as you can see I was trying to get some stellar shots, when this happened :-)

After many frustrating attempts with the BLE 867 recently finally a nice snowy day and a good call time provided some rather stellar shots.

Heading to the airport for the last touch and go was the best decision ever. I managed to pull of some stellar shots with the weather gods being very generous

There was a plan for today but plans change. Grabbed this shot with my big girl camera as the groundskeeper spooked this spoonbill with his weed wack machine. Not a stellar shot but it's a beginning tomorrow is another day.

Happy Wednesday!

Sunrise Cap Taillat Gigaro France

A quick trip to the cherry blossom festival. Too many people to get a stellar shot. This was all I came away with!!

The Boulder (Colorado) valley, backed by the Flatirons rock formation below Green Mountain. On the mesa below the Flatirons is the National Center for Atmospheric Research on the left. The snowy Continental Divide and Indian Peaks are below the bluish mountain wave/ lenticular cloud. The majority of the buildings on the right hand side are part of the University of Colorado campus.

On this morning in November 2016 a supermoon had set behind the mountains, mostly obscured by the clouds. This week we had a similar moonset, although this time the moon was eclipsed, as well as completely obscured by clouds. Thanks to everyone who shared their stellar shots of this event.

stitch of 4 shots

It’s November 29th, 2024. Another day, another adventure. Started my morning off heading towards Buckhannon and the A&O in hopes of finding a rare daylight run on the west end of the railroad. Unfortunately that was out of the equation by time I hit the state line with West Virginia. So I called an audible and asked around to see what else might be out there in the coal fields. I got a hit on a train showing to be on CSX’s Coleman Sub near Somerset, PA, which is a pretty difficult piece of railroad to find anything moving, just one of those lines where have to be in the right place at the right time to luck into finding anything. So without further ado, I turned the car around near Morgantown, WV and beat feet eastbound towards the small town of Berlin, to investigate further. By the time I arrived much readily visible cut of cars were already finished being loaded which admittedly had me worried. Was this the last few cars to load? I don’t see any other cars visible in the small yard there. Thankfully that turned to not be the case due to limited capacity of the small yard below the loadout, the train had to be busted into 3 cuts for each half of the train to load it all. I was always reluctant to buy a drone for the longest time. Even after purchasing it I left it sitting in the box for months, debating if I really wanted to go down this route. Eventually I started to experiment with it and it completely revolutionized how I looked at things from the ground. Without the investment into a drone in this instance, partially at this location where PBS Coal’s Cambria loadout is not one that you can even get anywhere close to without trespassing onto mine property or neighboring private property. The drone does just fine at not stepping on anybody’s toes and I come away with some stellar shots of another coal operation I’ve been trying to photograph for a long time.

Look at what we got here! :👀

Abel Echevest sent this stellar shot with our Soccer Ball. We are in love with it, Abel! One more submission to our amazing Blogger team album.

We have a ball for each sports lover!

Come get your favorite and show to everyone in which team you stand. ⚽️🏀⚾️

Pick your favorite inworld: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Chris%Two%Designs/49/128/1

If your thing is online shopping then check it at our Marketplace: marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/127914

You also can read all about us here: www.christwodesigns.com

Heading to the airport for the last touch and go was the best decision ever. I managed to pull of some stellar shots with the weather gods being very generous

I had no intention of posting another photo today, especially one that breaks with my string of flowers. But, I was looking at some archives and ran across this from 2015, and angry bird before "Angry Birds."

I remember taking this photo, and I remembered how disappointed I was when I saw what was less than a stellar shot. The colors were true, believe it or not, but I was really bothered by the intrusive tree trunk. Well, that certainly was no reason for not sharing this gem. I've never gotten a Western Bluebird that head on!

