View allAll Photos Tagged Unassuming

High noon in the woods. Pleasant coolness on a hot, dry day.

 

To the right, somewhat towards the bottom of the picture, a simple stone crouches on a dais made from unhewn boulders of the same kind, the monument so unassuming as to often escape the attention of the passerby. The front has been cut vertically to create a flat surface, and a brief inscription of the nature of an invocation to St. Hubertus can be read thereon.

 

In the shade close by, a recently erected birken cross keeps the stone sombre company, with an older, smaller crucifix crumbling down a couple of paces away, its wooden members returning to the earth's womb, whence they came decades ago...

Bamfield, a tiny resort hamlet nestled quietly in a protected inlet on the south shore of Barkley Sound, is best known for its superb salmon fishing adventures. This tiny fishing and harbour village, heavily populated by marine biologists, is a quiet, unassuming village where the love of the land and sea prevails.

 

The Bamfield community, with a population of around 200, is surrounded by Crown land, Indian Reserves, and portions of the Pacific Rim National Park, ensuring protection of unspoiled marine environments from excessive development.

 

Being part of the Pacific Rim, Bamfield offers a challenge for the explorer, nature lover and experienced hiker. Despite its size, Bamfield boasts a variety of well-equipped shops, restaurants, galleries, equipment rentals and accommodation, and is an enchanting place to begin kayaking, canoeing or scuba diving.

 

Bamfield is divided into two sections, separated by about 200 yards of the Bamfield Inlet. The west side of Bamfield is linked by a waterfront boardwalk that connects all the homes and docks on the harbour side. The east side of Bamfield contains most of the businesses, including a pub, a market and café. To cross between the two sides of town, you can call a water taxi. Google

High above the Dieng Plateau of Central Java rises Mount Prahu. It was there that Thomas Horsfield (1773-1859), the American Poison-Ivy expert, found this Ginger and in 1815 sent it to his friend Sir Joseph Banks in England. In 1853 William Jackson Hooker (1785-1865), in his description using Horsfield's notes, calls it a 'most singular plant'. It's hard to disagree with that assessment. The curious rather unassuming flowers (see inset) give rise to this magnificently colored fruit.

As I climb higher up on to Ben Avon, I get a good view back down the Glen I ascended after leaving the bike to reach the lower slopes of the mountain. It looks so gentle and unassuming from this angle, but it certainly didn't feel so when climbing up it.

 

Climbing Ben Avon (pronounced Ben A'an) which stands at 1171 meters (3842 feet), and Beinn a'Bhuird (pronounced Ben a-voashed) standing at 1197 meters (3927 feet), sees me covering a distance of just over 24 miles. They are my 2nd & 3rd Munro's of the season, and bring me to a total of 26 now.

An unassuming bird with a lovely, melancholy song, the Hermit Thrush lurks in the understories of far northern forests through the summer

 

If you like this and some of my other images, I invite you to take a look at my wildlife/birding blog, which I try to update every few days. ... grenfell.weebly.com

I appreciate your feedback and comments! so feel free to contact me for any reason. I can be reached at bill@tekfx.ca or on Flickrmail

 

All images are copyrite. Please don't use this, or any other of my, images, on websites, blogs or any other media without my explicit written permission

Saint-Tropez is a town, 100 kilometres (62 miles) west of Nice, in the Var department of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southeastern France. It is also the principal town in the canton of Saint-Tropez.

 

Saint-Tropez is located on the French Riviera. It was a military stronghold and an unassuming fishing village until the beginning of the 20th century. It was the first town on this coast to be liberated during World War II (as part of Operation Dragoon). After the war, it became an internationally known seaside resort, renowned principally because of the influx of artists of the French New Wave in cinema and the Yé-yé movement in music. It later became a resort for the European and American jet set and a goal for tourists in search of a little Provençal authenticity and an occasional celebrity sighting.

It’s just a garbage can... yet there is beauty found in the shadow it casts and its shape and style... so simple and unassuming...

While the name "Water Power Spur" won't apper on any modern CN, or even WC timetable or track chart, this is the name that the Chicago and North Western and Fox River Valley Railroad gave to this 1.6 mile spur that serves the Thilmany Pulp and Paper Mill in Kaukauna.

 

While unassuming from this photo, these blues are about to drop down a rollercoaster of a spur to the river level so they can switch the paper mill.

