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MACHERMORE CASTLE WAS ORIGINALLY BUILT BY PETER MCDOWALL AND SITUATED ON THE EAST BANK OF THE RIVER CREE, ABOUT A MILE FROM THE TOWN OF NEWTON STEWART. MACHERMORE CASTLE IS A THREE HUNDRED YEARS OLD AND THE GREY OLD CASTLE AND BRAVELY WEATHERED THE STORMS, AND IT WOULD HAVE CONTINUED TO DO SO UNSCATHED HAD NOT MODERN TIMES NECESSITATED STRUCTURAL CHANGES. THE CASTLE NOW PRESENTS A HAPPY INSTANCE OF THE BLENDING OF THE OLD AND NEW STYLES OF ARCHITECTURE—AN ADAPTATION OF THE PAST TO PRESENT REQUIREMENTS.
MACHERMORE CASTLE IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN BUILT ABOUT THE LATTER END OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. TRADITION SAYS THAT IT WAS AT FIRST INTENDED TO BUILD THE CASTLE ON THE HIGHER GROUND, A LITTLE TO THE NORTH-EAST OF THE PRESENT SITE, BUT THAT DURING THE NIGHT THE FOUNDATION STONES WERE ALWAYS REMOVED, SO THAT WHAT WAS BUILT DURING THE DAY WAS CARRIED OFF BY UNSEEN HANDS AND DEPOSITED IN ANOTHER PLACE. AS IT WAS NO USE TO STRIVE AGAINST THE SUPERNATURAL, THE CASTLE WAS EVENTUALLY BUILT WHERE THE MATERIALS WERE ALWAYS FOUND IN THE MORNING.
IN THE CASTLE ITSELF WAS A ROOM REPUTED TO BE HAUNTED. IN THIS INSTANCE THE PARTICULAR APARTMENT WAS IN THE NORTH-WEST ANGLE, AND WAS ALWAYS KNOWN AS DUNCAN’S ROOM. PROJECTING FROM THE TOP CORNER OF THE OUTER WALL IN THE SAME PART OF THE CASTLE WAS THE FINELY-CARVED FIGUREHEAD OF A MAN. A CLOSE INSPECTION REVEALED THE FACT THAT THE NECK WAS ENCIRCLED BY AN EXQUISITELY-CHISELLED LACE RUFFLE OF THE TUDOR PERIOD. THIS PIECE OF SCULPTURE WAS ALWAYS KNOWN AS DUNCAN’S HEAD. ON THE FLOOR OF DUNCAN’S ROOM THERE WAS THE MARK OF A BLOODY HAND, DISTINCTLY SHOWING THE IMPRESS OF THE FINGERS, THUMB, AND PALM. IT WAS SAID THAT REMOVING THAT PART OF THE FLOORING HAD BEEN TRIED SO AS TO ERADICATE ALL TRACE OF THE BYGONE TRAGEDY, BUT THE MARK OF THE BLOODY HAND APPEARED IN THE NEW WOOD AS FRESH AS BEFORE.
THE WHITE LADY OF MACHERMORE
THE WHITE LADY OF MACHERMORE WAS ONCE ALSO BELIEVED TO BE A GHOST AS SHE WAS ONLY SEEN AT VERY LOW LIGHT WANDERING AROUND THE GROUNDS OF THE CASTLE. THIS IS NOW KNOWN THAT ONE OF THE PREVIOUS OWNERS OF THE CASTLE HAD AN ALBINO DAUGHTER WHO ROAMED THE GROUNDS AT DUSK EVERY DAY AS SHE COULD NOT SEE IN NORMAL DAYLIGHT.
THERE IS A TRADITION THAT SOMEWHERE ABOUT MACHERMORE CASTLE THERE IS BURIED UNDER A FLAT STONE A KETTLE FULL OF GOLD, BUT SO FAR HAS NEVER BEEN FOUND.
Fast forward 22 minutes. The sun has only barely cracked the horizon and I have travelled to what I call Dead Birch Alley. The name will not make much sense, here, but out of the frame are a bunch of birch snags, many of which have fallen over the last few years.
Normally I do not clone things out but in this instance there is a piece of rebar that is used by park staff to record pond water levels. It was quite a distraction, so I chose to remove it.
Compositionally I have tried to lead the eye to the lodge in the distance, and finally to the trees at the back of the frame where just the tops are lit by golden light that would soon flood the area.
