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Fr..fr...fr...frustration! Frustration Frustration
I have life, ordinary wife. I have car, a favourite bar
I have job, a moderate wage. I get the pains that come with age.
I am so ordinary
I have child, she goes wild. I have home, a mortgage of my own
I have hobby, but it's nothing very special. I do the garden, I watch girls.
I am so ordinary
I have life, I have cage. I'm going bald, I want to tell the world.
I've done nothing, I've achieved nothing. I work for a firm, but I want to burn it down, down.
I am so ordinary I am so ordinary
I was born, one day I'll die. There was something in between.
I, I don't know what or why.
I'm a man, I want to break a rule. I am a no, no, no, no, no, no, nobody, everybody's fool.
I am so ordinary
Frustration (x4)
I'm so tired of endless art, love stories. I'm beginning to not give a damn.
I wish I could reach right out for the untouchable. Film starring Bruce, John Wayne, Elvis Presley. Experiment with cocaine, LSD and set a bad bad example.
Live a little, run a harem, be a tiger. Meet Bo Derek and be her Tarzan.
Reach, reach out out. Live, live, live! Die, die, die! I, I, I, I wanna die!!!!...
Frustration, oh Frustration (x3)
I wanna die, I wanna die, die, die, die, die, die, d..d..d..die, die, die
Frustration I wanna die
Frustration by Soft Cell
Here is another damselfly (this had a brown neck) looking this time from the front. Maybe not as "in your face" as yesterday's photo, but I have been wanting to ty and get a full frontal for while, but it isn't easy. I do like the dynamic angles on this though as well.
Anyway, this one was ok, and stayed still for a while.
I tried various tubes, but I can't remember whether this was 3, 2, 1, or none!
The camera was tripod mounted. I am not steady enough most of the time to get sharp shots hand held unless the shutter speed is up high, and even then it is hit and miss.
I have found that some damsels tend to be rather more likely to stay still than dragons, and afford more time and opportunity. This one was not on the grass originally, and I managed to get it to step onto my finger and then I transferred it onto the grass blade! Some damsels are happy to be approached it seems, a bit like some hoverflies will let you get them on your hand.
The previous image was an azure, this one is a female blue-tailed damselfly, Ischnura elegans.
El Casino de Agua Caliente se construyó en Tijuana, México, en 1927, con motivo de la ley seca de EEUU. Fue famoso por ser el único en la región.
Su ubicación geográfica y la atmósfera de sumo exotismo atrajo un creciente flujo de turismo, principalmente hollywoodense, que cruzaba Ia frontera para trasladarse a territorio mexicano y gozar de los pasatiempos prohibidos en su país. La intención fue crear un espejismo: ese lugar semiárido fue forestado con palma datilera, entre otras especies, y convertido en un verdadero oasis semejante a los sitios misionales de Mulegé y San Ignacio en Baja California Sur.
El estilo arquitectónico googie de tipo ecléctico utilizado en el diseño del conjunto, respondió a la expectativa de los clientes estadounidenses por encontrar el legendario Old Mexico, indispensable como escenario para el desarrollo del turismo.
Agua Caliente] jugó un papel decisivo en la conformación del sistema turístico Tijuana-San Diego, pues a partir de su construcción, Tijuana quedó incluida en el recorrido de turistas por el sur de California, EUA.
El Casino de Agua Caliente recibía gente de diversos paises, tales como Francia, España y del centro de la República, en esos tiempos los casinos estaban prohibidos al igual que en la actualidad, así que los dueños del Casino construyeron túneles subterráneos para escapar a la frontera. Se cuenta que esos túneles también los usaba un traficante de licores (que en esos tiempos estaba prohibido en Estados Unidos), así que compraba licores en el Casino y usaba los túneles para cruzar la frontera y venderlos al mejor postor. Después, durante la presidencia de Lázaro Cárdenas se mandó que el terreno donde estaba el casino se usara para hacer escuelas y así favorecer la educación de la zona, se construyeron en esa zona 3 escuelas: La Secundaria Politecnica No.1 PTE. Lázaro Cárdenas (alias "la Poli" y la primera secundaria federal), La Preparatoria Lázaro Cárdenas] y La Secundaria Tecnica No.1
Así mismo, fue uno de los primeros complejos turísticos deI país, que ofrecía al visitante servicios de hospedaje, recreación, espectáculo y juegos de azar (casino, hipódromo y galgódromo).
Se podía acceder a él por ferrocarril (línea San Diego-Arizona), con una estación de abordaje adyacente al galgódromo; por automóvil, accediendo al conjunto por una desviación deI camino Tijuana-Tecate bacia una rampa de acceso para autos que terminaba en una glorieta central, alrededor de Ia cual se dispusieron los edificios deI hotel, casino y balneario; y por aeroplano, para lo cual contaba con una pista y una torre-faro.
