Taken locally on our walks!

Chiffchaff - Phylloscopus collybita

The common chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita), or simply the chiffchaff, is a common and widespread leaf warbler which breeds in open woodlands throughout northern and temperate Europe and Asia.

It is a migratory passerine which winters in southern and western Europe, southern Asia and north Africa. Greenish-brown above and off-white below, it is named onomatopoeically for its simple chiff-chaff song. It has a number of subspecies, some of which are now treated as full species.

This warbler gets its name from its simple distinctive song, a repetitive cheerful chiff-chaff. This song is one of the first avian signs that spring has returned. Its call is a hweet, less disyllabic than the hooeet of the willow warbler or hu-it of the western Bonelli's warbler.

The common chiffchaff breeds across Europe and Asia east to eastern Siberia and north to about 70°N, with isolated populations in northwest Africa, northern and western Turkey and northwestern Iran. It is migratory, but it is one of the first passerine birds to return to its breeding areas in the spring and among the last to leave in late autumn. When breeding, it is a bird of open woodlands with some taller trees and ground cover for nesting purposes. These trees are typically at least 5 metres (16 ft) high, with undergrowth that is an open, poor to medium mix of grasses, bracken, nettles or similar plants. Its breeding habitat is quite specific, and even near relatives do not share it; for example, the willow warbler (P. trochilus) prefers younger trees, while the wood warbler (P. sibilatrix) prefers less undergrowth. In winter, the common chiffchaff uses a wider range of habitats including scrub, and is not so dependent on trees. It is often found near water, unlike the willow warbler which tolerates drier habitats. There is an increasing tendency to winter in western Europe well north of the traditional areas, especially in coastal southern England and the mild urban microclimate of London. These overwintering common chiffchaffs include some visitors of the eastern subspecies abietinus and tristis, so they are certainly not all birds which have bred locally, although some undoubtedly are.

Population:

UK breeding:

1,200,000 territories

UK wintering:

500-1,000 birds

I always appreciate this specific summer color combination of dark purple iron weed and the rich orange of the monarch...... but I must admit that it seems to take on a more vibrant quality as the days of mid-winter monotone drag on . And a photo that I glibly passed over amid the gluttony of summer's riotous color, assumes a more profound aspect against the backdrop of January's frozen gray .

Scientific name: Onychoprion anaethetus

Trinomial name: Onychoprion anaethetus melanopterus

Ssp name: O. a. melanopterus

Common name: Bridled tern

Nombre: Charrán monja, Charrán embriado

Lugar de la captura: República Dominicana

As per Wikipedia:

The bridled tern (Onychoprion anaethetus) is a seabird of the family Laridae. It is a bird of the tropical oceans. The scientific name is from Ancient Greek. The genus comes from onux meaning "claw" or "nail", and prion, meaning "saw". The specific anaethetus means "senseless, stupid".

This species breeds in colonies on rocky islands. It nests in a ground scrape or hole and lays one egg. It feeds by plunge-diving for fish in marine environments, but will also pick from the surface like the black tern and the gull-billed tern. It usually dives directly, and not from the "stepped-hover" favoured by the Arctic tern.

See in black

♬ but I miss you in the mornings when I see the sun... ♬

the things:

Konoha - Quercus ella - Avenue set @ We <3 Roleplay (25% discount during the event) One Oak tree,

7 Seasonal textures, hanging moss can be removed in edit, and a 2nd version with ferns

Space Cadet - relief smoke @ mainstore

Tetra - chill t-shirt @ mainstore

Stealthic - Retreat @ mainstore

@algonquinoutfit : RT @Swift_Canoe: "You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your element in each moment." -… t.co/8cyUKvsiLj (via Twitter twitter.com/algonquinoutfit/status/799614503964930048)

An interesting species of sunbird specific to a small part of the Western range of mountains / hills and forests in India. This bird is endemic to that region. The area hosts many types of sunbirds and this is one of the colorful ones.

Slightly bigger than the regular Purple / Purple Rumped sunbirds around 15 cms long, these males are quite colorful with their crimson plumage. (Not to be confused with the Crimson sunbird which looks very similar, but the range doesn't overlap).

They are quite easy to sight in the region due to their color and are often found around flowering plants and trees / plants with insects and spiders. This is a lifer that we wanted very much, but despite many sightings, barely got this shot.

Thank you so much for your views and feedback. Much appreciated.

The hôtel was built to serve as a residence for the archbishops of Sens. Before 1622, Paris was not a specific archdiocese, and depended on the diocesan authority of Sens. The archbishop was a prominent figure of power, his residence reflecting his influence within the urban landscape.

