the ebb and flow of our ponds affecting all flora and fauna. We are thrilled by the prospect of a full pond, as it serves as a refuge for all wildlife now and for the incoming migratory birds this spring. now, we celebrate the frozen water and look forward to seeing the first signs of tadpoles.
North aisle of the Glasgow Cathedral: Stained glass by Douglas Strachan, considered the most significant Scottish designer of stained glass windows in the 20th Century.
Allée nord de la cathédrale de Glasgow : vitrail de Douglas Strachan, considéré comme le concepteur écossais le plus important de vitraux au XXe siècle.
Due to a significant derailment the prior evening in Valley Falls yard the Providence and Worcester's nightly Worcester to Davisville road train never made it to its destination. The power and head 10 cars in front of the six (out of 61 total on the train) that derailed were cut was cut away and pulled up here south of the Blackstone River bridge and north of the Hunt Street crossing at about MP 5.6 on the historic original mainline. The power consists of three units GE B40-8W 4005 and B40-8 4001 bracketing EMD GP38 2006 the lead two still dressed in the classic scheme of the independent pre Genesee and Wyoming P&W.
Central Falls, Rhode Island
Thursday May 29, 2025
The sky went from 0-60 in seconds. I was photographing the other direction when Andy shouted "Di look behind you" I turned round and this was in front of me. In my haste to change my settings I knocked my focus ring. So unfortunately it's out of focus. I don't care, this was a magnificent moment in my life. I stopped taking photos and give Andy a kiss. Moments sometimes live in our hearts and minds forever. They will not be blurry, vivid electric moments. For these, I am truly grateful. Oh yeah, I had also forgot my glasses, which didn't help
The pheasant (Phasianus colchicus; plural pheasants or pheasants) is a species of bird in the order Galliformes. As with other pheasants, the rooster stands out with its colorful plumage and its significantly longer tail feathers. Hens show a brownish camouflage coloring. The call of the rooster is a loud, characteristic and often sequenced gö-göck.
The natural range of the pheasant extends from the Black Sea through the dry areas of Central Asia to East Asia. While the numerous Central Asian distribution islands are largely isolated from one another, the East Asian populations in China, Korea and Siberia inhabit a large contiguous area where numerous other subspecies live, some of which mix with one another at the borders of their distribution areas. The Japanese colorful pheasant is also assigned to this species by some authors.
The pheasant was naturalized in Europe, the USA and other parts of the world primarily for hunting purposes, but a stable population can usually only be maintained in the long term through conservation measures and releases. In southern Europe, the species was probably introduced during antiquity as an ornamental bird and for its tasty meat and was kept both wild and in captivity. The Romans probably spread it to Central and Western Europe. Since the early Middle Ages, pheasants have been kept in isolated cases at princely courts and monasteries, and wild stocks or one in large pheasantries have been known since the late Middle Ages or the early modern period.[1] However, many parts of Europe – such as Northern Europe – were not settled until the 19th century. Today the majority of the European stock can be found in Germany, France, Great Britain, Denmark, Hungary and Romania. The birds living here are mostly hybrids of different subspecies, mainly of the torquatus type, whose males show a white neck ring and a gray rump, and the colchicus type, which lacks the neck ring and has red-brown rump plumage.
The pheasant inhabits semi-open landscapes, light forests with undergrowth or wetlands with reeds, which offer good cover and open areas for foraging. In Europe it is often found in the cultural landscape. It feeds mostly on plant food such as seeds and berries, but also likes insects and other small animals. The neozoon pheasant devours large numbers of the neozoon potato beetle, which otherwise eat the leaves of the potato plants as larvae. During the breeding season, a rooster usually lives with one or two hens. The pheasant usually overwinters in the breeding areas. Sometimes in winter it evades over short distances to habitats that offer more cover or food.
Der Fasan (Phasianus colchicus; Plural Fasane oder Fasanen) ist eine Vogelart aus der Ordnung der Hühnervögel. Wie bei anderen Fasanenartigen fällt der Hahn durch sein farbenprächtiges Gefieder und seine deutlich längeren Schwanzfedern auf. Hennen zeigen eine bräunliche Tarnfärbung. Der Ruf des Hahns ist ein lautes, charakteristisches und oft gereihtes gö-göck.