Two clicks to frosty goodness:)
My take on a local land mark. In this instance we have eclipsed our neighbours I think.
eclipse
ɪˈklɪps/Submit
verb
past tense: eclipsed; past participle: eclipsed
(of a celestial body) obscure the light from or to (another celestial body).
"Jupiter was eclipsed by the Moon"
deprive (someone or something) of significance or power.
"the economy has eclipsed the environment as the main issue"
synonyms:outshine, overshadow, put in the shade, surpass, exceed, excel, be superior to, outclass, outstrip, outdistance, outdo, top, cap, trump, transcend, tower above/over, dwarf, upstage, shame, put to shame; More
literary
obscure or block out (light).
"a sea of blue sky violently eclipsed by showers"
synonyms:blot out, block, cover, obscure, veil, shroud, hide, conceal, obliterate, darken, dim;
1st July saw the return of National Express services, after they had suspended services due to the virus, they began with a much reduced level of service, with some route alterations, this has meant the past 2 weeks there have been a number of altered route numbers, for instance the 501 has been re-numbered the 903, and the 404 to the 405. The route has also been starting/ending at Plymouth instead of Penzance. An increase in service levels, and a return to previous numbering happens from tomorrow (13th July)
Here we see the first Southbound 405 service passing Livermead at sunrise in the hands of one of Parks's Caetano Levante 3 Volvos, BF68LFK.
Company: Parks
Registration: BF68LFK
New: 2018
Chassis: Volvo B11RT
Bodywork: Caetano Levante 3 C59FLt
Route: 405 (London, Victoria Coach Station-Plymouth, Mayflower Street Coach Station)
Location: Torbay Road, Livermead, Torquay
Exposure: 1/500 @ f3.5 200ISO
Lens Info: Pentax M 50mm f1.7
Date: 2 July 2020
Believed to be the first instance of a 5 engine lashup on the SCFE, CSX sending TRRA 3004 (USSC 6327) back and forth through Florida for a week ultimately coincided the delivery of 3004 with the completion of traction motor swaps at Childs for 6322 and 6323, making for a massive power move of 3 SD40s DIT. One of the wackiest consists to date
SCFE SBT-25 w/ USSC 4204, USSC 6325, USSC 6322, TRRA 3004 (USSC 6327), & USSC 6323
i miss fresh time-zero. here's an old shot that i have never scanned until now for polaroid week.
time-zero
polaroid sx-70
220710_Huwaei_093905._Ondulations
Parc Rosoux Ohey - Namur
www.out.be/fr/lieux/56773/parc-rosoux/list/
www.cesewallonie.be/instances/pole-environnement
walloniebelgiquetourisme.be/fr-be/content/syndicat-diniti...
Chandeshvara Nayanar
The South Indian legend, narrated, for instance, in the Periyapuranam, states that he was born into a Brahmin family and was called Visarasarman. When he was a young boy, he found that cows remain uncared for, and hence he himself commenced tendering and caring for the cows. While doing so, he would pour some milk on a lingam, which he made of sand. The news of this wastage of milk reached the ear of his father, Datta; and he himself came to the field to scold his son. Chandesha was deep in meditation in front of the sand lingam, and he did not see his father. The enraged father kicked the sand lingam. At this Chnadesha’s meditation was interrupted, and he struck his father’s leg with a staff. The staff turned into an axe and his father’s leg was severed. At this point, Shiva manifested himself, and blessed Chandesha, declared that he would become a father to Chandesha; and restored the severed leg of Datta to normal state.
This picture is a reproduction of one I first saw in the Athleta catalog (for instance athleta.gap.com/browse/outfit.do?cid=1047782&oid=OUT-...), which seems to arrive at our house once a week. The landscape in the Athleta photo looked at lot like Utah and the signs on the trailhead board offered some clues for a location but it took using a magnifying glass to make out the words. I discovered this is Faux Falls right outside of Moab, Utah. Coincidentally, we were going to be traveling through Moab on our way back from New Mexico and so I got the directions on the internet and we made the slight detour and then the hike to the falls. It was extremely hot. Jessica complained about hiking from the car being the worst experience of her life. When it came to recreating the Athleta picture, as you can see, only one of my models, Kellie, was cooperative while the other one was only looking for shade. Faux Falls got its name because although the water looks like it is coming right out of the desert rock, this is actually a man-made waterfall build by diverting a water source with pipes. Still beautiful!
