Fascinating summer colors near St. John's, NL, Canada.

Thank you for all your kind comments and faves.

for a HMBT!

Seeds of a silver thistle / Silberdistel (Carlina acaulis)

some years ago in Botanical Garden, Frankfurt

Thank you all for taking a look at my images, much appreciated!

for a happy Sunday!

Elephant's tongue / Elefantenohr (Haemanthus albiflos)

in a flowerpot in our garden - Frankfurt-Nordend

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 😊

I spent a few days last week exploring a beautiful part of the Scottish East coast. Many lovely fishing villages and fantastic shoreline geology to explore.

I awoke early one morning to look at this fascinating harbour breakwater. It felt like I should have been catching zzzzs instead of look at them. The sun eventually rose and lit up one side of the harbour wall whilst also painting the clouds for a few minutes.

This five minute exposure used a Haida 15 stop ND and a Lee 3 stop hard grad for the sky. Very little editing here, just some noise reduction was needed.

I really like how the high breakwater casts a long shadow, with warm tones and cold tones either side.

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I wish you fascinating Sweet July month, my Flickr-Friends

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to watch, leave a comment, favorite, award, invitation to the group

I love every part of you, every thought, every word. I love the entire you, fascinating bundle of all the things you are.. Thank you for what you give to me. You are truly an extraordinary gift.. Happy Birthday ♥

www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYoBPo9qYAw

I always find the results of using filters fascinating, especially on long exposures.

They can create a calmness to a turbulent sea, create movement in the clouds, almost totally changing what you actually see.

Thaïland Sunset - ND10 + ND64 (And a bit PS this time... ;-))

West side of Koh Tao island

Depuis le Gabarot "Le Cinquième Vent", lors d'une sortie "Faune et flore" animée par des passionnés passionnants de l'association "Les Chalandoux du 5ème vent"

From the Gabarot "Le Cinquième Vent", during a "fauna and flora" outing animated by the fascinating enthusiasts of the association "Les Chalandoux du 5ème vent"

www.chalandoux-loire.com/

www.anjou-tourisme.com/fr/diffusio/loisirs/navigation-sur...

www.anjou-vignoble-villages.com/anjou-vignoble-villages-e...

à l'arrière-plan, Église Saint-Maurille de Chalonnes-sur-Loire (Classée MH, 1909) fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89glise_Saint-Maurille_de_Chalo...

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

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.

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 ✰

❤︎︎ TP @Candi Roro Jonggrang Prambanan-Indonesia

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.

Je ne suis ici qu'une ombre transparente, une sorte de copie fragile, un reflet provisoire...

une partie de citation d'André Frossard

I have no idea what this flower/herb/weed is, but I found it fascinating. It was growing in the Culross Palace garden in Culross, Scotland. It seemed like the perfect, spooky plant for Halloween!

"When life is not coming up roses

Look to the weeds and find the beauty hidden within them."

~ L.F. Young

"Corn and grain, corn and grain,

All that falls shall rise again."

~ Wiccan Harvest Chant

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

Scegliete voiiiiiiiiiiiiii

www.deezer.com/track/254441

de.youtube.com/watch?v=8Un6pmJK_ZE&feature=related

www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQHrspjw4aA

My last shot of the shoreline of Liland at the Lofoten Islands. I am impressed how much different kinds of stones come together at this place. I can't wait to come back in that fascinating area.

Mein letztes Foto vom Strand von Liland auf den Lofoten. Beeindruckend für mich ist, wie viele unterschiedliche Gesteinsarten hier zusammen kommen. Ich kann es kaum erwarten wieder in diese faszinierende Gegend zurück zu kehren.

www.shoot-to-catch.de

This is a spider wasp with a Wolf spider. I have not been able to identify what type of spider wasp it is, apparently there are many different types. Here in southern Arizona we have one by the name of Tarantula Wasp, which preys on Tarantulas. They are much larger and have orange wings. The wasp in the photo has stung this spider. When I came across them the wasp was dragging the spider across the ground, heading for her nest. The horrifying part of this story is, the venom of the wasp does not kill the spider, it paralyzes it. After stinging and paralyzing the spider, the wasp drags it to its nest where it lays eggs inside the spider. When the wasp larva hatch inside the spider, they eat it alive. I took this photo at Gilbert Water Ranch in Gilbert Arizona.

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 aura of mystery

Intriguing ?

Look up into a white pine, and with a little luck you’ll see the nests of bald eagles near Wild Walk. This is your chance to climb into one of those nests. It’s the highest point of Wild Walk, and you’re invited to rest here and look out across a forest that stretches as far as you can see. It’s home to trillions of lives, spinning away forever. We share this world with all those lives. It’s fascinating to sit in the nest of a great bird, and absorb the view and all it houses.

Birds of prey are fascinating and majestic animals. They can generally be defined as birds that feed on animals that they catch alive. Representatives of these two orders can be found almost everywhere in the world. Although these groups are distantly related, the behavioural and anatomical characteristics they share appear to be mainly the result of parallel evolution.

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.

This MM theme went round and round (no pun intended) in my head all day. After an exhausting day and an accidental after-dinner nap on the sofa 😱, I decided on the simplest thing I could get my hands on. A thimble, which lights nicely and creates its own bokeh. I'm still not sure it's the best thing I could've come up with in the (rather limited) time I've had over the past week, but here it is anyway.

Fascinating birds these Western Marsh Harriers

Location: Friesland, the Netherlands

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Texture by Distressed Jewell; thank you

couldn't help making this shot

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.

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

Taken in Ladakh Himalayas, India

Thank you all for taking a close look at all of my images, its much appreciated!

This fascinating Green Iguana was found inside the butterfly farm, of all places. We got quite the show as she made her way along the top lattice, eating leaves, and then climbing down to walk along the foot path. (See pics below)

I was told that her and the male are usually found lounging around in the same spot most of the day and rarely come down to the ground.

I don't recall ever seeing these flowers with the white petals before! They go through so many stages that it's difficult to keep track. They are fascinating flowers.

Better on black & fullscreen : )

Fascinating Iceland -

in the South - near Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, part of the glacier from Vatnajökull left behind

new raw processing with LR 12 and pure raw

Faszinierendes Island - auf der Fahrt zur Gletscherlagune Jökulsárlón

neue raw-Entwicklung mit LR 12 und pure raw

fascinating contrasts of nature.