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L'assetto architettonico dell'attuale abitato si manifestò solo nel medioevo quando, alla fine del Trecento, i Visconti edificarono il poderoso castello dal tipico impianto quadrilatero, con fossato, cortile interno e quattro torri angolari.

  

Il Castello di Sartirana Lomellina nella calda luce di un tramonto primaverileSotto gli Sforza il castello fu assegnato a Cicco Simonetta, potente ministro ducale in seguito accusato di tradimento e decapitato, che avviò importanti opere di trasformazione. Alla redazione del progetto partecipò l'architetto Bartolomeo Fioravanti, il noto architetto militare che di lì a poco venne chiamato a Mosca dallo zar Ivan II per concorrere alla realizzazione delle difese del Cremlino. Il maniero fu interamente sovralzato e la grande torre rotonda, ora simbolo del paese, rafforzata alla base con una struttura poliedrica.

Il castello ospita oggi il Centro Studi della Lomellina, che realizza interessanti eventi culturali, e la Fondazione Sartirana Arte con le sue collezioni di argenti contemporanei, gioielli d'artista, grafica d'arte, oggetti di cultura contadina, e importanti mostre con rilievo internazionale.

Nel caratteristico abitato sorto attorno al castello sono degni di nota alcuni interessanti edifici come la parrocchiale dedicata all'Assunta (XV secolo) e la chiesa barocca di San Rocco (adiacente al castello), un palazzetto visconteo con belle finestre e decorazioni in cotto ed il camposanto dall'aspetto neo-gotico.

  

Cultura [modifica]

Explore #434

 

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My Brother in Law has some of the baddest tattoos I've seen. Each tattoo has a personal meaning to his life. This is how he breaks it down:

 

Palm trees: If you look at the bottom of my veins they are connected to the tree, which means family ( strong roots in family). Also the palm tree is a part of Jesus as he returned to Jerusalem after he rises from the dead ( Palm Sunday) three people greeted him with Palm tree leaves. Trees continue to grow slowly as I too learn to grow as a person.

 

Tiki is Love and prosperity, one Tiki means strength ( Tiki Ku).

 

Tribal tats are family ,inner growth and warrior protecting my family.

 

Ali Bata writing on the tribal tattoo translates to Trust in God.

 

Japanese tat represents that you are not a follower, you go against the current, you never give up, and are always on the go which means you're goal oriented. The black and gray Koi fish represents fatherhood.

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Shot it at Gangasagar Fair.Gangasagar Mela is the largest fair celebrated in West Bengal (INDIA). This fair is held where the Ganga and the Bay of Bengal form a nexus. Hence the name Gangasagar Mela. This festival is celebrated during January every year and is a major attraction for millions of pilgrims from all over India.

The pilgrims come for a holy dip on Makar Sankranti (last day of the Bengali Month) Negha -Mid January. They take dips in the Ganges and offer water to the Sun God. The dip, as they say, purifies their 'self' and according to them, 'punya' can be obtained thus. When they are done with the ritual obligations, they head towards the Kapilmuni Temple situated nearby, to worship the deity as a mark of respect......

For more photos,click MY SITE subirbasak.orgfree.com.....

  

P.S."Copyright © – Subir Basak.

The reproduction, publication, modification, transmission or exploitation of any work contained herein for any use, personal or commercial, without my prior written permission is strictly prohibited. All rights reserved."

www.nine9style.net/shop/step1.php?number=15993&b_code...

  

Warm spring!

 

But still chilly in early morning&late night, isn't it?

 

So! We've prepare special Long knit cardigan for your dollXD

 

We've prepare this cardigan for bunnynine, MSD, SD13 and SD17 boys. Two colors available;Grey and Black!

 

So please visit our online store and see more pictures in there;3

 

(We will provide new long knit cardigan for girls with different color soon!)

  

For Bunnynine boys:

 

Grey: www.nine9style.net/shop/step1.php?number=15998&b_code...

 

Black: www.nine9style.net/shop/step1.php?number=15997&b_code...

  

For MSD boys:

 

Grey: www.nine9style.net/shop/step1.php?number=15996&b_code...

 

Black: www.nine9style.net/shop/step1.php?number=15995&b_code...

  

For SD13 boys:

 

Grey: www.nine9style.net/shop/step1.php?number=15994&b_code...

 

Black: www.nine9style.net/shop/step1.php?number=15993&b_code...

  

For SD17 boys:

 

Grey: www.nine9style.net/shop/step1.php?number=15992&b_code...

 

Black: www.nine9style.net/shop/step1.php?number=15991&b_code...

 

Explore, position 235

 

Lavatera.

 

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As I was darkening down the beautiful heart of this flower in editing, today's Mupic (Music and Picture combination) came to mind, a favourite of mine. ~~ Total Eclipse Of The Heart, by Bonnie Tyler. Hope you approve .... Have a great Thursday everyone. I've got hospital but will be back later to catch-up.

 

Please right click on the following blue link and select "Open Link in New Tab."

 

♪ ♫ Total Eclipse of The Heart ♪ ♫ ~~ Bonnie Tyler.

 

Turnaround, every now and then I get a

little bit lonely and you're never coming around

Turnaround, Every now and then I get a

little bit tired of listening to the sound of my tears

Turnaround, Every now and then I get a

little bit nervous that the best of all the years have gone by

Turnaround, Every now and then I get a

little bit terrified and then I see the look in your eyes

Turnaround bright eyes, Every now and

then I fall apart

Turnaround bright eyes, Every now and

then I fall apart

 

Turnaround, Every now and then I get a

little bit restless and I dream of something wild

Turnaround, Every now and then I get a

little bit helpless and I'm lying like a child in your arms

Turnaround, Every now and then I get a

little bit angry and I know I've got to get out and cry

Turnaround, Every now and then I get a

little bit terrified but then I see the look in your eyes

Turnaround bright eyes, Every now and

then I fall apart

Turnaround bright eyes, Every now and

then I fall apart

 

And I need you now tonight

And I need you more than ever

And if you'll only hold me tight

We'll be holding on forever

And we'll only be making it right

Cause we'll never be wrong together

We can take it to the end of the line

Your love is like a shadow on me all of the time

I don't know what to do and I'm always in the dark

We're living in a powder keg and giving off sparks

I really need you tonight

Forever's gonna start tonight

Forever's gonna start tonight

 

Once upon a time I was falling in love

But now I'm only falling apart

There's nothing I can do

A total eclipse of the heart

Once upon a time there was light in my life

But now there's only love in the dark

Nothing I can say

A total eclipse of the heart

 

Turnaround bright eyes

Turnaround bright eyes

Turnaround, every now and then I know

you'll never be the boy you always you wanted to be

Turnaround, every now and then I know

you'll always be the only boy who wanted me the way that I am

Turnaround, every now and then I know

there's no one in the universe as magical and wonderous as you

Turnaround, every now and then I know

there's nothing any better and there's nothing I just wouldn't do

Turnaround bright eyes, Every now and

then I fall apart

Turnaround bright eyes, Every now and

then I fall apart

 

And I need you now tonight

And I need you more than ever

And if you'll only hold me tight

We'll be holding on forever

And we'll only be making it right

Cause we'll never be wrong together

We can take it to the end of the line

Your love is like a shadow on me all of the time

I don't know what to do and I'm always in the dark

We're living in a powder keg and giving off sparks

I really need you tonight

Forever's gonna start tonight

Forever's gonna start tonight

 

Once upon a time I was falling in love

But now I'm only falling apart

There's nothing I can do

A total eclipse of the heart

Once upon a time there was light in my life

But now there's only love in the dark

Nothing I can say

A total eclipse of the heart

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For our Mammoth Lakes workshop, I scouted this spot for a sunrise shoot. We did not get this far south during the workshop and so I will have to return and get this image at sunrise with alpenglow on the Sierra peaks. I took this image about 10AM and already, the light was pretty flat. However, it is a pretty nice shot despite the flat lighting.

 

There are some landscape photographers who say 'take a nap during the 'flat light' time of day. I say, 'use the light you have'.

 

When you are photographing in the mid-morning to late afternoon, you need to find scenes that will yield a good photograph in the flatter light. Look for scenes where there is a lot going on with textures and colors. Here, the deep blue color and the ripples on the river give this image an interesting foreground compositional element. The green reeds with the brown above them and the far river bank lend another compositional element and make the middle-ground interesting. The mountains are not too interesting here because of the lack of shadow detail but together with the sky do give a fairly good background.

