Der 102,5 ha große Neue Garten liegt im Norden Potsdams am Jungfernsee. Über das Wasser hinweg bestehen gestalterische Verbindungen zu den Gärten von Sacrow, Pfaueninsel, Glienicke und Babelsberg, wodurch er eine zentrale Rolle in der Gartenlandschaft erhält. Trotz Überformung durch Lenné hat er noch sentimentale Einzelpartien aus der Entstehungsphase vor 1800 bewahrt. Seine Geschichte fängt mit dem Ankauf eines zentralen Grundstückes durch den Kronprinzen Friedrich Wilhelm (II.) an. Im Jahre 1787, ein Jahr nach dem Regierungsantritt, begann die Anlage des Neuen Gartens, der seinen Namen programmatisch in der Abkehr vom alten Barockpark Sanssouci erhielt. Als Gestalter wurde der Wörlitzer Gärtner Johann August Eyserbeck verpflichtet, was die Umsetzung der an englischen Gärten orientierten Idealvorstellung Friedrich Wilhelms garantierte. Ungünstig für den einheitlichen Charakter des Gartens war der sich über mehrere Jahre hinziehende Grundstücksankauf. Neben einbezogenen ehemaligen Wohnhäusern entstanden zwischen 1787 und 1792 wichtige neue Bauten im Garten, von denen heute noch viele bestehen: Marmorpalais, Küche in Form einer römischen Tempelruine, Gotische Bibliothek, Schindelhaus, Orangerie, Grotte, Meierei, Pyramide (Eiskeller) und das holländische Etablissement. Vor letzterem verläuft, begleitet von Pyramidenpappeln (seit 1864 Pyramideneichen), ein Musterstück für den preußischen Chausseebau. In der Gartenanlage entstand eine Fülle von Partien unterschiedlicher sentimentaler Prägung, die von den jeweiligen Bauten oder Pflanzungen in ihrem Charakter bestimmt werden. 1816 überarbeitete Peter Joseph Lenné im Auftrag des Thronfolgers den zugewachsenen und unmodern gewordenen Garten. Unter Erhalt vieler Bereiche und Entfernung zu dichter Gehölze bekam der Neue Garten große Sichten und Wiesenräume, gefälligere Wegeführung und vor allem die Blickverbindungen zu den Nachbargärten (Sacrow, Pfaueninsel, Glienicke, Babelsberg, Potsdam, Pfingstberg). Trotz kleinerer Veränderungen zur Kaiserzeit und durch Rücknahme von Einbauten aus der Zeit der russischen Nutzung (1945–1954) hat sich noch immer die von Lenné geplante Grundstruktur bewahrt. Das Schloss Cecilienhof, 1913–1917 für den Kronprinzen erbaut, fügt sich sehr harmonisch ein. Eine 13 ha große Fläche, die 1960-1990 als Grenzgebiet zerstört war, ist inzwischen wieder hergestellt worden.

www.spsg.de/schloesser-gaerten/objekt/neuer-garten

The New Garden, which covers 102.5 hectares, lies at Jungfernsee Lake in the northern part of Potsdam. Creative viewing connections extend across the water to the gardens of Sacrow, Peacock Island, Glienicke and Babelsberg, evidencing the park’s central role in this overall garden landscape. Despite its having been reshaped by Lenné, the garden has nevertheless preserved individual, emotive areas that date from the phase of its creation before 1800. The garden’s history begins with the purchase of a central piece of land by Crown Prince Frederick William (II). In 1787, a year after his ascension to the throne, the laying out of the grounds commenced at the New Garden, the name being programmatic for the abandonment of the old baroque park at Sanssouci. Wörlitz gardener Johann August Eyserbeck was charged with its creation, a decision that ensured a transformation in alignment with Frederick William’s ideals oriented towards English gardens.

What undermined the uniform character of the garden was the fact that it had taken several years to purchase the land. In addition to the former private houses that were included, important new buildings were constructed in the garden between 1787 and 1792, many of which still exist today: the Marble House, the kitchen in the shape of a Roman temple ruins, the Gothic Library, Shingle House, orangery, grotto, dairy, pyramid (ice house) and the Dutch houses. In front of the latter, we find a prime example of Prussian country road construction lined with pyramid-shaped cottonwood poplars (now, since 1864, pyramid-shaped oaks). On the garden grounds, a number of areas were created, whose characters were emotively shaped by the respective buildings or plantings to varying degrees.

In 1816, Peter Joseph Lenné was commissioned by the successor to the throne to rework the overgrown garden, which no longer conformed with the contemporary taste. By preserving many areas while removing copses that had become too dense, the New Garden was provided with new perspectives and meadow spaces, more pleasing pathways and above all, with viewing connections to the neighboring gardens (Sacrow, Peacock Island, Glienicke, Babelsberg, Potsdam, Pfingstberg Hill). Despite the smaller changes made during Imperial times and owing to the removal of installations dating from the time the garden was used by the Russians (1945 –1954), Lenné’s basic structural design has been retained up to this day. Cecilienhof Country House, built for the Crown Prince from 1913 to 1917, harmonizes in this setting. In the meantime, an area of 13 hectares has been restored, which had been destroyed during its use as part of the border zone from 1960 to 1990.

www.spsg.de/en/palaces-gardens/object/new-garden

La fachada del Obradoiro es un ejemplo del estilo barroco recargado y movido que se extiende durante el siglo XVIII, aunque los arquitectos lo intentan armonizar con el pórtico manteniendo la iluminación.

Adquiere importancia la idea de monumentalidad y grandiosidad como modo de atracción de los peregrinos.

The Obradoiro façade is an example of the ornate and busy baroque style that extended during the 18th century, although the architects tried to harmonize it with the portico while maintaining the lighting.

The idea of monumentality and grandiosity as a way of attracting pilgrims becomes important.

My Head said Triptych and my Heart made a Quadtych. My Reason as is often the case was of little use as Emotion had designs on a different notion. I followed Heart the chest wedge of appreciation and it was happy especially so as Head was proved wrong yet again. Dumb Brain trying to think bright solution after brilliant solution. Three became Four and they opened out ready to reflect and hopefully to soar with one extra wing into any and all skies and rise in the mind’s of any casual passers by. Unfold to to reveal what’s told nothing either new, or old, nothing charged nothing sold. Just a picture reflected and reflected on itself.

One Lily is joy and several are a pleasure. In the wondrous white flowering there was an unfocused centre ready to be composed into a Heart. The Heart was all ready fading, the bright petals were gently time spent mouldering back to soil from where they had sprouted with their moment of splendid presentation now fading into degradation. One picture repeated and repeated to release the central pulse from the Heart of Death and of Life to fulfil the flowering out of The Lily of Life not unlike the sephira of Tiphareth on The Tree of Life.

© PHH Sykes 2025

phhsykes@gmail.com

Tiferet (Hebrew: תִּפְאֶרֶת Tip̄ʾereṯ, in pausa: תִּפְאָרֶת Tip̄ʾāreṯ, lit. 'beauty, glory, adornment')[1] alternatively Tifaret, Tiphareth, Tifereth or Tiphereth, is the sixth sefira in the kabbalistic Tree of Life. It has the common association of "Spirituality", "Balance", "Integration", "Beauty", "Miracles", and "Compassion".[2]

Description

In the Bahir it states: "Sixth is the adorned, glorious, delightful throne of glory, the house of the world to come. Its place is engraved in wisdom as it says 'God said: Let there be light, and there was light.'" [3]

Tiferet is the force that integrates the sefira of Chesed ("Kindness") and Gevurah ("Strength", also called Din, "Judgement"). These two forces are, respectively, expansive (giving) and restrictive (receiving). Either of them without the other could not manifest the flow of Divine energy; they must be balanced in perfect proportion by balancing compassion with discipline. This balance can be seen in the role of Tiferet, wherein the conflicting forces are harmonized, and creation flowers forth. Tiferet also similarly balances Netzach and Hod. In that case, Hod can be seen as the intellect whereas Netzach is seen as emotion.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiferet

The Miho Museum is a little gem nestled in the remote mountains of Kyoto, Japan. It houses Mihoko Koyama's private collection of Asian and Western antiques bought on the world market by the Shumei organisation in the years before the museum was opened in 1997. The design of the museum was done by the world renowned architect I. M. Pei, who came to call it “Shangri-la”, and who by the way just turned 100 this year.

