Ambitious Photographers
View allAll Photos Tagged ambitious,
Not sure how a catfish head ended up in the water. Perhaps an Osprey dropped it. The Tern picked it and carried it for about 50 yards before deciding the head was too big to swallow, and dropped it.
Caspian Tern 3690
There is a whole variety of believers. Whosoever comes to these desolate mountains couldn't be exactly ambitious, at least not over worldly matters, and one can be sure life is hard here.
Maurice Gendron and Mstislav Rostropovich (pno), Chopin Cello Sonata - Largo ( How are the two of them getting along?)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KtbmO6qfPA
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eve-57S6Gw0
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6no0IQq9LWQ
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfzVegGAhaw
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虚谷的画，有一种透明感
www.bilibili.com/video/BV1SU4y1x73R?from=search&seid=...
baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1667846468186918518&wfr=spid...
Sanyu (常 玉), a Chinese Painter living in Paris ( in Chinese )
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJW_hkr753Y
www.youtube.com/watch?v=50h71Xy-emQ
Tsuguharu Foujita (藤田嗣治) (1886-1968) Expressionism
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NSmXAjO_Rg
Chaime Soutine (柴姆·蘇丁)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bB4N6SVob9M
Moise Kisling
www.google.com/search?q=moise+kisling+paintings&tbm=i...
PS
Sanyu was nicknamed the Modigliani/ Matisse of the East. He came from a wealthy family having been taught Chinese poetry and ink painting by one of the Emporer's scholarly advisors in his youth. He studied arts in Japan for a couple of years before turning to Paris in his early 20's. Instead of attending any of the academies there, he chose to hang around saloons. He extended many of the aesthetic formalities of both of the East and the West, since he painted only from his heart and soul. He blended the styles from both the West and the East very uniquely, in subjects, materials or treatments. Other than expressionist exaggerations , he is also a great master of minimalism, keen to capture the very essence of the substances with a few symbolic strokes. His paintings are well received both in the East and the West. For a long time, his paintings are fetching a very high price. He is the only Chinese painter who had essentially integrated into or even pioneered Western painting albeit with things which could be traced back to his background. In his later years, having squandered all his money away, he became extremely poor...
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On Health by a Korean Physician
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oodt7__cxCk
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Ricardo Odnoposoff plays Zigeunerwiesen
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pWCgE_KbiU
Max Bruch
Featuring: Movement Store | SAP | Angel Eyes | CryBunBun | Lelutka | EBODY
Credits: ilcocoli.tumblr.com/post/692129929341681664/ambitious-and...
“Too lazy to be ambitious,
I let the world take care of itself.
Ten days' worth of rice in my bag; a bundle of twigs by the fireplace.
Why chatter about delusion and enlightenment?
Listening to the night rain on my roof,I sit comfortably, with both legs stretched out.”
-Ryōkan-
Denver's Yuki Shape for Neo Japan
* Date: March 31st
* SLurl: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/GABRIEL3/138/128/500
Nutmeg. City Bike Set at RLD Event
Happy birthday, Peter! I drew this picture for you! Let me congratulate you on a wonderful holiday — happy birthday! Let the potential of your abilities and help grow, and let it always be in demand and appreciated. May your plans be ambitious, your goals high, your actions beautiful, your thoughts pure. Let everything you have planned come true. Great success to you!...
…and a chorus of clouds…
For today’s SoS group theme “over processed clouds”, I sharpened the haze and upped the contrast.
I take so many photos of clouds, and chose this evening sky capture for something different. The moon is June’s “Strawberry Supermoon” (actually a couple of days before its peak-illumination, full phase.)
Just a quick post today… Happy weekend flickr friends! I am chipping away at my ambitious to-do list, and look forward to checking in on your posts soon :-)))
ambitious: having or showing a strong desire and determination to succeed.
The second installment of my Series, which rather than focusing on CURRENT students, it is instead meant to focus on students after their time in Hogwarts. Our next subject, Alaric Vos, Slytherin. The Half-Veela son of a wealthy and affluent pureblooded wizard who ventured outside of his marriage to secure an heir. Raised in a rather abusive household, Alaric worked hard to become a great wizard to ensure his independence and ability to protect himself from twisted expectations of the Vos family. With a love for potions, Alaric focuses his time and talents in front of the cauldron working on healing potions that he hopes will bring great benefits to the wixen world.
