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Quick little trip to Sandy Camp. Must say a bit ambitious as it was cloudy. Sun came out for a very short time and I managed to get one reasonable shot.
Managed to make it to Leeds First Friday November meet up - had the time of my life hanging out with some absolutely amazing ladies.
Managed to slice through the heavy urban haze and Bortle 9 skies of New Delhi to capture the gas giant. Using the Benro Polaris for precise tracking, I shot a sequence of frames and used lucky imaging techniques to stack and extract the distinct cloud bands of Jupiter.
Gear & Acquisition:
- Camera: Sony a6700
- Lens: Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS
- Mount: Benro Polaris Smart Tripod Head
- Location: New Delhi, India (Bortle 9)
- Process: Lucky imaging workflow, stacked and processed to enhance atmospheric details.
Managed to get a shot early in the day, such a relief not having to worry about the shot for the remainder of the day!
Indiana Dunes National Park is located in northwestern Indiana that was authorized by Congress in 1966 as the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (the name by which it was known until it was designated the nation's 61st national park on February 15, 2019). The park runs for nearly 25 miles along the southern shore of Lake Michigan; it contains approximately 15,000 acres. Its visitors center is in the town of Porter. Located in the park are sand dune, wetland, prairie, river, and forest ecosystems.
Indiana Dunes National Park has acquired about 95% of the property within the authorized boundaries. Several of its holdings are non-contiguous and do not include the 2,182-acre Indiana Dunes State Park, which is within the boundaries of the national park but is owned, managed, and protected by the state of Indiana. The national park is divided into 15 parcels of various acreage. Along the lakefront, the eastern area is roughly the lake shore south to U.S. 12 or U.S. 20, between Michigan City (on the east) and the ArcelorMittal steel plant (on the west). A small extension, south of the steel mill continues west along Salt Creek to Indiana 249. In addition, there are several outlying areas, including; Pinhook Bog, in LaPorte County to the east. The Heron Rookery in Porter County, the center of the park, and the Calumet Prairie State Nature Preserve and the Hobart Prairie Grove, both in Lake County, the western end of the park. Also within the National Park is the Hoosier Prairie State Nature Preserve, managed by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
Information from: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana_Dunes_National_Park
Rehearsals for the Ann Arbor Dance Classics 2017 Recital on Wednesday June 14, 2017. The recitals will be held on Friday June 16 and Saturday June 17, 2017 at Saline High School (Saline, Michigan). These are photos from my perch on Stage Right - stage managing again (with a few from the house).
I managed to pull off this unique paint job when attempting to paint it gold but the spraypaint was running low & this is the result. I love the effect.
I may have many mocs already given the Metallix treatment via Folkart Metallic hand paint and Testors spraypaint. Krylon too. And now having tried Tamiya. My mocs look better then new with a fresh new coat of premium quality paint. Sprays on thin and smooth with an excellent crystal shine for an Ultimate Upgrade.
Lets have some crossover fun, lets say a normally infected/rusted kanohi is a low level hollow or slightly higher depending on the wearer and the master that created them and the corrupted kanohi is Espada rank.
the one responsible for contaminating a sacred kanohi was Miserex himself. his own Toa & species of Kraata that strongly resemble its master, taking on the physical form of a dragon. stronger, faster, smarter and more deadly than Makuta's breed of kraata
This month, I managed to get into Collabor88 and it was worth the trying!
SL name: huntressmoon Darkmatter
Hair: Tableau Vivant \\ Twist hair - Fades at Collabor88
Glasses: Intrigue Co. - Jewel Be in My Heart Shades: Purple at Collabor88
Top: Vinyl - Thea TOP Pak HOLOGRAPHIC at Collabor88
Accessories
Necklace: **RE** Rebel Vampire Ankh Necklace by Real Evil Industries
I really love the rings from Real Evil and it has been in my current favourite daily wear for a few weeks now. Plus it has been apart of my avatar look! Keep on inspiring Real Evil designer.
Rings: **RE** Dark Queen Rings - TMP - Maitreya - Belleza by Real Evil Industries
I've never managed to take a usable shot of an ant before,until now! I've always been fascinated by these little creatures. I marvel at how well their society is structured (It is better organized than ours I feel!)
Ants
Ants are eusocial insects of the family Formicidae and, along with the related wasps and bees, belong to the order Hymenoptera. Ants evolved from wasp-like ancestors in the Cretaceous period, about 140 million years ago, and diversified after the rise of flowering plants.
More than 12,500 of an estimated total of 22,000 species have been classified.
They are easily identified by their elbowed antennae and the distinctive node-like structure that forms their slender waists.
Ants form colonies that range in size from a few dozen predatory individuals living in small natural cavities to highly organised colonies that may occupy large territories and consist of millions of individuals.
Larger colonies consist of various castes of sterile, wingless females, most of which are workers (ergates), as well as soldiers (dinergates) and other specialised groups.
Nearly all ant colonies also have some fertile males called "drones" (aner) and one or more fertile females called "queens" (gynes).
The colonies are described as superorganisms because the ants appear to operate as a unified entity, collectively working together to support the colony.
Ants have colonized almost every landmass on Earth. The only places lacking indigenous ants are Antarctica and a few remote or inhospitable islands. Ants thrive in most ecosystems and may form 15–25% of the terrestrial animal biomass.[11] Their success in so many environments has been attributed to their social organization and their ability to modify habitats, tap resources, and defend themselves. Their long co-evolution with other species has led to mimetic, commensal, parasitic, and mutualistic relationships.
Ant societies have a division of labor, communication between individuals, and an ability to solve complex problems.
These parallels with human societies have long been an inspiration and subject of study. Many human cultures make use of ants in cuisine, medication, and rituals. Some species are valued in their role as biological pest control agents.
Their ability to exploit resources may bring ants into conflict with humans, however, as they can damage crops and invade buildings.
Some species, such as the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis Invicta), are regarded as invasive species, establishing themselves in areas where they have been introduced accidentally.
Link -
We managed to check cherry blossoms out in Roihuvuori but they were already gone so we decided to go anemone woods in Laajasalo island. Trip with Janne Parviainen: www.flickr.com/photos/jannepaint/. Laajasalo, Helsinki.