 

S-curves in a river can make a nice addition to the composition of a landscape image. Sometimes, like here, you need more height. One of my photographer friends (James Neeley) has a 40-foot tall tripod and a remote control for the head. That's what I needed here to see more of the S-curve. In this image, I framed it so the river leads the viewer's attention deeper into the scene, to Mt Tom in the background.

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If one think that the women's veil is an islamic feature, well he is wrong. Here is an excerpt from the Bible :

 

"1 Corinthians 11:3-12

 

Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.

Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head.

And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is just as though her head were shaved.

If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head. A man ought not to cover his head,[a] since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man.

For man did not come from woman, but woman from man;

neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.

For this reason, and because of the angels the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head.

 

So we see that since the man is the glory of God and the woman is the glory of man then she has to wear the veil as a sign of authority. Her wearing the veil shows that she is subjected in authority to the man. "

 

Concerning the women roles, this text tells women to wear the veil so that it can show that they are subjected to man in authority !!! And this is not a matter of religion..it is just a machist exemple of oppression..

 

(ps.: the arabian-like signs of the picture have a pure aestethical function; no meaning)

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La catedral de Cuernavaca (Templo de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción) se encuentra ubicada en el Centro Histórico de la Ciudad de Cuernavaca.

 

En 1525, cuatro años después de la conquista, llegaron a las costas de México varios grupos de misioneros, siendo los primeros en establecerse en el Valle de Morelos los 12 primeros frailes franciscanos; procedían a edificar la capilla abierta para colaborar en convertir a la fe cristiana a los indígenas. En 1529 se ratificó la fundación formal del monasterio. En 1891 fue elevado a la categoría de Catedral por Leon XIII.

 

De la primera etapa constructiva sólo sobreviven el casco de la iglesia y las arcadas de la planta baja del convento.

 

La Catedral de Cuernavaca esta formada por un conjunto de tres templos: Dolores, del Carmen y de la Tercera Orden, una capilla abierta de San José, el atrio, la Iglesia de La Asunción y el propio convento.

 

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The Serenity of Nature by Garrett Bradley

  

The serenity of nature fills my soul with peace

 

As I lay back on the crisp, yet soft grass

I let my mind wander to a tranquil state

Where pain and suffering is nonexistent

And only the serenity of nature remains

 

While in my state of placidity

I watch in awe as nature works its wonders

I see the trees dancing to the wind's soft, sweet song

A host of bird's announcing the end of a wondrous day

An array of brightly colored flowers

Flaunt their beauty to the world

The pillow-like clouds, like sheep, graze in a large blue meadow

And hide the seemingly shy sun

 

And as i experience this beautiful setting

A gentle breeze whispers to me

'Time to go'

 

The serenity of nature fills my soul with peace

 

check out my site at Perfectly Imperfect Photography

Or my facebook at Perfectly Imperfect Photography on Facebook

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Todos los que hemos pasado por la fotografía química añoramos la saturación y colores de los fuji velvia y los kodachrome. Al ser diapositivas, la proyección era impresionante. Las imágenes eran perfectas, los contrastes claros y concisos. En fín, esta foto es un homenaje al carrete que aún seguimos muchos usando.

  

Por otra parte, Palazuelos es una localidad situada en el norte de la provincia de Guadalajara (Castilla-La Mancha, España) a 7 Km. al noroeste de la ciudad de Sigüenza (a cuyo municipio está adscrita) por la carretera CM-110 (Sigüenza-Atienza). Palazuelos se encuentra integrado en la 10ª Ruta de Don Quijote y en la Ruta del Románico Rural o de la Marca Media.

 

Según la clasificación jurídica tradicional de las localidades castellanas tiene la calificación de villa, tal y como se puede leer en una inscripción a la entrada del pueblo desde el Este (conocida como “Puerta de la Villa”). Esta calificación quiere decir que Palazuelos poseía concejo municipal y jueces (alcaldes) propios, lo que queda materializado simbólicamente en la existencia del rollo-picota (para ajusticiar a los reos que así fuesen condenados) en la Plaza Mayor.

 

Palazuelos posee una traza urbanística medieval que se mantiene todavía intramuros del conjunto fortificado del siglo XV, conservado prácticamente en su totalidad. Las medidas de protección con las que ha ido contando fueron recogidas y adaptadas por el decreto 19/2002 de la Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha con la figura de Bien de Interés Cultural con la categoría de Conjunto Histórico.

 

La población censada en la actualidad no alcanza el centenar de personas, la mayoría de ellas de edad avanzada. La población activa se dedica mayoritariamente a actividades de agricultura y ganadería

 

Visit my blog for advice on how on how to take photographs of your children or submit a photo for inclusion in "Ken's Tips On Your Pics": www.kensharp.com/blog/category/kens-tips-on-your-pics-2/

 

© Ken Sharp. Please do not use or download without permission. If you have any queries please contact me: www.kensharp.com

Torà, Lleida (Spain).

 

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ENGLISH

The town of Torà is located at the foot of the mountain range of the Aguda, between the Llobregós river and the watercourse of Llanera. The Llobregós goes from east to the west, forming a spit that stretches slightly perpendicular in the northern limit of the Segarra, with landscaping, topographic, geologic and gastronomical characteristics different from the rest of the region.

 

Throughout the line that forms this river, during 10th century, it existed the border between the Christian counties and the Islamic world. To the north, the Christians; to the south, the Saracens. Also it distinguishes clearly two landscapes; in the part of above, forests and isolated country houses; in the part of down, where it is based most of the present population, it extend the smooth cerealistic undulations of the Segarra.

 

The town of Torà is the most important and dynamic locality of these contours fruit of its industrial growth, thing that has not made him lose the aspect eminently agriculturist and cattle farmer of typical town of the Segarra. Torà has its origin at medieval time, the narrow alleys of the old district, places setting of porches, quiet and calm, they are a clear testimony.

 

The old Jewish quarter of Torà is located in what is now Carrer Nou, in the very centre of the old part of the village. Access to this area is through two portals. One is located in the Plaça de l’Església and the Portal Nou provides entry from the Plaça del Pati. This area is surrounded by small squares, narrow streets and very steep alleys that help recreate the atmosphere of the medieval village.

 

Close by, we find the old bakery, which now houses the bread museum. The first businesses of Torà were established in its Jewish quarter We know this from the entrances to some of the houses that still maintain the specific typology of the medieval Jewish shops, with the entrance on the left and the counter on the right of the facade for serving clients from inside the shop.

 

The lintels of many houses also serve as valuable material witnesses to the presence of the Jewish population. Some houses still bear the engraved symbol of Christ with the date and name of the owner. According to some historians, this identified Jews who had converted to Christianity.

 

A number of wealthy families lived in the Jewish quarter of the village, including the Baron of Morrocurt, and the Mujal and Aldabó families. The donations of the latter served to set up the wheat shop or “poor people’s shop” and the village Hospital.

 

Sources: www.lleidatur.com/ing/culturajueva.html

 

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

 

CASTELLANO

La villa de Torà se encuentra situada al pie de la sierra de la Aguda, entre el río Llobregós y la riera de Llanera. El Llobregós va de este a oeste, formando una lonja que se estira ligeramente perpendicular en el límite septentrional de la Segarra, con unos rasgos paisajísticos, topográficos, geológicos y gastronómicos diferentes del resto de la comarca.

 

A lo largo de la línea que forma este río, durante el siglo X, existía la frontera entre los condados cristianos y el mundo islámico. Al norte, los cristianos; al sur, los sarracenos. También distingue claramente dos paisajes; en la parte de arriba, bosques y masías aisladas; en la parte de abajo, donde se asienta la mayoría de la población actual, se extienden las suaves ondulaciones cerealísticas de la Segarra.

 

La villa de Torà es la localidad más importante y dinámica de estos contornos fruto de su crecimiento industrial, cosa que no le ha hecho perder el aspecto eminentemente agrícola y ganadero de típica villa de la Segarra. Torà tiene su origen en época medieval, los callejones estrechos del barrio viejo, cubiertos de porches, silenciosos y tranquilos, son un claro testimonio.

 

La antigua judería de Torà se localiza en la actual calle Nueva, en pleno núcleo antiguo de la población. Se accede a ella por dos portales, uno situado en la plaza de la iglesia y por el portal Nuevo, con entrada por la plaza del Patio. Está rodeada de plazuelas, calles estrechas y callejones de fuerte pendiente, que recrean el ambiente de la antigua villa medieval.