Thanks to my friend Alaric for letting me use him!
Wearing:
Hair: *barberyumyum*L13(02)
Top: //Volver// Travis Shirt & Waistcoat / Black
Pants: David Heather-Hev Slacks/BJ/Black
Accessories:
Wand: Hotdog - Wand . Carved
Ring: 4Ward!/Cubura Groove Claw Ring
Claws: L'Emporio&PL::*Oblio*::Vampire Claws B
Necklace: **RE** Spectre Necklace
Bracelet: **RE** Striker Bracelet
Hat: +Radix - Jerome Panama Hat
With everything she does she melts your heart.
She is sweet and secretive,
and the next moment luring and wanton,
then she is funny, playful, spontaneous
and from one breath to another she gets sad
and concerned, or exhausted and worried.
Sometimes she sighs and moans at once,
smirks, jumps, and then she squirms,
pulls and pushes your buttons.
With her you never know what happens next.
She is unpredictable, moody, ambitious and curious, adventurous, lascivious, innocuous, adorable aggressive and sullen silent from here and there.
And every day a new shade of her personality unfolds in front of your
loving eyes and with every day more you fear even an infinitude of time would be too short to see everything from her, every idea, desire, every thought and mood, and you wish the day would have many more hours, and every year many more days to be able to love her to the fullest extent possible, for every part of her deserves at least to be fully loved once all alone.
source: gentle-guidance.tumblr.com/post/166922634064/with-everyth...
Thank you my wolfie for putting up with me ;)
Love you tons now and forever... your Milkyway (Lori)
Blog Post
We are cunning, ambitious, resourceful, determing, proud and shrewd. - We are Slytherins.
Harry Potter Theme Song
Credits (Model 2nd from the left):
Head: LeL EvoX
Body: Maitreya Lara
Hairs: Tableau Vivant - leLutka EvoX Hairbase 07
Ears: L'Etre - Ringed mesh ears
School Uniform Robe: Hotdog - Uniform robes . Serpent
Broom: Kore: Icarus 3000 Broom
Made at Mischief Managed www.mischiefmanagedsl.net Sim:
BG: The Slytherin Commons
Every ambitious photographer wants to take this picture. But it takes some weather luck and the right technique. And you have to get to New York first. Sony Alpha 7C, Tamron 1:2,8/24mm, ND64 filter, mini-tripod, processed in Adobe Lightroom.
【memo】
@Collabor88 (8th,Mar Start Comming soon)
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r2 A/D/E sayori[Black]Maitreya
r2 A/D/E sayori gloves[Black]Maitreya
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DS'ELLES-FRAISE GENUS Project Head
👍DS'ELLES Creation Mainstore
maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/DS%20ElleS/135/135/9
*barberyumyum*S05.6(pink)
:::SOLE::: AAE Mk2 (Black)
:::SOLE::: SA - Headset
UNCOMMON 12 :::SOLE::: GRPE - Riv guard (Blk) Lara
{-Maru Kado-} Rb_WHITE
{-Maru Kado-} SD_WHITE
@MP
[KI] High Frequency Katana 1.0
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♬♬♬Today's Tune♬♬♬
This was one of the most beautiful sunrises of our trip, to the Southwest. The sun was rising from behind, through a dense group of red clouds. The light was magical and sublime, to say the least. The light show lasted a long time, which is the exception, rather than the rule. The fact that it lasted, gave me the opportunity to try this ambitious wide perspective.
This is four horizontal 14mm images, blended in PS.
The overlook is 4,200 feet (1,300 m) above sea level and the Colorado River is at 3,200 feet (980 m) above sea level, making it a 1,000-foot (300 m) drop
As always, thanks for stopping by and looking. I appreciate your visits and comments.
The Plaza de Espana was originally designed and built as the ultimate symbol and the most ambitious project of the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition World’s Fair. The initial idea of holding a World Fair in Seville was promoted in 1909 with the aim of opening the city and, especially, to modernize it. It would be the perfect occasion to achieve civil works, thus improve employment, promote the tourism, enhance the image of Seville and strengthen relationships with American countries.
The Fair was initially going to be inaugurated on April 1st, 1911. It was then delayed to 1914 but World War I (1914-1918) and political issues between Morocco and Spain delayed it further on. It was finally held from May 9th, 1929 to June 21st, 1930.