A first hôtel, at this location, was built for the archbishops of Sens in 1345, which was latter used by Charles V, King of France, as a part of his royal residence, the hôtel Saint-Pol. When the Kings settled in the newly built Louvre palace, the building was destroyed, only to be replaced by the current hôtel, built between 1475 and 1519 by Tristian de Salazar and reinstalled as the residence of the archbishops of Sens.[1] As such, it served as the house of many renowned prelate, such as Antoine Duprat, Louis de Bourbon de Vendôme, Louis de Lorraine, Nicolas de Pellevé (who died in the hôtel) or Jacques Davy Duperron. Margaret of Valois also lived there in 1605 and 1606, and her decision to cut a fig tree (figuier) in front of the building is said to have inspired the name of the street, rue du Figuier.[2]

The 1830 cannonball lodged in the main facade.

In 1622, Paris became an archdiocese. The archbishops of Sens lost the major part of their power in the city, and their sojourns in Paris became progressively less frequent. The hôtel, alienated during the 17th century to the archdiocese of Paris, entered a lasting period of progressive decay. A bien national during the French Revolution, it was sold in 1797 and privately owned throughout the 19th century, housing, like many hôtels particulier in the Marais at the time, shops, workshops or factories. During the Trois Glorieuses street fights of 1830, a cannonball hit the facade and lodged deep within the wall ; it is visible nowadays above the main entrance, the date engraved beneath.

Protected as a heritage site in 1862, the building was acquired by the city of Paris, and thoroughly restored in 1930. The Forney art library was installed in it in 1961.

/Wikipedia/

Una moderna torre vichinga che emerge dalle acque fino a 28 metri di altezza. Si chiama Fjordenhus (la casa tra i fiordi) il primo edificio interamente progettato dall’artista danese Olafur Eliasson ed il suo team di architetti dello Studio Other Spaces (SOS).

Costruita sul fronte del porto di Vejle, sulla penisola dello Jutland in Danimarca, l’architettura è stata concepita da Eliasson come «un’opera d’arte totale» che include mobili e illuminazione progettati ad hoc, e alcune opere d’arte site-specific. Situato di fronte The Harbour Island, una zona residenziale e commerciale in fase di sviluppo, Fjordenhus è accessibile da una passerella o dal lungo pontile progettato dall’architetto-paesaggista Günter Vogt e si caratterizza per un imponente ingresso a doppia altezza con diverse aperture che affacciano sul porto per sottolineare il dialogo continuo tra terra e mare. La struttura si compone di quattro cilindri di mattoni che si intersecano, scavati seguendo il profilo di complesse forme curve, circolari ed ellittiche in modo da ottenere pareti curve e archi parabolici, oltre a un altissimo pozzo d’aria tondo centrale. Il complesso è il risultato di uno studio sulla percezione dell’architettura al mutare delle maree, della luce durante il giorno e nei diversi periodi dell’anno.

(da web)

Months after I've last been to the Cristei Meadow, many things have changed around.... including the appearance of many new birds. Yellowhammers, woodpeckers, greenfinches....but my eyes were locked on a specific bird; the Red-backed Shrike.

Spring of the Pita River.

***

In a biogeographic definition, paramo is any intertropical mountain ecosystem, characterized by shrubby vegetation that generally occurs from altitudes of about 3,000 to 4,000 meters or up to 5,000 meters, that is, in regions above the forest line. continuous but still below the permanent snow line. It is found in East Africa, New Guinea, and Central and South America. However, since in each of these regions this ecosystem has a specific name, when discussing Paramos, we refer specifically to Andean Paramos.

In this strict sense of the term, all Paramos are located in the neotropical zone, mainly in northwestern South America, present in Venezuela, Colombia, Peru and Ecuador. The ecosystem occupies over 30,000 km² of South America and represents 7% of Ecuador's territory. In absolute terms, Colombia is home to 50% of the extent of Paramos (in its three branches of the Andes) and the largest Paramo in the world (Sumapaz).

Paramos' climate is characterized by wide daily fluctuations in temperature and humidity. In general, cold and humid, can undergo a sudden and drastic change in which temperatures fluctuate from below freezing to 30 ° C plus in a daily freeze-thaw cycle. High altitude in tropical locations produces a special, cold, low air density atmosphere that allows for greater dispersion of ultraviolet radiation (light and heat). This climate can be summed up in the phrase "winter every night and summer every day."