 

Muy cerca encontramos el viejo horno comunal, que hoy alberga el museo del pan. En el barrio judío de Torà se estableció el primer comercio de la población. Dan fe de ello las entradas de algunas casas que todavía conservan la tipología propia de las tiendas medievales judías, con el acceso a la izquierda y el mostrador a la derecha de la fachada para servir a los clientes desde dentro de la tienda.

 

Los dindeles de muchas casas son también un valioso testimonio material de la presencia de los judíos en la población; en algunos casos todavía tienen grabado el símbolo de Jesús, sigla según algunos historiadores de los judíos conversos, además de la fecha y el nombre del propietario.

 

Residieron en la judería familias acomodadas de la población, como el barón de Morrocurt, los Mujal o los Aldabó, éstos últimos fundadores con sus donativos de la tienda del trigo o de los pobres y del hospital de la localidad.

 

Fuentes: www.turismesegarra.com/pobles/tora.asp, www.lleidatur.com/esp/culturajueva.html

Take in the Light on Black

 

An early morning scene from the shoreline at Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve. This place is a true gem, not far south of Washington, D.C. along the banks of the Potomac. 225+ species of birds frequent the marsh.

 

This shot is a little dark, and it's meant to be so. View it on Black and let your eyes adjust to the light and colors. Single 15 sec exposure.

 

Stay tuned for a future post of the tree and its reflection.

 

Thanks for looking!

 

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Comments and constructive criticism always appreciated.

Stream on Black and a Different View on Black

  

© Angela M. Lobefaro - Explore -

Isola dei Pescatori (lit. Fishermen’s Island) is an island of Lago Maggiore in northern Italy. As the most northerly of the three principal Borromean Islands it is also known as Isola Superiore and, with a population of about 50, it is the only one to be inhabited all year round. Unlike Isola Bella and Isola Madre, the island no longer belongs to the Borromeo.

 

The island is about 350 meters long by 100 meters wide. A narrow street running along its spine is joined by cobbled alleys to the promenade which encircles the island. The promenade is frequently flooded and the houses built against it are constructed to allow for this.

 

While the traditional occupation of fishing still exists—local restaurants providing a ready market for the fish—tourism has become central to the economic life of the island as its picturesque charms have made Isola dei Pescatori a popular destination: particularly for day-trippers but also for more extended visits. In addition to the hotel(s), restaurants and gift-shops there are boutiques selling craft products.

 

The church of San Vittore (Victor the Moor) retains traces of an ancient chapel which was probably constructed for the monks of Scozzòla (an abbey of San Donato di Sesto Calende founded by Liutardo, bishop of Pavia, in the mid ninth century [1]. The church was previously dedicated to S. Gangolfo (Gangulphus), whose veneration is linked with the Abbey of San Donato.

 

