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As soon as the rains stopped I went out to photograph flowers in this incredible garden.
"The peony or paeony is any flowering plant in the genus Paeonia, the only genus in the family Paeoniaceae. Peonies are native to Asia, Europe, and Western North America. " - Wikipedia
Friday, 29 May 2020: our temperature late this morning is 15C (windchill 15C), and it is supposed to reach 22C this afternoon. Sunrise is at 5:28 am, and sunset is at 9:39 pm. Sunny with clouds.
"In Bluebirds, the blue colour is produced by the structure of the feather - there is no blue pigment. "Tiny air pockets in the barbs of feathers can scatter incoming light, resulting in a specific, non-iridescent color. Blue colors in feathers are almost always produced in this manner. Examples include the blue feathers of Bluebirds, Indigo Buntings, Blue Jay's and Steller's Jays."
www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mountain_Bluebird/id
www.jstor.org/discover/pgs/index?id=10.2307/4077277&i...
It feels strange - I feel free, at least as far as my car goes! The day before yesterday, 27 May 2020, I collected my car from being repaired and it has hopefully been fixed this time, with a new push-start button installed. I am SO excited at the thought of being able to get out again, after just over three weeks of not risking driving in case the car died a third time since February, leaving me stranded, especially if I go out of the city. After I got home, I decided to drive to a local pond, more to test out my vehicle than to look for birds. However, I saw enough to take just a handful of quick images, mainly of a Red-winged Blackbird female and a Red-necked Grebe. I have barely had my camera in my hand the last two and a half months, and it felt a little strange. It also felt strange to actually be outdoors!
The next day, yesterday, I decided to do a short drive SW of the city, travelling along just a couple of my usual backroads. Again, this was to see how my car was behaving. I also wanted to call in at a small cafe, as it is so important to support small, local businesses. The cafe was not open, but the other adjoining part was open for take-out.
Birds seen were mainly just some of the usual - Mountain Bluebirds and Red-winged Blackbirds - but I was very happy to come across a beautiful, close Cinnamon Teal and a Western Kingbird. The usual Kingbird we see here is the Eastern Kingbird and I have only ever seen a handful of the Western birds. I almost missed the Western yesterday, as at first I thought it was a female Bluebird. It was perched on barbed-wire with its back to me, and I was puzzled as to why the tail feathers were so dark. Then I spotted the tiniest bit of yellow and knew for sure that it was no Bluebird. Unfortunately, I could only get a couple of poor photos before the bird few off, but good enough for ID purposes.
The other day after I had a photoshoot out in Kuna (about 40 minutes away from home), I kept going. Kept going and going and going further and further south until I reached the Snake River Canyon. I don't know the last time I'd been here - in fact, I don't know that I'd been to this section of the canyon before at all.
When I pulled into the gravel lot, the last car was just heading out. Five minutes later I was at the edge of the cliff, all alone under a gloomy sky that looked like it was just waiting to split open and shower down rain or snow.
There is something thrilling about standing on the edge of a precipice, knowing that one false step and you could go flying and there's no one there to catch you. Having no one else to watch you or judge you and no one to please with the photographic results. Utter stillness, utter silence, and the best type of lonely freedom imaginable.
I'm not sure how I explain this though when people ask what I do for fun.
A lone figure walks through a vast field in Hokkaido as the golden hour paints long shadows across the grass. The stillness of nature and the warmth of the fading light capture the quiet beauty of autumn.
A shot from my "Portrait Photography" workshop
The complete shooting on my Instagram and Facebook profiles.
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Model: Letizia @pellegrins_
Photo: @giovanni_contarelli
©2025 All Right Reserved Giovanni Contarelli
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Excerpt from my portrait workshop.
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For this shot I used a styrofoam ball as a modifier. How do you like the result?
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The complete shooting on my Instagram and Facebook profiles.
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Model: Maddalena @maddalena_serra
Photo: @giovanni_contarelli
©2025 All Right Reserved Giovanni Contarelli
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Again, all three photos posted today were taken the day before yesterday, 20 August 2016, when I went with friend, Pam, for a long day out in Kananaskis (the mountain area of the Rocky Mountains that is closest to Calgary). What a great day we had, seeing so many different things in such beautiful scenery.
