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I use an Einstein 640 strobe with a 22" beauty dish & diffusion sock mounted on an Elinchrom Handheld Boom Arm. I typically fire my camera off with a wireless trigger, and that in turn fires my CyberSync™ Trigger Transmitter on my Nikon D800 to fire off my strobe via a CyberSync™ Transceiver. I end up taking several exposures, both high and low, while walking around the vehicle. I'll layer the images in Photoshop and switch each layer to the 'lighten' blend mode. I have been using layer masks to remove some highlight details from the strobe reflection, but I don't always find it works all the time. 1970 Plymouth Duster, 2016 Mountain Thunder Car Show in Old Fort, North Carolina. I shot the car in full daylight with about 5 stops of ND filtration and had the flash power at maximum.
Sidande LCD Wireless Time Lapse Intervalometer Remote Control Timer Shutter Release RST-7204
www.amazon.com/Sidande-Wireless-Intervalometer-D1series-D...
Elinchrom EL Handheld Boom Arm:
Check out these videos to help explain the method:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeRDHzVLulY
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8X5TJeABmtk
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe70LxtCrkc
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rF9GRhxWbLU
As I explained before, for two weeks now I have been, if not bedridden, at least mostly housebound as a result of a crippling knee problem. I can still drive around and run errands when mandatory, but it is hurtful and I am definitely not up to lugging photo equipment and go shooting. Furthermore, when this struck, I didn’t have many photos waiting for upload, what with the Winter season coming to an end, the pandemic still with us that doesn’t really encourage outings (the one day I went out, on March 9, on a photo shoot for the Fondation pour la Sauvegarde de l’Art Français, I became a COVID contact case of someone I had brushed against during the day, luckily without any consequence as I never was infected)... not to mention ridiculous wartime gas prices!
The bottom line is, a couple of days ago, I simply ran out of stuff to upload...
So, today, I had the idea to turn to some older photographs of mine to which I had, in 2021, given a “new life” by creating black-and-white versions of them for the purpose of a photographic essay that had been requested from me by the Department of Mediæval Studies of a US university. The essay’s theme was the emulation, with the tools of today, of the gorgeous black-and-white photography found in the books of the Zodiaque collection La Nuit des temps, devoted to religious art and architecture of the Romanesque age in Europe, and in particular in France. I’m sure many of you have heard about those books and/or own some of them.
Anyway, since those black-and-white versions are available, I figured I might as well upload them to offer you, who are kind enough to follow my stream, something to look at while I recover and until I can resume more normal photo activities...
Thank you in advance for your patience, and I hope you will enjoy this “renewed” content à la Zodiaque! I will put in a short description of each photo below.
The grandiose ruins of the Saint-Hippolyte fortified church in the village of Bonnay in Burgundy. Long exposure, ND1000 filter.
Homily080423_18thOT
Today, if you feel like I do, that we are surrounded, except when when we are together, by individuals that have no use or interest in Jesus Christ. Recently, I was asked by a very close relative, why I believed in such stuff? We were interrupted before I had a chance to respond. But the question, has caused me to deeply reflect on possible answers. Today, in our Gospel reading, we had the opportunity to hear about the transfiguration of Jesus Christ. Our gospel acclamation states the purpose of the transfiguration quite clearly: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased, listen to him.” So, we listen to Him. Listening, implies a deep and mature relationship with Jesus…and a love between us that motivates us to be like HIM. My answer to my loved one, would obviously include Jesus Christ, my guide, my companion, and friend. Who are they listening too?
This seems like a very difficult task for many of our peers. Recently, I was listening to a popular podcast, where an educated young woman had become disillusioned with her faith. She proudly stated that she was deconstructing her faith. Eventually, she chose a career as a spiritual director, where she gladly supports others in the process of deconstructing. She strongly avoids the name of Jesus Christ in her own spiritual journey and practice in helping others. She stated quite simply that too many people have been harmed by others under the banner of HIS name. It made me wonder who she is listening too now?
This reminds me of a similar situation in scripture: found in John chapter 6. Where Jesus is preaching about the Bread from Heaven-the Eucharist. He is equating that the bread is his body. “So Jesus said to them Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.” (53) ) “After this saying many of his disciples drew back and no longer walked with him.” Who were they going to listening too now? I thought!