The works of the Plaza de Espana began in 1914 and where supervised by its creator, the Sevillian architect Aníbal González. He was also the architect chief of the event and designed other buildings such as the Mudejar Pavilion (better known today as the Museo de Artes y Costumbres), the Fine Arts Pavilion (transformed later in the Archaeological Museum) and the Royal Pavilion. All of them can be found in the María Luisa Park, at the America Square (Plaza de América).
It was the most expensive and hard construction of the fair, employing at some point more than 1,000 workers. Obviously, the project went through aesthetical critics and financial difficulties, especially because Seville was in very bad economic shape.
In 1926 Aníbal González resigned from his position and the Plaza de Espana was finished in 1928 by Vicente Taverner, who added the central fountain. It was also the place where Alfonso XIII inaugurated the Fair.
That tree that everyone takes a photo of... lots of people about, so I had to bide my time.. decide the youngster in shot helped for scale.
Brimham Rocks.
The Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore (Italian pronunciation: [katteˈdraːle di ˈsanta maˈriːa del ˈfjoːre]; in English "Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Flowers") is the main church of Florence, Italy. Il Duomo di Firenze, as it is ordinarily called, was begun in 1296 in the Gothic style with the design of Arnolfo di Cambio and completed structurally in 1436 with the dome engineered by Filippo Brunelleschi. The exterior of the basilica is faced with polychrome marble panels in various shades of green and pink bordered by white and has an elaborate 19th-century Gothic Revival façade by Emilio De Fabris.
The cathedral complex, located in Piazza del Duomo, includes the Baptistery and Giotto's Campanile. These three buildings are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site covering the historic centre of Florence and are a major attraction to tourists visiting Tuscany. The basilica is one of Italy's largest churches, and until development of new structural materials in the modern era, the dome was the largest in the world. It remains the largest brick dome ever constructed.
The cathedral is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Florence, whose archbishop is currently Giuseppe Betori.
Santa Maria del Fiore was built on the site of an earlier cathedral dedicated to Saint Reparata. The ancient structure, founded in the early 5th century and having undergone many repairs, was crumbling with age, according to the 14th-century Nuova Cronica of Giovanni Villani, and was no longer large enough to serve the growing population of the city. Other major Tuscan cities had undertaken ambitious reconstructions of their cathedrals during the Late Medieval period, such as Pisa and particularly Siena where the enormous proposed extensions were never completed.
Giotto's bell tower (campanile)
The new church was designed by Arnolfo di Cambio and approved by city council in 1294. Di Cambio was also architect of the church of Santa Croce and the Palazzo Vecchio. He designed three wide naves ending under the octagonal dome, with the middle nave covering the area of Santa Reparata. The first stone was laid on September 9, 1296, by Cardinal Valeriana, the first papal legate ever sent to Florence. The building of this vast project was to last 140 years; Arnolfo's plan for the eastern end, although maintained in concept, was greatly expanded in size.
After Arnolfo died in 1310, work on the cathedral slowed for thirty years. When the relics of Saint Zenobius were discovered in 1330 in Santa Reparata, the project gained a new impetus. In 1331, the Arte della Lana, the guild of wool merchants, took over patronage for the construction of the cathedral and in 1334 appointed Giotto to oversee the work. Assisted by Andrea Pisano, Giotto continued di Cambio's design. His major accomplishment was the building of the campanile. When Giotto died in 1337, Andrea Pisano continued the building until work was halted due to the Black Death in 1348.
In 1349, work resumed on the cathedral under a series of architects, starting with Francesco Talenti, who finished the campanile and enlarged the overall project to include the apse and the side chapels. In 1359, Talenti was succeeded by Giovanni di Lapo Ghini (1360–1369) who divided the center nave in four square bays. Other architects were Alberto Arnoldi, Giovanni d'Ambrogio, Neri di Fioravante and Andrea Orcagna. By 1375, the old church Santa Reparata was pulled down. The nave was finished by 1380, and by 1418, only the dome remained incomplete.
On 18 August 1418, the Arte della Lana announced an architectural design competition for erecting Neri's dome. The two main competitors were two master goldsmiths, Lorenzo Ghiberti and Filippo Brunelleschi, the latter of whom was supported by Cosimo de Medici. Ghiberti had been the winner of a competition for a pair of bronze doors for the Baptistery in 1401 and lifelong competition between the two remained sharp. Brunelleschi won and received the commission.
