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.. an smiling E.T from another world..
Its a shot from my archives of smoke shots. I was looking for something to upload as recently i didn't had much time to shoot. Browsing through old shots i saw this and it struck me instantly. A smiling Alien !! So here it is.
BTW, does any one know a easy way to select exactly half the size of canvas. I tried to find but no luck so far. For the above i set the canvas size to a 30 inch and selected until 15 inch using ruler as guide. I would not be able to increase canvas size for normal shots so need to know a easy and effective way. Any link/lead will be appreciated.
Exposure: 0.067 sec (1/15)
Aperture: f/3.2
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: On, Fired
Hair :
no.match_ ~ NO_GODS ~
EXCLUSIVE ALPHA event opens on 22nd - UNRIGGED MESH - 3 styles, UNISEX - no full hair .
EXCLUSIVE COLLABOR88 event Cap by GHB ( Cole Tendandes) / hair by no.match ( n0match )
no.match HAIR STORE - Mainstore
no.match HAIR STORE - Marketplace
Earrings :
RichB. Kaan Earrings
www.algarvewildlife.com/habitats-woodlands.php
The best type of woodland for the wildlife enthusiast is undoubtedly one of mixed oak and pine, and there are still some good examples of this type of habitat dotted around the Algarve. If the oaks are Cork Oak, the woodland may be managed from time to time when the trees are being stripped of their valuable bark, but the ground is not treated with the herbicides and pesticides which are the scourge of so much of our landscape in northern Europe, and so many native plants are able to survive the management routine and continue to thrive there.
There are some excellent examples of this type of wildlife-rich woodland up towards and around the Monchique area, and also out towards the western Algarve between Vila do Bispo and Odeceixe. It is normally quite easy to access these areas, and unless land is fenced off or clearly being cultivated, it is usually perfectly acceptable to wander through the woods and you are unlikely to be challenged.
In April and May the woodlands are alive with the sound of Cuckoos, and numerous woodpeckers hammer away at the tree trunks in search of the bugs that live there. Other woodland birds include tits, including the Crested Tit, Azure-winged Magpies (which are increasing greatly in number in the Algarve) and warblers. In summer Nightingales can be heard in the woods too.
If not too intensively managed, the understory of many of these lightly wooded areas include cistus species and Strawberry Trees (Arbutus unedo), along with various types of heathers such as white-flowered Portuguese Heath (Erica lusitanica) and pink-flowered Erica multiflora which are both magnificent and covered in blossom in early spring. These woodlands are also filled with early-flowering bulbs which include the lovely Romulea bulbicodium, both One-leaved Squill (Scilla monophyllos) and Two-leaved Squill (Scilla bifolia), Spanish Iris (Iris Xiphium) and, in a few places, the Spanish Bluebell (Hyacynthoides hispanicus).
The most common wild orchid species to be found in this habitat is the Broad-leaved Helleborine (Epipactis helleborine), although they can be difficult to spot in the dappled light of the woods. On the edges of the woodland various tongue orchids flower, and they include Long-lipped (Ploughshare) Tongue Orchid (Serapias vomeracea), Small-flowered Tongue Orchid (Serapias parviflora) as well as the magnificent Heart-flowered Tongue Orchid (Serapias cordigera) with its large, blood-red flowers. An exciting find in this type of woodland is the rare orchid Violet Limodore (Limodorum abortivum). The stems of this plant are a striking dark purple as they emerge from the ground in the form of spears, and the flowers (if they open) are also violet. The Latin name of the plant is an indication of the fact that the flowers don't always open, even though the inflorescences may appear above the ground and look as if full flowering is imminent for several weeks. It appears that this flower is capable of self-pollination within the bud in years when the flowers don't actually open.
If the woodland has a stream it can be a good place to observe many insects but especially dragonflies. The Golden-ringed Dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii) particularly likes these slight acidic woodland streams for breeding.
in the area would be ideal.
Explored - Feb. 16, 2009 - Thank you all so very much!
Thanks Donna for the explore update!
Where:
Barrington Street
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
When:
Near midnight after a snow storm last month
What:
Roaming the streets downtown just after a snow storm last month. I've tried shooting these street lamps with the lit wreaths around them a couple times. Once from the pedway above the street but never really liked the PoV I got. Anyway a couple buddies wanted to go downtown to get some snow shots. I crossed the street here with the camera setup on the tripod and just plunked it down, fired off a shot and ran before the truck ran over me! :-)
I mentioned it before but I just can't get over the cool starburst from this cheap "nifty-fifty" lens. If you own a Nikon, Canon or Pentax (maybe the others too?) go out and spend the $100 and pick up one of these lenses!
