Bigger!

I'd say there are two photographers who were primarily responsible for inspiring me to take up photography. One of them is famous. His name is Galen Rowell. The other one is not. His name is Charles Uibel, and I don't remember how I came across his photos but he was one of my first flickr contacts. I followed his work for years before I became seriously interested in photography and decided to buy my first "real" camera. I was mesmerized by the relationship he had with the Great Salt Lake. It seemed like every day he could go out and find something completely new and fascinating, yet familiar. Featured in many of those photos is Antelope Island -- sometimes dominant, sometimes looming in the distance. It's often an anchor and a thread that weaves his images together. Always the same place, always seen in a new way.

Anyway, despite what my title suggests, I don't have hundreds of photos from this place. But Mickey Butte did remind me of Antelope Island. And the Mickey and Alvord basins are places worthy of the same sort of attention Uibel gives the Great Salt Lake. This was the third time I had been out here, and I plan to return as often as I can. I'm much more interested in seeing a place captured in a hundred different ways than I am in seeing a single trophy shot.

For Liz

ok guys, this one is a bit depressing...

I dedicate this pic to Liz - she is a single mom with a four year-old, a brother and a grandmother who she cares for. She got laid off 15 minutes after me. If you ever see this, Liz, I hope you smile - beautiful, caring, silly girl... ((((((hugs))))))

Guys, please appreciate everything you have.

I also want to thank you my dear friends for your support - it means so so much to me! THANK YOU!

xoxo

If I had a day that I could give you

Id give to you a day just like today

If I had a song that I could sing for you

Id sing a song to make you feel this way

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy

Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry

Sunshine on the water looks so lovely

Sunshine almost always makes me high.

By John Denver "Sunshine om my shoulders"

www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Zx27dP1mTg

[explored!]

it was pouring.

i was sitting on my bed in my favorite red sweats and an old hoodie

i was on the edge of the right side, the left side screaming for warmth.

the left side confused.

the left side lacking.

my phone buzzed

the only faint reminder that i was still living on this miserable planet.

"look out your window"

there was no name on the screen. this person was foreign.

i rolled over and looked at the clock

1:34 AM

i'd been laying there since 7 pm, trying to think of something new to think about, but it seemed that everthing had been covered already, at some point,

in the course of my sixteen years.

i was fading, minute by minute, away from everything i'd ever created, ever worked for, ever hoped for.

but now, i was awake.

i pulled back my anthropologie faded quilt,

and tip toed to the windows, which were outlined with smooth silver lines from the soft moonlight.

his car was outside.

him.

the boy.

the boy who was the only boy i ever felt for.

the only boy who ever new me.

and the only boy who ever left.

the boy who i'd almost forgotten.

when i reached his car i saw his face. it was silk.

his hair flowed gently across his perfectly round head.

he offered a huge grin, which lit up his eyes immediately.

the spark of the movement flew into me.

and i remembered who we were.

i climbed in, shivering, in the dark.

he grabbed a wool blanket from the back, and carefully tucked it around me, managing to make breathtaking eye contact at the exact same time.

let's escape, he said.

it's time.

all you have to do is breathe now.

all you have to do is breathe.

and we drove.

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You were planned for God’s pleasure.

The moment you were born into the world, God was there as an unseen witness, smiling at your birth. He wanted you alive, and your arrival gave him great pleasure. God did not need to create you , but he chose to create you for his own enjoyment. You exist for his benefit, his glory, his purpose, and his delight.

Bringing enjoyment to God, living for his pleasure, is the first purpose of your life. When You fully understand this truth , you will never again have a problem with feeling insignificant. It proves your worth . If you are that important to God, and he consider you valuable enough to keep with him for eternity, what greater significance could you have?You are a child of God, and you bring pleasure to God like nothing else he has ever created. The Bible says, “ Because of his love God already decided that through Jesus Christ he would makes us his children – this was his pleasure and purpose’’

One of the greatest gifts God has given you is the ability to enjoy pleasure. He wired you with five senses and emotions so you can experience it. He wants you to enjoy life, not just endure it. The reason you are able to enjoy pleasure is that God made you in his image.

- Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life

View On Black View My Recent

Luciti

In Onexposure

It is in the municipal area of El Port de la Selva in the province of Girona, Catalonia. It has been constructed in the side of the Verdera mountain below the ruins of the castle of Sant de Verdera that had provided protection for the monastery. It offers an exceptional views over the bay of Llançà, to the north of Cap de Creus. Near the monastery Santa Creu de Rodes is the ruins of a medieval town, of which its preRomanesque style church is the only remains dedicated to Saint Helena.

The true origin of the monastery is not known, which has given rise to speculation and legend; such as its foundation by monks who disembarked in the area with the remains of Saint Peter and other saints, to save them from the Barbarian hordes that had fallen on Rome. Once the danger had passed the Pope Boniface IV commanded them to construct a monastery.The first documentation of the existence of the monastery dates 878, it being mentioned as a simple monastery cell consecrated to Saint Peter, but it is not until 945 when an independent Benedictine monastery was founded, prevailed over by an abbot. Bound to the County of Empúries it reached its maximum splendor between the XI and XII centuries until its final decay in 17th century. Its increasing importance is reflected in its status as a point of pilgrimage.

In the 17th Century XVII it was sacked in several occasions and in 1793 was deserted by the benedictine community which was transferred to Vila-sacred and finally settled in Figueres in 1809 until it was dissolved.The monastery was declared a national monument in 1930. In 1935 the Generalitat of Catalonia initiated the first restoration work. The buildings are constructed in terraces, given its location. Cloisters of XII century form the central part of the complex. Around them the rest of constructions are distributed. The Church, consecrated in the year 1022, is the best exponent of the Romanesque style and without comparison with others of its time. Detailing features plants with three bays and a vault. These are bordered by a double column with capitals influenced by the Carolingian Style. The double column support arches separating the bays. The columns and pillars have been taken from a former Roman building. The bay is splendid with large dimensions with an arch in the apse, this is continued in the two lateral bays. Under the apse is a crypt. The church synthesizes a number of original styles including Carolingian, Romanesque and Roman. The monastery is considered one of the best examples of Romanesque architecture in Catalonia. In the western facade of the monastery is a XII Century bell tower, a square shape it is influenced by the lombards from the previous century. To the side is a defensive tower, that was probably began in the X Century but finished later after several modifications.

