While strolling through the long and dark passages, I turn around and I was enchanted by this view. Like I got lost in the dark distance. Due to the horrible things happend there, this felt like magic.

Fort Eben-Emael is an inactive Belgian fortress located between Liège and Maastricht, on the Belgian-Dutch border, outside the village of Ében-Émael. It was designed to defend Belgium from a German attack across the narrow belt of Dutch territory in the region. Constructed in 1931–1935, it was reputed to be impregnable and at the time, the largest in the world. The fort was neutralized by glider-borne German troops (85 men) on 10 May 1940 during the WW2. The action cleared the way for German ground forces to enter Belgium, unhindered by fire from Eben-Emael. Still the property of the Belgian Army, the fort has been preserved.

While I was watching the warblers and kinglets flying around in the brush, all of a sudden everyone disappeared. I seen something had flown in nearby and there he was... a juv. sharpie. Made my day as I don't see this little hawk very often.

Tamron SP 500mm f8

While My Guitar Gently Weeps is a macro photograph of dahlia petals with water droplets.

while you go off and shape your own life :-)

Robert Brault

HFF!!

nigella, denver botanic garden, colorado

While waiting last night in Ramat Gan under a full moon !

around sunset, while observing a family of Little Owls, I suddenly noticed this pretty one

IUCN Red List Status: Near Threatened

also called Common Oystercatcher, European Oystercatcher or simply Oystercatcher

haematopus ostralegus

scholekster

huîtrier pie

Austernfischer

Ostrero Euroasiático

Beccaccia di mare

Ostraceiro

Many thanks for your views, favorites and supportive comments.

All rights reserved. Fons Buts©2022

My photos may not be used on websites, blogs or in any other media without my written and explicit permission.

With all the processing options available today, it seems we become programmed to look at photos and immediately analyze what might be done to tweak them to make them better in some way. I recall when I first began photography 8 or so years ago, I knew nothing about anything and thus deleted at least 90% of my photos upon review, often all of them. Now, even though I still don't know much, I delete none on the basis of being possibly able to do something with them. Sometimes I do with pleasing results. Most of the time I do not and they remain buried in the archives where they will probably never do more than take up space.

When this view of the far north end of the lake (where the turtles bask in the spring and summer but have now already vanished into their hibernational haunts) appeared, now habitual thinking said, "what does this need?" I thought for a while and finally determined that there was really nothing I could do to make this photo better. Different maybe, but not better. Perhaps you agree.

So here you have it...an actual unenhanced SOOC snap shot of my beloved northwoods entering prime time for color. Maybe not too artsy...but still kind of pretty...;-))

A red-winged blackbird singing while perched at the Las Gallinas ponds

While some things are in state of decay, others are in sate of growing,

While editing this image I kept thinking of Botticelli's Birth of Venus, a painting I adore. The editing became more painterly and I liked the way it finally turned out. The haunting trees and the snakes seemed to come alive. I love this set. The artistic brilliance and creativity behind this collaboration is just inspiring. ....

Read the rest and grab the designer and event information on Threads & Tuneage

while the camera does not express the soul, perhaps a photograph can! :-)

Ansel Adams

HMM! Ukraine Matters!

hybrid magnolia, 'Green Mist', j c raulston arboretum, ncsu, raleigh, north carolina

While driving through south west Indiana earlier this week I came across this sight. I instantly liked it and had to get the shot. I prefer wildlife photography, but can't pass on the unusual!

...smell it...

...feel it...

...see its colors...

...don't let it become stories to your grandsons....

Tune

Credits

♥

While I was looking for puffins on Bempton Cliffs, I saw a lot of other birds - like these guillemots

While I was at Ham Wall nature reserve last weekend, I saw a lot of swans taking off and landing. These two headed over towards the hills and Glastonbury Tor.

While Ruby concentrated on the hot air balloons with my phone, I took shots of the sun rise

"While the völva recited the Völuspá, the Yggdrasil rises over the well of Urd".

...Inspirated By:

Tune-----------------------*

Thanks so much for see me ^-^))!!!

XoXO!