Out of respect for nature, Pei built 80% of the museum below ground. While the silhouette of the roof has its origins in traditional Japanese architecture, which harmonizes beautifully with the surrounding landscape, the building’s contemporary glass structure allows a light-filled interior space. From the geometric design of its glass ceilings to its limestone walls (the same material used by Pei in the reception hall of the Louvre), the entire building welcomes its visitors as it enfolds rich visions in the splendor of natural light.

[Source: Wikipedia and Miho Museum Pamphlet]

Shruti - she would prefer to listen and think

in different directions rather than in oppositions,

to meet the full circle of her portrait.

she would not be imposed upon

but chivy her way out of one who chivies her.

her good vibes weave her porous boundaries

textured between her inside and out

to find beautiful ways for us.

as the willy whale dives and disappears

before the final sunset, the sun down several times

horizon shaped, waves movement in foreground;

a constant oscillation between

the grasping of meaning and its loss,

nothing is lost; everything belongs.

the sun sets and the music just expands...

each sun-set matures - impressions of the moment

be that as it may be a temporal horizon

the estimated temporal horizon of its effect

was not meant to be limited to that moment.

wavy unruly curls; not fickle minded she is.

between the waves of our mind, we meet her

to find an unexpected conjuration.

therein lies hidden promise in her portrait

layered in a particular relation

between space and time

and suddenly the light enough the sight

life through the eyes of a beautiful dream

certain ghost suddenly being out of that time

hovering in these spaces infinite,

we end up going in circles of 8-fold skies.

in the final frontier, after scaling all the heights

won one but none in a galaxy of stories.

then, we cannot hide our gravity of mistakes.

how come you can't fly anymore?

where you gonna hide this time

we are all passengers on the same ship.

hesitant, we all returned to our bubbles

broom broom, abrasive forces back in the game.

tangles a series of beseeching questions;

struck on the breastbone? the bare soul.

opposite waves shaping presence-absence

contrary dimensions of lived experience.

portrait takes shape in the constant abrasion

of the relationships of our estimated horizons

respectful approach to an ocean of materials

some thoughts, just a bud. others in full bloom.

'here', upon this bank and shoal of time.

she retains an unfinished magic

that retains pure possibility of beauty

and ocean-full promise to be unfolded in time.

spaciousness offered to inner experience

harmonizing energy flows unhindered.

the smoke knows if there is wind

flashes of emotional vulnerability in honesty

she shines and vibrates with authenticity;

buffered. each breath, fiercely, gracefully...

back to the epigraph of her Nazakat

breeze through the liminal moments

and respirate the immortal fragrance

Από τον Σεπτέμβριο του 2023 το Ζαγόρι ενεγράφη ως πολιτισμικό τοπίο στην παγκόσμια κληρονομιά της UNESCO.

From September 2023, Zagori was registered as a cultural landscape in the UNESCO world heritage.

whc.unesco.org/en/list/1695/

For sale on gettyimages

My Board ”Balta di stringa” waterfalls on gettyimages

My board Zagori mountain on Getty Images

My photos for sale on getty images

My blog Λογεικών Logikon

Μπάλτα ντι στρίγκα

Ένας μέχρι πρό λίγων ετών άγνωστος για τους περισσοτέρους φυσικός θησαυρός της Ηπειρώτικης γής είναι οι εικονιζόμενοι καταρράκτες με το Βλάχικο όνομα Μπάλτα ντί στρίγκα ( η οβίρα=μικρή λίμνη της κραυγής) στο Ηλιοχώρι του κεντρικού Ζαγορίου.

Η ονομασία προέρχεται από έναν σχετικό μύθο για μιάν απελπισμένη ερωτικά κοπέλα η οποία εξ αιτίας του χωρισμού από τον καλό της αυτοκτόνησε στα νερά τους και από τότε ακούγονται οι κραυγές της.Στο να γίνει ο τόπος προσφάτως σχετικά,ευρύτερα γνωστός,αναμφιβόλως συνετέλεσε και η αναβάθμιση του μέχρι πρότινος δύσβατου μονοπατιού το οποίο οδηγούσε εκεί σε μια σύγχρονη και πλήρως εναρμονισμένη με το περιβάλλον ορεινή περιπατητική διαδρομή.

Το μονοπάτι διανοίχθηκε και σημάνθηκε άριστα σε,όλο το μήκος του,στρώθηκε επιμελώς με τα υλικά τα οποία βρίθουν στην περιοχή,πέτρα,χαλίκι και ξύλο με ξύλινα στηθαία όπου κρίθηκε απαραίτητο,δημιουργήθηκε χώρος προσωρινής στάσης για ανάπαυση με τρεχούμενο νερό,ακόμη και ένα εξαιρετικά καλαίσθητο ξύλινο γεφυράκιι χτίστηκε ώστε η πρόσβαση των πολλών πλέον καθημερινών επισκεπτών να γίνει όσο το δυνατόν πιο εύκολη γρήγορη και ασφαλής.

Η σύζυγος κι εγώ είχαμε την επιπλέον χαρά να μας καθοδηγήσει ο…αυτοδιορισθείς ξεναγός του χωριού ο εικονιζόμενος εκπληκτικός,καθαρόαιμος, Ελληνικός ποιμενικός ο οποίος ακούει στο όνομα….Νταβέλης :ο))) !!! προφανώς λόγω της γιγαντόσωμης διάπλασής του.

Μας….παρέλαβε από το πρώτο πλάτωμα του χωριού στην κορυφή ,μας…παρέδωσε στον προορισμό μας στα ριζά του βουνούκαι,αφού πρώτα πήρε και το αναζωογονητικό μπανάκι του στα παγωμένα νερά,αναχώρησε προς άγραν νέων….πελατών :ο))) !!!

Το (υπερ)θέαμα σου κόβει την ανάσα παρ’όλο που το επισκεφθήκαμε καλοκαίρι κατά την διάρκεια του οποίου η ροή των υδάτων δεν είναι τόσο εντυπωσιακή σε όγκο και δύναμη όπως τις άλλες εποχές-φθινόπωρο και χειμώνα κυρίως-διότι τα νερά προέρχονται αποκλειστικά από το λιώσιμο του χιονιού και είναι τόσο καθαρά ώστε μπορεί κανείς να πιεί άφοβα απ’αυτά!

Την ανάσα σου κόβει,όμως,κυριολεκτικά και η ανηφόρα της επιστροφής(καθώς τα περισσότερα από τα 1200 μέτρα της τα κάνεις σχεδόν….κάθετα προςτον ουρανό)ιδίως όταν είσαι φορτωμένος με φωτογραφικές «γκουμούτσες» σαν τις δικές μου και-κυρίως-με το…κοντέρ της ηλικίας να απέχει πλέον μόλις 4 γραμμές από τα 60!!!

Ευτυχώς περάσαμε με επιτυχία αυτό το λίγο βίαιο “τέστ κοπώσεως” και επιφυλασσόμεθα-πρώτα ο Θεός-για μιάν επόμενη σε προσφορότερη εποχή επίσκεψη.

Balta di striga

A until a few years unknown for most people natural treasure of Epirus earth are the released waterfalls with Vlachiko name Balta Di striga (the ovires = small lake scream) in Iliochori central Zagori.The name comes from a legend related to a desperate erotic girl which because of separation from her lover of suicide in their waters and then the screams heard.

To be the place recently regarding, widely known, undoubtedly contributed to the upgrading of previously inaccessible path that led there in a modern and fully harmonized with the environment ambulatory mountainous route.The path was drilled and labeled in excellent, full length, was covered thoroughly with the materials that abound in the area, stone, gravel and wood with wooden parapets where necessary, created a temporary staging area for rest with running water,even an extremely elegant wooden small bridge is built to access the many daily visitors become as easy fast and safe as possible.

My wife and I have the additional pleasure to guide us a depicted surprising, blooded, Greek shepherd who goes by the name ... .Ntavelis: o))) !!! apparently because of the giant physique.He took us the first plateau of the village at the top,... gave us our destination at the roots of the mountain and, after taking its refreshing banana into the icy waters,departed chasing... new clients : o))) !!!

The attraction is breathtaking although we visited summer during which the water flow is not as impressive in size and strength as the other seasons-autumn and winter-mainly because the waters come exclusively from melting snow and is so clean that you can drink without fear of them!

But breathtaking is, literally the acclivity of turn back too (as most of the 1200 meters of this acclivity is ... almostvertical to the sky), especially when you are laden with my heavy cameras -and mainly-by ... the speedometer of age to is now just 4 lines of 60 !!!

Luckily we passed successfully this little violent "stress-test" and we reserve first-God-for a next to a more appropriate time visit.