Con un estilo misional californiano, Ia fachada frontal deI hotel semejaba una espadaña; en el centro tenía un gran patio cuadrangular llamado "Patio de Ias Palmeras", rodeado de portales con arcos de medio punto. Los clientes podían hospedarse también en una serie de bungalows -cuyo diseño estaba basado en variantes deI estilo neocolonial- dispuestos todos en forma de una "villa" en medio de sendas peatonales y frondosos jardines.
EI casino contaba con varios salones de juegos (como el Salón de Oro), salón de baile, de espectáculos, restaurantes y bar. En estos escenarios se inició Ia famosa actriz Rita Hayworth, con su nombre original de Rita Cancino y su gala de "Tarde Mexicana ". Agua Caliente se convirtió en el lugar predilecto de Ia creciente población relacionada con el boom hollywoodense, atrayendo a artistas de cine como Clark Gable, Hermanos Marx, Jean Harlow, Jimmy Durante, Bing Crosby, Dolores deI Río y Lupe Vélez, entre otros, y fue escenario de algunos largometrajes (In Caliente con Dolores deI Río y The Champ).
Fue en el balneario de estilo neomudéjar donde mayormente se logró el mencionado efecto de espejismo mediante Ia presencia de palma datilera y el agua de Ia alberca proveniente deI manantial de aguas termales. Contaba con un vestíbulo de estilo neoislámico semejante a una mezquita, con arcos ojivales y artesonado de maderas ricamente decoradas con lacerías e intrincados diseños geométricos, dentro de Ia cual se encontraban tiendas de joyería y perfumería. EI balneario incluía baño turco y ruso, al igual que una alberca recubierta con mosaicos de estilizados diseños, provista de asoleadero con bancas perimetrales estilo art déco. Acorde con el diseño deI balneario, Ia chimenea de Ias calderas tomó forma de alminar o minarete propio de Ias mezquitas islámicas, y fue decorada con mosaicos policromos, rematándose con herrerías forjadas que aún se aprecian en su altura.
Además, el complejo tenía lavandería, cochera, imprenta, una guardería con educación primaria para hijos de Ios trabajadores y una estación de radio propia, Ia XEBG, que generó Ia importante innovación de radiodifusión: el transmisor portátil.
Posteriormente fueron construidos el Hipódromo de Agua Caliente (1 km hacia el sur) y el Club de Golf, ambos con un estilo arquitectónico acorde con el conjunto.
Prohibición [editar]
En el periodo presidencial deI general Lázaro Cárdenas fueron prohibidos los juegos de azar en el país, y el casino de Agua Caliente fue clausurado y expropiados el predio e instalaciones, por lo que sus puertas fueron cerradas definitivamente.
En Ia década de los años 1940 los edificios deI complejo Agua Caliente fueron reutilizados (previa expropiación deI inmueble y entrega a Ia SEP) para instalación deI Instituto Técnico Industrial, internado orientado a extender Ia educación a los sectores rurales desatendidos deI estado. Los espacios se adaptaron perfectamente a su nueva función educativa: sólo se requirieron pequeños cambios que no alteraron el esquema original deI conjunto arquitectónico.
Así, el hotel se convirtió en dormitorio para los alumnos; en los lujosos salones de juego y espectáculo se instalaron Ia biblioteca, sala de lectura, teatro y salón de actos deI planteI, y en Ia cochera, taIleres para el aprendizaje de carpintería, electricidad y mecánica; el balneario sirvió para prácticas de natación de los estudiantes, en cuyo vestíbulo se ubicaron Ias oficinas de la dirección deI Instituto; los terrenos deI galgódromo se transformaron en campos deportivos, y los bungalows se otorgaron como viviendas transitorias a los profesores deI plantel. Únicamente se construyeron aulas para Ias clases teóricas.
EI papel de Agua Caliente como centro escolar es de gran significado en Ia historia regional, pues fue pionero en Ia educación superior en el noroeste deI país.
Durante el periodo en que funcionó como internado, dio la bienvenida a un importante grupo de docentes refugiados de Ia guerra civil española, acogiéndolos dentro de su planta de maestros.
Así mismo, en los edificios de Agua Caliente se instaló, durante Ia segunda guerra mundial, el primer Banco de Sangre de Latinoamérica, así como una base de actividades militares comandadas por el general Lázaro Cárdenas, en donde se firmaron acuerdos con representantes del ejército estadounidense.
