With FE 85mm f1.4 GM.

Loved the way this lens renders the out of focus background.

Autumn is when leaves turn into flowers and hence my attempt to shoot fall foliage like how I would shoot flowers.

Z9, finally a competent mirrorless release from Nikon and Nikon's 1st "Pro" spec mirrorless camera, an important one as they have been losing market share.

A few things to note though, per DpReview the Z9 Dynamic Range (DR) is around a stop (1EV) behind the Z7ii.

This corresponds with the A9 vs A7III (both 24mp) back when the 1st stacked sensor made its appearance. The 1st Gen stacked sensor impacts DR especially at lower ISOs, the A9 lags the A7III by a stop at Base ISO and this narrowed to ½ a stop difference by ISO200 and it’s eventually all equal from ISO1,600.

However the newer A1 (50mp) only lags the A7RIII (42mp) by ⅓ of a stop and by ISO640, the difference in DR is gone.

We'll need to see how far the Z9 really lags Z7ii in DR especially when the Z7ii already lags the A1 by half a stop all the way from ISO503 onwards.

The Z9 (1.340g) is also a third heavier than the EOS-R3 which also has an integrated battery grip, in fact the Z9 is merely 110g lighter than the D6! The Nikon D850 (1,005g) is a 9fps camera with battery grip attached and in DpReview’s D850 review, they already harped about how big and heavy the D850 is even without the battery grip.

Big plus for the Z9 is $5,500 vs $5,999 for the 24mp EOS R3, thanks to the omission of the costly mechanical shutter mechanism in the Z9 and the Z9’s 45mp sensor is likely derived from the one in the 5 years old D850. The Z9 also has a multi-directional rear LCD instead of the fully articulating one in the R3, synced IS like Canon & m43, Sony is really lagging behind on sync IS now.

Still early days, it's always better to let all that fanbois froth die down and wait for field reports from hobbyists especially those who actually shoot multiple systems and hence less biased. If we were to believe the gear forum Z-ealot shills, they are tripping over each other just to get to shoot stills with the 1.34kg Z9 at 20fps.

Now that the Z9 is finally out, hopefully we won't have to wait another 2 years for a true mirrorless successor for the D850 (Z8?)! But by then, a potential Z8 is unlikely to be substantially better than the D850 and a lightly used D850 will be a fraction of the cost of a new Z8. Perhaps a Z6III with the 33mp sensor from the new A7IV will suffice for a stills shooter, waiting on Nikon is like watching grass grow these days.

Been watching out for the Z 24-120mm f4 S, rather disappointed that Nikon did a Tamron here by omitting VR just to save some weight. Every mirrorless 24-105mm lens on the market has IS/VR, even Nikon’s DSLR versions as well as their APS-C lenses covering this focal range has VR. It’s odd that all of the (pre)reviews thus far avoided any mention of this VR omission.

Canon's mirrorless RF 24-105mm F4L IS USM is capable of 5 stops of stabilization alone but with combination of IS + IBIS, Canon claims 8 stops of total stabilization! Perhaps Nikon is trying to milk this by making a Z 24-120mm f4 II with VR later just like the way they released the Z6 & Z7 with just one XQD card slot blaming lack of space only to follow up with Z6ii & Z7ii with identical dimensions but with 2 card slots!

IBIS effectiveness is typically pegged at 50-70mm (read the fine print), the longer the focal length, the less effective the IBIS becomes hence going beyond 70mm, lens VR/IS is important to have.

As for Nikon's FTZii adapter, it still does not support 5-axis stabilization for Nikon's own DSLR lenses. If Nikon is indeed confident enough that their Z lenses are far superior to their F mount equivalents like Nikon shills proclaim, they would not need to cripple their FTZ adapter.

