View allAll Photos Tagged Skilled
one skilled fisherman scooped up a Large Mouth Bass. It's funny though, out the window goes the group mentality ... the victor flees and the others pursue, often very aggressively, hoping to steal the catch. American White Pelicans
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that will add a $100,000 (£74,000) annual fee for applicants to the H-1B visa programme for skilled foreign workers.
Trump's order mentions "abuse" of the programme and will restrict entry unless payment is made.
Critics have long argued that H-1Bs undercut the American workforce, while supporters - including billionaire Elon Musk - argue it allows the US to attract top talent from around the world.
In another order, Trump set up a new "gold card" to fast-track visas for certain immigrants in exchange for fees starting at £1m.
Trump's order is due to come into force on 21 September. It would only apply to new requests, but companies would have to pay the same amount for each applicant for six years, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said.
(Ever heard the phrase "cutting off your nose to spite your face").
If America had the skilled workers don't they think they would hire them! Or is there something else behind this - I mean $100,000 plus salary, plus relocation expenses - these "skilled workers" must be something or someone special.
The eastern great egret (Ardea alba modesta), a white heron in the genus Ardea, is usually considered a subspecies of the great egret (A. alba). In New Zealand it is known as the white heron or by its Māori name kōtuku. Measuring 83–103 cm in length and weighing 0.7–1.2 kg, the eastern great egret is a large heron with all-white plumage. Its bill is black in the breeding season and yellow at other times, and its long legs are red or black. The colours of the bare parts of the face change to green during the breeding season. The breeding plumage is also marked by long neck plumes and a green facial area. The eastern great egret can be distinguished from other white egrets and herons in Asia and Australia by its very long neck, one and a half times as long as its own body. The eastern great egret has a wide distribution throughout Asia and Oceania, with breeding populations in Australia, Bangladesh, China, Nepal, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Myanmar, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Russia (north-eastern), Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The egret breeds across Australia but only rarely in the southwest of the continent or dry interior. The largest colonies within Australia are in the Top End and Channel Country, which can number several thousand pairs. Colonies in the southeast of Australia can number several hundred pairs. The bird is an uncommon autumn and winter visitor to Tasmania. The diet includes vertebrates such as fish, frogs, small reptiles, small birds and rodents, and invertebrates such as insects, crustaceans, and molluscs. The eastern great egret hunts by wading or standing still in shallow water and spearing prey with its bill. The eastern great egret often breeds in colonies with other herons, egrets, cormorants, spoonbills and ibises. One brood is raised a year, although the breeding season varies within Australia. In the north of the country it is in March to May, in southern and central Queensland December and January, and October to December in the south. Located atop trees at a height of 20 m or more, the nest is a flat wide platform of dry branches and sticks with a shallow basin for eggs and young. The clutch consists of anywhere from two to six pale blue-green eggs, with three or four being the usual number. They are oval in shape and measure 52 x 36 mm. The subspecies is protected in Australia. 53655
Being a caffeine addict myself, I made a new gallery titled Coffee Addicts Anonymous . If you have any coffee related photographs that you would like to be added into the gallery, just embed the photo in the comment at the bottom of the gallery~
horcruxes:
Micro Four Thirds : Olympus : Black and White
© All rights reserved. Please do not use this image on websites, blogs or any other media without my explicit written permission.
Aboriginal Australians comprise many distinct peoples who have developed across Australia for over 50,000 years. These peoples have a broadly shared, though complex, genetic history, but only in the last 200 years have they been defined and started to self-identify as a single group. Australian Aboriginal identity has changed over time and place, with family lineage, self-identification and community acceptance all being of varying importance.
The Wiradjuri people (Wiradjuri northern dialect pronunciation [wiraːjd̪uːraj]; Wiradjuri southern dialect pronunciation [wiraːjɟuːraj]) are a group of Aboriginal Australian people from central New South Wales, united by common descent through kinship and shared traditions. They survived as skilled hunter-fisher-gatherers, in family groups or clans, and many still use knowledge of hunting and gathering techniques as part of their customary life. In the 21st century, major Wiradjuri groups live in Condobolin, Peak Hill, Narrandera and Griffith. There are significant populations at Wagga Wagga and Leeton and smaller groups at West Wyalong, Parkes, Dubbo, Forbes, Cootamundra, Darlington Point, Cowra and Young.
