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5/5 Columbine is a common name for the genus Aquilegia both in English and French (spelled colombine), so I thought I'd find out why. Apparently, the flower of the columbine, specifically the top, has been interpreted as a group of birds (often doves) sitting, facing each other. In fact other common names, for example in a number of German language dialects, also refer to that image. Correspondingly, the name Columbine is thought to come from the Latin word 'columbīna' signifying a relationship with a pigeon or dove (Latin columba), or more specifically of the same colour as a dove.
Fittingly in scientific classification, there is an order of doves and pigeons (Columbiformes) which contains a Family (Columbidae) and Subfamily (Columbinae), which in turn contain the genus (Columbina). Columbina is a genus of nice species of small doves that can be found from the Southern United States through Central and most of Southern America.
Like the other pictures in this little series (see here flic.kr/s/aHBqjBskvZ), I took this one in a friend's garden. For information on the common columbine, see flic.kr/p/2pS4jd2 and flic.kr/p/2pSsA6x
Commonly referred to as "gophers", they are in fact ground squirrels. Visitors often confuse the ubiquitous Richardson's Ground Squirrel with prairie dogs, which are larger, have a black-tipped tail, and live in colonies or dogtowns. In Canada, prairie dogs are found only in Grasslands National Park, having been extirpated from the remainder of their historic range. "Gophers", on the other hand, are found across the prairie and appear to be thriving despite ranchers' best attempts to get rid of them. This one is watching me from its burrow entrance in Grasslands.
Don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without explicit permission.
© James R. Page - all rights reserved.
This pretty, cloud-like object may not look much like a galaxy — it lacks the well-defined arms of a spiral galaxy, or the reddish bulge of an elliptical — but it is in fact something known as a lenticular galaxy. Lenticular galaxies sit somewhere between the spiral and elliptical types; they are disc-shaped, like spirals, but they no longer form large numbers of new stars and thus contain only ageing populations of stars, like ellipticals.
NGC 2655’s core is extremely luminous, resulting in its additional classification as a Seyfert galaxy: a type of active galaxy with strong and characteristic emission lines. This luminosity is thought to be produced as matter is dragged onto the accretion disc of a supermassive black hole sitting at the centre of NGC 2655. The structure of NGC 2655’s outer disc, on the other hand, appears calmer, but it is oddly-shaped. The complex dynamics of the gas in the galaxy suggest that it may have had a turbulent past, including mergers and interactions with other galaxies.
NGC 2655 is located about 80 million light-years from Earth in the constellation of Camelopardalis (The Giraffe). Camelopardalis contains many other interesting deep-sky objects, including the open cluster NGC 1502, the elegant Kemble’s Cascade asterism, and the starburst galaxy NGC 2146.
Credits: ESA/Hubble & NASA, A. Fillipenko, CC BY 4.0
First try at building my own frame but in fact with the help of 4 friends at various junctures. Could not find the frame stock I wanted so I bought a 10 foot board of cherry and one friend very kindly milled it for me another helped me build a fence for the chop saw to get more accurate cuts another provided a framing clamp This frame will be a reject because of the gap in bottom left corner. I chose to make these frames in cherry because I liked the look better than the more common black frame that I think can be overpowering or distracting from my images. So much for frames being easy to make when you are not really set up for it. I have to go and buy a better finer tooth blade for cleaner cuts. It is nice to see your work framed....something about just posting photos online I feel diminishes them. This is one of 5 photos I sold to a paint customer...I really appreciate that she appreciates my photos in such a tangible way.
This is a shot from Berlin, Germany. It was taken next to the Spreebogen building on a morning photo walk. The fact that I edited this only with my phone is still something that amazes me: Import the photo from the camera wirelessly, edit the 60MP RAW file smoothly on the phone, export it and voila...
Its a well known fact that Snowtroopers love to indulge themselves in a bit of mischief every now and then. Unfortunately on this occasion, their Hoth victory party has been crashed by none other that the Dark Lord himself! Now their successful General faces the daunting task of explaining how they allowed themselves to 'veer' off course.