＠Okinawa Fes

kimono

NAMINOKE

*N*KasasagiFat Kimono-NEW

＠Okinawa Fes

Earrings

:kero:

::kero:komari 05 L-NEW

::kero:komari 05 R-NEW

Hair

.Shi : Articulate / Unisex-NEW

Head

GENUS Project - Genus Bento head v1.1 - Mocap-NEW

Took a morning walk with so many emotions and really, just having my camera as a companion to articulate those feelings. The beauty and universality of the creation is always paramount.

Castillo de Berlanga de Duero, Soria.

El castillo tardomedieval presenta planta rectangular, en la que destaca el cubo de planta circular, en uno de sus ángulos, y la torre del homenaje en el extremo opuesto. En el interior, dos patios articulan el espacio, uno a la entrada más sencillo y otro, de carácter residencial, supuestamente, configurado como un patio porticado con columnas góticas y en el centro un aljibe con un corredor que lleva al depósito de agua. Esta construcción se ha conservado parcialmente, aunque estuvo proyectado su derribo integral, como consecuencia de la construcción de la fortaleza artillera de principios del siglo XVI. Los frentes anterior y laterales están reciamente fortificados y protegidos por los cubos delanteros, mientras el flanco posterior se encuentra guarnecido por el profundo barranco.

The late medieval castle has rectangular floor plan, in which the cube of circular plant stands out, in one of its angles, and the tower of the homage in the opposite end. In the interior, two courtyards articulate the space, one to the simpler entrance and another, of a residential character, supposedly configured as a porticoed courtyard with Gothic columns and in the center a cistern with a corridor leading to the water tank. This construction has been partially conserved, although its integral demolition was projected, as a consequence of the construction of the artillery fortress of principles of century XVI. The front and side fronts are heavily fortified and protected by the front hubs, while the rear flank is trimmed by the deep gully.

There's a part of me you'll never know, the only thing I'll never show.

Hopelessly I'll love you endlessly, hopelessly I'll give you everything,

but I won't give you up, I won't let you down

and I won't leave you falling If the moment ever comes

It's plain to see it's trying to speak cherished dreams forever asleep

hopelessly I'll love you endlessly, hopelessly I'll give you everything,

but I won't give you up, I won't let you down

and I won't leave you falling If the moment ever comes

Hopelessly I'll love you endlessly, hopelessly I'll give you everything

but I won't give you up, I won't let you down

and I won't leave you falling, but the moment never comes...

Endlessly - Muse

Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures.~Henry Ward Beecher

Oh how I waited to do this one. This is one of my best Japan photos.

I've seen shots of the Tokyo Metropolitan Building in Shinjuku reaching through the clouds at night and something about those shots made it look it had an evil nature to it. Nobody can reasonably predict the weather so I wasn't predicting to get that shot here.

The clouds weren't low at any time on this day. The only reason I stuck around until after dark was I read a sign saying there would be some kind of projection mapping show later, so I was curious.

As the black of night continued to crawl in, the lights at the top of the tower turned on and I realized I still had the chance to get a dark tower shot, just not in a way others have.

I'm trying to figure out why I shot this angled, and off to the side however. I have perfectly aligned shots of the tower during the day, was I trying to give a disorienting feeling on purpose? Was it an accident or was it intentional? What did past me know that he wanted me to understand?

But even better than the building itself is the sky behind it, I had clouds and a low lit sky. The sun was setting directly behind it, so I had every shade of blue on the table as soon as it went all the way down. It almost looks like a thunderstorm, and that illumination is a massive lightning bolt behind the building. I'm not enough of a cheater to insert an actual lightning bolt into the shot, but I did make the sky a bit darker to accommodate the desired atmosphere. The lights on the building are also a bit more red than the original shot (the original shot's lighting was maroon colored).

I wouldn't dare enter this building if I were you, there's an unspeakable power lurking within these twin citadels. One embodied by the anguish of the people below the likes of itself. The vile intentions of the corrupt and the power hungry are most notable at the last hint of twilight. When the moon and the sun cannot be seen. (This is just an articulate summary of what I wanted the shot to be, this is not what I actually think of the Japanese government).