Pero el sitio y su arquitectura fueron reutilizados por segunda ocasión a principios de los años 1960 cuando varias escuelas fueron instaladas en los antiguos edificios: en el ex hotel, una secundaria técnica; en el exgalgódromo, una escuela primaria; en Ia cafetería deI mismo, el jardín de niños "Carmen Moreno Corral", y en el balneario permaneció el uso de oficinas administrativas. De esta manera, sólo mediante una segunda reutilización de Ios inmuebles se garantizó su ulterior permanencia.
Se borran sus huellas [editar]
Alrededor de 1938, con Ia expropiación deI completo turístico, se suscitó una falta de control que fue aprovechada para el saqueo de mobiliario, accesorios y otros objetos.
En 1939, cuando Ias instalaciones fueron turnadas a Ia SEP para establecer el internado, se hicieron mínimas adaptaciones que no trastornaron Ia fisonomía original deI conjunto.
Tras dejar de funcionar el internado por falta de recursos, en Ia década de los años1950 el sitio quedó temporalmente sin uso. Tiempo después, ya bajo Ia custodia de Ia Secretaría deI Patrimonio Nacional, se destinó una de Ias secciones deI área de bungalows para un destacamento deI Ejército mexicano.
En Ia misma década, Ia torre-faro de Agua Caliente fue dañada por un incendio que oriIló a su total demolición, pero fue reconstruida en Ios ochenta en un importante crucero de Ia ciudad, en un intento por recuperar Ia imagen de Ia famosa torre que marcaba el acceso al sitio.
En 1967 se incendió el Salón de Oro deI casino, perdiéndose una de Ias áreas más valiosas y ricamente decoradas. Este siniestro, junto con otros que igualmente ocasionaron cuantiosos daños, convirtió el complejo de Agua Caliente en minas, aunque hubo una etapa de actividad escolar en Ias instalaciones menos dañadas.
En 1975 se demolió casi Ia totalidad de Ios edificios, decisión tomada por Ia SEPANAL, entonces responsable deI inmueble. Sólo una mínima parte deI conjunto no fue tocada.
Actualmente el área está ocupada por cinco planteles escolares oficiales y sus correspondientes aulas CAPFCE, ubicadas en los sitios de Ias antiguas construcciones ya demolidas, entre zonas verdes con diversas especies de vegetación.
De Ia arquitectura original sobreviven dos conjuntos de edificios y una serie de monumentos dispersos, enclavados en Ia traza urbana en torno a una glorieta central.
El Conjunto Minarete, cuyos monumentos formaron parte deI balneario, contiene Ia alberca con sus bancas perimetrales art déco, "el arco" ojival de una de Ias fachadas con su portada de mosaico de azulejo policromo, Ia escalera de ingreso con su fabulosa fuente de cerámica vidriada y Ia chimenea en forma de minarete, que sobresale deI paisaje urbano deI área. Este elemento fue fisurado recientemente por Ias compactaciones deI terreno de una construcción colindante.
El Conjunto de Bungalows persiste en su totalidad, debido a que han sido permanentemente utilizados y gracias a los inquilinos que han mantenido en gran medida Ias características originales de su arquitectura y jardinería, apoyando el ambiente frondoso. No obstante, son evidentes algunas alteraciones a Ia arquitectura original y adaptaciones a nuevos usos. Así mismo, recientemente se han instalado carteleras comerciales que dañan el paisaje y bloquean Ia vista.
Si bien los monumentos existentes representan sólo una parte de lo que fue Ia totalidad deI centro turístico, éstos son importantes testimonios significativos de Ia historia de esa parte deI país.
EI recuerdo colectivo de este sitio -deI que derivaron también mitos y Ieyendas como el de "Ios túneles" o el de "La Faraona-, ha generado el brote de signos nostálgicos por el pasado de Agua Caliente, evidente en Ia construcción de Ia réplica de Ia famosa Torre de Agua Caliente y en Ia reproducción de su imagen en Iogotipos de organizaciones y comercios.
Esfuerzos por su conservación [editar]
Se ha señalado ya Ia falta de visión por parte de Ias autoridades para preservar el inmueble. En este caso, la actitud oficial no sólo fue de pasividad, sino que la propia autoridad fue la promotora de la demolición sistemática de los restos del complejo Agua Caliente en 1975. Indudablemente, en la decisión estuvo presente el prejuicio local que quería borra todo recuerdo de la propagación de bares y juego de azar, considerando que el complejo pertenecía a un periodo vergonzoso de la historia.
Fue de los sesenta cuando surgió la preocupación por la conservación del sitio y se reutilizaron los edificios, que estaban expuestos a los incendios, al deterioro y al vandalismo.
A principios de la decada de 1970, un grupo de estudiantes, profesores y personas interesadas integraron un comité pro-defensa y rescate de los monumentos, presentando un proyecto de conversión del sitio en Casa de la Cultura, iniciativa que desgraciadamente careció de resonancia.