In Paramo ecosystems, soils are generally recent, of glacial and volcanic origin, and many are still in formation. Its structure is a combination of organic material that decomposes very slowly in cold weather with volcanic ash. They usually have low pH (acidity) because of the abundance of moisture and high content of organic matter. These characteristics contribute to soil water retention, which in turn is the basis of an essential environmental service: the constant storage and distribution of clean water to lower places.

The largest and most known area is the Páramo grass, which covers large areas of the mountain ranges. It extends from approximately 3,500 to 4,100 m in height, and is mainly composed of grasses and small shrubs.

Moduza procris - the Commander

Doi Suthep-Pui NP, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Order : Lepidoptera

Family : Nymphalidae

Sub-Family : Limenitidinae

Genus : Moduza

Species : Moduza procris procris

I have recently uploaded a new set of Thailand pics on my website. Mostly butterflies but a couple of other things as well. Please have a look - bugs-alive.blogspot.com

There is also a specific factsheet for the above butterfly -

bugs-alive.blogspot.com

All my insect pics are one shot, hand-held macros of live insects in the wild.

All is occupied, but feel free to come and visit the public part :)

"Luanes World - Live the Dream", is the newest addition to the Luanes World sims. But as a difference to "Luanes World" @Slice of Heaven and "Luanes Magical World" @ Morning Glow, who are public sims, "Luanes World - Live the Dream" @ Tabara is a residential sim.

The rentals consist of 7 different houses, all with water view.

The rest of the sim is free for all to use, and enjoy.

Note this sim is moderate, so keep everything naughty inside of your house:)

Please respect the privacy of the other tenants - do not contact anybody else, when they are in the privacy of their own home. If you meet them in the public areas, you can of course say hi :)

Price:

Each rental, no matter which house you choose, is 799/week, with a 2 week minimum pay the first time.

After the first payment you can pay between 1-4 weeks at a time.

Prims:

You get 250 prims to decorate the house, and the nearest surrounding with. Please keep within the prim limit, as we all have to share the prims available.

If you need additional prims, you can buy extra prims - in units of 25 prims for 75 linden/week. Write me a notecard if you want your prim limit changed.

Privacy:

Each rental has it's own security orb, and the parcel setting is set to private, so you will be invisible to people from outside the parcel.

You can add people to the security orb, once I have set it up for you.

Music and parcel name and description:

If you want the parcel to have a specific name and/or description, write it in a notecard, and I will add that for you.

Also if you would like a specific music stream, you can put that in a notecard as well, and I will change that for you.

Luanes Residential World Group:

"Luanes World - Live the Dream" @ Tabara has its own group where only tenants will be able to join (as well as subtenants). Only members of this group will be able to rezz on the sim, but the public parts are open for everybody.

Upon renting a house, send me a notecard, and I will invite you to the group, so you can start decorating your new home. Any subtenants you need adding, you put in the notecard as well. Note that this is only needed, if they need to be able to rezz as well.

If you have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to contact me. If I am not online, please send a notecard, as my IM's get capped.

Sincerely LuaneMeo.

When you just "drop into" a specific year's archive, you never know what your claws will surface with. (Like a penny arcade, remember?) Well, I didn't remember that my Dragonfly years went back to 2009-2010, but yes, and they coincided with my first wildflower foray.

What did surprise me was that ... I was good! The cameras were the SX10 and the SX20. I do remember that the lenses were excellent for closeup work. (It would be another year or two before I had a camera - the SX40 - with sufficient focal length for birding.) Composition was a real problem when I started with dragonflies and damselflies. Backgrounds could be just water but with the sun bouncing off. At other times, the backgrounds could be duck weed and all manner of acquatic fauna that made for messy shots and poor depth of field.

It was the SX40 that got me away from insects and flowers. After all, anyone with a digital camera could capture decent images of birds, but birds are far ranging (they fly) and, therefore, more time consuming than dragonflies or snapdragons.

Anyway, this was one of my first "pond-based" dragonflies, a Blue Darner near Heather Farm's larger pond. (After seven plus years of birding, I would return to odonates in 2017-2019.) My first dragonfly was, by the way, a female Variegated Meadowhawk found in tall grasses on the south side of Mt. Diablo, fairly distant from any water. But I got hooked. With the SX40, if it moved, I'd shoot so my photography was "all over the map," literally and figuratively.

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

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

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

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

This photo was taken at the end of April.

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

I went out to take photos of a few specific places at night. After a little more than an hour I was on my way home not terribly happy with the photos I took. I was driving by Cedar Hills Crossing and decided I'm here, why not see if anywhere there looks good. Drove around the whole place and found this entrance. No one was around so I took out my camera, set it up, took several photos and left not thinking they would be anything. I was going through the photos I took and sure enough, none turned out very good - except this one. When I changed it to black and white I couldn't believe how good it looked! It's leaning because of the lens I used and I took it really low to the ground, but it works because everything is kinda pointing to the sign! And to think I almost didn't stop here.