We met up in the city at 7:00 am and drove southwards through Millarville and took the back way from Turner Valley to Highway 40. This is exactly the route that I had planned to go when I was all set to take my daughter on 4 August. Then my car's muffler and catalytic converter died and I haven't been able to go on any long drives at all. Nothing further than maybe five or ten minutes from home, with a vehicle that sounds dreadful with its loud, broken muffler noise and the loudest rattle that sounds as if the bottom of my car is about to fall off.
Before we left the town of Turner Valley (on Highway 22), we called in for a few minutes at friend Jackie's garden to see if there were any interesting birds at all her feeders. We only saw Pine Siskins, but no doubt all sorts of other species would arrive for her during the day. The first thing we saw after Jackie's was this Swainson's Hawk perched on a fence, with a beautiful view of the distant mountains.
Our first stop along Highway 40, which is the highway that goes right through Kananaskis, giving spectacular scenic views every inch of the way, was at Highwood House. This small store/gas station, at such a convenient location, is known for its Hummingbird feeders. We were lucky enough to see either one or maybe two of these teeny birds, and I did manage to get one blurry shot, just for the record.
Continuing on our way north, we eventually came to Rock Glacier where we happily watched one or two little Pikas darting all over the massive scree slope, busily collecting plants to store and dry in their "caves", ready for the winter months. I will add more information about these very small animals when I post a photo of one of them. Already have lots of information under previously posted Pika images. These are such difficult creatures to photograph - only six or seven inches long and the same colour as the surrounding mountain of broken rock.
Our next destination, after bumping into friend Kerri who was photographing the PIkas, was Buller's Pond, near Spray Lakes along the Spray Lakes/Smith-Dorrien road. I don't remember ever stopping there before and we were so glad we called in. Just before we got there, we took a drive up the mountainside road to Mt. Shark and gazed at the mountain scene before our eyes when we reached the highest parking lot. I have been up here maybe two or three times before, but in winter time.
Soon, we arrived at Buller Pond, which is a lovely pond/lake, where we saw masses of small, green, jelly-like 'blobs' floating near the edge of the water. I tried to identify these late last night, but couldn't find anything that looked exactly the same. So, I'm not sure yet if they are insect eggs or maybe even salamander eggs.
It was here that, while walking through the trees near the edge of the pond, I suddenly gasped and couldn't believe my eyes. There was a beautiful Spruce Grouse perched on a tree stump, with a second one lying at the base of the stump. Such a beautiful sight! I quietly called Pam to come and see what I had just found and we spent some time watching them. These two birds, with their gorgeous feathers, showed no sign of moving, allowing us plenty of time to take photos. Eventually, I saw yet another one of them moving around on the ground nearby, and then a fourth one. So, it seems that it was a mother and her three young ones. What an absolute treat to come across these spectacular birds and to be given time to really enjoy them.
Once back on Highway 40, we started driving south on Highway 40, heading for home. We just couldn't resist calling in again at Rock Glacier, where I was able to get closer and perhaps better photos of one of the Pikas. Then, fifteen minutes later, we saw several cars pulled over at the sides of the highway. Could it finally be a bear? Unfortunately, no, it wasn't, but instead we saw a group of four Bighorn Sheep, three standing at the edge of the road and a fourth standing in the road as if to let us know that she owned the road and had right of way. However, she didn't move. Can't remember if it was this female or one of the others that started walking along the edge in the direction of our vehicle. She walked with determination and I was taken off guard when she came level with my window and I got a quick shot. Her focus, however, was on a photographer who was out of his car and had walked towards her, then crouched down to photograph her as she got closer and closer to him. She stopped just a matter of maybe six feet from him - we drove off now that the road was clear, so I've no idea if anything happened between the Sheep and the photographer, but he was doing everything that a photographer (or anyone) should not be doing!
Thank you so much, Pam, for enabling me to get out to the mountains! It was such a fun, enjoyable day, in beautiful weather, spectacular scenery, and much-enjoyed company!
HAPPY EASTER weekend to all who celebrate!
Saturday, 16 April 2022: our temperature is 2°C (windchill -2°C) at 2:30 pm. Sunrise was at 6:39 am, and sunset is at 8:33 pm. Sun and cloud.
Another five photos from my archives this morning. I am adding the description that I wrote under a different image taken on the same outing.