I've shared my history with the Western Bluebird Restoration Team before. Briefly, for eight years, I climbed the hills of Mt. Diablo, and cleaned the bluebird boxes, made sure there were no predator access, kept bees, ants, earwigs and other mini-vermin out, and tried not to disturb the parents through the breeding season. My reward was to be untrusted even after having attended to some first for two or three years when housing was available on some oak tree that House wrens, Ash-throated flycatchers, or starlings hadn't found. I actually had one pair of Violet-green swallows use one nest box to have and rear five chicks that made it all the way through and departed the box like Quaker Puffed Wheat kernels! That was a thrill. Violet-green swallows are not rare, but I doubt if there were more than four nests on the whole mountain. And they are beautiful.

Not as colorful as the Western Bluebird. All of my images of the bluebirds are tru to color. The males ARE that blue. The orange is that orange, not just buff. And the baby blue bellies are that pastel. The look on this one's face, however, is unique. In ten years, I never met another who looked so ... ticked.

So, you'll pardon the interuption. More of the garden on Sunday as usual.

Heading to the airport for the last touch and go was the best decision ever. I managed to pull of some stellar shots with the weather gods being very generous

p.tinsz

Wünsche Euch allen ein tolles und entspanntes Wochen Ende !

I'M DONE!

OMG.....I can't believe it. I'm finally done.

Some days were better than others, some days I was thrilled I had to do it, other days I hated that I had to do it but, all in all, I have really enjoyed this project.

I only had one day where I almost quit back in the spring but I'm really glad I didn't. On that day, I decided that I was going to finish no matter WHAT was going on and even if all I could post that day was a stupid picture of me in my car or at work or making a face or whatever, I was going to do it and I was going to finish.

This project was a personal challenge and also something that was for me. I really needed that. As many of you know, I own my own business and let me tell you, I work a lot. I also work with people. I help people all day. I answer calls and emails and talk to customers that come in the front door and sometimes, I don't feel like I do ANYTHING for myself. It was nice to have a project with a personal goal and something I could do for my own personal growth.

I can't even begin to imagine how much I have learned this year and how much I have learned that I NEED TO LEARN! lol

I am truly happy to have done this project AND I am truly happy that it is done. It's time to look to the future, to a new year and to new challenges.

And to all my friends here on Flickr who have offered encouragement and support, even when I posted less than stellar shots...

THANK YOU & HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Heading to the airport for the last touch and go was the best decision ever. I managed to pull of some stellar shots with the weather gods being very generous

Went out shooting with Miles yesterday. He twisted my arm to get me to join him on chasing a shot he's been working on for a while now. I think he just wanted someone there to call the Coast Guard in case he got sucked into this giant hole in the ocean. Be sure to check out his shot from this location - Thor's Well.

We were fortunate enough to have conditions that allowed us to get up close and personal with this amazing feature. We were very much in the splash zone, so it took some heavy duty camera protection (ziploc baggie) and a complete change of clothes (especially underwear).

Props go out to Darren White for finding this location and showing what was possible here (Portal to the Underworld). I'm sure there are many more stellar shots to come from this place.

Polarizer

Lens cloth to repeatedly wipe filter clean

Multi-exposure blend - too darn wet for grads!

#83

Leica m9

summicron 50mm, f2

i've been having quite some challenges trying to find a way to have my m9 shots look good. don't get me wrong, they look awesome straight out of camera, but i have been having difficulties "owning" my shots, or let's say "possess" them in a way i would be pleased with.

i guess i just don't feel like over processing my m9 shots. they look so amazing, to the point i can't have my regular x1 process applied to them effectively. in other words, back to the old drawing board.

After 4 failed attempts at processing this shot the right way and two hours of hesitations, i went back to the original raw file. and kept the color tones very strictly similar to the original shot. switched the WB to fluorescent light, had a small pass of very subtle dodge and burn layers, and voila.

i am convinced getting an m9 will represent some exciting challenges. first of, as some of you may know, i'm a photoshop guy, but i think i will have to download lightroom and give it another try this time. we'll see what it gives.

oh, and i actually bought another lens for the collection. Since i was not having any 35 equivalent yet for the M mount, i ordered a Voigtlander 35mm 1.2. i know it is not Leica glass, forgive the blasphemy, but i really needed a super fast low light option that would not have costed me an arm. the summilux will have to wait. besides, that voigtlander seems to give stellar shots and extrelemy decent bokeh.