The Wiradjuri diet included yabbies and fish such as Murray cod from the rivers. In dry seasons, they ate kangaroos, emus and food gathered from the land, including fruit, nuts, yam daisies (Microseris lanceolata), wattle seeds, and orchid tubers. The Wiradjuri travelled into Alpine areas in the summer to feast on Bogong moths. The Wiradjuri were also known for their handsome possum-skin cloaks stitched together from several possum furs. Governor Macquarie was presented with one of these cloaks by a Wiradjuri man when he visited Bathurst in 1815.
Coolamon is an anglicised NSW Aboriginal word used to describe an Australian Aboriginal carrying vessel. It is a multi-purpose shallow vessel, or dish with curved sides, ranging in length from 30 to 70 cm, and similar in shape to a canoe. Coolamons were traditionally used by Aboriginal women to carry water, fruit, nuts, as well as to cradle babies. Today when women gather bush tucker, they usually use a billy can, bucket or flour tin. Coolamons were carried on the head when travelling any distance, or under the arm if used as a cradle. If carried on the head, a ring pad (akartne in Arrernte) was placed on the head, made out of possum and/or human hair string, twisted grass, or feathers. R_21089
This is to be done by one skilled in aims
who wants to break through to the state of peace:
Be capable, upright, & straightforward,
easy to instruct, gentle, & not conceited,
content & easy to support,
with few duties, living lightly,
with peaceful faculties, masterful,
modest, & no greed for supporters.
Do not do the slightest thing
that the wise would later censure.
Sutta Nipāta 1.143, 1.144, 1.145
tipitaka.org/romn/cscd/s0505m.mul0.xml#para143
Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
"Pencils work best in a skilled hand."
Artistic framing of mixed wooden souvenirs and handicrafts exhibited in sand. Spot the pencil fixed in the hand of a statue.
Serving as a vessel of imagination, a pencil symbolizes creativity, potential, and learning.
Shot from Aswan west bank
The highly skilled balancing act of the star performer!
Something rather over-the-top for Macro Mondays theme 'Redux 2018' and Smile on Saturday theme 'Wish Upon a Star'. This was my first idea for the MM theme 'Balance' just a few weeks ago, but decided on something else.
No snails were harmed in the process of making this photograph. As usual, the set up and lighting were first done, then the snail added to keep shooting time to a minimum. This is one of several small juvenile snails that are overwintering in the safety and relative warmth of my conservatory. Although they are less active at this time of year, they can usually be convinced to perform when enticed by lettuce.
This lovely female Red-winged Blackbird was busy weaving grasses into an intricate nest. I'll keep an eye on her since the nest is quite close to the shore. Will likely be easy to see the babies.
Stained glass from the Baltic Exchange building, which was severely damaged by a terrorist bomb on 10th April 1992. The glass was originally unveiled in 1922. John Dudley Forsyth was commissioned to design the series of stained glass windows shortly after the First World War. The windows formed part of a memorial to the 60 members of the exchange who lost their lives. The memorial consists of a half-dome and five large windows which in the original building were below the dome. They were installed over a staircase to the lower floor. The glass was painted and stained by skilled glass painters following Forsyth's design. These were then fired and assembled into windows, where they were held together by a network of lead strips. the windows were made by Lowdes & Drury, Fulham.
So many of these dot the country side. Works of art by skilled craftsman and you are left wondering, what happened to the house they were attached to. Lightroom is still broken but I found under the category section All my photos, 81,250 of them! And if I don't mind sifting through them I can actually develop the ones I want. Other than that, I think I will have to go back to the end of Nov. for the last backup and load that in. Not sure of that yet!
Foxes are skilled hunters, so it is unfortunate that they can so quickly become scavengers of human garbage.
Their prey typically consists of small rodents and animals up to rabbit size. Foxes have excellent senses and use them all while hunting, including their ability to sense changes in magnetic fields. When mice are under the snow, foxes pinpoint their precise location by sensing an infinitesimal change in magnetic field and pounce to that location.
