Thunder and Lightning from around the World
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Psalm 50:3
Our God shall come, and shall not keep silent;
A fire shall devour before Him,
And it shall be very tempestuous all around Him.
Psalm 94
Habakkuk chapter 1
O Lord, how long shall I cry,
And You will not hear?
Even cry out to You, “Violence!”
And You will not save.
3
Why do You show me iniquity,
And cause me to see [b]trouble?
For plundering and violence are before me;
There is strife, and contention arises.
4
Therefore the law is powerless,
And justice never goes forth.
For the wicked surround the righteous;
Therefore perverse judgment proceeds.
verses 5-17
Rev chapters 2 & 3)
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.1 John 4:18
Prayer
Ephesians 3:14-21) Eph 1:17-23
Dahlia with a dark bokeh background ...
Dahlia has a rich symbolism: the flower stands for wealth and elegance, and also for love and involvement. It's a perfect flower to express your love!
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.
* A recent trip to Whitby allowed me to take yet another set of shots of its harbour walls . Not a new subject for me but then the light is never quite the same whenever you visit. It was very windy on that particular February afternoon and sand was really blowing about
Some of you will be surprised by the following comments. I was very impressed by the press conference held last night by PM Boris Johnson flanked by the UK’s chief medical officer, Chris Whitty, and the governments chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance. Throughout it was serious and I thought level headed . Johnson avoided making any cheap political points and there was not boasting about how well we are doing. You got the sense that it was the scientists who were making the important decisions and they were doing this with rigour and thought . I am no expert on Epidemiology so I clearly have no idea if they are making the right decisions. Vallance and Whitty clarity and thoughtful answers to press questions made me believe that what they are saying is based on sound research and rational thinking not gut instinct . They are also involving behavioural scientists in the planning models. Politicians might like to believe they have all the answers and do not need experts but it is scientists and medical practitioners who will get us through this difficult situation . Hope none of my close friends read this , praising a Tory is a flogging offence
THANKS FOR YOUR VISITING BUT CAN I ASK YOU NOT TO FAVE AN IMAGE WITHOUT ALSO MAKING A COMMENT. MANY THANKS KEITH. ANYONE MAKING MULTIPLE FAVES WITHOUT COMMENTS WILL SIMPLY BE BLOCKED
I realize this photo is a little bit messy, but I found it was rewarding for me to dig in for all these little details. I couldn't seem to find a stance for this one that didn't involve my knees being poked by sharp rocks. My tripod bag got me through it. Best viewed large.
Nikon D7500.
drl LeBaroDea
Kiteboarding or kitesurfing is a sport that involves using wind power with a large power kite to pull a rider across a water [...] surface. It combines the aspects of paragliding, surfing, windsurfing, skateboarding, snowboarding, and wakeboarding. Kiteboarding is among the less expensive and more convenient sailing sports. Wikipedia
Algarve, Portugal
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/
Self-involvement, social solipsism, individual solipsism, anthropocentrism, narcissism, ego, pride, entitlement, etc, etc .... vanities all for the bonfire. The play on Tom Wolfe is absolutely deliberate.
"Straight" and "Pano-Sabotaged" pieces collaged together, March 2017.
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Music Link: "My Drug" - Love and Rockets, from their 1999, final album, "Lift".
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBPWF3AWid4
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© Richard S Warner ( Visionheart ) - 2017. All Rights Reserved. This image is not for use in any form without explicit, express, written permission.
My Website: visionheartblog.wordpress.com
Queenstown. This turned into an interesting evening, involving Berlin, Moscow and Macbeth- all after closing time.
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.
Ya'll know it's Flyday! How could I not post one? This is a female Dance fly, differentiated from the male by the dark band between the eyes. The name Dance fly comes from their erratic movements while in flight. Their courtship involves the male presenting a dead fly to the female, and mating does not take place until the female accepts and eats it. Usually found in moist areas, they feed on smaller insects. They are also referred to as Dagger flies, because of that sharp piercing mouthpart, seen here below it's bright red eyes. 2-image handheld stack.
Happy Fly Day Friday. Jan 14/22
PLEASE: Do not post any comment graphics, they will be deleted. See info in my bio.