These are some of the easiest birds to capture in flight. This one was clicked as it slowed down in its approach to its nest. Due to habitat loss and human disturbance, the Spot-billed Pelican's numbers have declined in Southeast Asia where earlier they thrived. The only place where their populations are on the rise is in southern India which has lead to their status being changed from Vulnerable to Near Threatened in 2007. The Specific name refers to the Philippines, where the species was abundant in the early 1900s but had become locally extinct in the 1960s.

Distinctive pair and . . they both are designed to use their razor-sharp wheels to cut slices through pizzas! But these two specific bikes will not be used for that and instead will be enjoyed TOGETHER as a pair of lovely and unique objects.

Theme: "TWO-GETHER""

Thank you for taking the time to view this photo, faves and comments from you are greatly appreciated.

I'm working on a specific ID. View Large & Bright! Best flower in the last 2 days. Location is the same general area as the previous photo. This plant is close to where the 'official' Pt Sierra Nevada trail crosses the unnamed creek & arroyo, that I posted a photo of here:

www.flickr.com/photos/29050464@N06/52878603721

Location is a hundred ft or so north of the creek-crossing

Oh, HOW I love this specific spot, in my Chateau de La Hulpe- land blessed wanderings! In ALL Seasons! If you notice, there is only a few meters distance between the spot I took each photo. What you see here is not actually a river, but a lake, which becomes narrow-formed at a certain point, and then stops at the borders…I normally follow my path on both sides of it, turning around at a point nearby, where a little bridge exists, which it is not included in my photos….

That morning, it was a misty, velvety November week-day! With all that very special silence surrounding me ….With all those magical Earth-colours and odours…Just very few people around, but with a soft smile on their face , and bright eyes…. And a heart-warming “Bonjour!!”, every time passing close to me…

*** Wishing you all, a DELIGHTFUL Weekend!!

All attention focuses on the specific instant, almost too good to be true, which can only vanish in the following one :-)

Willie Ronis

HMM! HPPT! Character Matters!

echinacea, coneflowers, sarah p duke gardens, duke university, durham, north carolina

I just found this a fascinating bird to watch. I don't know the specific species but I hope one of my flickr friends will enlighten me....

Those sideburns were spectacular!

The short-toed snake eagle (Circaetus gallicus), also known as the short-toed eagle, is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, buzzards and harriers.The genus name Circaetus is from the Ancient Greek kirkos, a type of hawk, and aetos, "eagle".The specific gallicus means "of Gaul".

Short-toed Eagle flight_w_6055

Specific problems

Successive theories

Throughout continuity

.

.

Dati Tecnici

.

a) Fujifilm X-H1+ Anello adattatore FRINGER-EF-FXPRO2 + Canon Zoom Lens EF 24/70mm f.2,8 L USM:

b) Tempo 1/65s con apertura diaframma a f.4,8 +1,5 di stop in manuale (a mano libera);

c) Lettura Esposimetrica effettuata con esposimetro della macchina impostata su "Media a Prevalenza Centrale" ( ho effettuato 5 misurazioni a luce incidente con il Sekonic Dual Spot F-L778 con lettura impostata a 1° per confrontarla con la lettura che mi dava l’esposimetro della macchina, ho effettuato quella correzione di +1,5 di stop per recuperare alcun particolare nelle ombre e nelle penombre.

d) Impostazione nel corpo camera ISO/ASA 6400, DR (100%), Modalità AF (Area), WB Bilanciamento del Bianco (Auto), Simulazione Film (Provia Standard), Colore (+2), Nitidezza (0), Tono Alte luci (0), Tono Ombre (0), Riduzione disturbo (+1), Gamma Dinamica (Auto), Qualità Immagine (Fine), Filtro ND (On), Dimensione Immagine (3:2 - L);

e) Tecnica di ripresa esposimetrica con il sistema dell”Esposizione a Destra;

f) Prima Post-Produzione (leggerissima file quasi perfetto) per la correzione del bilanciamento cromatico/tonale (dopo la desaturazione) delle varie aree e zone di colore per compensare l’intensità di luce (ore 12,30 di ripresa) con Nikon Capture NX 2;

g) Seconda Post-Produzione con Adobe Photoshop CC per il bilanciamento delle zone d’ombra (Lievissima file quasi perfetto);

h) Post-Produzione di completamento con Nikon Capture NX 2 e CorelPhoto-Paint X5 per il completamento e la sistemazione finale del "Sistema Zonale".