Foxes are closely related to dogs but interestingly have eyes and retractable claws like cats.
Keep foxes hunting.... don't feed the wildlife!
I loved the light on the moss-covered dry stane (stone) dyke on this walk. These dykes are a really common feature here (in north east Scotland), and we tend to take them for granted. But they are works of real craft and skill - built with no mortar to hold the stones together, but relying on the skilled placement of interlocking stones for its strength. Taken near Portlethen, Aberdeenshire.
The Rajshahi district of Bangladesh is famous for its silk. Most producers have a vertical supply chain ie, they grow the leaves upon which silk worms feed upon and then extract the silk from those worms. And so the process continues.
Here is one of the final stages where an artisan is hand painting designs onto a beautiful Rajshahi silk sari
Fivi tried to balance the ball on her nose - and fails - again. Hot at the Welsh Mountain zoo and the bears have a great pool to cool off in.
The Common Shelduck is a big lovely looking bird having a white body with dark green head and an orange brown band around the breast and black patches on the back and wings. These birds use their sharp beaks to arrange the twigs and fibres together when building their nest and they use spiders webs or mud to strengthen the nest and bring it all together, the nest is made in old rabbit burrows or low holes in trees and in haystacks. The female lays between 7 to 14 eggs and they hatch around 26 to 30 days after. The chicks must learn quickly to feed themselves because soon after hatching the mother takes them to the water to make them skilled at swimming and looking for food. These ducks eat plant material, seeds, small fish, snails, crabs and larvae and pupae which are found under rocks. When in the malting phase these birds loose the tail and wing feathers which prevents the Common Shelduck from taking flight until they are replacement by the new feathers.
A skilled young lady imposes her will on a wave at Huntington Beach, California. Huntington Beach is also known as Surf City, USA and the US Open of Surfing is held there each July. The town is located about 36 miles south from downtown Los Angles and while it is a beautiful retreat today, the internet has photos of the beach littered with oil wells during the not too distant past.
I've seen photographers on the beach with tripods and long lenses. This photo was captured from the pier with a hand held 70-200 at 200 mm. It is cropped pretty heavily though.
Nikon D800
Nikon 70-200 f/2.8 VRII at 200 mm
1/2,500 sec at f/4.5 ISO 100
June 27, 2016
© 2016 Ronald Drewnowski - All rights reserved. Any unauthorized use is prohibited.
If you happen to be the young lady in the photo, feel free to print a copy of the photo for you personal, non commercial use.
Albert Bierstadt was a skilled showman.Here,he reorganized Rocky Mountain landmarks,exaggerated their scale,and introduced dramatic weather to thrill audiences at a moment when the North American continent was under rapid development.Bierstadt's display for profit of theatrically large canvases like this one was a forerunner of movies.
In 1863 Bierstadt made an on-site study for the work,which he completed in his New York studio.The painting had a personal significance for "Mt. Rosalie" (now Mount Evans) was named by the artist in honor of his traveling companion's wife,Rosalie Osborne Ludlow whom Bierstadt would marry in 1866 following his divorce.
www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/1558
About the artist-Bierstadt was born in Prussia in 1830,and was brought to live in the United States in New Bedford, Massachusetts at just a year old.He had a flare for art from an early age,and spent his youth sketching with crayons,before switching to oils at the age of 21.It was when he traveled back to Dusseldorf in 1853 that he officially studied painting and perfected his technique.Back in New Bedford a few years later with his newly acquired training,he dabbled in teaching art before dedicating himself to full-time painting.
The artist's subject of choice was landscapes.Spending time in alpine scenery while he studied made portraying nature his forte,and he received a lot of praise when he exhibited one of his paintings of Swiss mountains,Lake Lucerne and the National Academy if Design.This helped put his mastery of capturing stunning wilderness panoramas in the map.He was hailed as a bright new star on the American art stage and was elected an honorary member of the
Academy.
In 1859,Bierstadt joined a land surveyor for the US government called Frederick W. Lander on a trip west.He documented the trip with photographs and sketches,and inspired by the scenery he witnessed,he began reproducing what he saw on large canvasses in his studio back in New York.Four years later he returned west this time with author Fitz Hugh Ludlow.This trip provided more material for his paintings,as well as furnishing himself with a wife:Rosalie Ludlow divorced Fitz Hugh on their return and married Bierstadt instead.