Jesus then responds with a heart wrenching question to his twelve disciples: will you also go away? Peters' response is beautiful stated “Lord to whom shall we go, you have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” Because we are sitting and kneeling in our beloved church...we have a similar response…like Peter, James and John at the transfiguration event…we have the attitude that…it is very good to be here. This is where we listen to Him.
What are the benefits of listening to Jesus? Anastasius of Sinai, in his homily on the feast of the transfiguration in the 7th century states what we receive, beautifully:
“Therefore, since each of us possesses God in his heart and is being transformed into his divine image, we also should cry out with joy: It is good for us to be here—here where all things shine with divine radiance, where there is joy and gladness and exultation; where there is nothing in our hearts but peace, serenity and stillness, where God is seen. For here, in our hearts, Christ takes up his abode together with the Father, saying as he enters: Today salvation has come to this house. With Christ, our hearts receive all the wealth of his eternal blessings, and there where they are stored up for us in him, we see reflected as in a mirror both the first fruits and the whole of the world to come.” (End quote)
Peter, James and John had the awe-inspiring encounter with the transfigured Jesus, and it strengthened their faith for the purpose of sharing “the light” with the world. They had to come down from the mountain and face the complexity of a messy world. They did!
To change is painful. To be a Christian, a follower of Christ means that we have a deep bond with HIM. All relationships that are worthwhile, require us to adjust our lives accordingly. The purpose of our church…is to help form us into being a light for the world. Our transformation takes a lifetime, and this transformation requires us to listen to our conscience… for this is how we are guided in every moment and decision we make. When we receive the light of the world in the Eucharist, we are challenged to take this light, as it is reflected in our acts of kindness, into a dark and divided world.
Now let us prepare to meet Him in the Eucharist! Are we listening for HIS quiet voice within our hearts?
Innamorati di una persona che ama guardarti dormire. Che ti sussurra parole belle mentre lo fa. Innamorati di una persona che come primo saluto, al mattino usa un “Come stai?”. Non perché tu stai male, ma perché per lei la cosa più importante e che tu stia bene. Innamorati di una persona che ti bacia all’improvviso, senza un motivo, per avere ogni volta l’emozione di un amore che sorprende. Qualcuno che usa gli abbracci invece delle parole quando sei triste, e che, invece dei consigli usa il battito del suo cuore per calmarti. Innamorati di una persona che ti dedica canzoni tutti i giorni, perché ogni canzone gli ricorda te. Innamorati di una persona che la pensa in modo totalmente opposto a te, ma che ha sempre voglia di ascoltare la tua opinione. Che passi serate intere a spiegarti il suo punto di vista. Che si incazzi in modo esagerato se tu non sei d’accordo, e che vuole fare pace facendo l’amore. Innamorati una persona che ti prende in giro, una persona che ama ridere più che sorridere. E, alla fine, innamorati di quell’unica anima che potrai mai amare con tutto te stesso. Non accontentarti di un amore mediocre, di un amore che non è amore. Innamorati perché non ne puoi fare a meno, non perché non vuoi stare solo.
Fall in love with someone who loves to watch you sleep. Whispering nice words to you while doing it. Fall in love with a person who, in the morning, uses a "How are you?" Not because you are sick, but because the most important thing for her is that you are well. Fall in love with a person who kisses you suddenly, without a reason, to have the emotion of a love that surprises every time. Someone who uses hugs instead of words when you are sad, and who, instead of advice, uses their heartbeat to calm you down. Fall in love with a person who dedicates songs to you every day, because every song reminds him of you. Fall in love with a person who thinks totally the opposite of you, but who always wants to hear your opinion. That you spend whole evenings explaining his point of view. That he gets exaggeratedly angry if you don't agree, and that he wants to make peace by making love. Fall in love with a person who makes fun of you, a person who loves to laugh more than smile. And, in the end, fall in love with that one soul that you can ever love with all of yourself. Do not be satisfied with mediocre love, with a love that is not love. Fall in love because you can't do without it, not because you don't want to be alone.
It's hard to explain this hobby to normal people. If there is such a thing as normal people.
I got up at 6am this morning for the 40 minute drive to Overton Road, on the ECML, just north of Skelton, just north of York.
