Oddities and Random Treasures
View allAll Photos Tagged fascinating
Deer are fascinating to watch and I'm so pleased to have captured this wee behaviour from this impressive Red Deer stag. He was so permanently furious and stompy but mesmerising to watch and capture with my camera. It isnt just deer who do this (Big cats and horses do this too) but it is a known behaviour for scenting females and whilst the stag looks like he is sneering, he stretches his neck, lifts his nose and curls his top lip, maximising exposure to air containing pheromones to his vomeronasal organ, (located in the roof of his mouth). This helps him detect Doe's in Oestrus.
Nature is truly incredible.
Switzerland, May 2021
My best photos are here: www.lacerta-bilineata.com/ticino-best-photos-of-southern-...
My latest ANIMAL VIDEO (warning, it's a bit shocking): www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T2-Xszz7FI
You find a selection of my 80 BEST PHOTOS (mostly not yet on Flickr) here: www.lacerta-bilineata.com/western-green-lizard-lacerta-bi... (the website exists in ESPAÑOL, FRANÇAIS, ITALIANO, ENGLISH, DEUTSCH)
ABOUT THE PHOTO:
So this photo is a bit of a novelty for me - at least here on Flickr, but it's also a journey back in time in a sense. I've always loved b/w and sepia photography; already as a very young teenager I would go out into the woods with an old Pentax Spotmatic (which I had nicked from my father) whenever it was a foggy day to shoot b/w compositions of sunbeams cutting through the ghostlike trees.
I used films with a sensitivity of at least 1600 (for those of you who remember what that means 😉 ), and the resulting photos had an incredibly fine grain which I loved; I blew them up to the size of posters and hung them on the walls of my teenage man-cave next to Hendrix, Jim Morrison and Slash.
But then I abandoned photography altogether for 20 years, and when I finally picked up a camera again, it was one of the digital kind. Now neither film nor grain played any role in my photographic endeavours - let alone b/w compositions: because the reason I fell in love with shooting pictures once more was the rare and incredibly colorful lizard species that had chosen my garden as its habitat.
It's this species - the Lacerta bilineata aka the western green lizard - that my photo website www.lacerta-bilineata.com/ and also my Flickr gallery are dedicated to, but I've since expanded that theme a bit so that it now comprises the whole Lacerta bilineata habitat, which is to say my garden and its immediate surroundings and all the flora and fauna I find in it.
I like that my gallery and the website have this clear theme, because in order to rise to the challenge of portraying all aspects of a very specific little eco system (which also happens to be my home of sorts), it forces me to constantly explore it from fresh angles, and I keep discovering fascinating new motives as my photographic journey continues.
Which brings me to the horse pasture you see in this photo. This playground for happy horsies lies just outside my garden, and it normally only interests me insofar as my green reptile friends claim parts of it as their territory, and I very much prefer it to be horseless (which it thankfully often is).
Not that the horses bother the reptiles - the lizards don't mind them one bit, and I've even seen them jump from the safety of the fly honeysuckle shrub which the pasture borders on right between the deadly looking hooves of the horses to forage for snails, without any sign of fear or even respect.
No, the reason I have a very conflicted relationship with those horses is that they are mighty cute and that there's usually also foals. The sight of those beautiful, happy animals jumping around and frolicking (it's a huge pasture and you can tell the horses really love it) is irresistible: and that inevitably attracts what in the entire universe is known as the most destructive anti-matter and ultimate undoing of any nature photographer: other humans.
Unlike with the horses, the lizards ARE indeed very much bothered by specimens of loud, unpredictable Homo sapiens sapiens - which makes those (and by extension also the horses) the cryptonite of this here reptile photographer. It's not the horses' fault, I know that, but that doesn't change a thing. I'm just telling you how it is (and some of you might have read about the traumatic events I had to endure to get a particular photo - if not, read at your own risk here: www.flickr.com/photos/191055893@N07/51405389883/in/datepo... - which clearly demonstrated that even when it's entirely horseless, that pasture is still a threat for artistic endeavours).
But back to the photo. So one morning during my vacation back in May I got up quite early. It had rained all night, and now the fog was creeping up from the valley below to our village just as the sky cleared up and the morning sun started to shine through the trees.