Ghiberti, appointed coadjutator, drew a salary equal to Brunelleschi's and, though neither was awarded the announced prize of 200 florins, was promised equal credit, although he spent most of his time on other projects. When Brunelleschi became ill, or feigned illness, the project was briefly in the hands of Ghiberti. But Ghiberti soon had to admit that the whole project was beyond him. In 1423, Brunelleschi was back in charge and took over sole responsibility.
Work started on the dome in 1420 and was completed in 1436. The cathedral was consecrated by Pope Eugene IV on March 25, 1436, (the first day of the year according to the Florentine calendar). It was the first 'octagonal' dome in history to be built without a temporary wooden supporting frame. It was one of the most impressive projects of the Renaissance. During the consecration in 1436, Guillaume Dufay's motet Nuper rosarum flores was performed. The structure of this motet was strongly influenced by the structure of the dome.
The decoration of the exterior of the cathedral, begun in the 14th century, was not completed until 1887, when the polychrome marble façade was completed with the design of Emilio De Fabris. The floor of the church was relaid in marble tiles in the 16th century.
The exterior walls are faced in alternate vertical and horizontal bands of polychrome marble from Carrara (white), Prato (green), Siena (red), Lavenza and a few other places. These marble bands had to repeat the already existing bands on the walls of the earlier adjacent baptistery the Battistero di San Giovanni and Giotto's Bell Tower. There are two side doors: the Doors of the Canonici (south side) and the Door of the Mandorla (north side) with sculptures by Nanni di Banco, Donatello, and Jacopo della Quercia. The six side windows, notable for their delicate tracery and ornaments, are separated by pilasters. Only the four windows closest to the transept admit light; the other two are merely ornamental. The clerestory windows are round, a common feature in Italian Gothic.
During its long history, this cathedral has been the seat of the Council of Florence (1439), heard the preachings of Girolamo Savonarola and witnessed the murder of Giuliano di Piero de' Medici on Sunday, 26 April 1478 (with Lorenzo Il Magnifico barely escaping death), in the Pazzi conspiracy.
For further information please visit en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piazza_del_Duomo,_Florence
Florence (/ˈflɒrəns/ FLOR-əns; Italian: Firenze [fiˈrɛntse] ( listen)) is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the Metropolitan City of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 382,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1,520,000 in the metropolitan area.
Florence was a centre of medieval European trade and finance and one of the wealthiest cities of the time, is considered the birthplace of the Renaissance, and has been called "the Athens of the Middle Ages". A turbulent political history includes periods of rule by the powerful Medici family, and numerous religious and republican revolutions. From 1865 to 1871 the city was the capital of the recently established Kingdom of Italy.
The Historic Centre of Florence attracts 13 millions of tourists each year, and Euromonitor International ranked the city as the world's 89th most visited in 2012, with 1.8 million visitors. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982. The city is noted for its culture, Renaissance art and architecture and monuments. The city also contains numerous museums and art galleries, such as the Uffizi Gallery and the Palazzo Pitti, and still exerts an influence in the fields of art, culture and politics. Due to Florence's artistic and architectural heritage, it has been ranked by Forbes as one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
Florence is an important city in Italian fashion, being ranked in the top 51 fashion capitals of the world; furthermore, it is a major national economic centre, as well as a tourist and industrial hub. In 2008, the city had the 17th highest average income in Italy.
For further information please visit en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence
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I traveled Canada extensively in the early 1990s before the shortline movement from the US spilled over to north of the border. So in the later years of the decade it was fun to go back and shoot some of the former CN and CP lines with new operators
In 1997 shortline holding company OmniTrax made a splash into Canada by operating some former CN track in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. These were fairly large operations that included the over 600 mile long line to Hudson Bay, and a 100 mile line from near Saskatoon to Prince Albert. Making things interesting was the fact they acquired 20 CN MLW M420Ws and the six BRC C-424s. In addition a former INCO RS11 and three BCR M420 B-units along with some interesting EMD Geeps. They also announced some nice paint schemes along with logos based on local interests.
But like most things OmniTRAX this was too ambitious. Not much happened in the way of paint. And most of the ALCos and MLWs quickly fell into disrepair.