Designer unknown (佚名)
1960, April
Managing
Guan (菅)
Call nr.: BG D82/297 (IISH collection)
More? See: chineseposters.net
Category A listed historic townhouses designed in 1791 by Robert Adam. They were constructed 1803-07.
"Charlotte Square is a garden square in Edinburgh, Scotland, part of the New Town, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The square is located at the west end of George Street and was intended to mirror St. Andrew Square in the east. The gardens are private and not publicly accessible.
Initially named St. George's Square in James Craig's original plan, it was renamed in 1786 after King George III's Queen and first daughter, to avoid confusion with George Square to the south of the Old Town. Charlotte Square was the last part of the initial phase of the New Town to be "completed" in 1820 (note- the north-west section at Glenfinlas Street was not completed until 1990 due to a long-running boundary dispute). Much of it was to the 1791 design of Robert Adam, who died in 1792, just as building began.
In 1939 a very sizable air-raid shelter was created under the south side of the gardens, accessed from the street to the south.
In 2013 the south side was redeveloped in an award-winning scheme by Paul Quinn, creating major new office floorspace behind a restored series of townhouses.
Edinburgh Collegiate School was located in Charlotte Square.
The garden was originally laid out as a level circular form by William Weir in 1808.
In 1861 a plan was drawn up by Robert Matheson, Clerk of Works for Scotland for a larger, more square garden, centred upon a memorial to the recently deceased Prince Albert, the consort of Queen Victoria.
The commission for the sculpture was granted in 1865 to Sir John Steell. The main statue features an equestrian statue of the prince, in field marshal's uniform, dwarfing the four figures around the base. It was unveiled by Queen Victoria herself in 1876. The stone plinth was designed by the architect David Bryce and the four corner figures are by David Watson Stevenson (Science and Learning/Labour), George Clark Stanton (Army and Navy) and William Brodie (Nobility). The statue was originally intended to go in the centre of the eastern edge of the garden, facing down George Street.
This remodelling featured major new tree-planting which took many years to re-establish.
The central open space is a private garden, available to owners of the surrounding properties. For the last three weeks in August each year Charlotte Square gardens are the site of the Edinburgh International Book Festival.
The railings around the gardens were removed in 1940 as part of the war effort. The current railings date from 1947.
On the north side, No. 5 was the home of John Crichton-Stuart, 4th Marquess of Bute (1881–1947), who bought it in 1903 and gave it to the National Trust for Scotland on his death. It was the Trust headquarters from 1949 to 2000. Bute did much to promote the preservation of the Square.
Nos. 6 and 7 are also owned by the National Trust for Scotland. No.6, Bute House is the official residence of the First Minister of Scotland. In 1806 it was home to Sir John Sinclair creator of the first Statistical Account of Scotland. No. 7 was internally restored by the Trust in 1975 to its original state, and is open to the public as The Georgian House. The upper floor was formerly the official residence of the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. The building includes one fireplace brought from Hill of Tarvit in Fife in 1975.
West Register House, formerly St. George's Church, forms the centre of the west side. It was designed by the architect Robert Reid in 1811, broadly to Adam's plan. The church opened in 1814 and was converted to its current use in 1964. It is one of the main buildings of the National Records of Scotland.
The New Town is a central area of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. A masterpiece of city planning, it was built in stages between 1767 and around 1850, and retains much of its original neo-classical and Georgian period architecture. Its best known street is Princes Street, facing Edinburgh Castle and the Old Town across the geological depression of the former Nor Loch. Together with the Old Town, the New Town was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995.
Edinburgh (/ˈɛdɪnbərə/; Scots: Edinburgh; Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Èideann [ˈt̪uːn ˈeːtʲən̪ˠ]) is the capital of Scotland and one of its 32 council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian on the Firth of Forth's southern shore.
Recognised as the capital of Scotland since at least the 15th century, Edinburgh is the seat of the Scottish Government, the Scottish Parliament and the supreme courts of Scotland. The city's Palace of Holyroodhouse is the official residence of the monarch in Scotland. The city has long been a centre of education, particularly in the fields of medicine, Scots law, literature, philosophy, the sciences and engineering. It is the second largest financial centre in the United Kingdom (after London) and the city's historical and cultural attractions have made it the United Kingdom's second most visited tourist destination attracting 4.9 million visits including 2.4 million from overseas in 2018.
Edinburgh is Scotland's second most populous city and the seventh most populous in the United Kingdom. The official population estimates are 488,050 (2016) for the Locality of Edinburgh (Edinburgh pre 1975 regionalisation plus Currie and Balerno), 518,500 (2018) for the City of Edinburgh, and 1,339,380 (2014) for the city region. Edinburgh lies at the heart of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland city region comprising East Lothian, Edinburgh, Fife, Midlothian, Scottish Borders and West Lothian.
The city is the annual venue of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. It is home to national institutions such as the National Museum of Scotland, the National Library of Scotland and the Scottish National Gallery. The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1582 and now one of four in the city, is placed 20th in the QS World University Rankings for 2020. The city is also known for the Edinburgh International Festival and the Fringe, the latter being the world's largest annual international arts festival. Historic sites in Edinburgh include Edinburgh Castle, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the churches of St. Giles, Greyfriars and the Canongate, and the extensive Georgian New Town built in the 18th/19th centuries. Edinburgh's Old Town and New Town together are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, which has been managed by Edinburgh World Heritage since 1999." - info from Wikipedia.
Summer 2019 I did a solo cycling tour across Europe through 12 countries over the course of 3 months. I began my adventure in Edinburgh, Scotland and finished in Florence, Italy cycling 8,816 km. During my trip I took 47,000 photos.
Now on Instagram.
Become a patron to my photography on Patreon.
Managed to capture him in one of his more peaceful moods
his mate had an injured foot and he was very protective toward her.
Jeannie managed again, or should I rather say - as always - to conquer my chair first.
Should I be the first she will join and then slowly, slowly twist and turn and push until there is no more space for me - not even half my tushy and I silently get out (wouldn't want to disturb the queen while resting).
Charing Cross,[5] also known as London Charing Cross,[6] is a central London railway terminus in the City of Westminster, England. It is one of 18 stations managed by Network Rail[7] and all regular trains serving it are operated by Southeastern. It is the fifth busiest rail terminal in London.[8] The office and shopping complex above the station is formally known as Embankment Place.
