View On Black

Yeah... Today wasn't anything special. I stayed after with my History teacher and had a good time. I told him that I needed him for my photography project and he let me take some photos of him. Eh, they turned out alright I suppose.

I'm still getting compliments on my hair, haha. I like it ^^ Each day I grow more and more fond of it. If my aunt was still alive and living with us, she would have said something like, "Oh, why did you cut your hair? I liked it long. I don't like it short." But then she'd warm up to it. She always did. And I loved her for it. Still do.

I went to karate early, before the Tiny Tigers and Shihan helped me with my nunchaku. We ran through my new kata and line drills. I smacked myself in the back of the head doing my kata, haha. I started laughing, and I just told my mom. She cringed haha.

"Bob" was at karate and we had a good time in class like usual. Then his father gave me a ride home, which was nice of them. Oh yeah, I have to tell everyone his father says hello... I'll tell them later, haha.

Oh, I thought this was appropriate because I have a slight anger issue ^^ Thanks Dad -.-

"I always thought that I can trust you

But I guess that's not the case

All the years that I loved you

You were out there playing the games

GO!"

("Live This Down" by Papa Roach.) Their new album is pretty good. I'm listening to it right now. It's called "Metamorphosis".

As the number of foreclosures continue to mount, vast swaths of American cities are becoming deserted. In some places, more than a quarter of available rentals sit empty, while other systems have largely resisted the trend. Our latest Transparency is a look at the 10 most vacant and most occupied metropolitan areas for both houses and rental apartments. It looks like you could get a great deal in Memphis.

SOURCE: U.S. Census

A collaboration between GOOD and Zut Alors, Inc.

Click here to view the full transparency.

Well that was my hardest and slowest Wycombe Rye parkrun in a long long time finishing in 31:56 and a bloody good reminder of where I was some time ago. I’ve been celebrating new achievements but today was a set-back as I struggled with a chest ache which started around the 1km marker but I could control by walking and use of the GTN spray, hence the slower time.

I would like to thank Josephine Chaplin for staying with me for the last 2km and the other lady buying me a bottle of Lucozade. Thank you to every one for your concern, I am fine now.

There were probably a few contributing factors which I shall bare in mind on future runs:

• I started at probably a too fast pace keeping up with Warren Bennet, but fell back from 1km once I started feeling discomfort.

• It was very humid making breathing more difficult.

• Overuse of the GTN spray, some really bad dizzy spells at the finish.

• Unlike the last few weeks I didn’t carry water around with me.

Blog covering this period ... peterjemmett.blogspot.com/2019/10/heart-attack-to-10k-par...

Marble Canyon is the second hardest place to reach at the Death Valley National Park in California, behind the extremely hard to reach Racetrack Playa (a place we could not visit on this trip due to the access being shut down).

You reach Marble Canyon after an hour of bone-rattling drive on a dirt road totally conditioned by the Washboard effect. No rental car agency will allow this off-road access, which means in addition to your body, your automobile also takes a beating. So you need a dirt roadworthy SUV, preferably one that is so beat up that you no longer care.

The reward for your troubles is worth it – an amazing walk through a canyon that no photograph can do justice to. It does not have the panache of some of the swirling orange rocks at Zion National Park, but the blue walls and rocks of Marble Canyon are unique in their own way.

The best time to visit is in the afternoon, but not so late that you get caught there when it gets dark. Also, it is highly recommended that you travel in a group, with at least two, maybe three cars. That way, if there's any breakdown, you have people who can lend a hand.

For the most part, Marble Canyon is easy walking, but there are a couple of places that require steep climbing. You don't have to be super athletic to manage it, but a certain basic level of fitness is necessary. There are places you will likely need to use your tripod or hiking poles for support, and good hiking boots with superior traction are mandatory.

There is a myriad of things you can photograph here, ranging from the macro to the micro. As we walked through the canyon, I took a lot of photos of whatever caught my fancy. Even after culling my raw shots, I still ended up with some 50+ images.

I don't have a way to condense them down to a half dozen "best photos", so I'm just going to make it a virtual tour and publish them all. That way, anyone considering a visit should have a reasonably good feel for the place.

Don't feel compelled to comment, just enjoy the virtual tour!

D303 7R308618

Early August of 2019... and January of 2020... were two of the hardest times of our lives. At the end of July we learned that we were going to have our 2nd child. We were scared but excited. When August came some signs indicated things weren't alright so we got checked and discovered my wife had a miscarriage at 5 and 1/2 weeks. I will never forget when we saw the empty ultrasound.

