Closely related to the red-backed shrikes we have in Europe, it shares the black „Zorro“ mask and the visibly downward-bent upper beak. It is a migrant visitor in Singapore, that spends the fall and winter months in the region and leaves in April for its nesting grounds further north, potentially all the way to Siberia. Several other species of Shrikes can be found in Singapore, but this is the only one with the remarkable white eyebrow visible also in this picture.

I would not have seen this ruffed grouse and its family if they hadn’t moved. The picture does not really show this but they are blending in quite well. Roughed grouse are pretty common through a large area of land, and Quebec marks the northeastern limits of its distribution. They appear in two different morphs - a grey and a brown (also called red) one, and I believe this one is a brown as the tail is visibly more grey than the back of the bird but I might be wrong as I have also found the complete opposite description in a guidebook. Both morphs appear within the same local population and the grey ones have been shown to have a longer average live span than the brown ones. This picture was taken above the Dunes of Tadoussac.

One of the largest squirrels in the world measuring around 1 - 1.2 feet long (Head/Body) with a 1.5 feet long tail. They are endemic to India and found in the forests of central and south India. They are not hard to find in the forests down South, and I had seen them many times. But they are hard to photograph since they are usually in the upper canopy and often scurry deeper into the canopy when sighted. Their calls are extremely loud and impossible to miss.

This shot was interesting that it is the same place that a Changeable Hawk Eagle in the previous shot roosted for hours. And this squirrel climbed up the tree and disturbed the eagle. Interesting thing is that the Hawk Eagles hunt these squirrels, so it was strange to see the Eagle move away when this squirrel came close. The Hawk Eagle instead focused on infant monkeys which it tried to hunt couple of times and was unsuccessful. This and the previous picture were shot at the same place and same time.

Incidentally, a juvenile Hawk Eagle was also around - it was visibly smaller than the adult. That Juvi Hawk Eagle attacked a Giant Squirrel a short while later at the base of this tree - I suspect it is this squirrel, but am not certain. Both disappeared into the dense foliage on the hill side and the Hawk Eagle came out around 15 mins later. I don't think it caught the squirrel since it is too fast to consume it in that time.

Thanks in advance for your views and feedback. Much appreciated.

MEXICO, San Juan Chamula

Chamula liegt im Hochland von Chiapas auf einer Höhe von 2.200 Metern. Es wird von den einheimischen Tzotzil-Maya bewohnt , deren Tzotzil-Sprache eine der Mayasprachen ist .

Die Stadt genießt in Mexiko einen einzigartigen autonomen Status . Im Dorf sind weder Polizisten noch Militärangehörige zugelassen. Chamulas haben ihre eigene Polizei.

Das Fotografieren in der Stadt ist sehr schwierig, da Eltern ihre Kinder verstecken oder sich abwenden, sobald sie eine Kamera entdecken. Das Fotografieren innerhalb der Kirche ist strengstens untersagt, ebenso wie das Fotografieren der Weihnachtsprozession zur Kirche. Sie können Sie aus der Stadt werfen, wenn Sie versuchen, diese Regel zu verletzen.

The Chamula people have a very distinct culture. Most visibly, their religion, though considered Catholicism, is a blend of Christianity and Mayan traditions. Their main place of worship is the church of San Juan Chamula. If you get to know Chamulas a little more you might also witness some baffling features in their everyday life and value system: they have taken law into their own hands and sometimes use force to bring people to justice. At the same time you may find families who see children foremost as an economic burden or people who are willing to sell their children like some commodity not showing any emotional connection towards their children as they are making an offer to do so.

NOW OPEN: MIXMASTER CHALLENGE #39 - Chef SolanoSnapper

CHEF SolanoSnapper says, "Take me there! The pandemic has turned travel into something we used to do. Your job is to dream up a travel destination and take us there!"

➤ Your image must depict a destination: a famous landmark, a tropical beach, a luxurious hotel, the planet Krypton, etc.

➤ The image must include all or a portion of the mode of transport you used to get there.

➤ It must also include an object with text: a book, letter, sign, etc.

➤ The source of light for the composition must be visibly displayed: the sun or moon, streetlights, a bonfire, floor lamp, etc.