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isola_dei_Pescatori

   

~~~~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~~

 

♪♫♫♪♫♪ ♪♫♫♪♫♪ Happy New Year to you ALL♪♫♫♪♫♪ ♪♫♫♪♫ ♪

.

  

→ Click → HERE please, for a Wonderful Musical Video

   

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Thanks

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Best wishes from

Angela, Max & Hokhiko!

   

    

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I've added some radial blur to the original to emphasize movement.

When adding any filter effect I do it on a duplicate layer so the original layer remains unaffected. With the radial blur there are two options in Photoshop, spin or zoom. For this I have used zoom set to 10. I then take a soft eraser set at 50% over the area I don't want to be blurred. I increase this to 100% still with soft edges and erase the area around the main focal point which in this case is Brac's face. I then added 2 hue/saturation layers, one to slightly reduce the saturation of the background and one to increase it slightly on his face. I'm only taking very small amount here so it's not obvious but it does help hold the eye on Brac. To finish I used the patch tool to remove a small piece of brown leaf that was stuck on his side. Once happy with the result the layers can be flattened and saved.

 

Flickr Highest position: 178 on Wednesday, April 30, 2008

I'm so freaking happy with this one. :-)

 

I would be even happier if you did you-know-what.

 

It’s been snowing off and on today, sometimes with those really big, sticky white flakes. So around noon I thought, “I must go outside to take my photo.”

 

I often have an idea that has to wait to be realized because of circumstances, such as the fact that I assume nudity is illegal in the park down the road (hence the self-portrait I see in my head of me standing on a rock in the creek, in the sun, with my angel wings on, has to wait).

 

I’m a bit obsessed with the wing theme. It’s an angel obsession, really, and I have a hard time explaining it since I grew up with essentially no religion and the little I did have was Jewish. We don’t really do angels. I chalk it up to the same reasons that my Christian friends growing up who said prayers before bed fascinated me. I wanted that sort of comforting presence in my life. At a very young age I was looking for ways to “prove” there was some sort of force surrounding me; guiding me.

 

It’s funny, just the other night my daughter mentioned the little rainbow-ish ‘floaters’ that appear if you stare into dead space in a dark room. I was fascinated by them, and convinced myself that they were fairies. I told her that and she didn’t even think it was weird, for a change. If you’re not sure what I’m talking about, however, you may very well think I’m weird.

 

Since taking self-portraits, that obsession with angels has resurfaced, only now I tend to use it as a metaphor for our human frailties (and I do not mean that in a bad way), and our need for comfort yet not always knowing where to look. I create many of the images as “fallen” or anguished angels…angels who no longer know how to take care of us in this world; angels who find this world heartbreaking.

 

Today I saw the snow and thought of my white wings and I knew I had to get out there, no matter how cold it was and no matter if my camera might get damp. I put on a white dress with a jacket over it. I set up the tripod with the camera on it, settings ready, remote attached and brought them and a towel in one hand, my wings in the other, into my backyard.

 

The snow didn’t cooperate as I had hoped…the flakes turned almost invisible for exactly the amount of time I was outside. When I came back in, shivering, and got dressed, I saw the big fat flakes had returned. I was annoyed, but not enough to go through everything again to go re-shoot. Instead I worked with what I had, layering other images of snow and old daguerreotypes to create textured, and painterly images. I worked on three and I really love how they came out. I’ll likely post the other two within the week.

 

Something about this particular image, however, struck me as different than my previous ‘angel’ images.

 

It seems hopeful.

 

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I enjoyed the show with this Hawk a lot!

He was so keen on food and kept flying around for more...

The keepers did threw something in the air and he captured it in flight,

he landed in front of us and I could see what it was...

According to this big bird: " Nothing better than a skinny chicken leg"

--x--

Rome (Italy).

 

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The Pantheon (meaning "every god" in Greek) is a building in Rome, originally built by Marcus Agrippa as a temple to all the gods of Ancient Rome, and rebuilt in the early 2nd century AD. A near-contemporary writer, Cassius Dio, speculates that the name comes from the statues of many gods placed around the building, or from the resemblance of the dome to the heavens. Since the French Revolution, when the church of Sainte-Geneviève, Paris, was deconsecrated and turned into a secular monument, the Panthéon, the generic term pantheon may be applied to any building in which illustrious dead are honoured or buried.

 

The building is circular with a portico of three ranks of huge granite Corinthian columns (eight in the first rank and two groups of four behind) under a pediment opening into the rotunda, under a coffered, concrete dome, with a central opening (oculus) open to the sky. Almost two thousand years after it was built, the Pantheon's dome is still the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome. The height to the oculus and the diameter of the interior circle are the same, 43.3 metres (142 ft). A rectangular structure links the portico with the rotunda. It is one of the best preserved of all Roman buildings. It has been in continuous use throughout its history. Since the 7th century, the Pantheon has been used as a Roman Catholic church dedicated to "St. Mary and the Martyrs" but informally known as "Santa Maria Rotonda. [Text adapted from wikipedia]

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Copyright © Marcel Germain.

 

COMMERCIAL USE. Any commercial use of this image is prohibited without my prior, explicit permission. Please contact me by Flickrmail if you are interested in licencing one of my pictures for commercial purposes.

 

NON-COMMERCIAL USE. You can use this photo for non-profit, non-commercial purposes as long as (1) you credit me as the photographer and (2) where possible, you provide a link to my Flickr photostream. Please contact me if you have any questions.

 

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View On Black

 

As expressed earlier ...

 

I'm also thinking of leaving again. Because I cannot cope up with fulfilling duties to my friends to visit them often and comment on their pictures. Right now, I just want to work on my pictures. Shoot, process, refine and the whole ordeal really requires so much time.

 

If I don't come to your photostreams, it doesn't mean that I forgot you. It just means that I'm doing something. I love you all and I wish I can visit you all the times and say a word or two.

View On Black

 

Samhain marked the end of the harvest, the end of the "lighter half" of the year and beginning of the "darker half". It was traditionally celebrated over the course of several days. Many scholars believe that it was the beginning of the Celtic year. It has some elements of a festival of the dead. The Gaels believed that the border between this world and the otherworld became thin on Samhain; because some animals and plants were dying, it thus allowed the dead to reach back through the veil that separated them from the living. Bonfires played a large part in the festivities. People and their livestock would often walk between two bonfires as a cleansing ritual, and the bones of slaughtered livestock were cast into its flames .

 

The Gaelic custom of wearing costumes and masks, was an attempt to copy the spirits or placate them. In Scotland the dead were impersonated by young men with masked, veiled or blackened faces, dressed in white. Samhnag — turnips which were hollowed-out and carved with faces to make lanterns — were also used to ward off harmful spirits.

texture by Skeletalmess

En grande

 

¡Muchas gracias a todos por vuestros amables comentarios! :)

Thank you very much for your kind comments! :)

Día 170/365 - Snoot

 

View On Black

 

En el camino hacia el santo grial de la fotografía y la iluminación con flash, no podía no cruzarme con un snoot.

 

Con un poco de cartulina negra en forma de tubo frente al flash se pueden lograr efectos como este.

 

--

 

On the way to the holy grail of photography and flash lighting, I found a snoot.

 

A black cardboard tube in front of the flash can achieve effects like this.

 

Strobist info: SB-900 1/32 power 200mm zoom with 25cm snoot above subject pointing to forhead. Triggered by PW.

Mejor en grande

 

Música: Decidete

 

Una decisión es la acción de elegir entre alternativas o formas para resolver diferentes situaciones de la vida, a nivel laboral, familiar, sentimental,etc., es decir, en todo momento se toman decisiones; decidir es algo que hacemos todas las personas de forma natural ante diversas situaciones, pareciera ser una acción de lo mas simple y sencillo por hacer; sin embargo, muchas personas se enfrentan a la incapacidad de tomar sus propias decisiones, la causa no es la falta de razón sino la falta de resolución y coraje para tener determinación y perder el miedo a enfrentarnos a dichas acciones que nos hacen elegir un camino, en determinado momento; esta acción se le denomina decidofobia, es decir el miedo a tomar decisiones equivocadas.

 

Es de vital importancia, creer en nosotros, en nuestros valores y principios, y sobre todo defenderlos, aprender a valorarnos y darle la importancia necesaria, a cada una de las decisiones que definan diversas situaciones a lo largo de nuestra vida.

Hay que vencer la decidofobia: el dejar que las cosas continúen como están: no se crece, no se progresa, no hay éxitos. Lánzate a la piscina.

 

Cuando uno va a tomar una decisión siempre hay temor a perder, por lo general se piensa que una pérdida nos hará estar muy mal; pero se ha observado que si una persona toma una decisión y por cualquier motivo le va mal, esa pérdida no lo hace estar tan mal como él lo suponía. Esto se debe a que las personas desconocen su resistencia psicológica y la habilidad para racionalizar casi cualquier situación.

 

Así que amig@s no dejéis que el miedo paralice vuestra vida.

       

Large View