Came upon this view while hiking up to Lake Agnes there in Banff National Park. Just had to stop and take a shot ... hard to do this view justice but liked the interplay of tall pines and the peaks and the patch of blue sky through the clouds.

Reddish egret ballet performance while fishing on North Beach, Fort DeSoto Park, St. Petersburg, Florida

While taking photos of the marmot there in Wyoming, I also had this cute little Pika also popping out of the rocks every so often watching me as well.

While this may seem like a tender moment between this bull and cow bison, he was in the mood and she definitely was not! He kept nudging her with his head while she generally ignored him. He was persistent (and obnoxious!) enough to where she got up and tried to walk away. When she did he followed closely, continuing his advances. She grew tired of him and laid back down. We watched for a good 10 to 15 minutes admiring both of their strong wills - his trying and her denying!

Taken in Yellowstone National Park.

Thanks for your views and comments! They are much appreciated!

Amsterdam - Piri Reïsplein - Baarsjesweg

Amsterdam - Photo shoot with Me Inge

Copyright - All images are copyright © protected. All Rights Reserved. Copying, altering, displaying or redistribution of any of these images without written permission from the artist is strictly prohibited.

St. John the Baptist's Church (15th ct.) in Ribčev Laz on Lake Bohinj, Slovenia

Here, just by chance, we're caught, in the shade

staring, surprised, into eyes of the past

while watching the ducks as they circle the pond

It seems they are hands on a clock sweeping time

where silence is gentler,... because now we are friends

Today, on this bench, lost men will linger,

while waiting for nothing, and no place to go

Once we had claimed this 'our' place to hold hands,

planning a future that never began

Children we were with the world at command

I'm glad we aren't talking in circles, .. like then

Other children are playing in the rust afternoon,

zippered up tight, against winter wind

Talking of children..you tell me there's two

You show me a photo,…then, I share a few

I am all out of bread, as the sun starts to fade

taking away all the stains of the day

East of the bandstand shadows grow long,

falling in corners like memories do

We've learned to know twilight can be bittersweet

And taste what dim recall has only allowed

Goodbyes are said, and you then, kiss my cheek, ..

then you turn and you wave, as you are crossing the street

Left wondering now, where those lost men will go,

it worries my brow, what lost men will eat

A shadow of you, is still left in the park, …

of us holding hands, as it starts to get dark

I leave a few dollars here, on our bench

Checking my watch,… I will leave no regrets.

(While Feeding the Ducks by Carrie Richards)

Sint Nicholaskerk is the most seen and at the same time overlooked church in Amsterdam as well as being one its most recent constructions, no one can miss this iconic structure upon arrival to the city walking from Centraal Station your eye is immediately drawn to it at 58 m in height it towers over the city skyline.

This Roman Catholic Church was designed by Architect Adrianus Bleijs and is a nod to the past combining elements of neo-Baroque and neo-Renaissance styles, completed in 1887 it was made a minor Basilica in 2012.

The church is dedicated to the 4th century charitable patron saint of children that became our Santa Claus as well as the patron saint of sailors and prostitutes, another winning combination.

In the Netherlands Santa Claus is known as Sinterklaas and a feast has been celebrated for over 700 years in his name and adopted in the early part of 20th century the tradition of leaving small gifts in children’s shoes was practiced on Dec 6th which has evolved now to become a Dec 5th evening tradition of gathering of family and friends to exchange gifts and laughter.

While Dutch Sinterklaas celebrations are mainly for the children its adult component is an annual grievance poem written to the recipient that must rhyme and be read out loud by the subject at the evening party all in good fun but beware you may get as good as you give.

I took this on Sept 10th, 2017 with my D750 and Nikon 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens at 58mm 15 sec f/16 ISO100 processed in LR, PS +Lumenzia, Topaz , Luminar and DXO

Disclaimer: My style is a study of romantic realism as well as a work in progress

at dawn

I paid the ferryman

the sea is calm and deep

it's time let's go

towards the sun

to new horizons

we trust

on the wide ocean

we are in solitude

floating on waves

of eternity

some words

in my mind

... while you slept

This is an older phone shot , from my archive.

Split - Croatia, when traveling was easier. I

am not an expert on phone shot, LoL ;-)

Thanks for take your time and look at my photo,

much appreciated.