Snow fall today but I converted the scene into an almost sunny one. Note the dark unassuming sign on the right side close to the road which commemorates that G. Washington rode past here on his first trip as president to Massachusetts in 1789.

Rufous-chested Dotterel (Charadrius modestus) breeds in the far south of South America and on the Falkland Islands, but it migrates north outside the breeding season. It is related to the Dotterel we get in Britain: www.flickr.com/photos/timmelling/49838089522/in/photolist but our Dotterel has a sex role reversal where bright females compete for duller males that do all the incubating and chick rearing. But Rufous-chested Dotterel has a different breeding strategy where males are only slightly brighter, and they share nesting duties. Although research has shown that males incubate predominantly during the daytime whereas females incubate largely at night. The scientific name modestus means plain or unassuming but its breeding plumage is anything but plain. I don't know for sure but I'd guess that the type specimen was a non-breeding bird which is plain like this: www.flickr.com/photos/timmelling/47324860981/in/photolist

Why this tiny Norfolk cottage is worth over half a million pounds!!

This compact looking cottage, in the heart of Burnham Market, Norfolk, may look rather modest and unassuming, but its value is quite the opposite.

 

Tweed Cottage is a two bedroom, detached property fitted with period features including an original fireplace and internal doors. It also has a private rear garden.A Grade II Listed Building in Burnham Market, Norfolk

The land that would eventually become the village of Sleep Hollow started was first brought from Adriaen van der Donck a New Netherland patroon a landowner designated with manorial rights under the Charter of Freedoms and Exemptions established by the Dutch West India Company. In 1672 the land was purchased by Frederick Philipse who In 1693 and established a mill and a shipping post and became Lord of Philipsburg Manor. The land was eventually passed down to his grandson Frederick Philipse III when in 1779 he was declared a loyalist traitor by the colonial government and his land was seized and sold at public auction and divided among 287 buyers. The village gained notoriety when in 1820 Washington Irving wrote the very popular short story The legend of Sleepy Hollow which spawned some film adaptations and a short running TV series. Today the village outside of designated the historical landmarks buildings is an unassuming small suburban town built on small but steep rolling hills which made building any larger commercial developments not feasible and is mostly residential and small local businesses. However along the waterfront a long length of three-four story townhouse style luxury condos are now being built to increase residency and the tax base.

The lowest drop of a lush creek tucked into the folds of an unassuming ridge. There aren't many options for a great composition; this one is the standard one and involves setting up on the logjam. Heaven forfend a flood come and sweep it all away.

This photograph captures an ancient ceramic jar resting against a weathered stone wall in the ruins of Herculaneum, a Roman city frozen in time by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. The vessel, made in the amphora style typical of Roman daily life, was likely used for storing foodstuffs such as grain, oil, or wine. Its rounded body and thick rim reveal a utilitarian yet robust design, characteristic of Roman craftsmanship, built to endure heavy use in domestic or commercial contexts.

 

The condition of the jar is telling: fractured in several places but carefully reconstructed, it bears the marks of both destruction and preservation. The surface is mottled with discoloration from centuries of burial under volcanic material, yet its form remains recognizable. Restorers have pieced together its fragments, allowing us to appreciate its original proportions. The surrounding stonework, equally worn, emphasizes the harsh passage of time and the catastrophic force that once buried this site.

 

Herculaneum itself was a thriving coastal town near Naples, smaller than Pompeii but no less significant. Wealthy Roman citizens had villas here, adorned with mosaics and fine furnishings, taking advantage of the scenic Bay of Naples. When Vesuvius erupted, the city was engulfed not by ash, like Pompeii, but by a torrent of pyroclastic material that carbonized wood and sealed entire buildings. This unique preservation allows archaeologists to glimpse Roman urban life with extraordinary detail.

 

Yet behind this preservation lies tragedy. Thousands of residents were trapped, many fleeing toward the sea only to be overcome by the intense heat and suffocating gases. Their final moments remain etched in the archaeological record. The jar in this photograph, silent and unassuming, becomes more than an artifact: it is a witness to both the daily routines and the abrupt end of a community silenced by natural disaster. Its survival, fragile yet enduring, mirrors the delicate balance between life, memory, and loss in the ruins of Herculaneum.

 

RX_01786_20240430_Herculano copy

I think the MIB gang has a StarGate in this unassuming structure, probably and underground facility accessed by an elevator disguised as a coat closet inside

An Egret stands quietly, unassuming.