Das natürliche Verbreitungsgebiet des Fasans reicht vom Schwarzen Meer über die Trockengebiete Mittelasiens bis in den Osten Asiens. Während die zahlreichen zentralasiatischen Verbreitungsinseln größtenteils voneinander isoliert sind, besiedeln die ostasiatischen Populationen in China, Korea und Sibirien ein großes zusammenhängendes Areal, wo zahlreiche weitere Unterarten leben, die sich teils an den Grenzen ihrer Verbreitungsgebiete untereinander mischen. Von einigen Autoren wird auch der japanische Buntfasan dieser Art zugeordnet.
Vor allem zu Jagdzwecken wurde der Fasan in Europa, den USA und anderen Teilen der Welt eingebürgert, ein stabiler Bestand kann sich aber auf Dauer meist nur durch Hegemaßnahmen und Aussetzungen halten. In Südeuropa wurde die Art vermutlich schon während der Antike als Ziervogel und wegen ihres wohlschmeckenden Fleisches eingeführt und sowohl wild als auch in Gefangenschaft gehalten. Die Römer sorgten wahrscheinlich für eine Verbreitung in Mittel- und Westeuropa. Seit dem frühen Mittelalter ist die Fasanenhaltung vereinzelt an Fürstenhöfen und Klöstern belegt, und seit dem ausgehenden Mittelalter oder der frühen Neuzeit ist ein freilebender Bestand oder ein solcher in großen Fasanerien bekannt.[1] Viele Teile Europas – wie beispielsweise Nordeuropa – wurden aber auch erst im 19. Jahrhundert besiedelt. Heute ist der Großteil des europäischen Bestands in den Ländern Deutschland, Frankreich, Großbritannien, Dänemark, Ungarn und Rumänien zu finden. Die hier lebenden Vögel sind meist Mischformen verschiedener Unterarten, hauptsächlich des torquatus-Typs, dessen Hähne einen weißen Halsring und einen grauen Bürzel zeigen, und des colchicus-Typs, dem der Halsring fehlt und der rotbraunes Bürzelgefieder hat.
Der Fasan besiedelt halboffene Landschaften, lichte Wälder mit Unterwuchs oder schilfbestandene Feuchtgebiete, die ihm gute Deckung und offene Flächen zur Nahrungssuche bieten. In Europa findet man ihn häufig in der Kulturlandschaft. Er ernährt sich zumeist von pflanzlicher Nahrung wie Sämereien und Beeren, gerne auch von Insekten und anderen Kleintieren. So vertilgt das Neozoon Fasan große Mengen des Neozoons Kartoffelkäfer, die sonst als Larven die Blätter der Kartoffelpflanzen kahlfressen. Ein Hahn lebt zur Brutzeit meist mit ein bis zwei Hennen zusammen. Der Fasan überwintert zumeist in den Brutgebieten. Bisweilen weicht er im Winter über kurze Strecken in mehr Deckung oder Nahrung bietende Lebensräume aus.
(Wikipedia)
The Georgia State Capitol is an architecturally and historically significant building in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. The building has been named a National Historic Landmark which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. As the primary office building of Georgia's government, the capitol houses the offices of the governor, lieutenant governor, and secretary of state on the second floor, chambers in which the General Assembly, consisting of the Georgia State Senate and Georgia House of Representatives, meets annually from January to April. The fourth floor houses visitors' galleries overlooking the legislative chambers and a museum located near the rotunda in which a statue of Miss Freedom caps the dome.
Namtso is one of the three holy lakes in Tibet and significant for Tibetan Buddhists. Kora is a Tibetan word that means "circumambulation" or "revolution". Kora is both a type of pilgrimage and a type of meditative practice in the Tibetan Buddhism. Thus, Namtso Kora means pilgrimage walk around the Lake Namtso.
Namtso literally means heavenly lake in Tibetan language. Located around 240km northwest of Lhasa, capital of Tibet, it takes four hours’ driving from Lhasa. Extending 70 km from east to west and 30 km from south to north, the lake covers an area of 1,920 sq km and has an altitude of 4748 m above sea level. It is biggest lake in Tibet and the second biggest salt lake in China as well as one of the highest lakes in the world. The water in the lake is crystally clear and blue. The blue sky joins the surface of the lake in the distance, creating an integrated, scenic vista.