Le bâtiment Richard Meier, d'un blanc éclatant, se dresse au cœur de la nature environnante. Que les visiteurs se réjouissent : là où l'art et le nouveau bâtiment du musée s'harmonisent, ils seront les gagnants. Ici, pas de compétition pour occuper la vedette, mais un lieu empreint d'art, un lieu qui révèle sa vraie nature et offre un écrin aux œuvres de l'artiste-mécène du musée ainsi qu'à l'art contemporain.

« Mon architecture ouverte et transparente crée des transitions fluides entre l'intérieur et l'extérieur et reflète le même lien avec la nature que celui exprimé dans les œuvres de Hans Arp. »

En tant que l'un des plus grands architectes de musées internationaux, Richard Meier se réfère dans son architecture aux principes du modernisme classique, un style qui a connu son apogée au début du XXe siècle. Cette époque a également façonné l'œuvre du duo d'artistes Hans Arp et Sophie Taeuber-Arp. Le bâtiment de Meier est baigné de lumière et semble emmener les visiteurs hors de leur quotidien. Ici, les œuvres trouvent un espace propice à leur épanouissement.

The dazzling white Richard Meier Building stands out in the heart of the surrounding nature. Visitors can rejoice: wherever art and the new museum building harmonize, they will be the winners. Here, there's no competition for the spotlight, but a place imbued with art, a place that reveals its true nature and provides a showcase for the works of the museum's artist-patron as well as contemporary art.

"My open and transparent architecture creates seamless transitions between indoors and outdoors and reflects the same connection with nature expressed in the works of Hans Arp."

As one of the greatest international museum architects, Richard Meier refers in his architecture to the principles of classical modernism, a style that reached its peak in the early 20th century. This era also shaped the work of the artist duo Hans Arp and Sophie Taeuber-Arp. Meier's building is bathed in light and seems to transport visitors away from their everyday lives. Here, the works find a space conducive to their development.

Explore #418

Red velvet sunset

Serenades earth and sky

An opera in red

Ribbons of color

Harmonize across sky

Red velvet sunset

xx Car xx

UK, London, Dockland

1012

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“We don't get harmony when everybody sings the same note. Only notes that are different can harmonize. The same is true with people.” ― Steve Goodier

Model & Photographer: Giselle Chauveau

Excerpt from spatialsolutions.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapTour/index.html?...:

Lookout Algonquin Park (83) by Shelly Locke: My painting “Look Out Trail-Algonquin Park”, is the first in a series of paintings from my own travel photos and one of my favourite places to decompress. Even though this is my rendition of Algonquin Park it will very easily lead one to think of many, nearby hiking trails on the escarpment. This series turns my photos into surreal, fantasy landscapes that have been reduced to colourful and vibrant, harmonizing shapes. This specific painting is a visual illusion of a rocky woodland that will speak volumes to the outdoor enthusiast as well as inspire a longing to walk amongst the trees by others less outdoorsy. Set off by a background blend of light blue and white representing a calm blue sky. The earthy undertones invoke a calm peacefulness. The warm tones of the landscape contrast perfectly with the organic lines and monochromatic cool tones of the shadowy rock face. The relaxed ambiance of nature is conjured within one’s mind.

The same design also appears on 61, 73, 75, 88.

I guess I'm trying to collect them all, leading here, at night beneath the siggies at 506. So far, so good. I'm sure the clock will soon be ticking on this last multi-track Pennsy signal bridge near the city. This is WBD NS 21Z-12 at CP506, Whiting Indiana with some harmonizing greens to complete the scene.

Le grand-orgue de Saint-Bénigne

Les premiers orgues de l'église se trouvaient sur le jubé. En 1740, les moines bénédictins décident d'installer un orgue dans la nef ; ils firent donc construire une tribune (on en voit la partie supérieure dans la photo ci-dessus : un bas-relief du roi David jouant de la harpe à gauche, sainte Cécile à droite). Simultanément, la construction de l'orgue est confiée, en 1740, au facteur Karl-Joseph Riepp (1710-1775) et à son frère Rupert. Le tout sera mis en valeur par un somptueux buffet commandé aux menuisiers et sculpteurs dijonnais Edme et Guillaume Marlet. Les cariatides (ou atlantes), les panneaux ornés d'attributs musicaux, les angelots qui dansent, les anges qui soufflent dans les trompettes, associés à des dimensions plus que respectables donnent à ce meuble en chêne, de style Louis XV, une stature et une vigueur que l'on voit rarement dans une église. À sa création, c'était l'instrument le plus imposant que l'on pouvait admirer en province.

En 1788, les goûts musicaux avaient changé. On modifia donc l'orgue. La tâche fut confiée à Jean Richard de Troyes. Vint la Révolution et ses exigences ubuesques :

les patriotes de la section de Saint-Philibert exigèrent le métal de l'instrument (sans doute pour le fondre). Dominique Parin, titulaire de l'instrument, réussit à le sauver en s'engageant à jouer des airs patriotiques pour le peuple.

La tourmente une fois passée, c'est en 1846-47 qu'eut lieu la première restauration du XIXe siècle. L'orgue est transformé en instrument romantique. En 1860, avec Joseph Merklin, l'aspect symphonique est accentué. Enfin, en 1953, c'est la maison Roethinger de Strasbourg qui harmonise le grand-orgue de Saint-Bénigne dans le style néo-classique. Marcel Dupré inaugure le nouvel instrument en 1955. En 1987, une nouvelle reconstruction de l'orgue est confiée au facteur allemand Gerhard Schmid de Kaufbeuren. Il aura désormais 6000 tuyaux, 73 jeux et cinq claviers. L'inauguration a lieu en mars 1996.

Si vous n'avez pas l'habitude d'entrer dans une église, faites une exception pour Saint-Bénigne à Dijon, rien que pour admirer cet orgue imposant.

Source : «Cathédrale Saint-Bénigne de Dijon» édité par la paroisse Saint-Bénigne.

www.patrimoine-histoire.fr/Patrimoine/Dijon/Dijon-Saint-B...

_____________________________________

The great organ of Saint-Bénigne

The first church organs were on the rood screen. In 1740 the Benedictine monks decided to install an organ in the nave; therefore they did build a platform (we see the top in the picture above: a bas-relief of King David playing the harp left, St. Cecilia right). Simultaneously, the construction of the organ is entrusted in 1740 to the factor Riepp Karl-Joseph (1710-1775) and his brother Rupert. This will be enhanced by a sumptuous buffet commanded the carpenters and sculptors Edme and William Marlet. The caryatids (or Atlantis), panels decorated with musical attributes, dancing cherubs, angels blowing trumpets in, associated with more than respectable dimensions give this oak cabinet, Louis XV style, stature and a force that is rarely seen in a church. At its inception, it was the largest instrument that could be seen in the provinces.

In 1788 musical tastes had changed. So we changed the organ. The task was entrusted to Jean Richard de Troyes. Then came the Revolution and its grotesque requirements:

Patriots section of Saint-Philibert demanded the metal of the instrument (probably to melt). Dominique Parin, instrument holder, managed to save it by committing to play patriotic songs for the people.

Once the storm passed, from 1846 to 1847 took place the first restoration of the nineteenth century. The organ is transformed into romantic instrument. In 1860, with Joseph Merklin, symphonic aspect is accentuated. Finally, in 1953, it is the house of Strasbourg Roethinger harmonizing the great organ of Saint-Bénigne in the neoclassical style. Marcel Dupré inaugurated the new instrument in 1955. In 1987, a new reconstruction of the organ is assigned to the German Gerhard Schmid factor of Kaufbeuren. He will now have 6,000 pipes, 73 games and five keyboards. The inauguration took place in March 1996.

If you do not have the habit of entering a church, made an exception for Saint-Bénigne in Dijon, just to admire this impressive organ.

From: "Cathédrale Saint-Bénigne de Dijon" published by the Saint-Bénigne church.

Translated from:

www.patrimoine-histoire.fr/Patrimoine/Dijon/Dijon-Saint-B...

Από τον Σεπτέμβριο του 2023 το Ζαγόρι ενεγράφη ως πολιτισμικό τοπίο στην παγκόσμια κληρονομιά της UNESCO.

From September 2023, Zagori was registered as a cultural landscape in the UNESCO world heritage.

whc.unesco.org/en/list/1695/

My Board ”Balta di stringa” waterfalls on gettyimages

My board Zagori mountain on Getty Images

My photos for sale on getty images

My blog Λογεικών Logikon

Μπάλτα ντι στρίγκα

Ένας μέχρι πρό λίγων ετών άγνωστος για τους περισσοτέρους φυσικός θησαυρός της Ηπειρώτικης γής είναι οι εικονιζόμενοι καταρράκτες με το Βλάχικο όνομα Μπάλτα ντί στρίγκα ( η οβίρα=μικρή λίμνη της κραυγής) στο Ηλιοχώρι του κεντρικού Ζαγορίου.