It's a fairly non-descript location, enhanced only by the fact you can park easily, stand on the bridge approach and get a decent shot below the overhead line wires. Probably the only reason this is 'a spot' is the 'Edinburgh 200 miles' sign that dates back to the LNER days in the 1930s. If it wasn't for that sign, it probably wouldn't be as popular. It's definitely not scenic.
Obviously (is it obvious?) I'd come for the last chance of seeing 43008 in Inter City livery and 43007 in blue/grey/yellow on 1V50 before they are taken out of service with the expectation that they will be out of service from today for a couple of weeks.
And if you analyse that, it's a bit odd, because when it was 43208 and 43207 I wouldn't have made that journey, when they were painted in XC livery. I do it I think for two reasons. It reminds me of the livery that trains were in during my younger days and (in my opinion) better times for the railway. And I do it because, if I don't, I know I will instantly regret it when I see other peoples' pics. Fear of missing out.
The passengers couldn't care less that 1V50 this morning had two differently coloured power cars. They are still the same type of train, doing the job they were designed for, what does colour matter? But to me it does. They might care when they are squeezed into a Voyager come October. I know I would.
And I let 185s, Azumas, 180s and Nova 1s pass without a flicker of interest from me. (I'm not sure I'll ever regret that).
And so it was no surprise to find another 10 people who'd set an early alarm for much the same reason, travelling from as far afield as Lancashire.
Sometimes it's comforting to know you're not alone and I often reflect that when an 'event' such as this is happening, all across the country, other like minded people set their alarms and then set off to converge on a popular spot.
I know that all the way from Edinburgh to Plymouth, the drivers of 1V50 today would have seen small gatherings in fields and on bridges to watch and record their train pass, where a few months ago they might have seen no-one.
There wasn't a cloud in the sky and even the threat of morning mist had lifted, so the normal things that annoy you in this hobby, like clouds, just weren't a problem.
But when you choose a four track section of railway for your picture, you're taking a gamble. And ordinarily if you were here for 43208 and 43207 in XC livery, you might not be too troubled to see 6H12 with 60096 running early on the Up Slow when 1V50 was on the Up Fast. 6H12 with a tug on might ordinarily be the more interesting target. But today, when the power cars are in a different livery, it really matters that you don't get bowled by a slow moving freight on the Up Slow.
And so while you're having a good catch up with the folk standing with you, you check the maps and you know that 6H12 will be held at Skelton Bridge Junction and that means it will be slowing down for the red at the protecting signal. So you count back signals from the junction and you can see that where you are means the driver of 6H12 will be observing a double yellow and so the brakes will be coming on. And you can also see that 1V50 is rapidly catching 6H12 up. At best, the freight will be doing a maximum speed of 60mph, the Inter City 125 will be doing what it says on the tin, twice as fast at 125mph. This is what the phrase "f*ck, f*ck, f*ckity f*ck" is for.
So you watch the trains step forward into each signal berth and you are hoping, really hoping, that the freight will clear in time. You sight the 60, going thankfully quite fast still. And you spot on the maps that there are now two signal sections between the trains.
It seems to take an age for the last wagon of 6H12 to clear the frame. You got your picture of 60096, obviously. And then you look to the distance to see 43008 bearing down. And there's nothing on the Down Fast and nothing on the Down Slow and so now all that remains is to breathe and press the shutter.
And all that fretting is something you would never have experienced 'back in the day', before technology brought transparency. You would have just pitched up and taken your chances on whatever turned up.
Sometimes I love this hobby. Sometimes I hate it. Today was one of the good days. And even on the bad days, I think its still better than golf. Or fishing.
43008 and 43007 pass Overton Road, Skelton, with 1V50, 06.06 Edinburgh to Plymouth.
اللَّهُ الَّذِي رَفَعَ السَّمَاوَاتِ بِغَيْرِ عَمَدٍ تَرَوْنَهَا ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى عَلَى الْعَرْشِ وَسَخَّرَ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ كُلٌّ يَجْرِي لِأَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى يُدَبِّرُ الْأَمْرَ يُفَصِّلُ الْآيَاتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ بِلِقَاءِ رَبِّكُمْ تُوقِنُونَ (الرعد 2)
Allah is He Who raised the heavens without any pillars that ye can see; then He established Himself on the Throne (of Authority); He has subjected the sun and the moon (to His Law)! Each one runs (its course) for a term appointed. He doth regulate all affairs, explaining the Signs in detail, that ye may believe with certainty in the meeting with your Lord (quran 13:2)
San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Pentax Spotmatic, Super Takumar 50mm, f1.4 , Rollei RPX 100, ASA 100 CoolScan V
A few days ago I found the Ospreys were in their nest, so I went out before sunset to try to capture them in their nest.