© Jeff R. Clow

The story:

My wife is in our backyard and tells me to grab my camera because there is a praying mantis on the back window.

With camera and macro lens in hand, I slowly but surely get close enough to snap some ultra closeups of this fine lady. She grows accustomed to the sound of the shutter and pretty soon I'm inching closer and closer....and then the next thing I know she's jumped on the top of my lens.

Immediately I realize that that's the stellar shot - and I go get a second camera and ask my wife to hold the camera as I snap this shot.

I particularly like the puzzled expression on her face when the second camera shows up.....

View Larger On Black

Stately Stellar Blue Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri veri noisiesti) nesting in a tangle of branches ignoring the ruckus of two hikers standing beside her discussing what kind of bird she is. Her noisy friends long since departed the scene for the safety of some forest pines.

Panoramas are my craze. I just want to create the biggest images possible, catch it all.

Photography sometimes is too tough. This one is perhaps one of the easier images of the tour. The next 5-6 images would tell you why is photography so difficult sometimes :D

#EarthPix #TheWanderCo #earth_Shotz #FolkScenery #hubs_united #Stellar_Shots #travelPhotography #travelBlogger #outdoors #Adventure #Landscape #Camping #Hiking #Trekking #LandscapePhotography #visualsofEarth #TFLers #likeforlikes #instatravel #ourPlanetDaily #bestVacations #PhotoOfTheDay #WanderLust #WildernessCulture #awesome_earthpix #discoverEarth #earthfocus #ShotzDelight #MoodyGrams #PassionPassport

Location: Attabad lake, Hunza Nagar, Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan

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Attabad lake is a recent gift from nature to the people of Hunza Nagar as came into being after a massive landslide back in 2010. Its a big lake and needs time to explore which unfortunately we were short of. Several breathtaking views are offered by the lake as you circle the big water. Recreational activites like boating and jet skiing is available for the guys interested.

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Location: A local street restaurant at Naran-Jalkhad-Chilas route around Batakundi, Naran, KPK, Pakistan.

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The breakfast is getting ready and I have all the time to capture the blossoming beauty in the glorious sunshine. This view particular was magical. It was like a pavement up towards the dense woods. My heart and soul are already up there but I find no means to shift me there physically. Some day I will post the magic from there I promise to my self.

I wonder what would be the atmosphere there. Must be much cold due to the trees. We stopped for a WHILE actually. Took several shots, stay tuned and enjoy the sceneries.

#EarthPix #TheWanderCo #earth_Shotz #FolkScenery #hubs_united #Stellar_Shots #travelPhotography #travelBlogger #outdoors #Adventure #Landscape #Camping #Hiking #Trekking #LandscapePhotography #visualsofEarth #TFLers #likeforlikes #instatravel #ourPlanetDaily #bestVacations #PhotoOfTheDay #WanderLust #WildernessCulture #awesome_earthpix #discoverEarth #earthfocus #ShotzDelight #MoodyGrams #PassionPassport

I find it fascinating how waterfalls change over the months. Back during the ice storm, I stood at this same spot. The mood has changed. Everything is violently green out there, ready to take your breath away. The sound of the falling water is like a thunderclap.

The mist is sure blasting. I got soaked and took a nice little fall/slide on the bridge down there. I like how Elowah reminds one that she's in charge of her own basin, and you pass with her good humor (or lack thereof).

I hope you all have a good Memorial Day weekend! I've already seen some stellar shots, and can't wait to see more!

2.5-second exposure - 10mm - Hoya Moose warming filter/polarizer

Finished size: 52" x 66"

Again, not a stellar shot but this is what you get when you leave three kids unattended in a house and run out to the backyard to take a few quick shots.