Please View Large On Black

Like previous Lamborghinis, the Aventador name was chosen for its symbolic connection to the world of fighting bulls, sharing a name with the legendary Aventador, a trophy-winning bull in the world of Spanish bullfighting.

Copyright©All Rights Reserved

All images displayed in this are protected under the International Copyright act and are not to be downloaded, reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated or used for any purposes without written permission and consent.

Malacca Strait

goo.gl/maps/Jwb6pANzgkL2

foursquare.com/soonlung81

Transportation service:

交通服務:

Servicio de transporte:

Service de transport:

خدمة النقل:

Транспортные услуги：

www.klia.com.my/index.php?m=airport

kwikcar.my/index.html

Best Viewed Large Size On Black

View Wallpaper Sized

My Photostream on Black

I always feel weird when I go shooting in the middle of the night alone. The little kid in me seems to have some fear and respect for the dark of night. Last night, the little kid's voice in my head was going overtime trying to talk me out of going to the coast to shoot this image. I finally at length decided this voice is useless (mostly). I feel much better now.

I mean, after all, next month I'll be trotting all over the place all by myself in dangerous conditions across the central plains, both day and night, and so I better grow a pair now if I'm going to ever respect myself. Seriously, I'm now glad I listened the my inner sense of reason.

Once I was at the lighthouse, it was about Midnight and the wind was howling and cold. I got my jacket on, and went to my camera bag and discovered I left my remote at home once again. The moonlight was plenty strong, so I knew I'd get a shot, but I wanted to try some real long exposures, and now it wasn't going to happen. The atmosphere was quiet, other than the crashing waves against the cliffs and the high winds, and I would actually call it peaceful and calming, at least that's how I felt at the time.

I wound up taking all the usual shots, and was feeling sort of frustrated until I came up to the fence line here. Immediately, I knew what I wanted to get. This feels like an Edward Hopper Painting to me. I like the shadows, and the fence-line a lot. Clouds were flying by, and I got some cool shots with blurred clouds, but this shot seemed to sum up the feeling of the night best.

I'm sure glad I didn't chicken out this late evening.

Larger view on black

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Find me here :

Facebook : www.facebook.com/3amfromkyoto

Twitter : www.twitter.com/3amfromkyoto

My website : www.3amfromkyoto.com

Best Viewed LARGE on Black: bighugelabs.com/onblack.php?id=3689734390&size=large&...

One Saturday morning in late June I decided to try out my new DSLR on one of the shaded streets in this beautiful area. If you click on the set to the right and run the SLIDESHOW in Full Screen Mode you can follow me up and down this street and get an idea of the architecture of the area.

"Druid Hills is an upper-class neighborhood east of Midtown, Atlanta, in DeKalb County, Georgia. The planned community was initially conceived by Joel Hurt, and developed with the effort of Atlanta's leading families, including Coca-Cola founder Asa Candler. It contains some of Atlanta's historic mansions from the late 19th and early 20th Century. Druid Hills includes the main campus of Emory University, which relocated to Atlanta in 1914. Ponce de Leon Avenue bi-sects the community.

Druid Hills was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and was one of his last commissions. A showpiece of the design was the string of parks along Ponce de Leon Avenue, designated as Druid Hills Parks and Parkways and listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 11, 1975."

Some find it hard to believe that this magnificent urban neighborhood was conceived and executed as one of Atlanta’s first suburbs. Yet it remains today essentially unchanged and was recently described by the U.S. Department of the Interior to be "significant as the finest example of late 19th and early 20th century comprehensive planning and development in the Atlanta area, and one of the finest period suburbs in the Southeast."

There is a beautifully done Tour of Homes and Gardens each April during the peak bloomtime for the thousands of dogwoods and azaleas that fill the neighborhood. Here are some links:

www.druidhills.org/overview/index.htm

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Druid_Hills,_Georgia

...

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My France collection

** My most interesting **

The Château de Chambord in the Loire Valley is a impressive sight and the largest château in the region. Originally built as a hunting lodge the Chateau has only been lived in for a handful of years throughout its history. It is particularly famous for its double helix staircase in the centre of the keep (you can just see it at the top in the centre).

Taken with a 10x stop ND (3.0) and GND filters, giving an exposure time of ~48 secs. Minor editing (levels, sharpening, etc) in Capture NX.

© Scott Thistlethwaite 2009. All rights reserved.

color _ one ( or more) + b/W- color-key, selective color

Archive from 2007

camera roll - recent turn

HDR image processed from 7 exposures with Photomatix Pro.

Captured pretty much at the beginning of our Scotland trip in Saint Andrews ... just a bit north of Edinburgh. A lovely old cathedral from the 11th century.

My clunky Nikon 14-24mm monster unleashed the necessary dramatic perspective :-)

I just love this old stuff ... castles, churches, whatever ... standing there, being aware that people walked around these same places a thousand years ago. How was life by then, what did they think, what did they feel ...

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.

EXPLORE #204, Oct 26

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Last night the sky was clear and when I got home from dinner I had to run and and grab a shot. This photo is handheld taken leaning on my husbands car in our driveway lol Imagine that? I know I know I've said it before and I'll say it again..It FREAKS me out when little 'ol me can get a shot of the moon with this much detail..unreal. I took this photo with my little Sony DSC-H50 with a 1.7x Tele Conversion Lens.

Have a great Monday everyone.

Best viewed LARGE. (Photo taken on Oct 25/09 in Mississauga, Ontario C A N A D A)

PLEASE Large On Black

Dear Friends,

This is an image I took last December while out with Joel Tjintjelaar and Kees Smans in Rotterdam.

I don't think my photographic life will ever be the same; Joel introducted me to architecture and I have been extremely impressed by how beautiful is shooting buldings.

After finishing the project I'm working on now, I will devote myself to architecture: many ideas about that!

By the way, this is my first ever attempt at architecture.

Details

- CANON 5d Mark II ir, TS-E 24, f/7.1, 183 s, ISO 100

- Mirror Lockup, Remote Shutter

- Lee Big Stopper (10 stops ND filter)

- Tripod

The shot

Rotterdam, Netherlands

The Processing

Photoshop:

- Added many soft light layers to adjust 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', at low opacity, building only);

- Framing and Signature.

Take a look at it, LARGE on Black :

@ You all

Comments and faves are always welcome!

Hope your 2012 started great!!!