On our daytrip to Globe, AZ, one of our favourite stops was to the Pickle Barrel Trading Post, the best antique emporium we've been to in awhile. We're still "thinking" about the $1,500 water fountain my wife eyed (i.e. I'm humouring her until she gets distracted by something else). Our big splurge was a July 1962 issue of "Arizona Highways" for $5 (cover price 40 cents). I make no claim to be smart with $$.

 

Anyway, just outside the front door and small parking lot of this fine establishment is a railway track that feels much too close for comfort. I managed to snap a couple shots of two different Arizona Eastern Railway (AZER) trains, each whizzing by in the span of a few minutes, blowing my ponytail into tangles. I share with you my artistic rendering of said experience.

  

Listen Serenata para violín - Shubert

 

El Monasterio de Poblet es una de las mas importantes muestras de arquitectura religiosa en Cataluña. Situado al pie de la Sierra de Prades, se alza impresionante entre campos de cultivo. El monastario fue fundado por Ramon Berenguer IV, conde de Barcelona, que donó las tierras a la orden cisterciense y fue ocupado por monjes procedentes de la abadía francesa de Fontfroide. Poblet fue lugar de descanso favorito de los reyes de Aragon, panteón real y centro cultural de primera magnitud. Su biblioteca era una de las mas importantes de la época y como todos los monasterios cistercienses era un autentico pueblo con todos los servicios necesarios para la comunidad. El declive del monasterio comienza en el siglo XVI para acabar deshabitándose en 1835, fecha de la Desmortizacion. La restauración se inició en 1930 volviendo a estar habitado por una comunidad cistericense desde 1940.

El conjunto esta constituido por tres recintos parcialmente amurallados. Pasada la primera muralla, se levanta la capilla de Sant Jordi, construida por Alfonso V de Aragon para conmemorar la conquista de Napoles. En la segunda muralla se abre la Porta Daurada, y en la tercera, la Porta Reial. A la derecha se encuentra la fachada barroca de la iglesia, y al otro lado de la puerta el locutorio, del siglo XV. El claustro, de los siglo XII y XIII, tiene capiteles historiados y pueden verse tumbas medievales. A lo largo de las galerías, se abren la cocina, el refectorio, frente al que se levanta una fuente románica, la sala de la calefaccion, la biblioteca antigua y la sala capitular. En la parte alta del claustro se encuentra el enorme dormitorio de los novicios y el archivo. Al otro lado se encuentra el Palau del Rei Martí, que nunca llegó a concluirse.

La iglesia data de los siglos XII y XIII y consta de tres naves con ábside y girola. Puede verse un bello retablo renacentista de Damià Forment y en el lado del evangelio, los sepulcros restaurados de algunos reyes de la Corona de Aragon: Jaume I, Pere IV y sus tres esposas, Ferran I, Alfonso II, Joan I y sus dos esposas, Joan II y Juana Enríquez, padres de Fernando el Católico. Tambien se encuentran en la iglesia los sepulcros de Alfonso el Maganimo y Martin el Humano.

 

 

www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/species.php?species=c-album

  

Comma

 

Polygonia c-album (po-lee-GOH-nee-uh see-AL-bum)

 

Wingspan

50 - 64mm

 

Checklist Number

59.031

 

Family:NymphalidaeRafinesque, 1815

 

Subfamily:NymphalinaeRafinesque, 1815

 

Tribe:NymphaliniRafinesque, 1815

 

Genus:PolygoniaHübner, [1819]

 

Subgenus:

 

Species:c-album(Linnaeus, 1758)

 

Subspecies:c-album(Linnaeus, 1758)

 

Form:c-album(Linnaeus, 1758)

hutchinsoniRobson, 1881

  

Introduction

 

Looking like a tatty Small Tortoiseshell, the Comma is now a familiar sight throughout most of England and Wales and is one of the few species that is bucking the trend by considerably expanding its range. The butterfly gets its name from the only white marking on its underside, which resembles a comma. When resting with wings closed this butterfly has excellent camouflage, the jagged outline of the wings giving the appearance of a withered leaf, making the butterfly inconspicuous when resting on a tree trunk or when hibernating.

This butterfly was once widespread over most of England and Wales, and parts of southern Scotland, but by the middle of the 1800s had suffered a severe decline that left it confined to the Welsh border counties, especially West Gloucestershire, East Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Monmouthshire. It is thought that the decline may have been due to a reduction in Hop farming, a key larval foodplant at the time. Since the 1960s this butterfly has made a spectacular comeback, with a preference for Common Nettle as the larval foodplant, and it is now found throughout England, Wales, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands and has recently reached Scotland. There have also been a few records from Ireland.

 

Polygonia c-album ssp. c-album f. c-album

This species was first defined in Linnaeus (1758) as shown here (type locality: Sweden).

The nominate form is found throughout its range.

  

Polygonia c-album ssp. c-album f. hutchinsoni

 

This form was first defined in Robson (1881).

This form is found throughout its range and represents individuals that go on to produce a second brood, which differ from those individuals that overwinter as follows:

1. Overall appearance much paler.

2. The underside is especially paler, being yellow-brown with darker markings nearer the body, and with a few green spots and other marks at the wing margins.

Polygonia c-album ssp. c-album f. hutchinsoni (Robson, 1881)

The specimens emerging in early Summer are much paler in hue that those appearing later: the ground colour is about the same as the palest portion of the darker specimens, and all the other markings are paler in proportion. On the underside the differences are even more noticeable, the early form being pale yellow-brown, with rather darker markings towards the base, and a few green spots and marks near the hind margins of both wings.

The Summer form is so different, and so constant in its appearance, that it ought to have a distinctive name, and we suggest it be called var. Hutchinsoni, in compliment to that lady whose liberality has enriched so many cabinets with specimens; whose knowledge of the species, as has already been said, is not exceeded by that of any one living, and to whom we are greatly indebted for information mentioned above.

  

Conservation Status

 

The Comma is one of the few species that is thriving which is believed to be linked to global warming. Its range has been continually expanding and it has recently reached Scotland where it hasn't been seen since around 1870. As such, this is not a species of conservation concern.

  

Habitat

 

This is primarily a woodland butterfly, where it can be seen along woodland rides and country lanes. However, especially in late summer, the butterfly is frequently seen in gardens where it feeds in on nectar sources to build up its fat reserves before entering hibernation.

  

Life Cycle

 

The butterfly can be seen at any time of the year, occasionally awakening on warm winter days. The butterfly emerges from hibernation in March, giving rise to the next generation which appear at the end of June and start of July. The majority of the offspring have dark undersides and these go on to hibernate. However, the remainder of the offspring have quite light undersides and brighter uppersides, and are known as the form hutchinsoni.

This form is named after Emma Hutchinson who discovered that this form goes on to breed and produce another generation that then overwinter. As a result, there is another peak emergence in late summer, at the end of August and start of September. The trigger for the development of this form is the changing day length as the larva develops. If day length is increasing (before midsummer's day) as the larva develops, then the majority of adults will be the hutchinsoni form that go on to produce another generation, whereas if day length is decreasing, then the majority of adults will be the regular dark form that enter hibernation. The assumption, therefore, is that a good spring will allow for an earlier emergence and more-rapid larval development, resulting in a high proportion of hutchinsoni adults which can then comfortably fit in another brood.

  

Imago

 

After emerging from hibernation, both sexes search out nectar sources, such as Sallow flowers or Blackthorn blossom. They also spend a good amount of time basking, favourite surfaces being tree trunks, wood piles, dead bracken and fence posts.

The male butterfly sets up a territory, often on the sunny side of a woodland margin or at the junction of two woodland rides. Here he will sit on a favourite perch awaiting a passing female and will fly up to investigate any passing insect. The male will also make short flights - always returning to the same perch. Even when disturbed, the male will fly off for several metres or so before predictably returning to exactly the same leaf. When egg-laying the female makes short fluttering flights over the foodplant, stopping every few feet, landing on the foodplant and, if suitable, laying a single green egg.

Those adults that hibernate take a good deal of nectar, building up essential fat reserves that will see them through the winter. They are often seen feeding from garden flowers or fruit, such as blackberries or fallen plums. They eventually search out woodland where they find a suitable location in which to hibernate such as a tree trunk, branch, hollow tree or log pile.

Adults feed primarily on Thistles (Cirsium spp. and Carduus spp.). Bramble (Rubus fruticosus), Ivy (Hedera helix), Knapweeds (Centaurea spp.) and Privet (Ligustrum vulgare) are also used.

  

Ovum

 

Eggs are laid singly on the foodplant, toward the edge of a leaf upperside, each female laying up to 275 eggs. They are normally laid on plants at the margins of woods, in woodland glades and rides or next to a hedgerow. Eggs are green when first laid but eventually turn yellow and ultimately grey just before hatching. This stage lasts between 2 and 3 weeks, depending on temperature.

  

Larva

 

On emerging, the young larva moves to the underside of a leaf where it feeds. As it matures it feeds on the upperside of the leaf and is quite unmistakable, resembling a bird dropping. This stage lasts around 5 weeks, depending on temperature. Larvae of the first brood moult 4 while those of the second brood moult 3 times.

The primary larval foodplant is Common Nettle (Urtica dioica). Currants (various) (Ribes spp.), Elms (various) (Ulmus spp.), Hop (Humulus lupulus) and Willows (various) (Salix spp.) are also used.

  

Pupa

 

The pupa is suspended head down, attached by the cremaster, to either the foodplant, surrounding vegetation or some other suitable platform. The pupa is quite beautiful and the green and brown colouring augmented with a small number of subtle silver spots, together with a jagged outline, give a superb impression of a withered leaf. This stage lasts around 2 weeks.

  

