Thunder and Lightning from around the World
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Mixed media art involves mixing different creative mediums to create work that incorporates two or more art forms.
For exanble draw on top of photography print
another Lofoten islands liquid mirror landscape as there are so many. I especially liked the shape of the "sound wave", its colours and the stillness involving everything around :)
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歩き続ける 彼岸花 咲き続ける
I keep walking
the spider lilies
keep blooming
—Taneda Santoka
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Its Setsubun in Japan, a feast day involving the casting out of demons at various shrines. I took out the Alain head and played with the sliders a bit to create something suitable and slightly odd looking with Oni fangs.
Although its the wrong time of year for the Spider Lily, you cannot deny that it is a beautiful flower when in full bloom, something that cinphul has managed to perfectly capture in her hairstick set. I'm holding the gorgeous Lodestone Heart by !Reliquary! which has an added rim light which catches the eye during the tossing animation.
Both available only at the Midnight Order event.
Visit my Blog here.
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Sponsored by:
cinphul // spider lily [hairstick set] (hud with colour options included)
Available at Midnight Order now till February 20th 2021
Closeups and full set here on cinphul's Flickr
!Reliquary! !R! The Lodestone Heart (With colour hud and animation)
Available at Midnight Order now till February 20th 2021
Closeup on !Reliquary!'s Flickr
Also worn:
LeLUTKA Head.Alain.2.5
bonbon - amaya hair
{aii} + Ibaraki Horns (demon) +
[ r-l-f ]+*N* *Male Kimono RAN
-[TWC]- 6 COMMON Red scar arm
Zibska ~ Selene (Ginkgo leaf - comes with full colour hud)
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Shape my own
Pose: a mod by me of the built in pose with the heart
Bird photography sounds peaceful. You picture me quietly communing with nature, sipping coffee while majestic creatures flutter by, posing politely like they’re in a Disney movie. That’s a lie. The truth involves hauling lawn chairs, tripods, and a camera bag that weighs more than a third grader across the desert before sunrise—all to sit motionless next to a glorified livestock trough filled with water I wouldn’t let my enemies drink.
This cattle tank, which I have gentrified into a “desert oasis” (by tossing in a stick), is now a fine-dining establishment for birds. The stick is important. I found it on the ground, which makes it natural, and I chose one with bark and lichen because birds don’t like muddy feet—and I like a pretty perch.
Birds don’t just fly in, though. First, they land about twenty-five feet away in what I call the staging area, where they scope things out and decide if it’s safe to drink. Just as I know birds come here for water, they know hawks come here for birds. If it seems risky, they vanish into the brush to post angry tweets about predator privilege.
This time, an American Robin decided to play along. He glided down to the branch, dipped his beak into the water, then raised his head to swallow—because robins, like most birds, can’t gulp. They rely on gravity to get the water down. No swallow muscles. No peristalsis. Just tip and pray.
As he tilted his head back, water spilled from his beak. I fired off a burst of photos. In this frame, he’s in perfect profile, water spilling from his bill, with a few droplets stopped in mid-air and a few reached the surface, sending delicate ripples across the pond.
His reflection was beautiful and haunting, like a bird pondering the mysteries of hydration—or maybe just wondering why some guy shoved a branch in his drinking fountain.
In the desert, water is liquid gold. To birds, cattle tanks are survival. To me, they’re proof that lugging heavy gear into the wilderness to photograph a robin mid-sip is a perfectly reasonable way to spend retirement.
Especially if you're trying to avoid housework.
He lifts his head to the sky—a gravity feed,
’Cause evolution said, “Nah—gulping’s not a need.
Plan de la Besurta, La Ribagorza, Huesca, Aragón, España.
Ruta cuyo itinerario discurre en el entorno de las pistas de esquí nórdico de Llanos del Hospital en el Valle de Benasque. La ruta tiene su inicio en el Plan del Hospital atravesando en su recorrido bellos parajes como el Plan de Estan y el Plan de la Besurta para llegar finalmente hasta el espectacular Plan d´Aiguallut con magnificas vistas al pico Aneto. Se trata de recorrer una parte del conocido como Camino dels Aranesos que originalmente unía el Plan del Hospital con el Valle de Arán.
El recorrido se divide en tres tramos, un primer tramo muy corto y sencillo hasta el Plan de l'Estan, un segundo tramo tambien muy sencillo hasta la Besurta y un tramo final algo más exigente aunque accesible a cualquier senderista acostumbrado a la montaña hasta el Forau d´Aiguallut.