W. A. Morzart - Sinfonía Nº 40

Ver En Negro Y En Grande

Digamos que esta es de las foto que más me gusta de esta noche, ya que es una simple composición de rocas y cielo, pero la verdad que con luz de luna y la contaminación lumínica de bolnuevo ayuda baste, ya sé que la foto es un poco irreal, le he dado ese color al cielo para simular lo que no es, pero bueno a todos nos gusta soñar un poco con poderlo ver alguna vez, seguramente la próxima foto que suba será la original de esta foto -Playa de Cueva de los Lobos – Bolnuevo.

Nota: Os quiero comunicar que mi estado de baja ya llega a su fin, y que el jueves me incorporo de nuevo al trabajo, asique ya no tendré tanto tiempo para estar por aquí.

Cámara: D40

Modo De Exposición: Manual +Trípode

ISO: 200

Velocidad: 175 Segundos

Hora: 00:03:26

Focal: 18.0 mm

F/ 5.6

Objetivo: 18.0-55.0 mm F/ 3.5 -5.6

Procesado: Light room 2

Camera Raw 4.3

Photoshop Cs 3

Recomiendo ver en tamaño grande

His eyes Large On Black are unreal!

Arco is my co-workers 6 month old weinheimer.

This is probably my favorite photo from the Dog Shoot this morning. This is also probably my favorite of the black and white shots I've taken so far. The sky was overcast and everything was muddy from the rain last night so it wasn't ideal shooting conditions. I used the 70-200mm f/4.0L IS exclusively for this photo shoot. Using a telephoto takes a little getting used to, but I think it is worth it.

My fees for my work this morning? A Pizza from the Neapolitan Pizzeria downtown, yum!

All comments and feedback are greatly appreciated. I'd also like to know what you think of this black and white filter I used. If you'd like to see the "before" shot let me know and I'll upload it.

© Angela M. Lobefaro

DO NOT Download or use my photos without my written permission.

Sunset

taken in Koh Phi Phi Don, Thailand. June 2008

My Most interesting photos for a guy called Isaias

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My Interviews with my Flick Friends!

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The Phi Phi Islands (Thai: หมู่เกาะพีพี) are located in Thailand, between the large island of Phuket and the western Andaman Sea coast of the mainland. Phi Phi Don, the larger and principal of the two Phi Phi islands, is located at [show location on an interactive map] 7°44′00″N, 98°46′00″E. Both Phi Phi Don, and Phi Phi Leh, the smaller, are administratively part of Krabi province, most of which is on the mainland, and is located at [show location on an interactive map] 8°02′30″N, 98°48′39″E.

Ko Phi Phi Don ("ko" (Thai: เกาะ) meaning "island" in the Thai language) is the largest island of the group, and is the only island with permanent inhabitants, although the beaches of the second largest island, Ko Phi Phi Lee (or "Ko Phi Phi Leh"), are visited by many people as well. There are no accommodation facilities on this island, but it is just a short boat ride from Ko Phi Phi Don. The rest of the islands in the group, including Bida Nok, Bida Noi, and Bamboo Island, are not much more than large limestone rocks jutting out of the sea.

Phi Phi Don was initially populated by Muslim fishermen during the late 1940s, and later became a coconut plantation. The Thai population of Phi Phi Don remains more than 80% Muslim.But the actual population if counting laborers, especially from the north-east, from the mainland is much more Buddhist these days.

Ko Phi Phi Leh was the backdrop for the 2000 movie The Beach. Phi Phi Leh also houses the 'Viking Cave', from which there is a thriving bird's nest soup industry. There was criticism during filming of 'The Beach' that the permission granted to the film company to physically alter the environment inside Phi Phi Islands National Park was illegal. [1] The controversy cooled down however, when it was discovered that the producers had done such a decent job of restoring the place that it finally looked better than it had done before.

Following the release of The Beach, tourism on Phi Phi Don increased dramatically, and with it the population of the island. Many buildings were constructed without planning permission.[citation needed]

Ko Phi Phi was devastated by the Indian Ocean tsunami of December 2004, when nearly all of the island's infrastructure was wiped out. Redevelopment has, however, been swift, and services like electricity, water, Internet access and ATMs are up and running again, but waste handling has been slower to come back online.

My Most interesting photos for a guy called Isaias

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from: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phi_Phi_Island

Richmond Park

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Best Viewed On Black or view in Fluidr

One of my favorite things is to drive up and down the Northern California

Pacific coastal highway looking for new areas to photograph. I have

collected a number of shots of the Pigeon Point Lighthouse and swear I will

avoid it this next time but inevitably I stop and take more images and it

seems to always pay off.

As you head south from San Francisco you first get a glimpse of the

lighthouse as you pass around a bend in the road. It grabs your attention

as the area is generally flat. A flashing Coast Guard light replaces the

magnificent 24 beam first order Fresnel lens. Fortunately each November

they revert back to the days of old and light the main 24 beams of light

which extend to the horizon. The lighthouse is one of the tallest on the

California coast and was constructed after the Carrier Pigeon and several

other sailing ships ran aground on the rocks just off shore. Modern

technology has since made the structures obsolete and there is not much of

any effort by the government to maintain the lighthouses. Pigeon Point now

belongs to the State of California and is in a sad state of disrepair which

is why you see the unattractive chain length fence surrounding the base.

When I first visited the lighthouse it was open to the public and I took my

then young kids to the top for a view they still remember to this day. It

was quite a climb to the top up the spiral staircase but once there the view

was stunning. Point Arena Lighthouse looked exactly like this one at

Pigeon Point unit it was destroyed in the San Francisco earthquake. It has

since been replaced by a large cement structure that while functional lacks

the beauty of design seen in the Pigeon Point Lighthouse.

This image makes a great Windows (and probably Macintosh) desktop

background.

Click here to view the lighthouse on the California Coastal Records Project

Enjoy!

Darv

© Darvin Atkeson

LiquidMoonlight Photography

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See where this picture was taken. [?]

No tripod needed for this one. There's a nice chest high wall that's plenty deep enough to rest a camera on. A beanbag certainly helps and is one of the most useful things in my camera bag... The reason the log at the top of the hill is "frozen" even though this is a 30sec exposure, is ride's flash for the on ride photo. If you look really closely at the "stream" towards the bottom of the picture you can see the blur from other logs coming through.

Pictured:

Splash Mountain

Frontierland

Magic Kingdom

Walt Disney World Resort

Bay Lake, Florida

November, 2008

Thanks for stopping by!

__________________________________________________________________

Disney Photo Challenge winner in "Show Me" - thanks for your votes!