I did manage one chase on the Carlton Trail of their daily Prince Albert to Saskatoon freight on the Warman Sub. Here a former CN M420W leads a BC Rail M420B and an ex-Southern Pacific GP9.
This fir tree seems to be managing well even though it's growing from deep in the Trout Creek Canyon.
"Night Heron's Ambitious Attempt: Too Big to Catch
I captured the entire sequence of the Black-crowned heron landing on the back of a large fish, sliding off, then taking a bath while the big fish kept splashing. Some day I'll stitch it together.
Night Heron
There once was a night heron named Seigel,
Who tried to fish like an eagle.
He grabbed fish with his feet,
But they were too weak,
No talons—so the fish simply giggled!
Southwark Bridge is an arch bridge for traffic linking Southwark and the City across the River Thames in London. It was designed by Ernest George and Basil Mott. It was built by Sir William Arrol & Co. and opened in 1921. The bridge is owned and maintained by the City Bridge Trust, a charitable trust overseen by the City of London.
The original Southwark Bridge:
What we see today is the second Southwark Bridge. The first opened in 1819 to relieve pressure on the nearby Blackfriars and London Bridges. Unlike its sister spans which were owned by the City of London, the new crossing was privately built by the Southwark Bridge Company. Their big dream was not to aid cross-river traffic, but to make wads of cash through tolls.
John Rennie’s elegant and ambitious cast-iron bridge was built between 1815 and 1819. The railway and civil engineer Robert Stephenson considered it unrivalled in its colossal proportions, architectural effect, general simplicity, and massive character of its details.
The three-span iron bridge the width of the Thames was a significant engineering achievement and much admired. Perhaps not as graceful as his design for Waterloo Bridge, it was nevertheless an engineering miracle of its time. The final cost, however, was £700,000, £200,000 over budget. The company was unable to afford a lavish ceremony, although the bridge was brilliantly illuminated by 30 oil lamps for the opening when the clock of St. Paul’s Cathedral struck midnight.
Southwark Bridge was not a financial success, and did not relieve London’s traffic congestion. It was not located on a through-route, was too close to the toll-free Blackfriars and London bridges, and its approaches were too steep for horse-drawn carriages. Traffic was lower than expected, especially after the opening of the new London Bridge in 1831.
Sources:
www.southwarkbridge.co.uk/history/old-southwark-bridge.htm
www.thehistoryoflondon.co.uk/the-original-southwark-bridge/
londonist.com/london/history/the-remarkable-and-grim-hist...
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100x: The 2024 Edition
93/100 London landmarks by night
Wheeling 218 is cruising across the former P&WV's Sygan bridge across Millers Run between Morgan and Bridgeville on a beautiful late Summer morning. They left Mingo with the first four engines which constitutes a great set of power on the east end of the railroad but made a stop in Hickory picking up two more engines and some cars. I'd have just as soon they not done that, but I can't complain at all with this power leading. The ambitious P&WV designed a lot of their bridges to be double tracked but in most cases they never were since the growth to justify it never materialized. 8/31/2025
On August 28th through the 30th, the N.C. Transportation Museum hosted the America 250 Locomotive Celebration, an ambitious and monumental once in a lifetime gathering of over 30 locomotives painted in patriotic red, white and blue paint scheme's to honor the United States of America's 250th Anniversary. Locomotives of various builders, ages and unique histories participated, representing all six Class 1's along with regionals, short lines, passenger railroads and both museum and preservation groups. They came here from all over the country, from right in North Carolina to all the way out in California, almost quite literally coast to coast. In addition to the engines in attendance, five Greenbriar-TTX high cube box cars dressed in red, white and blue visited as well along with TOYX No. 380, a bay window caboose from the Port Jervis Railroad Museum painted to resemble the Erie-Lackawanna Bicentennial paint scheme.
The N.C. Transportation Museum itself is located on the site of the former Spencer Shop Complex operated by the Southern Railway from 1896 to 1979. As the Southern relocated to the newer, modern Linwood Yard, the property was sold to the state of North Carolina for a transportation museum, including the backshop, master mechanic's office and the Bob Julian Roundhouse and 100 ft turntable built in 1924. The museum officially opened in 1983.