“Good morning, Skippy. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, involves the recovery of a stolen item designated “Teddy Bear.” As always, should any member of your team be caught or killed, the Secretary will disavow all knowledge of your actions. This message will self-destruct in five seconds.”
The little secret agent envisioned his universe with the help of Bad Unicorn's The Vault Skybox, Gold and Cash Tables, and Diamond Case. They are part of the incredible new ’The Heat’ Collection, which is available at The Arcade!
In addition, Skippy accepted his mission while geared up in Vale Koer's Techwear Pants, Neoprime Runners Top, and Louis Gloves. The little man also wore Represent's Tactical Field Boots and The Forge's Goggles!
Skippy's Teddy Bear was created by his inspiring Uncle iBi for 8f8!
Never give up.
No one can ever take away your light (or your teddy bear)!
Keep shining so bright, my friends!
Robin - Erithacus rubecula
Wash and Brush up!
Double Double click!
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The European robin (Erithacus rubecula), known simply as the robin or robin redbreast in the British Isles, is a small insectivorous passerine bird, specifically a chat, that was formerly classified as a member of the thrush family (Turdidae) but is now considered to be an Old World flycatcher.
The robin occurs in Eurasia east to Western Siberia, south to Algeria and on the Atlantic islands as far west as the Azores and Madeira. It is a vagrant in Iceland. In the south-east, it reaches the Caucasus range. Irish and British robins are largely resident but a small minority, usually female, migrate to southern Europe during winter, a few as far as Spain. Scandinavian and Russian robins migrate to Britain and western Europe to escape the harsher winters. These migrants can be recognised by the greyer tone of the upper parts of their bodies and duller orange breast. The European robin prefers spruce woods in northern Europe, contrasting with its preference for parks and gardens in Ireland and Britain.
Attempts to introduce the European robin into Australia and New Zealand in the latter part of the 19th century were unsuccessful. Birds were released around Melbourne, Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington and Dunedin by various local acclimatisation societies, with none becoming established. There was a similar outcome in North America as birds failed to establish after being released in Long Island, New York in 1852, Oregon in 1889–1892, and the Saanich Peninsula in British Columbia in 1908–1910.
The robin is diurnal, although has been reported to be active hunting insects on moonlit nights or near artificial light at night. Well known to British and Irish gardeners, it is relatively unafraid of people and drawn to human activities involving the digging of soil, in order to look out for earthworms and other food freshly turned up. Indeed, the robin is considered to be a gardener's friend and for various folklore reasons the robin would never be harmed. In continental Europe on the other hand, robins were hunted and killed as with most other small birds, and are more wary.
Robins also approach large wild animals, such as wild boar and other animals which disturb the ground, to look for any food that might be brought to the surface. In autumn and winter, robins will supplement their usual diet of terrestrial invertebrates, such as spiders, worms and insects, with berries and fruit. They will also eat seed mixtures placed on bird-tables.
The robin features prominently in British folklore, and that of northwestern France, but much less so in other parts of Europe. It was held to be a storm-cloud bird and sacred to Thor, the god of thunder, in Norse mythology. Robins feature in the traditional children's tale, Babes in the Wood; the birds cover the dead bodies of the children.
More recently, the robin has become strongly associated with Christmas, taking a starring role on many Christmas cards since the mid 19th century. The robin has appeared on many Christmas postage stamps. An old British folk tale seeks to explain the robin's distinctive breast. Legend has it that when Jesus was dying on the cross, the robin, then simply brown in colour, flew to his side and sang into his ear in order to comfort him in his pain. The blood from his wounds stained the robin's breast, and thereafter all robins got the mark of Christ's blood upon them.
An alternative legend has it that its breast was scorched fetching water for souls in Purgatory.
The association with Christmas more probably arises from the fact that postmen in Victorian Britain wore red jackets and were nicknamed "Robins"; the robin featured on the Christmas card is an emblem of the postman delivering the card.
In the 1960s, in a vote publicised by The Times, the robin was adopted as the unofficial national bird of the UK.
In 2015, the robin was again voted Britain's national bird in a poll organised by birdwatcher David Lindo, taking 34% of the final vote.
"Picada d'ullet a Andalusia", Girona, España.