Looks even better ON BLACK

This is a newly processed shot of a spider that I photographed last year in a different position on the bird table (the other was after a rain shower where it went into hiding) but this is the spider on the top of the bird table itself and after looking through the raw files again, I decided this was good enough to use, so here it is.

A young cross spider as you may know them, about 6mm in size.

B/W version 1st commet | Large on black | Link to prints available on my profile page

Yesterday I returned to the scene of the crime to see if that big puddle was still there and if there would be anything nice reflected in it again. It was quite a different scene then the two days before, and I was absolutely delighted to find that this time I didn't need to stand in the puddle in order to get a nice reflection shot, and also that I could shoot in the opposite direction and get a more interesting background (with the closer oak trees and such)

It was kinda crazy, but I literally got out of my car, walked over to this spot, set up the tripod, fired off the camera ... and this is the first shot I took. OMG! It was the first shot I took and when I looked in the viewfinder I couldn't believe how sweet it was. I don't think I got another great shot all afternoon but I really didn't care.

This was also my first time using a tripod for landscape work. Wow. Can't believe the difference. Doesn't it look sharper than my other landscapes? I used to do everything hand-held, then very recently moved on to using a monopod, then after my last sunset shoot I was really wishing I had a tripod so I ordered a good one yesterday (decided to spring for a manfrotto after reading all the reviews). The tripod I used yesterday was my friend's that I borrowed. It was cheap and I was grateful to have it but it made me so happy that I had sprung for a higher-quality one!!

Using a tripod also made me think a LOT more about each shot, and whether or not it was really worth it, which I think will be good for me. I tend to take a lot of mediocre shots just because I can and then when I get home I have to wade through so much junk and do a lot of culling. If I am forced to be more selective about what I shoot I think that will be an improvement!

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Como esas nubes que ahora ves,

que van regando de vida los campos,

así lloraba de vez en vez,

la tristeza del desengaño. ♪♫

Haberse visto en la soledad,

esa que aman los sabios,

hoy se ha nublado para llorar,

todo el cielo que te he confiado.

Como un ciego,

que apunta al ruido de mi cabeza,

como todo, como siempre, como es sin ver.

Hacia el abismo de sed,

que no calma el agua, ni las lágrimas,

como todo, como siempre, como es sin ver.

Como esas nubes que ahora ves,

que van regando de vida los campos,

así lloraba de vez en vez,

todo el cielo del desengaño

.

.

{El cielo del desengaño - La Renga}

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.

.

♥

.

.

.

No usar esta imagen en páginas web, blogs u otros soportes sin mi autorización, © Todos los derechos reservados.

Don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit permission. © All rights reserved

“Y estos derechos... a respetarlos, ¿eh? ¡No vaya a pasar como con los diez mandamientos!” (Mafalda)

View On Black

Nagoya Castle (Nagoya-jō?) is a Japanese castle located in Nagoya, central Japan. During the Edo period, Nagoya Castle was the center of one of the most important castle towns in Japan—Nagoya-juku— and it included the most important stops along the Minoji, which linked the Tōkaidō with the Nakasendō.

Here you can find a lot of information about Nagoya Castle:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagoya_Castle

To get a good shot on the castle you need to climb a tree :-))) The guards didn't like that idea...

Going too close with wide angle gives the wrong perspective of the beautiful roof.

Have a nice week all Flickr friends!

www.vnphoto.net/forums/showthread.php?t=201166&page=3...

www.vnphoto.net/forums/showthread.php?t=201125&page=1...

www.vnphoto.net/forums/showthread.php?t=214402&page=4...

She glides past you silently at night. Sleep carefully but not too deeply or you might never wake up!

Try this on Black or White

View On Black View My Recent

Luciti

In Onexposure

The Monastery of Sant Benet de Bages is a former Benedictine monastery, in the Catalan comarca of Bages. The Romanesque monastery was thoroughly restored at the beginning of the twentieth century by the Catalan architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch. The monastery was founded about 950 by the noble Salla and his consort Ricarda, of the house of the viscounts of Osona . According to the founding legend, Salla traveled to Rome to have his institution authorized, and to have it depend directly on the Holy See, the usual method for preserving the community from interference from the bishop— in this case of Vic— in whose diocese it lay. The abbey church was consecrated 3 December 972, witnessed by a gathering of notables: Borrell II, Count of Barcelona, the bishops Frugifer of Vic, Guisad of Urgell and Pere of Barcelona, the viscount Guadald of Osona, and three of the four offspring of the recently deceased founder, his son Isarn and the sisters Quíxol and Ego, at the head of witnesses both laymen and priests, in a grand ceremonial recorded in the surviving act of consecration. The community was dedicated to the Holy Trinity and to Benedict of Nursia (Sant Benét in Catalan) founder of the order, and Peter and Andrew, all guarantors of its future orthodoxy. The founder secured dispensations that the future abbots would be chosen from among their descendents, making the abbey a form of proprietary church, an agreement that would soon lead to disputes among the various branches of their lineage as to choice of abbots.

From 965, the abbey church held the supposed relics of Saint Valentine, enclosed in a wooden reliquary with plates of silver depicting miracles of Saint Valentine, which was rediscovered in 1863 in the church of Navarcles. At the beginning of the eleventh century the monastery passed under the direction of the Abbey of Saint Peter of Tomeras at Narbonne, from which the community freed itself in 1108. In 1125 Sant Benet de Bages suffered from an attack by Moors that required a rebuilding, financed by local nobles who required in return the right to be buried in its consecrated ground. The most splendid age of Sant Benet de Bages was in the fourteenth century, until the Black Death left the community with only two survivors, in a period that witnessed the beginning of its decline. On 9 November 1593, by order of Pope Clement VIII the community passed under the direction of the Abbey of Montserrat, and remained so until it was suppressed in 1820, serving as a place of retirement for Montserrat's community of monks. By the "law of desamortización" of 1835, all religious orders in Spain were required to render upo their possessions. The crumbling ancient structure attracted the interest of intellectuals who organised visits to it in the late nineteenth century. The architect Puig i Cadafalch and the painter Ramon Casas encouraged the mother of Casas to buy the property in 1907; in 1910 it passed into the hands of Casas, who commissioned Puig i Cadafalch to restore it. Since 2000, when it was purchased from Casas' heirs it has belonged to the Caixa de Manresa, a financial institution that has undertaken its maintenance.

please view on black

i'm feeling a bit ill today and don't have the energy to process a whole lot of my more recent images -- the best i can offer today is this image of a tavern that's hidden away at the windmills area in chios (tolis has a beautiful gallery). i couldn't see it from the road -- i spotted it only when i was walking around the windmills themselves.

i don't know how, but my train of thought led me to imagine a huge party for flickr friends and contacts, with everyone holding a camera, shooting each other and looking for something interesting.

i'll try to get around to your streams today -- (it cheers me up!) -- but i hope you forgive me if i don't succeed.

on the blog: toomanytribbles.blogspot.com/2009/09/friends-of-gold.html

EDIT: hey, look where my moon candy landed! www.focus.it/natura/gallery/10092009-1252-113-astronomi-p...

www.lokomotivy.net/adm/zobraz2.php?rada=git_c1&loko=4...