"This fine-textured shrub is quite unassuming when not in flower, but in winter it really comes alive with its beautiful purple flowers, which go on for months. It belongs to the family Polemoniaceae." Native to Peru, but is widely cultivated in western North America. In this particular plant, I was taken as much by the speckled leaves as the beautiful blue flowers. It's like summer and winter combined.

 

I was just reading an article with the first sentences. "Have you ever wondered why there are so few blue flowers. When it comes to nature, blue is very rare. Less than 1 in 10 plants have blue flowers and far fewer animals are blue. So why is that? Part of the reason is that there isn't really a true blue colour or pigment in nature and both plants and animals have to perform tricks of the light to appear blue. Blue is a tough color to spot in nature because there is no naturally occurring blue compound to color things blue."

 

And the rareest of blues? Lapus Lazuli is a blue mineral so rare that in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance it was actually more valuable than gold.

 

I found the article when I was I was looking for an answer to why my favorite bird, the Blue Jay really isn't blue. The Absence of Blue Jay is just silly. Blue jays only appear blue due to the structure of their feathers, which distort the reflection of light.

 

Well, so much for my ever understand chemestry and physics. Of all the flowers I have posted in ten years, #1 is red, #2, is yellow, # 3 is a tie between orange and blue, #4 is white (the absence of color, and waaaay down the list with only three flowers is green. See below

 

I leave all of this, and I mean "all" to those who are interested and have a liftetime to study and who have easy graders if they have to take chemistry (or even art) in college.

 

Note, by the way, that there is actually a Flickr group dedicated to the blue flower!

These tiny little flowers have been in our rock garden close to 30 years,

very unassuming show their beauty year after years with almost no care, just some weeding from time to time,

This is placed on the bay window by our kitchen sink,

Hope your weekend is a pleasant one!

These bunch of flowers caught my eye because of how unassuming and regular they are … and yet they made my day . White is beautiful ! White in pure !

An old man walked down a narrow street in the old quarter of Takayama. A heavy storm loomed overhead. Moments later a large raven dropped out of the sky and landed on his shoulder. He calmly reached up and stroked the bird, which let out a low caw. Together, they continued down the narrow street, as the storm broke and icy rain fell from the sky.

 

As he walked, the streets became narrower and darker, the old buildings leaning in on either side. The only sound was the spatter of rain on the pavement and the distant rumble of thunder. Eventually, he reached a small, unassuming door, tucked away in a corner of the street. Without hesitation, he pushed it open and stepped inside.

 

The raven followed him in a flurry of black feathers.

Inside was a dimly lit room, with low tables and cushions arranged on the floor. There were a few people scattered about, huddled over their drinks and quietly chatting. The man walked over to a corner of the room and sat down. The raven settled beside him on the table.

 

The bartender, a middle-aged man with a weathered face, approached the old man. "Konnichiwa," he said with a small bow. "Can I get you anything to drink?"

 

The man simply nodded. The bartender poured him a large glass of sake, which he sipped slowly, his gaze never leaving the bird.

 

As the storm outside raged on, the old man remained in his corner. The raven watched him silently from the table. Nobody dared to approach him or disturb his peace.

 

When the storm finally passed and the sun rose again over Takayama, the old man got up and left, the raven taking off from his shoulders and soaring into the sky. But his presence had left a deep impression on the patrons of the small bar. Whispers of the mysterious stranger would linger in the old town for weeks to come.

 

For more AI inspired micro stories please visit neural-narrative.blogspot.com/

  

Sawbriers, or sawbriars, are unassuming weeds, unless you happen to come into contact with their thorns (which I didn't want to include in this photo). The leaf was perhaps nearly a decimeter across.

 

Thanks for looking! Isn't God a great artist?

Agapanthus bushes are unassuming and tidy the rest of the year, but the few weeks that they're in bloom every summer they're definitely eye-catching !

 

My 365-2022: #187 of 365

Mistle Thrush / turdus viscivorus. Derbyshire. 01/12/23.

 

'EXCEPTIONALLY MILD MANNERED.'

 

This Mistle Thrush must rank as the quietest, most unassuming bird I have ever observed feeding on winter berries. Not once did I hear the typically loud MT 'football rattle' call, announcing its arrival. Nor did I see it acting dominantly or driving other species away.

 

In this image it had only just landed and chose to remain stationary for several minutes, as it looked around. Eventually it stretched towards the nearest, withered berries, swallowed a few whole, then flew off.