Route whose itinerary runs around the Nordic ski slopes of Llanos del Hospital in the Benasque Valley. The route begins in the Pllan del Hospital, passing through beautiful places such as the Plan de Estan and the Plan de la Besurta to finally reach the spectacular Plan d'Aiguallut with magnificent views of the Aneto peak. It involves walking through a part of what is known as the Camino dels Aranesos, which originally linked the Hospital Plan with the Aran Valley.
The route is divided into three sections, a first very short and easy section to Plan de l'Estan, a second section that is also very simple to Besurta and a final section that is somewhat more demanding although accessible to any hiker accustomed to the mountains until the Forau d'Aiguallut.
Ah! what pleasant visions haunt me
As I gaze upon the sea!
All the old romantic legends,
All my dreams, come back to me.
-The Secret of the Sea, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
"Treat This" is a bi-weekly challenge at Kreative People, involving source images which you are invited to download, manipulate, and share with the group. Work can be combined with other photos, treated with textures and effects, painted, or manipulated in any other way your imagination dictates. See this week’s source images in the comment box below. My manipulation is above.
Come give it a go!
www.flickr.com/groups/1752359@N21/discuss/72157662933444178/
Cheile Băniței (located in the area of Petroșani, near the E79 road, in Hunedoara county), a spectacular, fascinating place! The route involves walking through water.
Black-browed Albatross are monogamous and often mate for life. So no surprise that both, "Bikering and Beakering" can mark their relationship from time to time. They generally live 30 years but apparently can live up to 70 years... Juveniles return to the colony after 2 to 3 years but only start breeding around the 10th year, until then, they will only practice courtship rituals. The rituals could be quite elaborated and involve mutual feeding, beak touching and preening between mates. They use their fanned tail in courting displays... so, this seems to be a "non-bickering" session here...
In the little white house to the left of the laundromat lived a little old lady named Ida Mae. While photographing the beautiful old patina and signage of the decrepit building, Ida Mae came out of her house to see what I was up to. Upon informing her of my desire to record historic structures and to post them so that others around the world can see and appreciate them, she began to recount to me the entire history of the place and of how she and her deceased husband ran the business for years and were able to live next door and raise their family while doing so. This is in extreme southern Illinois where the southern dialect prevails and Ida Mae sure had a charming one. Her southern hospitality was on full display as she recounted her years of involvement with the old laundromat. When I left finally, I began to realize that I was more moved by the charm of this old southern lady than I was by the exceedingly photogenic structure I came here to record. All old objects have a human story. Sometimes we get to see it and hear it as we go about our photographic adventures. This very image shows forth the importance of our work. We are no less involved in social documentation than Dorothea Lange in her work during the thirties with the dust bowl refugees. The signage on this humble historic structure is now long gone and so is Ida Mae. The current owners have completely remodeled the old building destroying the old signage and patina in the process. Let us pause to reflect on the importance of our work and salute the lives of the working people that have made it possible. God bless you Ida Mae. Heaven holds a place for those who pray.
The Dornier Do 31 is an experimental vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) jet-propelled transport designed and produced by West German aircraft manufacturer Dornier.
The development of the Do 31 was motivated principally by heavy interest expressed by the German Air Force in the acquisition of short take-off and vertical landing aircraft (STOVL)-capable aircraft. Such ambitions received a further boost from the issuing of NATO specification NBMR-4, which called for a VTOL-capable tactical support aircraft that would be operated in conjunction with the EWR VJ 101, a West German VTOL strike aircraft designed under the NATO contract of BMR-3. A total of three aircraft, two flight-capable and one static airframe, were constructed and used for testing. On 10 February 1967, the Do 31 performed its maiden flight; the first hovering flight of the type took place during July 1967.
In addition to performing test flights, Dornier often demonstrated the Do 31 prototypes to officials and the general public, such as at the 1969 Paris Air Show. Several world records were set by the type during its limited flying career. When the high cost, technical and logistical difficulties of operating such an aircraft were realized, the German Air Force opted to cease trials involving VTOL aircraft, such as the Do 31, VJ101, and the later VFW VAK 191B. In the face of limited sales prospects and a lack of state support, the Do 31 and other VTOL projects lingered as research projects for a time prior to their manufacturers abandoning all activity. The Do 31 remains the only VTOL-capable jet-powered transport aircraft to ever fly.