Noční vlaky jsou nedílnou součástí železniční dopravy v Itálii, přičemž relace, směřující z vnitrozemí na Sicílii, patří k nejvytíženějším. Jen ze samotného Říma jezdí hned dva páry spojů, doplněné o vlak z Milána, který cílů na ostrově ve Středozemním moři dosahuje až odpoledne, a i ve směru do Milána vlak odjíždí z obou sicilských destinací nedlouho po poledni. Cestujícím zejména posledně jmenovaného páru se tak naskýtají překrásné výhledy na Tyrhénské moře, neboť železniční trať je vedena v těsné blízkosti pobřeží od Sicílie až téměř po Neapol. Vzhledem ke zmíněné vytíženosti jsou všechny tři páry vlaků složeny pouze ze spacích vozů a poté, co se přepraví ze vnitrozemské italské železniční sítě přes Messinskou úžinu na tu sicilskou pomocí trajektu, se ve stanici Messina Centrale rozdělují Zatímco jedna část vlaků je vedena po severním břehu ostrova do stanice Palermo Centrale, druhá část vlaků směřuje na jih přes Katánii do Syrakus.

Na snímku vlaku ICN 1963 "Intercity Notte" [Milano Centrale – Siracusa], pořízeném dne 23. března 2024 u letoviska Praia a Mare, lze spatřit všechny tři typy spacích vozů, kterými lze v těchto vlacích cestovat. Nejpočetnější lehátkové vozy, nabízející pouze čtyřmístná a o poznání komfortnější kupé, než bývá v Evropě zvykem, představují zástupce dvou sérií, které vznikly v letech 1996–2001 přestavbou starších vozů konstrukce UIC-X ze 60. a 70. let v celkovém počtu 230 vozů. Lůžkový vůz je zde zastoupen v západní Evropě nejrozšířenějším typem MU rovněž po modernizaci. Na vzniku celkem 283 vozů během let 1963 a 1990 se podílely hned tři společnosti a vozy tohoto typu jezdily i ve Francii či v zemích Beneluxu. Zatímco zcela původní francouzské vozy dnes dožívají v Černé Hoře, všechny dnes provozované italské vozy prošly modernizací a jsou dodnes v provozu, jak se lze na tomto snímku přesvědčit. S celkovou kapacitou až 36 osob nabízí jedno-, dvou- či třílůžková kupé standardních parametrů.

Nejzajímavější je ale třetí vůz na snímku – jedná se o lůžkový vůz typu T3S, který vznikl v počtu 11 vozů v letech 2007–2008 ve firmě RSI Costa Masnaga přestavbou starších lůžkových vozů typu T2S z roku 1982. Jedna polovina vozu je tvořena standardními třílůžkovými oddíly, druhá polovina pak představuje netradičně provedená čtyřlůžková kupé s vlastním WC a sprchou. Vozy tohoto typu byly mj. nasazeny v letech 2017–2020 na páru nočních vlaků Benátky–Paříž, avšak po ukončení provozu tohoto spoje v důsledku pandemie viru Covid-19 v roce 2020 byly staženy do vnitrostátního provozu a dnes jsou vozy nasazovány na všechny tři páry nočních vlaků na Sicílii, avšak pouze do skupiny vozů Miláno/Řím – Syrakusy a zpět.

Praia a Mare je obec v regionu Kalábrie, která je známá jako plážové letovisko u Tyrhénského moře. Celkem dva kilometry dlouhá pláž je částečně pokryta atraktivním černým lávovým pískem. Na jižním konci se nachází skalní ostrov Dino, kde se nachází několik velkých mořských jeskyní, přístupných malými plavidly. Na nejjižnějším výběžku pláže se na výběžku sopečné skály tyčí středověká věž Fiuzzi, postavená byzantskými silami k ochraně pobřeží.

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Luciti

In Onexposure

La Costa Brava, el agreste litoral de la provincia de Girona, cuenta con una villa medieval a pocos kilómetros de su perfil marítimo. Su centro histórico se levanta sobre una colina rodeada de llanuras, que en su origen fue zona pantanosa. Hay que remontarse al siglo IX para encontrar los primeros documentos escritos que hablan de esta población, época a la que pertenece su castillo. Continuos enfrentamientos bélicos hicieron que durante siglos sólo se conservase la Torre del Homenaje de esta construcción defensiva. Se trata de una torre románica de planta circular levantada entre los siglos XI y XIII. Sus 15 metros de altura se asientan sobre una plataforma de roca natural, en la que también se encuentran numerosas tumbas visigóticas. Durante el siglo XV fue empleada como campanario, por lo que se la conoce como la Torre de las Horas. En la actualidad, el solar del castillo lo ocupa la casa de la familia Pi i Figueras, promotor de la restauración del Recinto Gótico de Pals. De factura moderna, esta casa mantiene los mismos rasgos arquitectónicos que el resto de la urbe. Calles empedradas interrumpidas por arcos de medio punto, fachadas con ventanas ojivales y balcones de piedra son los signos distintivos de Pals. La muralla es otro de los lugares que transportan al viajero a la Edad Media. Cuatro torres de planta cuadrada se mantienen aún en pie, a pesar de que datan del siglo XII. Torres con nombre propio como Ramonet, Rom, Xinel·lo y Hospital. Otros puntos de interés son el mirador Josep Pla, la Plaza Mayor, las sepulturas de la calle Mayor y la iglesia de Sant Pere. El escritor palafrugellense da nombre a una de las atalayas naturales, desde donde se divisan los campos del Ampurdán y las islas Medes. Arcos góticos y sepulturas medievales son los otros hitos que encontramos en el camino. Parte de los sillares de piedra del castillo fueron empleados en el siglo X para edificar la iglesia de Sant Pere. En su estructura final se distinguen la base románica, el ábside y nave gótica, y el pórtico y campanario barrocos. La mejor manera de recorrer Pals es perderse por su calles medievales, pero antes de esto merece la pena acercarse a una casa fortificada del siglo XV, sede del Museo de Arqueología Submarina. Entre otras curiosidades, podemos conocer la historia de los vinos y cavas de Cataluña, gracias la exposición permanente que exhibe. A las afueras de la villa se extiende otra parte del municipio de Pals, los Masos de Pals, antiguo conjunto de masías (casas de campo catalanas) que actualmente acogen a un nutrido núcleo urbano. Y en la costa, la playa de Pals. Más de cuatro kilómetros de aguas transparentes donde el viajero podrá disfrutar del benigno clima mediterráneo y de todas las oportunidades de ocio que la Costa Brava ofrece. Campos de golf, deportes náuticos y visitas al Parque Natural Illes Medes son sólo algunas de ellas. Pals también se convierte en una excelente oportunidad para acercarnos a la gastronomía del Baix Ampordà, que aúna productos del mar y la tierra. Las habas y los guisantes de la huerta aparecen junto a esqueixadas (ensalada de bacalao), escalivadas (asado de berenjena, cebolla y pimientos) o guisos de pollo o conejo con marisco. Por su parte, gambas, lubinas y doradas se preparan de multitud de maneras. Entre los postres, las frutas tienen una gran importancia (fresas, melocotones, melones, sandías, naranjas...), y se convierten en verano en helados y sorbetes.

