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The creature in the image is a gecko, which is a type of lizard. Specifically, it looks like a species of gecko known for its ability to blend into its surroundings, possibly a leaf-tailed gecko or a similar species that has developed camouflage to avoid predators. Geckos are known for their distinctive eyes with vertical pupils and their ability to cling to various surfaces due to specialized toe pads. -- Grok2 mini
“Our ability to perceive quality in nature begins, as in art, with the pretty. It expands through successive stages of the beautiful to values as yet uncaptured by language.”
― Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac and Sketches Here and There
After finishing up their work at Tri City and leaving the two classic GP18s behind there New Hampshire Northcoast Railroad train D8 from Ossipee to Dover is highballing south behind GP38-2s NHN 3825 (blt. Sept. 1978 as CR 8244), leased FURX 5509 (blt. Mar. 1970 as high nosed straight GP38 SOU 2801) and NHN 3823 (blt. Sept. 1978 as CR 8242). They are approaching the Old Milton Road crossing as they roll thru the colorful the marshland surrounding Heath Brook near MP 81.8 on the former Boston and Maine Railroad's Conway Branch.
For those who are less familiar with this route here is a concise history excerpted from a June 2004 report to the NH State Legislature by the state DOT's Bureau of Rail and Transit on the feasibility of reopening the line to service all the way to Conway.
'Several railroad histories describe the formation and construction of the Conway Branch rail line, most recently The Rail Lines of Northern New England (Robert M. Lindsell, Branch Line Press, 2000). After several attempts to form railroad companies and construct the southern segments of this line, the Portsmouth, Great Falls, and Conway Railroad was chartered in 1865. Construction of the line was completed to West Ossipee in 1871 and to North Conway in 1872.
Initially, the line initiated at Jewett in Maine, through Salmon Falls to Somersworth. This
alignment was replaced by the current line from Rollinsford to Somersworth. Passenger service from Boston to the new North Conway station began in 1872. A connection with the Portland & Ogdensburg Railroad (later Maine Central’s Mountain Division) at Intervale was made in 1875.
The Portsmouth, Great Falls and Conway was part of the Eastern Railroad, which merged with the Boston and Maine Railroad in 1890. The railroad served manufacturing plants in several communities and lumber mills and sand and gravel operations in the Conway area. Freight service north of Ossipee ended in 1972. During the 1980s, the Boston Sand & Gravel Co. initiated service on the line for its subsidiary, Ossipee Aggregates by a new railroad, the New Hampshire Northcoast. This included the purchase of the line from Rochester to Ossipee and a major rehabilitation project that was partly funded by the state of New Hampshire through capital budget appropriations, federal Local Rail Freight Assistance funds, and the state’s revolving loan program for short line railroads. In 1994, the New Hampshire Northcoast purchased the balance of the line from Rollinsford to Rochester from the B&M.
The rehabilitation of the Conway Branch to Ossipee was a major undertaking, involving a large investment by the New Hampshire Northcoast and expenditure of $989,000 in state capital budget funds, $656,000 in LRFA funds (with railroad matching funds), and $606,000 in revolving loan funds now being repaid by the railroad. The railroad’s ability to handle heavy loads of sand and gravel has removed approximately 30,000 trucks per year from the highway system between Ossipee and Boston.
The Boston and Maine and its predecessors operated passenger service on the Conway Branch from 1872 to 1961. The Interstate Commerce Commission approved abandonment of the line from Mt. Whittier (West Ossipee) to Intervale in 1972. Abandonment, a process now handled by the federal Surface Transportation Board, the successor to the ICC, relieves a railroad of its obligation to provide freight service to a shipper. In 1974, the railroad corridor within the town of Conway was sold to the Conway Scenic Railroad.
Efforts to preserve the Conway Branch as a railroad corridor have included the purchase of most of the line within the town of Madison by the town in 1987, and its subsequent sale to the state in 1995. The state of New Hampshire purchased the balance of the line owned by the Boston & Maine in 2001. Today, the New Hampshire Northcoast owns the railroad corridor from its junction with the B&M main line in Rollinsford to Route 28 in Ossipee, the state owns it from that point to the Albany-Conway town line, and the Conway Scenic owns the balance of the corridor in the town of Conway to Intervale.'