The station takes its name from its location next to the central London road junction of Charing Cross. The front of the station faces the Strand, while at the other end is the northern end of Hungerford Bridge, which is crossed by all trains serving the station. Ticket barriers control access to all platforms, although the bridge entrance has no barriers it is only open to passengers during the morning peak hours. Therefore, there are regular ticket inspections carried out on the bridge.
Charing Cross is the London terminus of the South Eastern Main Line. All regular services are operated by Southeastern which provides the majority of commuter/regional services to South East London and Kent.
The original station building was built on the site of the Hungerford Market by the South Eastern Railway and opened on 11 January 1864. The station was designed by Sir John Hawkshaw, with a single span wrought iron roof arching over the six platforms on its relatively cramped site. It is built on a brick arched viaduct, the level of the rails above the ground varying from 13 feet (4.0 m) at the north-east end to 27 feet (8.2 m) at the bridge abutment at the south-east end. A year later the Charing Cross Hotel, designed by Edward Middleton Barry, opened on 15 May 1865 and gave the station an ornate frontage in the French Renaissance style.
Contemporary with the Charing Cross Hotel was a replica of the Eleanor Cross in Red Mansfield stone, also designed by Edward Middleton Barry, that was erected in the station forecourt. It was based on the original 13th-century Whitehall Cross that had been demolished in 1647. Distances in London are officially measured from the original site of the cross, now the statue of Charles I facing Whitehall, and not from this replica cross.
The condition of the cross deteriorated until it was in such a vulnerable condition that it was placed on the English Heritage At Risk Register in 2008. A ten-month project to repair and restore the cross was completed in August 2010. This work included recreating and attaching almost 100 missing ornamental features including heraldic shields, an angel, pinnacles, crockets and finials; securing weak or fractured masonry with stainless steel pins and rods and re-attaching decorative items which had previously been removed after becoming loose.
A 77-foot (23 m) length of the elegant original roof structure, comprising the two end bays at the south of the station, and part of the western wall collapsed at 3:45 pm on 5 December 1905. A gang of men were employed at the time in repairing, glazing and painting the section of roof which fell. Shortly after 3:30 pm, the roof emitted a loud noise, which was when someone noticed that one of the main tie rods had broken and was hanging down. Part of the roof began to sag and the western wall began to crack.
It was another 12 minutes before the collapse occurred, which enabled trains and platforms to be evacuated and incoming trains to be held back. The roof, girders and debris fell across four passenger trains standing in platforms 3, 4, 5 and 6, blocking all tracks were. The part of the western wall that fell had crashed through the wall and roof of the neighbouring Royal Avenue Theatre (now the Playhouse Theatre) in Northumberland Avenue, which was being reconstructed at the time. Six people died (two workmen on the roof, a W.H. Smith bookstall vendor and three workmen on the Royal Avenue Theatre site).[10]
At the Board Of Trade Inquiry into the accident expert, witnesses expressed doubts about the design of the roof, even though the cause of the failure was attributed to a faulty weld in a tie rod. Consequently, the South Eastern and Chatham Railway decided not to repair the roof but to replace it. An enormous travelling timber gantry had to be constructed to take the remainder of the station roof down safely. The replacement was a utilitarian post and girder structure supporting a ridge and furrow roof. The curve of the original roof design can still be seen on the interior brickwork. The station was re-opened on 19 March 1906.
Following bomb damage in the Second World War, the hotel received extensive repairs in 1951, ten years after being bombed. In general, this consisted of a whole new set of top floors. The elaborate Mansard roof of the upper floors of the hotel was rebuilt in a plain neo-Georgian white brick.
In 1990 most of the area over the British Rail platforms was covered by Embankment Place, a post-modern office and shopping complex designed by Terry Farrell and Partners. This development led to the replacement of almost the whole of the 1906 roof. The rear two spans of this structure – immediately adjacent to the existing concourse roof – were retained as part of an enlarged waiting area. In addition the original retaining side walls of the station which once supported it remain in near complete condition.[11] Most of the Embankment Place complex is currently occupied by PricewaterhouseCoopers.
In April 2014, the station held a celebration to mark the station's 150th anniversary which included a Kentish farmers market, staff in period costume, a guided walking tour and the unveiling of the new waiting room mural, produced by a local school.
Down below to the left, out of view in this photo, is Circular Pool. Now I'm not sure who named it circular because I reckon it is more of a square, although the end of the gorge in which it is located is certainly circular. Perhaps geometry wasn't my strongest point at school, or perhaps the gorge has changed shape!
Not in a few million years, I dare say! As delightful as Circular Pool was, I remembered the way the gorge walls seemed to light up after the sun has gone down. It was a perfect evening (hard to believe it is only a week or so ago), so I headed back up the track and wandered along the escarpment. The climb out of Dales for some reason doesn't seem to take as long as the descent, but my heart and lungs no doubt thought differently.
There's so much to shoot on this walk that it's hard to know what to point your camera at. I was sidetracked a couple of times, photographing the trees that somehow managed to cling to the sides of the gorge, but as the light dropped, I made a beeline back to the lookout and set up my camera.
To the eye, it was pretty dark all around, the exception being the sky and the rich, red glow of the rock reflecting the setting sun. It is a magical sight and the only danger are the huge mosquitoes that also enjoy this time of day - I was worried they might pick me and drop me off the edge.
Okay, so I'm exaggerating about how big the mossies are, but the red in that wall is no lie. It was a beautiful rich glow!
Photographed on the Phase One IQ180 with a 23mm Digaron, 30 seconds, f5.6, ISO 200, and then cropped a little top and bottom. Processing has been quick and cheerful, with a little more care needed if I take the photograph further.
Now, the question is, will this be one of the photos that makes it into the Momento book we're producing. Stay tuned and we'll walk you through the production process. At present, the 18 photographers from the recent workshop (including the instructors) are putting together their best four images, from which two will be selected for the 2013 Karijini Photography Workshop photobook!
Managed to catch this at Mare Street/Hackney Central station, looks like a Holloway Stowaway(or more) has been borrowed for the route as other MCV EvoSetis are either still being delayed or limited number vehicles are set for the route, I dunno but we'll see, won't we...