 

BEST VIEWED LARGE.

Floating out on Cabbage Tree Creek, Shorncliffe, Brisbane on a Sunday afternoon.

 

By the way, that’s the famous “Nudgee Beach” on the other side and off to the left. Lots of Brisbane photographers spend time there. The little community is just a little out of shot further to the left. Doesn’t look much does it, but there are some great views of Brisbane’s port, wetlands, creeks and sunrises from that unassuming location.

Quakers

 

When we visit new places we often try to seek out the local Quaker’s meetinghouse. On this occasion the Airton Meetinghouse found us! It was right on the country lane that we were driving on.

 

I like visiting the meetinghouses because they’re often built from local materials and are very unassuming, likewise for the burial grounds.

 

We’re not Quakers, and have only been to one Quaker service, a number of years ago. We do have massive respect for the Quakers…. Their way of life; the persecution they suffered in Lancashire and elsewhere and so set off to Pennsylvania etc; George Fox (founded the ‘Friends’ (Quakers) whist on Pendle Hill… a local hill to where I’m from.

The Quaker college in Pennsylvania is also called Pendle hill.

 

This building was built in 1610 and became a meetinghouse in 1650.

 

Airton

 

North Yorkshire

A 60 footer - mural on the side of the water tower in the coal mining town of Moura. showing some of the local eye openers - pretty galahs and big paddocks of cotton. Of course, before the coal mines the area which is also the Dawson (River) Valley was also and still is a rich agricultural and grazing district.

 

Moura, Queensland.

 

The best motel we stayed in during our whole journey was in this small unassuming town. Five stars for all criteria including a fabulous evening meal. Rockhampton and Central Queensland is after all the beef capital of Australia and mine hosts did not fail to deliver in that regard.

Built in a stripped back, Gothic style, the former Catholic Church on River Road in the tiny country town of Woodford is a classic example of an unassuming and elegant country church.

 

Although now used for commercial premises, the former Woodford Catholic Church remains intact and maintains many of its original Gothic features including its parapeted gables, the vertical element of the cross on the skyline and the tracery around the lancet windows. All of these are typical Gothic architectural features. It also still retains its original Gothic style stained glass windows.

 

Sadly, with no foundation stone or memorial plaque it is impossible to date the church, and I can find no record of it.

 

Woodford is a very small township in the Western District of Victoria, located nine kilometres north of Warrnambool. The town is home to Woodford Primary School which opened on the first of May 1854. Woodford Post Office opened on 1 January 1854, and closed sometime in 1975. It's population consists of only a few hundred people these days.

MAIS MA COEUR EST EN FRANCE

 

MY FEET ARE IN ENGLAND

BUT MY HEART IS IN FRANCE

 

mais tu connais chère Jeanne, ce petit coin d'Angleterre est maintenant la propriété de la France! ; 0)

 

View from England to France!

 

Pour toi, ma belle Jeanne <3

La prochaine fois je vais essayer de rimer en français! ; 0)

 

www.flickr.com/photos/jmenj

 

“One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.”

 

- William Shakespeare

 

Soundtrack : www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxwoK5pYM48

CLOSE TO YOU - RUMER

 

Comment j'ai envie d'être près de la mer

aussi proche de toi que je peux être

pièce dans laquelle mes ailes peuvent se propager

rêveries agréables dans ma tête

atterrissage; écrémage à la côte

des diamants scintillants; toast au champagne

la Tour Eiffel me coupe le souffle

surplombant Paris le jour le plus clair

je chercher pour toi parmi les foules

de ma perchoir au-dessus des nuages

il y a une démonstration que je vois

ma belle Jeanne sur une séance photos

elle est une héroïne de gloire sans prétention

chacune de sa photographies raconte une histoire

elle apporte le monde réel à mes pieds

alors que je suis à la recherche de papillons, elle est dans la rue

filmer l'autre côté de la vie au-delà de la corniche

elle aime la nature, mais avec un tranchant

donc je pense à elle quand je suis dehors et à propos

en cliquant sur une fleur avec un poids industriel

pourquoi ne pas mélanger la douceur avec la rouille

grandeur décoloration et poussière urbaine

J'aime sa style innovant

son images ont un impact; l'essai humain

voyez par vous-mêmes; visitez sa ruisseau

et vous verrez juste ce que je veux dire

chère Jeanne est une merveille et un honneur de savoir

une belle femme; mon amie; sa lueur

fera paraître le jour gris le plus terne

soulève mes esprits; apaiser mes nuits

elle est l'incarnation de ce que la beauté et la grâce signifient

le plus gentil, aimant et généreux des êtres humains.