The back came together like this because there were a bunch of Munki charms that didn't end up on the front for one reason or the other and I really wanted to include them. Next thing you know, I had 18 charms lined up in a color spectrum. (My three year old is very into rainbows right now and I think it's rubbing off on me.) Five of the charms had to be eliminated because there wasn't enough space. I added the solid bars to visually "anchor" the strip of Munki.

A special thanks to those who participated in the Munki charm swap. I got some great charms (Recess! Sock monkeys!!) and it really added to the quilt.

I was standing at Oxbow Bend with a friend when I snapped this less than stellar shot with an iPhone - and just then the man standing next to me pulled out his phone and showed me that he was using my photo tour book during his visit to the area. Then another stranger heard my name mentioned and walked over to tell me he had my book in his car.

As I stood there talking to him, a third man came over and said he was also using my book in the Tetons.

This was at 6:00 am on a Monday morning. I was very surprised ... to say the least!

After shooting this train crossing the draw:

flic.kr/p/2ovSv7a I decided not to wait around as I didn't know where CSXT's ex Pan Am local BO-1 was and hadn't heard anything on the radio. Knowing that they would be long hood forward leading out of Boston I decided to drive back out from the draw and go set up for a broadside. Alas I miscalculated, and before I was even halfway out the access road I noticed the lights at Riverworks station flashing in my rear view mirror and moments later a headlight curled into view. So I hopped out and took this uninspired grab shot as Pan Am blue GP40-2W MEC 516 hustled by on Main 1 of the Keolis/MBTA Eastern Route mainline passing the old granite MP 10 on this former Boston and Maine Route. Despite this being far from a stellar shot it is worth keeping and documenting because soon enough it will be history. Once the Rousselot plant at Peabody is closed there will no longer be any need for a freight train to venture east of Everett Junction rendering views like this impossible.

At right on the Lynn shore is the massive River Works plant of GE Aerospace that employs nearly 2500 and per their web site: has a history that dates back more than 125 years and is recognized as one of the founding sites of the General Electric Company. The site is home to the first U.S. jet engine (1942) and other prominent aviation industry milestones. The Lynn plant is recognized as a U.S. Department of Defense facility that designs, produces, assembles, and tests military and commercial aircraft engines and components.

Lynn, Massachusetts

Tuesday April 25, 2023

#MobileArtistry is creative edits, beautiful images, unique perspectives, stellar shots, and happy accidents. IE, stuff you won't find on the pop page.

Through this ongoing project we hope to expose people to art and artists they may not normally get to see, learn about one another's process, and encourage each other to push the limits of creativity.

Please limit your tags to 2 a day.

For the fastest reply, direct your questions to our admins, @computerjones, @momma2maxh, & @bomb_jack. Thank you.

Tonight's submission is from Mimi, aka @imagomimago, let's hear about her process.

First I like to say thanks to all of you @mobileartistry for featuring me, I'm really honored!

This image has been brewing in my head for sometime now and I think this was a wonderful opportunity to finally creating it and for Mobile Artistry!

I love creating images with a feeling that everything is somewhat a little emotionally skewed. I'm mostly inspired by nature trees, birds, bugs but also from death and the thought of other dimensions!

353 Likes on Instagram

71 Comments on Instagram:

igerjunky: Fantastic edit and feature! Sensational @imagomimago

imagomimago: @igerjunky Thanks so much Gabrielle!! ✨♥✨

lopez689: Such a great edit!!! @imagomimago ❤❤

imagomimago: @lopez689 Thank you Erika really appreciate you!! ♥

urbanmuser: @imagomimago Wow, great image. Thx for sharing your process

imagomimago: @urbanmuser Thanks so much my friend!!! I'm so happy I got to show my work here!!✨

ohgphotography: Amazing

imagomimago: @ohgphotography Thank you so much! I really appreciate it! ✨♥✨

This was taken before the sky started to explode on us that day at the beach.. I had a hard time getting the waves to match the cloud formation, and I guess this was the best that I could do..