CREDIT :

◢ CHIAKI ◣ Right

• Hair: tram - tram F519 hair / FATPACK

• Syringe cable: *katat0nik* - *katat0nik* (syringe cable) Therapy Gacha

• Syringe: HARO - Queen of Syringes

• Outfit +HILU+ - wasou"Goth Twins"(white cross)

◥ 77 ◤ Left

• Hair: .Shi Flagship - Shi Hair : Articulate . Mon

• Outfit +HILU+ - wasou"Goth Twins"(white gara)

-------------------------------------------

SCENE :

• Backdrop: [Empowered]- The Asylum Backdrop @SANARAE EVENT

• Wheelchair : [666]- medical equipment 17

• Bed : [666]- medical equipment 8

• IV stand : S&P- FA IV stand Sodium chlorid

Thanks for a view.

My Blog: @BLOG

◉ Backdrop: PALETO.Backdrop: LAB X2: @TheWarehouseSale

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Chitons (Polyplacophora) are marine molluscs. Their shell is composed of eight articulating parts (valves). This specimen belongs to a small species (Tonicina zschaui, around 1cm) inhabiting Antarctic seashore.

Taken during the Belgica 121 expedition in the Antarctic Peninsula (more info: belgica120.be )

Photographers at The Herd Project. An articulating screen might have made the job easier.

Solitude

While studying photography in Pathshala, I developed new technical and aesthetic skills at an academic level and gained a fresh perspective on seeing the world around me. However, I still felt that something was missing. That missing piece was the ability to articulate aesthetics through language and to experience aesthetics with the basis of life itself.

During this time, I developed a deep desire to understand philosophy. Within a few months, I decided to pursue academic studies in philosophy. There were two main reasons behind this decision: first, to gain knowledge of philosophy, and second, to reshape my photographic view point through a philosophical angle—essentially, to integrate aesthetics with philosophy.

As I delved into this complex subject, I found myself particularly influenced by three philosophical ideologies: the philosophy of Nihilism, Engels and Marx’s materialism, and Gautama Buddha’s theory of Functionalism. These perspectives began shaping my understanding of life, humanity, society, and aesthetics. My way of seeing the world started to transform.

Nihilism and materialist philosophy argue that humans are not a special species. According to Buddha, life itself is full of suffering. Since humans are not inherently special and life has no predetermined purpose, people often experience restlessness. My photographs reflect this idea through landscapes, where excessive negative space in the frame symbolizes despair, purposelessness, and solitude in human life. Most people live under the illusion that they are unique compared to the surroundings. This belief prevents them from feeling truly connected to nature.

Lalon once said, "He and Lalon exist together, yet they are separated by infinite distance." Even though humans exist within nature, they somehow remain detached from it. In my frames, vast negative spaces with tiny human figures symbolize this very detachment. Here, nature is immense, and humans are small—serving as a reminder that humanity is not any superior to nature.

The mist in my photographs enhances the minimalist effect, further detaching people from their surroundings. The presence of human-made structures in the background represents our ongoing struggle to prove our superiority. However, the blurred, barely visible architecture behind the fog reflects the failure of this pursuit. Humanity is trapped in this endless contradiction, deepening its existential despair. Meanwhile, the fog thickens, and the distance between humans and nature continues to grow.

I can't begin to articulate what it was like to spend almost two hours with 14 members of the Wapiti Pack of West Yellowstone. When the first five rounded the bend, we all hit the deck and began shooting. As the wolves continued straight towards us, an additional nine more members of the pack rounded the bend and fell into line. While seemingly unconcerned with our presence, the pack continued towards us, but then split up taking to the tree line on either side of the road. The howling back and forth from the cover of the trees is truly the most hauntingly beautiful thing I've ever experienced and one that will remain indelibly etched in my very soul.

Our tour leader, Aaron Baggenstos, did a masterful job of anticipating the pack's movement and once they split off into the woods, we were back in the vehicle and setting up a quarter of a mile down the road waiting for them to re-appear which they did an astounding five more times.