Η ονομασία προέρχεται από έναν σχετικό μύθο για μιάν απελπισμένη ερωτικά κοπέλα η οποία εξ αιτίας του χωρισμού από τον καλό της αυτοκτόνησε στα νερά τους και από τότε ακούγονται οι κραυγές της.Στο να γίνει ο τόπος προσφάτως σχετικά,ευρύτερα γνωστός,αναμφιβόλως συνετέλεσε και η αναβάθμιση του μέχρι πρότινος δύσβατου μονοπατιού το οποίο οδηγούσε εκεί σε μια σύγχρονη και πλήρως εναρμονισμένη με το περιβάλλον ορεινή περιπατητική διαδρομή.

Το μονοπάτι διανοίχθηκε και σημάνθηκε άριστα σε,όλο το μήκος του,στρώθηκε επιμελώς με τα υλικά τα οποία βρίθουν στην περιοχή,πέτρα,χαλίκι και ξύλο με ξύλινα στηθαία όπου κρίθηκε απαραίτητο,δημιουργήθηκε χώρος προσωρινής στάσης για ανάπαυση με τρεχούμενο νερό,ακόμη και ένα εξαιρετικά καλαίσθητο ξύλινο γεφυράκιι χτίστηκε ώστε η πρόσβαση των πολλών πλέον καθημερινών επισκεπτών να γίνει όσο το δυνατόν πιο εύκολη γρήγορη και ασφαλής.

Η σύζυγος κι εγώ είχαμε την επιπλέον χαρά να μας καθοδηγήσει ο…αυτοδιορισθείς ξεναγός του χωριού ο εικονιζόμενος εκπληκτικός,καθαρόαιμος, Ελληνικός ποιμενικός ο οποίος ακούει στο όνομα….Νταβέλης :ο))) !!! προφανώς λόγω της γιγαντόσωμης διάπλασής του.

Μας….παρέλαβε από το πρώτο πλάτωμα του χωριού στην κορυφή ,μας…παρέδωσε στον προορισμό μας στα ριζά του βουνούκαι,αφού πρώτα πήρε και το αναζωογονητικό μπανάκι του στα παγωμένα νερά,αναχώρησε προς άγραν νέων….πελατών :ο))) !!!

Το (υπερ)θέαμα σου κόβει την ανάσα παρ’όλο που το επισκεφθήκαμε καλοκαίρι κατά την διάρκεια του οποίου η ροή των υδάτων δεν είναι τόσο εντυπωσιακή σε όγκο και δύναμη όπως τις άλλες εποχές-φθινόπωρο και χειμώνα κυρίως-διότι τα νερά προέρχονται αποκλειστικά από το λιώσιμο του χιονιού και είναι τόσο καθαρά ώστε μπορεί κανείς να πιεί άφοβα απ’αυτά!

Την ανάσα σου κόβει,όμως,κυριολεκτικά και η ανηφόρα της επιστροφής(καθώς τα περισσότερα από τα 1200 μέτρα της τα κάνεις σχεδόν….κάθετα με τον ουρανό)ιδίως όταν είσαι φορτωμένος με φωτογραφικές «γκουμούτσες» σαν τις δικές μου και-κυρίως-με το…κοντέρ της ηλικίας να απέχει πλέον μόλις 4 γραμμές από τα 60!!!

Ευτυχώς περάσαμε με επιτυχία αυτό το λίγο βίαιο “τέστ κοπώσεως” και επιφυλασσόμεθα-πρώτα ο Θεός-για μιάν επόμενη σε προσφορότερη εποχή επίσκεψη.

Balta di striga

A until a few years unknown for most people natural treasure of Epirus earth are the released waterfalls with Vlachiko name Balta Di striga (the ovires = small lake scream) in Iliochori central Zagori.The name comes from a legend related to a desperate erotic girl which because of separation from her lover of suicide in their waters and then the screams heard.

To be the place recently regarding, widely known, undoubtedly contributed to the upgrading of previously inaccessible path that led there in a modern and fully harmonized with the environment ambulatory mountainous route.The path was drilled and labeled in excellent, full length, was covered thoroughly with the materials that abound in the area, stone, gravel and wood with wooden parapets where necessary, created a temporary staging area for rest with running water,even an extremely elegant wooden small bridge is built to access the many daily visitors become as easy fast and safe as possible.

My wife and I have the additional pleasure to guide us a depicted surprising, blooded, Greek shepherd who goes by the name ... .Ntavelis: o))) !!! apparently because of the giant physique.He took us the first plateau of the village at the top,... gave us our destination at the roots of the mountain and, after taking its refreshing banana into the icy waters,departed chasing... new clients : o))) !!!

The attraction is breathtaking although we visited summer during which the water flow is not as impressive in size and strength as the other seasons-autumn and winter-mainly because the waters come exclusively from melting snow and is so clean that you can drink without fear of them!

But breathtaking is, literally the acclivity of turn back too (as most of the 1200 meters of this acclivity is ... almostvertical to the sky), especially when you are laden with my heavy cameras -and mainly-by ... the speedometer of age to is now just 4 lines of 60 !!!

Luckily we passed successfully this little violent "stress-test" and we reserve first-God-for a next to a more appropriate time visit.

HI!♥

I created these lovely Lotus Flower this have been highly request from some of you , i hope these suit your visions and can harmonized your homes or Garden. This will be Avilable at

FaMEShed September 1st.

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/FaMESHed/158/158/22

Thank you everyone :)♥

When I photographed the M. Rosa Corder Rest Room, I have no idea what it was. Also, it (whatever it was) was closed. Possibly in a permanent way. I took the shot because I had never seen such a thing.

Rushville, Nebraska is a pretty small town. To have a restroom this expansive right downtown was impressive. I knew there would be a story.

Rosa Corder was a pioneer to Nebraska, arriving in the Rushville area in 1886. As most of the pioneers Rosa and her husband were poor. But as the town grew, so did their fortunes.

By the time of her death, she had enough money to leave the town she loved and helped establish a lasting gift. At the time of her death, she was living with her brothers's family on a ranch outside of town.

Her brother left the town approximately $615,000. From money towards a Masonic Hall and Community Hall to a ball park and cemetery. Rosa, when she died in 1939, left the town $80,000 (though over half of that might have come from her brother).

It is with this money that she wanted the town to build a proper rest room.

This might seem trivial or silly, but at the time, towns typically had no rest rooms at all. And if they did, they were only for men. This rest room was specifically for the ladies. (Don't worry, fellows, the Modisett Club, which was men-only, was also built to take care of your needs!).

And it was a "modern" rest room, with running water and toilets that flushed.

The rest room building was designed by John McConnichie and built by the General Contracting Company (whose buildings were much more exciting than their name). They also built the library, the Masonic Temple, and various other buildings in the town.

The Sheridan County Star spills the tea on the rest room:

"The two story and basement building is modern in every respect. The upper floor is a five room, ultra modern apartment designed to be used by the matron who will look after the building.

"The entrance to the ground flood or rest room part is through an iron grill gateway, somewhat typical of the Old South, Mrs. Corder's native land.

"The front of this building is of Silverglade Stone. On entering the first room is a large lounge or rest room. Glass brick windows furnish the light in this room, the walls are finished in two shades of tan enamel with a tan inlaid linoleum on the floor.

"Furniture in this room is chrome steel upholstered in reds, yellows, blues and greens. Window hangings have been hand woven by the students at Oglala High School at Pine Ridge where really beautiful weaving is done. Of soft wool they are made with stripes matching the bright colored furniture in the lounge room. Here, too, is a full length mirror and a magazine case, magazines will be contributed by the people of the town.

"From the lounge a door enters the toilet room. Here the floor is of white tile, the walls of tan tile. Here are mirrors, lavoratories and all toilet facilities. Leading from this room is a smaller room which will be furnished with a couch, table and chairs. This little room, away from the others, was designed as a place where any lady feeling ill, or with perhaps a small child who needs rest and quiet, may relax. Curtains for this room are also being made by the Oglala High School.

"Light fixtures throughout are of modern design and harmonizing coloring.

"A door leading from the back of the hall opens into the garage at the rear. From the garage, as well as from the hall, is the decent into the light, roomy basement. Here is a laundry room delux as well as cool fruit room. A large automatic water heater supplies necessary hot water for the rest room as well as the apartment upstairs.

