This double crested cormorant did a few circles of the lake to gain altitude before it finally left the area. Gave me a few passes at it. Didn't nail the focus, but I liked the dynamic pose enough to post it.

Fort Gaines is a historic fort on Dauphin Island, Alabama, United States. It was named for Edmund Pendleton Gaines. Established in 1821, it is best known for its role in the Battle of Mobile Bay during the American Civil War. Wikipedia

Dauphin Island, AL

Sedge Warbler

they gain an understanding of the mutual attraction of rain and weekends :-)

Arnot Sheppard

HPPT!! Liberty and Justice for all!! Resist! Vote!

hybrid camellia, 'Egao Corkscrew', j c raulston arboretum, ncsu, raleigh, north carolina

One of my attempts at the "Macro Mondays" theme "Book".

While Schopenhauer certainly is among my favorite philosophers, this particular book "Aphorismen zur Lebensweisheit" seemed like a bunch of random thoughs by a highly flawed individual with a significant lack of empathy and other social skills to me at the time I‘ve read it.

Not sure why it gained any popularity... If you want aphorisms, do yourself a favor and read Kafka‘s "Zürauer Aphorismen" - they are so much better.

Shot with an Agfa D-Lab Zoom lens on a Canon EOS R5.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Introduction

Gospel Hymn “Those Who Don’t Accept the Truth Aren’t Fit for Salvation”

I

In hearing truth and word of life,

you may think only one word aligns

out of thousands of these words

with your thoughts and with the Bible, the Bible.

Seek in that 10,000th of words.

God advises humbleness,

to not be over-confident, to not exalt yourself.

Aren’t you unfit for God’s salvation

if you can’t accept truth clearly spoken?

Aren’t you one who lacks the fortune

to return before God at His throne,

to return before God at His throne?

II

Holding such meager reverence for God

will gain you greater light, greater light.

If you vet and ponder these words,

you’ll see if it’s truth, if it’s life, if it’s life.

Don’t blindly condemn God’s words

’cause of false Christs in the last days.

Do not blaspheme Holy Spirit

’cause you fear being led astray.

Aren’t you unfit for God’s salvation

if you can’t accept truth clearly spoken?

Aren’t you one who lacks the fortune

to return before God at His throne,

to return before God at His throne?

III

After much seeking and studying,

if you still think these words are not

the truth, the way, or God’s expressions,

you’ll be punished, your blessing’s lost, lost.

Aren’t you unfit for God’s salvation

if you can’t accept truth clearly spoken?

Aren’t you one who lacks the fortune

to return before God at His throne,

to return before God at His throne?

from Follow the Lamb and Sing New Songs

Recommended for you: Best Christian Movie

Image Source: The Church of Almighty God

as he enters the water and begins his pursuit with laser focus

Hefty hefty hefty!!!!

After gaining this horse's trust, I managed to get in a bit closer for some details.

I really like the composition and eye detail in this shot. No crop here, just up close and personal!

Nikon F3

Nikon 105mm f/2.5

Kodak TMax 400

Developed in Ilfosol 3

A faschinating little shop by this name, found along George Street, along my driving route to work.

I haven't actually been inside yet, just stopped to shoot its title mural along the side of the building.

The Tide was out this morning at 9.09 and two hours later it was slowly gaining again on the long sandy and Covidempty beach. Here's a view from the so-called Kruisberg Beach at Heemskerk looking north towards well-known Castricum aan Zee. I've been here many times, and my cameras agree with me that no view is the same...

Christian testimonies | What Salvation Is and How It’s Gained From God

Being saved by God isn’t the same as being rescued. It’s not aid given to the poor by the rich, it’s not a doctor saving the life of a patient, and it’s not the loving help of a kind person or a charitable organization. God’s salvation is prepared for the sake of saving mankind and it is overflowing with God’s great love and mercy for humanity. Gaining it means that we are able to accept God’s salvation, obey His current words and work, put God’s words into practice, comply with God’s way, as well as do things and conduct ourselves in accordance with His requirements. This is the only way we can gain God’s salvation.