“Human beings are funny. They long to be with the person they love but refuse to admit it openly. Some are afraid to show even the slightest sign of affection because of fear. Fear that their feelings may not be recognized, or even worst, returned. But one thing about human beings puzzles me the most is their conscious effort to be connected with the object of their affection even if it kills them slowly within.”
YouTube channel "ALPS picture & tales"
Instagram @roberto.bertero
Night shot obtained zooming out with my lens, from 40mm to 17mm, during an exposure time of only 30 seconds, ISO 6400. Obviously camera on tripod.
Shot taken in the far September 27th 2011 while I was wandering during the night at the foot of Mount Paterno (Dolomites), whose tormented ridges look also as visually drag during the use of my zoom.
On the left, the more brilliant line is generated by planet Jupiter. The gas giant in our solar system that shines, especially on moonless nights, more than any star because of its "proximity" to the Earth.
Therefore, I hope it is clear, nothing to do with the star trail technique, which itself is often largely misunderstood. In that case you need to set a long exposure of at least 15 minutes up to what you want, also a few hours, by pointing your camera towards the Polaris in the Northern Hemisphere, or Sigma Octantis if your are in the Southern Hemisphere, then you obtain concentric trails. Also it is possible to point the camera toward any other cardinal point in order to get more "parallel" trails the more you get closer to the celestial equator.
Instead, in this shot the trails appear to come from a single point, as a sort of Big Bang structure, which wouldn't be obtainable in any other way except that zooming during exposure.
The fact of being able to get a similar shot in just 30 seconds (without having to wait hours!) undoubtedly has its advantages. An image like this definitely belongs within the field of abstract photography... this implies it may be necessary to make a few attempts before to get a "making sense" dialogue between the various elements visible and less visible to the naked eye.
Here it seemed to me that the shining Jupiter on the left, the ridges of Paterno at the bottom as well as on the right, and the central "point of origin", due to the lens zooming, contribute to create a logical structure in the overall image (hopefully also with a symbolic meaning).
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©Roberto Bertero, All Rights Reserved. This image is not available for use on websites, blogs or other media without the explicit written permission of the photographer.
December 14, 2014
"Cakes are special. Every birthday, every celebration ends with something sweet, a cake, and people remember. It's all about the memories." - Buddy Valastro
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Last night, the family had cake to celebrate the fact that my Uncle Jacques ran over 4000km this year; quite the accomplishment!
The cake had an image of the shoes he wore throughout the season drawn on it and since he favoured his pink runners this year, Mom chose a pink theme for the icing.
He was very excited and immediately posted a picture to his facebook account! It's been a great year for him and his sport and it was certainly worth celebrating.
After everyone had had a piece or two, I packed up the leftovers and stole them away for Sweet Sunday. Made for an easy day for me, especially since I took the serving platter as well!
Hope everyone has had a good day.
Click "L" for a larger view.
The idea of 'fake' or 'professional' beggars is a hot topic in Liverpool.
Jimmy Boland, who runs the Rubber Soul Complex is adamant that the large number of people begging in and around Mathew Street are 'fake' and not in genuine need - and said he has seen people getting taxis home at the end of the night.
It is widely acknowledged that Liverpool has a major issue with people who take to the streets to beg when they are not actually homeless - making life difficult for those who are genuinely in need.
Startrail, single-shot, one hour exposure, taken at night close to the northeast walls of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo (Dolomites), Italy.
Therefore my camera was pointed towards southwest. When you almost turn your back to the Polaris you get all these "parallel" lines, which are the trails of starlight recorded by the camera while the Earth rotates to the east.
I've been waiting to have the Milky Way completely shifted to the west, because, as I've already written some time ago, I do not like to see the light trail of our galaxy included in a strar trail, it is just a matter of personal taste of course, but I think it only generates confusion. Therefore, when my schedule and weather conditions allow, I definitely prefer to wait for the right time before to start such a demanding exposure.
It is only necessary to calculate that the exposure ends enough time before the appearance of the first faint light before the dawn.
All my startrails are always the result of one single exposure.