- large -

 

So we got 4 inches of snow on tuesday, and that's why I could capture that previous snow-filled image. But it's slowly melting and turning into slush. So let's get back to autumn for a while.

 

Where: Sweden, Östergötland, Bjärka säby. google maps

When: 20101015

How and why: Panning the camera while the image is recording to create a recognisable abstract of autumn.

Editing: Minor.

View Large On Black from archived slide film

 

" Bandelier National Monument is a U.S. National Monument consisting of 32,737 acres (132.48 km²) of northern New Mexico, United States. About five-sevenths (23,367 acres (94.56 km²)) of the monument has been designated a wilderness area. The Valles Caldera National Preserve adjoins the monument on the north and east, extending into the Jemez Mountains." ~Wiki

 

www.nps.gov/band

 

" Bandelier National Monument is an unexpected delight, with some of the most unusual and interesting ancient ruins in the Southwest, steep narrow canyons with plentiful wildlife, mountains rising to 10,000 feet, many acres of unspoilt backcountry and a colorful section of the Rio Grande river valley. The monument is just a few minutes drive from the scientific research town of Los Alamos, and close to other popular destinations including Santa Fe, the Jemez Mountains and several historic pueblo settlements ". ~ from www.americansouthwest.net/new_mexico/bandelier/national_m...

 

This is one of thier dwellings you can go inside using ladder built in volcanic ash rock.

 

この Bandelier National Monument というのはニュウメキシコ州のサンタフェのちかくにあります。

 

アナサチというインディアンの人たちが700年から450年ほどまえにここに住んでいたことの証拠というのでしょうか、今は国の記念公園になっております

 

 

www.americalatina.edu.br/noticias_detalhes.php?cod_notici...

 

IV Clic Ambiental já tem vencedores

A comissão julgadora divulgou hoje os vencedores da quarta edição do Clic Ambiental. O projeto, desenvolvido pela Prefeitura de Caxias do Sul, por meio da Secretaria Municipal do Meio Ambiente (SEMMA), registrou 303 fotografias inscritas, superando as expectativas da equipe de educação ambiental da Secretaria. Este ano, o concurso fotográfico acontece em comemoração aos 100 anos da chegada do trem, com o tema “Nos Trilhos da história, as revelações da natureza...”. São parceiros a Editora São Miguel e a Faculdade América Latina.

 

O objetivo do Clic Ambiental é conscientizar ecologicamente a comunidade caxiense, despertar o interesse pela fotografia, promover a educação ambiental por meio da arte de fotografar, descobrir novos retratos e paisagens da cidade e mostrar como a fotografia pode contribuir para a preservação ambiental.

 

O Concurso fotográfico premia três imagens em cada categoria: Natural, representando as belezas naturais dentro do município; Artificial, representando as imagens do contexto rural ou urbano do município; e Roubada, destinada às imagens de momento único captadas no local e na hora certa. A seleção e o julgamento foram feitos por uma comissão composta por profissionais da fotografia e da ecologia.

 

A premiação acontece no próximo dia 08 de junho, às 19h30min, no Auditório da Faculdade América Latina integrando a programação da Semana do Meio Ambiente 2010. As imagens serão conhecidas na abertura da exposição de premiação.

 

Confira os vencedores:

 

PAISAGEM NATURAL

 

1º lugar: Roni Silvio Rigon

 

Obra: “Colibri do Parque dos Macaquinhos”

 

Local: Caxias do Sul

   

2º lugar: René Paulo Rossi

 

Obra: “Árvores de Cogumelos”

 

Local: Monte Bérico da 9ª Légua – Caxias do Sul

   

3º lugar: Mirian Cardoso de Souza

 

Obra: “Amanhecer Gelado”

 

Local: Vila Oliva – Caxias do Sul

   

www.caxias.rs.gov.br/noticias/noticias_ler.php?codigo=12894

 

www.oabcaxias.org.br/site/ultimas_detalhes.php?id=5561&am...

 

View On Black

 

View On Black in large size

 

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One of the biggest giant sequoias seen in the Sequoia National Forest, the General Grant. These trees are really impressive with heigths up to 80m and up to 3.000 years of age. A nature jewel that we must preserve.

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Los árboles más grandes de la Tierra son, sin duda, las Sequoias gigantes (Sequoiadendron giganteum), y sólo crecen en Sierra Nevada, California, Estados Unidos. Son una especie de coníferas que ostentan alturas de entre 50 y 80 metros, y alcanzan una edad de tres mil años. El nombre se cree que proviene del líder cherokee Sequoyah, pero no es seguro.

 

El ejemplar vivo más grande es el apodado General Sherman, que está en el Giant Forest del Sequoia National Park. Este árbol magnífico tiene 83 metros de altura, 31 metros de circunferencia y una edad aproximada de 2200 años. Así que podríamos decir que es el ser vivo más inmenso del planeta. El naturalista James Wolverton le dio ese nombre en 1879 en honor al general William Tecumseh Sherman, un líder de la Guerra Civil de Estados Unidos, ya que él había peleado bajo su mando.

 

Las sequoias se caracterizan por ser muy altas y anchas, pero sus ramas no son muy grandes, la más larga del General Sherman mide unos dos metros. Pero sus troncos suelen tener un diámetro de entre 5 y 8 metros. Y se encuentran entre los seres vivos más antiguos del planeta, ya que la sequoia más anciana tiene unos 3200 años.

 

La corteza de las sequoias es muy fibrosa, arrugada y puede llegar a tener unos 60 cm de grosor. Tienen unas hojas muy bellas, con forma de lezna, son perennes, y miden de 3 a 6 milímetros de largo. Se las ve dispuestas en forma de espiral, lo que les da un tine muy pintoresco.

 

Las semillas de sequoia se las encuentra en forma de piñas, que maduran en unos 20 meses, si bien permanecen cerrados y verdes durante unos 20 años

 

Su hábitat es muy restringido. Sólo habitan en la parte occidental de Sierra Nevada, California, en un área de sólo 14 mil hectáreas. No hay bosques que sean exclusivamente de sequoias, sino que se los ve aquí y allá, aunque hay pequeñas áreas que podrían llamarse bosque puro. Se calcula que habrá unos 20 mil ejemplares, distribuidos en pequeñas arboledas de unos seis árboles vivos.

 

http://elblogverde.com/los-arboles-mas-magnificos-del-mundo-sequoias/

Hilo de la Fotohistoria en Pullip .es: MUSE CONCERT AT BARCELONA: PALAU SANT JORDI (6 of 9): Tha queue. /

CONCIERTO DE MUSE EN BARCELONA: PALAU SANT JORDI (6 de 2): La cola.

 

(Read in order, this is: SHOT/FOTO 61 of 115) PAG: Entrada, 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115.

 

PHOTOSTORY: In English / En Español

Velvet: (Bah, never mind, I'm the second one in the queue, I', pretty sure Gomi will be able to feel even the sweat of MUSE guys and she leaves me alone for a while...)

Gominola: (humm... I hope Velvet can get for us nice places to see the concert and we don't get squished in the first row and they mess up my new dress. ò_ó)

/

Velvet: (Bah, es igual, estoy la segunda en la cola, seguro Gomi podrá sentir hasta el sudor de los MUSE y así me deja un ratito tranquila... )

Gominola: (hum... espero que Velvet me consiga unos buenos puestos para ver el concierto y no me espachurren en la primera fila ni me estropeen mi vestido nuevo. ò_ó)

 

Dolls collaboration:

Tatynarata: Velvet and Gominola

 

LINKS:

- Las FOTOHISTORIAS de Sheryl en el Foro de Pullips: Pullip .es

- Sheryl Photostories at Flickr

Black-rumped Flameback (Dinopium benghalense) Woodpecker

Best Viewed LARGE on Black: bighugelabs.com/onblack.php?id=3832563913&size=large&...

 

Another shot from the Archives - infact, the first set of pictures that I put up on Flicker.

 

I took this shot on a beautiful morning in late May, 2007. The Zodiac Clock is also called a "nychtemeron".

 

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-snowshillmanor

 

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/...

 

Here is a description from the current Wikipedia article:

 

Snowshill Manor was the property of Winchcombe Abbey from 821 until 1539 when the Abbey was confiscated by King Henry VIII during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. Between 1539 and 1919 it had a number of tenants and owners until it was purchased by Charles Paget Wade, an architect, artist-craftsman, collector, poet and heir to the family fortune. He restored the property, living in the small cottage in the garden and using the manor house as a home for his collection of objects. He gave the property and the contents of this collection to the National Trust in 1951.

There are two aspects of Snowshill Manor: its garden and the manor house, which is now home to Wade's eclectic collection. The garden at Snowshill was laid out by Wade, in collaboration with Arts and Crafts movement architect, M H Baillie-Scott, between 1920 and 1923 as a series of outside rooms seen as an extension to the house. Features include terraces and ponds. The manor house is a typical Cotswold house, made from local stone; the main part of the house dates from the 16th century.

Today, the main attraction of the house is perhaps the display of Wade's collection. From 1900 until 1951, when he gave the Manor to the National Trust, Wade amassed an enormous and eclectic collection of objects reflecting his interest in craftsmanship. The objects in the collection include 26 suits of Japanese samurai armour dating from the 17th and 19th centuries; bicycles; toys; musical instruments and more. On October 5, 2003, the house was closed and its entire contents removed in order to effect a number of repairs. In particular, the electrical wiring needed updating, new fire, security and environmental monitoring systems were installed, and the existing lighting was improved. The house reopened on March 25, 2005.

**Its a MUST!!**

 

I realized i was short a week- so i doubled up this week. This weekend my mom and i drove up to see my sister, we got up suuuuuper early - still dark outside and ran into some crazy fog. It was so beautiful but kinda scary as well. There were so many spots i wanted to stop at to take pictures and hinted to her to stop but i guess my hints weren't strong enough till we hit this spot......i knew i wanted to stop but when she said "OH did you see that" I knew she saw what i saw....and i made my Of Course i want to stop- face. The area was just breath taking, the sun was just starting to peek out. I'm in love with this photo....

View On Black

 

textures by Skeletalmess

 

scanned from Ilford xp2 .. feb 1993

 

“Civilizations have arisen in other parts of the world. In ancient and modern times, wonderful ideas have been carried forward from one race to another...But mark you, my friends, it has been always with the blast of war trumpets and the march of embattled cohorts. Each idea had to be soaked in a deluge of blood..... Each word of power had to be followed by the groans of millions, by the wails of orphans, by the tears of widows.

 