➤ And since we are social distancing ... no living beings (human or animal)!

boat pixabay

sun png tree

Image of a sunrise at The Mangrove Cap (some nine metres tall) designed by artist Fiona Foley located beside the Pioneer River in Mackay, Queensland, Australia

The health of the Australian rivers, fish and environment is nurtured by the quality of our mangrove stocks, and in creating this giant statement, in steel designed to visibly age in the salty environment, Foley extends the natural phenomena of the mangrove in the public imagination.

ophrys insectifera (Orchidaceae) 100 25

The Fly Orchid can never be described as pretty, but it is one of the most bewitching of the Ophrys species displaying, as it does so perfectly, the highly evolved deception mechanisms that the genus of bee orchids uses to attract pollinating insects. The part of the flower which demonstrates most visibly the results of this evolutionary process is the lip which can be velvety or hairy with a speculum (mirror) in the center that is hairless and shiny and looks just like the wings of the insects that it hopes to attract.

Ophrys insectifera is so distinctive that it is very easy to identify. The flowers closely resemble little flies - the lip forms the body of the insect, the mirror is shiny like the folded wings of a fly and there are even two glossy depressions at the base of the lip which represent the insect's eyes.

The Fly Orchid is a European plant that can be found as far south as Spain and Greece but, unlike other members of the genus, extends its range into the north as far as Scandinavia, Finland and the Baltic States.

An endemic starling of the Malabar region - these are one of the more beautiful starlings found in the region. The head has a smooth silky appearance and the white stands out visibly bright in the surroundings.

They are similar to another Starling, but these are not known to migrate even locally and hence much sought after by photographers. The birds are social much like the other starlings and found in small flocks. We sighted them in a couple of places foraging on the Ficus / Fig fruit trees many of which are in full bloom. (Ficus fruits contain the flower within them!).

This one is a female based on the dull colors, the male is quite more colorful and beautiful in nature.

Thank you so much in advance for your views, feedback and faves.

John Milton coined the phrase 'silver lining' in his poem Comus: A Mask Presented at (Ludlow Castle), 1634:

I see ye visibly, and now believe

That he, the Supreme Good, to whom all things ill

Are but as slavish officers of vengeance,

Would send a glistering guardian, if need were

To keep my life and honour unassailed.

Was I deceived, or did a sable cloud

Turn forth her silver lining on the night?

I did not err; there does a sable cloud

Turn forth her silver lining on the night,

And casts a gleam over this tufted grove. (Source: phrases.org.uk)

Meaning of Silver lining: A silver lining is a metaphor for optimism in vernacular English, which means a negative occurrence may have a positive aspect to it. (Source: Wikipedia)

The tigress was lazing in the grasslands when an elephant patrol stirred her. She was visibly annoyed at the intrusion. She has had a fight with an younger tigress some weeks back and picked up a vicious scar which almost ripped off her left cheek from the jaw to the ear. She was eventually stitched up and she has been recovering well. She also nurses three cubs and her survival is essential for the cubs to reach their adulthood.

Manche Werbeloks fahren einem dauernd vor die Linse, andere hingegen verbergen sich erfolgreich über Jahre hinweg vor einem. In meinem Falle galt das für die 185 152, die ich zwar schon ein paar Mal gesichtet habe, aber nie vernünftig fotografieren konnte. Die für den großen Kunden Kali + Salz Aktiengesellschaft von DB Cargo werbende Traxx-Maschine ist eine der ältesten Werbeloks der DB. Seit 2007 trägt sie die entsprechende Folierung, die über die Jahre hinweg schon sichtlich gelitten hat. Einige Tage zuvor konnte ich 185 152 bereits auf der Nord-Süd-Strecke fotografieren. Am 03. September 2024 überraschte sie mich, als sie mit einem gemischten Güterzug aus dem Esslinger Eisenbahntunnel im Altmühltal heraus gefahren kam. Ladegut waren hierbei hauptsächlich fabrikneue PKWs der Marke Audi aus dem Werk Ingolstadt.

Some advertising locomotives drive in front of your lens all the time, while others successfully hide from you for years. In my case, this applied to the 185 152, which I have spotted a few times but never managed to take a decent photo of. The Traxx locomotive, which advertises for DB Cargo's major customer Kali + Salz Aktiengesellschaft, is one of DB's oldest advertising locomotives. It has had the appropriate livery since 2007, which has visibly suffered over the years. A few days earlier, I was able to photograph 185 152 on the north-south line. On 3 September 2024, it surprised me when it came out of the Esslingen railway tunnel in the Altmühltal valley with a mixed goods train. The freight was mainly brand-new Audi cars from the Ingolstadt plant.