While in the park, I came across this coulourful tennis ball! It attracted my attention :).

While the sun is rising on this frosty morning....sit a while and cherish the moment !

Pushing on that trigger is like pulling magic into my very soul...Darrell.

Have a safe and memorable day dear Flickr friends !

UTS Building 11 - Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology

Broadway, Sydney

December, 2022

While trying to entice the Orioles into my backyard, I've been getting some other interesting visitors! Orange loving Catbird. :)

While Visiting the Rain Forest in Alaska, I thought to my self, "You know who would love this, Mishindi". So with a little digital help.........

Taken while I was on the dock out into Lake Hancock at Circle B Bar Reserve in Lakeland, Florida. If you look carefully, there is a small fish in this osprey's right talon.

This photograph/image is copyrighted and may not be used in any way without my permission. If you would like to use it, please contact me via Flickr mail.

Thanks for visiting and for your faves and comments.

If you'd like to see more of my images, go to schockenphotography.com. I have many more images of eagles and other raptors as well as owls, woodpeckers, hummingbirds, songbirds and mammals and I have a full section on birds in flight which is my specialty.

while I enjoyed this glorious sunrise!

While on vacation, I couldn't but help take a few images of this iconic rock on Cannon Beach, Oregon.

Ricoh GR1s, Ilford HP5 400

While a group of Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep grazes, an elder watchfullly observes.

While I was in Bryce Canyon, I got to learn how to do vertical panoramas from two fantastic professional photographers who are only great photographers in their own right, but are also great teachers, Nick Selway and Joe Garza. They do fantastic photo workshops together all over the United States and if you are interested in taking a workshop where you learn how to improve your photography but also have a lot of fun while doing so, look them up-they're the best!

This is my first attempt at doing a panorama and I think it came out pretty good for the first time doing one. If you have any constructive criticism on how it looks, things I need to do better next time I shoot one, please let me know!

Details

While exploring the desert near Hanksville, Utah, we found these rock formations that had the appearance of eroded battlements from an earlier era.

While we were enjoying a marvelous walk under this first snowfall with our beloved friend Daniel, we saw this beautiful wood house. In this occasion, I liked very much the contrast between the fresh snow covering the ground and the golden foliage still present in the trees, creating a fascinating postcard.

We chose the trees to frame the picture and I was really enchanted to enjoy a winter day in Autumn. It was so magical!

This picture is dedicated to Daniel, for his friendship and for sharing unforgettable moments with us.

Press "L" to enlarge the picture.

I hope you spend a good Wednesday and enjoy the day!

_______________________________

Choque de temporadas en Huntsville, Muskoka, Ontario, Canada

Mientras disfrutábamos de un maravilloso paseo bajo la primera nevada con nuestro querido amigo Daniel, vimos esta hermosa casa de madera. En esta ocasión me gustó mucho el contraste entre la nieve recién caída que cubría el suelo y el follaje dorado aún presente en los árboles, creando una postal fascinante.

Elegimos los árboles para enmarcar la foto y me encantó disfrutar de un día de invierno en otoño. ¡Fue tan magico!

Esta foto está dedicada a Daniel, por su amistad y por compartir momentos inolvidables con nosotros.

Pulsa "L" para ampliar la imagen.

Espero que paséis un buen miércoles y que disfrutéis del día!

While most people think of toads as land creatures hopping about in the woods, there are also aquatic toads sharing a similar relationship to fresh water habitats as frogs.

This aquatic toad is sunbathing on a hyacinth plant, joined by a young frog on a leaf less than an inch away. It’s interesting that the small frog chose to keep company with the much larger toad, considering unoccupied vegetation was available. Perhaps their similar color made the frog believe they were part of the same species.

The dark lumps on the toad are actually glands growing outside the body.

Beneath the toad is a leaf containing several frog eggs. The minute plants clinging to this leaf and floating above the toad are duckweed.

nellie waits.

While browsing through shots from several years ago I stumbled onto this one. I never uploaded it because I really didn't like it that much. . .But looking at it in 2020, it just seemed to fit in that crazy year. . .Maybe when I took this shot, this old jalopy was trying to tell me something. . .