Recommended for You: What is salvation

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butterfly from last year processed with new method

I've always been deeply impacted by the loss of rock stars...not those that have tragically taken their own lives through drugs...but those that have now more frequently begun to show the natural evolution of human mortality. Yesterday a case in point. I reckon it's because they have been friends for what is now a very long time...and in some ways better friends than most in that they have always been there in time of need at the spin of a turntable or the push of a button. And as Led Zeppelin said, "Good times, bad times, you know I've had my share." And we, who Steve Miller called "Children of the Future," growing up in the '60s and '70s took our music seriously. And we have been loyal to it throughout the decades. In our minds, nothing has nor will ever compare.

In recent years, the passing of rock icons through natural causes has brought the somewhat astonishing recognition that the future has arrived...and with it all the annoying symptoms of human frailty and seniority. They are losses of consequence, and, for me, cause for much reflection and thought as to a life lived.

And yet, just a few weeks ago, my Grandson entered the world...and today word that a valued contact named Marilyn was overjoyed at the arrival of a Grandaughter. These of course are the gains some of us are fortunate enough to experience. These remind of the hopes and dreams and expectations that we had for ourselves so many years ago -- some fulfilled, some denied. We now pass these on to others, still perhaps best expressed by another rock icon -- always best in his Jeff Beck and Faces days...;-))) Life, for now, goes on...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1T9apksOv6k

Rouen (France) Photo datant de 2019, lors d’une des nombreuses manifestations des Gilets Jaunes. Les forces du maintien de l’ordre organisent une souricière pour inciter les casseurs à s’engager dans les rues étroites du centre historique de Rouen. Ceux qui sont sur la photo sont là pour empêcher les manifestants de prendre la fuite par les rues adjacentes.

Quand j’ai vu cette femme au parapluie que les policier venait de laisser passer, je suis immédiatement monté sur un plot en béton pour prendre un peu de hauteur et avoir une meilleure lisibilité de l’ensemble de la scène. Scène qui me semblait incongrue après les violences auxquelles je venais d’assister.

Il est difficile de faire des images sortant de l’ordinaire dans les manifestations. Comme je faisais des photos pour le site internet de France 3, j’avais pour mission de faire des images qu’on ne retrouverait pas le lendemain dans la presse quotidienne. Plus facile à dire qu’à faire, mais comme je n’avais pas d’obligation de résultat, j’ai observé tout ce qui se passait autour de moi, sans aucune pression.

The art of passing between the drops

Rouen (France) Photo from 2019, during one of the Yellow Vests demonstrations. The law enforcement forces are organizing a mousetrap to encourage thugs to enter the narrow streets of the historic city center of Rouen. Those pictured are there to prevent demonstrators from fleeing through adjacent streets.

When I saw this woman with an umbrella that the police had just let pass, I immediately climbed on a concrete pad to gain a little height and have a better readability of the whole scene. A scene that seemed incongruous to me after the violence I had just witnessed.

It is difficult to make original images in the protests. As I was taking pictures for the France 3 website, my mission was to find scenes that we would not find the next day in the daily press. Easier said than done, but as I had no obligation of result, I observed everything that was happening around me, without any pressure

Gaining altitude after takeoff, landing gear not yet retracted.

Gain height to avoid drowning

After walking for a while, you will always find beautiful scenery, experience some things, and always gain something.

Firefighters are gaining the upper hand in controlling the deadly Camp Fire. Smoke continues to pour into Northern California, and conditions have been the worst in the world, particularly in Chico and Sacramento. Air quality improved slightly today in San Francisco, as an onshore flow developed over night. More relief is expected by Tuesday as wind patterns shift, and rain is in the forecast for Wednesday.

My heart aches for the people who have lost family members, friends, homes, communities, and a way of life.

Thanks, as always, for stopping by and for all of your kind comments -- I appreciate them all.

© Melissa Post 2018

Sure hope we all soon can comfortably see aerial views like this again! :)

Have a terrific day, everyone...

..... like Fynnie finally gaining some weight.