.

.

===========================================================

.

Mio breve Curriculum Vitae su LinkedIn: - My Brief Curriculum Vitae on LinkedIn:

.

Visualizza il profilo di Luigi Mirto/ArchiMlFotoWord

.

===========================================================

Tutti i diritti riservati ©2022©2030 da ArchiMlFotoWord/Luigi Mirto/Photography

Nessuna immagine o parte di essa può essere riprodotta o trasmessa in qualsiasi forma e con qualsiasi mezzo senza preventiva autorizzazione.

.

All rights reserved ©2022©2030 by ArchiMlFotoWord/Luigi Mirto/Photography

No images or part thereof may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means Without prior permission.

===========================================================

.

Luigi Mirto/ArchiMlFotoWord's most interesting photos on Flickriver

.

===========================================================

.

Da Ascoltare guardando l’immagine e leggendo Ia poesia

.

Letter from a Friend - Carlos Viola

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vEFnzC69Wk

.

.

Nella penombra tu sei la luce

.

Trattenerti non posso come vorrei in questo

abbraccio

chiudo gli occhi

mi lascio cullare

dal battito del tuo cuore

mi perdo nella tua dolcezza

tieni aperti i tuoi fari figlia mia io sarò qui al tuo

fianco nella penombra.

Ti lascerò viaggiare nella luce

tu sei la stella più fulgida. Nel cammino della vita i

passi ti condurranno lontano da questo abbraccio.

ma niente ci terrà distanti

io sentirò ancora il tuo odore di buono rimasto

tatuato nel mio cuore bambino

abbracciato al tuo.

………………………………..Maria Sapienza

.

.

In the twilight you are the light

.

I can't hold you as I would like in this

hug

I close my eyes

I let myself be cradled

from the beat of your heart

I get lost in your sweetness

keep your headlights open my daughter i will be here at yours

side in the dark.

I will let you travel in the light

you are the brightest star. On the journey of life i

steps will lead you away from this embrace.

but nothing will keep us apart

I will still feel your smell of good left

tattooed on my heart baby

hugged to yours.

………………………………..Maria Sapienza

.

.

Si ringrazia la scrittrice e poetessa Maria Sapienza per la concessione dei bellissimi versi.

.

We thank the writer and poet Maria Sapienza for the concession of the beautiful verses..

.

.

Winter of the Past - Crows Over The City (By Carlos Viola)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMrPiYc93Fk

.

===========================================================

.

.

Italiano

.

Questa immagine è tratta da un reportage in continua evoluzione che sto effettuando nella ricerca di particolari volti che esprimano particolari sensazioni, scene di particolare enfasi ambientale, espressioni e sentimenti profondi trasmessi attraverso semplici sguardi, di particolari posture del corpo o anche dai semplici abiti e decorazioni fisiche.

.

Tali immagini verranno raccolte in un “Manuale Artistico Tecnico Fotografico” nella quale saranno descritte le particolari tecniche di ripresa, i materiali impiegati, l’attrezzatura fotografica, i luoghi e le condizioni sceniche ambientali.

.

.

English

.

This image is from a report in continuous evolution that I am making in the search for specific faces expressing particular feelings, scenes of environmental emphasis, expressions and deep feelings conveyed through simple look, a particular posture of the body or even from simple clothes and decorations individuals.

.

These images will be collected in a "Artistic Photography Technical Manual" which will describe the special filming techniques, materials, photographic equipment, sites and scenic environmental conditions.

.

.

===========================================================

.

.

.

...In this specific build as we're unleashing a temporary build starting today for Club Zero's 12th Anniversary celebration till our new club is completed. I'm spinning @ 9pm SLT so drop by to hear the most spiritual Dark Electro & Hellektro heard on the grid & beyond!

Townsend's chipmunk, to be specific...

Dungeness Recreation Area (Sequim, WA)

As it was so windy, the beach was a lot less busy than usual at this time of the year so I had plenty of time and space to get some interesting beach reflections.

You do not have the right to copy, reproduce or download my images without my specific permission, doing so is a direct breach of my copyright

On cloudy days, this specific hummingbird now returns to the backyard several times a day to perch on this branch.

“Specificity sharpens the gathering because people can see themselves in it”

The specific alpestris is Latin and means "of the high mountains", from Alpes, the Alps.

The horned lark was originally classified in the genus Alauda.