In every Tibetan year of sheep, thousands of Tibetan Buddhism believers will come here to worship this sacred lake. As a rule, they will walk clockwise along the Namtso Lake in order to receive the blessing of the gods.
There are several fine Tibet treks around the lake. The shortest one is roughly 4 kilometers and takes less than one hour. It starts from the accommodation area to a hermit’s cave hidden behind a large spinter of rock. The kora continues to a rocky promontory of cairns and prayer flags. At the promontory, pilgrims undertake a ritural washing in the lake. And then the trail continues past several caves and a prostration point where there are two rock towers looking like two hands. Pilgrims squeeze into the deep slices of the nearby cliff face as a means of sin detection or drink water dripping from cave roofs, even swallow holy dirt.
According to local legend, Helfštýn is named after the robber Helfried of Linva, who founded it. The castle was probably built in the last quarter of the 13th century. Around 1320 Vok of Kravař, a member of a prominent Moravian noble family, became the owner of the castle. Helfštýn remained in the possession of the Kravař family for more than a hundred years and underwent far-reaching structural changes during this period. Construction work began on a larger scale in the first half of the 14th century, but the main reconstruction of the castle into a Gothic fortress did not take place until the end of the 14th and the beginning of the 15th century. The Kravařs mainly improved the fortifications of Helfštýn. They replaced the makeshift fortification of the old parkland with a thick stone wall with four bastions, built a prismatic tower over the entrance to the castle itself and secured it with a drawbridge, built a fortified forecourt on the south side and cut the ridge of the hill with a moat carved into the rock.
The era of the Pernštejn family
In 1474, William of Pernštejn took over the castle estate and proceeded to its further reconstruction. In the last quarter of the 15th century,
Helfštýn Castle was enlarged with a thoroughly fortified, extensive farm forecourt (completed in 1480) and another forecourt, which formed a new outpost defending the entire enlarged building. At the same time, the fortifications of the old Kravaře castle were improved with bastions and a new system of towers and gates. The castle's ground plan was definitively given an elongated shape, and in its external form the perfect fortification system significantly overlapped all the other architectural elements.
Renaissance reconstruction
At the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries, the inner core of the castle was rebuilt into a Renaissance residence. The old castle palace was demolished, along with part of its original Gothic fortifications, and a magnificent Renaissance palace was built on the vacant space, in sharp contrast to the extensive system of late Gothic fortifications that surrounded it.
The destruction of the castle
In 1656, quite extensive demolition work was carried out, which, although it did not damage the fortifications of Helfštýn too much, definitively deprived it of the character of a manor house. And thus began the long-term destruction of the castle. The destruction was accelerated in the second half of the 18th century by the Ditrichstein family with demolition works. These attempts culminated in 1817, when part of the inner castle was destroyed by artillery fire.
Present day
The present-day character of the castle is that of a fortress with six gates and a series of 18th-century buildings and ramparts. Since the 19th century, the castle has been presented as a tourist and heritage site. Nowadays it has become a natural cultural centre of the region, with various cultural events taking place here throughout the season
2021 represents a significant milestone in the history of the Phoenix Railway-Photographic Circle with the celebration of our 50th anniversary by publishing a book to showcase some of the members work, past and present, from 1971 to the present day. The book contains 14 chapters and 144 pages of photographs depicting the work of over 50 accomplished railway photographers with many differing styles and approaches. It takes an alternative view on photographing the railway scene over the past 50 years. The book, called 50 Years of Phoenix will be published on 14th May 2021 with pre-orders now being taken – click on this link to order your copy: www.mortonsbooks.co.uk/product/view/productCode/15554
Why not take a look at the PRPC web site at www.phoenix-rpc.co.uk/index.html.
High Road to Taos
San Francisco de Asís Mission Church is a historic and architecturally significant church on the main plaza of Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico. Built between 1772 and 1816 when New Mexico was part of the Vice-Royalty of New Spain, it is one of the finest extant examples of a Spanish Colonial New Mexico mission church, and is a popular subject for photographers. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1970.