Due to various health issues Fynn has become quite skinny over the last months although he always ate enough. He lost more than 4 lbs and was finally down to 7 lbs a few weeks ago. At the moment he receives cortisone because the vet thinks that an IBD causes the weight loss. The cortisone seems to allow him to gain some weight again, about 0.25 lbs so far, and I hope that the progress continues. In this photo he poses next to a can of his special low-allergenic cat food. He eats the contents of the complete can in a single day, which is a lot for a cat of his size. Cleo eats about 50% less and is round as a medicine ball, life is unfair.

Sorry for my absence and for not commenting. I have a tenosynovitis at the moment, quite painful and I can hardly type. As typing is essential for my work I have to do it anyway with the help of painkillers and ice packs. Not a brilliant strategy, I know, but I have deadlines which I have to observe, no matter what. I have decided to abandon or drastically reduce my Flickr activities for a while in order not to make things even worse. I just post Fynn's photo to let you know that we are (more or less) okay. Sorry if I will only comment on a few of your photos, it's really difficult right now.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=weJEgBs6FGQ

Common merganser hen

Jazz

Pacific white-fronted geese after taking off from the Colusa National Wildlife Refuge on their spring migration to the northern reaches of Alaska and Canada. Currently two populations of white-fronted geese are recognized: the Pacific Population and the Mid-Continent Population. Numbers of Pacific Population white-fronted geese have increased steadily over the last decade.

Thanks, as always, for stopping by and for all of your kind comments -- I appreciate them all.

© Melissa Post 2018

Recomece hoje e sempre...

Snuck in an early afternoon workout at The ReNew Fitness Center at The Vistas and about to have my shake, (it's seriously delicious and my fav thing to have after a high intensity workout.)

You guys are going to LOVE this place.

Serenity Studios...

Here we will cater to all of your needs. Mind. Body. Soul

Xo

Have an exciting day, everyone...

10 Year Project

Each month I take a favourite photo from ten years back, and re-edit it, using current tools and knowledge.

This one seems to have gained a little something from the changes in tech. Plus I straightened it better. :-)

On a cold fall day, a bighorn sheep chose to rest on a natural rock bench that had been heated by the sun. It was so content it was chewing its cud while soaking up the sunshine.

You may want to enlarge to see more detail of the sheep but I purposely shot for distance to get a better idea of the setting.

Photographed in the Colorado National Monument, Grand Junction, Colorado.

With an Osprey

After visiting New York i popped over the Brooklyn Bridge to shoot the New York skyline from these derelict piers.

Having no tripod with me, i was grateful for the single metal post that i rested my camera on for 30 seconds to gain this image. I have hoped for a long time to shoot this scene, i think ive managed to pull it off.

I hope you like this as much as me ... please enjoy :-)

Nikon D750

Tamron 24mm-70mm VC F2.8

30 Seconds

iso 100

F11

Lee 6 stop filter

Hitech reverse grad 0.9

If you ask me what was the most difficult day of the Iceland trip, I would without hesitation tell you that the second day we spent on the Laganes Peninsula would win the award. it rained practically all day, you are on the edge of a cliff with winds over 70 miles an hour. You literally wear every piece of clothing you have brought with you and yet, you are still freezing.... Good thing, I had brought chest waders in my suitcase, no matter what they keep you dry ... This being said, if you ask me what was the most memorable day of the trip, I would also say the second day we spent on the Laganes Peninsula... My first encounter with the Gannet and I would have not given up this opportunity no matter what...some may say, that Gannets can be easily seen in other parts of the world and under way better conditions...but as they say, no pain no gain...:)

20302 gains the East Coast main line at Joan Croft Junction and is opened up to get 3S15 Hull to York up to speed. We'd had a great day chasing the 20's on the RHTT workings and this bonus shot rounded things off nicely.

Gaining this ridge, we are already close to the summit. It's quite towards the N-NE.

Exposure 0.013 sec (1/80)

Aperturef/2.8

Focal Length 16.6 mm

ISO Speed 80

Exposure Bias-0.33 EV

Flash Off, Did not fire

Focal Length In 35mm Format100 mm

Scene Capture Type Standard

Gain Control None

Contrast Normal

Saturation Normal

Sharpness Normal

Image Quality High

Firmware Version 0.1.0.18

White Balance Auto

Focus Mode Auto

AFMode 9-area

Image Stabilization On, Mode 1

To gain control of the world of space is certainly one of our tasks. The danger begins when in gaining power in the realm of space we forfeit all aspirations in the realm of time. There is a realm of time where the goal is not to have but to be, not to own but to give, not to control but to share, not to subdue but to be in accord. Life goes wrong when the control of space, the acquisition of things of space, becomes our sole concern.