Courtship dance. This didn't involve the anticipated rush together from distant positions, What I assume to be the female emerged from the water in this upright stance facing away from the male which responded by emerging a short distance away and moving towards her in the same upright position as she continued to face away. Once the male was directly behind her, she turned and they stood treading water and facing each other nodding and head turning, eventually slowly dropping down into a facing horizontal position.
Thought I had the 1.4 converter on the lens yesterday as the birds are quite distant and that was my intention. Just noticed in posting these shots I must have left it on the 300mm lens after a trip out the previous evening. Never even realised. Doh!
Thanks for the faves and comments. Appreciated.
What does it say when your interpretation of going crazy involves pushing the sliders of Capture One to the limit ;-)
I wish I had died a thousand years ago - Amazing Broken Man
Morbid much :p
Figured I haven’t done the red sheet properly for a good while, so made some effort with it that didn’t involve wrapping it round a tree.
For Macro Mondays theme 'Guilty Pleasure'.
Well of course my guilty pleasure would be snail photography, hence the reason for incorporating a lens in the composition. In fact it was Macro Mondays back in 2016 that started me on my snail whispering journey (see first comment box).
I do feel rather guilty as all you proper photographers likely wonder why I spend so much time on snails - well, it's fun to work with such engaging little creatures and I enjoy the challenge of getting them to perform. Every week I really do try to come up with an idea that doesn't involve them, but I might as well face it, I'm addicted to snails...
The title for the image is taken from the 1950 film Sunset Boulevard in which Gloria Swanson in her role as Norma Desmond, an aging delusional silent film star, utters the iconic line.
No snails were harmed in the making of this photograph.
List of wars involving Ukraine Historically -Thank you Wiki-
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars_involving_Ukraine
Model: Damian
Current ongoing battles the Ukrainians are fighting in this Russian Invasion.
(not complete)
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2022 RUSSIAN INVASION ON UKRAINE
Attack on Snake Island24 – 25 February 2022
Millerovo air base attack25-Feb-22
Northwest offensive1 March 2022 – present
KHERSON OFFENSIVE
Battle of Kherson24 February – 2 March 2022
Battle of Koblevo25-Feb-22
Battle of Melitopol25 – 26 February 2022
Battle of Mykolaiv26 February 2022 – present
Battle of Berdyansk27-Feb-22
Battle of Zaporizhzhia27 February 2022 – present
Siege of Enerhodar28 February – 4 March 2022
Battle of Voznesensk2 – 13 March 2022
EASTERN UKRAINE OFFENSIVE
Battle of Okhtyrka24 February 2022 – present
First Battle of Sumy24 – 25 February 2022
Second battle of Sumy27 February 2022 – present
Battle of Chernihiv24 – 25 February 2022
Siege of Chernihiv24 February 2022 – present
Battle of Konotop24 – 26 February 2022
Battle of Kharkiv24 February 2022 – present
Battle of Starobilsk25 February 2022 – present
Siege of Mariupol25 February 2022 – present
Kruty skirmishes28 February – 1 March 2022
Battle of Sievierodonetsk 2 March 2022 – present
Horlivka offensive2 March 2022 present
KYIV OFFENSIVE
Battle of Antonov Airport24 – 25 February 2022
Battle of Chernobyl 24-Feb-22
Battle of Ivankiv25 February – 5 March 2022
Battle of Vasylkiv26-Feb-22
Battle of Kyiv25 February 2022 – present
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A Very Victorian Scandal
There is quite a story involving Thomas Reibey III of Entally House and this historic church in Hadspen. As I pointed out yesterday, in the early days of Hadspen, Christian townsfolk met at the Entally House chapel for worship. In order to build the church, Reibey who held the lay position of Archdeacon, provided a good deal of money and the foundation stone was laid in 1868. Incredibly it took over 100 years to complete the building.
Clearly, something went terribly wrong, as Duncan Grant tells us:
"When the structure was only partly complete a scandal erupted around Reibey. He was alleged to have indecently dealt with a married woman. In 1868 he was accused openly in the synod with attempts to seduce Margaret Blomfield with whose husband he previously had a property dispute. Bishop Charles Bromby refused to accept Reibey's ‘tainted’ money for the building of the church. Reibey subsequently took legal action but his complaint was dismissed and the jury largely held that the allegations against him were true. As a consequence of the scandal all work on the church had ceased by 1870. At this time the walls were unfinished and it was without a roof; a condition which remained unchanged for nearly 100 years. However Reibey’s career was far from ruined and he went on to become Premier of Tasmania in 1876. Reibey died in 1912 and is remembered with a relatively modest grave stone in the cemetery of the Church of the Good Shepherd.