“Girona, Temps de Flors” arranca hoy la 70 edición con 146 proyectos repartidos en 114 espacios que se pueden visitar hasta el 18 de mayo. El Ayuntamiento de Girona ha dado el pistoletazo de salida a la muestra floral esta mañana con un recorrido por algunos de los espacios de la muestra, así como la visita a la exposición "Maestros del arte catalán del siglo XX. Colección Bassat" del Museo de Arte de Girona.
Uno de los espacios que se ha visitado es el patio del Ayuntamiento, donde existe un proyecto conmemorativo de los 40 años de hermanamiento con la ciudad de Albi.
" Esta edición de Tiempo de Flores quiere ser más inclusiva y accesible, pensada especialmente para los gerundenses y las gerundenses. Se han hecho mejoras para personas con movilidad reducida y se ha creado un Espacio Calma para personas neurodivergentes. También se han ampliado los horarios para favorecer una visita más tranquila y adaptada a los ritmos. invitar a todo el mundo a disfrutar de la muestra ”, ha destacado el alcalde Lluc Salellas i Vilar.
“Girona, Temps de Flors” kicks off its 70th edition today with 146 projects spread across 114 spaces that can be visited until May 18. Girona City Council kicked off the floral exhibition this morning with a tour of some of the spaces in the exhibition, as well as a visit to the exhibition “Masters of 20th-century Catalan art. Bassat Collection” at the Girona Art Museum.
One of the spaces visited is the City Council courtyard, where there is a commemorative project for the 40 years of twinning with the city of Albi.
“ This edition of Temps de Flors aims to be more inclusive and accessible, especially designed for Girona residents. Improvements have been made for people with reduced mobility and a Calma Space has been created for neurodivergent people. Opening hours have also been extended to encourage a more peaceful visit adapted to local rhythms. Finally, I would like to thank the public for their involvement and invite everyone to enjoy the exhibition ”, highlighted Mayor Lluc Salellas i Vilar.
Agamas are active during the day and are often found scampering around to snatch up their favorite foods. They can tolerate greater temperatures than most reptiles, but in the afternoon when temperatures reach around 38°C (100°F) they will settle into the shade and wait for it to cool. Frequent fighting breaks out between males; such fighting involves a lot of bobbing and weaving in an attempt to scare the opponent. If it comes to blows, they lash out with their tails and threaten each other with open jaws. Many older males have broken tails as a result of such fights. Females may sometimes chase and fight one another, while hatchlings mimic the adults in preparation for their future.
Agamas are mainly insectivores. Their incisor-like front teeth are designed for quick cutting and chewing of their prey. They may also eat grass, berries, seeds and even the eggs of smaller lizards.
Most agamas are polygamous. Males may hold six or more females in their territory for breeding. During courtship, the male bobs his head to impress the female. Occasionally, females initiate courtship by offering their hindquarters to the male and then running until he is able to catch up. The breeding season is typically March–May with eggs being laid in June–September during the season after the rains. Eggs are laid in clutches of up to 12.
A mating pair involving a spotless female (f. postcaeca) discovered on a breezy, overcast afternoon at Barnack in Cambridgeshire (UK) in late July (2972)
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.
Pareidolia is a psychological phenomenon involving a stimulus (an image or a sound) wherein the mind perceives a familiar pattern of something where none actually exists.
- Wiki
The rocks at Mount Barrow include Jurassic-era dolomite, with a local granite outcrop, and various surficial materials such as coarse diamictons and boulders, which are the result of past glacial and periglacial activity. Hikers should be cautious as the summit area involves scrambling over wet and mossy rocks and large boulderfields.
Day 258/365:
We collected our grandson from school and took him to his swimming lesson today. This is an ICM (using the slow shutter app on my iPhone) of one of the interesting buildings next to the swimming pool. I blended two images together for a bit more oomph.
I'm hanging in here by the skin of my teeth and apologise for my lack of involvement. I really picked the wrong year to decide to do another 365.
Jaganath Rai Temple is a large Hindu temple in the middle of Udaipur in Rajasthan, just outside the royal palace. It has been in continuous worship since 1651.
It was built by Maharana Jagat Singh in 1651. Jagdish Temple is a splendid example of either Māha Māru or Māru-Gurjara architecture, decorated by beautiful and ornate carvings.
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.