When I arrived, neither were in the nest, so I found a place to stake out the nest and wait. I couldn't find either of them. I started looking around to see if they were sitting on a nearby tree. This one was waiting for me to leave so it could return to its nest.
I tried to explain to him that I only wanted an awesome picture, I wasn't hunting them, but he didn't believe me. So I settled for this picture and a few others. Will have to try again to capture them on the nest.
My photographic beginnings (sometime last century!) were rooted in black and white analog processing. I think this may explain my nostalgic yearning for monochrome and occasional self-indulgence in good old black and white.
Ok, I can't explain it, but I like this. I took this to show a friend who makes beautiful and fun things out of recycled wood...I have about 50 of these shutters and he's taking them all! yay!! Here's a link to his website: www.countrypinetexas.com
We got a hot tip about the White-eyed Vireo. (Top row photo, next to the King of Snakes.) Drive here, park there, walk a block or two.... Ca-Ching! New bird! And for the brief time it commanded the limelight, we were all mesmerized.
A smallish clot of polite birders gathered off the path. Everyone watching. Vigilantly listening and waiting. We compare equipment and notes. Who has seen what and where they saw it. We are envious of the Orange County birders. We meet Gabriel, a Santa Monica College professor and a Herpetologist. His wife jogs by us with their new baby in a stroller. I like this Gabriel and a smidgen of hope swells in my heart. This new baby will grow up to be a gifted scientist.
homepage.smc.edu/gartner_gabriel/AboutMe.html (Guess who’s holding the snake?)
We all get a little punchy after explaining to person after person what we are looking for. People walk by with whatever the current version of a boom box is called. Loud-music-to-go because the world without continuous or constant noise is obviously unbearable.
We take turns ignoring people. We size up the curious folk before we talk. Carrying binoculars or a camera gets you in. Clownish loudly patterned yoga wear merits a dumb answer. "We are watching squirrels." Gabriel snorts but I know I could have been kinder. I make myself a promise to be less mean. Maybe Gabriel's child will develop a cure for meanness.
W9 and Jerry got the Chat as a life bird at Malibu Creek State Park. We were on the lookout for the chat after using the ebird Explore the Hot Spot tool. He put on a song and dance show for us. Thrilling, but be quick if you want a photo.
And have a gander at the red crustacean deal in the second row. How can you scream and focus a camera at the same time??? Asking for a friend.
The green landscape we experienced a few months ago is rapidly fading. Birds have disappeared. Migration and nesting. They have left or they're hiding.
Slowly my bird list is growing.
The original lists were probably carved in stone and represented longer periods of time. They contained things like "Get more clay. Make better oven." David Viscot
Die Liste der alten Leute war vermutlich in Stein gemeißelt und vertreten längere Zeiträume. Sie enthielten Dinge wie "Holen Sie sich mehr Lehm. Machen Sie besseren Ofen."
La liste des personnes anciennes était probablement sculptée en pierre et représentait des périodes plus longues. Ils contiennent des choses comme "Obtenez plus d'argile. Faites un meilleur four".
고대 사람들의 명단은 돌로 새겨 졌을 것이고 오랜 기간을 대표 할 것입니다. 그들은 "더 많은 찰흙을 얻으십시오. 더 나은 오븐을 만드십시오."
La lista de personas antiguas probablemente estaba tallada en piedra y representaba períodos de tiempo más largos. Contienen cosas como "Obtener más arcilla, hacer horno mejor".
let me explain
what makes you think
I ate the cake... well...
I had a little tea party
this afternoon at three
twas very small
three guest in all
just I myself and me
myself ate all the sandwiches
while I drunk all the tea
twas also I who at the pie
and passed the cake to me
"Who Ate the Cake" by Lady Bird
(Erebus tracked me down to our favorite little cafe where I might have done a bit of snacking before he arrived. -giggles- )
I could write a big long explaination about "Time" and how we all seem to have less of it..... or about how we should cherish each moment.... or ramble on for a while about how insignifigant our time on earth is in the cosmic big picture....