The church remained in a 'ruined' state and became an attraction resembling a Gothic folly. Anglican services were held in St Stephens, a timber church next to the spectacle of Reibey’s church. In 1957 interest in completing the church was rekindled due to the approaching centenary of the start of its construction. The original architects' plans had been preserved and were closely followed in completing the project. The church was finally finished on 20 May 1961, with the first service held the following day. Some furnishings in the church came from the private chapel at Reibey’s home, Entally House. These included the altar and coverings, a wooden cross, paintings, a stained glass window and a bell that hangs in the church's porch. The Church of the Good Shepherd was consecrated in February 1973 and continues to serve the people of Hadspen."
www.churchesoftasmania.com/2018/03/hadspen-church-of-good...
Thanks to Duncan Grant for this valuable historic record.
I printed this with Gamblin Relief Ink and used my new Iron Frog Baren (frog).
#oilpainting
#pintura
#painting
#oleo
#figurative-painting
#Life-drawing
#life-painting
#figure-painting
#acuarela
#aquarelle
#art
#arte
#artist
#newmexicoartist #drawing
#dibujo #
#painting
#paint
#pen
#penandink
#sketch
#sketchbook
#watercolor_involve #watercolorpainting
#linoleumcutprint
#linoprint
#blockprint
#printmakersofinstagram
#printmaker
#reliefprintingworkshop
More and more of a certain past "leader's" odiferous actions are making their presences known to the public. They involve much ore than simply wearing a brown suit to a meeting like his predecessor did. Photoleap was used to create this image.
Nobody knows what involves preparing a wedding until you get down to it.
But the place and the weather promises to create a very special night for the new couple.
Picture taken at at the historic complex "Recreo de Las Cadenas" where the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art is located, in the town of Jerez de la Frontera, Cadiz, Andalucia, Spain.
The "brother" Equestrian School is located near the Imperial Palace in Vienna, Austria.
For more information:
(English) bit.ly/2VY1dtm
(Deutsch) bit.ly/2vbyAgE
(Français) bit.ly/2PjEupn
CASI LISTOS PARA LA BODA, 2008
Nadie sabe lo que implica preparar una boda hasta que te pones manos a la obra.
Pero el lugar y el clima prometen crear una noche muy especial para la nueva pareja.
Foto tomada en el conjunto histórico "Recreo de Las Cadenas" donde se encuentra la Real Escuela Andaluza del Arte Ecuestre, en la localidad de Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz, Andalucía, España.
La Escuela Ecuestre "hermana" está ubicada cerca del Palacio Imperial en Viena, Austria.
Para más información:
(Inglés) bit.ly/2VY1dtm
(alemán) bit.ly/2vbyAgE
(Francés) bit.ly/2PjEupn
The Marjal de Pego-Oliva is a protected natural area located in the Valencian Community, Spain. This wetland is located between the provinces of Alicante and Valencia, and extends between the municipalities of Pego (Alicante) and Oliva (Valencia). It is known for its ecological richness and biodiversity, being a place of great interest for the conservation of aquatic flora and fauna.
### Main Features
1. **Freshwater Wetland**:
- The Marjal de Pego-Oliva is one of the most important freshwater wetlands in the Valencian Community. The water comes mainly from underground springs and the Bullent River, ensuring a constant, good quality supply.
2. **Biodiversity**:
- This ecosystem is home to a wide variety of species of both flora and fauna. Among the plants, reeds, reeds and reeds stand out, which are typical of wetlands. As for fauna, you can find bird species such as the bittern, the royal warbler and various species of ducks. It is also an important habitat for amphibians and reptiles, as well as for fish species such as the fartet and the samarugo, both of which are in danger of extinction.
3. **Area of Conservation Interest**:
- The marsh is included in various environmental protection networks, such as the Natura 2000 Network, which is a European ecological network of biodiversity conservation areas.
4. **Water Importance**:
- In addition to its ecological value, La Marjal de Pego-Oliva is crucial for the water management of the region. It acts as a natural water filtration and storage system, helping to maintain hydrological balance and prevent flooding.