The key to a great waterfall shot IMHO is isolating the falls from its surrounding distractions, getting great light and using a decent ND filter to make silky, creamy flows across the contrast of the rocks as it pours through. This shot has maybe one of those previous mentioned elements going for it and due to its dog leg left flow maybe not even that, my 1000 ND filter was a screw on and you can only set focus before adding it to the lens which is why I watched it swim on down the river on my very first composition.
Pictured here is Ragged Falls located conveniently in Ragged Fall Provincial park just outside Algonquin Park off Highway 60, after finding a spot in the car park area a rather short well-groomed 1km hike gets you to the top of the falls looking out at the Oxtongue River. This shot involves a little steep slog down over the hill from the falls and a little rock hopping to set up on it but worth it for the perspective, if you are looking for fall colors to frame a shot the best capture is from the top.
I took this on Sept 18, 2021 with my D850 and Tamron 24-70 f2.8 G2 Lens at 24mm 1/400s f`5.6 ISO 64 processed in LR, PS +Topaz ,and DXO
Disclaimer: My style is a study of romantic realism as well as a work in progress
All losses are caused by different reasons, but a select few of them happen because something was straight out taken from us, or we were taken ourselves. Imagine being not only stripped of your clothes, your dignity, and your pride, but also being forced to go along for the ride. A ride that involves no acceptance, no going with the flow, no ability to fight, just being absolutely forced to comply with everything and everyone being taken from you.
This can all be metaphorical to describe a situation in your life, but it can also be exactly what it describes. Sex trafficking is still a very real thing and is one of the worst kind of losses you can go through as a human being. Did you know that over 27 million people a year are forced into jobs, not just sexual ones, but hard labor jobs as well? You hear about the numbers sometimes of women and girls forced to be sex slaves, but you don't hear about the number of slaves working on farms, ranches, in mines, and this doesn't even include the number of inmates locked up on bogus crimes and forced to do the jobs society has deemed undesirable. Silenced, subdued, shackled, and sometimes raped repeatedly, there are depths a person can fall into that are unimaginable while the rest of the world declares "We should do something." While sipping their starbucks, and going to get a massage on the weekend at the spa from one of the trafficked women in town.
Next time you feel like you've lost everything, just remember there's a lot further you could fall, and your situation can most likely be fixed a lot easier than some other people's darkest days.
Flickr is full of such images, each trying to capture the repeating sequence of curling stairs, some more effective, some less. I suspect this falls in the latter category, but there is, nevertheless, something appealing in the balance of the frame that arrests the eye a little.
An unnamed staircase in Oxford, September 2021. iPhone SE using ProCamera and a little editing in Affinity.
If you like my photographs, please consider buying a print at my website, captures.life. I haven't yet finished building the site and putting in all of the terms and conditions and policies, but the bits that involve buying a print, having it delivered, and contacting me if anything isn't working or goes wrong are functioning just fine...
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. 🐎💨🐷💨🍺🍺🍺😎🍷🍷🍷😂😂😂.
Attending an RTC involving a 10 year old boy. This helicopter is covering Yorkshire Air Ambulance G-YAAC while it is away on its yearly line check.
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...
The abandoned Fox Store in Grant County, Oregon. Fox is named after Fox Creek, a tributary of the North Fork John Day River. The creek was named for an incident involving a fox that occurred during a hunting or prospecting trip in pioneer days.
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: I Do Not Condone Any Acts Of Vandalism Nor Do I Participate In Such Criminal Activity. I Am Simply An Observant and Take Photos Of This Graffiti You Have Come Across. ALSO I Will Not Condone Any Usage Of My Photos To Support Any Legal Matter Involving These Acts Of Vandalism Therefore YOU ARE NOT WELCOME TO VIEW OR TAKE THIS MATERIAL For ANY Purpose...
Afternoon playtime with Sable always involves playing with a football. Judging by the state of the ball, I'll have to start shopping for a replacement. It's all in good fun.
Back from a bad back incident involving poor postural technique. ..new stuff for Autumn I hope. Thanks for bearing with me and the old re-worked shots!