But really, I think it's just a cool shot. ;)
As I explained before, for three weeks now I have been, if not bedridden, at least mostly housebound as a result of a crippling knee problem. I can still drive around and run errands when mandatory, but it is hurtful and I am definitely not up to lugging photo equipment and go shooting. Furthermore, when this struck, I didn’t have many photos waiting for upload, what with the Winter season coming to an end, the pandemic still with us that doesn’t really encourage outings (the one day I went out, on March 9, on a photo shoot for the Fondation pour la Sauvegarde de l’Art Français, I became a COVID contact case of someone I had brushed against during the day, luckily without any consequence as I never was infected)... not to mention ridiculous wartime gas prices!
The bottom line is, a couple of days ago, I simply ran out of stuff to upload...
So, I had the idea to turn to some older photographs of mine to which I had, in 2021, given a “new life” by creating black-and-white versions of them for the purpose of a photographic essay that had been requested from me by the Department of Mediæval Studies of a US university. The essay’s theme was the emulation, with the tools of today, of the gorgeous black-and-white photography found in the books of the Zodiaque collection La Nuit des temps, devoted to religious art and architecture of the Romanesque age in Europe, and in particular in France. I’m sure many of you have heard about those books and/or own some of them.
Anyway, since those black-and-white versions are available, I figured I might as well upload them to offer you, who are kind enough to follow my stream, something to look at while I recover and until I can resume more normal photo activities...
Thank you in advance for your patience, and I hope you will enjoy this “renewed” content à la Zodiaque! I will put in a short description of each photo below.
We step outside the borders of the “France romane” again, as there are so many lovely Romanesque churches in Sardinia! This one, another chiesa campestre lost in the fields with nothing around for kilometers, is simply referred to as San Antonio. I thought it deserved its humble and unassuming place in the portfolio.
A tour guide in the Hungarian Parliament Building uses a microphone to explain the building and its history to her group
I can't explain why, but I've always wanted to get a good photo of this bodega. For this shot, I stood on the opposite corner of the intersection. I don't love that the street sign gets in the way of the awning. I'll go back and try again.
I love the painted sign and the yellow color. There are also quarter toy machines out front.
well. a lot has been happening. i got brutally dumped by my ex. and I mean pretty much backstabbed. So that has opened actually a lot of time. so I can at least do some lego stuff now. I still got work, but all my diploma's went well. I got the summer before Colleague. Which i should still have time due to my longer weekends as I have short fridays every week when it starts. Hopefully, depression and other things do not get me distracted from this. anyhow. this is my kelly helmet wip. This is stage one out of many. the basic visor shape is in. now to add all the visor elements, then work on the rest of the helmet. hopefully this will be one of my best sculpts.
Quantitative easing , Austerity package , Global Shift …. US can print trillions , small countries can't , West lost – China won … we got screwed .
Quantitative Easing Explained
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTUY16CkS-k
I'm thinking of going to Ireland for Christmas. My sister and her family live there and some friends. I love the people and the counter . It's so sad to see Ireland being screwed in my opinion by bankers . All the common banking practices got put on the side by greed . Willingness of lending stupid amount of money to everyone. Everyone was told that real estate is the best investment . Buy 200k home and sell next year for 300K or even better 400K and sell for 600K … no way you could loose. Bankers made commissions and bonuses . People borrowed way too much , spend way too much ... but they did stimulate economy.
Now is the time to pay the piper . I said long time ago “We traded our souls in the dollar store”
Facebook www.facebook.com/Photoby
Two classic portraits painted by Bartholomeus van der Helst (1613 - 1670), displayed at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
who can explain these things?
lightbulb, heartchild, soulmate, bodhisattva, everything
from out of the Everywhere into here ...
and in a doggie costume
≈♡≈
two more pictures of our lulu, below .. now hidden by flickr; so to see them you have to click on 'other comments' a couple of times .. thank You .. xox
As I explained before, for three weeks now I have been, if not bedridden, at least mostly housebound as a result of a crippling knee problem. I can still drive around and run errands when mandatory, but it is hurtful and I am definitely not up to lugging photo equipment and go shooting. Furthermore, when this struck, I didn’t have many photos waiting for upload, what with the Winter season coming to an end, the pandemic still with us that doesn’t really encourage outings (the one day I went out, on March 9, on a photo shoot for the Fondation pour la Sauvegarde de l’Art Français, I became a COVID contact case of someone I had brushed against during the day, luckily without any consequence as I never was infected)... not to mention ridiculous wartime gas prices!