I want to have the shot in camera in the moment I leave the place I've visited, just to be sure I've really got what I was looking for.
So it is paramount to find out the perfect spot where to fix the equipment. It must be an area shielded by winds.
Fortunately in this alpine pass, always exposed to the winds, there are also some huge stones (taller than a person) that turned out to be very useful to protect my camera and tripod from any kind of vibration during the long exposure.
I've never particularly loved the startrails, and, telling the truth, neither I do now... anyhow, presently I have at my active 183 night shots, plus many other pending publication, so, the fact of coming out occasionally with a startrail, well, I guess is pratically statistically inevitable :-)
Actually, this shot comes from a very simple feeling: I was mounting my tent for the night, it was pitch black, with rather strong wind, so the process took a little more time than usual. Time to time I was watching these walls, huge, looming... beautiful, yes, but also somehow disturbing... black huge blocks of stone, ominous... a vision light years different from what you can see on a typical sunny day!
That's when I began to think about a possible startrail, in black and white, where these black monsters would have contrasted with the shining light of the cosmos. Huge mountains, dark, hopeless, death... pervaded by a cosmic breath of glorious otherworldly light.
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©Roberto Bertero, All Rights Reserved. This image is not available for use on websites, blogs or other media without the explicit written permission of the photographer.
"I could give you facts and figures
I could give you plans and forecasts"
What’s the Buzz / Strange Thing Mystifying - Ted Neely cover from Jesús Christ Superstar
Facts:
Scientific name: Wasp is a general term. If this is a common wasp (which it appears to be), the Latin name is Vespula vulgaris.
Order: Hymenoptera (same as ants and bees).
Wasp species number: There are over 30,000 known species of wasps worldwide.
Diet: Unlike bees, wasps are predators and scavengers, feeding on insects and sugary substances.
Eyes: Wasps have compound eyes, which give them a wide field of vision and excellent motion detection.
Wings: Two pairs of transparent wings that lock together during flight with a series of tiny hooks (hamuli).
Stinger: Only females sting, and unlike bees, most wasps can sting multiple times.
Social or solitary? Many wasps are social (like Vespula), but most species are solitary.
Pollinators too: Despite their fearsome reputation, wasps play a role in pollination.
Wasps vs. bees: Wasps are generally less hairy, have narrower waists, and are more aggressive hunters than bees.
Fun Facts:
A wasp's sting contains venom that breaks down cell membranes, causing pain and inflammation, but also helping them digest prey!
Wasp nests are made of chewed wood fibers, essentially creating a type of natural paper.
In Japan, the giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) is known as the "yak-killer hornet" - though thankfully, your specimen is much friendlier!
Some wasp species are used in biological pest control, as they lay eggs in or on pest insects, which their larvae then consume.
wow, bad head yesterday, so missed HBW! Guess there's always next Wednesday! : )
This song's got stuck in my head whilst strolling through the woods! When I was just a little chap I use to love Laurel and Hardy, in fact I still do, it kind of appeases my eclectic brain!
hggt (with a small hint of blue!) : )
For Day 98 of 365, Lyrics, Text On and maybe Today's Random Fact.
Today's fact: I haven't slept lately. At all. Lots on my mind and then having to work really late Monday night because of the UNC game. Just not happening. So I'm exhausted in some respects. But wide awake in others.
The upside? I've done a lot of writing lately. Book folks are gonna like hearing that.
******
2 a.m. and she calls me cause I'm still awake
Can you help me unravel my latest mistake
I don't love him and winter just wasn't my season.
Yea we walk through the doors so accusing their eyes
Like they have any right at all to criticize
Hypocrites you're all here for the very same reason.