For more of my creative projects, visit my short stories website: 500ironicstories.com
A rare instance of a Sea Otter attacking and eating a bird. Normally Sea Otters feast on shellfish not birds. More on this encounter can be found on my blog entry Sea Otter Attacking a Western Grebe
©2008 Jim M. Goldstein, All Rights Reserved
This image is not available for use on websites, blogs or other media without the explicit written permission of the photographer.
Here's an instance where I really could've used a different focal length. Sometimes I really wish the G617 had the ability to zoom or switch lenses. In this case, I would've loved to zoom out just a little so the top of McGown Peak wasn't so close to the edge of the frame.
Fuji G617
Velvia 50
yesterday we passed through many flower meadows with lots of wildflowers. So that made it worth to get the macro lenses out :) The flower depicted is a tiny blue wildflower, not larger than than a thumbnail and I still don't know the name of this bewitchingly beautiful wildflower but I had to showcase it in proper manner in a triptych.
The very tiny but deadly Ambush Bug. I think this one is just coming into adulthood. They sit and wait for a small soft sided and tiny insect to land ( hover fly for instance) . This one is smaller than I remember and a few of these could fit together on a dime....
Turquoise Parrot (male)
Neophema pulchella
November 5th, 2016
Chiltern, Victoria, Australia
Canon EOS 1D X
Canon EF 500mm f4L IS II USM lens
Canon EF 1.4x III Extender
One of those amazing experiences where you just happen to chance upon a very rare find - in this instance, a Turquoise Parrot nesting hollow. A small group of bird photographers held a long weekend away in Chiltern where we were rewarded with this wonderful find.
Till Sunday 13th
This (in this instance I am referring to the point of focus - the Anthers) like countless others, isn't 100% sharp. There's nothing wrong with the lens... if I use a tripod and photograph a stationary object at f11 ... no problem at all.
Each time I photograph tulips I realise that I haven't nailed my macro photography at all. It's a huge challenge. The tulips sway in the breeze. The camera focus system isn't flawless... certainly not on a "we must track this moving tulip on a macro scale". I have so many images "almost" sharp. And probably only more experimenting will yield answers. e.g. do I need a shutter speed of 1/640 instead? Are shutter vibrations (at lower speeds) potentially also an issue?
Unfortunately I can't tell, by reference to the camera screen, whether a photo is "totally sharp"... only find out when you get it back on the computer. I am probably pixel-peeping too carefully!
Love to hear from those experienced in this area!
Arctic Lupine with a smoky sky. Rain today, so hopefully some of the smoke clears and the fires subside. More information on the fires
“The hypothesis of God, for instance, gives an incomparably absolute opportunity to understand everything and know absolutely nothing. Give man an extremely simplified system of the world and explain every phenomenon away on the basis of that system. An approach like that doesn't require any knowledge. Just a few memorized formulas plus so-called intuition and so-called common sense.”
Arkady Strugatsky, Roadside Picnic
and dream well,
This particular laboratory experiment has been ongoing for decades; with only a few instances of having dropped. Somewhat meditative.
In a strikingly specific instance of mimicry, the patterns on the wings of this moth (Macrocilix maia) appear to resemble two flies feeding at a glistening bird dropping. This, coupled with a pungent odor that the moth emits, may be enough to dissuade a predator from considering a meal. Although flies are certainly edible, they nevertheless sometimes serve as models for mimicry because they are so quick and agile that most birds won't bother pursuing them. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
A rare instance of a Sea Otter attacking and eating a bird. Normally Sea Otters feast on shellfish not birds. More on this encounter can be found on my blog entry Sea Otter Attacking a Western Grebe
©2008 Jim M. Goldstein, All Rights Reserved
This image is not available for use on websites, blogs or other media without the explicit written permission of the photographer.
The long exposure gives little away in terms of conveying how angry the sea was when I was making this image. Focal points are few and far between on this wide open expanse of beach, so compositions have to be made using the few elements that are available. I tied this image together between the fortunately positioned foreground log and the distant setting sun. The high tide worked well for me in this instance, but I had to be constantly vigilant due to the odd rogue wave.
The VIP-config transportation for the Detroit Tigers and Red Wings. In this instance, carrying the Detroit Tigers MLB team from Minneapolis to Cleveland.
A very rare instance of a car that had previously looked abandoned, but for one reason or another was brought back into use. Currently taxed and MOT'd until September 2022. A few more new photos in this upload, but I'm determined not to forget about the stuff from the last couple of years that I keep meaning to upload.