The horned lark Is suggested to have diverged from Temnick's lark around the Early-Middle Pleistocene, according to genomic divergence estimates.[3][4] The Horned lark is known from around a dozen localities of Late Pleistocene age, including those in Italy,[5] Russia, The United Kingdom and the United States. The earliest known fossil is from the Calabrian of Spain, around 1–0.8 million years old. In 2020 a 46,000 year old frozen specimen was described from the Russian Far East.

Recent genetic analysis has suggested that the species consists of six clades that in the future may warrant recognition as separate species. A 2020 study also suggested splitting of the species, but into 4 species instead, the Himalayan Horned Lark E. longirostris, Mountain Horned Lark E. penicillata, Common Horned Lark E. alpestris (sensu stricto), alongside Temnick's Lark..

Created by artist, designer and nightclub pioneer Niall Sweeney, Club Chroma Chlorologia is a newly commissioned series of site-specific works installed in the gardens and grounds of the 17th-century Royal Hospital Kilmainham, which combine to create unlikely interventions that you can encounter, discover and take part in over the Summer.

Over the Summer months, Club Chroma Chlorologia expands beyond its dazzle-patterned gateway — located at the north-facing aspects of the RHK, where the giant Club Chroma manifesto calls visitors to action — and down into the historic gardens at IMMA.

imma.ie/whats-on/club-chroma-chlorologia-exhibition/

Sully Historic Site, Chantilly, Virginia

Sully Historic Site, is both a Virginia landmark and nationally registered historic place in Chantilly, Virginia.

The earliest recorded claim to the land was made by the Doeg. Later the Lee family of Virginia owned the land from 1725 to 1839. Richard Bland Lee did not build the main house until 1794. Following the purchase by William Swartwort in 1838, Sully was used as a home, a working farm, or both by a series of private owners. Then in 1958, Sully was acquired by the federal government as a part of the area to be used for the construction of Dulles Airport. Today the Fairfax County Park Authority operates the site with a specific focus on the Lee family.

Text Ref: Wikipedia

Crocoite

4x3 inch

Adelaide Mine, Dundas, Dundas District, Tasmania

Australia

Crocoite is a mineral consisting of lead chromate, PbCrO4, and crystallizing in the monoclinic crystal system. It is identical in composition with the artificial product chrome yellow used as a paint pigment.

Crocoite is commonly found as large, well-developed prismatic adamantine crystals, although in many cases are poorly terminated. Crystals are of a bright hyacinth-red color, translucent, and have an adamantine to vitreous luster. On exposure to UV light some of the translucency and brilliancy is lost. The streak is orange-yellow; Mohs hardness is 2.5–3; and the specific gravity is 6.0.

I had heard of flannel flowers (Genus Actinotus) but seeing this flower for the first time through my macro lens still took my breath away. Most flannel flowers are endemic to Australia. While not considered threatened, they are not often seen unless specific conditions are met such as fire and smoke, followed by rainfall. This flower was among the first plants to grow after a recent bushfire.\https://florabase.dbca.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/6208

Long exposure twilight waterfall photo of Cauldron Linn near Murtaugh, Idaho (USA).

This photo is offered under a standard Creative Commons License - Attribution 3.0 Unported. It gives you a lot of freedom to use my work commercially as long as you credit and link back to this image on my Flickr page.

Flickr resolution: 1800 x 1200 px

Also available for download at 5000 x 3333 px on my Patreon page, an ever-growing collection of high res images for one low monthly subscription fee. You can find this specific photo at the following post:

www.patreon.com/posts/cauldron-linn-26934172

Die Lokomotive mit der Bezeichnung "FLC 077" ist eine spezifische Dampfspeicherlokomotive, die heute als Museums- und Traditionslok bei den Dampflokfreunden Berlin erhalten ist.

The locomotive designated "FLC 077" is a specific steam storage locomotive, which is preserved today as a museum and heritage locomotive by the steam locomotive enthusiasts of Berlin.

It was built in Leavenworth, Kansas in 1912 by C.W. Parker, an amusement company founded in 1894 by a man named Charles Wallace Parker.

This specific attraction was the 119th carousel built by the company and in 1913, it was sold to a man in Houston, Texas, named F.K. Leggett for $5,886.

According to Heritage Burnaby, the carousel travelled with the Lone Star Circus in Texas until 1915.

No Foundation!

Hawa Mahal is the tallest building in the world without a foundation. The five-storey building managed to maintain upright because of it is curved. Just another masterpiece of Rajput and Mughal architecture.

Durga Puja pandal architecture is a vibrant and dynamic art form, deeply rooted in Bengali tradition but continuously evolving with contemporary trends. The pandal serves as the temporary abode for the goddess Durga during the annual festival and is often an elaborate and creative expression of architectural ingenuity.