Later on we began having trouble with our church in East Palo Alto at the time and began to see how ungracious and toxic that community was. In the midst of figuring out whether or not we should leave, we had a second miscarriage in January. Thankfully we have left that community and are now part of a loving and gracious church family close to where we live.

What got us through this hard time was our faith in God. We found peace and joy and hope in the midst of such tragedy and loss. I decided to build this to remind myself as well as shed light on a very common and painful experience many families go through. Let's end the stigma of miscarriage and talk about it. If you have experienced a miscarriage I am here to listen and talk if you want to. I hope that this can encourage others through their loss. You are not alone and though it is painful and hard, there can be peace, joy, and hope.

17 / 100 : Unique

Ok, i had the hardest time ever choosing which portrait to post from yesterday's session.

As some of you might know, i decided to choose and post only ONE portrait of stranger for every single time i go out shooting.

Pushes me to build up and maintain a standard of quality in this 100 Strangers® Project.

And sometimes, this works miracles : you get home, make a preliminary selection, post-produce 6 / 7 portraits and then, with a good cup of steaming coffee and a bag of patience, stare at them and find out which one to upload.

But no, yesterday things decided not to go smoothly.

Starting form the afternoon itself: during the summer, some areas of Rome are completely DESERT.

Most people working and living in Rome take the chance to go to the sea or to the countryside to relax and escape the heat, and the few left in town play a game of "Hide-and-NOT-seek" with the blazing sun. All what's left usually is tourists. And me.

Which, to be fair, it's not too bad of a situation to go out shooting strangers.

The city centre is packed of tourists form all over the world, which makes it even more interesting.

So i hopped on my bike before lunch to head over the centre but... Hey, surprise, flat tyre!

Subway wasn't looking so good either, knowing that it would have probably been packed and around 200°.

Walking was the only option. So I did. And in doing so, i broke the sole of my ONLY PAIR OF SHOES. Nice.

Anyhow, if we forget for a moment the technical difficulties, i spent some nice 5 + hours downtown shooting portraits like crazy. Interesting people everywhere, but the light itself wasn't looking too flattering.

Long story short, I came home after all of that, selected and post processed a few and... got stuck.

I couldn't decide. The challenge was between this one and another one of a cute girl.

Stayed up until 2am trying to figure out which one to choose. Failed in doing it.

So i called it a day, went to bed just to wake up this morning and realize: i was still stuck.

In the end, what unlocked me form that "omg i can't decide" state was the fact that this one is more unique. In any possible way.

I've seen this guy around Rome a few times already, i even took some photos of him. And from the first time, i've always wanted to take his portrait. But never did.

He's probably homeless.

Yesterday, i saw him walking down the main street of the centre of Rome, whistling and crazy-talking out loud in some weird language. It was the perfect chance.

So i ran towards him, stopped him and asked if i could take his picture.

He didn't answer and stood there.

So i took out the camera, and said "look in the camera". No answer again.

Click.

Not even the time to take down my camera, and he was already gone.

Now that's unique, right?!

Thanks, Stranger!

(As always, check out my Facebook page for all the extras from yesterday!)

Ps: Are you wondering why have i been "absent" form flickr in the last week? Well then, i'm trying to publish a comic/photo book born from a 50 portrait/50 comics project i did this year back in the tool ol' Sapporo. You can check all the infos in the fund raising we site here : www.ulule.com/uncommonstories !)

[This picture is #17 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the 100 Strangers Flickr Group page ]

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Camera Info: Nikon D700 | 85mm (ƒ/1.8D) @ 85mm | ƒ/2.8 | ISO 280 | 1/180 s — Camera Handheld

The hardest button to button

It's been one of the hardest weekends of my life, equal only to being there for Mum when she was sick and watching her get worse. There is nothing harder than watching someone you love get sick and knowing there is little you can do to really help.

This weekend was brutal. On the bright side Dad was so happy to see us. We tried to make it fun by keeping the chat lively, always being in a good mood and making sure Dad had the floor whenever he wanted to speak. He said it was one of the best weekends of his life, which gives us some comfort - but also makes me wonder how bad the rest had been for him if that was one of the best. Leaving him there felt awful. It always did; I've always wanted to bring him home with me but even more so this time.

I'll always wish he had wanted to live back in Melbourne, instead of country NSW. There were so many things I wanted him to experience here. But a friend told me years ago that people live their lives and make their own decisions based on the way they want to live and I'm trying to take comfort in the fact that he was happy where he was, living the life he wanted to live.

I'm so sorry this is happening to you Dad. If I could fix you, I'd do it in a heartbeat. I love you so much.

One of the hardest train to photograph mostly for unfriendly schedule purposes is now seen entering the SLQ Sherbrooke subdivision with a CN Montreal crew on board for Richmond (Québec). Apparently, things will change a bit over the next few months and SLQ will now takeover this operation with their own power.