The bottom line is, I simply ran out of stuff to upload...
So, I had the idea to turn to some older photographs of mine to which I had, in 2021, given a “new life” by creating black-and-white versions of them for the purpose of a photographic essay that had been requested from me by the Department of Mediæval Studies of a US university. The essay’s theme was the emulation, with the tools of today, of the gorgeous black-and-white photography found in the books of the Zodiaque collection La Nuit des temps, devoted to religious art and architecture of the Romanesque age in Europe, and in particular in France. I’m sure many of you have heard about those books and/or own some of them.
Anyway, since those black-and-white versions are available, I figured I might as well upload them to offer you, who are kind enough to follow my stream, something to look at while I recover and until I can resume more normal photo activities...
Thank you in advance for your patience, and I hope you will enjoy this “renewed” content à la Zodiaque! I will put in a short description of each photo below.
The 10th century apse of the archaic priory church of Saint-Romain-le-Puy in Auvergne.
Let me explain..........
The other day I went to the dentist. I saw this Sparrow (Song, I believe) in the bushes as I went in. After I got my teeth cleaned I took a few shots of this cute, curious guy!
Thanks for looking, etc.:)
There are many details, so I've added a number of Flickr Notes to explain how things have changed. Even after all these years, some of the objects still exist, although most have been replaced and are long forgotten.
s3.amazonaws.com/criterion-production/films/12b76bc360f9b...
assets.mubicdn.net/images/notebook/post_images/25367/imag...
images.savoysystems.co.uk/GCL/375316.jpg
“A flower sprouting from the cracks in a wall is life creeping up everywhere.”
Giuseppe Tobia
“Un fiore che spunta dalle crepe di un muro è la vita che si arrampica ovunque.”
Giuseppe Tobia
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click to activate the icon of slideshow: the small triangle inscribed in the small rectangle, at the top right, in the photostream;
or…. Press the “L” button to zoom in the image;
clicca sulla piccola icona per attivare lo slideshow: sulla facciata principale del photostream, in alto a destra c'è un piccolo rettangolo (rappresenta il monitor) con dentro un piccolo triangolo nero;
oppure…. premi il tasto “L” per ingrandire l'immagine;
www.worldphoto.org/sony-world-photography-awards/winners-...
www.fotografidigitali.it/gallery/2726/opere-italiane-segn...
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The late Pope Francis left us a memorable phrase, referring to the tragic events of our current history, he said "build bridges, not walls", and almost paraphrasing Pope Francis, here in Sicily we tear down walls, let me explain... there is a traditional religious festival, during which the wall of a house, always the same wall, is torn down, to then be built again in anticipation of the celebration that will be held in the new year. But it is not so much the wall itself, even more characteristic is the way in which this wall is broken down: it is struck over and over again with the arms of the float, those used by the bearers to hold the float, on which sits the statue of Saint James, an incredible tradition whose origins are not unanimous. Many, many years ago, I was perhaps 20 years old, walking with a few friends one evening along Corso Umberto in Taormina, I learned from one of them about this incredible tradition. I remember it as if it were yesterday. He said, “In Sicily, there is a celebration in which, during the procession, the float with the Saint, loaded with provola (cheeses), is used like a battering ram to break down the wall of a house, which is then rebuilt (the battering ram, a medieval assault weapon, used to break down gates and castle walls).” This year, I was able to witness (and photograph) this very particular and unique tradition, which is celebrated every year on July 26th in the town of Capizzi (Messina), a celebration that commemorates the transfer of the relics of Saint James from his sanctuary. As mentioned, the most characteristic moment of the celebration is the "rite of miracles": the float with Saint James on it is violently hurled against the wall of a house adjacent to the church of Sant'Antonio, and each impact against this wall is interpreted as "a miracle of Saint James". The number of blows needed to overcome the wall is interpreted sometimes positively (if the blows are even), sometimes negatively (if the blows are odd). The "Miracles of St. James" do