Three weeks removed from this experience and my heart still begins to race at the very thought of this encounter. I know that I'm forever changed for having been given this magical and spiritual gift.

West Yellowstone National Park

With three tiered plunges falling a total of 635 feet Multnomah Falls is widely regarded as the greatest waterfall in Oregon and with the addition of the Benson Bridge in 1914 I'd say it rates way up there in the best in the country. During my research I've once again come upon a quote from the articulate and romantic Samuel Lancaster:

"“the setting is ideal. It is pleasing to look upon; and in every mood, it charms like magic, it woos like an ardent lover; it refreshes the soul; and invites to loftier, purer things.”

I couldn't have said it better myself. Blow it up and step inside....

A spectacular summer day finds Union Pacific's massive articulated steam locomotive, so aptly called Big Boy, muscling into Millston with a full head of steam.

UP 4014 Midwest Tour

Millston, WI.

Summer 2019

"She said she usually cried at least once each day, not because she was sad, but because the world was so beautiful and life was so short."

-Brian Andreas

Mostly True, Collected Stories and Drawings

I think that we often get so caught up in the business of living that we forget to look for the beauty in the everyday things. There is beauty in things seen with the eyes, but even more beautiful are the things we see with our hearts XOX

“There may be a great fire in our soul, yet no one ever comes to warm himself at it, and the passers-by see only a wisp of smoke.”

-Vincent van Gogh

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How often do we let the way a person looks and what we initially think of them keep us from digging deeper into who they really are? Sadly, we judge people every day based on what we perceive them to be or not to be.

Mary Kay Ash always used to say that you should treat each and every person you come into contact with as if they had the words "make me feel special" stamped on their forehead. And truthfully, couldn't we all use a little special treatment?

We should take the time to find out what it is about another person that stirs his/her soul and ignites his/her passions. Imagine this: by sowing a seed of interest and encouragement, we could be the very one that makes all the difference, not only in their life, but in the lives of countless others.

I say, fan the flame!

“Happiness held is the seed; happiness shared is the flower”

My morning glory vine is finally going to seed. She has provided so much seed, I will be harvesting for the next couple of weeks!

If anyone would like to have some seeds, I would love to share the happiness with you so you can have some blue loveliness next year. Flickrmail me your address and they will be on their way to you!

Thanks for looking.

I must say I think the Bluebells are are nicer in my garden than they are in the woods at the moment. So I had a thought on a macro shot but far too windy outside. How I did the shot ,,,,

I set up my mini tripod on the floor and a jar with the Bluebells in on a chair so they had backlight from a window which through the petals, I then used an LED light to light up the Pollen covered stamens, all I had to do then was shoot upwards towards the inside of the flower, how I love the fully articulating screen of the Canon mirrorless.

Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.

-- Dr. Seuss

Another one appears... trying to get a little variety going here from the last few with the cockpit, weapons, and even the old straight legs. Maybe not quite as articulate as the chicken walker style, but he looks good in the line-up so in he goes. I’ll have to try for a group shot if I ever stop building these things.

One man's close pursuit is another man's last chance

.

Clown Duck - Just spent an evening having some fun experimenting with low angles using the articulating lcd on the new camera. Was very happy that it was really effective and saves my back and neck from a lot of grief. I don't photograph waterfowl as much as I used to, but I'm excited to give it a go more often again with this newfound feature.

Also excited to use this feature to capture lower angle images of mammals, where the reaction time to get low is often much smaller.

Species: Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata)

Location: Santa Clara County, CA , USA

Equipment: Canon EOS R5 + EF 100-400 II + EF 1.4x III

Settings: 1/250s, ISO: 800, f/8 @896mm EFL (APS-C Mode), Handheld, Electronic Shutter

Limnodromus griseus adult,

Morro Strand State Beach, Morro Bay, California

Most of us think of bird beaks as solid bone, but some species are able to move one part of the beak relative to the other, i.e., articulating. Flexing the upper is known as rynchokinesis (beak-movement) and occurs only in cranes, shorebirds, swifts and hummingbirds (Wikipedia), though not all species of each group. Flexing the tip of the upper bill, as here, is called distal rhynchokinesis.