With it's sprawling site, NCTM has gained a notable reputation in the last fourteen years for hosting a couple of large, one-time gathering of locomotives. The first of these in July of 2012 was the grouping of all 20 of Norfolk Southern's brand new heritage locomotives for a family portrait during the railroad's 30th Anniversary. The second major event came two years later in the form of "Streamlines at Spencer", which featured an impressive congregation of streamlined 1930's to 1950's era locomotives from all corners of the nation. Though the museum hosted the N&W 611's inaugural return to service, there had been no major events up until this year with the America 250 Celebration, completing the "trilogy".
This was truly a remarkable, once in a generation event, one that will be talked about and remembered for many years to come and likely never even rivaled. It's been amazing to see so many railroads display their patriotism with their own unique renditions of red, white and blue schemes, and it's incredible so many were willing to lend their engines for public display at this event. It was also so great to meet new folks and connect with many people I know in this hobby, some close home and others I only see a few times a year. Myself and everyone else are more than appreciative for the efforts put forth by everyone that made this possible. Thanks to the staff at NCTM, Trains Magazine, White River Productions, the railroads in participation, the volunteers and everyone else who had a hand in this.
This morning's freight photo run-by is led by the DL M360 No. 1776 and NAUG U23B No. 2798, five matching red, white and blue Greenbriar-TTX high cube boxcars obediently following behind with the TOYX No. 380, a bay window caboose from the Port Jervis Railroad Museum painted to resemble the Erie-Lackawanna Bicentennial paint scheme, bringing up the rear. Here, they're rolling coal as they duck under the Southern Railway signal bridge, donated and installed here at NCTM in 2009 upon retirement from the NS. The leader is the only ALCO-MLW locomotive present at this event, and the trailing engine was the last GE Universal Series engine built.
Originally hailing from Canada, the leader is an M360 originally built for the Pacific Great Eastern Railroad as the PGE No. 707 in December of 1970 by Montreal Locomotive Works, ALCO's Canadian subsidiary. It later became the BCOL No. 707, eventually a wearing a different kind of red, white and blue paint scheme while on the British Columbia Railway. It was sold to General Electric in 1991, who then rebuilt to "Super 7" standards and utilized as a demonstrator in Mexico with the intent of rebuilding NdeM's ALCO 251 units, a conversion that never ultimately never happened.
The Genesee Valley Transportation Co., Inc. acquired it, and the engine had previously been operating as the DL No. 3007 on the Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad. It's America 250 paint scheme was inspired by the Delaware & Hudson's Bicentennial units, and the details on this new scheme include two stars bordering the engine's number, denoting Pennsylvania as the second state to ratify the U.S. Constitution. The bell was also painted to represent the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia. 8/29/26.
On August 28th through the 30th, the N.C. Transportation Museum hosted the America 250 Locomotive Celebration, an ambitious and monumental once in a lifetime gathering of over 30 locomotives painted in patriotic red, white and blue paint scheme's to honor the United States of America's 250th Anniversary. Locomotives of various builders, ages and unique histories participated, representing all six Class 1's along with regionals, short lines, passenger railroads and both museum and preservation groups. They came here from all over the country, from right in North Carolina to all the way out in California, almost quite literally coast to coast. In addition to the engines in attendance, five Greenbriar-TTX high cube box cars dressed in red, white and blue visited as well along with TOYX No. 380, a bay window caboose from the Port Jervis Railroad Museum painted to resemble the Erie-Lackawanna Bicentennial paint scheme.
The N.C. Transportation Museum itself is located on the site of the former Spencer Shop Complex operated by the Southern Railway from 1896 to 1979. As the Southern relocated to the newer, modern Linwood Yard, the property was sold to the state of North Carolina for a transportation museum, including the backshop, master mechanic's office and the Bob Julian Roundhouse and 100 ft turntable built in 1924. The museum officially opened in 1983.
With it's sprawling site, NCTM has gained a notable reputation in the last fourteen years for hosting a couple of large, one-time gathering of locomotives. The first of these in July of 2012 was the grouping of all 20 of Norfolk Southern's brand new heritage locomotives for a family portrait during the railroad's 30th Anniversary. The second major event came two years later in the form of "Streamlines at Spencer", which featured an impressive congregation of streamlined 1930's to 1950's era locomotives from all corners of the nation. Though the museum hosted the N&W 611's inaugural return to service, there had been no major events up until this year with the America 250 Celebration, completing the "trilogy".