Route 30
Metroline London
VWH2093
Wright Gemini 3 MK1
LK15 CWP
Picture Taken with Samsung S7 Edge
Managed to capture two rolls of b/w snapshots during a recent family holiday on the South Coast of NSW, Australia.
Olympus Trip 35 with Kodak BW400CN 400 film
February 8, 2019
Orlando, Florida
Day two in Florida was spent at Universal Studios, from open to close. As a huge Harry Potter nerd, I've wanted to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park ever since it was originally announced as in development. Today, I finally got to check it off of the bucket list and pretend to be a wizard.
We had butterbeer, ate at the Leaky Cauldron, rode both of the Harry Potter rides, explored Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley, and took the Hogwarts Express from Platform 9 & 3/4. It was magical. The level of detail that Universal put into creating an immersive environment is pretty astounding. I now want to reread the books.
In addition to Harry Potter world, we rode the Incredible Hulk roller coaster (perhaps my favorite roller coaster I've ever been on), the original ET ride, a cool King Kong ride, drank a Duff beer at Moe's Tavern, explored the Jurassic Park world, and rode a roller coaster that had a literally straight up incline. Somehow we managed to fit in everything that I had wanted to do at Universal & Island of Adventure in just one day.
It was an exhausting, but very fun day. Julia's Fitbit counted 16,000 steps taken (and much more time on our feet that was not counted standing in lines, ha).
Seagahan is a brown trout stocked fishery, located between the City of Armagh and Markethill. ... Armagh Fisheries Ltd manages this fishery for the Department of Agriculture
Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and World Bank President David Malpass participate in The Way Forward: Responding to Global Shocks in a Time of Uncertainty at the World Bank.
IMF Photo/Cory Hancock
19 April 2022
Washington, DC, United States
Photo ref: CH220419051.arw
International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde (L) and the President of the European Central Bank Mario Draghi (R) speak at the Michel Camdessus Central Bankjing Lecture May 14, 2015 at the IMF Headquarters In Washington, DC. IMF Staff Photo/Stephen Jaffe
Managed to get some nice shots of this little bird, only the one present in the dunes. They have been there in numbers this year
Managed to get a quick wash in, only has the bronze as it was raining, done a great job, love the new user face
Rochester is a town and historic city in the unitary authority of Medway in Kent, England. It is situated at the lowest bridging point of the River Medway about 30 miles (50 km) from London.
Rochester was for many years a favourite of Charles Dickens, who owned nearby Gads Hill Place, Higham,[1] basing many of his novels on the area. The Diocese of Rochester, the second oldest in England, is based at Rochester Cathedral and was responsible for the founding of a school, now The King's School in 604 AD,[2] which is recognised as being the second oldest continuously running school in the world. Rochester Castle, built by Bishop Gundulf of Rochester, has one of the best preserved keepsin either England or France, and during the First Barons' War (1215–1217) in King John's reign, baronial forces captured the castle from Archbishop Stephen Langton and held it against the king, who then besieged it.[3]
Neighbouring Chatham, Gillingham, Strood and a number of outlying villages, together with Rochester, nowadays make up the MedwayUnitary Authority area. It was, until 1998,[4]under the control of Kent County Council and is still part of the ceremonial county of Kent, under the latest Lieutenancies Act.[5]
Toponymy[edit]
The Romano-British name for Rochester was Durobrivae, later Durobrivis c. 730 and Dorobrevis in 844. The two commonly cited origins of this name are that it either came from "stronghold by the bridge(s)",[6] or is the latinisation of the British word Dourbruf meaning "swiftstream".[7]Durobrivis was pronounced 'Robrivis. Bede copied down this name, c. 730, mistaking its meaning as Hrofi's fortified camp (OE Hrofes cæster). From this we get c. 730 Hrofæscæstre, 811 Hrofescester, 1086 Rovescester, 1610 Rochester.[6] The Latinised adjective 'Roffensis' refers to Rochester.[7]
Neolithic remains have been found in the vicinity of Rochester; over time it has been variously occupied by Celts, Romans, Jutes and/or Saxons. During the Celtic period it was one of the two administrative centres of the Cantiaci tribe. During the Roman conquest of Britain a decisive battle was fought at the Medway somewhere near Rochester. The first bridge was subsequently constructed early in the Roman period. During the later Roman period the settlement was walled in stone. King Ethelbert of Kent(560–616) established a legal system which has been preserved in the 12th century Textus Roffensis. In AD 604 the bishopric and cathedral were founded. During this period, from the recall of the legions until the Norman conquest, Rochester was sacked at least twice and besieged on another occasion.
The medieval period saw the building of the current cathedral (1080–1130, 1227 and 1343), the building of two castles and the establishment of a significant town. Rochester Castle saw action in the sieges of 1215 and 1264. Its basic street plan was set out, constrained by the river, Watling Street, Rochester Priory and the castle.
Rochester has produced two martyrs: St John Fisher, executed by Henry VIII for refusing to sanction the divorce of Catherine of Aragon; and Bishop Nicholas Ridley, executed by Queen Mary for being an English Reformation protestant.
The city was raided by the Dutch as part of the Second Anglo-Dutch War. The Dutch, commanded by Admiral de Ruijter, broke through the chain at Upnor[8] and sailed to Rochester Bridge capturing part of the English fleet and burning it.[9]
The ancient City of Rochester merged with the Borough of Chatham and part of the Strood Rural District in 1974 to form the Borough of Medway. It was later renamed Rochester-upon-Medway, and its City status transferred to the entire borough. In 1998 another merger with the rest of the Medway Towns created the Medway Unitary Authority. The outgoing council neglected to appoint ceremonial "Charter Trustees" to continue to represent the historic Rochester area, causing Rochester to lose its City status – an error not even noticed by council officers for four years, until 2002.[10][11]
Military History
Rochester has for centuries been of great strategic importance through its position near the confluence of the Thames and the Medway. Rochester Castle was built to guard the river crossing, and the Royal Dockyard's establishment at Chatham witnessed the beginning of the Royal Navy's long period of supremacy. The town, as part of Medway, is surrounded by two circles of fortresses; the inner line built during the Napoleonic warsconsists of Fort Clarence, Fort Pitt, Fort Amherst and Fort Gillingham. The outer line of Palmerston Forts was built during the 1860s in light of the report by the Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdomand consists of Fort Borstal, Fort Bridgewood, Fort Luton, and the Twydall Redoubts, with two additional forts on islands in the Medway, namely Fort Hoo and Fort Darnet.