The draconian ruling of the Polish Constitutional Court which bans pregnancy terminations even in instances where a foetus is diagnosed with a serious and irreversible birth defect, has brought thousands of people to the streets. At the same time, the recently appointed catotaliban minister of education announced that students and teachers involved in the protests will be punished. This photo was taken at a rally opposed to that minister of education and demanding his resignation.
Here are some online petitions supporting women's rights in Poland:
secure.avaaz.org/campaign/pl/solidarity_with_polish_women...
www.change.org/p/polish-government-legalise-abortions-in-...
Au bout de cette petite impasse l'ancien tribunal d'instance de Troyes devenu depuis Pôle civil. Le message pré-fermeture du Tribunal d'Instance est malheureusement toujours d'actualité. Sans rentrer dans les détails et pouvant être partial, je vous joins quelques lien sur ce propos.
Infos : Infos sur le pôle civil (FR) && MrMondialisation sur les revendications (FR) && Média indépendant sur les revendications (FR) && RadioFrance sur les revendications (FR)(Audio)
Some amazing bioluminescence shot shot on May 14, 2020.
The Scripps Institution of Oceanography (sometimes referred to as SIO, Scripps Oceanography, or Scripps) in San Diego, California, founded in 1903, is one of the oldest and largest centers for ocean and Earth science research, public service, undergraduate and graduate training in the world. Hundreds of ocean and Earth scientists conduct research with the aid of oceanographic research vessels and shorebased laboratories.
My brother got his Ph. D. in Geophysics here.
The red tide is named for the rusty red color it makes the water in the daytime. This is one of the best instances of bioluminescence I've experienced in San Diego since 2011. Shot with a Canon EOS R mirrorless camera.
Red tides, which often contain harmful algal blooms (HABs), are caused by chemical reactions that occur between algae and other substances. Red by day, blue by night, this colorful ocean phenomenon is a relatively rare natural occurrence that has spawned a number of imitations in movies and literature, the most recent example being a rather striking scene in the visually-driven movie Life of Pi.
Bioluminescent algae blooms (like the ever-popular dinoflagellate marine algae called Sea Sparkle) are most frequently observed away from shorelines. Though beautiful in the dead of night, during the day these blooming phytoplankton are less than stunning. They often turn ocean water red and murky, and emit a distasteful smell of decay that comes from the algae starving the water of oxygen.
In one of those divine instances that a family so graciously welcomed me into their home, I was able to marvel at her up-close. This beautiful piece of sculpture, with [by my personal preference] the unmatched visage of a grieving mother -with the right age, unlike very youthful looking Dolorosas- is a gem of Philippine Ecclesiastical Art.
She is enshrined in her urna, assembled on a separate bust, wearing her pre-war faded cobalt blue ensemble -the sequins made of actual pressed metal plates, not synthetic...
Summer skies remembered - in this instance a surreal sky that was in fact frightening - it was spitting lightning - but I had to run out and make this shot! The long aeolian piano was an installation left by a dance troupe at the Convent Country Inn in Val Marie, Saskatchewan, in 2004, following a performance in Grasslands National Park. Long wires were attached to its back and linked to a nearby pole, so that the wind would vibrate them and the sound would resonate through the piano itself. Very unusual. After several winters the piano finally crumbled to pieces, but the "vibes" remain.
Photographed in Val Marie, Saskatchewan (Canada). Don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without explicit permission © 2006 James R. Page - all rights reserved.
Ybor City is a historic neighborhood just northeast of downtown Tampa, Florida, United States. It was founded in the 1880s by Vicente Martinez-Ybor and other cigar manufacturers and populated by thousands of immigrants, mainly from Cuba, Spain, and Italy. For the next 50 years, workers in Ybor City's cigar factories rolled hundreds of millions of cigars annually.
Ybor City was unique in the American South as a successful town almost entirely populated and owned by immigrants. The neighborhood had features unusual among contemporary communities in the south, most notably its multiethnic and multiracial population and their many mutual aid societies. The cigar industry employed thousands of well-paid workers, helping Tampa grow from an economically depressed village to a bustling city in about 20 years and giving it the nickname "Cigar City".