Poor countries are hit hardest by corruption - but stand to gain the most in stamping out.

On 12 May 2016, Prime Minister David Cameron hosts a landmark international anti-corruption summit in London.

It brings together world leaders, business and civil society to agree a package of practical steps to:

- expose corruption so there is nowhere to hide

- punish the perpetrators and support those affected by corruption

- drive out the culture of corruption wherever it exists.

Find out more at: www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/anti-corruption-summ...

Marble Canyon is the second hardest place to reach at the Death Valley National Park in California, behind the extremely hard to reach Racetrack Playa (a place we could not visit on this trip due to the access being shut down).

You reach Marble Canyon after an hour of bone-rattling drive on a dirt road totally conditioned by the Washboard effect. No rental car agency will allow this off-road access, which means in addition to your body, your automobile also takes a beating. So you need a dirt roadworthy SUV, preferably one that is so beat up that you no longer care.

The reward for your troubles is worth it – an amazing walk through a canyon that no photograph can do justice to. It does not have the panache of some of the swirling orange rocks at Zion National Park, but the blue walls and rocks of Marble Canyon are unique in their own way.

The best time to visit is in the afternoon, but not so late that you get caught there when it gets dark. Also, it is highly recommended that you travel in a group, with at least two, maybe three cars. That way, if there's any breakdown, you have people who can lend a hand.

For the most part, Marble Canyon is easy walking, but there are a couple of places that require steep climbing. You don't have to be super athletic to manage it, but a certain basic level of fitness is necessary. There are places you will likely need to use your tripod or hiking poles for support, and good hiking boots with superior traction are mandatory.

There is a myriad of things you can photograph here, ranging from the macro to the micro. As we walked through the canyon, I took a lot of photos of whatever caught my fancy. Even after culling my raw shots, I still ended up with some 50+ images.

I don't have a way to condense them down to a half dozen "best photos", so I'm just going to make it a virtual tour and publish them all. That way, anyone considering a visit should have a reasonably good feel for the place.

Don't feel compelled to comment, just enjoy the virtual tour!

D303 7R308712

The hardest part for me

is getting the ideas in my head

to connect to my hands

This is best viewed here.

Oh hey I'm actually sticking to my New Year's Resolutions.

I am

~Exercising after school

~Reading the bible/Getting closer to God

~And trying to like myself more

I'm doing pretty good, actually. :DDD

Now I'm off to do homework to keep up with this productive thing I've got going on.

2/52

Marble Canyon is the second hardest place to reach at the Death Valley National Park in California, behind the extremely hard to reach Racetrack Playa (a place we could not visit on this trip due to the access being shut down).

You reach Marble Canyon after an hour of bone-rattling drive on a dirt road totally conditioned by the Washboard effect. No rental car agency will allow this off-road access, which means in addition to your body, your automobile also takes a beating. So you need a dirt roadworthy SUV, preferably one that is so beat up that you no longer care.

The reward for your troubles is worth it – an amazing walk through a canyon that no photograph can do justice to. It does not have the panache of some of the swirling orange rocks at Zion National Park, but the blue walls and rocks of Marble Canyon are unique in their own way.

The best time to visit is in the afternoon, but not so late that you get caught there when it gets dark. Also, it is highly recommended that you travel in a group, with at least two, maybe three cars. That way, if there's any breakdown, you have people who can lend a hand.

For the most part, Marble Canyon is easy walking, but there are a couple of places that require steep climbing. You don't have to be super athletic to manage it, but a certain basic level of fitness is necessary. There are places you will likely need to use your tripod or hiking poles for support, and good hiking boots with superior traction are mandatory.

There is a myriad of things you can photograph here, ranging from the macro to the micro. As we walked through the canyon, I took a lot of photos of whatever caught my fancy. Even after culling my raw shots, I still ended up with some 50+ images.

I don't have a way to condense them down to a half dozen "best photos", so I'm just going to make it a virtual tour and publish them all. That way, anyone considering a visit should have a reasonably good feel for the place.

Don't feel compelled to comment, just enjoy the virtual tour!

D303 7R308689

The hardest part is trying to pour your heart down about a Very Special Person!

I've met A LOT of extraordinary people in my life; I've experienced so many adventures with many,but when it comes to You ..

Time stops, words freezes and all what I see is an unbelievable human.

Just thinking about the happiness you brought to my life makes me so grateful to have you!

We share a strong bond that no one can ever write about :') ♥

We shared the best years of our lives beside eachother & there is more to come !!