During the First World War the Short Brothers' aircraft manufacturing company developed the first plane to launch a torpedo, the Short Admiralty Type 184, at its seaplane factory on the River Medway not far from Rochester Castle. In the intervening period between the 20th century World Wars the company established a world-wide reputation as a constructor of flying boats with aircraft such as the Singapore, Empire 'C'-Class and Sunderland. During the Second World War, Shorts also designed and manufactured the first four-engined bomber, the Stirling.
The UK's decline in naval power and shipbuilding competitiveness led to the government decommissioning the RN Shipyard at Chatham in 1984, which led to the subsequent demise of much local maritime industry. Rochester and its neighbouring communities were hit hard by this and have experienced a painful adjustment to a post-industrial economy, with much social deprivation and unemployment resulting. On the closure of Chatham Dockyard the area experienced an unprecedented surge in unemployment to 24%; this had dropped to 2.4% of the local population by 2014.[12]
Former City of Rochester[edit]
Rochester was recognised as a City from 1211 to 1998. The City of Rochester's ancient status was unique, as it had no formal council or Charter Trustees nor a Mayor, instead having the office of Admiral of the River Medway, whose incumbent acted as de facto civic leader.[13] On 1 April 1974, the City Council was abolished under the Local Government Act 1972, and the territory was merged with the District of Medway, Borough of Chatham and most of Strood Rural District to form a new a local government district called the Borough of Medway, within the county of Kent. Medway Borough Council applied to inherit Rochester's city status, but this was refused; instead letters patent were granted constituting the area of the former Rochester local government district to be the City of Rochester, to "perpetuate the ancient name" and to recall "the long history and proud heritage of the said City".[14] The Home Officesaid that the city status may be extended to the entire borough if it had "Rochester" in its name, so in 1979, Medway Borough Council renamed the borough to Borough of Rochester-upon-Medway, and in 1982, Rochester's city status was transferred to the entire borough by letters patent, with the district being called the City of Rochester-upon-Medway.[13]
On 1 April 1998, the existing local government districts of Rochester-upon-Medway and Gillingham were abolished and became the new unitary authority of Medway. The Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions informed the city council that since it was the local government district that officially held City status under the 1982 Letters Patent, the council would need to appoint charter trustees to preserve its city status, but the outgoing Labour-run council decided not to appoint charter trustees, so the city status was lost when Rochester-upon-Medway was abolished as a local government district.[15][16][17] The other local government districts with City status that were abolished around this time, Bath and Hereford, decided to appoint Charter Trustees to maintain the existence of their own cities and the mayoralties. The incoming Medway Council apparently only became aware of this when, in 2002, it was advised that Rochester was not on the Lord Chancellor's Office's list of cities.[18][19]
In 2010, Medway Council started to refer to the "City of Medway" in promotional material, but it was rebuked and instructed not to do so in future by the Advertising Standards Authority.[20]
Governance[edit]
Civic history and traditions[edit]
Rochester and its neighbours, Chatham and Gillingham, form a single large urban area known as the Medway Towns with a population of about 250,000. Since Norman times Rochester had always governed land on the other side of the Medway in Strood, which was known as Strood Intra; before 1835 it was about 100 yards (91 m) wide and stretched to Gun Lane. In the 1835 Municipal Corporations Act the boundaries were extended to include more of Strood and Frindsbury, and part of Chatham known as Chatham Intra. In 1974, Rochester City Council was abolished and superseded by Medway Borough Council, which also included the parishes of Cuxton, Halling and Cliffe, and the Hoo Peninsula. In 1979 the borough became Rochester-upon-Medway. The Admiral of the River Medway was ex-officio Mayor of Rochester and this dignity transferred to the Mayor of Medway when that unitary authority was created, along with the Admiralty Court for the River which constitutes a committee of the Council.[21]
Like many of the mediaeval towns of England, Rochester had civic Freemen whose historic duties and rights were abolished by the Municipal Corporations Act 1835. However, the Guild of Free Fishers and Dredgers continues to the present day and retains rights, duties and responsibilities on the Medway, between Sheerness and Hawkwood Stone.[22] This ancient corporate body convenes at the Admiralty Court whose Jury of Freemen is responsible for the conservancy of the River as enshrined in current legislation. The City Freedom can be obtained by residents after serving a period of "servitude", i.e. apprenticeship (traditionally seven years), before admission as a Freeman. The annual ceremonial Beating of the Boundsby the River Medway takes place after the Admiralty Court, usually on the first Saturday of July.
Rochester first obtained City status in 1211, but this was lost due to an administrative oversight when Rochester was absorbed by the Medway Unitary Authority.[10] Subsequently, the Medway Unitary Authority has applied for City status for Medway as a whole, rather than merely for Rochester. Medway applied unsuccessfully for City status in 2000 and 2002 and again in the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Year of 2012.[23] Any future bid to regain formal City status has been recommended to be made under the aegis of Rochester-upon-Medway.