not have a certain origin, some think it could originate in ancient times from the destruction of a small pagan temple, or a synagogue, someone else instead traces this tradition as a form of revenge of the inhabitants of Capizzi (Capitini), this because the relics of the Saint were stolen from Capizzi to be kept in the city of Messina, by the Spanish nobleman Sancho de Heredia, in obedience in 1435 towards Alfonso V of Aragon, nicknamed "the Magnanimous" (he was king of Aragon, Valencia, Sardinia, Majorca, Sicily, titular king of Jerusalem, Corsica and Hungary, he was count of Barcelona and of the Catalan counties, and from 1442 he would also become king of Naples), therefore the demolition of the wall would be a form of revenge towards what was perhaps the house of the nobleman Sancho de Heredia, finally someone else traces this tradition to a legendary event, which recalls the defeat of a handful of Saracens, who They had barricaded themselves in that place. Currently in Capizzi, in the Sanctuary of San Giacomo Maggiore, the oldest relic of Saint James the Apostle in Sicily is housed: a finger of the saint. Another characteristic aspect of the festival is the presence of numerous provola cheeses placed on the roof of the float. These are offered by the population to Saint James. The presence of these typical cheeses is indicative of the type of economy in Capizzi, primarily linked to agriculture and livestock farming, with significant dairy and pork production, particularly that of the Nebrodi black pig, with typical cheeses such as provola capitina and maiorchino. Some residents told me that sometimes the donations of provola cheeses, even large ones, become so abundant that the float ends up becoming exceptionally heavy, severely testing the bearers' ability to support all that weight.
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Il compianto papa Francesco ci ha lasciato una memorabile frase, in riferimento alle tragiche vicende della nostra attuale storia, ha detto “costruite ponti, non muri”, e quasi parafrasando Papa Francesco, qui da noi in Sicilia i muri li abbattiamo, mi spiego meglio ….c’è una festa tradizionale religiosa, durante la quale il muro di una casa, sempre lo stesso muro, viene abbattuto, per poi venire costruito in attesa della festa che si terrà il nuovo anno, ma non è tanto il muro in se, ancor più caratteristico è il modo in cui questo muro viene sfondato: esso viene colpito più, e più volte con i bracci del fercolo, quelli che servono ai portatori per reggere la vara, sul quale siede la statua di San Giacomo, una incredibile tradizione sulle cui origini non c’è unanimità di pensiero. Io tanti, tanti anni fa, forse avevo 20 anni, passeggiando con pochi amici di sera sul Corso Umberto di Taormina, venni a sapere da uno di questi, di questa tradizione che ha dell’incredibile, lo ricordo come fosse ieri, disse “in Sicilia c’è una festa nella quale durante la processione, la vara con il Santo, carica di provole (formaggi) viene utilizzata come fosse un’ariete per sfondare il muro di una casa, che poi verrà ricostruito (l’ariete, arma medioevale d’assalto, utilizzata per sfondare portoni e muri dei castelli),”. Quest’anno, ho potuto assistere (e fotografare) questa tradizione così particolare ed unica, che si celebra ogni anno il 26 luglio nel paese di Capizzi (Messina), festa che commemora il trasferimento delle reliquie di San Giacomo dal suo Santuario, e, come anticipato, il momento più caratteristico della festa è il “rito dei miracoli”, la vara con sopra San Giacomo viene violentemente scagliata contro il muro di una una casa adiacente la chiesa di Sant'Antonio, ed ogni urto contro questo muro viene inteso come “un miracolo di San Giacomo”, il numero dei colpi necessari per avere la meglio sul muro viene interpretato ora in maniera positiva (se i colpi sono pari), ora in maniera negativa (se i colpi sono dispari). I “Miracoli di San Giacomo” non hanno una origine certa, qualcuno pensa possa originare anticamente dalla distruzione di un piccolo tempio pagano, od una sinagoga, qualcun altro invece fa risalire questa tradizione come una forma di rivalsa degli abitanti di Capizzi (Capitini), questo perché le reliquie del Santo furono sottratte a Capizzi per essere custodite nella città di Messina, da parte del nobile spagnolo Sancho de Heredia, in obbedienza nel 1435 verso Alfonso V d'Aragona, soprannominato "il Magnanimo" (era re di Aragona, Valencia, Sardegna, Maiorca, Sicilia, re titolare di Gerusalemme, Corsica e Ungheria, era conte di Barcellona e delle contee catalane, e dal 1442 sarebbe diventato anche re di Napoli), quindi l’abbattimento del muro