I Thank The Disco Queen for our friendship, if It wasn't for her, who knows what will eva happen!

& I Thank God, for blessing me with such family :') I'm so very proud to have you in my blood!

Happy Birthday [ البندري // ♥ QTR

All I wish for is for you to be genuinely happy &Hearts;

I always be right here for you ♥

I Love YOU

- You deserve way much more than a simple picture :'( Believe me! but it's

special since your in it ♥

our series of endless memories …

PART I

PART II

may it grow and be cherished B) ..

The hardest part of making a Moxon vise is mortising the 3/4" nuts in back. I chose to extend the threaded rods in back, bcuz my shop is very small and I need the clearance in front.

The Steel Bridge is a through truss, double-deck vertical-lift bridge across the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon, United States, opened in 1912. Its lower deck carries railroad and bicycle/pedestrian traffic, while the upper deck carries road traffic (on the Pacific Highway West No. 1W, former Oregon Route 99W), and light rail (MAX), making the bridge one of the most multimodal in the world. It is the only double-deck bridge with independent lifts in the world and the second oldest vertical-lift bridge in North America, after the nearby Hawthorne Bridge. The bridge links the Rose Quarter and Lloyd District in the east to Old Town Chinatown neighborhood in the west.

The bridge was completed in 1912 and replaced the Steel Bridge that was built in 1888 as a double-deck swing-span bridge. The 1888 structure was the first railroad bridge across the Willamette River in Portland. Its name originated because steel, instead of wrought iron, was used in its construction, which was very unusual for the time. When the current Steel Bridge opened, it was simply given its predecessor's name.

The 1888 Steel Bridge (upper deck) had been crossed by horse-drawn streetcars from the time of its opening and then by the city's first electric streetcar line starting in November 1889; when the present Steel Bridge opened in 1912, the streetcar lines (all electric by then) moved to it, starting on September 8, 1912. Streetcar service across the Steel continued until August 1, 1948, when the last car lines using it, the Alberta and Broadway Lines, were abandoned. A single line of Portland's once-extensive trolley bus system also used the bridge; the Williams Avenue line crossed the Steel Bridge from February 1937 until October 9, 1949. Many years later, in 1986, electric transit vehicles returned to the bridge in the form of MAX Light Rail and later the Portland Vintage Trolley.

In 1950, the Steel Bridge became an important part of a new U.S. 99W highway between Harbor Drive and Interstate Avenue. Harbor Drive was removed in 1974 and replaced with Tom McCall Waterfront Park.

A westbound MAX Blue Line train crossing the bridge in 2009. Four of the five MAX lines cross the Steel Bridge. More than 600 MAX trips cross the bridge each weekday.

In the mid-1980s, the bridge underwent a $10 million rehabilitation, including construction of the MAX light rail line of TriMet. The span was closed to all traffic for two years, starting in June 1984. It reopened on May 31, 1986. Completion and testing of the light-rail tracks and overhead wires across the bridge took place during the months that followed, and the light rail line opened for service on September 5, 1986.

A single-lane viaduct that connected the bridge's east approach to another viaduct (still in existence) that takes traffic from southbound Interstate 5 to Interstate 84 was closed in 1988 and removed in 1989, as part of roadway changes intended to improve traffic flow around the Oregon Convention Center. The center was under construction at that time and opened in 1990.

The lower deck of the bridge was threatened by major floods in 1948, 1964, and 1996.

In 2001, a 220-foot-long (67 m) and 8-foot-wide (2.4 m) cantilevered walkway was installed on the southern side of the bridge's lower deck as part of the Eastbank Esplanade construction, raising to three the number of publicly accessible walkways across the bridge, including the two narrow sidewalks on the upper deck. The bridge is owned by Union Pacific with the upper deck leased to Oregon Department of Transportation, and subleased to TriMet, while the City of Portland is responsible for the approaches.

An Amtrak Cascades train crossing the bridge

The average daily traffic in 2000 was 23,100 vehicles (including many TriMet buses), 200 MAX trains, 40 freight and Amtrak trains, and 500 bicycles. The construction of the lower-deck walkway connected to the Eastbank Esplanade resulted in a sharp increase in bicycle traffic, with over 2,100 daily bicycle crossings in 2005. MAX traffic has tripled since 2000, when only the Gresham–Hillsboro line (now the Blue Line) was using the bridge, to 605 daily crossings (weekdays) as of 2012. This resulted from the addition of three more MAX lines during that period: the Red, Yellow, Green Lines.

In summer 2008, the upper deck was closed for three weeks to allow a junction to be built at the west end connecting the existing MAX tracks with a new MAX line on the Portland Transit Mall. A change made at that time was that the two inner lanes became restricted to MAX trains only, with cars, buses and other motorized traffic permitted only in the two outer lanes.