This picture is #42 in the 100 Strangers Project - Round 3

Meet Nicole..

its been a little busy and a while since I posted here - so hoping to get right back into the groove. Met Nicole, a live wire young lady a few day back on my photo stroll. Nicole works as a hostess at a local restaurant as she gets ready to start college at he Penn state university- studying to be psychologist especially dealing with children and addiction. Confident and extremely articulate, and kind with a great attitude especially since she was really tired when I met her but completely engaged in the conversation and the pictures. In fact although we did a lot of no-smiles pictures I chose the ones with the smile just because that reflected the warmth Nicole exuded. She seemed to be an artist at heart - and loves writing and poetry. Her favorite memory - working as a camp counsellor last year - and you could see the joy in her face as she spoke of working with young kids. Honestly, this is just a summary of a fun and in fact a learning experience with a young lady who seemed mature beyond her years and head firmly on her shoulders and feet firmly on the ground. Wishing you all the best Nicole -hope all your dreams come true as you step into this phase of your life journey.

Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the 100 Strangers Flickr Group page

For my other pictures on this project: 100 Strangers - Round 2.

For pictures from my prior attempt at 100 Strangers: 100 Strangers - Round 1.

If it wasn’t for the upright strength of a checkerboard-topped open silo, this old barn would be lying in ruins on the ground. As it is, the former dairy barn will never regain any type of use and its demise is assured and only a question of when is yet to be answered.

When I was a youngster in a farming community over 70 years ago, there were some things I heard that made a deep impression on me, some for the good and others not so good which were probably not meant for my tender ears.

Many of the quotes that still readily come to my mind after the passage of time marking my journey on earth, came from the lips of my mother. She instilled a decorum in my soul that far outlasted her own personal sojourn.

Early on before I could articulate compound sentences, she informed me that God could see and hear everything I did. I didn’t know much at that point of life but I remember thinking that didn’t sound like a positive development for me. I had enough problems just trying to hide things from my inquisitive siblings.

Another phrase about the shortness of life branded into my subconscious came from an old hymn our little country congregation sang. The words were “Life is very brief, like the falling of a leaf, like the binding of a sheaf.” I had to ask my dad what in the world binding a sheaf meant. After he explained, I was glad I didn’t know as it sounded like hard work.

As a young married couple full of ideas for the future and facing the challenges of raising a couple of rug-rats, my wife and I did not give much thought to how we would need each other more than ever when we reached the point of life where we would need some help navigating. That period of life seemed far in the distance. Surprised by the brevity of life, we now do know and there are times when she has been the silo of strength and at some critical times of health crisis in her life, I have traded places.

One major goal in young marriages we should encourage in kinfolk who come after us is to build a partnership where faithfully serving our partner in old age becomes the epitome of a life well-lived.

(Photographed near North Branch, MN)

تم استخدام برنامج اللايت روم

When I was a child in a faraway land

You were my evening solace

Singing to me the secrets of the Universe

You always came in the form of a swan

When they took me away

From everything I knew

They tried to teach me their music

When they bombarded my ears

I cried in defiance and fear

That I might lose my joy

Choked with blame and self-pity

Abandon the inner voice

In glimpses of unclear memories

My livelihood existed from these scraps

But that song of my childhood

Which the noise of life sought to drown

Continues in whispers

Continues in softness

Continues in sweetness

Until the urge to merge with silence

Brings me closer

Back to the swan of my childhood

Singing the secrets of the Universe

Navigating me once more

To that faraway land

To the heart of that dreaming child

© Ganga Fondan, 2010

I'll be away from Flickr a while diving for treasures in another SongQuest. May that inner voice always lead you back to your dream, your solace, your connection to life beyond anything your brain can articulate. The inner music will always lead you home. Love to all.