Ecclesiastical parishes[edit]
There were three medieval parishes: St Nicholas', St Margaret's and St Clement's. St Clement's was in Horsewash Lane until the last vicar died in 1538 when it was joined with St Nicholas' parish; the church last remaining foundations were finally removed when the railway was being constructed in the 1850s. St Nicholas' Church was built in 1421 beside the cathedral to serve as a parish church for the citizens of Rochester. The ancient cathedral included the Benedictine monastic priory of St Andrew with greater status than the local parishes.[24] Rochester's pre-1537 diocese, under the jurisdiction of the Church of Rome, covered a vast area extending into East Anglia and included all of Essex.[25]
As a result of the restructuring of the Church during the Reformation the cathedral was reconsecrated as the Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary without parochial responsibilities, being a diocesan church.[26] In the 19th century the parish of St Peter's was created to serve the burgeoning city with the new church being consecrated in 1859. Following demographic shifts, St Peter's and St Margaret's were recombined as a joint benefice in 1953 with the parish of St Nicholas with St Clement being absorbed in 1971.[27] The combined parish is now the "Parish of St Peter with St Margaret", centred at the new (1973) Parish Centre in The Delce (St Peter's) with St Margaret's remaining as a chapel-of-ease. Old St Peter's was demolished in 1974, while St Nicholas' Church has been converted into the diocesan offices but remains consecrated. Continued expansion south has led to the creation of an additional more recent parish of St Justus (1956) covering The Tideway estate and surrounding area.[28]
A church dedicated to St Mary the Virgin at Eastgate, which was of Anglo-Saxon foundation, is understood to have constituted a parish until the Middle Ages, but few records survive.[29]
Geography
Rochester lies within the area, known to geologists, as the London Basin. The low-lying Hoo peninsula to the north of the town consists of London Clay, and the alluvium brought down by the two rivers—the Thames and the Medway—whose confluence is in this area. The land rises from the river, and being on the dip slope of the North Downs, this consists of chalksurmounted by the Blackheath Beds of sand and gravel.
As a human settlement, Rochester became established as the lowest river crossing of the River Medway, well before the arrival of the Romans.
It is a focal point between two routes, being part of the main route connecting London with the Continent and the north-south routes following the course of the Medway connecting Maidstone and the Weald of Kent with the Thames and the North Sea. The Thames Marshes were an important source of salt. Rochester's roads follow north Kent's valleys and ridges of steep-sided chalk bournes. There are four ways out of town to the south: up Star Hill, via The Delce,[30] along the Maidstone Road or through Borstal. The town is inextricably linked with the neighbouring Medway Towns but separate from Maidstone by a protective ridge known as the Downs, a designated area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
At its most limited geographical size, Rochester is defined as the market town within the city walls, now associated with the historic medieval city. However, Rochester historically also included the ancient wards of Strood Intra on the river's west bank, and Chatham Intra as well as the three old parishes on the Medway's east bank.
The diocese of Rochester is another geographical entity which can be referred to as Rochester.
Climate[edit]
Rochester has an oceanic climate similar to much of southern England, being accorded Köppen Climate Classification-subtype of "Cfb" (Marine West Coast Climate).[31]
On 10 August 2003, neighbouring Gravesend recorded one of the highest temperatures since meteorogical records began in the United Kingdom, with a reading of 38.1 degrees Celsius (100.6 degrees Fahrenheit),[32]only beaten by Brogdale, near Faversham, 22 miles (35 km) to the ESE.[33] The weather station at Brogdale is run by a volunteer, only reporting its data once a month, whereas Gravesend, which has an official Met Office site at the PLA pilot station,[34] reports data hourly.
Being near the mouth of the Thames Estuary with the North Sea, Rochester is relatively close to continental Europe and enjoys a somewhat less temperate climate than other parts of Kent and most of East Anglia. It is therefore less cloudy, drier and less prone to Atlanticdepressions with their associated wind and rain than western regions of Britain, as well as being hotter in summer and colder in winter. Rochester city centre's micro-climate is more accurately reflected by these officially recorded figures than by readings taken at Rochester Airport.[35]
North and North West Kent continue to record higher temperatures in summer, sometimes being the hottest area of the country, eg. on the warmest day of 2011, when temperatures reached 33.1 degrees.[36]Additionally, it holds at least two records for the year 2010, of 30.9 degrees[37] and 31.7 degrees C.[38] Another record was set during England's Indian summer of 2011 with 29.9 degrees C., the highest temperature ever recorded in the UK for October.
North and North West Kent continue to record higher temperatures in summer, sometimes being the hottest area of the country, eg. on the warmest day of 2011, when temperatures reached 33.1 degrees.[36]Additionally, it holds at least two records for the year 2010, of 30.9 degrees[37] and 31.7 degrees C.[38] Another record was set during England's Indian summer of 2011 with 29.9 degrees C., the highest temperature ever recorded in the UK for October.
Building
Rochester comprises numerous important historic buildings, the most prominent of which are the Guildhall, the Corn Exchange, Restoration House, Eastgate House, as well as Rochester Castle and Rochester Cathedral. Many of the town centre's old buildings date from as early as the 14th century up to the 18th century. The chapel of St Bartholomew's Hospital dates from the ancient priory hospital's foundation in 1078.
Economy
Thomas Aveling started a small business in 1850 producing and repairing agricultural plant equipment. In 1861 this became the firm of Aveling and Porter, which was to become the largest manufacturer of agricultural machinery and steam rollers in the country.[39] Aveling was elected Admiral of the River Medway (i.e. Mayor of Rochester) for 1869-70.
Culture[edit]
Sweeps Festival[edit]
Since 1980 the city has seen the revival of the historic Rochester Jack-in-the-Green May Day dancing chimney sweeps tradition, which had died out in the early 1900s. Though not unique to Rochester (similar sweeps' gatherings were held across southern England, notably in Bristol, Deptford, Whitstable and Hastings), its revival was directly inspired by Dickens' description of the celebration in Sketches by Boz.
The festival has since grown from a small gathering of local Morris dancesides to one of the largest in the world.[40] The festival begins with the "Awakening of Jack-in-the-Green" ceremony,[41] and continues in Rochester High Street over the May Bank Holiday weekend.
There are numerous other festivals in Rochester apart from the Sweeps Festival. The association with Dickens is the theme for Rochester's two Dickens Festivals held annually in June and December.[42] The Medway Fuse Festival[43] usually arranges performances in Rochester and the latest festival to take shape is the Rochester Literature Festival, the brainchild of three local writers.[44]
Library[edit]
A new public library was built alongside the Adult Education Centre, Eastgate. This enabled the registry office to move from Maidstone Road, Chatham into the Corn Exchange on Rochester High Street (where the library was formerly housed). As mentioned in a report presented to Medway Council's Community Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 28 March 2006, the new library opened in late summer (2006).[45]
Theatre[edit]
There is a small amateur theatre called Medway Little Theatre on St Margaret's Banks next to Rochester High Street near the railway station.[46] The theatre was formed out of a creative alliance with the Medway Theatre Club, managed by Marion Martin, at St Luke's Methodist Church on City Way, Rochester[47] between 1985 and 1988, since when drama and theatre studies have become well established in Rochester owing to the dedication of the Medway Theatre Club.[48]
Media[edit]
Local newspapers for Rochester include the Medway Messenger, published by the KM Group, and free newspapers such as Medway Extra(KM Group) and Yourmedway (KOS Media).