"The building is completely fire proof throughout and is one of the most beautiful buildings in Nebraska. Color harmony, design of construction and convenience mark it as a lasting monument to M. Rosa Corder and typical of her gracious hospitality, her warm friendships and her vision of service to the progress of the west she loved."

.

.

.

'M. Rosa Corder Rest Room'

Camera: Mamiya RB67

Film: Kodak Technical Pan; x-03/2004; 12iso

Process: HC-110F; 6mins

Nebraska

July 2025

Throughout April I've watched the seasonal re-greening of the landscape. It's very subtle and gradual process. But by the end of April the impact is quite dramatic. It starts at ground level and works its way up. Trees remain bare for the most part; leaves generally don't form around her until May. So for these few weeks the upper half of shots such as this look like the dead of winter while the lower half exudes a sense of verdant springtime growth. It's a weird dichotomy for me. The colors appears unnatural, partly because I've become accustomed to the colorless moonscape of winter. But also because the color doesn't;t seem to harmonize with the environment. It's like watching a colorized version of an old film noir. It puts me in mind of food coloring seeping into a bowl of water. Suddenly the clear liquid is replaced with strange color. Don't get me wrong, I love the return of warmer weather. But photographically I struggle with the emergence of vegetation. Lately the problem is green grass. It emerges all soft and playful even in the harshest of locations. Lush green and soft looking, and already filled with bright yellow dandelions. Not the look I'm going for. And weirdly even converting images to BW doesn't fully dampen softness. No matter how I adjust the sliders, new April grass just doesn't seem to blend well with my subjects. If anything, it appears even softer and even out of focus. I'm learning to avoid the inclusion of large patches of grass, or finding other creative ways to exclude it from the frame. Once the trees fill in, its less of a problem because of the overall softening effect of summer growth on photos in general. The harsh winter genre, bare trees, dead weeds will fade away until late in Autumn. Until then, I'm going to keep shooting until the last ounce of dreariness has been sucked out of what remains of winter and early spring.

Just above the old bridge of Sligachan, an old stone bridge over the Sligachan River from 1820, I encounter these waterfalls. In pristine nature, they are visual delight for the senses and enchant with their beauty.

The surreal flow of the Sligachan Falls creates the illusion of water suspended in mid-air as it gently glides between the dusky rocks. A sharp contrast between soft flowing and dark rocks. The wonderful hues of the autumnal landscape harmonize perfectly with the rainy sky. Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK.

Fondée en 1872 dans la vallée de la Molignée par des moines bénédictins, l’Abbaye de Maredsous est caractéristique d’un style architectural néo-gothique qui s’harmonise parfaitement avec la nature boisée et vallonnée de la région

Empreints de spiritualité, les bâtiments de l’abbaye de Maredsous dégagent une sensation de plénitude et d’absolu à laquelle on ne peut rester indifférent. L’église qui domine le cloître, le monastère et la bibliothèque, les diverses dépendances dont l’ancienne école des métiers d’art, le Centre d’accueil Saint-Joseph, constituent un ensemble harmonieux qui invite le visiteur à la promenade et à la méditation.

La vie des moines de l'abbaye de Maredsous

Comme les Cisterciens ou les Trappistes, les moines de l’Abbaye de Maredsous ont adopté la règle de St-Benoît, une ligne de conduite qui partage la vie du moine entre prière, travail et tradition d’accueil.

Bien ancrés dans la société contemporaine, les moines de Maredsous ont développé une économie qui répond aux exigences du sacré comme aux besoins de la communauté. Ainsi, chaque moine s’emploie à une tâche bien précise : certains enseignent, d’autres travaillent à la bibliothèque, dans divers secteurs de la recherche scientifique, au Centre Informatique et Bible ou s’occupent du service d’administration et de fonctionnement de l’abbaye. Les moines collaborent aussi aux ateliers d’art ou à la fromagerie et s’occupent de l’accueil des visiteurs.

Dépositaire de la tradition bénédictine, l’Abbaye de Maredsous est surtout un foyer culturel : dès 1882, elle accueille un centre d’artisanat d’art et d’édition à l’origine du premier missel latin-français, et d’une traduction de la Bible en français en 1950. Dans la même optique, les moines diffusent la Bible sur disquettes dès 1981 et éditent depuis des logiciels d'étude et de lecture biblique.

Founded in 1872 in the Molignée valley by Benedictine monks, Maredsous Abbey is characteristic of a neo-Gothic architectural style which harmonizes perfectly with the wooded and hilly nature of the region.

Imbued with spirituality, the buildings of Maredsous Abbey give off a feeling of fullness and absoluteness to which we cannot remain indifferent. The church which dominates the cloister, the monastery and the library, the various outbuildings including the old crafts school, the Saint-Joseph Welcome Center, constitute a harmonious whole which invites the visitor to stroll and explore. meditation.

The life of the monks of Maredsous Abbey

Like the Cistercians or the Trappists, the monks of Maredsous Abbey have adopted the rule of St-Benoît, a line of conduct which divides the life of the monk between prayer, work and tradition of welcome.

Well anchored in contemporary society, the monks of Maredsous have developed an economy that meets the demands of the sacred as well as the needs of the community. Thus, each monk works on a very specific task: some teach, others work in the library, in various sectors of scientific research, at the Computer and Bible Center or take care of the administration and operation of the the abbey. The monks also collaborate in the art workshops or the cheese factory and take care of welcoming visitors.

Custodian of the Benedictine tradition, the Abbey of Maredsous is above all a cultural center: from 1882, it hosted a center of artistic crafts and publishing at the origin of the first Latin-French missal, and a translation of the Bible in French in 1950. In the same vein, the monks distributed the Bible on floppy disks from 1981 and have since published Bible study and reading software.

The Adventure

The Neko was intrigued by the sounds of lyre strings being plucked.

The melody harmonized by the sound of twin lutes became too much for our adventurer, they had to see where that sound was coming from.

Soon Honni discovered the lost gardens once known as the Pillars of Hercules. Large Grecian temples stood tall, carved from the most exquisite marble. Everywhere you looked the old gods could be found, still calling out to the mortals of earth.

A quick picture, and a message from Honni

‘You gotta check this place out! It's beautiful, and open to everyone!’

Where was Honni?

Pillars of Hercules

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Pillars%20Of%20Hercules/33...

What’s Honni Wearing?

Outfit

Somnium- Malakoi’s Coverings

Get it here:

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Wicked%20Mountains/56/45/2511

Jewelry

Oatmilk-Nazar Belly Ring Unisex

Get it here:

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Hilbert/216/213/1988

Ears and Tail

.Stoic.- Kitty Parts

Get it here:

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/EXHALE/111/159/22

National Cat Day on October 29th is the purrfect day to give extra attention, treats, and appreciation to the independent, often hilarious, felines who grace our lives.

Prompt: Create a digital fine art, ultra-realistic painting of a fluffy kitten sitting on an aged wooden bench, inspired by a classical portrait composition.

The kitten should appear with soft golden-brown fur accented by cream and white markings, especially on its chest, face, and paws. Its fur is voluminous, detailed, and illuminated with subtle highlights that emphasize each strand. The kitten’s large, expressive green eyes gaze directly toward the viewer with a gentle, curious expression.

The old wooden bench should display visible age and grain texture, with small cracks, nails, and warm brown hues that complement the kitten’s coloring. The background should be a rich painterly blend of dark earthy tones—burnt sienna, olive green, and deep umber—blurred softly like a traditional studio backdrop, adding depth and contrast.

Use fine brush-stroke texture to emulate a classical oil painting style, with natural light illuminating the kitten from one side, creating soft shadows and gentle highlights across the fur and wood. Maintain warm, natural tones and a slightly vintage, timeless mood.

At the bottom center, overlay elegant serif text:

Line 1: “National Cat Day”

Line 2: “October 29”

Ensure the typography is subtle and harmonizes with the painting’s warm, antique palette — light cream or muted gold lettering that feels refined and integrated.

This digital fine art was created using OpenAI Sora AI and Photoshop

Fondée en 1872 dans la vallée de la Molignée par des moines bénédictins, l’Abbaye de Maredsous est caractéristique d’un style architectural néo-gothique qui s’harmonise parfaitement avec la nature boisée et vallonnée de la région

Empreints de spiritualité, les bâtiments de l’abbaye de Maredsous dégagent une sensation de plénitude et d’absolu à laquelle on ne peut rester indifférent. L’église qui domine le cloître, le monastère et la bibliothèque, les diverses dépendances dont l’ancienne école des métiers d’art, le Centre d’accueil Saint-Joseph, constituent un ensemble harmonieux qui invite le visiteur à la promenade et à la méditation.