Bierstadt's paintings were popular.Not only were they technically proficient but allowed their viewers to to marvel at serene unpopulated vistas that they would never get to witness in real life.Many would have heard of places like Rocky Mountains or Yosemite,but few would ever see them.Viewers lapped his work up.His presence was requested by every explorer venturing out west,including the Atchison,Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad who asked him to visit and paint the Grand Canyon.
When Bierstadt finished one of his gigantic paintings it would be quite an event.Audiences would flock to see a new thrilling vision of nature being unveiled,often bringing opera glasses to study the minute details of the canvas.He was known as his skills as a showman,as he often exaggerated scale,introduced dramatic weather patterns and reorganized landmarks,such as in A Storm in the Rocky Mountains,Mt Rosalie (shown)
Not everyone was a fan however.Some of Bierstadt's contemporaries criticized his overly romanticized depictions,stating that his use of light was excessive and unrealistic.This didn't impact the artist's commercial success:his paintings sold at record prices and he exhibited frequently.His artwork The Rocky Mountains,Landers Peak was purchased for $25,000 in 1865 (appx $480,558 today).
Bierstadt's fame did not last.As fashions changed the art world shifted their interests towards more impressionists styles,and his landscapes and theatrical lighting feel out of favor.In 1876 Bierstadt and his wife moved to Nassau inn the Bahamas to be in warmer climes,as Rosalie was suffering from consumption.
Although his work was largely forgotten after his death in 1902,he was a prolific artist completing over 500 paintings in his lifetime.By drawing people's attention to the majesty of the natural world his work also played a role in renewing people's interests in preserving these areas and establishing National Parks.
This image features a nuthatch clinging to the side of a tree trunk, with its body angled downward. Nuthatches are skilled climbers, often seen creeping headfirst down tree trunks, a unique behavior among birds.They forage for insects, seeds, and nuts in tree bark crevices, using their sharp beaks to pry food out. Nuthatches are territorial, particularly during the breeding season, and will defend their area vigorously.
They use a variety of calls and postures to communicate with intruders or rivals.
Huntington Beach, California
A young skilled surfer tests the waves on a summer morning in Huntington Beach which is also know as Surf City USA.
The morning was overcast and so the water did not display its usual clarity and color. The advantage though is the lack of strong shadows on the surfer's face. Wave Tools happens to be a brand of surfboard. It is not my intention to advertise for them, but thought that in this photo, the board provided both an interesting commentary and a splash of needed color.
Nikon D850
Nikon 70-200 mm f/2.8 VR at 200 mm
1/3,200 sec at f/3.5 ISO 100
August 23, 2022
© 2022 Ronald Drewnowski - All rights reserved. Any unauthorized use is prohibited.
If you should happen to be the young man in the photo, you have my permission to print a copy of this photo for your personal non-commercial use.
Arrived at the 38 th edition, the event Cervia Garden City "in this 2010, as is now traditional, hosted the most skilled gardeners renowned Italian and foreign cities, to create the largest" flower show in the open " developed by technical experts and masters of nature. The gardens, flower beds, sculptures in the green and all other creations will be on display, as open-air museum throughout the summer until the end of September, distributed at various points in Cervia Milano Marittima, Pinarella and sliced . The care and maintenance works will be managed by flowers and pine green services of the Municipality of Cervia.
Can count on the accession of over 50 cities and institutions, more than 270,000 flowering plants and thousands of square feet of turf.
The outstanding works to be carried out by these gardeners, real artists, beyond the collective imagination, to complete a job turned into an art that gives life to sculptures, compositions and emotional expressions, figurative and abstract that are assembled in the original gardens and stunning floral arrangements including walking, surprise and emotion. It is since 1972 that the event draws in Cervia master gardeners from around the world. "Cervia takes you to the water of the sea with its many gardens have thoughts even of towns and cities far away, so, Tonino Guerra has masterfully summed up the significance of the demonstration.