Rochester, New Hampshire
Wednesday October 8, 2025
The cheetah or hunting leopard (Acinonyx jubatus) is an atypical member of the cat family that is unique in its speed, while lacking climbing abilities. Therefore it is placed in its own genus, Acinonyx.
It is the fastest land animal, reaching speeds between 110 and 120 km/h in short bursts covering distances up to 460 m, and has the ability to accelerate from 0 to 110 km/h in three seconds.
The adult cheetah weighs from 40 to 65 kg. Its total body length is from 115 to 150 cm, while the tail can measure up to 85 cm in length. Males tend to be slightly larger than females and have slightly bigger heads. The cheetah's chest is deep and its waist is narrow. The coarse, short fur of the cheetah is tan with round black spots measuring from 2 to 3 cm across, affording it some camouflage while hunting. There are no spots on its white underside, but the tail has spots, which merge to form four to six dark rings at the end. The cheetah has a small head with high-set eyes.
There are several geographically isolated populations of cheetah, all of which are found in Africa or Southwestern Asia. The cheetah likes to live in an open biotope, such as semi-desert, prairie, and thick brush, though it can be found in a variety of habitats.
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De jachtluipaard, gepard of cheeta(h) (Acinonyx jubatus) is een groot katachtig roofdier dat nog voorkomt in Afrika en Iran. Het is de enige nog levende soort uit het geslacht Acinonyx.
De jachtluipaard is met een maximum snelheid van 110 à 120 km het snelste landdier ter wereld. De kat is aangepast aan jagen met een korte, zeer snelle sprint. In drie seconden rent het dier van stilstand naar 110 km. Hij is als een hazewindhond slank, flexibel en gespierd gebouwd met een krachtige borst, een lange staart en voor een katachtige zeer lange poten, waarmee hij zich kan afzetten.
Een volwassen jachtluipaard heeft een licht gele vacht, die bedekt is met kleine, ronde, zwarte vlekken. De onderzijde en borst zijn bijna geheel wit. De kop is vrij klein, met kleine oren en grote, oranje ogen. Het voorhoofd en de wangen hebben zeer kleine zwarte vlekken. Van de binnenste ooghoeken tot de mond loopt een zwarte streep, en ook de onderlippen zijn zwart.
De staart is gevlekt, maar heeft bij de top een reeks van zwarte ringen en eindigt in een zwarte staartpunt.
De vorm van de ringen en de hoeveelheid verschilt per individu, vergelijkbaar met de vingerafdruk voor de mens.
Een volwassen dier weegt tussen 35 en 65 kg, maar gemiddeld 50 kg. De kop-romplengte is 110 tot 150 cm, en de staart kan 65 tot 90 cm lang zijn. De schouderhoogte is gemiddeld 80 cm.
De jachtluipaard leeft in droge, open savannen en in gebieden met struiken. Hij kan overal overleven waar voldoende prooidieren zijn en het terrein open genoeg is om te kunnen rennen. Hij heeft een voorkeur voor gebieden met schuilplaatsen, vanwaar hij prooi kan besluipen.
Deze opname is gemaakt in Burgers Safari, het safaripark binnen Burgers Zoo.
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All rights reserved. Copyright © Martien Uiterweerd (Foto Martien). All my images are protected under international authors copyright laws and may not be downloaded, reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without my written explicit permission.
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Okay, you've seen me, so go away already. Can't you see I'm hunting? You're scaring away my lunch, move along...
Thank YOU JESUS, for allowing me to find one so early this year. I think their adorable little owls. So I give credit where that credit is due, and it's not me and my ability to do anything. Yes really believe it was all the grace of God.