And just as I did when I was a teenager I grabbed my camera and ran out to photograph this beautiful mood of ghostlike trees and sunbeams cutting through the mist. There had already been such a day a week earlier (which is when I took this photo: www.flickr.com/photos/191055893@N07/51543603732/in/datepo... ), but this time, the horses were also there.
Because of our slightly strained relationship I only took this one photo of them (I now wish I had taken more: talk about missed opportunities), and otherwise concentrated on the landscape. It was only later when I went through all the photos on my computer that I realized that I actually really liked those horses, even despite the whole composition being such a cliché. And I realized another thing: when I drained the photo of all the color, I liked it even better - because there was almost a bit of grain in it, like in the photos from my youth.
Since then I have experimented quite a bit with b/w and sepia compositions (some of which I will upload here eventually I guess), but this photo here is the first one that helped me rediscover my old passion. I hope you like it even though it builds quite a stark contrast with the rest of my tiny - and very colorful - gallery. But in the spirit of showing you the whole Lacerta bilineata habitat (and also in the spirit of expanding my gallery a bit beyond lizards and insects), I think it's not such a bad fit.
As always, many greetings to all of you, have a wonderful day and don't hesitate to let me know what you think 😊
* weiß *
Sie blühen immer nur wenige Tage und dennoch geht von ihnen eine immense Fazsination aus, und - man muss sie nicht gießen ...
They only bloom for a few days and yet they are fascinating and - don't worry, they don't have to be watered...
Thank you very much for all your visits, faves and
kind comments! Much appreciated!
Faszinierende Dolomiten
Das Pordoijoch ist mit einer Scheitelhöhe von 2239 m s.l.m. der zweithöchste mit einer durchgehend asphaltierten Straße versehene Gebirgspass in den Dolomiten Italiens
Fascinating Iceland
After 5 years still enjoying reviewing and editing 3,000 Iceland photos from 2016 -- for the next few weeks 1 x 5 favourites each - from a fascinating island !
Faszinierendes Island
Nach 5 Jahren immer noch Freude am Sichten und Bearbeiten von 3.000 Island-Fotos aus 2016 -- für die nächsten Wochen je 1 x 5 Favoriten - von einer faszinierenden Insel !
The island of San Michele, located in the lagoon close to Venice, has been the city's cemetery since the early nineteenth century.
There's also a church with a peaceful cloister leading to the cemetery.
The Rhesus monkey is a fascinating species and they love to socialize and play with each other. Fortunately for us they are incredibly fascinating to watch and especially when you have the opportunity to see the young and the babies. Yesterday Patsy and I had a great time with Captain Tom who is always great fun to be with and his vast knowledge of the Silver River and the Rhesus monkeys spans thirty years of experience. How blessed we are to know him and to experience this magical place. Thanks Captain Tom !!!!!!!
Wishing you all an awesome and blessed Wednesday !
I really like this sim created by Ary Lukesl
It is tranquil and beautiful.
It truly makes me calm.
Worth a visit! Highly recommend!
✰ info ✰
Flowers of a giant onion, Allium giganteum, growing at the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas, Staffordshire, England. The flowers are arranged in a spherical flower head 5-6in wide.
Happy new week!
Thanks for visiting. I am very grateful to those who take the time to comment or fave.
Common Buckeye – Junonia coenia Common Buckeye butterflies are found in the southern half of the US and the eastern side of the northern half of the United States. There are two similar species. The Mangrove Buckeye Junonia genoveva is found in the southwestern United States and in the southern tip of Florida.
On a fascinating hike with my friend Lothar on the Schynigen Platte with a view of the Oberberghorn (2069 m) above the fog line.
What a gorgeous day! The view of the wonderful panorama changed continuously with the fog. We enjoyed the peaceful silence and the feeling of freedom - such days should never end...
www.flickr.com/photos/136969028@N04/
Panorama image of 7 pictures in triple exposure
Auf einer faszinierenden Wanderung mit meinem Freund Lothar auf der Schynigen Platte mit Blick auf das Oberberghorn oberhalb der Nebelgrenze.
Was für ein grandioser Tag! Die Sicht auf das wundervolle Panorama wechselte mit dem Nebel kontinuierlich. Wir genossen die friedliche Stille und das Gefühl von Freiheit - solche Tage sollten niemals enden…
Wandering the fascinating, cobbled lanes of Old Town in Coimbra, Portugal, I just had to capture the colorful sight of laundry (and in this case, a birdcage) suspended from windows high above.