A 12 Field stitched panorama of the Milky Way above the Tetons taken along the Teton River. The green glowing fan-like colors in the sky within the Milky Way is Green Airglow. Airglow turns up in our time exposure photographs of the night sky as ghostly ripples of aurora-like light. Its similarity to the aurora is no coincidence. Both form at around the same altitude of 60-65 miles (100 km) and involve excitation of atoms and molecules, in particular oxygen. But different mechanisms tease them to glow.
Auroras get their spark from high-speed electrons and protons in the solar wind that bombard oxygen and nitrogen atoms and molecules. As excited electrons within those atoms return to their rest states, they emit photons of green and red light that create shimmering, colorful curtains of northern lights.
Airglow’s subtle radiance arises from excitation of a different kind. Ultraviolet light from the daytime sun ionizes or knocks electrons off of oxygen and nitrogen atoms and molecules; at night the electrons recombine with their host atoms, releasing energy as light of different colors including green, red, yellow and blue. The brightest emission, the one responsible for creating the green streaks and bands visible from the ground and orbit, stems from excited oxygen atoms beaming light at 557.7 nanometers, smack in the middle of the yellow-green parcel of spectrum. I was unaware of this phenomena until someone recently pointed it out to me.
Nikon D850
Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8
On the day before my birthday I went out to the Icefields Parkway with my dad to shoot sunset. I really wanted to explore this hidden gem called Mistaya Lake (I first heard about it from Paul Zizka), but I was hesitant because there is no trail and it involves a creek crossing and a half hour bushwhack off trail through the forest. All that aside, I knew this was the perfect time to try and reach the lake because there was some fresh snow on the ground that would make it easy to follow our tracks on the way back so we didn't get lost. Eventually, we made it to the lakeshore and this incredible view opened up before us. The lake itself is comparable in size to Peyto lake, and somehow it remains hidden from the majority... Thanks for looking!
Copyright Susan Ogden
Another from the Milky Way shoot on Friday night. The atmosphere was simply perfect...clear skies, slightly windy which kept us from being devoured alive by the mosquitoes and warm enough not to need an extra layer of clothes.
Learning the timing of getting the rays in the lighthouse beam, or just the glow of the light ...learning the correct exposure to ensure round pindots of stars and not oblong blobs! It was fascinating and so interesting that i had no idea that when it was over, it was 2 am! Jay was a terrific teacher and has been more than gracious to offer to take phone calls to rehash what we learned and even to sit and help reset my camera and allow me to write things down when he returns from his Colorado vacation! (I am so bad at numbers and formulas involving math...i need something in writing just to remember them!)
This is one of my favorite shots...i love the walkway leading into the scene...THIS will be the next lens i purchase. I borrowed this one from Jay, and it was hands down my favorite lens to use!
HAPPY FOURTH of JULY, my friends...stay safe and God Bless America!!
Bennett Classic Antiques Auto Museum
Website: www.bennettclassics.com
Bennett Classics Antique Auto Museum houses around 70 vehicles manufactured from 1913 to 2013. The museum was started in 2007 by brothers Buddy & Joe Bennett, whose uncle owned a Ford dealership in Burnsville, NC, when they were growing up, instilling in them a lifelong love of cars. They moved to Rutherford County in the late 1960s, where they both started successful businesses, and on the side started collecting cars. Over the years, their collection that was in storage grew, but it wasn't until their retirement, when they started sorting through the collection, that they realized they had a whole building full of unrestored, low mileage automobiles. It was then the idea of the museum was born. The museum won the National Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) Museum Award in 2014, an honor based on the museum's involvement in community, its presentation of the antique car hobby, the preservation of the automobiles, and the educational efforts of the museum. The collection includes many types of automobiles, from Model Ts to Mack trucks, a Shelby Mustang, the retired Forest City American Lanfranc fire truck, and a 1963 Ford Mayberry sheriff's car signed by Don Knotts (A.K.A Barney Fife of the Andy Griffith TV show).
The Volkswagen Karmann Ghia is a sports car marketed in 2+2 coupe (1955–1974) and convertible (1957–1974) body styles by Volkswagen. The Karmann Ghia combined the chassis and mechanicals of the Type 1 (Beetle) with styling by Luigi Segre of the Italian carrozzeria Ghia and hand-built bodywork by the German coach-builder Karmann. The Karmann Ghia was internally designated the Typ 14. In 1961, Volkswagen introduced the Typ 34, a variant based on the newly introduced Type 3 platform and featuring angular bodywork. Production doubled soon after its introduction, becoming the car most imported into the U.S. More than 445,000 Karmann Ghias were produced in Germany over the car's production life, not including the Type 34 variant. Karmann Ghia Brazil produced 41,600 cars locally for South America between 1962 and 1975. American industrial designer Walter Dorwin Teague included the Karmann Ghia in his list of the world's most beautifully designed products.