I was freezing in the cold winds searching for Sparrow Hawks, which I also love and with very little success I was packing it in, when for some reason I stopped to take in the view just before hitting the trail, when I happed to look down and to my left almost completely hidden in the grasses. There he stood looking up at me like I was about to step on him. How scary that must have been. Yep, it's all Jesus, every good thing is! ❤️🙏❤️
------------------------------ JESUS ✝️ SAVES-------------------------------
7 Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me WILL BE SAVED. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to STEAL and KILL and DESTROY; I have come that they may have LIFE, and have it to the FULL. (John 10:7-10)
Jesus came to bring spiritual LIFE to the spiritually dead and set the captives FREE! FREE from RELIGION, ERROR and outright LIES, so they might serve THE LIVING GOD! In SPIRIT and in TRUTH! Because JESUS LOVES YOU! ❤️ ✝️ ❤️
For the best Biblical teaching in the last 2 centuries! Please listen to and down load these FREE audio files that were created with YOU in mind. It's ALL FREE, if you like it, please share it with others. ❤️
archive.org/details/PeopleToPeopleByBobGeorgeFREE-ARCHIVE...
CLICK THE LETTER "L" TO ENLARGE OR
CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO ENLARGE.
My THANK'S in advance to all who fave and/or comment on my photos I very much appreciate it! ❤️
© All Rights reserved no publication or copying without permission from the author.
Ability of light to pierce through the space is very nice to catch on a photo. Yet it creates a contrast that can easily turn to overburn. I'm dealing with that art my whole photo-life and never really get the grasp on it. The light is burning through my space and my lenses. I must try a neutral density filter someday. But I always remember that AFTER the photoshoot, haha...
Clark's and Western Grebes are the largest vertebrates with the ability to walk on water. They skim the surface for about 66 feet. The courting (mating dance last for seven seconds. This maneuver is called rushing, if either the male or female cannot complete this they are out of luck "no mating".
Length 25 inches, Wingspan 24 inches and weight 3.1 pound
Shore birds, in this case a Lesser Yellowlegs, are amazing in their ability to find their very small prey through murky water and often within the mud substrate of shallow waters. In watching them, I found that when they strike, they seldom come up empty.
Eyelashes have the impressive ability to transform your face. Eyelashes complement the face as does lipstick, however eyelashes may actually even do it more.
Take these [Pink&Love] Oh My Autumn Lashes for example. These EvoX lashes draw a contrast between my eyes and eyelids - just like lipstick draws attention to the contrast between my lips and its surrounding facial features.
Long eyelashes could be flirtatious indicators for men, since we tend to blink more slowly than men do. This soft and fluttering accentuating signal undoubtedly serves us as a means of expressing our attractiveness.
Lipstick has been used for centuries by women all over the world to enhance their appearance, express themselves, and feel more confident. I complemented my looks with SENTINUS BEAUTY Ivana Lipstick to draw attention to my lips by making them look fuller and more defined.
To help remind me of my next date, I am wearing this SO SILLY Interactive Fruity Watch. Like my smart watch in RL, it is very fun to wear since it sequentially rolls through different dial faces.
You can find all the the above referenced beauty products exclusively featured at the SWANK Fall into Autumn Event for November.
Taxi to SWANK Fall into Autumn Event:
Friends
Deep in the woods, I followed a trail aimlessly, high above Lake George. It had been a wet autumn, and when I came across a creek flowing nicely, I followed as the mountain steepened, and the pace sped up. Above a deceptively deep pool, I was captivated by a cascade, grouped together with a large erratic, bearded in ferns, and a beech glowing in autumn’s yellow. For quite some time I lingered here, unsure of what it was that drew me in. When I left, I still couldn’t see what I see here now. I had found a circle. It’s not perfect, I had to connect the parts. An anchor, deposited in some ice age, by a glacier that probably scraped the bedrock for the stream, whose part of the arc is fluid, changing. A tree, whose branches reach high and wide, to shelter, and embrace. It is a triad, an arrangement of subjects, and lately I realized they are not unlike the friends we are. They were thrown together randomly, like we were, since some time long ago, a time that begs remembrance, but won’t get it here. It suffices that we simply are. We could probably assign some element in that scene to describe ourselves. More likely, there are parts of all of these, in each of us. Sometimes we are lost from each other, invisible in a thick fog. Buried under a blanket of weather. Incommunicado in the darkest night. But the circle always comes back around, and completes as though it was never broken. There is nothing as precious as that ability-- to continue as though time has no passage. It is probably a trick of the mind, but I always think of us as we appeared to each other when we met. Whether our circle has expanded to great distances, or shrunk to the size of a three way hug, we are bound in our hearts timelessly, as surely as my glade in the forest…tres amigos. Friends.