San Francisco de Asís is located about 4 miles (6.4 km) south of Taos, New Mexico, at the center of the main plaza in the unincorporated community of Ranchos de Taos on the south side of New Mexico State Road 68. It is a large adobe structure, about 120 feet (37 m) in length, with a cruciform plan. An adobe wall extends from the back of the church and one of the transepts to form an enclosed rectangular area on the building's south side. Adobe buttresses project from several portions of the main walls, including architecturally distinctive beehive-curved buttresses at the ends of the transepts. The roof is formed out of adobe laid on planking supported by timber vigas, set in distinctive doubly corbelled mounts. The vigas are also more closely spaced than is typically found in other examples of Spanish colonial architecture. The entrance is flanked by a pair of bell towers.
The mission at Ranchos de Taos was established in the early 18th century. Construction on this church began around 1772 and was completed in 1815 by Franciscan Fathers; its patron is Saint Francis of Assisi. It was the center of the fortified plaza, which provided for protection against Comanche attacks. The church has undergone several instances of restoration, including in 1967, when all of the ceiling vigas and doors were replaced with reproductions. The community and parishioners gather annually to replaster the church.
The church has inspired some of the greatest number of depictions of any building in the United States. It was the subject of several paintings by Georgia O'Keeffe,[9][10] and photographs by Ansel Adams, Paul Strand and Ned Scott. Georgia O'Keeffe described it as "one of the most beautiful buildings left in the United States by the early Spaniards."
The Taos Chamber of Commerce states that the building is "one of the most photographed and painted churches in the world".
The church was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1970. It is also designated as a World Heritage church.
(Wikipedia)
The 56-mile (90 km) High Road to Taos is a scenic, winding road through the Sangre de Cristo Mountains between Santa Fe and Taos. (The "Low Road" runs through the valleys along the Rio Grande). It winds through high desert, mountains, forests, small farms, and tiny Spanish Land Grant villages and Pueblo Indian villages. Scattered along the way are the galleries and studios of traditional artisans and artists drawn by the natural beauty. It has been recognized by the state of New Mexico as an official Scenic Byway.
Talpa is an ancient site; pit houses and pueblos were built here from 1100 to 1300. It was settled by Spanish colonists in the early 18th century, about the same time as Taos. Talpa, which means "knob", may refer to a formation in one of Talpa's little canyons.
(Wikipedia)
Die spanische Missionskirche San Francisco de Asis in der Ortschaft Ranchos de Taos nahe der Stadt Taos im US-Bundesstaat New Mexico gilt als die bedeutendste Adobekirche im Süden der heutigen USA. Bis auf wenige Ausnahmen wurden die meisten Kirchenbauten dieser Art im 19. und 20. Jahrhundert niedergerissen und durch steinerne Neubauten ersetzt.
Die Kirche befindet sich auf der St. Francis Plaza der etwa 2.500 Einwohner zählenden und etwa 7 km südlich der Stadt Taos gelegenen Ortschaft Ranchos de Taos im US-Bundesstaat New Mexico. Wie bei Bettelordenskirchen häufiger anzutreffen, ist die Kirche nicht geostet – die Apsis ist nach Nordwesten orientiert; der Eingang befindet sich folglich im Südosten des Bauwerks.
Die – wie die meisten Kirchen des Franziskanerordens – dem Gründer der Ordensgemeinschaft, dem hl. Franz von Assisi (um 1181–1226), geweihte Kirche wurde von den mit der Indianermission beauftragten Ordensbrüdern und indianischen Arbeitern in der Nähe einer bereits seit 1742 nachgewiesenen spanischen Siedlung in der Zeit von 1772 bis 1815 erbaut. Bei einer derart langen Bauzeit ist davon auszugehen, dass wohl zunächst nur ein kleinerer Vorgängerbau errichtet wurde, der in späterer Zeit abgerissen oder zum Teil in die neue Kirche integriert wurde. Im Mexikanisch-amerikanischen Krieg von 1846 bis 1848 und durch den anschließenden Vertrag von Guadalupe Hidalgo gelangte das Gebiet unter US-amerikanische Kontrolle, doch blieb die Region nicht von Indianerüberfällen verschont, was sich im wehrhaften Gesamtbild der Kirche widerspiegelt.
Für den Bau der einschiffigen, aber mit einem Querhaus versehenen Kirche wurden ausschließlich Lehmziegel verwendet; die Außen- und Innenwände sind durch Lehmputz geschützt und geglättet; der Außenputz der etwa 1,70 m dicken Mauern wird jedes Jahr erneuert. Fassade, Querhaus und Apsis der Kirche sind durch massive schräge und zum Teil abgerundete Stützmauern stabilisiert, die dem Bau insgesamt einen wehrhaften Charakter verleihen. Die Fassade schließt mit zwei gedrungen wirkenden Glockentürmchen ab.