 

- AP - Copyright © remains with and is the intellectual property of the author

  

How I yearn to be near the sea

as close to you as I can be

room in which my wings can spread

pleasant daydreams in my head

landing; skimming to the coast

glimmering diamonds; champagne toast

the Eiffel Tower takes my breath away

overlooking Paris on the clearest day

look for you among the crowds

from my perch above the clouds

there's a demonstration I see

my beautiful Jeanne on a photography spree

she is a heroine of unassuming glory

each one of her photographs tells a story

she brings the real world to my feet

while I'm chasing butterflies, she's in the street

filming the other side of life beyond the ledge

she loves nature, but with a cutting edge

so I think of her when I'm out and about

clicking a flower with industrial clout

why not mix the softness with rust

fading grandeur and urban dust

I love her innovative style

her images are impactful; the human trial

see for yourselves; visit her stream

and you will see just what I mean

dear Jeanne is a wonder and an honour to know

a beautiful woman; my friend; her glow

will make the dullest grey day seem bright

lift my spirits; soothe my nights

she is the epitome of what beauty and grace mean

the most kind, loving and generous of human beings.

 

- AP - Copyright © remains with and is the intellectual property of the author

 

Copyright © protected image please do not reproduce without permission

At around 32 million LY from Earth, the Phantom Galaxy hangs unassumingly in the constellation Pisces. It's face-on orientation to us gives a great view of the structure created by its two majestic spiral arms.

  

-=Tech Data=-

 

-Equipment-

 

Imaging Scope: Sky-Watcher Esprit 100

Mount: Celestron CGX

Imaging Camera: ZWO ASI 1600MC-Pro

Filters: Baader UV/IR cut

Guide Camera: ZWO ASI120 Mini

Guide Scope: Starfield 60mm guide scope

Dew Control: Kendrick

Power: Pegasus Astro Pocket Power Box

 

- Acquisition -

 

RGB 31 x 5 Min

  

- Software -

 

Acquisition / Rig Control: Sequence Generator Pro

Stacking: Astro Pixel Processor

Processing: PixInsight

Post Processing: Photoshop CC

  

Shot at the Camden Lake Provincial Wildlife Area near Moscow, Ontario.

Some of these old switchers have quite a story. A good number of elevator switchers have a similar history, built for a decent sized carrier, passed to a couple more bigger carriers through mergers, and eventually cast off to short lines, grain elevators, or switching operations.

 

This one is a bit of an exception. Even though it looks like a pretty unassuming EMD switcher from the era, it has always been more of an "industrial critter" and belonged so some obscure owners. Built in 4-1959, it has a builder number of 25343, frame number 4427-2, and was built for the Pickering Lumber Corporation and worked out of Standard, California hauling timber. Their last day of operation was on 12-28-1965.

 

Shortly after in 1966, it wound up in Utah on the Tooele Valley Railroad, which was owned by Anaconda Copper. Their mine and smelter operations were the major revenue source, and the railroad began to wither away after the 1972 shutdown of the smelter. Their last revenue train operated on 7-7-1980, and the railroad completely ceased operation on 8-26-1982.

 

By March 1983, the engine had a new owner, Minnesota Corn Products out of Marshall, MN and was still numbered 104. The unit had been retrofitted with roller bearing axles in place of its original plain journals for movement. The engine was used in facilities at Columbus, NE from the 1990's until at least 2011. MCP was acquired by Archer Daniels Midland 2002. ADM moved the engine to this facility within the past decade, and at some point along the way picked up the ADMX 9020 identity.

 

Just looking in the windows you can see the ancient brake stand, so I'd make a cautious assumption that this thing is probably pretty original in configuration.

 

Locomotive: ADMX 9020

 

10-1-25

Tulare, SD

The photograph captures the back entrance of a bar in Nice, offering a stark contrast to its main entrance which boasts views of the beach and the sea. This rear entrance opens into a quiet, somewhat neglected alleyway, a sharp departure from the lively, sunlit promenade. The alley is narrow and lined with aged, weathered buildings, their walls marked by the passage of time. A couple of faded posters cling to the walls, and a few scattered trash bins add to the sense of disrepair.