Materials Used

Bamboo: The traditional material used for the structure of the pandal, which is highly flexible and abundant.

Cloth and Paper: These are used for decorations, draping, and wall coverings. They are often painted or printed with intricate designs.

Plaster of Paris and Clay: Used for creating idols and sculptures.

Fiberglass and Metal: These are often used in modern pandals for creating stronger, more durable structures.

1. Traditional Designs

Bengali Folk Art: Traditional pandals often draw from rural Bengal’s heritage, incorporating local materials like bamboo, jute, and clay. These pandals typically feature motifs inspired by nature, mythology, and folk art.

Sholar Kaaj: This is a technique involving intricate designs made from shola (a type of plant) and is used to create ornaments, canopies, and decorations within the pandal.

Terracotta and Wooden Crafts: Terracotta sculptures, wooden carvings, and images of mythological figures are common in older pandals.

2. Modern Interpretations

Innovative Materials: Modern pandals often use contemporary materials like fiberglass, metal, and plastic alongside traditional materials. For instance, large fiberglass idols of Durga are increasingly used, along with innovative lighting, mirrors, and glasswork.

Thematic Pandals: Many pandals these days are built around a specific theme. The themes can range from environmental issues (like conservation of rivers or wildlife) to technological advancements, historical events, or even popular culture. The architecture of the pandal is designed to reflect this theme, often incorporating multimedia elements.

Eco-friendly Designs: In recent years, there has been a push for sustainable and eco-friendly pandals. These are often constructed using biodegradable materials such as bamboo, paper, and cloth, with designs that minimize environmental impact.

3. Architectural Features

Structural Form: Traditionally, pandals were dome-shaped or cylindrical, but now they can take on all sorts of avant-garde shapes, from temples to spaceships to replicas of famous monuments like the Eiffel Tower or the Taj Mahal.

Facade and Entrances: The entrance of the pandal is often grand and acts as a focal point of the design. It may incorporate arches, columns, and ornate carvings, often reflecting the temple architecture of India.

Ceilings and Roofs: The roofs of pandals are a key area for artistic expression, ranging from elaborate canopies made of flowers to highly stylized, often abstract, designs using light and color.

Lighting: Pandals are spectacularly lit, with millions of light bulbs strung up in intricate patterns. The lighting not only enhances the aesthetics but also creates a divine ambiance, especially at night.

Interior Layout: The interior of the pandal is designed to accommodate the idol of Durga, with a focus on creating a spiritual environment. The idol is often placed on a raised platform, surrounded by artistic depictions of various deities, animals, and scenes from mythology.

4. Regional Variations

Kolkata Pandals: In Kolkata, Durga Puja pandals are known for their immense creativity and often become larger-than-life structures. Famous areas like Kumartuli, Behala, and Santoshpur are known for their extravagant pandals.

Delhi and Other Urban Centers: Pandal designs in metropolitan areas might incorporate modern styles, influenced by international trends, such as futuristic designs, art installations, or replicas of foreign monuments. These pandals often blend cultural elements with urban sophistication.

Rural and Smaller Town Pandals: These tend to have simpler, more rustic designs but are rich in cultural symbolism. Often constructed with bamboo, they may showcase more traditional and handcrafted artworks.

5. Innovative and Avant-Garde Designs

Optical Illusions: Some pandals are designed to give the illusion of floating structures, using materials like mirrors and lights to create mesmerizing visual effects.

Interactive and Immersive Designs: Some pandals now aim to create immersive experiences. Visitors can walk through installations that engage all their senses, with sounds, lights, and even augmented reality elements enhancing the experience.

6. Famous Pandals and Their Architects

Kumartuli Park (Kolkata): Known for its amazing artistry!

I had a specific hope from this sunrise shoot of the Buttercross in Brigg, North Lincolnshire, and that was to capture the sun rising at the end of the street on the left (Wrawby Street). But unfortunately there was an annoying slither of cloud on the horizon and by the time it cleared, the sun had moved too far to the right. Maybe I’ll be luckier another time.

Shot as a 5 shot panorama (each bracketed) with my Tilt Shift, and stitched in Lightroom. The highlights on the front of the building are due to spotlights above the upper windows.

The Buttercross, historically was the Brigg Town Hall, but is now used as a tourist information centre and as an events venue.