This was truly a remarkable, once in a generation event, one that will be talked about and remembered for many years to come and likely never even rivaled. It's been amazing to see so many railroads display their patriotism with their own unique renditions of red, white and blue schemes, and it's incredible so many were willing to lend their engines for public display at this event. It was also so great to meet new folks and connect with many people I know in this hobby, some close home and others I only see a few times a year. Myself and everyone else are more than appreciative for the efforts put forth by everyone that made this possible. Thanks to the staff at NCTM, Trains Magazine, White River Productions, the railroads in participation, the volunteers and everyone else who had a hand in this.
The America 250 Locomotive Celebration was inspired by the memorable private photo shoot on July 31, 1975 with eight Bicentennial Locomotives, arranged by Trains Magazine at the Belt Railway of Chicago's Clearing Yard. Here at Spencer five decades later, three Bicentennial-painted engines were reunited among the group of 250 units, two of which were recently restored to their patriotic colors. Though in the original photo shoot it was the ATSF No. 5701 that was present, the 5704 wears an identical scheme.
Starting from the left is MILW SD40-2 No. 156, recently restored to its Bicentennial paint in June of 2026 by employees with Railway Service Contractors, Inc. in Kansas City, KS and volunteers with The Midwest Overland Preservation Society, or MOPX. Though not operational, it's making appearances on display, Spencer being the second since its debut in Kansas City.
Next is the ATSF SD45-2 No. 5704, which belongs to the Southern California Railway Museum at Perris, CA. After being saved from the torch in 2020, the engine emerged once again in its Bicentennial paint in March of 2022, its cosmetic restoration completed by Mid-America Car, Inc. in Kansas City, MO with help from Class One Model Works. BNSF donated the 5704 to SCRM, who has recently made the engine operational again.
Finally we have the NW SD45 No. 1776, currently under the care of the Virginia Museum of Transportation at Roanoke, VA. Built in 1970, it first had its Bicentennial paint applied in 1974, and later reapplied in 2012 by NS at their Chattanooga, TN shop. This engine is not operational. 8/28/26.
off Corn Street in Bristol’s Old City is now officially Europe’s longest environmental art thoroughfare.
Artist and founder of Human Nature Charlotte Webster explains how the ambitious project came about: “I lived in Bristol for a number of years, and walking down Leonard Lane six months ago I felt compelled to shift its direction. www.bristol247.com/culture/art/streets-alive/
Endless rain and darkness spoiled my plan. And I had no more ambitious plan than photographing a bar or shop at night, from the street. But on the street you'd be blown away in a gale and drenched in seconds.
Back to the station then, to take this, after a conversation with a railway employee who came to tell me I couldn't use a flash... but really was just wondering what on earth I was doing. I wasn't really able to explain!
There's no processing, that's just the skin colour of someone from Northern England midway through winter.
This serene lake has a story to tell. I’ve been here before, but my last visit was a race against time—just an hour between moonset and sunrise to capture a quick panorama.
This time, I aimed for something more ambitious: a larger panorama showcasing the lake's beauty. Unfortunately, the session was cut short by some unexpected late-night chaos (think burning rubber, booze, and dodgy behavior). Not exactly the vibes you'd hope for in a quiet spot like this. 😅
The Drakesbrook Weir plays a vital role in the area, collecting overflow from Waroona Dam for farmers to use for livestock and crops. By day, it’s a popular picnic and swimming spot, but at night, it’s usually still and empty—well, most of the time.
This 12-panel panorama (crafted from 36 images, 24 of them stacked) captures the lake’s reflections as the summer Milky Way rises above. High clouds and city light pollution softened the northern sky, but the magic of the view still shines through. ✨
Gear: Nikon D5500 (modded) - 35mm f/1.8 - Star Adventurer 2i Pro - Hoya UV/IR cut - Optolong H-alpha 7nm
Sky: 8 single RGB x 30s, 35mm at f/2.8 - 24 stacked H-alpha x 60s at f/1.8
Ground: 4 x 30s, 35mm at f/4
Topaz Labs Filters used: Impressionist/Van Gogh 2, Brush 12; TextureFX/Earthy/Cloudy
Royal Botanical Gardens developed as a concept in the 1920s under the City of Hamilton Board of Park Management, led by Thomas McQuesten. Initially the proposed botanical garden was to be located along the south shore of Cootes Paradise Marsh surrounding the Hamilton campus of McMaster University. The proposed botanical garden would also protect extensive natural areas along the marsh.