The Southwest Chief visibly shortened due to Covid-19 demand splits the semaphore signals at the west end of Chapelle siding, a Cali Surfliner is along for the ride today.

It's raining, it's pouring...

While research shows that Sandhill cranes don't mind light rain but will seek shelter during heavy downpours this photo suggests opposite. A family of cranes was visibly ENJOYING the heavy rain that came amidst of a hot, muggy day. One must assume it was welcomed by the cranes and felt like a relief on their bodies! Even the booming thunder didn't make them take cover but rather continue foraging in open and standing tall.

Sandhill cranes are resilient and well adapted to various weather conditions.

NS P88 blocked the view of NW 611 at Five Row in Spencer NC. Some railfans were visibly.....frustrated afterwards.

A large pale wheatear. Gray-brown above with warm orangish tones on white underparts and a pale white eyebrow. Tail is predominantly black with white edges and it contrasts sharply with its snow-white rump. Somewhat similar in coloration to a toned-down female Northern Wheatear, but visibly larger, shorter-tailed, and longer-billed (all of which are accentuated by the typically tall, erect posture). Inhabits flat, open areas, often at middle to high elevations. Remarkable song has a tumbling quality that includes long ringing whistles, chattering, and imitations of other sounds in the surrounding environment. Calls include shorter whistles and hard “chak’s,” like rocks being struck together.

MEXICO, San Juan Chamula

Chamula liegt im Hochland von Chiapas auf einer Höhe von 2.200 Metern. Es wird von den einheimischen Tzotzil-Maya bewohnt , deren Tzotzil-Sprache eine der Mayasprachen ist .

Die Stadt genießt in Mexiko einen einzigartigen autonomen Status . Im Dorf sind weder Polizisten noch Militärangehörige zugelassen. Chamulas haben ihre eigene Polizei.

Das Fotografieren in der Stadt ist sehr schwierig, da Eltern ihre Kinder verstecken oder sich abwenden, sobald sie eine Kamera entdecken. Das Fotografieren innerhalb der Kirche ist strengstens untersagt, ebenso wie das Fotografieren der Weihnachtsprozession zur Kirche. Sie können Sie aus der Stadt werfen, wenn Sie versuchen, diese Regel zu verletzen.

The Chamula people have a very distinct culture. Most visibly, their religion, though considered Catholicism, is a blend of Christianity and Mayan traditions. Their main place of worship is the church of San Juan Chamula. If you get to know Chamulas a little more you might also witness some baffling features in their everyday life and value system: they have taken law into their own hands and sometimes use force to bring people to justice. At the same time you may find families who see children foremost as an economic burden or people who are willing to sell their children like some commodity not showing any emotional connection towards their children as they are making an offer to do so.

South Plateau, Montana/Idaho Border

The forested trails south of West Yellowstone, Montana offer good snowmobiling. As the service roads wind upward on this plateau bordering the park, the snow deepens. The powder changes consistency up here around 7500 feet. Everything is encapsulated, snow blasted and wind hardened. The woods I was taking for granted visibly change: every tree, every bough, even the needles stand in sharp relief against each other, the entire forest a subject that stands out. They bear their burden stoically, and I am surprised that, in this little meadow, I feel a peace more commonly found on a summer's day. I let the silence wash over me for a while. When the wind picks up and the temperatures drop after sundown, it will be different. But in the soft light of a winter afternoon, maybe this white forest is not such a harsh beauty after all.

Here we have Mist, Paddy & Elk sufferring the indignity of having to wear a lead! We'd travelled down to Bleinhiem Palace near Oxford for the Countryfile Live Event that was running for a day or two .. dogs on leads was the rule in the grounds ... my 3 are very rarely are on the lead as we travel the fells (they know how to behave with sheep and livestock cos i've told them the rules). The other thing with the show was the thousands of other dogs there .. to Paddy's delight (every doggie is a potential playmate), Elk on the other hand managed to cope very well given her bi-polarism but her control was beginning to fade after day 3 with a constant eye and head swivelling looking out for bandits at 2 o'clock and every other clock! (I heard one young boy asking his dad "what's wrong with that dog dad?" .. "Looks like a bit of 'collieitus' son" - that was the moment when at least 10 dogs were approaching, her senses were being assailed by barbarcued beef, beefburgers and sausages and little children kept appearing out of nowhere .. as said she did very well but you could see her visibly relax when we reached the fields leading to the campsite. Mist, by the way was completely aloof and ignored everything as being non relevant ... unless it was a ball or we got close to the river!