The Ability to Dream, and pick up the broken pieces, and Dream again, is the Key to Success.
Quotes by Patricia Bechthold
Intuitive Reflextions
とてもセクシーなお着物ですので
色気のないタイトルにしてみました///
yuragi 2016 bk : kokorotayori(Group gift)
201602 gift ~ribon&obi~ : kokorotayori(Free)
gift & photo location
✿kokorotayori✿
I don't have an ID for this opuntia. We used to call any cactus that looked like this a Beaver-Tail, but that doesn't tell you much. It's always a beautiful plant, but it is particularly so when blooming, and when setting fruit.
Thanks for commenters identifying this cactus as Opuntia Microdasys Albispina.
Knowing the species, I looked it up in Wikipedia, and found this interesting tidbit: "Native to Mexico, naturalised in Kenya, Malawi, and Tanzania.[5] One reason for the success of O. microdasys in desert habitats - at home and as an introduction - is its efficient fog collection ability. The spines and hairs have the perfect structure and microstructure to capture and channel fog.[6]."
This spectacular rock outcrop is located roughly 40 kilometres southeast of Streaky Bay in South Australia. It is a fine example of a geological formation know as an inselberg, or steep-sided rock that rises abruptly from a surrounding plain. Other Australian inselbergs include Uluru and Kata Tjuta as well as Wave Rock near Hyden in Western Australia (see my image No.0480).
Murphy’s Haystacks are made up of pink granite originally laid down some 1.5 billion years ago deep beneath the earth’s surface. Over time erosion removed the softer surface layers, exposing the granite outcrop which was then weathered and sculpted into its present form somewhere between 50,000 and 100,000 years ago.
Local legend has it that the outcrop acquired its name in the 19th century when a traveller, viewing the formations from a distance, mistook them for haystacks and commented on the farmer’s extraordinary ability to produce such large stacks of hay. Since the land was owned at the time by a Mr. Murphy, the rocks became known as Murphy’s Haystacks.
For a contrasting view of the Haystacks shot from a different vantage point, see my image No.0188
© Irwin Reynolds, all rights reserved. If you are interested in using one of my images or would like a high quality fine art print, please send an email to irwinreynolds@me.com.
3 more shots from a brief visit to Hunstanton promenade on Wednesday. I am currently very limited in ability to get out with the camera
I think this is a wonderful and unusual flowering plant that has the ability to change the colour of its petals during the lifetime of the flower and therefore on just one bush you can have a variety of different coloured flowers all at the same time. The flowering season can be very long depending on where you live and also if the temperature does not drop too much during the winter months. Lantana can spread quite a lot, but it can be maintained easily in gardens by pruning, but if they grow in the wild they can grow very large and grazing animals will not eat this plant as it is poisonous to them. When the flowers fade they form fruits which many birds enjoy and in this way the plant can propagate. Butterflies love these plants as well.
Most of my life I have overlooked birds, especially small ones. Then I got serious about photography. Photography gives us the unique ability to see small things in a way we never have able to before. Now I see these small birds in their exquisite detail and I can appreciate their tiny lives and their natural perfection. One can see the tiny patterns of the way their feathers lay. The rough durable feet with their tiny effective claws. The perfection of nature is so well displayed in a closeup photograph of a creature and the image can be studied and lingered over. The animal is seen in such a way that is impossible to see with just casual observation. This why I fell in love with photography, especially of wildlife. The photo offers a glimpse of life we normally don't see, an enhancement, an amplification that allows us to truly see something, maybe for the first time. This Titmouse is just as exquisite and perfect as a bald eagle. The perfection of nature and evolution is everywhere around us and a photograph captures the moment of time and perfection for us to view in a way we hardly ever can otherwise.
Observando à minha volta, o sentimento pela história destes seres humanos devotados ao amor será de sempre de tragédia e da habilidade do ser humano ser miserável para com o próximo.
Como se a loucura do amor fosse o mal do miserável pelo poder.