In 2012, the Steel Bridge celebrated its 100th birthday. The Oregonian called it the "hardest-working" bridge on the Willamette River: "Cars, trucks, freight trains, buses, Amtrak, MAX, pedestrians, bicycles — you carry it all."

The lift span of the bridge is 211 feet (64 m) long. At low river levels the lower deck is 26 feet (7.9 m) above the water, and 163 feet (50 m) of vertical clearance is provided when both decks are raised. Because of the independent lifts, the lower deck can be raised to 72 feet (22 m), telescoping into the upper deck but not disturbing it. Each deck has its own counterweights, two for the upper and eight for the lower, totaling 9 million lbs. (4,100 metric tons).

The machinery house sits atop the upper-deck lift truss. The operator's room is suspended from the top of the lift-span truss, directly below the machinery house, so that the operator can view river traffic as well as the upper deck. After the 2001 addition of a pedestrian walkway on the lower deck, cameras and closed-circuit television monitors were added to allow the operator to view the lower-deck walkway.

Until the bridge's mid-1980s renovation, the crossing gates blocking the roadway and sidewalks during raising of the upper-deck lift span were manually operated, rotated horizontally across the roadway by two "gate tenders", one on each side of the lift span. Small shacks for the gatekeepers were positioned on the roadway deck, between the inner and outer traffic lanes, but they were removed during the 1980s rebuilding and replaced by a new gate tender house positioned above the roadway, in the west lift tower. Powered crossing gates replaced the manual ones, and operation of the gates is now automated, controlled by the bridge operator.

Source: Wikipedia

If you keep trying you can accomplish any goal. You can do anything if you put ur mind to it.

Like me I was drawing this and almost gave up but I tried a little harder and I did it.

Happy Easter and this is my sunday advice ( And yes I did draw this free hand. I just looked off the computer at a picture and drew it.) This is a shinki her name is at the bottom. ^^

I had the hardest time approaching this manipulation. I couldn't decide what to merge and what to begin with. Finally, I got it to work. I got this globe at a thrift store for two dollars! I have absolutley always wanted one. Oh hey and props to my mom for my peace sign shirt. Oh how we love thrifting.

I have almost reached 30,000 views on my photostream and I cannot thank you all enough. I'm tagging people today. Its just a special little thank you. <3I want to thank every single person who has ever commented, faved, or even looked at my photos. It means so much to me. Without you I would never have made it this far in my 365. I cant wait to continue.

Have a wonderful night and God Bless.

If you haven't liked my Facebook, I'd love you have your support!

New Tumblr.

62/365

One of the hardest model I ever folded from Joel Cooper. I clearly need to get more practice with this kind of masks.. Starting with more accuracy.

.

Is a crazy model to fold, I tell you that (one sheet of paper!?) - but lovely practice. It used to get me angry folding this kind of masks - because of complexity I guess - but now it chills me up (can't believe it actually).

Okay, so I'm done with the 365. I thought I would be able to catch up and have time for it once I quit swim team, but now I have tons of homework, tutorials and work /: So I'll just be posting pictures whenever I feel like it (;

This picture was interesting to take.. my friend Megan and I were planning on doing a photoshoot in some water, but traffic was so bad that we ended up driving on backroads and getting lost. Soooo, we went back to my house and it was pretty dark, but I thought I would try something new and shine my Jeep lights on her and I think it worked pretty well!

Anyways, I was tagged a few times by her, her, anddd her! They rock (:

Ten facts:

1. I am IN LOVE with Andy Samberg. I will marry him one day.

2. I also love SNL. <3 Lonely Island too of course.

3. I like to watch lacrosse. It's intense.

4. I am currently learning a new hip hop dance that I'm actually pretty good at.

5. I am a horrible baker/cooker. Cereal and toast are about all I can successfully make. Sad, right?

6. I haven't gotten any acceptance letters from colleges yet, and I'm freakin out! I don't even know what I want to do, or where I really wanna go /:

7. AP Statistics kicks my butt daily. You can blame it for ruining my 365.

8. I'm dying my hair this week I think. It's gonna be a little bit blonde. I hope it looks alright!

9. Tomatoes are disgusting.

10. I'm really awkward.

There is love in your body, but you can't hold it in.

It pours from your eyes and spills from your skin.

Tenderest of touch leaves the darkest of marks,

And the kindest of kisses break the hardest of hearts.