Jupiter is the very brightest star in the night sky from a distance.

The planet rises in the east at sunset, climbs high through the sky throughout the night, and goes down in the west in the morning.

Though the gas giant starts to rise at dusk, it will likely be at its most visible around 11.30 p.m. for observers looking low in the southeast sky.

Jupiter is visibly floating just to the left of red star, Antares.

Brennisteinsalda 20210718

The Brennisteinsalda is a volcano in the south of Iceland. Its height is about 855 m. It is situated near Landmannalaugar and not far from Hekla.

The name means in English: sulfur wave. It comes from the sulfur spots which have colored its sides. But there are other colors, too: green from mosses, black and blue from lava and ashes, red from iron in the earth. It could very well be the most colorful mountain of Iceland and so its picture is often found in books and calendars.

The mountain is still visibly an active volcano with hot sulfur springs and vapor at its sides. The hiking trail Laugavegur passes by. In front of it, there is an obsidian lava field.

Source Wikipedia.

Geothermal energy is visibly abundant all over Iceland

I posted another image from this sequence last Spring when I captured this amazing scene. Two Blackburnian Warbler males slowly fluttered down from the trees above, tiny claws locked as they engaged in a turf war. As you may know, birds, as well as may other animals, are territorial. Warblers often claim territory by singing. This thwarts would be rivals and attracts prospective mates. In theory, a male should hear another male sing and steer clear of that area. That all sounds fine and dandy, right? As the great George Carlin once said something along the lines of, 'I've been fine. I've been dandy. But, I've never been fine AND dandy!'. When two males encounter one another, they usually engage in a chase with the male on territory usually being the pursuer. If things progress, they'll engage in what you see above. I had never seen anything of the sorts before, and I have seen nothing like this since. When it happened, I dropped low as to get to the birds eye level. Luckily, they had dropped to the trail below, meaning I had no grass or foliage to block my view. They would flutter about for a few seconds and then stop, taking what I can only describe as a quick breather. I had never seen birds pant like this. They're bodies visibly pulsing with each deep breath. This scene played out for what felt like an hour, when in reality, it was probably over in less than two minutes. I post this image now, as I am stoked to announce that this image has won the grand prize in the 2024 Audubon Photography Awards!

Tanygrisiau Railway Station on the Ffestiniog Narrow Gauge Railway, Tanygrisiau near Blaenau Ffestiniog, North Wales.

The Ffestiniog Railway was built in 1836 to carry dressed slate from Blaenau Ffestiniog to Porthmadog for export by sea. The station serves the slate mining village of Tanygrisiau and was opened in March 1866. It closed to passengers on 15 September 1939. The new station opened for passenger traffic on 24 June 1978 and was the passenger terminus until 25 May 1982. Tanygrisiau station is at a height of 669 ft (204 m) and a distance of 12 miles 10 chains (19.5 km) from Porthmadog.

The new station is on a different alignment and grade from the old, the two alignments joining just to the north of the Blaenau end of the station. The old line was on a continuous downward gradient from that point through the station, but the new line is on an uphill gradient (to pass the nearby power station) and is more sharply curved. One of the old buildings still remains, visibly lower than the new trackbed.

Tanygrisiau station has an operational passing loop but is normally operated as an unstaffed halt and trains only call on request. Intending passengers are advised to check with the Ffestiniog Railway Company before embarking on their journey. The station is close to the Cwmorthin water falls, and the train passes Tanygrisiau hydro-electric pumped-storage power station and Tanygrisiau reservoir.

A difficult warbler to sight and shoot. Just the size my thumb, they are incredibly agile and always in action on the branches, looking for small insects, larvae and caterpillars. They have streaked crown which makes it easier to identify from the right angle, otherwise its a bit of confusion. We sighted atleast 3 today in the same tree - one of them visibly smaller (I think this is the one - as the crown wasn't fully formed ) and hardest to shoot, came close to us. The adults meanwhile were quite busy picking up insects on the bark for much of the time.

Many thanks in advance for your views and feedback. Much appreciated.

Upon noticing a small boat coming to the seashore with a young man on board, a middle-age guy stands still silently on a spot where the boat is heading.

The latter was already on the shore several minutes ago and while looking around the sea, he was visibly anxious to see the said boat, which the young man apparently borrowed from him with a promise to be back at a certain time when he would be ready to use it himself.

Captured in early morning in Subic, Zambales, Philippines.