The inauguration of the exhibition "Cervia" Garden City "will take place in the day Saturday, May 29, 2010, if the Authority invited Italian and foreign cities.
Particularly prestigious recognition of the President, that this year, as well as membership, donated a plaque with the specific mention: "The President of the 38 th edition of floral" Cervia "Garden City".
Arrivata alla 38^ edizione, la manifestazione “Cervia Città Giardino” anche in questo 2010, com’è ormai tradizione, ha ospitato i più abili giardinieri di rinomate città italiane e straniere, per dare vita alla più importante “mostra floreale a cielo aperto” realizzata da tecnici, esperti e maestri del verde. I giardini, le aiuole, le sculture nel verde e tutte le altre creazioni saranno in esposizione, come museo all’aperto, per tutta l’estate, fino alla fine di settembre, distribuiti in vari punti di Cervia, Milano Marittima, Pinarella e Tagliata. La cura ed il mantenimento delle opere floreali sarà gestito dal Servizio Verde e Pinete del Comune di Cervia.
Potrà contare sull’adesione di oltre 50 tra città e enti, più di 270.000 piante di fiori e migliaia di metri quadrati di tappeto erboso.
Le straordinarie opere che verranno realizzate da questi giardinieri, veri e propri artisti, vanno al di là dell’immaginario collettivo, per un mestiere trasformato in un’arte completa che dà vita a sculture, espressioni e composizioni emozionanti, figure e astrattismi che si assemblano in originali giardini ed incredibili allestimenti floreali fra i quali passeggiare, stupirsi ed emozionarsi. È dal 1972 che la manifestazione richiama a Cervia maestri giardinieri da tutto il mondo. “Cervia ti porta verso l’acqua del mare con i suoi innumerevoli giardini che hanno pensieri anche di paesi e città lontani”, così Tonino Guerra ha magistralmente sintetizzato il significato della manifestazione.
L’inaugurazione della manifestazione “Cervia Città Giardino” si svolgerà nella giornata di sabato 29 maggio 2010, in presenza delle Autorità delle città invitate italiane e straniere.
Di particolare prestigio il riconoscimento del Presidente della Repubblica, che anche quest’anno, oltre all’adesione, ha donato una targa con la specifica menzione: “Il Presidente della Repubblica alla 38^ edizione della rassegna floreale "Cervia Città Giardino
Last sunday, once again I went with bird-guru Michel Geven on Kingfisher 'hunt'. The man is incredible. He's like a bird-whisperer. Not only does he find them all, but he also captures them in the most wonderful (and skilled) way. Don't know about you guys, but it sometimes feels as if I'm the laughing-stock of birdworld; there's a collective agreement that as soon as I stick my head around the corner, they fly.. With Michel, the birds seem mezmerized and stay where they are, allowing him one gorgeous shot after another.
This sunday, Michel had set up the hide near a nest and apart from having a really good time talking about our upcoming trip to Iceland (we leave next friday), we were able to get some good shots. As always, when I come back, Hans has to sit through at least half an hour of enthusiasm... Meanwhile he's really good at nodding and murmering something approving at the right moments :-).
While doing this, outside on our terrasse, something caught my eye: a blue flash. At first I thought that I must be hallucinating (Kingfisher overdose?) because our house is located in forest area, not wet area. Then all of a sudden I heard a familiar sound; it really was a Kingfisher! We have a rather large pond right next to our house. Last year when Hans cut the trees in shape, he left one small tree standing next to that pond and he left one horizontal branch on it figuring it would be a nice bird look-out. And there he was, our very own Kingfisher, sitting on that particular branch!!
I nearly got a heart attack when next thing I knew, the bird took a dive in the pond, came out with a fish and started smashing it on the branch to kill it. After doing so, he flew off, only to return in 5 minutes. This went on for a couple of times. Meanwhile I had taken a dive in the shed; got out my hide and threw it over the bench that stands next to the pond.