Poderá estar a ser mal contada, segundo alguns historiadores?
Fica na memória.
Algures pelo Mosteiro de Santa Maria de Alcobaça 2024
Fotografia por Filipe Raimundo ©2025
Looking around me, the feeling for the story of these human beings devoted to love will always be one of tragedy and the ability of human beings to be miserable towards others.
As if the madness of love were the evil of those wretched for power.
Could it be being told badly, according to some historians?
It stays in memory.
Somewhere around the Monastery of Santa Maria de Alcobaça 2024
120 Rollie Rpx400 / 800
Mamiya c33 + 80mm f2.8
Rodinal 1+100
Very often we don´t realize the heaviness of problems until they are gone.
Happiness is not the absence of problems, it's the ability to deal with them.
Hey guys! I'm going to show you the pose-ability of my proudly creation, Ludwig's body here. Hope you like him!
Since the body is finished, his ordering period will be very closed. You can also follow LLT's twitter or Facebook for latest news! <3
I couldn't let Sunday pass without sharing the fun with Photoshop's Generative Fill I had today. I used Generative Fill to dismiss several logs on the right side of the basalt cliff where the falls drop, added some interest to the foreground water and as the coup de grace, added two figures jumping into the falls on the left. Generative fill works pretty well for inanimate objects but it's ability to do people is a spectacular failure! Those people are pretty scary; they're good for Halloween decor. They are too large as well as the falls drop is 43 feet.
I was inspired to add the jumpers because I read this fall is popular on social media as a place to film your friends jumping into the plunge pool. If you are curious about the number of logs removed, go look at the photo I posted looking down at the falls, three frames back.
Happy Slider Sunday!
#my Lensbaby Challenge #6. With Lensbaby's Sweet 50 I have the ability to isolate the subject in focus by blurring.
Naples Botanical Gardens
Southwest Florida
USA
A different mockingbird from the previous image photographed from below.
The northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) is the only mockingbird commonly found in North America. This bird is mainly a permanent resident, but northern birds may move south during harsh weather.
This species has rarely been observed in Europe. The northern mockingbird is known for its mimicking ability, as reflected by the meaning of its scientific name, "many-tongued mimic".
The northern mockingbird has gray to brown upper feathers and a paler belly. Its tail and wings have white patches which are visible in flight.
The northern mockingbird is an omnivore. It eats both insects and fruits. It is often found in open areas and forest edges but forages in grassy land.
The northern mockingbird breeds in southeastern Canada, the United States, northern Mexico, the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands and the Greater Antilles. It is replaced further south by its closest living relative, the tropical mockingbird. The Socorro mockingbird, an endangered species, is also closely related, contrary to previous opinion.
The northern mockingbird is listed as of Least Concern according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
The northern mockingbird is known for its intelligence. A 2009 study showed that the bird was able to recognize individual humans, particularly noting those who had previously been intruders or threats. Birds recognize their breeding spots and return to areas in which they had greatest success in previous years. Urban birds are more likely to demonstrate this behavior.
Finally, the mockingbird is influential in United States culture, being the state bird of five states, appearing in book titles, songs and lullabies, and making other appearances in popular culture. – Wikipedia
These amazing grey crowned cranes graced our presence quite a few times while in Zambia. We thought there were many, but it turns out that they are considered endangered due to habitat loss, human disturbance, live capture and egg collection for commercial trade. So sad as they really are an incredibly beautiful and graceful bird, which is part of what makes Africa so beautiful and unique. They are native to eastern and southern Africa, we were very fortunate to see so many during our time there.
Standing about 1 m (3.3ft) tall and weighing around 3.6 kg (8 lbs), this crane is truly an impressive sight with a wingspan stretching up to 2 m (6.6ft). It's plumage is predominantly grey, accented by white wings and a prominent black patch. However, what truly sets it apart is the crown of stiff, golden feathers adorning its head, it looks like a straw hat. Also, unlike most other crane species, this crane has the unique ability to roost in trees. The grey crowned crane holds a special place in Ugandan culture, symbolizing grace and beauty. It is proudly featured on the country's flag and coat of arms, serving as a poignant reminder of Uganda's rich natural heritage.