Neither fog not mist, both and visibly coming in from the direction of the port. Not a great day for outside photos, but I had to try of at least one.

www.flickr.com/groups/2016_one_photo_each_day/

Thank you for your favourites. :O)

A timeless moment captured at the edge of the Wadden Sea: he’s shirtless, animated, and utterly absorbed in the distant sailboats through his binoculars. She’s sun-shaded, knee-hugging, and visibly unimpressed. Between the thermos and the water bottle lies a quiet domestic standoff—he’s on a maritime mission, she’s counting the minutes. A portrait of retirement, romance, and the art of selective attention.

Part of an already-aging monument at one of the sites of the December 2016 Istanbul bombings.

I could have been there. I tried climbing that hill that evening but there was a police check point and they stopped me. Argued with a young cop there for a bit because it didn't make sense to me. It's not uncommon for them to stop traffic there on match days, but why were they not letting pedestrians though? He didn't know. What he did know was that his commanding officer was in a car further up the hill and that I'd be stopped there anyway plus he'd get yelled at for letting me through.

Then some youger guys showed up and started arguing to be allowed through. I noticed that while I was 'sir' and was being addressed in the second person plural, the new interaction was turning into a shouting match between peers. Figured if I visibly complied, it might help defuse that situation. So I loudly said that I understood he couldn't do anything, wished him a good day and took another route home (I could hear them still arguing as I walked down).

Came home, went out to my smoking balcony. As I was watching the sky and reflecting on the unproductive photo-walk I'd just taken, I heard a faint thump and the birds went crazy. I knew then a bomb must have gone off somewhere (if you spent 2016 in Istanbul, you'd know why one would immediately think this). I don't know if the young cop I dealt with survived.

During this strange disjointed week those who must work do. The rest of us can take photographs...

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A visibly quieter than usual A13 London Road, Horndon Footbridge, Essex UK. 07:40am Monday 30th December, 2024.

... by all the exaggerated commercial hustle and bustle around Christmas

and simply hoping for a Peaceful Caturday :-))

Male lion / Löwe (Panthera leo)

Ndutu and Masek Lake Area, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania, Africa

It gets more and more and more heartbreaking the longer you sit and look at it, because the bird looks so frightened and he got punched in the eye.

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In Point Pleasant, West Virginia, on July 6th, 2009, outside Harmon Pool in Harmon Park, near the intersection of 21st Street and Monroe Avenue.

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Library of Congress classification ideas:

ND2605 Mural painting and decoration, American.

N7665 Birds in art.

N8217.A59 Anxiety in art.

N8217.A58 Anthropomorphism in art.

TH1491 Concrete masonry—Pictorial works.

F249.P7 Point Pleasant (W. Va.)—Pictorial works.

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Art & Architecture Thesaurus term:

• aqua (color)

This scree gully - seen here from the top - is the usual descent route from Sgurr Alasdair, the highest peak in the Isle of Skye. It's also used as an ascent route, mostly I suspect by Munro-baggers with a suspect head for heights; there are much more pleasant and less gruelling ways to ascend it. This was my first of three visits and at some point as I descended, someone further up dislodged a football-sized rock which came bouncing down unpredictably before shattering into smaller pieces not far above me when it hit a more substantial rock.

On subsequent visits in 1999 and 2004, there was visibly less loose scree, especially at the top, and it was no longer possible to run down it, in contrast with the An Stac Screes opposite, which have such a huge depth of small, loose stones that running down them is relatively safe, if tough on the heels of your boots.

The Inaccessible Pinnacle, visible at top centre sticking out of the top of Sgùrr Dearg, is the second highest peak in Skye and the only Munro that requires rock climbing. At close quarters, it rears up intimidatingly like a giant fin with completely vertical sides.

Scanned from the negative. I've previously posted this shot in a b&w processing scanned from a print.

Visibly differentiated from the Large Tortoiseshell Butterfly by the white mark on the outer forward aspect of the wing.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_tortoiseshell

This pretty insect is sadly in decline and was thought, at one point, to be extinct in the UK.