Ybor City grew and flourished from the 1890s until the Great Depression of the 1930s, when a drop in demand for fine cigars reduced the number of cigar factories and mechanization in the cigar industry greatly reduced employment opportunities in the neighborhood. This process accelerated after World War II, and a steady exodus of residents and businesses continued until large areas of the formerly vibrant neighborhood were virtually abandoned by the late 1970s. Attempts at redevelopment failed until the 1980s, when an influx of artists began a slow process of gentrification. In the 1990s and early 2000s, a portion of the original neighborhood around 7th Avenue developed into a nightclub and entertainment district, and many old buildings were renovated for new uses. Since then, the area's economy has diversified with more offices and residences, and the population has shown notable growth for the first time in over half a century.
Ybor City has been designated as a National Historic Landmark District, and several structures in the area are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. In 2008, 7th Avenue, Ybor City's main commercial thoroughfare, was recognized as one of the "10 Great Streets in America" by the American Planning Association. In 2010 Columbia Restaurant was named a "Top 50 All-American icon" by Nation's Restaurant News magazine.
In the early 1880s, Tampa was an isolated village with a population of less than 1000 and a struggling economy. However, its combination of a good port, Henry Plant's new railroad line, and humid climate attracted the attention of Vicente Martinez Ybor, a prominent Spanish cigar manufacturer.
Ybor had moved his cigar-making operation from Cuba to Key West, Florida, in 1869, due to political turmoil in the then-Spanish colony. But, labor unrest and the lack of room for expansion had him looking for another base of operations, preferably in his own company town.
Ybor considered several communities in the southern United States and decided that an area of sandy scrubland just northeast of Tampa would be the best location. In 1885, the Tampa Board of Trade helped broker an initial purchase of 40 acres (160,000 m2) of land, and Ybor quickly bought more. However, Ybor City very nearly didn't happen at all. Vicente Ybor initially failed to come to an agreement with the owner of the 40 acre parcel. The Tampa Board of Trade was horrified to find that the purchase had failed and hatched a plan to get the buyer and seller back together. Vicente Ybor was sitting in the train station on his way to Jacksonville to look at more property when the Board of Trade (a group of five, one of whom was Frederick Salomonson, future 3-time mayor of Tampa) arrived and persuaded Ybor to reconsider and the deal went forward from there, the birth of Ybor City.
Italians were also among the early settlers of Ybor City. Most of them came from a few villages in southwestern Sicily. The villages were Santo Stefano Quisquina, Alessandria della Rocca, Bivona, Cianciana, and Contessa Entellina. Sixty percent of them came from Santo Stefano Quisquina. Before settling in Ybor City, many first worked in the sugar cane plantations in St. Cloud, central Florida. Some came by way of Louisiana. A number of families migrated from New Orleans after the lynching of eleven Italians in 1891 during the "Mafia Riot". Italians mostly brought their entire families with them, unlike other immigrants. The foreign-born Italian population of Tampa grew from 56 in 1890 to 2,684 in 1940. Once arriving in Ybor City, Italians settled mainly in the eastern and southern fringes of the city. The area was referred to as La Pachata, after a Cuban rent collector in that area. It was also called "Little Italy".
In 1887, Tampa annexed the neighborhood. By 1900, the rough frontier settlement of wooden buildings and sandy streets had been transformed into a bustling town with brick buildings and streets, a streetcar line, and many social and cultural opportunities. Largely due to the growth of Ybor City, Tampa's population had jumped to almost 16,000.
Ybor City grew and prospered during the first decades of the 20th Century. Thousands of residents built a community that combined Cuban, Spanish, Italian, and Jewish culture. "Ybor City is Tampa's Spanish India," observed a visitor to the area, "What a colorful, screaming, shrill, and turbulent world."
Circulo Cubano de Tampa, one of Ybor City's social clubs
An aspect of life were the mutual aid societies built and sustained mainly by ordinary citizens. These clubs were founded in Ybor's early days (the first was the Centro Español, established in 1891) and were run on dues collected from their members, usually 5% of a member's salary. In exchange, members and their whole family received services including free libraries, educational programs, sports teams, restaurants, numerous social functions like dances and picnics, and free medical services. Beyond the services, these clubs served as extended families and communal gathering places for generations of Ybor's citizens.
There were clubs for each ethnic division in the community – the Deutscher-Americaner Club (for German and eastern Europeans), L'Unione Italiana (for Italians), El Circulo Cubano (for light-skinned Cubans), La Union Marti-Maceo (for darker-skinned Cubans), El Centro Español (for Spaniards), and the largest, El Centro Asturiano, which accepted members from any ethnic group[20]
Although there was little racism in Ybor City, Tampa's Jim Crow laws at the time forbade Afro-Cubans from belonging to the same social organization as their lighter-skinned countrymen. Sometimes, differences in skin color within the same family made joining the same Cuban club impossible. In general, the rivalries between all the clubs were friendly, and families were known to switch affiliations depending on which one offered preferred services and events.