This, many other nations have taught; but India for thousands of years peacefully existed. Here activity prevailed when even Greece did not exist... Even earlier, when history has no record, and tradition dares not peer into the gloom of that intense past, even from until now, ideas after ideas have marched out from her, but every word has been spoken with a blessing behind it and peace before it.

 

We, of all nations of the world, have never been a conquering race, and that blessing is on our head, and therefore we live...”

 

Swami Vivekananda

View On Black Photo © 2009, 2010 Angela A. Stanton, All rights reserved. Contact: angela@stantonphotostudios.com for further information.

 

Title may be funny but then it is real... at the beaches of Southern California. this summer we had no sun. In fact. my home, which is about 15 miles inland, had no summer this year either and it is fall time already! So this picture is in memoriam to our summer sun of this year.

 

I had the original version of this picture posted to flickr here: www.flickr.com/photos/angela_a_stanton/4541665893/ which was the unaltered version. Here I tested a new software's beta release called Oloneo PhotoEngine. It is pretty cool! The beta is a free download (google the name and you will find it). Supposedly it works until November 1st, when the final release should come--which includes a variety of things, including HDR processing.

 

Here I used some tone mapping akin of HDR and then played with the controls left and right.. this is a really cool result from that gloomy picture. =)

Rupit, Barcelona (Spain).

 

View Large On White

 

Another interpretation of this church... / Otra interpretación de esta iglesia...

 

ENGLISH

Rupit and Pruit (in Catalan Rupit i Pruit) are a municipality of the region of Osona located to the northeast of the region and the east of the Sierra de Cabrera. It is integrated by two urban nuclei: Rupit and Pruit, that they were independent until year 1980. It is the last town of the province of Barcelona in the highway that unites the municipalities of Vic, capital of the region of Osona and Olot, capital of the region of the Garrotxa (Girona).

 

The origin of the town we found in the castle that was constructed around year 1000, replacing the one of Fàbregues, where they went constructing houses around.

 

In 14th century the population underwent a reduction but it recovered, arriving in 17th and 18th centuries at the maximum splendor that has never had the town. The church was possibly built between 13th and 14th centuries, and it was dedicated to San Miguel Arcángel.

 

Pruit already names in year 955, when it belonged to viscounts of Osona. Always there is been united to the castle and jurisdiction of Rupit.

 

Sources: es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rupit_y_Pruit and pieraedicions.com/rupitpruitbreuhistoria.htm.

 

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

 

CASTELLANO

Rupit y Pruit (en catalán Rupit i Pruit) es un municipio de la comarca de Osona situado al noreste de la comarca y al este de la Sierra de Cabrera. Está integrado por dos núcleos urbanos: Rupit y Pruit, que fueron independientes hasta el año 1977. Es el último pueblo de la provincia de Barcelona en la carretera que une los municipios de Vic, capital de la comarca de Osona y Olot, capital de la comarca de La Garrotxa (Gerona).

 

La iglesia de Sant Joan de Fàbregues y su castillo están documentados desde el año 968. Hacia el siglo XII surgió el pueblo de Rupit habitado por familias nobles. En 1878, la iglesia de Rupit dejó de depender de Sant Joan de Fàbregues y en 1959 el municipio pasó a llamarse Rupit. En 1977 se unieron los municipios de Rupit y Pruit.

 

Más info: es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rupit_i_Pruit

unconfirmedsources.com/index.php

 

Unconfirmed sources are reporting that Internet giant Google will unveil a new mapping service called River View. The service will allow users to view the shores of every navigable river in the United States. The interface will be accessible through Google Maps much like the existing service Street View.

 

To create the service Google outfitted a small navy of boats to survey thousands of miles of shoreline. The craft are equipped with cameras and GPS receivers similar to the cars used to make the Street View service. The boats have been at work for months and are reportedly close to finishing their task.

 

"We are very excited about this new service." Says Google spokes person Cindy Clayton. "Rivers users of all types have been asking for service like this and it's a natural extension of our existing Street View service. We are pleased by the reviews it's gotten from the closed beta testers and are certain the public will find it useful and fun."

 

Environmentalists and watershed preservation groups are especially excited about the Project. "This is a huge deal." Says Samantha Gibbons of the Michigan Watershed Advisory Group. "We are always looking for way to communicate the importance of rivers too the public and this service will greatly help our efforts. It will also allow us to make a systematic study of the quality of rivers in watersheds all across the country."

 

Not everybody is pleased with the River View program and it has already attracted the attention of privacy groups in much the same way the Street View service had. Privacy groups are concerned that River View cameras may have illegally infringed on river property owners rights.

   

View On White

@EXPLORED

 

Darkness

 

I had a dream, which was not all a dream.

The bright sun was extinguish'd, and the stars

Did wander darkling in the eternal space,

Rayless, and pathless, and the icy earth

Swung blind and blackening in the moonless air;

Morn came, and went and came, and brought no day,

And men forgot their passions in the dread

Of this desolation; and all hearts

Were chill'd into a selfish prayer for light:

And they did live by watchfires - and the thrones,

The palaces of crowned kings, the huts,

The habitations of all things which dwell,

Were burnt for beacons; cities were consumed,

And men were gathered round their blazing homes

To look once more into each other's face;

Happy were those who dwelt within the eye

Of the volcanos, and their mountain-torch:

A fearful hope was all the world contain'd;

Forest were set on fire but hour by hour

They fell and faded and the crackling trunks

Extinguish'd with a crash and all was black.

The brows of men by the despairing light

Wore an unearthly aspect, as by fits

The flashes fell upon them; some lay down

And hid their eyes and wept; and some did rest

Their chins upon their clenched hands, and smiled;

And others hurried to and fro, and fed

Their funeral piles with fuel, and looked up

With mad disquietude on the dull sky,

The pall of a past world; and then again

With curses cast them down upon the dust,

And gnash'd their teeth and howl'd: the wild birds shriek'd,

And, terrified, did flutter on the ground,

And flap their useless wings; the wildest brutes

Came tame and tremolous; and vipers crawl'd

And twined themselves among the multitude,

Hissing, but stingless, they were slain for food:

And War, which for a moment was no more,

Did glut himself again; a meal was bought

With blood, and each sate sullenly apart

Gorging himself in gloom: no love was left;

All earth was but one thought and that was death,

Immediate and inglorious; and the pang

Of famine fed upon all entrails men

Died, and their bones were tombless as their flesh;

The meagre by the meagre were devoured,

Even dogs assail'd their masters, all save one,

And he was faithful to a corpse, and kept

The birds and beasts and famish'd men at bay,

Till hunger clung them, or the dropping dead

Lured their lank jaws; himself sought out no food,

But with a piteous and perpetual moan

And a quick desolate cry, licking the hand

Which answered not with a caress, he died.

The crowd was famish'd by degrees; but two

Of an enormous city did survive, And they were enemies;

They met beside

The dying embers of an altar-place

Where had been heap'd a mass of holy things

For an unholy usage; they raked up,

And shivering scraped with their cold skeleton hands

The feeble ashes, and their feeble breath

  

Blew for a little life, and made a flame

Wich was a mockery; then they lifted up

Their eyes as it grew lighter, and

Each other's aspects. saw, and shriek'd, and died, beheld

Even of their mutual hideousness they died,

Unknowing who he was upon whose brow

Famine had written Fiend. The world was void,

The populous and the powerful was a lump,

Seasonless, herbless, treeless, manless, lifeless,

A lump of death, a chaos of hard clay.

The rivers, lakes, and ocean stood still,

And nothing stirred within their silent depths;

Ships sailorless lay rotting on the sea,

And their masts fell down piecemeal; as they dropp'd

They slept on the abyss without a surge

The waves were dead; the tides were in their grave,

The moon their mistress had expired before;

The winds were withered in the stagnant air,

And the clouds perish'd; Darkness had no need

Of aid from them. She was the universe.

 

----------------by Lord Byron

 

One of my favorite poem. Little more about this poem from Wikipedia is given:

Darkness is a poem written by Lord Byron in July 1816. That year was known as the Year Without a Summer - this is because Mount Tambora had erupted in the Dutch East Indies the previous year, casting enough ash in to the atmosphere to block out the sun and cause abnormal weather across much of northeast America and northern Europe. This pall of darkness inspired Byron to write his poem. Literary critics were initially content to classify it as a "last man" poem, telling the apocalyptic story of the last man on earth. More recent critics have focused on the poem's historical context, as well as the anti-biblical nature of the poem, despite its many references to the Bible. The writing of this poem also occurred only months after the ending of his marriage.

 

Much Better Larger On Black

 

I realise that most of you live too far away to be able to come along but on Tuesday 12 October I'll be giving a talk to North Cheshire Photographic Society about my photos: www.ncps.org.uk/pages/syllabus/syllabus.html

 

The talk is scheduled to last for about an hour and a half. I've never done any public speaking lasting longer than a few minutes so, as you can imagine, I'm a little apprehensive and I'm now regretting having agreed to the thing! :-)

 

For the first hour I'll be showing lots of my own photos using a digital projector as well as discussing the work of photographers who have inspired me, like our own Leeechy www.flickr.com/photos/leechypics/ who first showed me over at DPR that photography could be an art form, as well as the work of iconic photographers like Michael Kenna: www.michaelkenna.net/

 