One evening we were lucky enough to witness their mating rituals. This was a captivating performance where they were dancing, bowing, and jumping. Their courtship calls were equally distinctive, featuring a booming sound and a honking call. It was too dark by the time we found them for photos or video, so we just sat and enjoyed the show from a distance so we didn’t disturb them.
"Patience is the ability to keep your motor idling when you really feel like stripping your gears!"
-- Unknown
This photo was taken in 2013 during my previous Project 365…please visit my album for this “REMASTERED” Project 365 as I revisit each day of 2013 for additional photos to share!!
Three bracketed photos were taken with a handheld Nikon D5200 and combined with Photomatix Pro to create this HDR image. Additional adjustments were made in Photoshop CS6.
"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ~Jeremiah 29:11
The best way to view my photostream is through Flickriver with the link below:
Spotted this bird while out on the pontoon boat.
Lots of activity along the marsh edge this time of year.
Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada, Sept 9, 2022.
The latin name makes me think the grebe is doing podcasts.
Podilymbus podiceps
Pied-billed Grebes can trap water in their feathers, giving them great control over their buoyancy. They can sink deeply or stay just at or below the surface, exposing as much or as little of the body as they wish. The water-trapping ability may also aid in the pursuit of prey by reducing drag in turbulent water.
source - allaboutbirds.org
"Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old." Franz Kafka.
The incredible beauty of Prague reaches its maximum splendor every sunset, when the sun hides behind the historic district of Malá Strana and the sky is dressed in vivid colors that reflect in the waters of the Vltava River. Thinking that hundreds of years ago this image would not change much, it makes that the beauty that transmits the city is still greater. As if we witness a historical beauty that has been etched in the stone of each of its splendid buildings, as well as in each of its corners, by the presence of those people who have been building the city with their stories.
This photo of Prague was one of my main goals. When I climbed to the "Old Town Bridge Tower" I was told I could not use the tripod. Was I going to give up?. You know I wasn´t. Taking advantage of the crowded tower, I stood in the farther corner from the security guard, where he could not see me. Completely surrounded by people, I placed my little mini-tripod as I could. The biggest problem was that I had to be on my knees, and my operations on the right knee don´t let me be in that position for 2 hours. So I was changing my uncomfortable position every little time, while I protected my camera to avoid people move or drop it to the void. The great effort was totally worth it once again. All for taking with me a bit of that beauty that Prague gives to everyone who visits it.
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"Cualquiera que mantiene la habilidad para ver belleza nunca envejece." Franz Kafka.
La increíble belleza de Praga llega a su máximo esplendor en cada atardecer, cuando el sol se esconde por detrás del histórico barrio de Malá Strana y el cielo se viste de vivos colores que se reflejan en las aguas del río Moldava. Pensar que hace cientos de años esta imagen no cambiaría mucho, hace que la belleza que transmite la ciudad sea aún mayor. Como si presenciáramos una belleza histórica que ha quedado grabada en la piedra de cada uno de sus espléndidos edificios, así como en cada uno de sus rincones, por la presencia de esas personas que han ido construyendo la ciudad con sus historias.
Esta foto de Praga era una de mis objetivos principales. Cuando subí a la "Old Town Bridge Tower" me dijeron que no podía usar trípode. ¿Iba a rendirme?. Sabéis que no. Aprovechando que la torre estaba abarrotada de personas, me coloqué en la esquina más alejada del guardia de seguridad, donde no podía verme. Me hice un hueco entre la gente y coloqué mi pequeño minitrípode como pude. El mayor problema era que tenía que estar de rodillas, y mis operaciones en la rodilla derecha no llevan muy bien estar dos horas así. No obstante, fui cambiando mi incómoda posición, al mismo tiempo que protegía mi cámara para que no me la movieran ni me la cayeran al vacío. El gran esfuerzo mereció totalmente la pena una vez más. Todo por llevarme conmigo un pedacito de esa belleza que Praga regala a todo aquel que la visita.
Waterfilm is a series filmed since 2012 based on the idea of filming with a freehand camera for a period of exactly one minute.this series illustrates the meditative qualities of water in an urban environment It is my belief that the close observation of this essential element has the ability to influence our perceptions. Each film is intended to be a short meditation – take your time to feel it, but don’t swim away too far...