*** Featured in Explore 27th September 2022, many thanks to all 🙏 ***

A trullo (plural, trulli) is a traditional Apulian dry stone hut with a conical roof. Their style of construction is specific to the Itria Valley, in the Murge area of the Italian region of Apulia. Trulli were generally constructed as temporary field shelters and storehouses or as permanent dwellings by small proprietors or agricultural labourers. In the town of Alberobello, in the province of Bari, whole districts contain dense concentrations of trulli. The golden age of trulli was the nineteenth century, especially its final decades, which were marked by the development of wine growing. … —- Wikipedia

Common redpolls (Acanthis flammea) are somewhat rare winter guests in Germany, where there are sightings in several places every year, but some years see an invasion of a larger number of these birds, most likely due to lack of food (at least in comparison to population size of the specific year) in the usual habitats of Scandidavia and northern Russia. This winter we see some of that activity, and as a result there are several smaller groups (5-25 birds) in and around my home town, with larger flocks of up to 800 birds also in northern Germany.

Taigabirkenzeisige (Acanthis flammea) sind etwas seltenere Gäste in Deutschland. Es gibt jedes Jahr Beobachtungen, aber in einigen Jahren kommt es zu größeren Invasionen, höchstwahrscheinlich aufgrund von fehlender Nahrung (jedenfalls im Vergleich zur aktuellen Populationsgröße) in den klassischen Habitaten in Skandinavien und Nordrussland. Dieser Winter scheint ein solcher Winter zu sein, denn mehrere kleine Gruppen (4-25 Vögel) wurden in und um meine Heimatstadt beobachtet und größere Schwärme von bis zu 800 Vögeln in Norddeutschland.

On the way to Lynmouth I stopped off at Porlock Weir to take a few shots of the harbour and boats. It was quite cloudy which does force you to be more creative in your shots as a nice sunny day photo can usually cover up a lazy composition well I think so anyway!

You do not have the right to copy, reproduce or download my images without my specific permission, doing so is a direct breach of my copyright

After being shut out the night before by a stubborn storm that refused to break up over Jasper National Park, we had our fingers crossed as we headed back to Maligne Lake the following morning. We all seemed pretty happy with our blue hour shots, but as sunrise approached, it really began to look like we might not see the sun at all that day. I think we had all resigned ourselves to the fact that we were looking at another completely gray day when I glanced up an noticed the faintest wisp of pink on one of the clouds. Sure enough, the sun broke through just enough to throw some fleeting color across the the clouds that were continuing to roll in from the West. I think Tom and I are the ones in our group who really have a problem standing still during moments like this. Both of us went off in all directions at once, and both of us had two camera bodies for just such an occasion. Leaving my D800 on the tripod, I took off running with my D750 and cranked up the ISO a bit while I looked for other comps in addition to what I was getting down at the lakeside.

As I was racing back to my spot in front of the boat house, this puddle caught my eye and I spent the next few minutes trying to shoot if from several different angles with the 14-24. There have been times where I have doubted my run and gun approach, but I usually reserve it for situations where I feel like I've got a decent shot on the tripod before setting of to see what I might be missing maybe just a few steps away. If I had stayed camped out where I was I would have missed this particular shot along with quite a few others. We ALL gave in to temptation two nights before when we had a perfectly good view of the late afternoon sun up at the Opabin Prospect, but curiosity got the better of us and we full out RAN back up the trail to get more shots of the larches behind us. So I think there is something to be said for making sure you KEEP MOVING once you believe you have a decent shot...especially when you might only have another few minutes of good light.

This being said, it helps to be able to TRUST the guys who you are shooting next to. Maybe leaving the camera on the tripod while you run like a maniac in all directions should be reserved for those times when you actually know the people around you...or you might not have a camera when you get back. :)

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

Thank you so much for your views and comments! If you have specific questions please be sure to send me a message via flickr mail, or feel free to contact me via one of the following:

Blog | Website | Facebook | Google + | 500px | Twitter

Sustenpass, Switzerland

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

I was late for sunset because of traffic, parked my car and immediately raced to get a glimpse of golden light before the sun disappeared behind the clouds.

I saw this stream and run uphill looking for a good spot, got my shoes wet and all..but it was too late, the sun had gone.

I set my tripod to at least take a picture of the water when, just as magic, one last ray of light peeked through the clouds, illuminating this specific part of the mountain.

It truly was an incredible moment.

Following comments by Daniel Myers and James Burns and a specific question by Sccart, I managed to find on the Ephrata website an explanation of these strange buildings : they form a stage, build in 1970, and facing an amphitheater (that I had not photographed and then forgotten about, that was some 3 year ago...). It was first used for outdoor drama, and now for special programs.

That said, they are thin, but of normal height.