Elf Heaven
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Up on Derwent Edge in the Peak District, the weathered stones take on some strange shapes. This one is popularly known as the Cakes of Bread - it's one of 3 or 4 similar ones standing in a row but at annoying spaces that didn't look great in a collective shot. Definitely a she I think. And struck me as being a rather comical, and now petrified, invading giant.
Detail from-
Volkmar Haase-'Skulptur Fruchtbarkeitsschrein' (steel, 1968)
Berlin-Zehlendorf
Rolleicord Va
Fomapan 200
Adox Rodinal 1+50
Reproductive apparatus of the prolific hibiscus — untidy and spectacular growing to five metres in my Gold Coast hinterland garden. On a misty morning.
Detail from-
Volkmar Haase-'Skulptur Fruchtbarkeitsschrein' (steel, 1968)
Berlin-Zehlendorf
Rolleicord Va
Fomapan 200
Adox Rodinal 1+50
The stone grandfathers, or dol hareubang, in Jeju Stone Park are revered figures in Jeju Island culture, often seen as guardians and protectors. They are believed to offer fertility and ward off evil spirits, serving as symbolic projections of power and authority. These statues, made of volcanic rock, are traditionally placed at entrances or gates.
I composed this image of an abandoned historic farm building while visiting the hamlet of Rowley, Alberta (population 11), a place now characterized as an Alberta ghost town.
For those interested, the history of this town is presented below.
Rowley (like many other prairie towns) was settled around 1910 by the families of nearby farmers to efficiently collect and load farm products onto trains bound for Calgary. The soils in the Rowley region are ideal for agriculture due to their high fertility.
It wasn’t long before the town of Rowley became a hub of activity: large fields were planted, harvested, and transported through the Rowley train station. Between 1915 and 1929, the local farmers built stores, banks, and other services in town so that they didn’t have to travel long distances to get what they needed. A school, post office, and church were built and Rowley was officially connected by rail to the rest of the province.
The Great Depression experienced across the entirety of North America had no mercy on its relentless tear across western towns. Rowley was no exception to the struggles of widespread drought and market collapse.
The grain industry lost most of its value. Farmers – used to dealing with hardships – toughed the economic ruin out and did their best to provide for their families and continue building the community despite the market. Farmers who had overextended themselves upgrading their farms and livelihoods were left being unable to afford the upkeep of their farm and business in town began to close.
By the 1940s people started packing up their belongings and using that new train station to leave town. Rowley, Alberta was in decline. The municipal district office was moved out of Rowley and fires had leveled many homes and businesses.
When Alberta’s highway system was constructed in the 1950s, Rowley was bypassed entirely and left behind. These roads made it easy for young people to leave Rowley in favour of Drumheller, Calgary, or Edmonton. In the 1950s, both the hotel and curling rink burned down and were never replaced. The school and railway station both closed down in 1965.
Only through extreme (some would say over the top) processing could I bring out the sunrays in the sky, which to me was necessary to create the fairy tale like atmosphere of the place and the moment. The field is sloping slightly up to the right which may deceive you into thinking that the horizon is not straight.
-- Only my contacts can see 'large' --
Snake's Head Fritillary | Fritillaria meleagris | Liliaceae
Explored on 11th June 2017 #06
Samsung NX1 & Kiron 105mm f/2.8 Macro
Wide Open | Manual Focus | Available Light | Handheld
All Rights Reserved. © Nick Cowling 2017.
photo rights reserved by Bâ„®n
The Sanctuary of Truth is a magnificent temple in Pattaya, Thailand, that stands as a tribute to traditional Thai architecture and craftsmanship. The temple is entirely made of wood, with intricate carvings depicting various Hindu and Buddhist deities, as well as ancient Thai mythological figures. The construction of the Sanctuary of Truth began in 1981 and is still ongoing. The temple covers an area of over two hectares and is over 100 meters tall. It was designed by a local businessman named Lek Viriyaphant. The Sanctuary of Truth is not affiliated with any specific religion, but rather serves as a symbol of the unity of all religions and beliefs. It is a peaceful and tranquil place where visitors can reflect and appreciate the beauty of Thai culture and tradition. The Sanctuary of Truth also serves as a cultural and educational center. It hosts various workshops and events throughout the year, aimed at promoting traditional Thai arts and crafts. In Thai culture, goddesses are often depicted with bare breasts as a symbol of fertility, abundance and caring. This is a common motif in many Asian cultures and also appears in Indian and Balinese art, for example.
The left hall in the Sanctuary of Truth is an impressive wooden structure that resembles a cathedral. The hall has an imposing height of about 30 meters and is decorated with numerous statues and sculptures depicting Thai mythology and history. With high arches, vaults and elaborate carvings, it is reminiscent of Gothic architecture. Built using traditional woodworking techniques, the hall has over 100 beautiful carvings and sculptures depicting various aspects of Buddhism, Hindu mythology, and Thai culture. It represents the birth of life and humanity. It contains statues and sculptures depicting the creation of humanity, the earth and the cosmos. It is a fascinating place to visit for anyone interested in Thai culture and history, and who appreciate the beauty of traditional woodworking and architecture. There are images of gods and goddesses, Buddhist teachings and symbols of life and nature. Another interesting feature of the interior of the left hall is the large central atrium, which is lit by a skylight. This atrium serves as a kind of sanctuary, where visitors can meditate. In general, the inside of the left hall is a wonderful example of the rich Thai culture and history, and the wood carving techniques used to create it are very impressive.