sarebbe una forma di vendetta verso quella forse era la casa del nobile Sancho de Heredia, infine qualcun altro fa risalire questa tradizione ad un evento leggendario, che ricorda la sconfitta di un manipolo di saraceni, che si erano asserragliati in quel luogo. Attualmente a Capizzi, nel Santuario di San Giacomo Maggiore, si trova la più antica reliquia di San Giacomo Apostolo Maggiore che abbiamo in Sicilia, si tratta di un dito del Santo. Un altro aspetto caratteristico della festa, è la presenza di numerose provole messe sul tetto della vara, queste sono offerte dalla popolazione a San Giacomo, la presenza di questi tipici formaggi è indicativa del tipo di economia che c’è a Capizzi, principalmente legata all'agricoltura e alla pastorizia, con una importante produzione casearia e di carne suina, in particolare quella del maiale nero dei Nebrodi, con formaggi tipici, come la provola capitina e il maiorchino. Mi dicevano alcuni abitanti che a volte la donazione delle provole, anche di grosse dimensioni, diviene così abbondante, che la vara finisce con acquisire un peso eccezionale, mettendo a dura prova la capacità di reggere tutto quel peso da parte dei portatori.
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Non amate per bellezza, perchè un giorno finirà.
Non amate per ammirazione, perchè un giorno vi deluderà.
Amate e basta, perchè il tempo non può far finire un amore che non ha spiegazioni.
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Do not you love for beauty, because one day it will end.
Do not love to admiration, because one day let you down.
Love and nothing else, because time can not end a love that can not be explained
Madre Teresa di Calcutta
I'll explain this more under the next picture, which is a plan of the castle, but from this angle we are looking at the massive 16th century curtain wall, which still fully encloses the castle. The original main entrance through the curtain was on the east side (far side from here), however a new door was opened on this side in the early 17th century, which was enclosed in two phases, by the outwork, known as the High and Low Spurs - the lower and nearer section of the building, containing four large gun-ports and with the prominent angle turret. The Spurs look to be little more than a glorified front porch, but they actually provide a complex system of defence - more on which later.
IT: Absorbing, engaging, engrossing, gripping, interesting, intriguing, involving, riveting. I've been empowered with the knowledge of what "It" is. I was able to see through the eyes of the Alien for a brief second. Too long for comfort, but way to short for total understanding of IT. How can I possibly begin to explain this concept............... May be a trip to New Mexico will help.
Well, there's no explaining these things. Two years ago I posted another photograph or this imposing vehicle which has notched up (as we speak) 61,366 hits and become, by a considerable margin, my most viewed photo. It made "Explore". I don't really know what that is, how it happens or to what extent it would have bumped up the figures. It is certain that this success had little connection with the subject-matter; I mean, there simply aren't that many people with an interest in the auxiliary vehicles of British bus operators. Anyway, here it is again. Since "views" became a devalued currency I have become indifferent to the matter and I assure you I don't post this in the expectation of amassing further thousands of hits.
The vehicle is seen at Lawrence Hill depot, Bristol, probably on a Saturday afternoon (maintenance staff only worked a half day and there would be nobody about) towards the end of February 1978. All breakdown wagons, of whatever type and provenance, were known to road staff as "Jumbos". It had been converted from a Leyland Retriever 22LRT/3AR tipper chassis, LEH 247E, in 1972 and was numbered W142. This is a typical Saturday scene at Lawrence Hill: I don't think there was a fueller on duty until late and buses coming in had to be left lined-up at the pumps. The FLF whose rear end we see on the right would have been the back of the queue, which would lengthen considerably ere teatime.
Nearby there was a plaque explaining that Beckman was a professor at Caltech who invented the first commercially successful electronic pH meter, which was very useful in the burgeoning California citrus industry. It made Beckman enough money that there are a bunch of buildings named after him.
You can't see it here, but there was a reflecting pool-style pond to the left of this building that I see is called the "Gene Pool" on the Flickr map, which is amusing.