After always posting up pictures of fishing boats and villages I thought I should show you a little bit of the city for a change :-)
What I learned:
Wear a big coat to protect your camera from the snow when you aren't shooting. Also bring lots of little lens wipes.
You:
I appreciate all comments, tips, questions & faves! No need for glitzy awards, your "real" comments are much better!
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Nikon D90 : Nikkor 50mm 1.8D lens : 3s @ f/22 : ISO 400
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Sant Pere de Castellfollit del Boix és una església romànica situada als afores del municipi de Castellfollit del Boix, al Bages. Construïda a mitjans del segle XI, fou restaurada l'any 1988 després de successives reformes dels segles XIII, XVI i el 1633. Conserva l'ornamentació típica del primer romànic i una creu processional del segle XI i altars barrocs d'interès. Prop seu hi ha l'església i la caseria de Santa Maria del Pla. El temple, la rectoria i el cementiri s'alcen solitaris a l'explanada superior del turó de Sant Pere, des d'on hi ha una panoràmica excel·lent sobre el massís de Montserrat.
Sant Pere de Castellfollit del Boix es una iglesia románica situada en las afueras del municipio de Castellfollit del Boix, el Bages. Construida a mediados del siglo XI, fue restaurada en 1988 después de sucesivas reformas de los siglos XIII, XVI y en 1633. Conserva la ornamentación típica del primer románico y una cruz procesional del siglo XI y altares barrocos de interés. Proximidades se halla la iglesia y el caserío de Santa María del Plan. El templo, la rectoría y el cementerio se alzan solitarios en la explanada superior del cerro de San Pedro, desde donde hay una excelente panorámica sobre el macizo de Montserrat.
I lose control because of you babe
I lose control when you look at me like this
There's something in your eyes that is saying tonight
I'm not a child anymore, life has opened the door
To a new exciting life
I lose control when I'm close to you babe
I lose control don't look at me like this
There's something in your eyes, is this love at first sight
Like a flower that grows, life just wants you to know
All the secrets of life
It's all written down in your lifelines
It's written down inside your heart
You and I just have a dream
To find our love a place, where we can hide away
You and I were just made
To love each other now, forever and a day
Anthurium Lily, one of my favourite exotic blooms.
Anthurium (pronounced /ænˈθjʊəriəm/)[1] (Schott, 1829), is a large genus of about 600- 800 (possibly 1,000) species, belonging to the arum family (Araceae). Anthurium can also be called "Flamingo Flower" or "Boy Flower", both referring to the structure of the spathe and spadix.
TROPICOS lists 1901 types, although some of these are duplicates. It is one of the largest and probably the most complex genus of this family; certainly it is one of the most variable. Many species are undoubtedly not yet described and new ones are being found every year. The species has neotropical distribution; mostly in wet tropical mountain forest of Central America and South America, but some in semi-arid environments. Most species occur in Panama, Colombia, Brazil, the Guiana Shield and Ecuador.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthurium
Enjoy your evening / morning and thanks so much for dropping by.
Highest Position in Explore # 6 on 30th Mar'09
Hohensalzburg Castle (Festung Hohensalzburg) is a castle in the Austrian city of Salzburg. It sits on Festungsberg hill. With a length of 250 meters and a width of 150 meters, it is one of the largest medieval castles in Europe.
This is again from my archives a single RAW file tonemapped and digitally blended using Photoshop.
Trivia
During the early 20th century it was used as a prison, holding Italian prisoners of war during World War I and Nazi activists (before the Anschluss with Germany) in the 1930s. It was refurbished in the 20th century and became a major tourist attraction, with a cable car, built in 1900, leading up from the town to the Hasengrabenbastei. It stands today as one of the best preserved castles in Europe. Source: Wikipedia
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LRE Photography Blog: www.lriese.ch
Der Eisvogel (Alcedo atthis) ist die einzige in Mitteleuropa vorkommende Art aus der Familie der Eisvögel (Alcedinidae). Er besiedelt weite Teile Europas, Asiens sowie das westliche Nordafrika und lebt an mäßig schnell fließenden oder stehenden, klaren Gewässern mit Kleinfischbestand und Sitzwarten. Seine Nahrung setzt sich aus Fischen, Wasserinsekten (Imagines und Larven), Kleinkrebsen und Kaulquappen zusammen. Der Bestand hat in den letzten Jahren wieder zugenommen und die Art wird derzeit in Europa als dezimiert, aber im gesamten Verbreitungsgebiet als wenig bedroht eingestuft. Der Eisvogel war 1973 und 2009 Vogel des Jahres in Deutschland[1], 2009 in Österreich, 2005 in Belgien, 2006 Vogel des Jahres in der Schweiz[2] und 2011 in der Slowakei.