Isn't a real stellar shot, but figured I'll throw it up anyways. =)

Not a stellar shot. Lived on this place for 30 years, and while they are year-round residents, I see these rarely and even more rarely get a chance for a photo, so I was quite happy, regardless.

Watch the edges of your pictures. It would have been better if the table had extended off the frame. I couldn't do it and get the candlestick edge in the picture, but it didn't occur to me to clone the table outward a bit. Fort Vancouver probably is sick of photographers moving their stuff around, they glue it to the tables! Or maybe they're trying to prevent theft? It does make getting stellar shots a tad more difficult, especially when they rope off areas you want to get to.

Fort Vancouver, Vancouver, Washington

by goremote.us ift.tt/1Sqoew6

Upon getting our paperwork for our 20K, I was happy to see that the Wabash Heritage unit was going to be my leader. I was not overly enthused about the weather. The forecast was for mostly cloudy skies with a chance of showers.

While stopped at CP 501 waiting for a westbound to crossover, CP train 140 crawled into view off of the IHB on track four and stopped.

While not a stellar shot by any means, this was the only time we stopped and I was able to shoot my Chicago Cannonball!

September, 2019

So, here we are 100 days into this 365 thing. I’m finding it to be a very interesting journey and I’m really glad I decided to do it.

I know a lot of people quit 365 and I can see why. Some days it’s a blast and some days it’s like a chore that must get done. I’ve thought about quitting myself but fortunately, I had an epiphany...

365 is not meant to be a perfect, award-winning masterpiece each day. It’s meant to be a snapshot of life, ups and downs, triumphs and tragedies, simple pleasures, etc....a slice of life that you can look back on and remember a certain day, where you were, what you were doing, what you were thinking. 365 is a playground for fun and experimentation and should help each person push their creative envelope.

365 is THE place to try new things; angles, lighting, editing, etc. and really let creativity flow. Conversely, some days you really don’t give a damn and then, you just take any old pic and you post it....whatever, dude!

This is where I think a lot of people get tripped up. They think their 365 must ALWAYS be a stellar shot, or self-portrait, evoking some deep emotion or walking the edgy line of art and creativity...I challenge that idea. 365 can be about that but, it can also be about REAL LIFE. And sometimes REAL life is REAL BORING. Sometimes REAL life is very unfun, uninspired and uninteresting.

And then there are the days when ideas and creativity are just bursting out of you and being locked in an iron vault couldn’t hold you down. 365 is life, it’s all over the place.

Don’t force it, don’t try to tell it what to do... just sit back and let it happen.

The kid and I have been back just over a week from a trip out west on Route 66. We tried to cover too much ground for the time we had, were plagued by gray skies, didn't have the best of weather and ended up heading home a couple days early to avoid snow and freezing rain in Missouri. We exhausted ourselves driving and shooting as much as we could every day, yet still it was a thrill to be out on the road exploring again.

Now that I'm home and rested and wandering through my photos, some holy moments have emerged. This one is my favorite.

We finally made it to the Jackrabbit Trading Post out on a silent stretch of old 66 near Joseph City, Arizona. The shop was closed for the day, no one around - but it didn't matter, the golden light was on outside. We set up to shoot that famous "Here it is!" sign . . . and then we heard a train!

We both planned to get the going away shot as the eastbound passed the Jackrabbit sign. With the sunset behind us, we knew it would be well-lit and golden. But then I turned around and saw this: my son, with his cap raised in joyous salute to the crew, the train, and the moment itself . . . and my heart leapt up! Sweet, how the unexpected arrival of a train at a time like this can make such a difference to both of us.

Yes - "Here it is!" This is it. Not a special train, nor a stellar shot, and no Route 66 icon even pictured here - just a feeling we share - happy and blessed. This is why we came out here, why we wander roads and rails, for memories just . . . like . . . this. ; )

Location: Rama lake, Rama meadows, Astore, Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan

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The lake is rendering new colors every step we take. Every step that i take causes me to take a snap. A special essence is in the air, it is that of purity and raw nature, I wonder why we left these places for buildings and bridges ?