23 Wall St was the former headquarters of the JP Morgan & Co.The Neoclassical limestone and pink marble structure was built in 1913.The company moved their headquarters to 60 Wall St and extensive renovations have been done to the building since.In 2003 the building was sold to a group called Africa Israel & Boymelgreen who converted the structure into a condo.A French designer, Philippe Strarck,who was commissioned for the development,made a garden and a pool on the roof of the building.Tragic history:On September 16,1920,a powerful bomb exploded across the street from the building killing 38 people and injuring hundreds more,143 of them seriously.The incident happened during lunchtime at 12:01pm.Thirty people were killed immediately and eight others sustained their injuries but later died.Most of the victims were young people.The bomb,hidden inside a horse-drawn wagon and parked on the curb,consisted of 100 lbs of dynamite and metal shrapnel (500 lbs!).The impact was so powerful,bomb fragments and shrapnel blew out the large windows causing extensive damage inside the building.The horse and bomb also were reduced to small fragments.Till this day shrapnel damage (or pockmarks) from the bomb can be visibly seen on the outside of the facade of the building.Italian anarchists called the Galleanists (named after their leader, (Luigi Galleani) were responsible for the bombing,many historic scholars believe-Wikipedia. www.nyc-architecture.com/LM/LM035-MORGANGUARANTYTRUSTBUIL... keithyorkcity.wordpress.com/2012/10/24/anarchists-in-amer...

Camera: Foizik Foinix Trier (Mess-Foinix)

Lens: Foinar f/3.5 75 mm AR

Film: Kodak Ektar 100

Exposure: 1/50 sec and f/16, tripod

Film developed and scanned by MeinFilmLab

Edited under Adobe Lightroom and Nik Silver Efex Pro

The performance of the lens is typical for triplets: quite sharp in the center and visibly blurred at the borders, particularly in the corners, even when stopped down (see for example the corners on the right, the left side was cropped somewhat).

For more information on the Foinix folding camera see: www.flickr.com/photos/165607631@N07/47745955272/in/album-...

In June this year I made the decision to visit Ukraine again, this time to the Dnipropetrovsk region. Whilst things here are more volatile than Western Ukraine it is still possible to visit and have a good time. However being mindful and taking precautions are important to ensure your safety.

The first freight train we saw was actually hauled by the loco I wanted to see most, the VL8! These Soviet dinosaurs carry on in daily service hauling freight trains across the DC lines in the East of Ukraine. Here VL8M-1713 hauls a long rake of coal wagons away from Dnipro up the hill past the steelworks (visibly hit by missiles). On the rear was another VL8, banking it as far as Sukhachivka.

VL8M-1713 still wears a classic green scheme with Ukrainian flag inspired lines as well as TChE-1 representing it's depot of Nizhnyodniprovsk-Vuzol. Built in 1967 it's still going strong 57 years later and is actually one of the later built examples still in service.

There's a circus not far from my place, just next to a shopping mall parking lot. Apparently, it's a popular place, and the sheer volume of cars and people is visibly larger than usual.

While I have no intentions of attending the show, I appreciate the visuals there – pointy tent tops and all the lights.

Taken with Sony α55V digital camera and Minolta AF 50mm F1.7 lens.

One of wonderful events that happen during the annual Fleet Week in New York City which is celebrated annually in New York Harbor around the time of Memorial Day Weekend is the Parade of Ships. The US Naval vessels that come in and dock for the duration of Fleet Week parade through New York Harbor splitting up in widest part of the bay going to their respective docks in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Staten Island. I got to capture some images during the parade this year as they arrived for Fleet Week 2016 and one of the vessels that caught my eye was USS Bataan or LHD-5, an amphibious Wasp-class assault ship or carrier. It was commissioned back in 1997, built by Litton Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula Mississippi and currently has a homeport of Norfolk Virginia. The earth is almost three quarters water, the United States mainland is bound by water to west, south and east which is why there are 3 branches of the military associated with marine defense, the Navy, the Marines and the US Coastguard. On the deck of the USS Bataan are members of the US Navy in their dress whites and Marines that literally line the entire length of the deck (I will try to post a closer image where more detail can be seen) and they remain there from the time they hit the Verrazano Narrows until they dock at their respective locations. It is a sight to see. This year there were even ships from the Royal Canadian Navy in the procession as well.