Yanomano
Excerpt from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mantis_shrimp:
Mantis shrimp are carnivorous marine crustaceans of the order Stomatopoda. Stomatopods branched off from other members of the class Malacostraca around 340 million years ago. Mantis shrimp typically grow to around 10 cm (3.9 in) in length, while a few can reach up to 38 cm (15 in). A mantis shrimp's carapace covers only the rear part of the head and the first four segments of the thorax. Varieties range in colour from shades of brown to vivid colours, with more than 520 species of mantis shrimp known. They are among the most important predators in many shallow, tropical and subtropical marine habitats. However, despite being common, they are poorly understood, as many species spend most of their lives sheltering in burrows and holes.
Called "sea locusts" by ancient Assyrians, "prawn killers" in Australia, and now sometimes referred to as "thumb splitters"—because of the animal's ability to inflict painful wounds if handled incautiously—mantis shrimp have powerful raptorial appendages that are used to attack and kill prey either by spearing, stunning, or dismembering. Some mantis shrimp species have specialised calcified 'clubs' that can strike with great power, while others have sharp forelimbs used to seize the prey (hence the term "mantis" in their common name).
This is another of my father's slides that I scanned and restored to the best of my ability. I always think of him in January.
Thonkulous Stronkinson is widely regarded to be the most powerful being in any multiverse ever. Though his own inherent physical strength is certainly formidable, he gains his real power from his ability to call upon the legendary "Stronk Force" A generational inter-dimensional manifestation of all of the strength that ever was, is, or could be, in any dimension ever, multiplied by infinite infinities. Experts concluded that such an impossible power needed it's own unit of measurement, and thereby refer to it as "Strenkth" in reference to Thonk's family name, and the moniker of his power.
Despite his fearsome appearance and multiverse-shattering abilities, Thonk prefers to spend his time traversing different realities, defeating evil and creating the comprehensive ranking list of all chicken tendies in all realities. As such, few beings have even seen Thonk, as he prefers to keep a low profile and stay clear from major populated areas as a means of reducing collateral damage and casualties.
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Woowee, what a ride this guy was. I’ve had the idea for this guy kickin’ around for the better part of a year and a half, and I finally got around to building him a month or so ago. It was...a trip. Spent way too much on Bricklink, but it’s been really fun to get back into MOCing again. Yeah, yeah, I’ve been gone, that’s all on me. I wanted to come back, but I felt like I owed it to you guys to make sure my comeback MOC was something impressive. I guess I had my own kind of expectations of success holding me back from just jumping into it and having fun. And that’s what this MOC is, he’s fun. I had a stupid idea for a character built off of escalating inside jokes, and I wanted to finally give him a place on my shelf. And ya know what? I’m happy with how he turned out. Does he have problems? Yeah, of course. But I wanted to wrap this build up before he began to drag and lose that sense of fun and creativity that I was trying to hold onto. He’s not perfect, but he’s good enough for me.
The Urban Fox
Wild foxes have learned to adapt to the urban environment in order to survive. By nature, foxes are nocturnal and hunt at night, whereas the urban fox has adapted its behavior to survive and can be seen during daylight hours.
Locally, a fox vixen has located her den in the foundational remains of a razed building complex along the boardwalk at the Jersey Shore. She has six Kits, which can be seen frolicking in the debris and along the dunes during the day. The fox family has become local celebrities and unfortunately people have begun feeding them. Never feed wild animals. Although you may feel as if you’re helping them survive, you are actually harming them. Feeding foxes can alter their natural behavior and they may lose its fear of humans.
“Wildlife that is fed by people become less experienced at forging for their natural food and may become dependent on handouts that are not a part of their natural diets. This is especially true in juvenile animals that have not yet developed their own foraging skills and have little ability to fend for themselves once handouts cease.” ~ Julie King, Senior Wildlife Biologist
Please Do Not Feed the Wildlife!