Florence + the Machine Hardest of Hearts

The hardest part about photography (especially with a 365 or 366 project), by a country mile, is coming up with original concepts for photos that have not been done before by someone else. The relative low cost of high-quality cameras now along with wide-spread talent/skill has caused an over-saturation of amazing works that are universally available via social media. It's so easy to scroll through Instagram and have my imagination and creativity satisfied by somebody else's work. Finding motivation to keep going in this environment is a massive challenge and I'm not sure how to overcome it....

Model: Lisa H.

For FGR "Pet Peeves"

I have a LOT of pet peeves. Hundreds, maybe thousands. But my all time biggest ever pet peeve is ironing, and especially ironing mens shirts. Im rubbish at it anyway, and all the seams, collars, cuffs, vents, pockets and buttons.....god I could scream just thinking about it. And ironing in Malaysia is a hot job.....puke puke puke I HATE IT!!!!!!

[Music theme "The Hardest Button to Button" by The White Stripes (See day 6/365 for more details)].

This is by far the hardest I have ever EVER worked for a photo.

The assignment was "water" and the teacher wanted us to think about a concept, plan out a picture and make it happen. Exactly opposite of everything I usually do!! I looked on line for ideas and saw the instructions for a shot like this. Knew it would be a challenge but had no clue how many little snags would come along with the challenge.

I taped the glass onto a tripod at an angle. Set up the camera on another tripod and started out with a small amount of water and blue food coloring. Started out shooting toward the sky but realized I had trees and houses reflecting in the water. Relocated to another spot on the deck facing another direction and tried again. This time roof lines showed up so I moved again and hung a quilt (all white) from the eaves behind the glass. Quilt was too close to the glass and my DOF was too deep so stitching showed up in background of the photo. Back in the house to gather up a big sheet of white paper and pin to the quilt. Great except the paper had been rolled up so it had a little bend to it and the light reflected changed part way down the photo. In the mean time, I had run out of blue food coloring so switched to orange and had gone from pouring half a cup at a time to an entire pitcher full as I held the shutter down. A hundred shots later - some with no water in the photo, some with the pitcher appearing in the top of the photo - I had a few to pick from. Cleaned up the mess, put everything away and then worked on processing for a couple of hours. Even sent off some choices to a couple of friends.

Turned in this one.

Did not make it to "Hall of Fame" - most favored photo of the week in my class.

Guess I should have just drank the water!

The hardest part was saying Squirclamshell at the copy shop.

PDF. (7.3 MB and tabloid -- it'll print on A3 quite handily.)

Marble Canyon is the second hardest place to reach at the Death Valley National Park in California, behind the extremely hard to reach Racetrack Playa (a place we could not visit on this trip due to the access being shut down).

You reach Marble Canyon after an hour of bone-rattling drive on a dirt road totally conditioned by the Washboard effect. No rental car agency will allow this off-road access, which means in addition to your body, your automobile also takes a beating. So you need a dirt roadworthy SUV, preferably one that is so beat up that you no longer care.

The reward for your troubles is worth it – an amazing walk through a canyon that no photograph can do justice to. It does not have the panache of some of the swirling orange rocks at Zion National Park, but the blue walls and rocks of Marble Canyon are unique in their own way.

The best time to visit is in the afternoon, but not so late that you get caught there when it gets dark. Also, it is highly recommended that you travel in a group, with at least two, maybe three cars. That way, if there's any breakdown, you have people who can lend a hand.

For the most part, Marble Canyon is easy walking, but there are a couple of places that require steep climbing. You don't have to be super athletic to manage it, but a certain basic level of fitness is necessary. There are places you will likely need to use your tripod or hiking poles for support, and good hiking boots with superior traction are mandatory.

There is a myriad of things you can photograph here, ranging from the macro to the micro. As we walked through the canyon, I took a lot of photos of whatever caught my fancy. Even after culling my raw shots, I still ended up with some 50+ images.

I don't have a way to condense them down to a half dozen "best photos", so I'm just going to make it a virtual tour and publish them all. That way, anyone considering a visit should have a reasonably good feel for the place.

Don't feel compelled to comment, just enjoy the virtual tour!

D303 7R308707

The hardest challenge is solved.

Game is downloadable from here:

www.tinkercad.com/things/f9JSRcHARTX

and

www.thingiverse.com/thing:4638961

App is available at Google play:

play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=air.SlideCubepuzzle

The hardest thing about doing a photo shoot with Heather is trying to decide which photos to post while keeping it to a reasonable number. I guess I am slightly biased. We took these photos at the Valley of Fire State Park, NE of Las Vegas and one of my favorite places to visit. We arrived late in the day and only had about an hour to shoot before we lost light and the park closed. Heather looked stunning. I am so lucky!