#EarthPix #TheWanderCo #earth_Shotz #FolkScenery #hubs_united #Stellar_Shots #travelPhotography #travelBlogger #outdoors #Adventure #Landscape #Camping #Hiking #Trekking #LandscapePhotography #visualsofEarth #TFLers #likeforlikes #instatravel #ourPlanetDaily #bestVacations #PhotoOfTheDay #WanderLust #WildernessCulture #awesome_earthpix #discoverEarth #earthfocus #ShotzDelight #MoodyGrams #PassionPassport

Through the glaciers

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Location: Barela, Doesai, Skardu, Pakistan

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In my whole trip, I spent most time in Deosai. And there is no surprise in it. Barela (the huge land pictured above) was the chilliest in my trip. And it was the highest point of my trip too perhaps. Thanks to the layers I was wearing, the place was very cold.

To my left is a sub glacier and I wish I had binoculars to track leopard’s foot marks or that of Markhor’s. The silence was loud and the air was wild natural fresh. The landscapes were mesmerizing and the sun was bright but helplessly cold.

#EarthPix #TheWanderCo #earth_Shotz #FolkScenery #hubs_united #Stellar_Shots #travelPhotography #travelBlogger #outdoors #Adventure #Landscape #Camping #Hiking #Trekking #LandscapePhotography #visualsofEarth #TFLers #likeforlikes #instatravel #ourPlanetDaily #bestVacations #PhotoOfTheDay #WanderLust #WildernessCulture #awesome_earthpix #discoverEarth #earthfocus #ShotzDelight #MoodyGrams #PassionPassport

The Grand Tetons conjure up visions of rugged mountains rising from the valley floor known as Jackson Hole. The Teton Range in northwest Wyoming dominates the landscape for forty miles. No matter where you are in the National Park, it seems there is a stellar shot to be had showing off wildflowers, forest, lakes and foliage depending when you visit. The names that ring familiar to all photographers are Oxbow Bend, Schwabacher’s Landing and Mormon Row. That is where many of the iconic images are captured. There are, however, so many other spots that are stellar that you can spend lots of time and not get to all of them. One of my favorite spots is from the shoreline of Jackson Lake. With the right conditions, you can capture photos that are the equal of other spots. On this morning, we had great conditions, with the lake taking on a glass-like surface. The scene cried out for a panorama and it turned out like I hoped it would.

We are a little late to catch the sun rising from the Jubail waters. It is very bright now. But the clouds are their to help. They are dramatically adding the drama and so I am prepared for it :D

I will try in the following shots to catch the sun in perfect star shape.

#EarthPix #TheWanderCo #earth_Shotz #FolkScenery #hubs_united #Stellar_Shots #travelPhotography #travelBlogger #outdoors #Adventure #Landscape #Camping #Hiking #Trekking #LandscapePhotography #visualsofEarth #TFLers #likeforlikes #instatravel #ourPlanetDaily #bestVacations #PhotoOfTheDay #WanderLust #WildernessCulture #awesome_earthpix #discoverEarth #earthfocus #ShotzDelight #MoodyGrams #PassionPassport

I was hurtin' for a shot tonight. It was a great Sunday and though I shot a few frames while walking home from the cafe at lunch time, nothing really floated my boat. We went to a movie this afternoon ("My Week with Marilyn"... go see it, it was excellent) and by the time dinner was over, I had mostly forgotten about my daily shot until after 21:00.

I spent a few minutes setting up my light bulb from Day 2 and was planning to spin a light behind it and an idea struck... what if I combine the light bulb with a splash... and the rest was pure magic.