Took hundreds of shots and although lovely ones, they lacked a bit of sharpness and definition because it's a tiny bird and I was just a thatch too far away. (and as you know, my sun hood is still on the bottom of the Biesbosch :-( and with the backlight, I got a bit of a haze over the pictures) So I relocated the hide to the edge of the pond, hoping that the Kingfisher would get used to it. Every day, directly after work much to the amusement of Hans, I ran to my hide, installed myself with a glass of wine and waited. But there was a problem with my set-up. Every time the Kingfisher came, my two dogs Pandour and Kookaï came looking what was going on. Which obviously didn't help. Solved the problem by letting the dogs inside the hide. Bit crowded but very cosy! :-)
The stationary shots were already good but my mission was to get a sharp shot of the Kingfisher smashing a fish and although I came close, the bird moves só fast that it's almost impossible to get that right especially since he invariably only comes when the light already begins to fade. But I'm really happy with the results so far. I will keep on trying but unfortunately the Kingfisher's visits are less now, yesterday and today none. But the hide is still standing, so I'm hoping on one or two more good shots this week.
Lots of sheep in Derbyshire and lots of walkers with hills to climb, so hopefully a winning reincarnation and obviously made by very patient and skilled hands. These were all for sale.
I ❤ anything and everything handmade with skill.
Expired/Discontinued Kodak Professional T400 CN Film (Process C-41)/Canonet QL-17 G-III
Well friends, the Canonet QL-17 G-III I purchased as a gift for my sister came back from Camera Techs looking almost as good as new.
Chuck, the technician that worked on this camera did an amazing job. Whatever old foam was left on the camera had turned--with the years and lack of use-- into a black sticky tar that threatened with dislodging and spreading around the guts of the camera, lens, etc.
Prior to taking the Canonet in, I tried to remove as much of the gooey matter as possible with a paper towel wrapped index finger, loaded a roll and shot it to see how much light was leaking through. You can see the shots on this Canonet set (about 7 shots prior to this one). It was really bad.
In any case, this is the first roll shot post-repair. Tested at all speeds and apertures for the past two days (this photo was taken around 11am this morning, on my way to Matt's at the Market for lunch with friends) and developed about an hour ago at Rite-Aid in White Center. All photos, ALL 24 frames came out.
Tomorrow the camera will be sent--along with a brand new Domke Gripper strap I got at Glazer's and a rubberized hooded UV filter (found on eBay, to double up as lens protection)--to my sister all the way to San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Before I send the camera to Giselle I'll take a photo of the foam job to share with fellow Canonet lovers and anyone here in Seattle who's been thinking of replacing the foam on a vintage camera such as this one. It is fantastic what skilled hands can do with great little cameras that have been abandoned and forgotten for years and deserve to be used and enjoyed.
Gissy, get ready. You are going to love your camera. ;D
a wonderful coming last week for Christmas !!
_____________________________
Steyr Austria !
Schmiedeweihnacht 2013, ein Schmied bei der Arbeit !
Forge Christmas 2013, a blacksmith at work!
I was born under a wand'rin' star.
I was born under a wand'rin' star.
Wheels are made for rollin',
This weekend I had the pleasure of watching my friends granddaughter Ava, ride and compete. She came in first place in the jumping competition.
Bravo Eva!
I thank you, in advance, for any likes and comments. I appreciate them all. Peace and light!
A skilled empathy defender is schooled in all the healing arts, including good dental hygiene.
The "standing on tiptoe" pose as I recall also came from the annoyance of the heels constantly sinking into the wet ground. (For weeks afterward, I marveled when I saw Avonlea in the game running in heels!) :-)
:D
one very fine sunrise, breakfast near the beach, found a broom = let's fly!
i love my 50mm no matter how tiny it is. <3
Today I'm very happy to introduce you all to one of the deepest, most eclectic SL artist and good friend of mine.
In her photos she can face a wide range of themes, from newness to goth, to sensuality, from sci-fi to fun situations always showing a perfect style and intense meanings.
Ladies and gentlemen, it's a big pleasure to have here the marvelous skilled, the beautiful talented: Ms. Daikota Wind !
Cla: Hi Daikota, how are you? I'm very excited to have you here. Thank you for accepting my invitation!
Daikota: It is rather me who thanks you for inviting me and giving me the opportunity to make myself better known to the Flickr community. I followed each of your interviews and from the start I found that you had an excellent idea. It's truly an honor to participate in your show, so thank you very much for thinking of me. And I'm fine.