5. **Recreational and Educational Activities**:
- The natural space offers numerous opportunities for ecotourism. There are interpretive trails and bird watching routes that allow visitors to enjoy and learn about this valuable ecosystem without harming it. Educational activities are carried out to raise awareness about the importance of wetlands and their conservation.
### Management and Conservation
The management of La Marjal de Pego-Oliva involves coordinated efforts between different administrations and conservation organizations. Management plans are carried out to protect threatened species, control invasive species and maintain water quality. The involvement of the local community is also vital for the conservation and sustainable use of this natural environment.
In summary, La Marjal de Pego-Oliva is a natural treasure that combines landscape beauty, biodiversity and crucial ecological functions, being a model of wetland conservation in the region.
"Movember is an annual event involving the growing of mustaches during the month of November to raise awareness of men's health issues, such as depression in men, prostate cancer and other male cancers, and associated charities. The Movember Foundation runs the Movember charity event, housed at www.Movember.com. The goal of Movember is to "change the face of men's health."
I have been wanting to photograph a sunrise at Charlestown for some time, this involves an early start and going over to the south coast of Cornwall.
I needed a 04:45 alarm call yet my old steam driven alarm clock is a bit unreliable shall we say, so what could be my back up plan, of course my trusty companions Hoof & Horace who between them could wake me at the appropriate time.
So plan in place, sure to form there was a heck of a rumpus outside in our driveway at said time. When I peered through the curtains there in the drive with mischief written all over their faces were my intrepid menagerie.
I was most impressed they were able to rise so early, I asked the dynamic duo how they were able to achieve this, easy they said we have just got home from a bender at one of our mates parties, so we are just off to bed. I guessed correctly that they would not be accompanying me to Charlestown.
Hope you all have a lovely week, get the snow tyres at the ready☃️
Thank you for viewing my images, the comments and banter are much appreciated. 🐎💨🐷💨🍺🍺🍺😎🍷🍷🍷😂😂😂.
Cat bonds involve a profound sense of trust, harmony and a silent language that only they understand. Bonded cats tend to share their territory without conflict or aggression finding comfort in each other’s presence, when they feel safe occupying the same spaces.
Pasadena Presbyterian Church has a proud past: it was the first church to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with the new city of Pasadena in 1875.
In the decades since, PPC has enriched the lives of thousands of children, youth and adults through engaging worship, lively fellowship, thoughtful learning, and hands-on service to our community and the world.
For generations, Pasadena Presbyterian Church has been know for its outstanding music program. Music at PPC expresses our joy in God's love, enhances worship, enriches the congregation both young and old, and serves as an inspiring vehicle for community outreach.
The music ministry at PPC includes a number of choirs and ensembles, involving over one hundred musicians from Kindergarten on up. Participation is open to any who wish to join.
Pasadena. California.
My happiness always involves Ruffy. And nothing is better than that. Well… maybe Ruffy x 6 is better. ;-) Create your own happiness and Happy Smile on Saturday! Hope this makes you smile. :-)
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I've been working on this pic for about a week and before it gets overdone, I'd better post it. You wouldn't believe how different it looks each day!!
If you don't recognize her, that's my Ruffy. I created this for the Smile on Saturday group, selfie with half a face theme. I know it's not Saturday.. Maybe you'll smile before Saturday. ;-)
I'm still trying to get Ruffy's blood sugar #'s under control. Today I'm testing her blood every 2 hours, doing her 2nd blood glucose curve. Have been giving her insulin shots 2x daily, but for the 1st time, today her sugar # was low! It's usually really high! So no insulin today. Scary stuff!! Have to keep calling the vet & they tell me what to do. OK.. back to create your own happiness...
Traditional storytelling involves a narrator transmitting a fixed story to an audience of one or more, employing various verbal tones, physical gestures, and facial expressions to evoke reactions and participation from the audience. This process is anchored in the reality that the story's basic structure never changes.
- - - It was a dark and stormy night - - -
Asia loves anything involving water I don't blame her. With me in & out of pools as a child and her father who loves taking baths. Why wouldn't she love it ! But she loves to RUN MORE so that's what she did the majority of the time. She had alot of freedom today & she was a wonderful baby because of it. I MUST MAKE SURE she gets ALOT MORE FREEDOM !