Quelle: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eisvogel
Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit permission. © All rights reserved
many thanks for all your votes, views and comments!!!!!
Mejor pincha aquí para ver en grande sobre negro o pulsa 'L'.
Better click here to view this large on black or press 'L'.
© Derechos de Autor. Esta fotografía no podra usarse sin mi consentimiento escrito.
© All rights reserved, don´t use this image without my permission.
Ahora puedes seguirme en:/ Now you can follow me in:
500px | Getty | Twitter | Blurb | 123rf | fotolia | Tumblr | Fluidr | Flickriver
Madrid: Album/Set
Atardecer/Sunset: Album/Set
Canon 5D Mark III + ZEISS Distagon T* 2,8/21, @21mm, 1/15 sec, f/8, ISO 100 + HITECH 0.9 RGND, Tripod, Manual exposure, Date 11/07/13, 21:28:55
Como se hizo: Tarde como se suele decir "fea", la verdad es que había negros nubarrones sobre la sierra Madrileña. Subí con mi amigo José Luis, y poco sacamos. Esa tarde me centre en tomar verticales. Imagen procedente de un sólo archivo RAW, no se ha usado ningún sistema de blending de imagenes.
Agradezco a todos vuestro apoyo y feedbak y sera bien agradecido en cualquier caso. Un fuerte abrazo para todos, espero que la visita haya merecido la pena para usted. Por favor no otorgue logos o me invite a participar en grupos sin hacer un pequeño comentario. Esto hace realmente la diferencia.
Por favor, no añadir sus imagenes en los comentarios o seran borrados, gracias
English:
Making off: Image proceeding from one only RAW file, no blending of images.
My thanks to @ll of you for your support and feedback because without them I wouldn't have been able to grow as a photographer, it really does mean a lot to me and I hope the visit has been worth while to you. Please don't leave awards or invite me to join any groups without making even a small comment. It really does make a difference.
Please do not add your own images in your comments as they will be deleted. Thank you!
if you do not view large on black i will stick you in a freezer and let you turn into an ice cube.
liz & i had a shoot today. we shot at one location in the morning and another one at sunset; this is from our sunset shoot. lots more coming tomorrow! i've been waiting to do a balloon shoot forever, and i'm hoping to do another one sometime soon since we only had about 15-20 minutes of good light to shoot these.
this was the coldest shoot ever; it was about 30 degrees + wind. my hands went totally numb! not to mention we got a lot of strange looks, seeing as we were walking through the park carrying a bunch of balloons and wearing dresses. it was completely worth it, of course.
these are only minorly edited; the light was so incredible i kind of wanted to cry. +4 in comments, click each to view large or i'll kill you.
go write in my formspring! (it's a place where you can anonymously write whatever you want to me and i'll reply in the comments of the picture below, for those of you who don't know) :)
Portella della Ginestra è una località in provincia di Palermo, situata nei pressi di Piana degli Albanesi.
È stata teatro della strage del 1° maggio 1947.
Sulla folla dei lavoratori e contadini in festa, partirono, dalle colline circostanti, raffiche di mitra che lasciarono sul terreno 11 morti (9 adulti e 2 bambini) e 47 feriti ...
Prince's Inlet, Nova Scotia (near Mahone Bay)
You might recognize this old shack from two earlier photos in my stream. I took this the same day as the other ones but was a little later as I was leaving. The sky was really cool but I totally underexposed the building (it was a black silhouette) so I left the image in my huge reject folder.
After reading Terry's blog (halfwit_ns) I thought I would try to rescue this image. Well after a few layers & a bit of masking I managed to make a purse out of a sow ear :-) It certainly isn't perfect as I am still learning and I realize I should have used a tripod & bracketed my shots for this contrasty subject. This photography thing is a great learning experience though. I love it!!
Thanks so much for the great info Terry!! Time for me to go through that folder a bit more. Expect a flood soon! ;-)
Jardin des Tuileries, Paris.
Il faut être toujours ivre. Tout est là: c'est l'unique question. Pour ne pas sentir l'horrible fardeau du Temps qui brise vos épaules et vous penche vers la terre, il faut vous enivrer sans trêve.
Mais de quoi? De vin, de poésie ou de vertu, à votre guise. Mais enivrez-vous.