Cigar production reached its peak in 1929, when 500 million cigars were rolled in the factories of Ybor City. Not coincidentally, that was also the year that the Great Depression began.
In the early 1980s, an influx of artists seeking interesting and inexpensive studio quarters started a slow recovery, followed by a period of commercial gentrification. By the early 1990s, many of the old long-empty brick buildings on 7th Avenue had been converted into bars, restaurants, nightclubs, and other nightlife attractions.Traffic grew so much that the city built parking garages and closed 7th Ave. to traffic to deal with the visitors.
Cigar making display, Ybor City Museum State Park
Since around 2000, the city of Tampa and the Ybor City Chamber of Commerce have encouraged a broader emphasis in development. With financial help from the city, Centro Ybor, a family-oriented shopping complex and movie theater, opened in the former home of the Centro Español social club.
The Florida Brewing Company building was restored into a commercial building in 2001. New apartments, condominiums and a hotel have been built on long-vacant lots, and old buildings have been restored and converted into residences and hotels. New residents began moving into Ybor City for the first time in many years. The blocks surrounding 7th Avenue also thrive with restaurants, nightlife and shopping. Reflecting the district's status as a party destination, Ybor City is referenced extensively in the lyrics of Brooklyn-based rock band The Hold Steady. The song "Killer Parties", for instance, contains the line "Ybor City is très speedy, but they throw such killer parties." In May 2009 Swedish super-retailer IKEA opened its long-awaited Tampa location in the southern edge of Ybor City.
The local museum is the Ybor City Museum State Park in the former Ferlita Bakery building (originally La Joven Francesca) building on 9th Avenue. Tours of the gardens and the "casitas" (small homes of cigar company workers) are provided by a ranger. Exhibits, period photos and a video cover the founding of Ybor City and the cigar making industry.
Credit for the data above is given to the following website:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ybor_City
© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.
In an instance the ship vanished beyond the sea.
I have gotten into a slump. because my wife is a disease.
I've been building the occasional submarine in LDD since 2014; it was inevitable that I would eventually build one in real brick.
Because, you know, I like submarines.
__________
The Gato Class of United States submarines was the first to enter mass production in World War Two. Together with the later Balao and Tench Classes, which were very similar in design, the Gato Submarines were the most numerous submarine in the US Fleet. By extension, that makes the Gato class the most numerous in the world during the war.
Scale: 1:125 (1 stud = 1 meter)
Length: 95 Studs, or about 30 inches
Acqua alta is the term used in Veneto, Italy for the exceptional tide peaks that occur periodically in the northern Adriatic Sea. The peaks reach their maximum in the Venetian Lagoon, where they cause partial flooding of Venice and Chioggia; flooding also occurs elsewhere around the northern Adriatic, for instance at Grado and Trieste, but much less often and to a lesser degree.
The phenomenon occurs mainly between autumn and spring, when the astronomical tides are reinforced by the prevailing seasonal winds that hamper the usual reflux. The main winds involved are the sirocco, which blows northbound along the Adriatic Sea, and the bora, which has a specific local effect due to the shape and location of the Venetian Lagoon.
Precise scientific parameters define the phenomenon called acqua alta, the most significant of which (i.e., the deviation in amplitude from a base measurement of "standard" tides) is measured by the hydrographic station located nearby the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute. Supernormal tidal events can be categorized as:
intense when the measured sea level is between 80 cm and 109 cm above the standard sea level (which was defined by averaging the measurements of sea level during the year 1897);
very intense when the measured sea level is between 110 cm and 139 cm above the standard;
exceptional high waters when the measured sea level reaches or exceeds 140 cm above the standard.
Generally speaking, tide levels largely depend on three contributing factors:
An astronomical component, which results from the movement and alignment of celestial bodies, principally the Moon, secondarily the Sun, and marginally other planets (with effects decreasing in relation to their distance from the Earth); this component is dependent upon the laws of the astronomical mechanics and can be computed and accurately predicted for the long run (even years or decades)
A geophysical component, primarily dependent upon the geometric shape of the basin, which amplifies or reduces the astronomical component and, because it is dependent upon the laws of the physical mechanics, can be also computed and accurately predicted for the long run (even years or decades);
A meteorological component, linked to a large set of variables, such as the direction and strength of winds, the location of barometric pressure fields and their gradients, precipitation, etc. Because of their complex interrelations and quasi-stochastic behavior, these variables cannot be accurately modeled in statistical terms. Consequently, this component can only be forecast for the very short run and is the principal determinant of acqua alta emergencies that catch Venetians unprepared.