C.: So what brought you on Second Life. How and when everything began?
D.: We have to go back in time when I worked in the early evening and early night in a bar in Brussels. Wanting to reverse my life schedules, I looked for how to spend my nights on the Internet until the early morning. At that time I was going to sleep around 6 in the morning to wake up around 1 pm and I was leaving for work around 5 pm. It was a bit by chance that I came across Second Life, I signed up, I learned to walk, to dress, to sympathize, to have fun and I quickly found this virtual world incredibly varied and interesting. I very quickly met lots of people and had a lot of adventures. At the same time I discovered that it was possible to take screenshots with a simple click and save these snapshots on my computer. I then started to take photos in order to remember the unforgettable moments I lived and the people I met. I put away all these photos without looking at them, telling myself that I would see them again in forty years when I shall be retired. One day, I still went to review the photos I had already taken and surprised … I found that some shots were really very successful. As some later pointed out to me, I had a good eye. So I started staging myself to take better pictures and that's how it all started. In November 2011, I created my Flickr page and tried to post one image every day. Rhythm that I have kept to this day.
C.: How did you improve your photographer skills over the years?
D.: At the very beginning, my photos were raw, without editing, published as they had been taken in Second Life. Subsequently I treated myself to Photoshop Element 2010 which is a lighter version of the real Photoshop, far too expensive for me. I learned to improve the contrast, to add shadows, to camouflage the defects emanating from our cubic and pointed avatars, to give more depth to my photos. At that time, I was not preparing anything. I let my AO turn and, like a hunter on the lookout, I waited for the right moment to pull the trigger and thus capture my moving avatar while fixing her gaze. A little later, I was offered Animare by its creator Tantrica. This allowed me to use the poses and animations integrated into the objects and to correct the flaws such as a hand that penetrates the thigh. Finally, it was only last year that a member of the Flickr community (Gaelen Blackwood) offered me the PRO Flickr subscription, which gave me access to two months of free Photoshop. And wow, what a change. I immediately adopted this application. Even though I only know how to use 2% of these abilities, I was really able to take the next step. So I collected all my coins to give it to myself. Very recently also, a good friend (Naru Darkwatch) offered me AnyPose which allowed me to make and improve my own poses. This step has also boosted my work generating more and more joy in sharing my images with the small world of Flickr/Second Life.
C.: As I was mentioning in the introduction, you are a super talented artist with a great creativity and intuition. You seem like able to take every type of photo and face every kind of theme. We can enjoy you art on Flickr and in world at your Daikota Gallery maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Mama%20Allpa/122/207/3505 and store maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Palazzo%20del%20Piacere/77... . If you had to define your art with one single word, what would it be?
D.: This is the most difficult question. I would like to say Unique, but each artist is unique in his field. Let's say that I like to vary my themes, my appearance, my poses, the lighting and I adapt in order to try to tell a story through my photos.
C.: What type of photo you find harder to take - if ever there is any?
D.: These are of course composite photos where I mix several images into one to have a scene richer in detail. It's not that it's harder to do, but it takes a bit more work. Sometimes I leave with a specific idea in mind, but it has never happened that I take a photo that is perfectly in line with this initial idea. Second Life has its limits and I have to deal with that. In general, the most difficult thing for me is to take a photo with a friend without having a clear idea at the start. I find it easier to duplicate myself on a shot than to have a partner pose. In fact, most of the photos bringing together several characters are often montages created from several images of myself.
C.: Let's talk about your blogger experience. How do you like it?
D.: This is very recent. It all started when a friend whose work I admire (Cathy Vathiany) suggested that I create my own blog, finding that my photos looked good and that some brands would no doubt be happy to work with me. Much later, I took the plunge by asking Black Cats Creations, whose creations I love, to kindly take me into their team of bloggers. My application was accepted and it all started from there. Several months later I asked another brand to entrust me with its products in order to showcase them, it was ::Antaya:: and more recently I asked Moz Design to do the same because this store is creating a clothing line for Prima which is a new mesh body succeeding Tonic which I have always found to be the best. Three brands is enough, I don't want to kill myself on the job and as Ethan pointed out very well in a previous interview, I might as well avoid burnout because of the extra work in which I would have locked myself up. Unofficially, I also promote the products of friends that I want to help as best I can, I am not officially their blogger but I also like to please and give a little of myself to help. The advantage here is that I have no pressure and am in no way cornered by time. I greet Ambrosia from Miura, Kev’Inette from Mon Coeur en Poses, Alma from L’Atelier d’Alma, Jazaar from Jazabelle Boutique and Denna from Denden Store.