"Getting up really early is always so hard for me to do. I'm a night owl with atrocious sleep habits, so getting out of bed at 5:00 a.m. (alarm was set for 4:15 a.m., though!) was not my favourite way to start the day on 28 March 2013. Funny, when I have to meet friends for various early-starting trips, I can do it (but don't like it), but when I go off on my own, there is no deadline to meet, and I just never get round to doing it.
I headed NW of the city, wanting to see if time of day made any, or much, difference to seeing wildlife. Who really knows? I have seen these beautiful birds of prey at all sorts of times of the day, but of course the light was different. This one must have plunged into the mix of dried grass and snow fairly recently, as it still had that long piece of grass hanging from its chin. Wasn't sure whether to remove it or not - it's in quite a few photos - but decided to leave it just as it was. Right decision, lol? I was also lucky enough to see three other Great Gray Owls, my first Mountain Bluebird of the year (always such a wonderful flash of brilliant blue), a Pileated Woodpecker, and an American Robin (always takes me by surprise when I see a Robin out in the middle of nowhere). A beautiful female Ruffed Grouse helped make my day, too. Guess I can say I was definitely rewarded for getting up so early, even though I might have seen all, or most, of these birds later in the day, too : )"
Through the photographer's work of composition, the worker's connection through his labour to the fabric of the city is revealed.
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The complete shooting on my Instagram and Facebook profiles.
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Model: Elena @delbianco.elena
Photo: @giovanni_contarelli
©2025 All Right Reserved Giovanni Contarelli
Follow me on Flickr and
www.instagram.com/giovanni_contarelli/
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I think it's time for me to have a short flickr break as im going to prepare something more important that really takes most of my precious time! I'll keep my eyes on your wonderful pictures everyone!
Have a wonderful day my friends!
Hello Flickr Friends!!! i'm back :)
Thanks for the views, notes, comments, faves and invites!
My son, Jed and I were at the seaside here. This was a timed shot (10s) - i had to run back to the bench after pressing the shutter button :) do i look relaxed here? :)
Have a wonderful week!
Matilde
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The complete shooting on my Instagram and Facebook profiles.
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Photo: @giovanni_contarelli
©2025 All Right Reserved Giovanni Contarelli
Follow me on Flickr and
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Matilde
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The complete shooting on my Instagram and Facebook profiles.
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Photo: @giovanni_contarelli
©2025 All Right Reserved Giovanni Contarelli
Follow me on Flickr and
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"The blue-gray tanager (Thraupis episcopus) is a medium-sized South American songbird of the tanager family, Thraupidae. On Trinidad and Tobago, this bird is called blue jean.
The blue-gray tanager is 16–18 cm (6.3–7.1 in) long and weighs 30–40 g (1.1–1.4 oz). Adults have a light bluish head and underparts, with darker blue upperparts and a shoulder patch colored a different hue of blue. The bill is short and quite thick. Sexes are similar, but the immature is much duller in plumage.
The breeding habitat is open woodland, cultivated areas and gardens. The blue-gray tanager lives mainly on fruit, but will also take some nectar and insects. This is a common, restless, noisy and confiding species, usually found in pairs, but sometimes small groups. It thrives around human habitation, and will take some cultivated fruit like papayas (Carica papaya)." From Wikipedia.
I was driving along an outback Australian road when some movement in the bush near the road caught my eye. Luck was with me. This male brolga, Grus rubicunda, was in the midst of a mid-air leap while dancing to try and impress a nearby female. Male stands up to 140cm high (4'7").
Taken on previous travels.
Sincere thanks for dropping by to view, comment and/or fave my nature offerings from various parts of Australia! All my photographs are © Copyrighted & All Rights Reserved. Please do not reproduce or transmit in any form or by any means without full acknowledgement of it being my work. Use without permission is illegal so please contact me first if you’d like to use it.
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The complete shooting on my Instagram and Facebook profiles.
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Model: Elena @delbianco.elena
Photo: @giovanni_contarelli
©2025 All Right Reserved Giovanni Contarelli
Follow me on Flickr and
www.instagram.com/giovanni_contarelli/
www.facebook.com/giovanni.contarelli/
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When I walked into the cathedral for the concert last night, these four girls were standing there in front of the altar as if transfixed. (of course one of them moved at the wrong moment...)