I took these photos in early February 2021 in the Valley of Fire State Park NE of Las Vegas, Nevada.

via Instagram ift.tt/2pGmr0X

Lark (sympathetically): "It's always hardest on the ones riding with Kums for the first time."

Candy (faintly): "My entire life flashed before me eyes, and all I could think was 'I am going to die a braless virgin...'"

Lark (amusedly): "Braless virgin?"

Yuri: "Daniel is responsible for the former and dearly wishes to rectify the latter."

Lark: *grins sunnily* "Of course he does--the poor, horny bastard. Cocktails coming up in a jiff!" *pulls out a tray full of cocktail supplies from behind the counter*

Candy: *eyes widen as she watches Lark expertly assemble drinks* "Wow, you're really good with booze, Lark."

Lark: "I use to bartend for my parents' place on Wren's days off. *pours drinks smoothly from the shaker*

Yuri: "Has Magpie returned from her concert in Tokyo yet? I know she was very anxious to join us today."

Lark: *shakes head sadly* "She said her flight was delayed, and it wasn't lookin' good."

Yuri (unhappily): "Oh, what a shame."

Lark: "Hey, Mouse, there's a dress I've been saving for you over on the rack."

Emma: *squeals* "The lacy one?!"

Lark: "Uh-huh."

Emma: *snatches it off the rack* "I love it! It's so sweet an' pretty!"

Lark: *indulgent smile * "Kinda like you. So where's Kumi and--"

--Door bangs open--

Wren: "I don't want to talk about this anymore, Kumi!"

Kumi: "Fletch's in love with you! How can you treat him this way?! Don't be such a b*tch, Wren! It's not an attractive quality, you know!"

Wren: *rounds on Kumi, fists clenched* "You would know since you're one 24/7! And you don't know the first thing about me and Fletch, so shut up!"

Kumi: "I know he proposed to you and you turned him down."

Wren: *sputters* "What...he...but...he wouldn't...Fletch told you that?! But he swore to me he'd never tell anyone about our engagement!"

--Everyone, but Wren, freezes in place, faces showing blatant astonishment--

Fashion Credits

**Any doll enhancements (i.e. freckles, piercings, eye color changes) were done by me unless otherwise stated.**

Lark

Slacks: SL Doll

Blouse: Spin Master - Liv Doll Fashion

Belt: Mattel - Barbie Basics Accessory Pack - Collection 1, Look 003

Hat: Fashion Royalty - NuFace - Style Mantra Eden

Shoes: Fashion Royalty - NuFace - Great Pretender Lilith

OOAK Cameo Bracelet: Me

Doll is Great Pretender Lilith

Emma

Skirt: Re-ment - Girly Style - #5

Lace Bra: IWillFlydestash (etsy.com)

Knit Camisole: JiaJiaDoll (etsy.com)

Boots: Jennifer Sue

Barrette: Mattel - Barbie Collectible - Juicy Couture Gift Set (#1)

Bracelet Set - Working prototype - Knife's Edge Designs (me)

Doll is Style Mantra Eden

Yuri

Skirt: Jakks Pacific - Hannah Montana - Lilly is Lola Doll

Chanel shirt: MegannArt (etsy.com)

Hat: Jennifer Sue

Shoes: Mattel - Barbie Basics Accessory Pack - Collection 1.5, Look 002

Belt & Bracelet: Me

Doll is a Nu.Fantasy Red Riding Hood Yuri transplanted to a NuFace body.

Candy

Jeans: Mattel - Best Model's South Beach - Removed front pockets

T-shirt: ababietoy (etsy.com)

Plaid Shirt: Moxie Boyz Owen

Belt: Cangaway (etsy.com)

Sneakers: Mattel - Hard Rock Barbie

Earrings: Integrity Toys - Beatnik Blues Poppy

Bracelets: Me

Doll is Making a Scene Erin transplanted to a Misaki body.

Kumi

Dress: yukostevens (etsy.com)

Belt: Fashion Royalty - NuFace - Elements of Surprise Lilith

Shoes: Mattel - Barbie Basics Accessory Pack - Collection 2, Look 001 (added the studs)

Necklace & Bracelet: Me

Doll is a Nu.Fantasy Wild Wolf Kumi transplanted to a NuFace body.

Wren

Skirt: Clear lan

Tank: Fashion Royalty - NuFace - London by Night Ayumi

Napoleon Jacket: trico*

Socks: Mimiwoo.com

Boots: Fashion Royalty - NuFantasy - Wild Wolf Kumi

Necklaces: Me

Doll is an Element of Surprise Lilith

The hardest thing was losing you..my best friend, my shoulder to lean on and my everything... without you I am nothing but lost... I try to be strong like you but I break to easy... the day I lost you was the day my whole world came crashing down... I love you so much gram 💗

Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, Kenley flypast 2017, to commemorate the Hardest Day. Andy Milliken (OC BBMF) flying a Griffon-engined MkXIX Spitfire. Unfortunately, just one plane could make it, as all the Merlin-engined aircraft are currently grounded.