 

Despite its worn appearance, the alley holds a certain charm, reflecting the authentic, unpolished side of the city. The cobblestone path, though uneven and cracked in places, adds to the rustic feel. Small details, like the wrought iron gate and the dim, vintage street lamp, evoke a sense of history and character. This rear view of the bar, with its simple, unassuming door, stands as a quiet reminder of the hidden corners that often go unnoticed in a bustling tourist destination.

 

RX_03434_20240519_Niza

Thanks for the comments, faves and visits

 

To see more of my 4K videos please see my Video Website: vimeo.com/randyherring

 

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This photograph captures the ethereal charm of snowdrops, delicate harbingers of spring, nestled in the nurturing embrace of Gibbs Gardens. The image focuses on the gentle bend of the flower's stem, leading to pristine white petals tipped with the faintest touch of green, echoing the promise of new life. These tiny, yet resilient blooms emerge triumphantly amidst the garden's foliage, a soft contrast to the diffuse, golden backdrop of the wooded area behind. Each droplet-shaped flower seems to hang like a pearl, symbolizing purity and the quiet awakening of the natural world. With their bowed heads and unassuming presence, snowdrops like these offer a moment of tranquility and a whisper of the seasons changing in the heart of Ball Ground, Georgia.

Union Pacific SD60Ms No. 6304, 6262, and 6179 pull the APSCLA (American President Lines, Salt Lake City - Los Angeles) intermodal train four miles west of downtown Salt Lake City, Utah on June 18, 1992. The train is on the former Western Pacific main line to Oakland. The unassuming track at left is the Salt Lake Garfield & Western line to the International Center near the airport and the Morton Salt plant at Saltair.

Euphorbia - unassuming, timid and introverted. But when they catch the light, they can pack a punch harder than most others.

 

Olympus Camedia C2000 from 1999, it's low resolution 2MP CCD sensor renders a somewhat filmic look SOOC, reminiscent to me of expired Kodak colour print film.

The camera, like the Euphorbia, is both modest and timid by today's (over-powered and probably over-hyped) digital offerings. But it still packs a punch in my humble opinion :-)

Monday started as a very unassuming day. Patchy light clouds drifted across with bright sunshine, not all that exciting.

 

My hike started at Edale station, made its way up and over Grindslow Knoll and along to Crowden Tower. I've always loved the shape and form of Crowden Tower, something about it just "works" for me in a photograph, quite elegant and serpent-like in its appearance.

 

The "not all that exciting" turned into very exciting quite quickly, the cloud thickened and powerful crepuscular rays started punching their way through, bathing the landscape in brilliant light. My thought process with this photograph was quite simple; get as much of the col and as much of the drama in as possible. To that end I shot the photo as a five exposure panorama resulting in this slightly cropped down 16x5.

(From my personal photo archive, 2021)

 

The beautiful town of Calatañazor, in the province of Soria, in the autonomous community of Castile and León, Spain, is full of charming corners, such as this old, curved wooden balcony that greets us on Calle Real (Main Street).

 

The materials used in the construction of the house are clearly visible.

 

Everything in Calatañazor has a traditional flavor, reminiscent of bygone centuries, and bears witness to the passage of time in a quiet, unassuming way: cobblestone streets, houses with sloping walls made of mud and straw or rough-hewn stone, and roofs topped with the characteristic conical pine-wood chimneys.

 

The town is a typical medieval ensemble, both inside and out, surrounded by a sturdy wall that covers its entire perimeter, except for the eastern side.

 

It also boasts the remains of a stately castle, two churches—one of them Romanesque—and a third, now in ruins, but still showing its Romanesque origins. These many merits earned the town of Calatañazor the designation of Historic-Artistic Site in 1962. (Source: Wikipedia)

 

UN BALCÓN EN CALATAÑAZOR, SORIA, ESPAÑA, 2021

 

(De mi archivo de fotos propias, 2021)

 

La bella localidad de Calatañazor, provincia de Soria, comunidad autónoma de Castilla y León, España, está llena de curiosos rincones como este antiguo balcón de forma curva, hecho en madera, que nos saluda en la Calle Real.

 

Se dejan adivinar los materiales usados en la construcción de la casa.