La vie des moines de l'abbaye de Maredsous

Comme les Cisterciens ou les Trappistes, les moines de l’Abbaye de Maredsous ont adopté la règle de St-Benoît, une ligne de conduite qui partage la vie du moine entre prière, travail et tradition d’accueil.

Bien ancrés dans la société contemporaine, les moines de Maredsous ont développé une économie qui répond aux exigences du sacré comme aux besoins de la communauté. Ainsi, chaque moine s’emploie à une tâche bien précise : certains enseignent, d’autres travaillent à la bibliothèque, dans divers secteurs de la recherche scientifique, au Centre Informatique et Bible ou s’occupent du service d’administration et de fonctionnement de l’abbaye. Les moines collaborent aussi aux ateliers d’art ou à la fromagerie et s’occupent de l’accueil des visiteurs.

Dépositaire de la tradition bénédictine, l’Abbaye de Maredsous est surtout un foyer culturel : dès 1882, elle accueille un centre d’artisanat d’art et d’édition à l’origine du premier missel latin-français, et d’une traduction de la Bible en français en 1950. Dans la même optique, les moines diffusent la Bible sur disquettes dès 1981 et éditent depuis des logiciels d'étude et de lecture biblique.

Founded in 1872 in the Molignée valley by Benedictine monks, Maredsous Abbey is characteristic of a neo-Gothic architectural style which harmonizes perfectly with the wooded and hilly nature of the region.

Imbued with spirituality, the buildings of Maredsous Abbey give off a feeling of fullness and absoluteness to which we cannot remain indifferent. The church which dominates the cloister, the monastery and the library, the various outbuildings including the old crafts school, the Saint-Joseph Welcome Center, constitute a harmonious whole which invites the visitor to stroll and explore. meditation.

The life of the monks of Maredsous Abbey

Like the Cistercians or the Trappists, the monks of Maredsous Abbey have adopted the rule of St-Benoît, a line of conduct which divides the life of the monk between prayer, work and tradition of welcome.

Well anchored in contemporary society, the monks of Maredsous have developed an economy that meets the demands of the sacred as well as the needs of the community. Thus, each monk works on a very specific task: some teach, others work in the library, in various sectors of scientific research, at the Computer and Bible Center or take care of the administration and operation of the the abbey. The monks also collaborate in the art workshops or the cheese factory and take care of welcoming visitors.

Custodian of the Benedictine tradition, the Abbey of Maredsous is above all a cultural center: from 1882, it hosted a center of artistic crafts and publishing at the origin of the first Latin-French missal, and a translation of the Bible in French in 1950. In the same vein, the monks distributed the Bible on floppy disks from 1981 and have since published Bible study and reading software.

"Stepping into the ethereal realm of the Fairy Pools, I found myself entranced by nature's symphony. The waterfall cascades danced with graceful elegance, harmonizing with the enchanting atmosphere that surrounded them. As overcast clouds gently embraced the mountain tops, a mystical ambiance settled over the scene. It was as if the elements conspired to create a moment of pure magic. With each step, I immersed myself in the serenity of this hidden gem, feeling the whispers of ancient tales carried by the wind. The Fairy Pools, where the forces of nature and wonder collide, inviting us to lose ourselves in their breathtaking embrace. #FairyPools #WaterfallCascades #CloudsTouchingPeaks #EnchantingAtmosphere #MysticalBeauty #Nature'sSymphony #HiddenGem #MagicalMoments #Wanderlust"

Here's the next interlude between my Scotland Series. Last weekend I've been out shooting again. I went to the Alps with my flickr buddy Andy, an awesome trip. Friday after work we directly hit the autobahn heading to the Karwendel region which I by now know quite well. Next morning we were served this sweet light at lake Gerold, really a great start into the day. This is one of the last shots were I wanted to include those beautiful grasses in a way to harmonize with the rest of the shot. The mist on the lake was great that morning, not to much but enough to create some nice mood.

Later we went into the Stubai valley in austria for some hike into the mountains where we went shooting waterfalls and obviously mountains. We made nearly 3000ft elevation, slept up on the mountain in the Sulzenauf Hütte and rose 4am for a short hike to a mountain lake.. but that's a story I'll tell you together with some photos next time.

I used a lee 0.6 soft GND + My Hoya Polarizer turned for max reflection here. I also used a new sharpening technique which mixes my old one with the Marc Adamus technique in different strengths, all masked together trying to look good

cheers

PS: I just got published in a major german photomagazine, DigitalPHOTO, were my photos and some tips on Landscape photography are spread over full 8 pages. So if you life in Germany you might want to take a look ;-)

Modern architecture captivates with its sleek lines, innovative materials, and minimalist designs, harmonizing form and function.

It emphasizes open spaces, natural light, and sustainable practices, creating elegant structures that blend seamlessly with their surroundings while pushing creative boundaries.

In the past few days, an intriguing idea struck me. What if each week I came up with a different theme? This notion seemed both exciting and promising, offering a fresh perspective and a constant source of novelty. I imagined diving into a new world every seven days, exploring diverse themes.

IG: www.instagram.com/frank_van_dongen/

A Twilight Sonata at Barrel Vault Manor: The Melody of Forgotten Keys

In the tender embrace of twilight, Barrel Vault Manor unfurls its melancholic symphony. The fading sun caresses the well-loved piano, its keys bearing the marks of countless melodies, now softened, as if inviting a gentle touch to reawaken its forgotten tunes. Outside, leaves dance in the wind, their rustles harmonizing with the soft murmur of the beaded curtains.

A single key is pressed, and in that moment, the air is graced with the distinct aroma of an old piano, a fragrance lingering from days of melodies past. The instrument, once vibrant with life, now stands in quiet solitude, its music waiting to be rekindled, a poignant reminder of the passage of time and the echoes of melodies that once filled the air.

_______________________________________________

Credits

∘ Dead Unicorn

Dead Unicorn - Barrel Vault Manor @ SL Home & Decor Weekend Sale

Dead Unicorn - Board Games Clutter

Dead Unicorn - Bead Curtain S Wooden

∘ .:Youneed!:.

.:YN:. Office Desk Bonnie Set @ SL Home & Decor Weekend Sale - Includes:

.:YN:. Office Desk Bonnie Green

∘ Dahlia

Dahlia - Raven - Wall Photo Holder - Gold @ Collabor88

Dahlia - Autumn Mood - Pomeranian in Pumpkin - RARE 2 @ Saturday Sale

Dahlia - Autumn Mood - Porcelain Pumpkins - Ivory 12 @ Saturday Sale

∘ Apple Fall

Apple Fall Original Artwork - Moon Garden Banner, Dark

Apple Fall Globe w/ Books - Black (Group Gift)

Apple Fall Enamel Teapot - White (Group Gift)

Apple Fall Jar Candle - Sapphire Musk, Open (Group Gift)

Apple Fall Basil Sproutlings (Group Gift)

AF Magazine Files (Group Gift)

∘ Nutmeg

Nutmeg. Dark Hutch / 1 @ Saturday Sale

Nutmeg. Dark Piano Chair Beige

Nutmeg. Curtain

Nutmeg. Valance

∘ Concept

Concept} 06. Tierra. Chair Fur Dark @ Happy Weekend

∘ Serenity Style

Serenity Style - Soul Whispers Piano @ SL Home & Decor Weekend Sale

∘ Yugen

Yugen.// stamp box @ SL Home & Decor Weekend Sale

∘ Dust Bunny

dust bunny . hanging plants . double planter

dust bunny . hoya plant

dust bunny . harvest feast . pumpkin slice

∘ Mithral

Mithral * Metal + Wood Desk Lamp (Pack C)

Mithral * Wall Organizer Shelf (Natural)

∘ [ zerkalo ]

[ zerkalo ] The infamous couch - Gift Fog

[ zerkalo ] Arnprior - Pumpkin Candles - GIFT

∘ Soy.

Soy. Super long Hanging Hedera

I come from a very musical family. When my sister and I were kids, we used to delight in harmonizing with our dad (mom played the piano), especially with rounds. "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" can be sung as a 3-part round by itself but it's especially fun when sung simultaneously with "Three Blind Mice" and "Frère Jacques." Try it some time :-)!

Created for the Artistic Manipulation Group's MIXMASTER CHALLENGE #59.

CHEF PaulO Classic is sending us back to our childhoods!

➤ Build your image around one of the main characters (or objects, as the case may be) of your favorite children’s story or nursery rhyme.

➤ You must use a square format.