C.: What can inspire your creativity the most?
D.: My appearance. Right from the start of Second Life, I got my hands on tons of free shapes and skins. This allowed me to change my appearance as desired. With the arrival and generalization of mesh heads, it became more complicated, but I had the chance to win a contest organized by 7 Deadly Skins which gave me the opportunity to benefit from their creations for a whole year. I currently have hundreds of ways to change my appearance on a daily basis and I don't hesitate. So I start my days by creating a new avatar from head to toe. And it is this appearance that will influence what I will do with my day. Each appearance comes with a personality and depending on where I am, I will be able to let myself be guided by my intuition and in the end I hope that certain photos will be worth publishing.
C.: Which is your favorite photo among all the ones you took?
D.: Another difficult question :) Depending on whether I want to highlight the time I spent on it; the idea that I had for the result obtained, the sudden inspiration, the chance of taking a beautiful photo without doing it on purpose, I would point to a different photo each time.
For the time it took me: www.flickr.com/photos/daikota_wind/52244300060/in/datepos...
For the initial idea and the final result: www.flickr.com/photos/daikota_wind/52380164894/in/datepos...
For sudden inspiration: www.flickr.com/photos/daikota_wind/51871460495/
To thank chance for getting it right: www.flickr.com/photos/daikota_wind/52414225906/in/datepos...
C.: As for the last question, I'd invite you to ask yourself a question and give yourself an answer.
D.: Haha! … Uh! … Little silence … You have been managing to post a new photo every day on your Flickr for more than ten years, do you think that all this will stop at some point?
I am and remain a homebody, I have developed a hobby that I like and I would like it to last a long time. Second Life is very diverse, we can live all kinds of delirium there, it goes from the age of the caves to the establishment of colonies on Mars, the real artists are the ones who create all these fabulous landscapes, these detailed objects, these parts of avatars that highlight us… As long as I can put all this together in a photo, I would like to continue my work. However, I see two limitations to this. I recently moved from Europe and I now live in Asia where I would like to change my life. Soon my husband and I will have our future house built, it could be that I will no longer be available for Second Life and therefore for Flickr. But I think it will last while we settle in. If the Internet connection is good on our island at the end of the world, I would probably come back to haunt the place again. The second uncertainty is the PRO Flickr subscription. It was offered to me for one year, but I doubt that I could renew it, which would inevitably have consequences on the information that I provide concerning the brands that I blog and would oblige me for certain photos to practice the self-censorship. This is also why I am now limiting the number of photos accumulating on Flickr by eliminating one photo for each addition. In addition, I had a lot of setbacks with Flickr this year: robot restricting the visibility of my photos for a piece of shoulder that protrudes, repeated interruptions of service for more or less long periods (reason for which my subscription has been extended by 4 months), not to mention the censorship that takes place with other artists who all end up leaving this platform. But anyway, I will take the time to warn the Flickr community of the changes that will occur in my real life and which are likely to impact my virtual existence.
Wishing you all the best for your new real life changes and hoping to still have you around also in the future, I thank you so much, Daikota, for opening to us through this interview and for letting us know more about the wonderful person and artist you are.
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A new episode of NSLS will be back in two weeks time. Stay tuned!
ᶜˡᵃ'ˢ ᵒᵘᵗᶠⁱᵗ ᵇʸ ᵏᵃⁱᵗʰˡᵉᵉⁿ'ˢ
ʰᵃⁱʳ ᵇʸ ˢᵗᵉᵃˡᵗʰⁱᶜ
Look Pawpaw can you do this??Ok so this is taken for Duane ( her daddy's,daddy) . She took the remote and was changing the chanel with her toes!!! lol,,