"We should all do what, in the long run, gives us joy, even if it is only picking grapes or sorting the laundry."
~ E. B. White
Let me tell you the fascinating and dramatic story of this bird island on the west coast of Norway. In the year 1725 a ship from the Netherlands descended here. The ship was loaded with gold. The gold treasure was later found by divers.
Runde has only 150 inhabitants. But every summer, more than 500,000 seabirds come to the island to nest. And tourists from all over Europe come here, either to experience this adventure or to find remnants of the gold treasure.. It is an adventure...
Scegliete voiiiiiiiiiiiiii
Always fascinating to see these falcons "hover" in the air in search of prey.
Cheers!
Location: Friesland, the Netherlands
Please don't use my images on websites or any other media without my permission.
© All rights reserved
Tiger and Turtle, Duisburg
So fascinating, couldn't stop taking pictures from all possible points.
de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_and_Turtle_%E2%80%93_Magic_...
Fascinating Iceland - Mittel-Island, Hochlandpiste Kjölur neben dem Langjökull
Fascinating Iceland - Central Iceland, Kjölur highland track next to Langjökull
new raw processing with LR 12 and pure raw
A fascinating green river in Slovenia, the Soča, it is attracting many visitors every year. The water is so clear that this kayaker seems to float on it.
Captured during Summer 2020
Had 3 beautiful windless days in Lodi where so many people go to view these amazing Sandhill Cranes. I found a deeply plowed divot in this cornfield where these beautiful birds allow me to sit and watch them as they leisurely grazed and at times would go into their 'fascinating mating dances'.
Fascinating, Unsanitary and Disgusting - a Great Place to Be and See.
Oh, and there's a band rehearsing in the bar around the corner, just off to the left, opposite the coffee shop, where they have the bicycle racks, but it's a little hard to tell from the photograph.
Fascinating Iceland - Ice blocks in the glacier lagoon Jökulsárlón
new raw processing with LR 12 and pure raw
Faszinierendes Island - Eisblöcke in der Gletscherlagune Jökulsárlón
neue raw-Entwicklung mit LR 12 und pure raw
Pink Waxcaps or Hygrcybe Calyptriformis are a beautiful and unusual sight. They will appear in undisturbed grasslands either singular or with just two or three together. Taken on Dartmoor by the side of a stream.
Fascinating birds these Western Marsh Harriers
Location: Friesland, the Netherlands
Please don't use my images on websites or any other media without my permission.
© All rights reserved
Snakes - fascinating animals with a worse reputation than they deserve. Highly sensitive, perfect hunters, with a very own beauty. It's always a question of perspective.
Please - No Comment-Codes, "awards", or such groups.
They will be deleted. Explanation at my profile.
I took this shot at Olden, Norway last summer. It’s a lovely little town. You just has to walk around to discover amazing landscapes.
Happy Saturday for Stairs!
South Queensferry was once the main point to board ferries over to Fife and is still a port today, although the boats are now destined for the islands of the Forth.
Take a boat tour to travel under the Forth Bridge and explore the wildlife and history of the islands. You can even land on Inchcolm, which is home to both a 12th century abbey and the fascinating remnants of Second World War defences.
Dalmeny House and Hopetoun House are two fine stately homes located on the outskirts of South Queensferry, and both are excellent attractions which boast lovely grounds, impressive architecture and historic artefacts.
The town is also a great place to start a coastal walk by joining the John Muir Way and following it through Dalmeny Estate and towards Cramond village.
The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2,300 kilometres over an area of approximately 344,400 square kilometres. The reef is located in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland, Australia. The Great Barrier Reef can be seen from outer space and is the world's biggest single structure made by living organisms. This reef structure is composed of and built by billions of tiny organisms, known as coral polyps. It supports a wide diversity of life and was selected as a World Heritage Site in 1981. The Great Barrier Reef has long been known to and used by the Aboriginal Australian and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and is an important part of local groups' cultures and spirituality. The reef is a very popular destination for tourists, especially in the Whitsunday Islands and Cairns regions. Tourism is an important economic activity for the region, generating over A$3 billion per year. 22972