Et si quelquefois, sur les marches d'un palais, sur l'herbe verte d'un fossé, dans la solitude morne de votre chambre, vous vous réveillez, l'ivresse déjà diminuée ou disparue, demandez au vent, à la vague, à l'étoile, à l'oiseau, à l'horloge, à tout ce qui fuit, à tout ce qui gémit, à tout ce qui roule, à tout ce qui chante, à tout ce qui parle, demandez quelle heure il est et le vent, la vague, l'étoile, l'oiseau, l'horloge, vous répondront: "Il est l'heure de s'enivrer! Pour n'être pas les esclaves martyrisés du Temps, enivrez-vous; enivrez-vous sans cesse! De vin, de poésie ou de vertu, à votre guise."
Charles Baudelaire, Enivrez-vous, Le Spleen de Paris.
Explore: May 20, 2009 #430
"We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation" (Romans 5:3-4, NLT).
Did you know that the way you handle your adversities has a huge impact on your success in life? If you shrink back, choose to get bitter, and lose your enthusiasm, then you are allowing the difficulties of life to bury you. You are allowing hardship to keep you from your God–given destiny. But if you choose to keep pressing forward with a smile on your face, rejoicing even in the hard times, you are allowing God´s character to be developed inside of you. You are setting yourself up for promotion.
Did you know that the only difference between a piece of black coal and a priceless diamond is the amount of pressure that it´s endured? When you stand strong in the midst of the trials and difficulties in life, when you allow God to shape and mold your character, it´s like going from a piece of coal to a priceless diamond. Those difficulties are going to give way to new growth, new potential, new talent, new friendships, new opportunities, new vision. You´re going to see God develop your life in ways that you´ve never even dreamed!
-Joel Osteen
maraculio.09 © All rights reserved
A story of conflict from Lands of Classic Castle.
DISCLAIMER: No offense meant to my Loreesi builder friends...but you been talkin’ smack, and it’s time for your smack-down!
Sir Caelan Munro looked out from the shadows at the approaching invaders with a mixture of anger and regret. He did not want to do this, but it was both his duty and was absolutely necessary. The Loreesi army was neither justified nor welcome. Lenfald had sought peace, even as the opening battle began, but driven by a lust for power the Loreesi would not listen. At the Battle of Ainesford, Lenfald had fought the Loreesi’s game out in the open, and had been destroyed by his war elephants and cavalry. Now it was time to fight the Lenfel way, with brains instead of brawn. Today was payback time.
Caelan looked around at his own Scout Snipers, well-hidden in their green-dyed leather armor, with a mixture of pride and concern. He had trained them hard, they had done exceptionally well, and now he was about to put them in harm’s way for the very first time. He had formed them only three months ago along with his wily and highly-capable chief archer, Tavish. The King had just been murdered, and all the evidence pointed to the power-mad Loreesi. Their own prince had declared he could “be king in a fortnight”. Not likely, so long as Lenfald opposed him. And so Lenfald was targeted.
The invading army was forced to use this road, for it bypassed a boggy marsh and skirted a thick forest. That made this road a “choke point”. The forest was now at the Scout Snipers’ backs and would allow a quick escape through hidden paths which the desert-soldiers of Loreos would not easily find.
The lead army elements came and passed by their position, completely unaware of the two dozen Scout Snipers waiting to strike. Then the main target came into range: the first war elephant, all dressed up in flashy Loreesi gold and red trappings. Finery would not save it.
Caelan did not give the order to fire. That would be decided by Flannery, formerly of Lenfald’s logging industry. He knew how to cut a large tree so that it barely stood with just enough trunk left, waiting for the final blows. And Flannery timed it perfect. The moment his enormous axe struck the first hit, every archer, including Caelan, let fly. They had each been tracking a selected target, and Caelan had sought a burly Loreesi marching right by the elephant. Out of the corner of his eye he watched his men strike their targets suddenly out of nowhere, shocking their victims even when they missed, which was rare. Tavish shot a knight right in the neck and the nobleman tumbled backward off his horse. But not Caelan. He shot wide and to the left...archery was never his strong suit.
For the Loreesi, shock and dismay spread as seconds flew by in chaos. That chaos got much worse as Flannery’s second blow brought the great tree down. It came crashing down on the elephant, which tried to avoid it by lumbering to the right, only to crash into another tree and trample several men in the process. Flannery’s tree still nailed it squarely in the back, after crushing two of the four men riding it. The great animal was down, and despite it’s struggling would clearly never rise again. It would also never be used again to crush Lenfels under foot.