A shot from my "Portrait Photography" workshop
The complete shooting on my Instagram and Facebook profiles.
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Model: Letizia @pellegrins_
Photo: @giovanni_contarelli
©2025 All Right Reserved Giovanni Contarelli
Follow me on Flickr and
Matilde
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The complete shooting on my Instagram and Facebook profiles.
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Photo: @giovanni_contarelli
©2025 All Right Reserved Giovanni Contarelli
Follow me on Flickr and
www.instagram.com/giovanni_contarelli/
www.facebook.com/giovanni.contarelli/
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ca. 1950 --- Model wearing a baby blue with white embroidered bathing suit by Carolyn Schnurer. --- Image by ? Cond頎ast Archive/CORBIS
Heliotropism is sun tracking...
I don't talk to flowers, they talk to me and I gladly listen!
As the sun is shying away these days, I bought this bouquet of double Sunflowers, to brighten up the place.
In the vase, this one kept turning the 'wrong' way, showing its back... so much for Summer, I thought, that's what you are telling me, your great sadness !!!!!!
FOR ALL THE AMAZING DETAIL and BEAUTY, View LARGE and On Black
Hope this brings a smile...
For years I 'experimented' in the studio, to get that Flemish painter's light? Well, I was born in Flanders, it must be in my blood? LOL.
Have a great w-e, the prediction here are dire!
MORE THAN EVER:
Lead and enjoy a good life, do and say things that enrich... and do not forget to tell the people close to you, how much you love them!
With love to you and thank you for ALL your faves and comments, M, (* _ *)
IT IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN (BY LAW!!!) TO USE ANY OF MY image or TEXT on websites, blogs or any other media without my explicit permission. © All rights reserved
WHAT PART of DO NOT USE is it that you DO NOT UNDERSTAND?
I find my images on numerous blogs and websites EVERY DAY, without my permission!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why not view the set as a slide-show?
Also I often upload more than one image at the same time, I see a tendency to only view the last uploaded...
Today, 14 November 2019, I have just posted five more odds and ends of photos, from way back in my archives, instead of going through photos taken more recently. Mind you, I shouldn't be posting anything, as I have started (yet again) backing up and deleting photo folders from my hard drive, as I am pretty well out of space. Also, I will have to take my computer in as soon as possible, to get it changed over from Windows 7 to Windows 10, seeing as support/security for Windows 7 comes to an end in January. So, a fair bit of deleting would be a good thing to do before I take in my computer. Not to mention a good thing before my computer crashes! I have added the description that was under another photo taken the same day, 6 May 2016.
Yet another overcast, dreary morning here today, 18 November 2016, with a temperature of -3C (windchill -7C). The sun is supposed to come out this afternoon, which would be a really welcome sight.
This photo of a Great Horned Owlet was taken on 6 May 2016, in a local natural area/park. Unfortunately, I had half a dozen errands to run before allowing myself to go out with my camera, so I didn't get there till late, and the light quickly began to fade. No time to look around the area for any other birds on this visit.
This beautiful owlet had been on the ground for a while before I arrived. There were a few people there and more came and went. However, I later heard that the owlet had been able to claw and flap its way up one of the trees and was safely out of reach of most predators. Meanwhile, the other fledgling had been very high up in a different tree, along with Mom. I'm glad I did call in at this location when I did, as this beautiful little owl gave us a few chances for photos when it was up on a log or down on the ground, usually partly hidden by the plants and bushes. I don't know how it ended up on the ground, but obviously it fell from somewhere or misjudged flying distance and missed an intended branch when it finally left the nesting tree. An interesting world for it to explore, though it wasn't very steady on its feet yet : )
Things seem to happen so fast this spring and I missed seeing the two owlets balancing on the rim of the nesting tree, exercising their wings before fledging. Also, I had been so busy that I only went over to see the youngsters a handful of times. Looking on the more important side, this meant one less person intruding on their area, of course, though I have to say that these owls are remarkably tolerant of humans. If a Canada Goose, on the other hand, should get anywhere near the nest or the little ones, Mom or Dad flies in for an immediate attack.