Two further contributing natural factors are the subsidence, i.e. the natural sinking of the soil level, to which the lagoon is subject, and eustasy, i.e. the progressive rise of sea levels. While these phenomena would occur independently of human activity, their effects have increased because of inhabitation: the use of lagoonal water by the industries in Porto Marghera (now ceased) sped up subsidence, while global warming has been linked to increased eustasy. Venice's "Tide Monitoring and Forecast Center" evaluates that the city has lost 23 cm in its elevation since 1897, the year of reference, 12 of which are attributable to natural causes (9 because of eustasy, 3 because of subsidence), 13 are due to the additional subsidence caused by human activity, while the "elastic recovery" of the soil has allowed the city to "gain back" 2 cm.
Geophysical determinants linked to the Adriatic Sea
The long and narrow rectangular shape of the Adriatic Sea is the source of an oscillating water motion (called seiche) along the basin's minor axis.
The principal oscillation, which has a period of 21 hours and 30 minutes and an amplitude around 0.5 meters at the axis' extremities, supplements the natural tidal cycle, so that the Adriatic Sea has much more extreme tidal events than the rest of the Mediterranean. A secondary oscillation is also present, with an average period of 12 hours and 11 minutes.
Because the timeframe of both oscillations is comparable to naturally occurring (yet independent) astronomical tides, the two effects overlap and reinforce each other. The combined effects are more significant at the perigees, which correspond to new moons, full moons and equinoxes.
Should meteorological conditions (such as a strong scirocco wind blowing north along the major axis of the Adriatic basin) hamper the natural outflow of excess tidal water, high waters of greater magnitude can be expected in Venice.
The particular shape of the Venetian lagoon, the subsidence which has been affecting the soil in the coastal area, and the peculiar urban configuration all magnify the impact of the high waters on city dwellers and on the buildings.
Furthermore, the northbound winds called bora and sirocco often blow directly towards the harbors that connect the lagoon to the Adriatic Sea, significantly slowing down (and, at times, completing blocking) the outflow of water from the lagoon toward the sea. When this occurs, the ebb is prevented inside the lagoon, so that the following high tide overlaps with the previous one, in a perverse self-supporting cycle.
The creation of the industrial area of Porto Marghera, which lies immediately behind Venice, amplified the effects of high waters for two reasons: first, the land upon which the area is built was created by filling large parts of the lagoon where smaller islands just above sea level previously lay. These islands, called barene, acted as natural sponges (or "expansion tanks") when high tides occurred, absorbing a significant portion of the excess water.
Second, a navigable channel was carved through the lagoon to allow oil tankers to reach the piers. This "Oil Channel" physically linked the sea to the coastal line, running through the harbor in Malamocco and crossing the lagoon for its entire width. This direct connection to the sea, which was obviously non-existent at the time of Venice's foundation, has subjected the city to more severe high tides.
Porto Marghera and its facilities are not the only human-made contributors to higher tides. Rather, the municipality of Venice has published a study that suggests the following initiatives may have had an irreversible and catastrophic impact on the city's capacity to withstand acque alte in the future:
the building of the Railroad Bridge (1841/1846) connecting Venice to the land, because its supporting pillars modify the natural motion of lagoonal water;
the diversion of the river Brenta outside the Chioggia basin, which drained the 2,63 hectares of the river's delta that functioned as expansion tanks, absorbing extra lagoonal water during high tides;
the building of offshore dammed piers (Porto di Malamocco, 1820/72; Porto di S. Nicolò, 884/97; Porto di Chioggia, 1911/33), which obviously restrict the natural movement of water;
the building of the Ponte della Libertà (1931/33), which connects Venice to the land;
the building of the Riva dei Sette Martiri (1936/41), an extension to the Riva degli Schiavoni;
the building of the artificial island Tronchetto used as a car and bus terminal (17 hectares, 1957/61):
the doubling of the Railroad Bridge (1977).
In another life, I could see myself as a botanist or an arborist. I am endlessly amazed by forests and what grows in them.
Take byrophytes, or moss, for instance. These small, non vascular plants live along with other plants, providing water and essential nutrients. In the temperate Pacific Northwest we are no strangers to moss. There are whole forests draped in the thick fuzzy plant; every shade of green.