Three shots. That was Caelan’s rule, and then mandatory rapid withdrawal into the forest. He hated it; he far preferred a stand-up fight with his longsword and dirk, but with thousands of Loreesi here, it would be suicide. He aimed and took his second shot at one blindly charging their position. And missed. Meanwhile Tavish felled another knight. Caelan’s third shot was at the same man as before and he so close now that the young Lenfel knight could make out his eye color...finally a hit, yet only in the leg!
Caelan quickly glanced around and saw that some of his men were still shooting. “NOW!” he yelled at the top of his lungs and they turned in unison and quietly faded into the paths they had used to arrive. Behind them he could hear the Loreesi charging. They crashed into thickets, vines, and thorny bushes to no avail, their eyes not used to the low-light of the forest. For all their frustration they could find nothing, except Flannery's axe and his message left on his implement of destruction: "You want our trees? Here is how you get them". By the time they stumbled onto anything that looked like a path, the Scout Snipers were already at their horses and mounted, having seen their first action. Not a single Sniper was wounded. Over three dozen of the invaders would not live through the night.
Postscript.
While riding to their next ambush site, Tavish looked at Caelan and stated, “Sir, your archery has not improved in spite of much practice. How is it that a leader of archers is such a bad shot?”
Caelan returned the stare. “How is it your arrows only find noblemen?”
Aware of how sensitive this issue was in their society, Tavish merely grinned, “Only Loreesi knights. They hardly count anyways.”
2nd DISCLAIMER: No real elephants were harmed in the making of the MOC.
Previous Caelan stories:
[fr]: Dans les rues du Vieux Quebec, Canada
[image info]: HDR from 3 exposures - Nikon D200 - Sigma 10-20mm@11.5mm
[Level of Retouching]: 50% (textures, vignetting, HDR, levels, general and local curves, use of blending modes) - total processing time: 60 minutes (took me a while to settle on texture)
[News]: Now part 2 of the plan is in motion as my studio was ordered last week at alienbees.com/digi.html. I'll give you more information as soon as I receive it.
view BIGGER On Black | More of the Set Out of Montreal.
See my most interesting pictures here or take some time to view the slideshow .
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SEE Tree - 2012 - #3 Large On Black
Check www.lucacesari.com and its totally new layout!
Dear Flickr friends,
I can't believe it's more than THREE months without any upload from me. I'm concentrating on many different projects, and I am spending less and less time online these days.
I have finally completed the project I was working on since last September.
It evolved substantially by what I had in mind when I first started, and I am definitely happy with it.
You will see the images in the next months; meanwhile I will be uploading these other ones, that have been sitting forgotten on my hard drive for too many months.
Moreover, I have many important announcements which will be made public in these next weeks/months.
Anyway, this image is one of those coming from my (many) studies on trees.
It will not be included in my 'final' series, but I still think it's worth sharing.
It was shot last November, before winter arrived and made all the leaves on this black puplar fall.
p.s. Those who also follow me on Google+ have probably seen this, but I'm sure many here haven't!
Details
- CANON 5d Mark II ir, EF 17-40@19, f/9, 64 s, ISO 50
- Mirror Lockup, Remote Shutter
- Lee Big Stopper (10 stops ND filter)
- Tripod
The shot
Italy
The Processing
Photoshop:
- Added many soft light layers to adjust the light;
- Added some custom gradients to equalize the light;
- Added a few curves to improve contrasts;
- Applied Noise Reduction
- Resized for the Web (1200px);
- Applied an Unsharp Mask to slightly improve contrast;
- Smart Sharpen + More accurate (On luminosity 'blending mode', with the sky masked off);
- Framing and Signature.
@ You all
Comments and faves are always welcome!
Hope you're doing great! I will try to get back to your latest works on the next days
View On Black || Become a Fan || Explore
View in lightbox is must. Click at the Picture.
Glowing macro in selective colors.
Nikon D90 | Nikkor 50mm 1.8D @ 50 mm | 1/4000 @ f/1.8 | ISO 100 | WB : Daylight
Place: Lalian (لالیاں), Naran (Pakistan)
We got some more from last nights meet up with Pixelated~Light
The Light man was trying to take a nice relaxing el wire bath when that damn Saturnal Showed Up!!!
{This is not a test, what you are seeing is real. Straight Out of the Camera, No Photoshop!! Some but not all photos slightly Adjusted in Camera Raw and Saved to Jpeg}
The Baker Hotel Lobby, Mineral Wells, Texas.
The Baker Hotel, an infamous landmark here in Texas, was built in the late 1920's in Mineral Wells, a town of about 30,000 people (at the time) about an hour and a half west of Dallas by hotel magnate T.B. Baker. For a town of this size, the Baker was an absolute mammoth of a Hotel, and completely dominated the skyline at the time, as it does to this very day.