Explored

First attempt for this weeks Twitter Photo Challenge #TwPhCh063

Theme : Splash / Full sprut

What's the first thing photo enthusiast (or maybe it's called a maniac:)) does when he comes to New York? I went directly to B&H Superstore and thought that I had come to heaven, but I managed to buy just the things that I had decided before I came there :)

I had to try the new equipment and this is from the first walk with my new Pentax K-7.

New York has been extremely hot for a while and it's still somewhere between 30-35 °C.

It's very warm and people have to find a way to cool down.

This photo is from a playground in Central Park where the kids had lots of fun and

the grown ups wanted to be kids again :)

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Don't resist!

MONTREALERS: DON'T FORGET TO DROP BY... AND SAY HI! ;D

Happy Friday Everyone!

No, I am not celebrating a week's end by having cupcakes for my breaky.

This is to call attention to Cupcake Camp Montreal being held this Sunday at the Bitoque Restaurant in Montreal.

For a $10 donation at the door, you get to indulge in 3 mouthwatering cupcakes and coffee. And, 100% of the proceeds go to "Kids Help Phone", a very worthy cause.

Kids Help Phone is Canada’s only toll-free, national, bilingual, phone and web counselling, referral and information service for children and youth. Whatever the problem, from abuse to the death of a parent, Kids Help Phone is there with professional phone and web-based counselling services, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Cupcake Camps have been held around the world to resounding success. With many talented pro bakers in Montreal, like my friend Clever Cupcakes donating their cupcakes for the event, I am sure Montreal's will be a not-to-be-missed event, too.

I volunteered to take photos at this charitable event... so expect more sweet pics! =D

If you're in Montreal this Sunday, why not drop by and join us, for the cause, the fun and the yummies. Bring the whole family to this kid-friendly event... make a date to meet your friends there, or make some new ones.

To find out more about Cupcake Camp Montreal, go to www.cupcakecampmtl.org

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In other news, I am racing to get things done, in order to hopefully attend a lighting seminar given by Gary Fong in Old Montreal today... will catch up with your streams, later! Have a great one and as always, thanks so much for stopping by my stream! xx

Do you know?

Questions, questions, questions - as long as you feel you are the luckiest girl on Earth... For you, My Love

I don’t put a smile upon your face no more

I can’t make your heart shine like it did before

You don’t listen to my stories anymore

You can’t comfort me the way you did before

Was I too loud, was I too bad

Was I too open

Was I too high, was I too fast

Was I too close

I don’t feel your lips like the first kiss

I’d rather run away than sit to face the truth

Was I too proud, was I too hopeful

Was I too needing

Was I too crazy, was I too long

Was I too giving

No matter how far, no matter how long

I will be there

Telepopmusic Close

(Please View LARGE On Black for full effect if you have a moment. Thanks. :) )

Last night, Gregg Cooper and I put off all the other stuff that we were supposed to be doing and headed down to the Disney California Adventure at 10 PM in hopes of catching both Carsland and Buena Vista Street without many people in the shot. As it turned out, we didn't leave until almost 1 AM (the park closed at 11 PM) and we were literally the last two individuals to leave the park for the night. They closed and locked the gates just as we left.

I tried a couple of different ideas for this shot, but I went with mono as it seemed that once you ignore the entrance gates in the background, this could very well be a shot of Oswald's Gas in the 1930's. I went with 1937 specifically as it's the year Snow White premiered and the street is themed to the Carthay Theater/Reastaurant down on the end of the street. That, and the fact that the year is printed on the license plate behind the car. I'm also a huge fan of the great jazz photographer Herman Leonard . Even though he didn't start shooting until 1947, this scene evoked the type of B&W contrast and mood that I've seen in much of his work.

In other news, this is the first shot I've posted using the Nikon D800, which showed up last Monday from Amazon. It was taken using the Nikkor 14-24, 2.8 which showed up on Thursday. I am now officially broke and will be spending my next few weekends standing next to the onramp to the 57 freeway with a sign that says "Spent all of my money on camera gear. Will shoot for food." Keep an eye out for me. With any luck, I should have this stuff paid off by the Summer of 2014. Let's hear it for Amazon's 24 month, 0 percent financing!

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IL MIO VIDEO SU SIENA: www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFSjbSviaaw&feature=mfu_in_or...

IL MIO VIDEO SULLA "VAL D' ORCIA": www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEAQfiR50AI

IL MIO SITO: www.mauronizzi.it

Granada (Spain).

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ENGLISH

Granada Cathedral (Cathedral of the Annunciation) is a cathedral in Granada, in the Autonomous Region of Andalusia, Spain, designed at the peak of the Spanish Renaissance. In 1529 Diego de Siloé outlined the Renaissance lines of this building upon its Gothic foundations, with a triforium and five naves instead of the usual three. Most unusually, he created a circular capilla mayor rather than a semicircular apse, perhaps inspired by Italian ideas for circular 'perfect buildings' (eg in Alberti's works). Within its structure the cathedral combines other orders of architecture. It took 181 years for the cathedral to be built.