Cause you can't jump the track
We're like cars on a cable and life's like an hourglass glued to the table,
No one can find the rewind button girl
So cradle your head in your hands
And breathe, just breathe, whoa breathe just breathe
May he turned 21 on the base of Fort Bliss
Just today he sat down to the flask in his fist
Ain't been sober since maybe October of last year
Here in town you can tell he's been down for while
But my God it's so beautiful when the boy smiles
Wanna hold him but maybe I'll just sing about it
Cause you can't jump the track
We're like cars on a cable
And life's like an hourglass glued to the table,
No one can find the rewind button boys so cradle your head in your hands
And breathe, just breathe, whoa breathe, just breathe
There's a light at each end of this tunnel you shout cause you're just as far in as you'll ever be out
And these mistakes you've made
You'll just make them again if you'll only try turnin' around
2 a.m. and I'm still awake writing this song
If i get it all down on paper it's no longer inside of me threaten' the life it belongs to.
And I feel like I'm naked in front of the crowd
Cause these words are my diary screamin' out aloud
And I know that you'll use them however you want to.
But you can't jump the track
We're like cars on a cable
And life's like an hourglass glued to the table,
No one can find the rewind button now
Sing it if you understand...and brethe, just breathe, whoa breathe, just breathe, whoa breathe, just breathe, whoa breathe, just breathe
Lake Marie, Snowy Range, Medicine Bow National Forest, Wyoming--summer 2022
As noted elsewhere, this is one of my favorite spots in all the world, having first visited the area with my family when I was a small child. I was always hesitant to return as an adult, fearing that my childhood memories would be damaged by the more sophisticated and jaded sensibilities of my adult self. But when I visited for the second time in 2015, I almost cried when I discovered it to be just as beautiful as remembered. This third trip did nothing to change my assessment. It could be a national park, and perhaps one day it will be, but for now, I'm happy that it remains a relative secret, one that thousands enjoy each year instead of millions. Here's hoping I return yet again in the not distant future.
One of the cool things about the fact that the area remains unknown to the vast majority of Americans, is that it's easy to find places to be nude without having to hike miles off the beaten path. This spot is perhaps 300 meters from that (relative) beaten path and yet I felt quite isolated. I spent a few hours here, relaxed and unconcerned with being seen. Of course, the main attraction isn't the naturism, but the nature.
I love the palate of color in the photo, though it was difficult to process owing to the high-contrast, including a very dark merman. Incidentally, this is a Pano combing two (vertically oriented) photos.
This fellow was eating some cuttlefish eggs and didn't liked the fact I was trying to capture that, so he tried to chase me away.. Not before I get my shot la. :-)
Working on photos from the pass with a desert theme.
Interesting Facts
The Gila monster is a species of venomous lizard native to the Southwestern United States and the northwestern Mexican state of Sonora. It is a heavy, typically slow-moving reptile, up to 24” long, and is the only venomous lizard native to the United States.
Facts:
The male Eastern Bluebird displays at his nest cavity to attract a female. He brings nest material to the hole, goes in and out, and waves his wings while perched above it. That is pretty much his contribution to nest building; only the female Eastern Bluebird builds the nest and incubates the eggs.
Eastern Bluebirds typically have more than one successful brood per year. Young produced in early nests usually leave their parents in summer, but young from later nests frequently stay with their parents over the winter.
Eastern Bluebirds occur across eastern North America and south as far as Nicaragua. Birds that live farther north and in the west of the range tend to lay more eggs than eastern and southern birds.
Eastern Bluebirds eat mostly insects, wild fruit and berries. Occasionally, Eastern Bluebirds have also been observed capturing and eating larger prey items such as shrews, salamanders, snakes, lizards and tree frogs.
The oldest recorded Eastern Bluebird was 10 years 5 months old.
Steel and Plastic. We are all entitled to our opinions, even to our idiosyncrasies and superstitions - unhelpful as they may sometimes be. But we are not entitled to our facts. Facts are not matters of personal choice but of public debate.
They were oblivious to the fact that suddenly they had entered the 5th Dimension. "Please, mind your step ladies."
(A destra qui.)
September 18, 2019 – the offer www.flickr.com/photos/51192881@N00/48952476853/in/datetaken/
October 1, 2019 the payment $4,000 “friends and family” www.flickr.com/photos/51192881@N00/48949342351/in/photost...