Age old thought experiment in special relativity involving identical twins - one of them makes a journey into space in high speed and returns home to find that the twin who remained on Earth has aged more.
Sydney, Australia (Friday 27 May 2016)
Going to shows involves transport, which many cats don't enjoy much. The Sandy Carrier Bag offers a good solution, as it opens on top, so I can have the cat on my lap during the ride. They can look out while at the same time being securely strapped in a harness.
Bastian (mixed breed), 06.11.2016.
Olympus OMD EM5 Digital Camera
Many thanks for the visits, faves and comments. Cheers
Black Kite
Scientific Name: Milvus migrans
Description: The Black Kite is a medium-sized raptor (bird of prey). From a distance, it appears almost black, with a light brown bar on the shoulder. The plumage is actually dark brown, with scattered light brown and rufous markings, particularly on the head, neck and underparts. The tail is forked and barred with darker brown. This feature gives the bird its alternative name of Fork-tailed Kite. The eye is dark brown and the bill is black with a yellow cere (area of skin around the nostrils). Both sexes are similar. Young Black Kites are generally lighter in colour than the adults, and have a comparatively shallower forked tail.
Similar species: The Black Kite's plumage is similar to other raptors (birds of prey), such as the Little Eagle, Hieraaetus morphnoides, Whistling Kite,Haliastur sphenurus, and Square-tailed Kite, Lophoictinia isura. In flight, however, its long forked tail and almost unmarked underwing make it unmistakable.
Distribution: The Black Kite's range covers the majority of the Australian mainland, as well as Africa, Asia and Europe. The Black Kite is arguably the most numerous species of raptor in the world.
Habitat: The Black Kite is found in a variety of habitats, from timbered watercourses to open plains, and is often observed in and around outback towns. Although it is more normally seen in small groups, the Black Kite may form huge flocks of many thousands of birds, especially during grasshopper plagues. No other Australian bird of prey is seen in such large flocks.
Feeding: The Black Kite preys on lizards, small mammals and insects, especially grasshoppers. It also is a scavenger, and frequents tips in outback towns. Black Kites also gather in flocks around bush fires, and eagerly pounce on small animals as these flee the flames. Both live and dead (carrion) prey is eaten.
Breeding: Black Kites nest in isolated pairs or in small, scattered colonies. As with other raptors, a ritualised aerial courtship display is performed by both sexes. This involves loud calling, grappling of feet (talons), and tumbling or cartwheeling. The nest is a bulky cup of sticks, lined with softer material, and is placed in the fork of a tree branch (generally close to the trunk). The female incubates the eggs while the male provides food.
Calls: The call is a descending whistle "psee-err" followed by a staccato "si-si-si-si-si".
Maximum Size: 55cm
Average size: 51cm
Average weight: 540g
Breeding season: Usually August and November; can breed at any time
Clutch Size: One to three.
Incubation: 28 days
Nestling Period: 40 days
(Source: www.birdsinbackyards.net)
© Chris Burns 2021
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All rights reserved.
This image may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying and recording without my written consent.
Some family commitments involving a trip upt’ North stopped me posting over the weekend, so to prevent another Flickr blockage I made sure I did photoshop editing on my return to keep things loose, so to speak. However, when I thought this LE seascape was going to be a gas, I was wrong. It turned out a bit lumpier than I expected and I had a lot of cleaning up to do. Overconfidence can lead to embarrassing mistakes. That’s all I’m going to say about that.
PLEASE, no multi invitations (none is better) in your comments. Thanks.
The flag tower seen from outside the Imperial Citadel. Hue, Vietnam
One of Vietnam’s seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Imperial City of Hue. The Imperial City of Hue was a walled fortress and palace of the ancient city of Hue which was a capital city of the Nguyen Dynasty for 140 years date back from 1805 until 1945.
The place was planned to be built in 1803 and was constructed between the 27 years from 1805 to 1832, making it the most massive structure being built in the history of modern Vietnam involving thousands of workers, millions cubic meters of rock.
The Imperial City of Hue has a circumference of 10 kilometers (6.21mi) with the height of 6.6 meters (21.6ft) and 21 meters (68.9ft) thick with forts, accompanied by cannons, artilleries and ammunitions.
There are ten majestic gates leading to the Imperial City of Hue, which can be divided into two main parts excluding houses and mansions: The Citadel and The Forbidden City. The former served to protect the important palaces inside while the latter was where the emperor and the royal family stayed as well as the court’s workplace.