 

Y es que todo en Calatañazor tiene un sabor tradicional de remotas centurias y atestigua el paso de los siglos de manera paciente, sin prisas: calles empedradas con canto rodado, casas con desplomadas paredes de tapial de barro y paja o tosca mampostería de piedra, con tejados sobre las que se alzan las genuinas chimeneas cónicas pinariegas.

 

Un conjunto típicamente medieval en su interior y no menos en su exterior, rodeado como está de recia muralla cuyos lienzos y cubos cubren todo su perímetro, con excepción del flanco oriental.

 

Cuenta además con abundantes restos de un señorial castillo, con dos iglesias —una de ellas románica— y con una tercera muy arruinada pero que todavía deja entrever su románica hechura. Tantos méritos le valieron a la villa de Calatañazor la declaración de conjunto histórico-artístico en 1962. (Fuente: Wikipedia)

Report and full photo gallery on my website:

www.obsidianurbexphotography.com/medical/nobility-auditor...

 

Nobility auditorium is a beautiful theatre that lays abandoned in the eastern United States. This unassuming building goes unnoticed by the majority of people, hiding in plain sight on the grounds of an active hospital.

"Sufi woman, read me Rumi ’til I fall asleep upon your bosom

Sufi woman, you’re a lion, but you walk around so unassuming

 

You go shine your eyes, you go put it on me

Put a little spell on me

What you do to me?

Don't go walk away on me

You gon’, you gon' see

You gon’, you gon’ ni, ni, ni

You gon’, you gon’ shaker it

You go see the gardens

 

In La Bruja

In La Bruja

In La Bruja

 

Sufi woman, read me Rumi ’til I fall asleep upon your bosom

Sufi woman, you’re a lion but you walk around so unassumin'

Gypsy!

Gypsy woman, we gon’ dance until we dizzy

Gypsy woman, well, your power got me tipsy

All (All) day, now you brought that star

You left lipstick on my hand

I look dead inside, inside

 

You go shine your eyes

You go put it on me

Put it a little spell on me." - Jidenna ♫

 

Gi struts slowly through the dark gardens under the willows ❤️

Hummingbirds are well known for their unique size and behavior, but one of their most interesting tendencies is to puff up their bodies when feeling threatened or stressed. This behavior is a type of thermoregulation; by puffing itself up, a hummingbird can fluff out its feathers and trap small amounts of air between each feather, thereby creating an insulated layer that traps heat radiation generated from the bird’s body and keeps it warm.

 

Additionally, this pose can help make hummingbirds appear larger to potential predators in order to deter them from attacking. Therefore, through its clever thermoregulation process, the humble hummingbird has found a way to defend itself against threats to its safety – all while remaining unassuming despite its remarkable capabilities.

This photograph captures a small religious shrine embedded into the wall of a narrow alley in Palermo, Italy. The shrine is housed in a rectangular structure with a beige frame, topped by a small cross and adorned with a golden star-shaped wire decoration. Inside, a figurine of the Virgin Mary or a saint is visible, protected by a black metal grate. The shrine is surrounded by a vibrant display of artificial flowers in various colors, including reds, yellows, whites, and greens, which provide a stark contrast to the aged and weathered appearance of the surrounding wall.

 

The wall itself tells a story of time and decay. Its surface is marked by cracks, patches, and peeling plaster, revealing layers of underlying brickwork and concrete. These textures add a sense of authenticity and history to the scene, characteristic of many older Mediterranean urban environments. The juxtaposition of the shrine's decorative beauty with the rough, imperfect wall creates a compelling visual contrast.

 

To the right of the shrine, a rusted metal roller door is visible, adding another layer of urban character to the image. The door, with its faded paint and scratches, suggests an old storefront or storage space, now seemingly abandoned or seldom used. This element enhances the feeling of quietness and introspection in the alleyway, inviting passersby to pause and reflect on the significance of the shrine amidst the unassuming setting.

 

At ground level, small patches of greenery emerge from cracks in the pavement, signaling nature's persistence in an otherwise urban landscape. These plants, along with the weathered textures and the delicate adornments of the shrine, create a harmonious blend of humanity, spirituality, and nature. The photograph encapsulates the charm and timelessness of Palermo’s streets, where sacred traditions coexist with the organic wear of everyday life.

 

RX_03075_20240515_Palermo

Happily secluded and little affected by the present times, Holcombe Old Church has been left on its own since the village moved a mile away, with a new St Andrew’s in the main street opened in 1885. That is now the parish church, and this is now a disused church under the care of the Churches’ Conservation Trust; the information in this description is taken either from their helpful guide or the Rev’d Clarissa Cridland’s slightly longer history.