After setting up, I fired a few test frames to get the strobes set and I was giddy with what I saw in the view finder. An hour, two lighting changes and a hundred frames later, I had over twenty stellar shots from which to choose. I narrowed it down to two and decided on this one because I like the look of the blue gel in contrast to orange cast by the four MR-16s overhead and the crater-like impact of the drops. I'll post the alternate tomorrow as it's now after midnight and the Monday morning workday will be here too soon. :)

Strobist info: Nikon D700; 1/200 sec.; f/7.1, 50 mm; ISO 400; -1/3 EV; SB600 right with flags on both sides zoomed to 28mm @ 1/64 triggered by Pocket Wizard II's; quad MR-16 strip over head (ambient)

Red River Viaduct on CSX's EK sub in Kentucky. The photographers with drones ended up with some stellar shots at this location due to being able to remotely access the sunny side of the bridge. I had to settle with alternative composition and level adjustments in PS.

Location: Kargil-Skardu road, enrout Manthokha waterfall, Skardu, Pakistan

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Continuing from the trip in 2016, this bridge severely caught all my attention as we were on our way to Manthokha ( famous for the big Manthokha waterfall). Not a small bridge from any means, unfortunately it was not fiunctional then due to heavy land sliding.

The view was breath taking and a photo was damn due, so here it is.

#EarthPix #TheWanderCo #earth_Shotz #FolkScenery #hubs_united #Stellar_Shots #travelPhotography #travelBlogger #outdoors #Adventure #Landscape #Camping #Hiking #Trekking #LandscapePhotography #visualsofEarth #TFLers #likeforlikes #instatravel #ourPlanetDaily #bestVacations #PhotoOfTheDay #WanderLust #WildernessCulture #awesome_earthpix #discoverEarth #earthfocus #ShotzDelight #MoodyGrams #PassionPassport

Who would think that I would have to travel 900 miles to get a shot of a Common Grackle? Well, that's what this shot took on our way to Yellowstone. When we stopped in Idaho Falls, we saw this uncommon bird (for us) flying all 'round an island by the falls, and I know I got some marvelous pictures ... which you'll never see. I had just gotten a tablet for this trip and was using an sdhc card for the first time. I still don't know how, but all my Common Grackles and a stellar shot of a magpie in a fir are gone forever. Perhaps in the cosmos, all the pixels are reassembling, but they're sure not going to show up here. We spent hours afterward trying to get more shots, but to no avail.

Location: Barela, Deosai National Park, Skardu, Pakistan

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This is the land of the snow leopard and its prey, the Markhor. The rule is, the more wilderness you reach, the more wildlife expected. This perhaps was the most wild area I have covered in Deosai. Silence is roaring, complimented by the chill airs from the snow clad mountain.

The sun is bright,

in the glacier fright.

#EarthPix #TheWanderCo #earth_Shotz #FolkScenery #hubs_united #Stellar_Shots #travelPhotography #travelBlogger #outdoors #Adventure #Landscape #Camping #Hiking #Trekking #LandscapePhotography #visualsofEarth #TFLers #likeforlikes #instatravel #ourPlanetDaily #bestVacations #PhotoOfTheDay #WanderLust #WildernessCulture #awesome_earthpix #discoverEarth #earthfocus #ShotzDelight #MoodyGrams #PassionPassport

Denali in the fall is not only about the moose rut in the midst of all of those amazing autumn-kissed colors ... it's also about the bull caribou ... also in the midst of those amazing autumn-kissed colors. :-)

Caribou (Rangifer tarendus) are part of the Cervidae family. Though the one pictured above is a male, both male and female grow antlers, though the female antlers are much smaller and spindly. The bulls grow these impressive antlers covered in velvet, which is shed as they prepare for their own rut season. After the rut, the males will drop their antlers, while the impregnated females will hold on to theirs, which help them find food in the winter as they dig through the snow.

This guy was amazing to observe as he thrashed violently his rack into the tundra, swaying from side to side. Guess it was still a bit itchy, as it looks as though the loss of its velvet is relatively recent, based on the pinkish tinge on parts of them. Every so often, he would pause, lift his head, and take a peek at us. It was fascinating to observe.

We've observed the caribou of Alaska during other seasons and I have to admit, the fall is the most impressive. The antlers have fully grown, they are bare and showing off all of those pointy tines, their coats are thick and wonderful, and they are nice and filled out for the winter. A male caribou can go around 400 pounds. Impressive to say the least, especially when grazing on the colorful fall landscape.