Formal permission was obtained in 1930 from King George V to call the gardens the "Royal Botanical Gardens". At the same time as the proposal for the botanical gardens was under consideration, the City of Hamilton was undertaking an ambitious program of beautification on the nearby Burlington Heights. The North-Western Entrance to Hamilton project included an extensive set of gardens designed by the Toronto firm of Wilson, Bunnell and Borgstrom. Among these was the Rock Garden created by lining a 5.5 acre abandoned gravel pit with limestone from the Niagara Escarpment. In 1932 the Board of Park Management brought together the Burlington Heights gardens and the south shore of Cootes Paradise as Royal Botanical Gardens.
A pied-billed grebe displays its catch - a pond bluegill - while swimming away from the other grebes.
The Brunswick Centre, London, United Kingdom
I got incredibly lucky with this one. I was shooting outside when a very kind resident invited me in for a look around. I managed to take a whole series of photos before security threw me out.
About the building:
The Brunswick Centre began life in the 1970s as architect Patrick Hodgkinson’s ambitious megastructure, but after being handed over to Camden Council, he later described it as having been turned into a “council housing ghetto.” Decades on, in the late 1990s, Hodgkinson was given the chance to revive his original vision for a mixed‑use social housing scheme. Working with Levitt Bernstein, the complex was refurbished, and today the white‑concrete superblock is part shopping centre, part residential community.
Ambitious kayaker sets out on a windy day for a little sea kayaking near Victoria BC Canada. A very important rule in sea kayaking is to have the latest marine weather forecast so you can avoid problems with changes in the weather. Too many times in our local waters I have seen kayakers stranded on islands or worse yet flipped over in heavy sea's all because they were inexperienced and went out in the wrong weather conditions. It can be a life or death situation.
The Italian planners had in mind the ambitious example of the Tennessee Valley Authority, which had resettled thousands of Appalachian families. An American sociologist, Friedrich Friedmann, led a team of researchers—including a historian, a doctor, a geographer, and a psychologist—who assessed conditions in the Sassi. After architects devised several potential resettlement schemes, Friedmann’s team asked the peasants which design they thought was best.
In the new rural development of La Martella, four miles west of the Sassi, the architect Ludovico Quaroni attempted to re-create the open-air vicinati that the Materans had used as their plazas and drawing rooms. Each resettled family was given a house with an adjoining barn for animals; the bedroom windows looked out on the stables, so that residents could keep an eye on the beasts at night, as they had in the Sassi. The first families were moved to La Martella in 1954. The Giornale del Mezzogiorno declared that Materans had travelled “from the darkness of the Sassi to cottages in the green countryside!” Italian newspapers continued to support the cause, and the government began encouraging residents whose caves had originally been thought salvageable to move.
Described as "one of the most ambitious parish churches in Somerset", the present Church of St John the Baptist in Glastonbury, Somerset, England, dates from the 15th century.
Recent excavations in the chancel, together with others in the 19th Century in the nave, revealed early foundations. These indicate a large central tower that possibly dated from C.950.
At the beginning of the 15th Century the church had suffered some catastrophe such as the collapse of the central tower. A great deal of re-roofing and repair was done in 1404, and all through the century rebuilding and refurnishing went on. Sometime during this century further damage was caused by the collapse of several pinnacles, whether from the old or new tower is uncertain, and the nave roof had to be practically rebuilt. The west tower is first mentioned in 1484. By the end of the century the church had assumed the appearance which it has today.
The tower rises to a height of 134½ feet, and is the second tallest parish church tower in Somerset.
By contrast:
Glastonbury a little market town with a population of 8,000 become, what is considered to be, the Pagan centre of England? Glastonbury’s fame is twofold. Firstly, it’s known as the Pagan equivalent of Mecca, somewhat popular with not only British Pagan visitors, but also with members from esoteric communities from all over the world. The town regularly sees groups of Spanish and Mexican Witches, Druids from New Zealand and Italy, Heathens from Germany and Russia, and all manner of Pagans from the States and Canada.