The place looks like it’s crumbling and unstable.

“Night, the beloved. Night, when words fade and things come alive. When the destructive analysis of day is done, and all that is truly important becomes whole and sound again. When man reassembles his fragmentary self and grows with the calm of a tree.”

-Antoine de Saint-Exupery

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To an insomniac, there is nothing on earth as precious as sinking into the soft arms of sleep and the brown velvet darkness of dreams.

It's been a rough week. 2 hours here, 3 hours there.

12 hours last night :) Divine.

This picture is #38 in the 100 Strangers Project - Round 3

Meet Harshita

I was lucky to run into Harshita at a local Starbucks where I was meeting a friend during my recent trip to Mumbai, India. As pretty as she was, I was as even more amazed by her confidence and ability to articulate her thoughts - as I could discern from snippets of conversation that I could hear from the adjoining table where she sat with her two friends. A natural leader is the first thought that came to my mind as I approached her and requested her to be a part of the project which she gracefully accepted.

As we stepped out leaving her friends behind for a few minutes to find a good spot to click a few portraits, I got an opportunity to learn a little more about this amazing stranger. A team leader for a digital advertising agency Harshita looked far younger but in all honesty also far more mature than her actual years. The best part of our encounter was how easily she was able to connect and ease into a conversation. Its rare for someone to just express her thoughts with the ease that she did - reaffirming the leadership quality I initially assumed for her. A bit of an adventurous spirit she is extremely self-motivated having switched tracks from a potentially lucrative career in finance to advertising during the pandemic with a firm belief that she has a lot more to offer and is genuinely meant for big things in life.

A spiritual person by nature she loves to reflect on her day and take learning from wherever possible constantly striving to keep working on herself. A motivational speaker is another path I could easily visualize for her which she indicated was not the first time she has been told that.

Her most memorable moment was apparently many years ago. As a shy introverted self-conscious teenager, she had participated in a personality pageant competing with hundreds of other students from across schools. Her life-changing moment came when she actually won the pageant - something completely changed for her as her self-belief and confidence skyrocketed and she was a completely different person thereafter.

It was wonderful meeting you Harshita. Indeed a pleasure making your acquaintance and photographing you in this random encounter - special thanks to your friends for their patience and my apologies for sabotaging their time. All the very best for the future.

Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the 100 Strangers Flickr Group page

For my other pictures on this project: 100 Strangers - Round 2.

For pictures from my prior attempt at 100 Strangers: 100 Strangers - Round 1.

Painting creates silence. You could examine the objects themselves, the actors in a Dutch still life—this knobbed beaker, this pewter salver, this knife—and, lovely as all antique utilitarian objects are, they are not, would not be, poised on the edge these same things inhabit when they are represented.

These things exist—if indeed they are still around at all—in time. It is the act of painting them that makes them perennially poised, an emergent truth about to be articulated, a word waiting to be spoken. Single word that has been forming all these years in the light on the knife’s pearl handle, in the drops of moisture on nearly translucent grapes: At the end of time, will that word be said?”

[Mark Doty, from: Still Life with Oysters and Lemon: On Objects and Intimacy]

At 132 ft in length, with a boiler 45 ft long, the Big Boys don't corner well. And that's why they're articulated. When the engine takes a curve sharp enough, the massive boiler swings outward and overhangs the rail as the leading wheels follow the radius of the track.

Here, UP 4014 demonstrates that articulating overhang as it brings the Heartland of America Tour through Tower 26 in central Houston. Upon first arriving in the Bayou City, the special headed to UP's Settegast Yard in northeast Houston for an employees-only event. The following day 4014 would head over to the Amtrak Station for Sunday's public display.