In 1667 Alonso Cano altered the initial plan for the main façade, introducing Baroque elements. The magnificence of the building would be even greater, if the two large 81 meter towers foreseen in the plans had been built; however the project remained incomplete for various reasons, among them, financial.

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granada_Cathedral

-----------------------------

CASTELLANO

La Catedral de Granada es un templo católico de la ciudad española de Granada, sede de la diócesis de la ciudad. El templo es una de las obras cumbres del renacimiento español.

Durante el barroco, Andalucía, al igual que Galicia, conformará un centro artístico independiente del estilo predominante en el resto de la península, el herrerianismo.

Con el reinado de Carlos I de España se llevarán a cabo numerosas construcciones en la ciudad de Granada, dada la intención del monarca en convertir a la urbe en el modelo de ciudad del siglo XVI. Así la construcción de la catedral de Granada será coetánea a las de el palacio cristiano de la Alhambra, la Universidad y la chancillería (tribunal supremo).

La obra es concebida en 1523 por Enrique Egas tomando como modelo la Catedral de Toledo. Sin embargo será Diego de Siloé quien, en 1529, se encargará de las obras, que se concluirán en 1537. El autor traza las líneas renacentistas de todo el edificio sobre los cimientos góticos, con girola y cinco naves en lugar de las tres habituales. Combina en su estructura elementos de otros órdenes arquitectónicos.

Con la llegada de la política centralista de Felipe II y, especialmente, con la expulsión de los moriscos de 1609, la región perderá gran parte de su fuerza económica, quedando relegada frente a otros centros locales. Sin embargo, sí se continuarán desarrollando proyectos artísticos de importancia. Es el caso de la reforma de la fachada principal emprendida por Alonso Cano (1601 – 1667) en 1664 en la que se introducen elementos barrocos.

La magnificencia del proyecto hubiese sido aún mayor si se hubiesen erigido las dos grandes torres de 81 metros de altura previstas en los planos. El proyecto no fue terminado por diversos problemas, entre ellos la muerte de Alonso Cano en 1667, y otros económicos, por lo que finalmente, en 1684, la Catedral quedó con una torre, formada solo por tres cuerpos en lugar de los seis previstos y con un total de 57 metros de altura.

En 1706 Francisco de Hurtado Izquierdo y posteriormente su colaborador José Beda construyen el actual sagrario de la catedral. En él, el autor rompe su tendencia rococó, respetando la sobriedad de líneas y la estructura clásica del resto del templo.

Más info: es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catedral_de_la_Encarnaci%c3%b3n_de_...

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This was the title for an e.mail sent to me by "The valley walker" well i have now seen it :-) tease me some more now i need to find that "babys finger "

MY GETTY COLLECTION HERE

www.gettyimages.com/search/search.aspx?assettype=image&am...

VIEW MY WEB SITE AND SHOP HERE

photographydavidsmith.com/

Here is my first published work even though i did it as a freebie its great seeing your work on a web site !

www.thewhitehartvillageinn.com/index.html

Here is the flickr set

www.flickr.com/photos/10141102@N08/sets/72157623966405344/

black & white

Press play and let go. You know that feeling, when your insides just turn to mush. Your eyes close and you become so lost, it's overwhelming. It becomes hard to breathe, but it feels incredible and there are no words to be said. Even if it's about pain, it feels so good. Sometimes you know why the music does this to you, and sometimes you don't. It doesn't matter, the feeling just takes over and you crumble. The music isn't always good, and it's not always your favorite. It can be something you hate, but you feel it on an entirely different level.

This feeling is something everyone can relate to. If you can't, my heart goes out to you and somehow I hope you find it.

I'm honestly on the verge of tears right now. Not because I'm sad, but out of joy.

It pulls out your soul.

This is where I get lost.

Circuit Breaker - Royksopp

Speeding Cars - Imogen Heap

Wolf Like Me - TV on the Radio

Starts with One - Shiny Toy Guns

Chemistry of a Car Crash - Shiny Toy Guns

You Are The One - Shiny Toy Guns

Talk Amongst Yourselves - Grand National

It's Amazing - Jem

So Begins Our Alabee - Of Montreal

Be Yourself - Audioslave

Let Go - Frou Frou

A Perfect Lie - The Engine Room

When You were young - The Killers

Beautiful Things - Ming & Ping

Like Eating Glass - Bloc Party

Enjoy the Silence - Lacuna Coil

Angel on my shoulder - Kaskade

Adagio for strings - Tiesto

Just Be - Tiesto

Wait... you're still here? I think you're my new hero.

Your turn.

What does it to you?

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Technical properties:

Camera: Canon EOS 50D

Lens: Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM

Processing-program: Adobe Photoshop CS4

Framed and signature: Photo Scape

Tripod: Giottos MTL9251B + MH5001-3 way Pan Head

Remote: Canon Remote Switch RS-80N3

Copyright © 2009 by pixel@work . All rights reserved.

This little bird came flying through my rainbow.

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About:

Another rainbow shot from the other day. The seagulls were flying around my head, so I wanted to catch one of them flying through the rainbow. This one is too far away, but it was the only one that did fly through the rainbow.... so what can you do... :))

Discussion

Comments and critique are as always welcome. Let me hear your opinion, why do you like this, or even better, how would you approach this scenery. Give me your thoughts... If you can't find anything to critique, a simple "nice" is cool too :))

Thanks

In and out of Explore, thanks to all for comments and faves :))

Use

This photo is Copyrighted © All rights reserved. Print versions and downloadable files are available on my SmugMug site. Hope to see you there :)

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Use the coupon code ( MlmOKzQr4rL56 ) on the signup form, if you want to save $5 on your SmugMug subscription :))

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Aldwych Underground Station, London, England

Drumroll please...........this is my first Full Frame image with my new Sony A99! Such a great camera and I really enjoyed it. The fact it was not too different from my A77 allowed me to get working with it straight away. Also this image was taken with my new Samyang 14mm which is a great lens on initial impressions but I have to get use to it a little bit. Also the low light handling capabilities made it a joy to use the A99.

Anyway, back to Aldwych Underground Station. I went to this station December 2012 and went again couple of days ago as I really enjoyed the tour so much, if you have never been before I suggest going as they have a lot more days available this month, just book your tickets via the London Transport Museum. This tour was as popular as last year with about 20 people in my tour. We got to visit the same stuff as last year but the tour guide did surprise me and said he has some new stuff to show us, will show you these uploads in the next couple of days. The only thing I felt is that the paint work of parts of the station has deteriorated a little since I was there last year. Also what amazes me how this station was so over engineered when it was built as they expected it to busier than it actually turned out to be, sadly it was never to be. Anyway, I better get ready to go out, back out with the camera again today :-).