Red Fox
The Red Fox, Vulpes vulpes, is the largest of the true foxes and the most abundant wild member of the Carnivora, being present across the entire Northern Hemisphere from the Arctic Circle to North Africa, North America and Eurasia. It is listed as least concern by the IUCN. Its range has increased alongside human expansion, having been introduced to Australia, where it is considered harmful to native mammals and bird populations. Due to its presence in Australia, it is included among the list of the "world's 100 worst invasive species".
For more info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_fox
out of hell?
I seem to be hooked on the surprises that mirroring simple subjects such as leaves, or other organic matter, can create. Sorry for the overkill friends, but hats off to Photoshop for it's amazing ability to influence the image outcome
Belgium.
Antwerp National Zoo.
Antwerp Zoo (Dutch: ZOO Antwerpen) is a zoo in the centre of Antwerp, Belgium, located next to the Antwerpen-Centraal railway station. It is the oldest animal park in the country, and one of the oldest in the world, established on 21 July 1843.
The meerkat (Suricata suricatta) or suricate is a small mongoose found in southern Africa. It is characterised by a broad head, large eyes, a pointed snout, long legs, a thin tapering tail, and a brindled coat pattern. The head-and-body length is around 24–35 cm (9.4–13.8 in), and the weight is typically between 0.62 and 0.97 kg (1.4 and 2.1 lb). The coat is light grey to yellowish brown with alternate, poorly defined light and dark bands on the back. Meerkats have foreclaws adapted for digging and have the ability to thermoregulate to survive in their harsh, dry habitat. Three subspecies are recognised.
Patience is not simply the ability to wait.
It's how we behave while we are waiting.
(Joyce Meyer)
Low tide in Koh Pha Ngan - Thailand
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The pics clearly show his right eye was markedly sunken and could impair his site, and perhaps the ability to accommodate distance was reduced.
Ethel M’s Botanical Cactus Garden, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Ethel M’s breathtaking Botanical Cactus Garden is Nevada's largest and one of the world's largest collections of its kind. Based on the English landscape model of naturalistic design, the Ethel M Botanical Cactus Garden features four acres of drought-tolerant ornamentals, cacti, and other succulents.
Over 300 species of plants can be found on the grounds. Half are cacti and succulents largely native to the American Southwest, and the rest are desert trees and shrubs from the Southwestern United States, Australia, and South America. All of these plants were chosen both for the beauty of their floral displays and their ability to adapt to the climate of Southern Nevada.
What separates us from the animals, what separates us from the chaos, is our ability to mourn people we’ve never met.
—Author David Levithan
One evening earlier this year, I opened the front door to leave the house and found this character relaxing on the door frame.
Peron's tree frogs are some of the most variable in regard colouration and they have the ability to change colour in less than an hour. Shades of grey and brown have been seen, right through to almost white. A characteristic in the genus Litoria are the pupils which appear cross-shaped.
45 mm
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The ability to dream is all I have to give. That is my responsibility; that is my burden. And even I grow tired.
Harlan Ellison, Stalking the Nightmare
www.flickr.com/photos/184806716@N02/53829633506/in/pool-i...
Behold the resplendent beauty of the Blue-and-Yellow Macaw, a magnificent creature that graces the skies with its vibrant plumage and charismatic presence. With feathers of azure blue and sunlit yellow, it is a living masterpiece, painted by the hand of nature herself.
This remarkable bird hails from the lush rainforests of South America, where it soars through the canopy with effortless grace, its wings outstretched in a display of freedom and vitality. With a playful spirit and a raucous call that echoes through the jungle, the Blue-and-Yellow Macaw embodies the wild spirit of its tropical homeland.
But beyond its stunning appearance lies a creature of intelligence and social grace. Known for its keen intellect and ability to form strong bonds with its human companions, the Blue-and-Yellow Macaw captivates hearts with its curious gaze and affectionate nature.
Whether perched among the branches or taking flight against the backdrop of a tropical sunset, the Blue-and-Yellow Macaw enchants all who encounter it, reminding us of the boundless beauty and diversity of the natural world.
May we cherish and protect these magnificent birds, ensuring that future generations can continue to marvel at their splendor and grace.
Fly high, dear Blue-and-Yellow Macaw, and may your vibrant colors light up the skies for generations to come. 🌈