I use the term "infamous" because of all the ghost stories surrounding this hotel. It's widely regarded as the most haunted place in Texas, and one of the most haunted in the country. You can learn more about the Baker's undead residents here.
So why would a modest little Texas town like Mineral Wells suddenly need a massive, 450 room luxury resort hotel in the middle of it? The answer is in the name of the town itself; the mineral wells located there, the water from which was regarded at the time as a cure for a whole range of illnesses, such as rheumatism and epilepsy.
For a time, the Baker became just what it's creators had envisioned; a huge resort hotel and retreat for the health-conscious well-to-do from all over the country. In it's heyday, it hosted such celebrities as Marlene Dietrich, Dorothy Lamour, Will Rodgers, Pat Boone, Tom Mix, Clyde Barrow, Jack Dempsey, Roy Rodgers, and the Three Stooges. Likewise, the Baker attracted some of the most popular musical acts of the day, such as Lawrence Welk and Guy Lombardo.
Around 1933, Mr. Baker passed ownership of the hotel to his nephew Earl Baker, who operated the hotel for the next 30 years. Earl had always said that when he turned 70, he would close down the Baker, and sure enough that's exactly what he did on April 30th, 1963. In 1967, Earl was found lying on the floor, succumbing to a heart attack.
In 1965, under the guidance of a group of local leaders, the Baker was reopened, but sadly, her time had passed, and she was closed again in 1972, this time for good.
Night, ambient sodium & mercury vapor through front doors, xenon streamlight & red-gelled strobe.
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During our vacation in the Ardennes, we had a great time at this side of the river in the beautiful picturesque city called Durbuy in the Belgium area of the Ardennes. My daughter and I spend quite some time playing and walking in this part of the river, searching nice little polished stones, watching small fishes come by and just enjoy the cold crystal clear water...
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Original exposure: + 1/160s . f/16 . ISO 400 . 28 mm
Pre-processing: basic image adjustments, pre-sharpening and white-balancing in Lightroom.
Post-processing: extensive use of Photoshop's Art History brush with a handful of different brushes. I probably used more then 10 layers and masks for the paint-job. Two mild-crunchy textures used for a finishing touch.
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Admin Choice Of the Week at Book Of Inspirations. Thanks!
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This is a close crop of a photo I took of Chihuly's glass art exhibit at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona. I used the Photoshop filter "Fractalius" to enhance the photo and focus on the beautiful colors and shapes. These colorful glass globes are presented stacked in a rowboat in the desert landscape!
Dale Chihuly's glass art exhibition at the Garden is named "Chihuly: The Nature of Glass" and Chihuly's work is displayed from November 22, 2008 to May 31, 2009. The Nature of Glass exhibit features new and unique works of glass artfully located throughout the Garden. Dale Chihuly is known for his innovative glass sculptures, and his work is immediately recognizable for its grand scale and vibrant colors. This is Chihuly's first exhibition in an outdoor desert environment.
“The artist permits and encourages photography of the artwork in this exhibition for educational and non-commercial use only.”
INFORMATION ON ARTIST DALE CHIHULY:
Dale Patrick Chihuly (b. September 20, 1941 in Tacoma, Washington, United States) is an American glass sculptor. Chihuly graduated from high school in Tacoma. Supported by his mother, after his brother George's death in a flight-training accident in Florida and his father's death of a heart attack, he enrolled at the College of the Puget Sound (now University of Puget Sound) in 1959.
In 1967, he received a Master of Science in sculpture from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Chihuly lives and works in his 25,000 square foot (2300 m²) studio, nicknamed "The Boathouse" for its former use, on Lake Union. Since losing the vision in one of his eyes in a car accident in 1976, Chihuly (who wears an eyepatch) no longer has the depth perception necessary to handle the molten glass himself. Instead, he conceptualizes each project with paint and canvas and then employs a team of artists to do the work.
About his work: His fascination with abstract nature forms comes from his mother's garden in Tacoma, Washington. One of his sculptures would be prominently displayed on the sitcom Frasier, which is set in nearby Seattle. His love for the ocean and its creatures is also reflected in his art.
Over the past forty years, Chihuly's glass sculptures have explored color, design, and assemblage. Although his work varies in size and color, he is best known for his multipart blown masterpieces. Also interested in Irish culture, he has produced a sizeable volume of "Irish cylinders," which are more modest in conception than his blown glass works.
Some of Chihuly's works cover whole ceilings of casinos and hotels, while others are hand-sized abstract flowers. Chihuly uses intense colors to bring his work to life. He is also known for using neon and argon.