 

A Saxon church once stood here, but the present building is a small, unassuming, partly Norman construction in shell grey, serenely placed against deep woods, hiding a stream, and green hills.

 

The earliest notice of the church ‘is to be found in the acts of Bishop Reginald (1174–91) creating the prebends of Holcombe, White Lackington and Timberscombe, in the cathedral Church of Wels.’ One block of limestone, however, has inscriptions which are difficult to decipher but are almost certainly Saxon, perhaps indicating the first church on this site was dedicated by Wrotard, Archbishop of York on his way to or from the Exeter Council of Easter 928.

 

A surviving Saxon stone church really would be a big deal, but most of the present church dates from the Norman church-building boom of the 12th Century, with alterations in the 16th and 17th Centuries.

 

We do not have a precise date for the construction of the tower, but the many Somerset churches, like this one, with their fine square towers with windows of vertical lines, started being built from end of the 14th century onwards: the Black Death caused a shortage of skilled craftsmen for the earlier, more elaborate Decorated style.

 

The porch gable incorporates a recut Norman arch, with a zigzag around it. Above the arch, in place of the keystone, is a 16th-century carved angel with wings outstretched and arms folded.

..so much more refined than velcro;). Don't you love how something as unassuming as a jar of old buttons can steal half your day away, what fun this was. HMM flickr friends.

#Macro Mondays #Buttons and Bows

these white throated sparrows are one of my favorite winter visitors

This photo was taken in Masbate City during sunset, capturing a moment where the sky shifts gently through a range of soft orange and cool hues. The scene offers a casual, unassuming view of nature at its most relaxed, with the fading light painting the sky in a way that feels both natural and inviting.

 

The calm waters mirror these evolving colors, creating a harmonious blend where sky and sea meet. With the area quietly deserted at this time of day, the image embodies a peaceful pause—a simple reminder to appreciate the beautiful transition from day to night.

The lake waters

come for us

at first

with slow unassuming

ripples,

then in earnest.

~Tim Stouffer

 

You may or may not have heard about these gems of wilderness areas in northern Minnesota west of Lake Superior, which on our maps, go by ‘Voyageurs National Park’ and the nearby 'Boundary Waters Wilderness'. National Geographic keeps naming them as one of the top few wilderness places to experience for reasons such as viewing Northern Lights, paddling one or more of 1200 plus island-dotted lakes (many interconnected), abundant fishing, houseboating, or just finding peace a few layers of silence away from the cacophony of city life. Let me tell ya… it is a wild place! It is an utterly mesmerizing place!

 

In recent times, you may or may not have heard about the historic flood in this area. Due to late snow melt and excessive spring rain, the water level in Voyageurs lakes have swelled past all previous marks, wreaking havoc and devastation in nearby communities. Many properties (including cabins and boat-docks) are under water. The state deployed national guards in late May, who are still working around the clock with local volunteers to sandbag properties in a near futile attempt to keep the water out. This flood is one of those national tragedies that has been deemed unsuitable for national news.

 

Not to divagate, you may or may not have heard that Rishabh and I were recently at Voyageurs. The resort at Kabetogama lake, where we booked our cabin nine months ago, went under water in mid-May forcing us to find last minute lodging in a subpar nearby hotel. The Rainy Lake visitor center closed a couple of days after our visit; the raised corridors in the boat launch area behind the visitor center, that we walked on a few days ago, are now deluged and closed to visitors. While there for two days, we saw the water rising slowly but surely. It was surreal. At a glance, everything was calm on the surface; after a moment of reconciliation however, everything looked displaced. Under the raising water, streets were a sliver of themselves as debris marked their borders. Houses and properties were sandbagged as if they were war trenches. Wild animals, who had lost their grounds in the interiors to the incoming water, were often seen ambling (or, sometimes joyfully playing) in roadside water puddles. While shooting the above photo from the barely-dry middle of a flooded road just outside the national park boundary, a few deer came within a few feet and behaved as shy children in the wake of a stranger –– repeatedly coming close and running away in haste, splashing water all along. I wish they were included in the above scene, but I was technically ill-equipped to shoot fast moving subjects in dying light. Nonetheless, watching them play in the tapestry of the wild waters was a frisson of excitement and a reward in itself.

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