In the final 30 minutes of the talk (after a tea break!) I'm going to be discussing basic tips on photographic composition.

 

Anyone who would like to come will be made very welcome!

 

Ian

 

www.darckr.com/username.php?username=8725806@N08

Yapton is known as the village that "never closes its doors" - thought to refer to the days when smugglers making their way with their contraband from the beaches of nearby Clymping found plenty of open doors in Yapton to help them escape the pursuing excise men!

The name Yapton is thought to derive from "Eppa's ton" - Eppa being one of two priests who were left in Sussex about AD681 by Bishop St Wilfrid who bought Christianity to Sussex to continue the work of converting and baptising local people.

Nowadays Yapton is a thriving rural village. Over the last 30 years it has grown rapidly but is still an interesting and self-contained community with two Conservation Areas which include a number of listed buildings. It is centred around the King George V Playing Field and this, viewed from the main road, shows up the historic village church, set against the backdrop of the South Downs with Arundel in the distance. St Mary's, Church is a charming, 13th century rustic building which has been regularly added to through the centuries. The Tower has been buttressed due to its noticeable lean. It is a thoroughly friendly building. At present the Parish is intending to build an outside toilet and store and install running water into the church for a small kitchen. They are also hoping to make space at the back of the church to provide better access for wheel chairs and push chairs and create a welcome area.

.....View On Black

 

16 mm Nikkor. Photoshop CS4

 

A sort of duotone but pulled back on the opacity to give the level of colour, a sort of sand colour, the colour taken from the stone of the Radcliffe Camera itself. Use of the Gradient Tool dragging from bottom left to top right.

  

From Wikipedia;

 

It was known that John Radcliffe, physician to William III and Mary II of England, intended to build a library in Oxford at least two years before his death in 1714. It was thought that the new building would be an extension westwards of the Selden End of the Bodleian Library. Francis Atterbury, Dean of Christ Church thought a 90 ft room would be built on Exeter College land, and that the lower storey would be a library for Exeter College and the upper story Radcliffe's Library. Such plans were indeed prepared, by Nicholas Hawksmoor (fourteen 'Designs of Printing and Town Houses of Oxford by Mr. Hawksmoor' were among the drawings offered for sale after Hawksmoor's death), the plans are now in the Ashmolean Museum. Radcliffe's will, however, proved on 8 December 1714, clearly showed his intention that the library be built in the position it now occupies, stating:

And will that my executors pay forty thousand pounds in the terme of ten years, by yearly payments of four thousand pounds, the first payment thereof to begin and be made after the decease of my said two sisters for the building a library in Oxford and the purchaseing the house the houses [sic] between St Maries and the scholes in Catstreet where I intend the Library to be built, and when the said Library is built I give one hundred and fifty pounds per annum for ever to the Library Keeper thereof for the time being and one hundred pounds a year per annum for ever for buying books for the same Library.[2]

A number of tenement houses fronting Catte Street, built right up to the Schools, some gardens, Brasenose College outbuildings and Black Hall occupied the site required for the library. A number of colleges became involved in the development of the site. An added problem was that Brasenose required an equal amount of land fronting High Street in return for the land they were being asked to give up. As a consequence, the Trustees had to negotiate with the owners and the tenants of the houses. An Act of Parliament was passed in 1720 that enabled any corporations within the University to sell ground for building a library. The negotiations dealing with Catte Street took over twenty years.[2]

The choice of architect had been considered as early as 1720 - Christopher Wren, John Vanbrugh, Thomas Archer, John James, Nicholas Hawksmoor, and James Gibbs were considered. In 1734 Hawksmoor and Gibbs were invited to submit plans. Hawksmoor made a wooden model of his design which is in the Bodleian. Gibbs was eventually chosen for the building.[2]

On 17 May 1737, the foundation stone was laid. The progress of the building and the craftsmen employed is detailed both in the Minute Books of the Trustees and the Building Book, which supplement information given by Gibbs in his Bibliotheca Radcliviana. An extract states:

Mr. William Townsend of Oxford, and Mr. William Smith of Warwick, were employed to be masons; Mr. John Philipps to be the carpenter and joiner; Mr. George Devall to be plumber; Mr. Townsend junior to be stone carver; Mr. Linel of Long-acre, London, to be carver in wood; Mr. Artari, an Italian, to be their plaisterer in the fret work way; Mr. Michael Rysbrack to be sculptor, to cut the Doctor's figure in marble; and Mr. Blockley to be locksmith.

Francis Smith, the father of William, was chosen as one of the masons, but died in 1738 and was succeeded by his son near the beginning of building. In 1739, John Townesend also succeeded his father on the latter's death.[2]

The building was completed in 1748, and a librarian appointed, as was a porter. The opening ceremony took place on 13 April 1749 and soon known as 'the Physic Library'. Despite its name, its acquisitions were varied for the first sixty years, but from 1811 its intake was confined to works of a scientific nature. During the first half of the 19th century the collections included coins, marbles, candelabra, busts, plaster casts, and statues. These collections have since been moved to more appropriate sites. Between 1909 and 1912 an underground book store of two floors was constructed beneath the north lawn of the library with a tunnel connecting it with the Bodleian, invisibly linking the two buildings, something envisaged by Henry Acland in 1861.[2]

After the Radcliffe Science Library moved into another building, the Radcliffe Camera became home to additional reading rooms of the Bodleian Library. The freehold of the building and adjoining land was transferred from the Radcliffe Trustees to the University in 1927. The interior of the upper reading-room houses a six ft. marble statue of John Radcliffe, carved by John Michael Rysbrack.[2] It now holds books from the English, history, and theology collections, mostly secondary sources found on Undergraduate and Graduate reading lists. There is space for around 600,000 books in rooms beneath Radcliffe Square.

Contemporaries found great irony in the fact that the iconoclast Radcliffe, who scorned book-learning, should bequeath a substantial sum for the founding of the Radcliffe Library. Sir Samuel Garth quipped that the endowment was “about as logical as if a eunuch should found a seraglio.”[3]

 

The building is the earliest example in England of a circular library. It is built in three main stages externally and two stories internally, the upper one containing a gallery. The ground stage is heavily rusticated and has a series of eight pedimented projections. The central stage is divided into bays by coupled Corinthian columns supporting the entablature. The top stage is a balustraded parapet with vases. The construction used local stone from Headington and Burford, which was then ashlar faced. The dome and cupola are covered with lead. The original plan was for a stone dome, but after building 5 ft. 8 in. of the stonework, it had to be removed and the design was changed. Inside, the original walls and dome were distempered but this was later removed, revealing the decorations to be carved in stone. Only the decorative work of the dome is plaster.[2]

Originally, the basement was an open arched arcade with a vaulted stone ceiling, with Radcliffe's coat of arms in the centre. The arcade arches were fitted with iron grilles, three of them were gates which were closed at night, and which gave access to the library via grand staircase. In 1863, when the building had become a reading-room of the Bodleian, the arches were glazed, a new entrance was created on the north side in place of a circular window, with stone steps leading up to the entrance.[2]

The area around the Library was originally partly paved, partly cobbled, and partly gravelled. In 1751 stone posts and obelisks surmounted by lamps were placed around the perimeter. All but the three at the entrance to Brasenose Lane were removed around 1827 when the lawns were laid and iron railings, which were removed in 1936, installed.

Another one from Bryce Canyon.

 

View On Black

© roseinthedark. All rights reserved.

 

View On Black

 

22nd October 2007: I posted my first shots on Flickr.

It was a year ago and I couldn't imagine how much it would have changed myself.

For me, Flickr and burning passion for photography have come together. I couldn't say how much I've learnt and keep on learning, my friends, looking at your shots, talking with you. I didn't know what "bokeh", "DoF", "panning" or whatever meant before, and I would have been afraid to use manual mode while shooting, fearing to make mistakes. Then...I felt in love with many photos of yours, not the usual "point-and-shot" photos, but the ones that mean passion, study, willing to learn. I've decided to try myself, with a lot of mistakes, but also growing passion.

I have learnt a lot, I have a lot to learn, and this makes me happy like nothing else, expecially in time of changes and state of uncertainty - the time that I'm living nowadays. It's hard to describe the way I feel when I'm able to take "that" shot I had in mind, no matters if that means attempts, patience, time, sometimes going beyond my own fears (I can overcome vertigo for a shot only!); it's hard, but I know it's the same for many of you. And I know that I'll be always late for lunch or whatever if I go for a walk with my camera, because I'm sure that after a while I will find something that worths a stop for a picture, and then something else, and else...I had never understood how world is beautiful before seeing it through a lens. That's a precious gift that photography (and Flickr, in a way) made to me.

But there's also another gift: and it's you, my friends. Wonderful photographers, and often wonderful people that I was so lucky to find.

 

So: 366 days of Flickr, 366 times thank you.

 

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