The local commercial radio station for Rochester is KMFM Medway, owned by the KM Group. Medway is also served by community radio station Radio Sunlight. The area also receives broadcasts from county-wide stations BBC Radio Kent, Heart and Gold, as well as from various Essex and Greater London radio stations.[49]
Sport[edit]
Football is played with many teams competing in Saturday and Sunday leagues.[50] The local football club is Rochester United F.C. Rochester F.C. was its old football club but has been defunct for many decades. Rugby is also played; Medway R.F.C. play their matches at Priestfields and Old Williamsonians is associated with Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School.[51]
Cricket is played in the town, with teams entered in the Kent Cricket League. Holcombe Hockey Club is one of the largest in the country,[52]and is based at Holcombe Park. The men's and women's 1st XI are part of the England Hockey League.[53] Speedway was staged on a track adjacent to City Way that opened in 1932. Proposals for a revival in the early 1970s did not materialise and the Rochester Bombers became the Romford Bombers.[54]
Sailing and rowing are also popular on the River Medway with respective clubs being based in Rochester.[55][56]
Film[edit]
The 1959 James Bond Goldfinger describes Bond driving along the A2through the Medway Towns from Strood to Chatham. Of interest is the mention of "inevitable traffic jams" on the Strood side of Rochester Bridge, the novel being written some years prior to the construction of the M2 motorway Medway bypass.
Rochester is the setting of the controversial 1965 Peter Watkins television film The War Game, which depicts the town's destruction by a nuclear missile.[57] The opening sequence was shot in Chatham Town Hall, but the credits particularly thank the people of Dover, Gravesend and Tonbridge.
The 2011 adventure film Ironclad (dir. Jonathan English) is based upon the 1215 siege of Rochester Castle. There are however a few areaswhere the plot differs from accepted historical narrative.
Notable people[edit]
Charles Dickens
The historic city was for many years the favourite of Charles Dickens, who lived within the diocese at nearby Gads Hill Place, Higham, many of his novels being based on the area. Descriptions of the town appear in Pickwick Papers, Great Expectations and (lightly fictionalised as "Cloisterham") in The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Elements of two houses in Rochester, Satis House and Restoration House, are used for Miss Havisham's house in Great Expectations, Satis House.[58]
Sybil Thorndike
The actress Dame Sybil Thorndike and her brother Russell were brought up in Minor Canon Row adjacent to the cathedral; the daughter of a canon of Rochester Cathedral, she was educated at Rochester Grammar School for Girls. A local doctors' practice,[59] local dental practice[60] and a hall at Rochester Grammar School are all named after her.[61]
Peter Buck
Sir Peter Buck was Admiral of the Medway in the 17th century; knightedin 1603 he and Bishop Barlow hosted King James, the Stuart royal familyand the King of Denmark in 1606. A civil servant to The Royal Dockyardand Lord High Admiral, Buck lived at Eastgate House, Rochester.
Denis Redman
Major-General Denis Redman, a World War II veteran, was born and raised in Rochester and later became a founder member of REME, head of his Corps and a Major-General in the British Army.
Kelly Brook
The model and actress Kelly Brook went to Delce Junior School in Rochester and later the Thomas Aveling School (formerly Warren Wood Girls School).
The singer and songwriter Tara McDonald now lives in Rochester.
The Prisoners, a rock band from 1980 to 1986, were formed in Rochester. They are part of what is known as the "Medway scene".
Kelly Tolhurst MP is the current parliamentary representative for the constituency.
Managed to get a complete Tawny Frogmouth family group this morning, from left to right, mum, Jake and Elroy and dad.
Isn’t it really remarkable that you managed to get up and out of bed and out of your room so early this morning. Normally it would be rare for you to be out of your hotel room earlier than 10am. After all, you are on paid vacation. Unless you had big plans to do Morning Flickr Camera Safari with your longtime Flickr Friend, Thomas Hawk, you would have no practical reason to leave your hotel room earlier than 10am. Once upon a time when you and your ex-wife, and ballroom dance partner, had morning dance heats to compete in, you two were very accustomed to reporting to the ballroom as early as 5am to meet-up with your dance coaches and practice your ballroom dance routines. But those mornings ended 20 years ago when you two retired from Championship Ballroom Dancing. This Mother/Son Vacation Meet-Up has caused you to do things on the Las Vegas Strip that you are not accustomed to doing. So try to enjoy your morning walk of this fascinating New York-New York hotel guest campus. Do not forget about breakfast! 😏 You prefer the big breakfast buffet at CHIN-CHIN! 🍳
Managed to get an incredible opportunity to shoot some up close photos of the Tiananmen Square's flag-raising regimen doing a rehearsal before the evening event.
5D, 16-35L.
Managed a walk today to take pictures at my leisure and got a couple in before the wind and rain drove in from the north - brr. Hope it's better tomorrow because I've got the whole day to myself...
The goal of mother and child's forest is to create a natural environment, reminiscent of a lightly managed Japanese countryside
Managed to sneak in a bit of geeky toy photography during our recent company outing in Beijing, China. Of course, I had to bring fighting games' best female character back to her homeland!
Managed to process a few shots last night whilst my pc was behaving :)
Another image of the breathtaking Typhoon, although I took a lot of shots the majority are rubbish, this beautiful bird just goes way too fast for me.
Enjoy your Monday!!
Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva meets Alberto Fernández, the President of Argentina
IMF Photo/Kim Haughton
19 September 2022
New York, New York, United States
Photo ref: KH220919058.jpg
Managed to run off taking a good many shots today without checking lens... Autofocus was set on manual.... Lets try to make "art" out of it then :-)
I managed to see the Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) at Druridge Ponds this weekend, but it was quite a long way off. Today, it was much closer.
managed to go for a walk in the afternoon - was hoping to see some ducklings...
to be honest I gave up, as I couldn't see any walking all the way to Goytre Wharf.
as soon as I was heading home I spotted couple of Mallards on the edge of the path. and when the female started hissing at me I knew I found them... waited for them to move as they were hidden in the grass... Mummy decided it is safer to get them in the canal. I was bit dissapointed to see only two - but still happy I met them :)
Today, despite the midday sun and backlighting, I managed to capture some photos of Juvenile Red-rumped Swallows and Juvenile Common House Martins. Swallows, as we know, are widespread throughout Europe, from Scandinavia to Turkey and even along the Mediterranean coast of Africa. You can only see swallows in Europe during spring and summer. In spring, they fly north to Europe to breed, build nests, and raise their young. In Turkey, however, this process varies slightly, and we can see swallows from March to September, a somewhat longer period.
Legendary fliers, swallows are major enemies of harmful insects. They are incredibly agile in the air and spend most of their time catching insects. With their broad, flat, and triangular beaks, they can easily catch small insects like flies and mosquitoes while flying with their mouths open. If swallows and similar birds did not migrate to the northern regions, where most landmasses are located, and spend three-quarters of the year breeding there, pests would cause massive destruction to plants in the regions where they migrate. In spring, millions of insects lay eggs on plants. The caterpillars that hatch from these eggs are kept under control by birds eating them. Birds prevent a potential famine by eating various worm, insect, and grasshopper eggs without us even realizing it. Swallows can fly so fast and agilely that they could compete with a car exceeding the speed limit of 161 km/h (100 mph). When migration season comes, they complete their preparations and set out on their long journey. The weather does not affect their migration timing. At the end of September, even if the weather is warm and the sun is shining, they start their migration to the warm southern countries.
In short, the migration time for swallows from Turkey is approaching. Therefore, the parents are constantly feeding their young. The juvenile swallows, which cannot stay airborne yet, spend the first few weeks waiting to be fed at the tops of trees. After a few days, they start feeding in the air. This way, the parents naturally teach their young how to maintain distance and perform acrobatic maneuvers during feeding. These feeding moments are fleeting, and you lose track of time watching them. I recommend my Flickr friends read these lines. For juvenile swallows, power lines serve not only as feeding perches but also as places to rest, preen, and clean their feathers under the intense sunlight. I hope you enjoy the photos.
Red-rumped Swallow (Cecropis daurica) - Detailed Information
Description
The Red-rumped Swallow is a small passerine bird belonging to the family Hirundinidae. It is characterized by its glossy blue-black upperparts, pale underparts, and distinctive reddish-rump. Adults have a deeply forked tail with long streamers, while juveniles have shorter tails and a duller appearance.
Distribution
The Red-rumped Swallow is found across a broad range, including southern Europe, northern Africa, and much of Asia. It is a migratory species, wintering in sub-Saharan Africa and southern Asia.
Habitat
This species prefers open country, often near water, and is commonly found in farmlands, grasslands, and savannas. It is also known to inhabit urban areas and frequently nests on buildings and bridges.
Behavior
Feeding: The Red-rumped Swallow feeds primarily on flying insects, which it catches in flight with its acrobatic aerial maneuvers.
Breeding: It constructs a neat, mud nest usually under eaves or bridges. The nest is often bottle-shaped with a tunnel entrance. Clutches typically consist of 3-6 white eggs, which are incubated by the female.
Migration: This species undertakes long-distance migrations between breeding and wintering grounds.
Conservation Status
The Red-rumped Swallow is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List, indicating that it is not currently at significant risk of extinction. However, habitat destruction and climate change could pose future threats.
Interesting Facts
The Red-rumped Swallow is known for its elaborate nest-building skills, using mud to create durable nests that can last several years.
These swallows are highly social and often seen in flocks, especially during migration.
Their swift and agile flight patterns make them excellent insect hunters.
Observation Tips
Look for Red-rumped Swallows in open areas with access to water, such as lakesides, rivers, and coastal regions.
Early mornings and late afternoons are the best times to observe their feeding behavior.
During the breeding season, you might spot their nests under bridges, in culverts, or on the walls of buildings.
Red-rumped Swallow Distribution in Turkey
The Red-rumped Swallow (Cecropis daurica) is a widespread and fairly common summer visitor and breeder in Turkey. Here are some key details about its distribution within the country:
Breeding Areas
Western and Southern Regions: The species is commonly found in the western and southern parts of Turkey, particularly in regions like the Aegean, Mediterranean, and Marmara.
Central Anatolia: It is also present in the central Anatolian region, where it utilizes open landscapes, including farmlands and semi-arid areas.
Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia: Although less common, the Red-rumped Swallow can also be observed in the eastern and southeastern parts of Turkey.
Migration
Spring Arrival: The Red-rumped Swallow arrives in Turkey during the spring, usually around March and April, after spending the winter in sub-Saharan Africa.
Autumn Departure: It departs for its wintering grounds in Africa around September and October.
Habitat Preferences
Urban and Rural Areas: The swallow is adaptable and can be found in both urban and rural settings. It often nests on buildings, under bridges, and in other man-made structures.
Natural Habitats: It also inhabits natural landscapes, such as open woodlands, cliffs, and areas near water bodies.
Conservation
Status in Turkey: The Red-rumped Swallow is not considered threatened in Turkey. It benefits from its ability to thrive in various habitats, including areas impacted by human activity.
The species' wide distribution and adaptability make it a regular sight across many parts of Turkey during the breeding season.
I've captured some memorable moments with my camera, and I genuinely hope you'll experience the same joy in viewing these images as I did in capturing them.
Thank you immensely for visiting my gallery, whether you leave comments, add favorites, or simply take a moment to look around. Your support means a lot to me, and I wish you the best of luck and beautiful light in all your endeavors.
Lens - With Nikon TC 14E II - hand held or Monopod and definitely SPORT VR on. Aperture is f8 and full length. All my images have been converted from RAW to JPEG.
I started using Nikon Cross-Body Strap or Monopod on long walks. Here is my Carbon Monopod details : Gitzo GM2542 Series 2 4S Carbon Monopod - Really Right Stuff MH-01 Monopod Head with Standard Lever - Really Right Stuff LCF-11 Replacement Foot for Nikon AF-S 500mm /5.6E PF Lense -
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Thanks for taking the time to stop by and explore :)