Yes, we pretty much got all of our intended sightings again this year, even the ever-elusive lynx (though not a stellar shot by any means) ... except for the wolves, which are there, but sparse, numbering around 40-50 in the entire park ecosystem.

Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend full of photographic opportunities and well spent time with family and friends.

Thanks so much for stopping by to view and especially for sharing your thoughts and comments.

© 2015 Debbie Tubridy / TNWA Photography

www.tnwaphotography.wordpress.com

The Southern Crib

Named for its similarity to M44 (cluster the manger in Cancer) is an open star cluster visible in the constellation of Carina. At more than 1300 light years this beautiful group of more than 100 stars has a bright red giant star (center below). With approximately 150 million years of age this young cluster with magnitude +3.8 can be observed all year round in the southern hemisphere.

Captured in the reserve coyanco, Chile.

Canon T5i

Sharpstar telescope

Celestron Vx Advanced

This mountain is a magnet. It spellbounds you the moment you have your first look and then you just cant stare away.

The valleys of Gilgit Baltistan kinda orbit around this mighty icon. Fairy meadows, Tarashing (Astore), Sheosar lake (Deosai, Skardu) and many other famous viewpoints render amazing unique perspectives of this sexy mountain.

#EarthPix #TheWanderCo #earth_Shotz #FolkScenery #hubs_united #Stellar_Shots #travelPhotography #travelBlogger #outdoors #Adventure #Landscape #Camping #Hiking #Trekking #LandscapePhotography #visualsofEarth #TFLers #likeforlikes #instatravel #ourPlanetDaily #bestVacations #PhotoOfTheDay #WanderLust #WildernessCulture #awesome_earthpix #discoverEarth #earthfocus #ShotzDelight #MoodyGrams #PassionPassport

(Please watch the judging for Theme 8: 'Primadonna Girls' first! www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPNzwjg6O-g)

Hello ladies and welcome to not-so-sunny Scotland!

Even though you have only just arrived in this beautifully historic place it is time to get right down to work as you will be setting off for your very first theme here in Scotland. We're down to the Top 5 and the finale is literally just around the corner, its getting so tight and you need to make sure you deliver a stellar shot these upcoming weeks if you want a place in that final!

So Scotland is well known for many different things such as hagis, bagpipes, kilts and even its mostly rainy and dreary-like weather. But what Scotland is most known for is its beautiful scenery and old historic castles - which is going to be the base of you girls' very first photoshoot here!

For your first shoot in Scotland you girls are going to be posing in front of various different Scottish castles in high-end, couture gowns. Aswell as this you guys are also going to be given mini international makeovers! We MUST see these makeovers in your photos this week (don't worry it does not involve having your hair cut!)

Tabatha - We wanna see you sport a side parting with pin-straight hair.

Sydney - We love you with your straight hair so we just want to give you a slight coppery tint.

Audrey - We want to see you with a blonde tone along with some vivacious curls!

Ana - We want to see you with some seriously wavy hair girl!

Imogen - You will be getting bleached eyebrows along with a side parting to give you a more modelesque look.

THEME REQUIREMENTS:

1. MUST be wearing a haute couture dress. This dress must be very flowy and big - think Princess-y but with some edge! Your dress must also be either black or a dark tone colour.

2. Make your photo look almost quite sinister and dark. Remember that its currently Winter in Scotland so we don't want to see any bright or sunny photos.

3. There MUST be some sort of castle in the background of your photo. It does not have to be a Scottish castle and can just be one you find off of Google Images as I won't be chasing you up about it.

4. You MUST keep your makeover for this theme. Whether or not you keep it we will decide at judging.

5. Go out of your comfort zone - try different things and take risks. Nows the time to really deliver or else you will be sent home.

Deadline for photos is: Tuesday 19th February 2013

Tabatha: www.flickr.com/photos/rainbowdoll489/8491251568/