Chihuly uses nature as a setting for his pieces, and tries to create his pieces as though they are part of nature. He sometimes entwines his pieces around tree branches and trunks. He also suspends them in space and floats them in water. Although it is not widely known, some components of Chihuly's installations (for example, the stacked aqua-colored chunks that decorate the Tacoma "Bridge of Glass") are made of an acrylic-type material rather than glass.
Source: Wikipedia
See where this picture was taken. [?]
The Fountain of Nations is a musical fountain in the Epcot theme park, designed by Mark Fuller and his team from WET. The fountain contains about 200,000 gallons of water, has about 300 nozzles and can shoot water between 30 and 150 PSI to over 150 feet high.
The original fountain was built in 1982 with the rest of the park. In the dedication ceremony, representatives from 22 nations poured water from their countries into the fountain. In 1993, the fountain was refurbished to perform water shows synchronized to a handful of pieces of music. At night, the fountain illuminates with 1,068 different colored lights. During Epcot's Holidays Around the World celebration, the fountain dances to Christmas music. It is also synchronized with The Lights of Winter archway that is over the bridge connecting Future World and World Showcase.
The fountain has multiple nozzles. There are 212 "microshooters" that shoot water 80 feet into the air, 40 "minishooters" that shoot water at a 70-degree angle 100 feet into the air, and 12 "supershooters", which can shoot water 150 feet into the air. The supershooters have a distinct popping noise due to their use of air pressure for a launching system. There are also 60 spray nozzles. Since the fountain shoots water up to 150 feet into the air, crosswinds often blow mist onto nearby guests.
The fountain plays a variety of music, some of which comes from old Epcot and Walt Disney World attractions. The automated shows are performed on every quarter-hour. The fountain also dances to this music until the park is fully cleared out so people can watch it after the IllumiNations firework show. (The fountain is shut off during the show so as not to interfere with the fireworks.) From November to the end of December, the regular music is played until around 6:00 pm. This is when the Lights of Winter Archway lights up and starts to play holiday music.
Pictured:
Fountain of Nations
Epcot Future World
Walt Disney World Resort
Lake Buena Vista, Florida
November, 2008
Disney Photo Challenge winner in "EPCOT Fountain of Nations" - thanks for your votes!
Thanks for stopping by!
Son tan frágiles, son tan débiles, son tan vulnerables.
Pero por suerte allí estamos nosotros, los padres, para brindarles todo nuestro amor y protección.
Hasta que un día, finalmente, puedan abandonar su cálido nido.
--
They are so fragile, so weak, so vulnerable.
But luckily there we are, as parents, to offer all our love and protection.
Until one day, finally, they will abandon their warm nest.
Strobist info: SB-900 1/128 power 200mm zoom with 50cm snoot camera left. Triggered by PW.
You have until MIDNIGHT to vote for me to win the Bloggies, if you feel so inclined. I'm in the "Photography" section. Thanks in advance!
Also, thank you to my fans! Here are your favorite pics: the most Popular Pictures you dig from my stream. Thanks for the comments!
This looks nice: Large on Black
This evening while walking to dinner at an Uzbekistan restaurant, the sun started to go down behind the icy overcast skies, casting more of that eerie blue light across the city of Kiev. There were a few flecks of snow beginning to fall, but not enough to obscure Saint Andrews Church here as we passed.
This classically baroque church was originally in the mid 18th century and is still occasionally used by the creatively anachronistic Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox church for services. It's built on a very steep hill, near a steeper and scenic curved road, which was too icy for me to get down with the tripod. It's one of the few times I decided discretion was the better part of photographic valor.
La Défense (where else !). Finally some sun, and I found a new "spot" :-) Sorry about the square crop, but it fitted the composition quite well so I couldn't resist.
Part of "A stroll in Paris"
Icy wind blows between the houses, flashes quickly in the night on the streets of the rotten city. A shade, a woman, her eyes are shiver and charm, her look magnetize you, it won't let you go.
The photoshoot shows the creature in an own perspective, who became nowadays very popular in books, films and series. The vampire. The immortal being of the past, the present and the future.
Look at the whole series!
Az időn át - Vámpír krónikák (a jelen)
Jeges szél süvít a házak közt, fürgén cikázik az éjszakában a romlott város utcáin. Egy árny, egy nő, a szeme borzongás és igézet, megbűvöl a tekintete, nem ereszt.