I did tour the USS Bataan later that week as part of the festivities allows tours of the vessels, it was docked next to the USS Intrepid which is permanently docked in New York Harbor and is now the Intrepid Air Space museum after its retirement from active duty. The Intrepid is a huge vessel, but the USS Bataan was visibly larger . The LHD Wasp Class vessels are the US Navy’s large-deck multipurpose amphibious assault ships which have the ability to deploy a marine expeditionary unit or MEU consisting of 2000 Marines including landing craft, amphibious craft and helicopters (the LHD stands for Landing Helicopter Deck). The sailors of the “Dirty Nickel” were quite well versed in the history of the vessels name. One of the shipmen explained that the Bataan Peninsula was one of the early battlegrounds of World War II where valiant American and Filipino forces defended the peninsula from the Japanese who began their invasion of the Philippines just 10 hours after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Since its commission in 1997, this vessel has served in Operation Enduring Freedom, the Iraq War and 2005 was stationed nearby New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina struck so its helicopters were amongst the first to arrive at the flooded city, it helicopters providing rescue to hundreds. When the 7.0 magnitude earthquake shook Haiti in 2010, the USS Bataan was intimately involved in the relief efforts including the use of the vessels medical facility.

As the USS Bataan came into the harbor, its crew on deck, in this image taken near Battery Park, the Bataan passes on its starboard side the tugboat Marjorie B McAllister (which I've mentioned in past postings is as much a symbol of New York City as the Empire State Building) and is just going past the Statue of Liberty on its port side.

Taken with Olympus E-5 with Olympus Zuiko ED 12-60mm F2.8-4.0 SWD lens, processed in Photomatix and cleaned up in Adobe Lightroom.

www.public.navy.mil/surflant/lhd5/Pages/default.aspx

A train approaching Tanygrisiau Railway Station on the Ffestiniog Narrow Gauge Railway, in Tanygrisiau a village near Blaenau Ffestiniog in Gwynedd, North Wales.

The station serves the slate mining village of Tanygrisiau and was opened in March 1866. It closed to passengers on 15 September 1939. The new station opened for passenger traffic on 24 June 1978 and was the passenger terminus until 25 May 1982. Tanygrisiau station is at a height of 669 ft and 12 miles from Porthmadog.

The new station is on a different alignment and grade from the old, the two alignments joining just to the north of the Blaenau end of the station. The old line was on a continuous downward gradient from that point through the station, but the new line is on an uphill gradient (to pass the nearby power station) and is more sharply curved. One of the old buildings remains, visibly lower than the new trackbed.

Tanygrisiau station has an operational passing loop but is normally operated as an unstaffed halt and trains only call on request. Intending passengers are advised to check with the Ffestiniog Railway Company before embarking on their journey. The station is close to the Cwmorthin water falls, and the train passes Tanygrisiau hydro-electric pumped-storage power station and Tanygrisiau reservoir.

Information Source:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanygrisiau_railway_station

The wonderful Hoboken NJ Erie Lackawanna Ferry-Rail Terminal built in 1907 only one of two ferry rail stations left on the Hudson River from a bygone era when they were prevalent on the New Jersey side opposite Manhattan before the Holland Tunnel changed the paradigm. It is the only station in service utilized by New Jersey Transit, PATH and New York Waterway today. The rich green patina of the oxidized copper much of which was destined for the Statue of Liberty, but the efficient French ended up not needing for their gift to the United States. The Ferries to New York markings clearly visibly on the decorative gable. #developportdev @gothamtomato @developphotonewsletter @omsystem.cameras #excellent_america #omsystem @bheventspace @bhphoto @adorama @tamracphoto @tiffencompany #usaprimeshot #tamractales @mpbcom @kehcamera @newjerseyisntboring @newjerseyisbeautiful #newjerseyisbeautiful #omd #olympus #microfourthirds #micro43 #micro43photography

Rain fronts sweep across Holy Island Sands at sunset. It's fascinating to watch the incoming tide wash across the famous causeway. The Sands are so shallow, you can literally stand and watch (from a safe vantage point) as the Sands and causeway are submerged before your eyes. Once the water starts visibly rising, it all happens in a matter of minutes. So quickly, in fact, that every year several drivers are stranded on the causeway, having attempted to cross too late in the day.

Despite this, it was gratifying to see there are still no barriers to spoil the views and detract from the experience of making the crossing. Instead, visitors are expected to take responsibility for their own safety. This isn't difficult. There are multiple signs on the mainland and on the Island clearly displaying the safe crossing times. All that's needed is a bit of common sense and respect for the power of the sea. I'm sure the plain-speaking Northumbrians wouldn't have it any other way.

Leica SL3 2.8/28-70. Original photograph copyright © Simon Miles. Not to be used without permission. Thanks for looking.

Note how the fast jet has visibly disturbed the air/cloud over Tennyson Down on the Isle of Wight

Iron's mum, Tula has been resting up since she was spayed. Yesterday was the first time off lead and she was visibly delighted!