I was surprised to see moss growing in the winter down near Lake Tahoe CA. Apparently not only surviving, but thriving. While most plants grow within the range between 65-85 degrees F, byrophytes can grow in sub zero temps. In fact, they produce their own brand of "anti-freeze" which allows them to withstand the frigid cold. Who knew? ....probably botanists and arborists I guess.......
All I know, is on this snowshoe excursion, these two trees and their bright yellow/green byrophyte brethren caught my eye and the lens of my Hasselblad.
Image with my Hasselblad 500cm.
This unit led BNSF Train U HKMKCK0 07T, which terminates at Mill Street Yard. Normally BNSF doesn't keep the power on the train, but they did this particular instance, and the unit called the KCT home for a couple days until we transferred to the BNSF.
Locomotive: CSXT 496
8-4-14
Kansas City, KS
San Francisco Zoo.
A rarity that returned to the same spot for a second year. This Phoebe was first spotted during the 2015 Christmas Bird Count and was seen in the same location in the 2016 CBC. In both instances it was spotted by Dan Murphy.
Pentax K1000
SMC-K 55mm f/1.8
Foma Retropan 320 soft (lab developed hc110)
March 2020
I was at first photographing just this amazing eavestrough... and then the owner stepped out. I instantly recognized this instance of resemblance.
The magnificient temple complex is one of the finest monuments built by the Hoysalas and is regarded as the most exquisite shrine of the South. Its construction was initiated in 1117 A.D., at the instance of King Vishnuvardhana and was completed by his son Narasimha I and grandson, Veera Ballala II. According to historical records, it took about 103 Years to complete this profusely sculpted masterpiece of Hoysala architecture. The temple is said to be built to commemorate the victory of Hoysalas over the Cholas in the great battle of Talakkad. Some also believe that it was constructed when Vishnuvardhana adopted Vaishnavism under the influence of the great Guru Sri Ramanujacharya. The ornamental temple was built in chloritic Schist, a light green soapstone, ideal for carving which acquires granite like harness after getting exposed to the atmosphere.
TEMPLE COMPLEX:
The huge temple complex enclosed by a high wall has a large paved courtyard with a main temple surrounded by subsidiary shrines, colonnades and other structures. There are two gateways, but only the main eastern gateway is crowned by a gopuram, which was built in 1397, by gunda, a general of Vijayanagara King Harihara II, after the original Mahadwara was burnt down by Ganga Salaer, a officer of Tughalaks during the invasion and seize of the shrine. The Vijayanagara kings alos considered the presiding deity as their Kuldevta of patron courtyard is dedicated to Lord Vijayanarayan or Keshava, one of the twenty four forms of Lord Vishnu. The presiding deity is popularly known as Chenna Keshava or the 'handsome' Keshava. The Chenna Keshava temple facing Channigraya. Some other important temples here are of Narasimha, Anjeaneya etc. The courtyard has an idol of Praying Garuda sthambha or pillar erected during the Vijayanagara era and a Deepa sthamba built by the Hoysalas.
TEMPLE PLAN:
The temple is built in charecteristic stellate plan of the Hoysalas and looks like a carved casket made of wood and polished to perfection. It is larger in size as compared with other Hoysalas temples and is about 443 ft. long and 396 ft broad. The main temple set on a raised platform (Jagati) is 178 ft. long from east to west and 156 ft broad from North to South. The platform is also star shaped,similar to the temple built upon it. It is an example of ekakuta vimana or single shrine design. The temple comprises of a garbha griha (Sanctum sanctorium), a large sukhanasi (vestibule) connecting the navaranga mandapa (pillared hall) and garbha griha. The navaranga mandapa noted for its lathe turned pillars and capital was originally an open one, with only parapets. Later on , the space between parapet and the roof was covered by beautiful filigreed panels or pierced window screens depicting puranic themes and geometrical designs, while the base of the temple is decorated with eight levels of horizontal friezes.The unusual Vimana (tower) of the sanctum, made of brick and mortar was supported by wood work and plated with gold glided copper sheets. Unfortunately, the crumbling vimana had to be dismantled in 1879, to protect the main sanctum. The tower was built in bhumija style and not in the regular star shape. The curvelinear outline with a central verticle band and four coulmns of miniature nagar nikharas per side makes it a type of nagara (North India) tower. This type towers can be seen on the miniature shrines.