A sorozat saját szemszögünkből mutatja be azt a lényt, aki mára oly divatossá vált könyvekben, filmekben és tévésorozatokban. A vámpírt. A múlt, a jelen és a jövő alakját, aki halhatatlansággal bír.
Nézd meg a sorozat többi darabját is!
Info:
Concept, model: Ágnes Vincze
Makeup artist: Dóra Vízhányó
Hair stylist: Gábor Antal
Strobist info:
Metz 58 AF-1 @ 1/4 power at camera right 80º into a reflective white umbrella, fired with Phottix Tetra PT-04II wireless trigger
Strobist.hu info:
Metz 58 AF-1 @ 1/4 teljesítményen kamera jobb 80º-ról, fehér visszaverő ernyőbe Phottix Tetra PT-04II-vel indítva.
Street scene from Rawalpindi, inside the "old" city. This is not a tourist "souk" or bazaar, in fact, you never see any foreigner ! People are all the more happy to see you, discuss (even if it's in a broken english) and often, offer you tea ;-)
Merci de lire les explications en début d'album / Please read the explanations at the beginning of the set
Part of Pakistani Lifestyle (Recommended as a slideshow)
This is my entry to the LCC Global Contest #6, Unrestricted category (AxB > 32x32).
Show your character preparing for rebellion against the Queen’s forces. This can be stockpiling/forging weapons, gathering intelligence on the enemy, secretly assembling troops, etc.
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The SEAL team split up. Wolfgang headed north to his father's lair to fetch the silver that Sir Caelan paid them. The rest of the gang bought some supplies in the nearby city of Grahnhaven and then moved to Uncle Woolsey's cave. They were supposed to meet Wolfgang here but he did not show up on the due date.
Four days passed by... The gang became concerned so they decided to head north and meet Wolfgang half way. They encountered some really depressed travellers on the road; all of them were complaining about the new Queen's forces who apparently started to gain control of this outlying area in southern Garheim too. A new patrol enforces the taxation orders of the Queen (which is basically "shut up and give us all your money").
The forest turned slowly into a rocky countryside. As they got around a huge boulder they ran right into the Queen's patrol.
"Halt! In the name of Queen Galainir, we demand that you pay the taxes!" said a black knight, the supposed commander of the patrol.
"But we are outlaws, good Sir knight! I thought her Highness had a we-charge-no-outlaws policy! Can't we just carry on? asked Söndör.
"None shall pass until you payed us!" the black knight looked at his troops and nodded towards the gang. The soldiers drew their weapons and started to surround them...
"As you wish, good Sir. How much do we need to pay?"
"Let's start with all your money! And the wagon... If we take the wagon, we also take the supplies on it, so you don't have to carry those heavy goods. Just to show you how generous I am, I let you keep your weapons.
There was nothing to do. The team was outnumbered, their weapons were on the wagon and the soldiers were just waiting for a suspicious movement to storm them. The gang handed over all their possession and hit the road followed by the laughter and taunts of the soldiers.
"That is just great!" said Zlorf. "Wolfgang won't be thrilled. He was not fond of the Queen till now, but he will be enraged, especially when we tell him that not only our supplies have been confiscated but Oinky and Porky too!"
"I agree, let's find him for starters." said Letz.
To be continued...
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This MOC was built for the “Lands of Classic Castle” (LCC) project over at www.classic-castle.com/.
For those interested in the LCC project, check out our Flickr group and the LCC forum “General Info”.
Come over and join the fun!
HDR image processed from 7 exposures with Photomatix Pro (again, the new version, so cool!).
Once more - since it was such a stunning moment - the Ring of Brodgar at sunrise ... a Neolithic henge and stone circle on the Mainland of the Orkney Islands.
A different perspective and a slighly earlier moment, right just after the sunrise at the horizon.
Unforgettable!
A cool thing is that on one of the stones, a viking was engraving some signs ... kinda early time tourism :-)
Please check this one in Large and discover all the details. Use the new flickr or check in Large and on Black!
Please don't use this image on any media without asking for permission.
© All rights reserved.
Hair :
no.match_ ~ NO_PROPERTY
Available @ Cosmopolitan Event
no.match HAIR STORE - Mainstore
no.match HAIR STORE - Marketplace
Accessories :
RichB. Maluma Necklace
RichB. Esat Earrings
RichB. Evil Eye Septum
Daisy :
{geek} - Daeges Eage
Les Vielles tours de Montréal, Québec, Canada
composite HDR* (using mean and minimum function) - 7 exposures - EXIF from +3ev - Curves and levels adjustments - 10mm
More of the set Discovering Montreal | More of the set Night Scenes
See my most interesting pictures here or take some time to view the slideshow .
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