PBZHO 04 (Passenger- Brazos Yard to Houston, TX)

UP 4-8-8-4 #4014

Houston, TX

October 4th, 2024

We returned to the ship after an amazing morning walking to the roof of the world and looking and listening to St Jonsfjorden Glacier. A well earned break and a quick voyage to the sand bar at Poolepynten where a group of male Walrus did their thing! The wind got up and in true Arctic style the conditions changed in a second, From beautifully still and sunny to overcast and a real chop building. The landing on the zodiacs was debatable but they were dropped into into the boiling ocean and it was deemed the limit of the boats capabilities had been reached, just, so we were on! Jesus wept, the trip out was rough. The worse bit was getting from the ships steps onto the boat which on their own were articulating to their limits on the gimbels, the boat was rising and falling by a good three metres with the zodiacs doing the same in the opposite direction, we nearly lost a guide and passenger over the side but those who braved it, a lot dropped out, we got to land. Silently we walked slowly to a safe distance of these males doing what male Walrus do, play-fighting by the sea. The wind had really got up by now, the guides looked towards where the zodiacs were beached, we all did not fancy a night stuck on the spit so we turned tail and got back to the boats. Glad I came out in such treacherous conditions but this is the nature of the expedition. Back on the boat and we all, guides and expedition leaders alike took a deep breathe in!

In the evening we saw whale blows, about four whales spotted, we had our binoculars ready but no camera! Then right off our port bow a giant Blue Whale surfaced so close, it was easily as long as the ship and stayed with us for what seemed ages, then dived off and one site of it's fluke, gone, silence on board and even the Captain said later "It was the best sighting of a Blue Whale he had ever seen"

Thanks for a look up with me.

It's tricky when

You feel someone

Has done something

On your behalf

Björk, The desired constellation (album: Medulla)

First hour of february 7th 2007

I've always liked the time before dawn because there's no one around to remind me who I'm supposed to be, so it's easier to remember who I am .

~Story People

View On White

Today I began a series at the Riverside Cemetery of Saddle Brook, NJ. I have never done this type of shooting before, and generally try to spend as little time as possible in a cemetery, considering that sooner or later I will do so permanently--anyway. :-)

Unless the light is of dramatic quality, most of the shots are pedestrian and forgettable.

But the beauty of Photoshop lies in its ability to facilitate emotional content in our images. And sometimes an image which finds itself inside the circular file gets a reprieve based on a second, thoughtful look. Such is the case with this one.

I love how the Ivy encroaches on this graveside, but also feel a twinge of sadness for a forgotten person with no more connection to succeeding generations. In many ways that is a more final death.

"love is a fruit in season at all times, and within reach of every hand."

~- mother teresa

Castillo de Berlanga de Duero, Soria.

El castillo tardomedieval presenta planta rectangular, en la que destaca el cubo de planta circular, en uno de sus ángulos, y la torre del homenaje en el extremo opuesto. En el interior, dos patios articulan el espacio, uno a la entrada más sencillo y otro, de carácter residencial, supuestamente, configurado como un patio porticado con columnas góticas y en el centro un aljibe con un corredor que lleva al depósito de agua. Esta construcción se ha conservado parcialmente, aunque estuvo proyectado su derribo integral, como consecuencia de la construcción de la fortaleza artillera de principios del siglo XVI. Los frentes anterior y laterales están reciamente fortificados y protegidos por los cubos delanteros, mientras el flanco posterior se encuentra guarnecido por el profundo barranco.

The late medieval castle has rectangular floor plan, in which the cube of circular plant stands out, in one of its angles, and the tower of the homage in the opposite end. In the interior, two courtyards articulate the space, one to the simpler entrance and another, of a residential character, supposedly configured as a porticoed courtyard with Gothic columns and in the center a cistern with a corridor leading to the water tank. This construction has been partially conserved, although its integral demolition was projected, as a consequence of the construction of the artillery fortress of principles of century XVI. The front and side fronts are heavily fortified and protected by the front hubs, while the rear flank is trimmed by the deep gully.