With a few obvious exceptions, all of my images involve automobiles, and reflections. None are AI or Photoshopped., etc. They are what the camera has seen....
William’s Practice involves beading everyday objects. With this work, he explores the ideas around trespassing as he subtly critiques rights of land. These camping chairs – created by many hands and thousands of glass beads – are set on river rocks that acknowledge the waterways and shorelines that run through Turtle Island. He raises the questions: “Who is claiming ownership of these lands?”
A Journey to connect Heart-to-Heart takes buy a moment; it involves the risk of being Vulnerable... Quote Mrs Happy Face ..
I ran a 'Shoot with Me' session with my camera club, Offshoot, which a few of us had fun taking part in. The idea was to take funny photos involving fruit or vegetables. This was my selected shot.
Extensive engineering works involving track replacement saw no fewer than 4 engineers trains using the North Staffordshire line to move sleepers, ballast and spoil to Doncaster.
GB Class 66 diesel locomotive 66704 "Colchester Power Signal Box" approaches North Stafford Junction working 6G56 10.00 Congleton to Doncaster Belmont Down Yard
The shops are preparing for Halloween and I like shop window reflections. The mix of paintings and mirrors here amused me and made an interesting "selfie".
Halloween or Halloween is now celebrated across the world on the night of 31st October. Modern day celebrations generally involve groups of children dressed in scary costumes roaming from house to house, demanding “trick-or-treat”. The origins of these celebrations however date back thousands of years, to pagan times.
The origins of Halloween can be traced back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. Until 2,000 years ago, the Celts lived across the lands we now know as Britain, Ireland and northern France. Essentially a farming and agricultural people, the Pre-Christian Celtic year was determined by the growing seasons and Samhain marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark cold winter. The festival symbolised the boundary between the world of the living and the world of the dead.
It was believed by the Celts that on the night of 31st October, ghosts of their dead would revisit the mortal world and large bonfires were lit in each village in order to ward off any evil spirits that may also be at large. Celtic priests, known as Druids, would have led the Samhain celebrations. It would also have been the Druids who ensured that the hearth fire of each house was re-lit from the glowing embers of the sacred bonfire, in order to help protect the people and keep them warm through the forthcoming long, dark winter months.
The crops into the original pictures show the Watchstone in closer detail and the two holes in the gatepost towards Odin. The demolished Odin Stone famously and religiously had a hole through which bargains and bonds were made. The tale of the Orkney Pirate involves a divorce through the stone. The light here makes evident that holes are still to be found even if only for light and wind making near silent mouths except for in the imagination and maybe also in the reverence given to them.
In betwixt the Ring of Brodgar and the Standing Stones of Stenness Circles stands a tall, commanding, proud, orienting, way making, shadow avenue casting and processional marking stone. There used to be more, one with a whole within it. The remaining tall stone stands as your companion when you cross the Brig O’Brodgar and it stays outside the the two large circles that were once stoned, henged and kept ready for the Sun to bring along the days of praise and for the set stones to cast the ways standing within the haze.
© PHH Sykes 2023
phhsykes@gmail.com
Orkney's Stones of Stenness. Yes, they are older than Stonehenge!
www.orkneyology.com/stones-of-stenness.html
The Watchstone
www.nessofbrodgar.co.uk/watching-the-watchstone/
The Watchstone, Stenness
orkneyjar.com/history/monoliths/watchst.htm
Ring of Brodgar Circle henge
www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/388/ring_of_brodgar.html
The Ring of Brogar
www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=139
Ring of Brodgar Stone Circle and Henge, Mainland Orkney
www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/ring-of...
Ring Of Brodgar
canmore.org.uk/site/1696/ring-of-brodgar
The Standing Stones of Stenness Circle henge
www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/389/standing_stones_of_...
Stenness - Stone Circle in Scotland in Orkney
www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=158
Stones of Stenness Circle and Henge
www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/stones-...
Stones Of Stenness
These silos near the waterfront of San Francisco Bay are no longer used for storing cement. Previously owned by Santa Cruz Portland Cement Company, they received cement from near Santa Cruz and shipped it out from Alameda via train on the Southern Pacific Railroad, or by truck or ship. Now owned by a construction company, the property is underutilized due to an environmental cleanup issue involving an underground tank, per an online article. The cement company ceased operations in this location in 1966.