The Sanctuary of Truth is een prachtige tempel in Pattaya, Thailand, die een eerbetoon is aan de traditionele Thaise architectuur en vakmanschap. De tempel is volledig gemaakt van hout, met ingewikkeld houtsnijwerk dat verschillende hindoeïstische en boeddhistische godheden uitbeeldt, evenals oude Thaise mythologische figuren. In de Thaise cultuur worden godinnen vaak afgebeeld met blote borsten als symbool van vruchtbaarheid, overvloed en zorgzaamheid. De bouw van het Sanctuary of Truth begon in 1981 en is nog steeds aan de gang. De tempel heeft een oppervlakte van ruim twee hectare en is meer dan 100 meter hoog. Het is ontworpen door een lokale zakenman genaamd Lek Viriyaphant. The Sanctuary of Truth is niet gelieerd aan een specifieke religie, maar dient eerder als een symbool van de eenheid van alle religies en overtuigingen. Het is een vredige en rustige plek waar bezoekers de schoonheid van de Thaise cultuur en traditie kunnen overdenken en waarderen. De linker hal in de Sanctuary of Truth is een indrukwekkende houten structuur die lijkt op een kathedraal. Met hoge bogen, gewelven en uitgebreide houtsnijwerk versieringen doet dit denken aan gotische architectuur. Het vertegenwoordigt de geboorte van het leven en de mensheid. Het bevat beelden en sculpturen die de schepping van de mensheid, de aarde en de kosmos weergeven. Het is een fascinerende plek om te bezoeken voor iedereen die geïnteresseerd is in de Thaise cultuur en geschiedenis, en die de schoonheid van traditionele houtbewerking en architectuur waarderen. Er zijn afbeeldingen van goden en godinnen, boeddhistische leerstellingen en symbolen van het leven en de natuur. Een ander interessant kenmerk van de binnenkant van de linker hal is het grote centrale atrium, dat wordt verlicht door een dakraam. Dit atrium dient als een soort van heiligdom, waar bezoekers kunnen mediteren en ontspannen
"One is constantly reminded of the infinite lavishness and fertility of Nature—inexhaustible abundance amid what seems enormous waste. And yet when we look into any of her operations that lie within reach of our minds, we learn that no particle of her material is wasted or worn out. It is eternally flowing from use to use, beauty to yet higher beauty; and we soon cease to lament waste and death, and rather rejoice and exult in the imperishable, unspendable wealth of the universe."
— John Muir
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Thanks a lot for visits and comments, everyone... Have a nice week...!
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The traditionell Flitscheler symbolizes fertility. Note the dress which they wear inside out. Leaves of corncobs are sutured to their suits. Image taken during the Wampelerreiten in Axams, 2018.
Crooked River Canyon,
Smith Rock State Park, Oregon
One of the "7 Wonders of Oregon"
Can't say it any better than this writer, well said:
"..... a gorgeous cathedral of rock in the high desert of eastern Oregon. ...... hiking up Misery Ridge to Monkey Face Rock and along Crooked River. Rock climbers dotted the cliff faces and fellow hikers filled the dusty trails. The hike was steep and the day was hot, but the sheer beauty of Smith Rock erased every trace of discomfort, leaving me awestruck of this sacred place."
--- Jamie Hale, The Oregonian/Oregonian Live, 12/30/2018
DSC04510
Bled, Slovenia
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The Pannonian Plain is a large plain in Central Europe that remained when the Pliocene Pannonian Sea dried out. It is a geomorphological subsystem of the Alps-Himalaya system.
The river Danube divides the plain roughly in half.
The plain is divided among Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine.
The plain is roughly bounded by the Carpathian mountains, the Alps, the Dinaric Alps and the Balkan mountains.
Although rain is not plentiful, it usually falls when necessary and the plain is a major agricultural area; it is sometimes said that these fields of rich loamy loess soil could feed the whole of Europe. For its early settlers, the plain offered few sources of metals or stone. Thus when archaeologists come upon objects of obsidian or chert, copper or gold, they have almost unparalleled opportunities to interpret ancient pathways of trade.
The precursor to the present plain was a shallow sea that reached its greatest extent during the Pliocene, when three to four kilometres of sediments were deposited.
The plain was named after the Pannonians, a northern Illyrian tribe. Various different peoples inhabited the plain during its history. In the first century BC, the eastern parts of the plain belonged to the Dacian state, and in the first century AD its western parts were subsumed into the Roman Empire. The Roman province named Pannonia was established in the area, and the city of Sirmium, today Sremska Mitrovica, Serbia, became one of the four capital cities of the Roman Empire in the 3rd century.
I love these little guys! Just goes to show that some cultures love plump, and some love skinny - twas even so in the days before the fashion mags!!
52 in 2017 33 Historic
Necropolis Gully Fertility as stone
The only sound in the deep quiet of the crevice was the crunch of my boots on the debris-strewn ground. Towering stone walls, draped in vibrant green moss, rose on either side, making me feel like an intruder in a forgotten tomb. My matte-black suit, a product of a future this place could never have imagined, felt profane against the ancient rock.
Then I saw it: a weathered, silent figure standing in the path. It was a statue of a woman, carved from the same stone as the gully but shaped with clear intent. Moss crept up its base and clung to its form like a second skin. This impossible artifact, an architectural anomaly in this raw, natural fissure, stopped me. My steady, determined posture belied the storm of questions raging in my mind. The statue stared forward with blank, unseeing eyes, a silent witness to a history I had just stumbled into. My mission was to find my crew, but this place, this silent, stone woman, was a new, unexpected variable in an equation I couldn't begin to solve.
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