Photo Details

Sony Alpha SLT-A99 / ISO800 / f/5.6 / 1/5 / Samyang 14mm F2.8 @ 14mm

Software Used

Lightroom 5

Location Information

Aldwych is a closed station on the London Underground, located in the City of Westminster in central London. It was opened in 1907 with the name Strand and was the terminus and only station on the short Piccadilly line branch from Holborn that was a relic of the merger of two railway schemes. The station building is close to the junction of Strand and Surrey Street. During its lifetime, the branch was the subject of a number of unrealised extension proposals that would have seen the tunnels through the station extended southwards, usually to Waterloo.

Served by a shuttle train for most of their life and suffering from low passenger numbers, the station and branch were considered for closure several times. A weekday peak hours-only service survived until closure in 1994, when the cost of replacing the lifts was considered too high compared to the income generated.

Disused parts of the station and the running tunnels were used during both World Wars to shelter artworks from London's public galleries and museums from bombing.

The station has long been popular as a filming location and has appeared as itself and as other London Underground stations in a number of films. In recognition of its historical significance, the station is a Grade II listed building.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aldwych_tube_station

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King's Canyon National Park, California

This photo was taken during my 5-day backpacking trip in High California Sierra. My team of 8 hikers started in Onion Valley, hiked about 40 miles, and spent 4 nights at wilderness: at Matlock Lake, Lake Charlotte, Rae Lakes, and Kearsarge Lakes. We hiked through tough Glen Pass 11798 ft (3596 m) and Kearsarge Pass 11760 ft (3550 m)

I took this photo in the morning after a third night... Absolutely pristine beautiful area. I wish I could spend more time here. I took a lot of photos at daytime, with wild flowers and bright blue waters of the lake.

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Image info : This Hoverfly is always mistaken to be a Bee, because of its behavior and the way it feeds on nectar just like a Bee.

This photo was cropped to focus on the head and eye.

Plana de Vic. Catalonia.

Check it out my Portfolio: GETTY IMAGES

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The Plain of Vic (Catalan Plana de Vic) is a 30 km long depression located at the eastern end of the Catalan Central Depression in the Osona comarca. It is named after the town of Vic, an important and ancient urban center in this natural region that lies in the midst of the plain. Other significant towns in the plain are Manlleu and Tona.

This natural depression carved by river Ter and its tributaries is longer than it is wide and stretches in a N / S direction. It is completely surrounded by mountains: The Sub-Pyrenees, with Bellmunt mountain towering in the north, the Lluçanès and Moianès high plateaus in the West, the Montseny in the southeast and the Guilleries, located at the apex of the Catalan Transversal Range and the Pre-Coastal Range, in the east.

www.ioannina-portal.gr/museums.php

Fiat... www.spreafotografia.it/contestw.php?id=48556

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California Oranges on the vine in my best friend's backyard in San Diego, California on April 6, 2007. They are so sweet and juicy!

MORE INFO ON ORANGES:

Oranges originated in southeast Asia, in either India, Vietnam or southern China. The fruit of Citrus sinensis is called sweet orange to distinguish it from Citrus aurantium, the bitter orange. In a number of languages, it is known as a "Chinese apple" (e.g. Dutch Sinaasappel, "China's apple").

While the origin of citrus fruits cannot be precisely identified, researchers believe they began to appear in southeast Asia around 4000BC. From there, they slowly spread to northern Africa mainly through migration and trade. During the period of the Roman Empire, demand by higher ranking members of society and increased trade allowed the fruits to spread to southern Europe.

Citrus spread throughout Europe during the Middle Ages and were then brought to the Americas by Spanish explorers. Worldwide trade of citrus fruits didn't appear until the 1800s and trade in orange juice developed as late as 1940.

Citrus fruits are produced all over the world. According to UNCTAD, in 2004 there were 140 citrus producing countries. Around 70% of the world's total citrus production is grown in the Northern Hemisphere, in particular Brazil, countries around the Mediterranean and the United States.

In the United States, citrus fruits for consumption as fresh fruit are mainly grown in California, Arizona and Texas, while most orange juice and grapefruit is produced in Florida).

Source: Wikipedia

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San Simeon Pier is a wooden structure with pristine ocean views. It is very near Hearst Castle, one of the most popular tourist attractions in all of California.

The small town of San Simeon is steeped in history, much of it relating to Hearst Castle. There is a state park and a state beach at San Simeon. They are located on the beach side of California Highway 1 directly below Hearst Castle, and, along with the castle, are operated by the California State Park system. The 1,000 foot-long fishing pier and crescent shaped beach of William R. Hearst Memorial State Beach offers a family picnic area with a grassy lawn on a hill above the beach. The facility measures only 2 acres but is a beautiful spot with a protected cove perfect for relaxing and swimming.

In 1878, Senator George Hearst (father of newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst) had a new wharf constructed. The wharf extended 1000 feet into the water that was deep enough to handle the largest ships of the era. Rails were laid on the pier to allow flat cars to move cargo to and from the new warehouse on shore. The pier handled shipments for the quicksilver (mercury) mines in the area. This was necessary because there way no road that could sustain the area which was thus isolated and could be accessed only by boat. California scenic SR1 connecting San Luis Obispo with the Monterey Peninsula, which passes the beach, was not completed until the 1950s'. From 1919, all of the building materials for the Hearst Castle and other buildings on the Hearst estate were landed at the pier. William Randolph Hearst, built other warehouses near the pier to house material and goods, which were later taken to the castle.

Today the pier, located on William Randolph Hearst Memorial Beach, is used for fishing and is a tourist attraction in itself. Near the pier and within the San Simeon State Park are several large beach front homes belonging to the Hearst Family, a one room school-house built in the nineteenth century and an nature interpretive center.

Tamron 10-24 mm AF @ 10mm. Exposure 1/400 of a second, f10, ISO 200 SOOC. That is not an optical illusion at the ocean end of the pier, it is not leaning. The pier was built with a 30 degree angle turn to the left to make docking and offloading easier.

© Lawrence Goldman 2012, All Rights Reserved

This work may not be copied, reproduced, republished, edited, downloaded, displayed, modified, transmitted, licensed, transferred, sold, distributed or uploaded in any way without my prior written permission.