She has the kindest eyes!

Another shot from my visit on 11 August. This was a gorgeous and very fresh and pristine female individual that I tracked for some time every time it appeared, as it was one of only two I saw on the day, the majority seen being males. Unfortunately, it never offered a 'clean' location for open wing images, almost always nectaring, or creeping about closed winged well within the pond side foliage.

The female differs on the upper side, insofar as it has a relatively close resemblance to the Small Copper species resident in the UK, with it's heavier black markings, unlike the simple uniform coppery orange colour with narrow black borders of the male. It is also visibly larger than the male.

Thank you for your faves and comments, always much appreciated!

Death Valley, California

Standing on a hill above the Artist’s Drive road, we have a clear view across Death Valley of a bajada (compound alluvial fans) at the foot of the Panamint Mountains. Much less visibly, we are standing on another bajada at the base of the Black Mountains behind us.

In astronomical terms, sunsets are the daily disappearance of the sun’s upper limb below the horizon. And though their warm beauty is expected, not all sunsets are created equal. In deserts, sunsets are decidedly more colorful.

While it may not visibly appear that way, sunlight is actually made up of the full spectrum of colors. The atmosphere acts as a filter for incoming sunlight, just like a filter you would put on a camera to filter out certain colors.The longer the pathway through the atmosphere, the more that filtering effect becomes noticeable to humans. Each color represented in the rainbow has its own unique wavelength. Colors with longer wavelengths, such as oranges and reds, are more visible, while purples and blues (which have shorter wavelengths) get left out.

Sunbeams break through the clouds as the sun sets over Lake Chatuge and the mountains surrounding Hiawassee, GA. Evidence of the old quartz mine on Bell Knob is visible on the peak at the left. The tower atop Brasstown Bald, Georgia's highest peak, is also faintly visibly on the horizon at left.

Keppel's Column is a 115-foot (35m) tower between Wentworth and Kimberworth in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England. It is a Grade II listed building and is one of several follies in and around Wentworth Woodhouse park; the others include Hoober Stand and Needle's Eye.

The column was built in the late-18th century to commemorate the acquittal of the court-martialled Admiral Augustus Keppel after the Battle of Ushant. It was commissioned in 1773 by Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham and designed by John Carr. The column was finished in 1780. It was initially intended to be a landscape feature composed of a pedestal surmounted by an obelisk, though at some stage the design was changed to a tall column.

It visibly bulges due to an entasis correction, which was rendered inappropriate when funding problems reduced the height. The column, which has an internal spiral staircase, is located on a prominent hill on the southern extent of the Wentworth Estates. The hill is more than 480ft above mean sea level and is one of the highest hills in the Borough of Rotherham, second only to the hill on which Hoober Stand is located.

Keppel's Column has been closed to the public since the 1960s due to being unsafe, as it is now in a derelict state. The column can be viewed at close quarters from the public footpath running from Admiral's Crest in Scholes.

Ref: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keppel%27s_Column

Canon EOS 90D

Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS USM + 2x III

1/500s

f/9

ISO100

Flynn had his 1st run on the fields yesterday, exactly 4 weeks post surgery :) Actually, due to the combination of his poor health & very difficult behaviour, it's the first time Flynn's been allowed to go for a proper off-lead walk since late October, so it was a fairly momentous day for us! I hadn't realised how much I'd missed even our regular routes over the farmland with Flynn. Needless to say Flynn himself was exceptionally happy.

He was visibly trembling with excitement as I unclipped his lead & then spent the entire walk bounding around in huge circles, joyfully squeaking his beloved orange ball... Well, except for the moment when he tried to roll in fox poop - but luckily he's wearing a training line atm, which I managed to grab hold of, thwarting the attempt! Flynn may have been celebrating his first day of freedom but I'd still rather not take home a stinky dog ;-) Questionable choice in perfume aside, I was very pleased with Flynn.

I had a flash of worry, shortly after letting the training line drop at the start of the walk, that Flynn might get too excited, after such a long time without a proper run & abandon me for a solo-adventure but he was actually really good. I was impressed that he even listened to me, when called off from chasing a pheasant that flew up from under him as he dashed through the crops! He also happily accepted the lead being reattached at the end of our walk, something I'd been concerned about as this had become an issue while he was sick last year. It might be a while before I fully relax on walks but it is so good to see Flynn enjoying life again!

The customer service manager of the Riga steam train is visibly pleased with his task