Die horizontal verlegten Holzbalken des Flachdachs durchstoßen die Außenwände des Langhauses, so dass die Balkenkopfenden im Äußeren sichtbar sind. Darüber befand sich eine Schicht aus Schilf und Stroh, die mit einer leicht angeschrägten Lehmschicht abgedeckt war; von dort wurden die meist spärlichen, nach einem Gewitter aber auch manchmal enormen Regenwassermengen über einfache Wasserspeier nach außen abgeleitet.
Von großer architekturgeschichtlicher Bedeutung ist die kubisch-abstrakte, dekor- und fensterlose Gestaltung der Apsis und des Querhauses, die in ihrer Art einmalig ist. Architekten wie Frank Gehry und andere haben sich von ihr anregen und beeinflussen lassen und auch die abstrakte Malerin Georgia O’Keeffe war von ihr beeindruckt.
Das in früherer Zeit von einem mittigen hölzernen Stützpfeiler stabilisierte etwa 7,80 m breite Kircheninnere ist einschiffig und äußerst schmucklos; es wird von zwei großen Außenwandfenstern belichtet, die möglicherweise eine spätere Zutat sind. Zwei weitgehend unbeschnitzte hölzerne Altarretabel befinden sich in der Apsis und im nordwestlichen Querhaus; ihre farbige Bemalung ist in hohem Maße von indianischem Geschmacksempfinden beeinflusst.
(Wikipedia)
Phanom Rung Historical Park, Buriram, Thailand.
Phanom Rung is probably the most impressive and significant of the Khmer temples that can be found in Thailand. It was constructed in Angkor style during the 10th until the 13th century as a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva.
Phanom Rung, officially named Prasat Hin Phanom Rung was built on top of a hill in Buriram province on the base of which another Khmer complex, Muang Tum was constructed around the same time. As the main tower is made out of pink sandstone, the complex is also called Phanom Rung stone castle.
The temple was built on top of a hill which symbolizes Mount Kailash, a holy mountain in Hinduism on top of which Shiva lives. Phanom Rung lies on the ancient route from Angkor (the center of the ancient Khmer empire) to Phimai in Nakhon Ratchasima province.
For video, please visit youtu.be/vtgDQouQERw
Significant crop to show detail. Photographed at the Yakima Area Arboretum.
Best viewed large.
IMG_5906
Cape Otway, Great Ocean Road - Australia.
Info about Australia's most significant lighthouse.
View Larger to grab a scone, jam & cream
Taken inside the cafe at Cape Otway after our tour.
Nikon D300, Nikkor 18-200 VR @20mm, f/11, 1/8s, ISO 400, +1.67EV Exposure compensation, Hoya circular Polariser filter, hand held.
This Spitfire dates from 1945 and made its first post-restoration flight in April 2023. It is seen here given its first public display.
The Mk IX Spitfire was the most numerous version produced, being a rather hasty upgrade of the current Mk V model when it was found that the Mk V was outperformed in most important respects by the latest Luftwaffe fighters, especially the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 . The Mk VII and Mk VIII Spitfires were already in development but were significant upgrades that would take longer to reach production, so the Mk IX (essentially a Mk V with a better engine and 4 blade propeller) was rushed into service, where it proved to be significantly superior to the Mk V.
The thought of the Masquerade Ball brought Tilly to Venice, in the middle of its Carnival and then back in time, to the French Court of Queen Marie Antoinette.
Tilly has revised the richness and splendor of shapes and colors and wanted to reproduce this with the double and large collar and with wings.
Why wings? Because they represent air and fire at the same time because the draped movement and the colors recall the dance of flames that stand out high in the sky.
The dress is blue, reminiscent of water, as well as the small lights that rise along the body.
And then the earth, in the decorations in the hair and around the hips; both for the colors chosen and for what they represent.
Finally, on the eyes, a mask whose most significant and recurring function is that of a communication tool between men and the divinity, as it allows one to detach oneself from space-time conventions to project oneself into an 'other', divine world , ritual, mystical. The result was meant to be flashy but at the same time elegant and harmonious, just as the 4 elements that allow life in perfect balance and synergy are harmonious.