"With its long, earlike tufts, intimidating yellow-eyed stare, and deep hooting voice, the Great Horned Owl is the quintessential owl of storybooks. This powerful predator can take down birds and mammals even larger than itself, but it also dines on daintier fare such as tiny scorpions, mice, and frogs. It’s one of the most common owls in North America, equally at home in deserts, wetlands, forests, grasslands, backyards, cities, and almost any other semi-open habitat between the Arctic and the tropics.
Great Horned Owls are nocturnal. You may see them at dusk sitting on fence posts or tree limbs at the edges of open areas, or flying across roads or fields with stiff, deep beats of their rounded wings. Their call is a deep, stuttering series of four to five hoots." From AllAboutBirds.
First of all, has anyone heard anything from, or about, our amazing Flickr friend, Snowinglightly? Today is the 14th day since she suddenly stopped commenting here on Flickr, For years, she has been such a loyal friend, leaving such long, thoughtful and very creative comments on people's photos every single day. To suddenly stop like this, is making me very concerned. The only time I remember her not commenting, for about four days in a row, was when she had ended up in hospital. Fourteen days would be more than enough time to sort out any computer problems or to have to replace a computer, so I don't think that would be a reason. I have left messages in various places, but so far, still don't know any answer. If you happen to know, could you PLEASE let me know?
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It was the annual May Species Count on 28 and 29 May 2016, so a very busy couple of days. My group's Saturday Count was down in Fish Creek Provincial Park, at Votier's Flats and Shaw's Meadow.
On the Sunday, our usual small group (six of us in two cars) covered an area SW of the city - which happens to be one of my favourite and most visited areas. We had a great day, stopping at a few wetlands and calling in at Barb Castell's acreage where she usually has amazing birds to show us. Several special species were missing, but we were delighted to watch a teeny Ruby-throated Hummingbird. We were also happy to see seven Rose-breasted Grosbeaks during the day, and a male American Kestrel that caught a frog for supper! No owls to be found anywhere, but I did go back the following evening and saw two separate Great Gray Owls in our Count area. I went back again on 1 June and found the first owl again. This time, it wasn't pouring with rain, but I was looking into the sun (so a lot of blown-out feathers) and it was very windy. It was nice to see the owl hunting, catch a small rodent and then fly to a fence post - wish the lighting had been so much better.
I also called in to see if a Wilson's Snipe was standing on a fence post, and I was in luck. These are one of my favourite birds to photograph and they have given me so many wonderful chances for photos.
"These plump, long-billed birds are among the most widespread shorebirds in North America. They can be tough to see thanks to their cryptic brown and buff coloration and secretive nature. But in summer they often stand on fence posts or take to the sky with a fast, zigzagging flight and an unusual “winnowing” sound made with the tail." From AllAboutBirds.
www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/wilsons_snipe/id
"Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata) is a small, stocky shorebird. This species was considered to be a subspecies of the Common Snipe (G. gallinago) until 2003 when it was given its own species status. Wilson's Snipe differs from the latter species in having a narrower white trailing edge to the wings, and eight pairs of tail feathers instead of the typical seven of the Common Snipe. Its common name commemorates the American ornithologist Alexander Wilson." From Wikipedia.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilson's_snipe
According to Fisher and Acorn's book, "Birds of Alberta", "the common Snipe is both secretive and well camouflaged, so few people notice it until it flushes suddenly from a nearby grassy tussock. As soon as the Snipe takes to the air, it performs a series of quick zigzags - an evasive maneuver designed to confuse predators. Because of this habit, Snipes were among the most difficult birds to shoot (in the days when shorebirds were hunted for sport), and skilled sportsmen were known as "snipers" - a term later adopted by the military."
This is a back view of my MerMina.
The body blushing is a mix of pastel, watercolour pencil, iridescent watercolour paints, and gloss varnish.
It could do with being redone as I messed up quite a bit but to be honest the amount of effort needed to take her apart, strip off the current faceup and bodyblush, redo her then restring her far outweighs my desire to actually do anything just now. One day maybe!
Matilde
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The complete shooting on my Instagram and Facebook profiles.
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Photo: @giovanni_contarelli
©2025 All Right Reserved Giovanni Contarelli
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I don't normally show the backside of a bird in flight, but the visual of the negative air pressure on the top of the wings makes this very interesting to me.