Nothing is more useful than power, nothing more frightful. We have often suffered from degradation by poverty; now we are threatened with degradation through power. There is happiness in the love of labor; there is misery in the love of gain. Many hearts and pitchers are broken at the fountain of profit. Selling himself into slavery to things, man becomes a utensil that is broken at the fountain.

AS CIVILIZATION ADVANCES, the sense of wonder almost necessarily declines. Such decline is an alarming symptom of our state of mind. Mankind will not perish for want of information, but only for want of appreciation. The beginning of our happiness lies in the understanding that life without wonder is not worth living. What we lack is not a will to believe but a will to wonder.

-Thunder in the Soul To Be Known by God, Abraham Joshua Heschel

African Hoopoe (Upupa africana) is a woodland bird fairly common throughout southern Africa. The diet consists mostly of insects, their larvae and pupae. It occasionally hawks termite alates. The African Hoopoe does not drink and gains all of its moisture requirements from the food it eats.

Linyanti Wildlife Reserve, Botswana

Conservation status: Least concern

Thank you for your views and comments. They are all greatly appreciated.

I was thumbing through the William Price "Western Maryland Steam Album" book with the intent of gaining some day dreaming time, instead I found myself pondering what it would be like to stand on Helmstetters curve when a big 4-8-4 Potomac class came up the grade. Most of my journey through railroad history (and my photo descriptions as a result) tend to lean into a yearn to see railroads in their glory years. This photo then popped into my mind. After being in service for 2 years, I just started shooting the 2102 at Reading and Northern that summer and fall. I did 3 outings to see the thing and enjoyed all of them. The 2102 is big enough to produce power, but not powerful enough to have a seamless run with whatever train you throw at it. The T-1s were built in house by the Reading company using some select parts recycled from other engines. Some call them "rebuilds" because of this. The T-1s were some of the biggest and baddest engines on the Reading minus the light mallets the road rostered. At the end of steam, 5 survived into Reading Rambles excursion service (with one being scrapped for parts during this time period before 1964). Since then they lived on in various states at various places. 2102 runs up the former Reading trackage into the anthracite region and over the former CNJ branch from Haucks to Jim Thorpe in the present day. The run has various grades, bridges, tunnels, and obstacles. North of Tamaqua the trackage starts a hefty climb up to Hometown where it crests downhill to Jim Thorpe. At mile marker 99, at the searchlights installed within the past 10 years, the train's dig into the grade has already begun. You can hear the beating on the rails from lightyears away, it becomes oh so closely sounding but continues to trick the mind. The bellless crossing next to the signals activates. Lights stream around the corner. Then the sounds, A long, a long, "OSJT, Clear signal, 99", a short, a long. The engine, shooting smoke at high velocity out the stack, thunders at the trees and removes their leaves. The approach lit SB signal lights up, rails squeel, the bridge takes on the weight of the engine... you can no longer hear anything... A static takes hold as the exhaust has produced enough sound to pierce your ears. Its loud but silent, the camera clicks away without a detectable sound. Decibels rise, you cannot hear yourself think. You take the camera down and get the friendly wave, they have ear plugs! The shrill passes and then slowly fades. The rail squeals as the clickety clacks fade back in like a studio mix on a 60s hippy song. Marker lights on the rear observation car conclude the show. The crossing lights conclude their flashing, the railfans scurry back to their cars and leave in a hurry, the signal goes back to darkness. Peace has returned to the Schuylkill Valley.

Zeiss 100/2 Makro Planar

In an unknown to many people but conspicuous due to its location church, we usually find peace of mind and tranquility. We communicate our deepest feelings to ourselves and try to nest our prayers and silence as much as we can to look for signs, listen to whispers that reassure us that we are walking the right path.

www.nps.gov/rich/learn/historyculture/gainesmillbull.htm

Kodak TMAX 400

Dauphin Island, Alabama

November 2019

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