A Journey to connect Heart-to-Heart takes buy a moment; it involves the risk of being Vulnerable... Quote Mrs Happy Face ..
From the Sak Yant tattoo festival in Nakhon Pathom.
Sak Yant is the traditional Thai form of tattooing, involving sacred geometrical designs, spells and animals. Designs are often intricate with each element providing specific meaning for the wearer, that convey special magical powers like protection, luck or the power of the animal.
☞ more from the Sak Yant Tattoo Festival
© All rights reserved. Please do not use my images and text without prior written permission.
What a difference a day makes; last Friday I was at a press call for the Moscow State Circus and the on Saturday I photographed a massive Orange Lodge march through Johnstone involving over 40 bands (it took at least 40 minutes to pass my viewpoint). While most people probably think that such marches are only held in Northern Ireland they are very much part of life here in Scotland as well as in parts of England. The weather was kind for once, if not a little too sunny given the length of their march, marching all round the town while playing their instruments and carrying their various banners is no mean feat!!
Delusional disorder, previously called paranoid disorder, is a type of serious mental illness called a "psychosis" in which a person cannot tell what is real from what is imagined. The main feature of this disorder is the presence of delusions, which are unshakable beliefs in something untrue. People with delusional disorder experience non-bizarre delusions, which involve situations that could occur in real life, such as being followed, poisoned, deceived, conspired against, or loved from a distance. These delusions usually involve the misinterpretation of perceptions or experiences. In reality, however, the situations are either not true at all or highly exaggerated.
People with delusional disorder often can continue to socialize and function normally, apart from the subject of their delusion, and generally do not behave in an obviously odd or bizarre manner. This is unlike people with other psychotic disorders, who also might have delusions as a symptom of their disorder. In some cases, however, people with delusional disorder might become so preoccupied with their delusions that their lives are disrupted.
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i look like some crazy evil monser that just emerged from beneath your bed
ooof. dont look at the mirror. it said "perfect" from another long-ago shoot... and i forgot it was there =/
anywhooo dont we all wonder if we suffer from this at some point or another? probably. its like "clasic crazy"
day 124
Juvenile slow worm.
This is for the Smile on Saturday group’s Mini in Minimalism theme this week, though I hope the picture of a reptile will be acceptable in a smiling group :)
Although I had a few ideas for the theme (involving peppercorns would you believe) I had decided in view of the warm weather to abandon all hope and concentrate on digging myself out from under the pile of gardening jobs.
Then I came across this rather sleepy young slow worm and the germ of an idea grew and refused to be ignored.
We’ve had a breeding pair of slow worms in the garden for many years now, sometimes two I think. They are a gardener's best friend eating as they do slugs, and snail and slug eggs.
Strictly speaking, they are not snakes but more of a legless lizard. They are usually quite shy (they tend to get attacked by cats and large birds) so you don’t often see them - they hide under our heathers.
This poor juvenile had got stuck on the concrete at the bottom of the stairs from the upper garden where the nests usually are. The adults have no problem with stairs, but the juveniles aren’t long enough and are not proficient at climbing inside corners. The juveniles, like bird chicks, are less experienced and prone to fall foul of roaming felines.
You can pick them up and they wriggle a bit, the adults being surprisingly strong. But they usually calm down and are quite docile.
Unlike the tropical lizards of my youth they never seem to try and bite you when you handle them so it’s easy to move them to safer parts of the garden when they go astray.
The head of this one is about a centimetre long and the whole animal is about the size of a thin pencil.
Thank you for taking time to look. I hope you enjoy the image (and manage to smile in spite of the subject!). HSoS :)
PS I rather like Flickr's thumbnail of this. Very minimalist!
[Handheld in daylight (No! The camera - I placed the beastie on a sheet of white paper ;-) )
Developed and processed in Affinity Photo.]