Oct 19th - Oct 20th (almost 3 weeks later) buyer blocked with no tracking. He makes a post on wclub with a screenshot (the tiny screenshot that appears int the texts above) showing that he had paid $4,000- that the seller had blocked him on facebbook, Instagram and Flickr – and to date, had not actually mailed his dolls- she labels him "liar and scammer and bully" and sends above text.
She claims that only after she had shipped the buyer opened a paypal dispute- which she won
flickr.com/photos/51192881@N00/48987661016/in/datetaken/
But... the tracking showed that she paid for her label on Oct 20th (sunday) and dropped the package at USPS Oct 22. That was after the paypal dispute was long over.
2nd story- after she shipped the dolls and after buyer opened a paypal dispute, she was able to "intercept" the package and swap out the grails for something he "deserved"
Then it was pointed out that there is no "package intercept" for USPS international mail ....
3rd story- her neighbor the postal master was able to get the package for her so she could swap out the dolls.
evidently violating: www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1708
Now she just admits she never sent the dolls and laughs at him (See her flickr page- there is only one rant still up)
when you're cruising in the flight levels and the GPWS-autocallout says "one-thousand" with authority, it does get your attention!!!
(even though we knew it's coming-in fact we were betting if we would get it or not:)
Monday Healthy Fact
Lemons contain a high amount of vitamin C, soluble fiber, and plant compounds that give them a number of health benefits. Lemons may aid weight loss and reduce your risk of heart disease, anemia, kidney stones, digestive issues, and cancer. {Sharing The Knowledge}
REFERENCE: www.healthline.com/nutrition/6-lemon-health-benefits
Facts about Japan using Japanese calligraphy (shodo) to give a brief insight into Japanese cities. June 2016
Street scene from Rawalpindi, inside the "old" city. This is not a tourist "souk" or bazaar, in fact, you never see any foreigner ! People are all the more happy to see you, discuss (even if it's in a broken english) and often, offer you tea ;-)
Merci de lire les explications en début d'album / Please read the explanations at the beginning of the set
Part of Pakistani Lifestyle (Recommended as a slideshow)
My first glimpse of Lubbers was a delightful surprise! Each morning I walk the same route through my neighborhood and that day for the first time, there were tiny navy blue hoppers scrambling along the edges and valleys of a sunlit Agave.
I had no experience taking pictures of insects in general, or these tiny creatures in particular, so their sudden appearance opened up a new world for me. And I must confess, macro-shooting them day by day made me fall in love with them and their life cycle. Every morning, I walked past that spot and the fun began! Those little navy hoppers ate and ate and grew larger and larger. Once they finished off the tender green Agave, they moved over to a nearby Crinum Lily which looked worse and worse as they devoured it leaf by leaf.
Then one morning I discovered something new… one of my navy Lubbers had turned to gold.. and grown much larger! Was this a female and were the navy ones males, or what? The researcher in me went into action, urged on by the fact that lots of you seemed to be curious too!
Like all grasshoppers, Eastern Lubbers molt, as nymphs, through successive stages or instars. Lubbers go through a total of five instars of 15 to 20 days each before molting to the golden adult stage. So I had one of my answers… the golden one was simply more mature… a later instar or shed.
I found my Lubbers to be amazingly friendly… coming out to see me when I couldn’t see them… even in the rain. Peeking around leaves to make sure I was still there. Not hopping away when I took their picture, even though my flash was clearly annoying them.
Females, I learned, begin laying eggs during the summer months. After mating, they use the tip of their abdomen to dig a small hole in a suitable patch of soil. At a depth of about two inches, she deposits up to 50 eggs in a light foamy froth. Each female lays from one to three egg masses which remain in the ground through late fall and winter and begin hatching in March. The young Lubbers crawl up out of the soil and congregate on food sources in the area the female Lubber has wisely chosen for them.
Over the winter, my Lubbers were gone. Last winter was unusually cold so instead of hatching in March, I didn’t see any until early April. But then they were back... tiny navy ones by the thousands overnight! Knowing more about their life cycle, I watched their progress more carefully. And even managed to capture pictures of them actually shedding their skin!
For more see my set, Lubbers egg to shed.
Eastern Lubber, Romalea microptera
Crinum Lily