The following is an abbreviated version of an email story I received that I just love. It reminds me of Amanda and Ody :)

Puppy Size

Mandy's been to the animal shelter 5 times looking for a puppy and hasn't found the right one. She keeps telling them that she is looking for "puppy size". Her parents both felt she was being too particular, and are so frustrated with it that they give her only one more weekend to find one or they are going to give up looking.

The weekend comes and tired of the routine, mom sat in the small waiting room at the end of the first row of cages. There was an observation window where she could see Mandy as she walked slowly from cage to cage, kneeling periodically to take a closer look. One by one the dogs were brought out and she held each one, and tells them

'sorry, you're not the one'.

The volunteer opened the last cage door and the child carefully picked up the dog and held it closely. This time she took a little longer.

'Mom, that's it! I found the right puppy! He's the one! I know it!'

she screamed with joy. 'It's the puppy size!'

'But it's the same size as all the other puppies you held over the

last few weeks,' Mom said.

'No not size... the sighs. When I held him in my arms, he sighed,' she

said.

'Don't you remember? ?When I asked you one day what love is,

you told me love depends on the sighs of your heart.? The more

you love, the bigger the sigh!'

'Mom, every time you hold me, I sigh. When you and Daddy come home

from work and hug each other, you both sigh. I knew I would find the

right puppy if it sighed when I held it in my arms,' she said.

Then holding the puppy up close to her face she said, 'Mom, he loves

me. I heard the sighs of his heart!'

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Close your eyes for a moment and think about the love that makes you

sigh. I not only find it in the arms of my loved ones, but in the

caress of a sunset, the kiss of the moonlight and the gentle brush of

cool air on a hot day. Take time to stop and listen; you will be surprised at what you hear.

"Black are my steps on silver sod;

Thick blows my frosty breath abroad;

And tree and house, and hill and lake,

Are frosted like a wedding cake."

~ a part of Robert Louis Stevenson's poem

Winter-Time

Assignment: PCA48 – Macro and closeup Photography

Deadline: December 7(Sunday), 2008

This is a one week assignment. It runs from November 29th (sat) and ends Dec 7, 2008.

pca48 WIT: Set my Olympus to Macro Mode

Exposure: 0.01 sec (1/100)

Aperture: f/5.6

Focal Length: 42 mm

ISO Speed: 100

This year's serpentine Pavillion, designed by Junya Ishigami. He says: "My design for the Pavilion plays with our perspectives of the built environment against the backdrop of a natural landscape, emphasising a natural and organic feel as though it had grown out of the lawn, resembling a hill made of rocks. This is an attempt to supplement traditional architecture with modern methodologies and concepts, to create in this place an expanse of scenery like never seen before. Possessing the weighty presence of slate roofs seen around the world, and simultaneously appearing so light it could blow away in the breeze, the cluster of scattered rock levitates, like a billowing piece of fabric.

The interior of the Pavilion is an enclosed cave-like space, a refuge for contemplation. For me, the Pavilion articulates a ‘free space’ philosophy that is to harmony between man-made structures and those that already exist in nature."

"Find a guy who calls you beautiful instead of hot,

who calls you back when you hang up on him,

who will lie under the stars and listen to your heartbeat,

or will stay awake just to watch you sleep.

Wait for the boy who kisses your forehead,

who wants to show you off to the world when you are in sweats,

who holds your hand in front of his friends,

who thinks you're just as pretty without makeup on.

Find the one who is constantly reminding you of how much he cares and how lucky he is to have you,

the one who turns to his friends and says, 'that's her.'"

-unknown

Bar when used as a noun, the word means:

1) a long straight piece of metal

2)something straight that blocks or secures one area from another

Used as a verb, to bar it means:

1)to shut out or block

2) to obstruct

Bar none is an expression which means with exception, without a doubt. It is especially used when comparing one thing to many others.

For example:

Flickr is the best way to spend a rainy afternoon, bar none.