➤ Include relevant text in your image. It may be the title and/or any other text that reflects the story.

➤ Use a paper texture prominently in your composition.

➤ NO BIRDS IN FLIGHT.

Credits: background scene via Pixabay; boy, boat, and scroll via PixelSquid; squirrel is mine.

On my fourteenth birthday I got a camera and from that time on I started shooting. First all kind of things but more and more transport. At some point I started with wedding photography and that was a golden time, especially financially. I learned how to work fast and still checking that the subject was sharp and foreground and background harmonized with the bridal couple. Due to the success there was no possibility to do other things and after a few years I stopped, just photographing transport again. One thing has remained. I still look at the foreground and background and the subject needs to be in harmony and sharp!!!

Modern architecture captivates with its sleek lines, innovative materials, and minimalist designs, harmonizing form and function.

It emphasizes open spaces, natural light, and sustainable practices, creating elegant structures that blend seamlessly with their surroundings while pushing creative boundaries.

In the past few days, an intriguing idea struck me. What if each week I came up with a different theme? This notion seemed both exciting and promising, offering a fresh perspective and a constant source of novelty. I imagined diving into a new world every seven days, exploring diverse themes.

IG: www.instagram.com/frank_van_dongen/

With these meticulously crafted decorations and landscape pieces, you hold the reins of your very own French garden. Now, let's delve into the charm of that gazebo – an unparalleled fusion of weathered wood aesthetics with undeniable elegance. I've seamlessly incorporated a trellis that harmonizes flawlessly, along with darling little leaves for you to scatter at your whim. Vibrantly lush and green, they yearn for delightful summer rendezvous. And oh my, let's not overlook those walking slabs – perfect for sculpting serene patios or meandering pathways. So, without further ado, immerse yourself and watch your creativity flourish in our enchanted garden!

Visit Equal10 Today to See it for yourself :

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/equal10/223/127/89

I hope you like ♥

Just the still melancholy that I love—that makes life and nature harmonize." ~ George Eliot

Processed with VSCO with l2 preset

The harmonized lamb of post modern purity. Temperance.

Wishing all Canadians a Happy Canada Day!

July 1st 2010

Also, the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) kicks in today which has caused gas prices to surge 8%! GRRR!! Stupid Ontario/Canadian Government!

www.cp24.com/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20100630/100628_hst...

www.cp24.com/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20100630/100630_can...

New Democratic Party against HST!

GO NDP!!!! A new supporter! Will vote for you Next election!

www.cp24.com/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20100701/100701_hst

" Now if I do anything it is

to tune souls instead of instruments.

To harmonize people instead of notes.

If there is anything in my philosophy,

it is the law of harmony:

that one must put oneself in harmony

with oneself ..... and with others."

" The words that enlighten the soul are more precious

than jewels."

- Hazrat Inayat Khan

texture by darkwood67

for the wise and fascinating derAmialtedbloede

The Tao is like an empty bowl.

Which in being used can never be filled up.

Fathomless, it seems to be the origin of all things.

It blunts all sharp edges.

It unties all tangles.

It harmonizes all lights.

It unites the world into one whole.

Hidden in the deeps,

Yet it seems to exist forever.

I don't know whose child it is;

It seems to be the common ancestor of all; the father of things.

Germany, Hamburg, "Planten un Blomen" is an approximately 47 hectare park in the centre of Hamburg.

The name "Planten un Blomen" is in the North German dialect & it means “Plants & Flowers”. The founder & first director of the botanical garden in the Hamburg walls, Johann G. C. Lehmann, planted a plane tree in November 1821, the first tree in the park. The tree is located still today at the Dammtor train station entrance between the large tropical glasshouse & the Congress Centre, the tree is a natural symbol representing the beginnings of the gardens.

The park is a popular destination for the inhabitants in the Hamburg metropolitan area & tourists; it is part of a green zone that stretches horizontally through the whole nearly 2 million city down to the harbour.

The park is famous for its water-light concerts, public theatre & music performances. In addition to the gardens, there is a large playground in the southern park area; the park is open all year round there is no entrance fee.

📌...From May to September, the water-light concerts are presented daily at 10 pm with a bi-weekly changing 30 minutes program. The fountain & lighting is operated by three technicians during the show & tuned to harmonize with the music. Every evening several hundreds of people, with or without a picnic, sit on the lawns around the lake to watch the intense spectacle...unless it rains, the water games still take place.

👉 One World one Dream,

🙏...Danke, Xièxie 谢谢, Thanks, Gracias, Merci, Grazie, Obrigado, Arigatô, Dhanyavad, Chokrane to you & over

17 million visits in my photostream with countless motivating comments

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

the beautiful colors of a twig of hops I found, were the inspiration for this selfie portrait with a garland on my head. In real life I'm grey, but this brownish hair is harmonizing with the hops better

;-) :-)))

Evening at Vilsalpsee in the Tannheimer Valley. I was really hoping for some alpenglow and a bit better light but in the two days we were there nothing happened. At least the lake was calm and created a perfect mirror which created a nice atmosphere.

In the end I'm quite happy with this photo. The colors harmonize very well, the brownisch tones of the jetty are picked up in the mountains, same for the boats.

Tech: I used a lee 0.6 soft GND but also did bracketing to further balance the exposure.

Overview of Codex Alimentarius

by Rima Laibow, M.D.

At the request of the United Nations (UN) in 1962, the World Health Organization (WHO) and Food and

Agriculture Organization (FAO) took on the joint role of running and administering the Codex

Alimentarius Commission (CAC) to establish standards and remove barriers to trade for all food and

food products. Having declared that nutrients are toxins from which we must be protected, the CAC

has been busy establishing enforceable international guidelines for upper limits of nutritional

supplement dosing. Codex has goals that affect every person in the UN’s 170+ member nations,

including the United States. As a tool for furthering these goals, member nations are urged to adopt

Codex standards and guidelines as domestic policy. The United States has already committed itself to

doing so despite U. S. law which prohibits this compliance.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has adopted Codex as a standard for the adjudication of foodrelated

international trade disputes and has the authority to enforce Codex standards through

implementation of harsh economic sanctions on non-Codexcompliant member nations. Pre-existing

international treaty laws dictate that WTO rulings will override the domestic laws already in place in

its member nations and, in fact, the WHO has successfully taken both states and the U. S. government

to court in the U. S. to force changes in our domestic laws eleven times. This means our nation’s hard

won laws that give you access to over-the-counter, natural health supplements will become

meaningless. Codex’s original mandate to remove barriers to trade and assure a clean food supply has,

under the influence of private, economically-driven multinational pharmaceutical, agricultural and

chemical corporations, self-expanded far beyond its original mandate. The result is a body of highly

dangerous and restrictive policies that threaten to become domestic law in the U. S. and, as such, are

a threat to your health and freedom.

The FDA has stated explicitly that its goal is complete "harmonization" with Codex and, in order to

bring that about, international regulations i.e., Codex will be given preference over domestic ones!

(Federal Register, 10/ 11 /95)

If Codex gets its way, as it already has in the EU, we can expect that, ultimately, only 18 or so dietary

supplements will be available over-the-counter in doses which are, by design, far too small to have any

discernible impact on any human being since codex classifies nutrients as toxins. High potency

nutrients will not be available either with or without physician’s prescription since these molecules

and compounds will be forbidden under any circumstances. The big surprise? Once in the hands of

pharmaceutical companies, consumer supplement costs are expected to more than quadruple. This

has, in fact, been the experience in Europe where this process is already underway and micro-dose

nutrient prices have increased 10 to 100 fold or more (e.g., in Norway a bottle of zinc lozenges which

previously cost $2 now costs $54; in France 12 Vitamin C tabs of just10 mg cost $117; while 10 Vitamin

E caps of only 10 IU each cost $110).

Australia and the European Union (EU) are in the process of enacting harmonized Codex policies that

restrict consumer access to nutritional supplements. America is next. Though Americans value

personal freedom, the fact Codex meets infrequently (and almost always offshore) and is bogged

down in highly technical language that is difficult to understand has resulted in many Americans

being unaware of this threat. The nearly total media blackout on Codex and its activities helps to

keep the U. S. uninformed and therefore, pliant.

While there have been rare serious adverse reactions to nutritional supplements during the past

decades, (usually when taken far in excess of the recommended dosing), numerous severe and even

fatal reactions to drugs (usually when taken at the recommended dosing) occur every day and are the

fourth leading cause of death in hospitalized clients in the United States when properly

used. When improperly used, they are, in fact, far and away the leading cause of death in

the United States. Even so, drug deaths are very likely underreported. Drugs are

inherently dangerous; nutrients are not. This fact makes it clear why the drug culture

2

needs to eliminate all access to natural health options, including nutritional supplements,

in order to expand and intensify its influence and thus its profitability. Healthy people

take fewer drugs and thus are poor customers.