The hardest thing about doing a photo shoot with Heather is trying to decide which photos to post while keeping it to a reasonable number. I guess I am slightly biased. We took these photos at the Valley of Fire State Park, NE of Las Vegas and one of my favorite places to visit. We arrived late in the day and only had about an hour to shoot before we lost light and the park closed. Heather looked stunning. I am so lucky!

I took these photos in early February 2021 in the Valley of Fire State Park NE of Las Vegas, Nevada.

yustas-jaisini.blogspot.com/2014/09/hardest-thing-of-all-...

"And sorry seems to be the hardest word...."

(from a song written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin)

"There's one sad truth in life I've found

While journeying east and west -

The only folks we really wound

Are those we love the best.

We flatter those we scarcely know,

We please the fleeting guest,

And deal full many a thoughtless blow

To those who love us best."

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

© Copyright Natalie Panga - All rights reserved.

* Best seen in larger size on black (click image above)

New Islington, Manchester.

“The hardest part of any important task is getting started on it in the first place. Once you actually begin work on a valuable task, you seem to be naturally motivated to continue.”

― Brian Tracy, Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time

This picture is one of the hardest I've done so far for this contest.

I wanted to go out of the normal things I would usually post, so I decide to take it at night (something I hate to do) and I only used a lantern to lighten the picture. This is how it came out. I did around 100 shots, seriously, 3 different outfits and hairstyles, and when I was done... My bathroom soaked... Anyway, this is the very first time I couldn't pick only one picture myself. So I've decided let you choose guys. These 2 pics were my fave.

I tried to go dramatic with her face. And I think I accomplished it. Hopefully. I think I met every single requirement, and I'm quite happy with that. Regarding to the storyline we had to make up... Well, I decided to make none. I think this picture is narrative enough to let each one of you create your very own story in your heads.

Hope you like it.

Three down one to go, probably the hardest of them all.

The hardest part about photographing this area is the large splash zone. I couldn't leave my camera set-up for long because the ride comes by very frequently.

+++

We both know that I shouldn't be here

This is wrong

And baby it's killin' me, it's killin' you

Both of us tryin' to be strong

I've got somewhere else to be

Promises to keep

Someone else who loves me

And trusts me fast asleep

I've made up my mind

There is no turning back

She's been good to me

And she deserves better than that

It's the hardest thing

I'll ever have to do

To look you in the eye

And tell you I don't love you

It's the hardest thing

I'll ever have to lie

To show no emotion

When you start to cry

I can't let you see

What you mean to me

When my hands are tied

And my heart's not free

We're not meant to be

It's the hardest thing

I'll ever have to do

To turn around and walk away

Pretending I don't love you

youtu.be/ZzTNsFcbdmI

129/365

One of the hardest things about coming home from Florence in May was leaving behind all that delicious handmade, fresh pasta. Everywhere we went was scrumptious fresh pasta! And gelato! But since we eat so much pasta at home, that was the part that was most heartbreaking to be giving up, after such a fleeting glimpse of a life better lived.

But... hey, you know what? I figured I was probably capable of making pasta myself. Especially since Pookie got me some really nice cookbooks for my birthday. I dilly-dallied about getting a pasta machine, though, so finally I just asked Santa to get me one, so I couldn't put it off any further. Santa's the best, because he totally listened to my request.

So, armed with all the necessary tools, today I took my first giant step toward a more delicious pasta-heavy life. I'd made pasta way back in a past life, if we're being honest, because we had a machine back in the mid-'90s when they were really trendy. Back then? I sucked. I was very nervous about this, with memories still fresh of my lumpen, gluey noodles lo those years ago... but my fears were for naught! Apparently I'm better at cooking now than I was 20 years ago. Go figure!

We ended up with a very yummy dinner of a creamy tomato sauce with jowl bacon and super-fresh, super-delicious, slightly too-thin and juuuuuuust a wee bit overcooked homemade fettucine. I can't wait to get back to this again, to improve my game on the neverending quest to make Maple Hoo a tastier place!

--Schn.

The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings.

~ERIC HOFFER

REFLECTIONS ON THE HUMAN CONDITION

View On Black

Probably the hardest trip i ever had. This is the infamous BR-319, it goes from Manaus to Porto Velho, built in 1976, it was abandoned in 1988, it doesn't even appear in the GPS, 885Km of hell...