Part of the courtship routine involves synchronised dipping and preening. Fascinating to watch, almost balletic.
This was taken over the summer in 1969 at the Latham's home in Northern Virginia. Our two families have been close friends forever. Joe's father -- called "Uncle Bob", usually derisively, by everyone, including his own children -- was one of my two godfathers in the Episcopal church. Uncle Bob was an unabashed racist who wore a "S.P.O.N.G.E." button on his lapel for an entire session of school; asked what the acronym meant, he'd reply, "The Society for the Prevention Of Negroes from Getting Everything." That kind of racist. My godfather.
Mrs. Latham I loved, though. "Ella". Petite, elegantly-dressed, refined, and cuter than a bucket of bunnies (Joe and I are seated in her parlor in the photo above). Ella looked like a freckled, matronly version of Debbie Reynolds. The last time I saw her was at a memorial service for Uncle Bob at Episcopal High School in 1987 where I managed to get a really lovely photo of her greeting Mr. Callaway, who had just delivered a brief, but elegant summary of Uncle Bob's career.
(Mr. Callaway was 99 at the time and had taught geometry at the school from 1915-85, when he was forced to retire because he was getting blind. After taking the picture of him and Ella Latham, I walked up to him and told him who I was -- I hadn't seen him since the school's memorial service for my dad in 1968. "Well, Willie!" he exclaimed. "You live in Texas now, don't you? And Ruthie...she's in Washington, DC? She still work for The Smithsonian Magazine? I thought so. Alicia, Alicia's...let's see Alicia's living with that divorce lawyer, I think. And your mother's in Charleston?" I was dumbstruck by this old man's knowledge of the current events in the lives of people he knew and loved but never saw anymore.)
Joe dropped out of school when his girlfriend, a folksinger, got pregnant. He was a gifted guitarist, but became widely known among musicians as a brilliant guitar maker. His pearl inlays are considered second to none. One night in '73 Buffy Sainte Marie came to have a drink at the bar I worked in Nashville (she had a White Russian if anyone asks) and during the course of the evening asked me where I was from. I told her that, until I'd moved to Nashville after graduation from college, I'd lived my whole life in Alexandria, Va.
"Alexandria? Do you know Joe Latham?" Her companion thought I was lying when I said I'd grown up with him, but I knew enough details about Joe to convince them otherwise.
Joe's younger sister Sarah was a year younger than my sister Ruthie. She became an antiques dealer and appraiser after graduating from college. I was watching 'Antiques Roadshow" one night on PBS and saw Sarah expertly appraise some guy's antique wooden cabinet for him. I later heard from Ruthie that Sarah dropped any further connection with the show after the exposure of a "Roadshow" scandal, involving another appraiser and a collector's rigging the appraisal of some old handguns on the show. The segment was later removed from the program's future broadcasts, but Sarah apparently felt that the program's integrity had been compromised and wanted to disassociate herself from it completely.
Among Joe's musician friends was Janis Joplin. The summer of 1969 he got word from her that she was going to drop by his shop in Alexandria after a concert in Georgetown in Washington, DC, just 8 miles away. He invited me and my girlfriend Kitty (who was studying drama in DC that summer) and some other friends to come over that night to meet her; we waited for about three hours outside his shop, but she never showed.
RF59GYR & RJ59LNK Unused Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Ambulances at SECAmb HQ in Lewes bound for two stations in Kent
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Macro, July Morning, Colorado. I was watering the garden and noticed these flowers were quickly vibrating back-and-forth. Then I watched a large bumble bee, covered in pollen, reverse from a flower. Funny to see, but it definitely was an effective way for the bumble bee to gather pollen!
"Buzz pollination or sonication is a technique used by some bees, such as solitary bees and bumblebees, to release pollen which is more or less firmly held by the anthers. The anthers of buzz-pollinated plant species are typically tubular, with an opening at only one end, and the pollen inside is smooth-grained and firmly attached."
"In order to release the pollen, solitary bees are able to grab onto the flower and move their flight muscles rapidly, causing the flower and anthers to vibrate, dislodging pollen. Pollination involving vibrations is called buzz pollination. Honeybees cannot perform buzz pollination. About 9% of the flowers of the world are primarily pollinated using buzz pollination" - From Wikipedia