The global pharmaceutical powers -that-be have already purchased a large piece of the

lucrative global nutritional supplement pie but the considerable size of this pie keeps the

hugely profitable pharmaceutical profit -share-pie from reaching its maximum size so the

competing nutrient pie must be destroyed. Though unable to patent a natural substance,

pharmaceutical corporations can hold patents on synthetic versions of vitamins and

minerals that, unfortunately for the consumer, often do not act like their natural vitamin

counterparts in the body and often act in unpredic table and harmful ways. If Codexcompliant

Europe is any guide, the permitted micro-doses of permitted nutrients will be

only synthetic ones.

In addition to regulatory and/or administrative takeover and destruction of the dietary

supplement market and consumer access, Codex also mandates irradiation of food;

mandatory use of antibiotics, hormones and growth stimulants in all animals raised for

food, is expected to legalize the unlabeled inclusion of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) (whose

safety has never been established while their serious dangers have) into our seed and food supplies and

will increase the allowable maximum tolerated levels of pesticides, herbicides, veterinary drugs and

other dangerous industrial toxins in food, likely driving up degenerative illnesses, including cancer,

diabetes, cardiovascular disease, macular degeneration, MS, etc. All of these policies are made under

the guise of free and equal access to trade for all nations and protection of the public.

Some people have “Codex Anesthesia,” a state of overwhelming, numb confusion that occurs just

before people lose their health freedom. Many otherwise well-informed people from the manufacturing

and retailing sectors of natural healthcare believe that the Dietary Supplement Health and Education

Act (DSHEA), passed in 1994 to protect Americans’ access to natural healthcare substances, will still be

in place to protect them. This is not the case: Fundamental health freedoms afforded the American

public by DSHEA, which classifies supplements as food which, as such, can have no upper limit set on

their use, are now under well orchestrated legislative and/or administrative attack. Health nuts and

junk food devotees alike are not immune from this legislative attack on health freedom.

The following is a link to Dr. Laibow's website which gives a self-prompting 5-minute presentation that

tells you about Codex: http: //www.healthfreedomusa.org/aboutcodex.shtml

More in-depth information can be found on her website, www.healthfreedomusa.org, and on

the highly informative "Nutricide: the DVD" http: /

/www.healthfreedomusa.org/aboutcodex/dvd.shtml

Photo captured via Minolta MD Rokkor-X 85mm F/1.7 lens. Northtown Neighborhood. City of Spokane. Selkirk Mountains Range. Spokane Valley Outwash Plains section within the Northern Rockies Region. Inland Northwest. Spokane County, Washington. Late December 2020.

Exposure Time: 25 sec. * ISO Speed: ISO-100 * Aperture: F/11 * Bracketing: None * Color Temperature: 6000 K * Film Plug-In: Fuji Velvia 50 * Filter: Hoya Pro1 Digital ND x64 (⌀55mm) * Elevation: 1,983 feet above sea-level

Bixby Bridge, Big Sur, California

The Bixby Bridge is one of California's iconic bridges. Completed in 1932 as part of the Pacific Coast Highway through Big Sur, it has a single concrete arch that spans 98 meters (320 feet) and is 85 meters (280 feet) above Bixby Creek. Concrete was used instead of steel to avoid corrosion problems from the salty ocean air and to harmonize with the area's existing rock faces.

Here we see a light trail from a single car heading south. Notice that the brake lights went on when the driver realized that the roadway took a sharp right at the end of the bridge.

im still learning how to take good nightshot lol..

BTW,honest opinions and constructive criticisms are always welcome

(From Wikipedia):

Rainbow Bridge (レインボーブリッジ, Reinbō Burijji?) is a suspension bridge crossing northern Tokyo Bay between Shibaura Wharf and the Odaiba waterfront development in Minato ward, in Tokyo, Japan. Construction started in 1987 and was completed in 1993, the bridge is 798 metres (2,618 ft) long with a main span of 580 metres (1,903 ft). Officially called the 'Shuto Expressway No. 11 Odaiba Route Tokyo port connector bridge', the name 'Rainbow Bridge' was decided by the public and is colloquially known as 'RB'.

The towers supporting the bridge are white in color, designed to harmonize with the skyline of central Tokyo seen from Odaiba. There are lamps placed on the wires supporting the bridge, which are illuminated into three different colors, red, white and green every night using solar energy obtained during the day.

The towers supporting the bridge are white in color, designed to harmonize with the skyline of central Tokyo seen from Odaiba. There are lamps placed on the wires supporting the bridge, which are illuminated into three different colors, red, white and green every night using solar energy obtained during the day.

The bridge can be accessed by foot from Tamachi Station (JR) or Shibaura-futō Station (Yurikamome) on the mainland side.

Time for another *photage* as I like to call these compositions,

as they are not a collage, since photographic images are carefully combined to harmonize with one another, creating a message at the same time.

•In the upper left is a gorgeous New Year's greeting from my dearest, oldest (in flickr years) friend, Yu-Fen from Taiwan!

•The wooden carved figures sit atop our new stove, wondering about the little dodad (which is actually an oven light button!)

•The lower right is a *doodle* from Richard, with an attempt to write some Tibetan characters with a left-handed nib (although he is right-handed) . . .

•The silk autumn leaves are just that!

Enjoy!

...

The Chinese Garden at The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, California, is a stunning representation of classical Suzhou-style gardens. Officially named Liu Fang Yuan (流芳园), the Garden of Flowing Fragrance, it spans over 15 acres and was inspired by the literati gardens of the Ming dynasty. Designed in collaboration with Chinese artisans, the garden opened in 2008 and has since undergone multiple expansions, making it one of the most authentic and largest Chinese gardens outside of China. It embodies the traditional principles of Chinese landscape design—harmonizing water, rocks, plants, and architecture to create a serene and contemplative space.

This photograph captures a tranquil moment within Liu Fang Yuan, where a still lake mirrors traditional Chinese pavilions adorned with intricate woodwork and gracefully upturned eaves. An elegant arched stone bridge spans the water, symbolizing harmony and transition. Weeping willows drape over the edges, while meticulously placed Taihu rocks lend a sculptural depth to the landscape. In the background, a pavilion stands framed by blooming lotuses and wisteria, evoking a sense of timeless beauty. The soft interplay of light and shadows enhances the meditative atmosphere, inviting visitors into a space where nature and architecture exist in perfect balance.

Through this image, the essence of Liu Fang Yuan is preserved—a place where artistry, philosophy, and tranquility converge, offering a glimpse into the rich heritage of classical Chinese gardens.

At the Venice Biennial, Boursier-Mougenot represents France with a spellbinding presentation in the Giardini that has received too little notice in the press. Organized by curator Emma Lavigne, director of the Centre Pompidou-Metz, the work echoes at once with the mythical and with a strain of modern science.

A large Scotch pine tree dominates the central room of the neoclassical French pavilion. It rests atop a hulking ball of dirt and roots, and, equipped with motors, it moves idly around the room, its movements resulting from a reading of electrical signals in the plants. A gentle electronic hum sounds in the space, its frequencies derived from the same signals. Two similar trees occupy the grounds, harmonizing with those that line the walkways between the national pavilions.

Boursier-Mougenot has a weakness for overly clever titles. Admittedly, maybe something is lost in translation, but this project is called rêvolutions, which combines the French word for dream, rêve, with révolutions to suggest, clunkily to my ear, a dream-revolution. (He dubbed from here to ear a work that turns an exhibition space into an aviary, as a flock of colorful finches perch on the amplified electric guitars and basses displayed so that their necks are horizontal, like tree branches.)

The artist had the glass removed from the pavilion’s skylights, rendering the interior open to the elements. When I arrived last weekend, it was just after a downpour, and the sun had re-emerged, so that the tree shimmered with the light on the rainwater as a few attendants mopped the floor.

The trees’ transformation recalls in reverse the myth of Apollo and Daphne. When the nymph Daphne appeals to her father, a god, to protect her from Apollo’s amorous advances, he turns her into a laurel tree. Lavigne further cites Francesco Colonna novel The Dream of Poliphilus and Primo Levi’s short story Dysphylaxis as literary parallels for the metamorphosis of trees. And for the artist, the trees’ movement in the space between the national pavilions symbolizes people’s free travel among countries, and has resonance with the movement of refugees.

(Artnet.com)