En 1987, el sitio y los monumentos existentes fueron incluidos en el Catálogo Nacional de Monumentos Históricos Inmuebles del Estado de Baja California, Municipio de Tijuana, pero cabe señalar que este catálogo no constituye en sí un instrumento para la protección legal del sitio, por lo cual continúan las alteraciones a sus monumentos.
En varias ocasiones, Ia conservación y rescate de los edificios de Agua Caliente ha surgido como tema de ponencias en algunos foros (como los de Preservación deI Patrimonio Cultural Ilevados a cabo a nivel estatal), teniéndose nula respuesta por parte de Ia comunidad y autoridades.
Recientemente, fue desarrollado un proyecto de Ordenamiento Urbano Arquitectónico deI Sitio Histórico "Agua Caliente" (como tesis de Arquitectura de Ia UNAM) y varias propuestas para el sitio (por parte de Ia agrupación Patrimonio Arquitectónico promotores) que fueron presentados ante autoridades e interesados. Una de ellas recomendaba proteger el ambiente forestado deI área y sus monumentos mediante un proyecto y su delimitación específica, pero esta propuesta no le interesó a Ia autoridad local. En cambio aprobó, a pesar de Ia gran controversia suscitada, Ia construcción de un almacén de membresía de comercio al semimayoreo; cuya presencia impactó negativamente Ias características paisajísticas deI entorno y su fisonomía tradicional.
Con Ia finalidad de lograr su protección legal, en 1993 Ia Comisión de Preservación deI Patrimonio Cultural de Tijuana y Ia agrupación Patrimonio Arquitectónico Promotores solicitaron al Centro INAH en Baja California el Decreto como Monumento deI "Sitio Histórico Agua Caliente", petición que fue atendida positivamente por Ia Coordinación Nacional de Monumentos Históricos donde fue elaborado el proyecto de Decreto, mismo que ba pasado ya a Ia SEP para su posterior aprobación y firma.
Dicha ratificación garantizará Ia permanencia de estos edificios que ilustran dos episodios significativos de Ia vida de Tijuana: el periodo de transición hacia su integración económica con el boom deI turismo y Ia época en que fue el alma máter de decenas de generaciones de bajacalifornianos.
We did the shoot with the leaf as well but it was giving me trouble so I switched out for the lighter more versital D90. but I did want to put up some of the pictures that I took with the leaf. This is just an outline I will be posting pictures as the tattoo progresses.
Strobist: Norman D24 with four strobes. Two large softboxes back and to the sides one beautiy light (small softbox) up and center and A gridspot hairlight.
Maymia RZ Pro II w/ 90mm F2.8
Leaf Aptus 65
Ahora en Biodiversidad virtual y hace poco en El País -en pdf- gracias a Elisabet Sans. También en la web de la Fundación Biodiversidad
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Si ayer Netrium interruptum era el alga cebra , hoy el alga estrella Micrasterias , se asoma por la ventana de esta galería. Es posible, eso sí, que Micrasterias truncata sea una de las menos estrelladas junto con M. oscitans dentro de este grupo de pequeñas joyas que son los désmidos, pero eso apenas importa, pues todas ellas conservan su hermosura, desde que comienzan a formarse hasta que su alma verde se desvanece.
La mayoría de las especies hermanas del género Micrasterias viven en lagunas de aguas ácidas o en turberas y son extremadamente sensibles a la contaminación. La lluvia ácida y la presencia de diferentes compuestos químicos en el agua ha hecho que muchas de ellas hayan desaparecido en el norte y centro de Europa. Por fortuna, las lagunas de montaña, alejadas de fuentes de contaminación, atesoran todavía una gran variedad de estos organismos que se recortan como pequeños soles verdes entre las gotas de agua de las lagunas de montaña.
Micrasterias truncata es una de las especies de menor tamaño dentro del grupo y sus extremos casi planos y sin apenas dientes son características particulares a las que se debe el nombre específico de esta alga.
Hoy Micrasterias está a punto de completar su desarrollo después de haberse dividido. Son dos estrellas gemelas que flotan unidas hombro con hombro, no se independizarán hasta haber finalizado completamente su crecimiento. De momento seguirán así, juntas, ayudándose mutuamente para poder flotar, equilibradamente, este equilibrio de la simetría es una constante en su vida, sin él, posiblemente no habría estrellas.
Micrasterias truncata parece que no quiere despegarse de su alma gemela, necesitará todavía un tiempo madurar, cuando sus dos mitades pequeñas igualen a las grandes se harán independientes y brillarán en el firmamento de agua de las lagunas.
Micrasterias truncataha venido junto con otras estrellas desde la Laguna de Cebollera, en la vertiente soriana de dicha sierra, cerca de Molinos de Razón, para mostrarse aquí fotografiada a 400 aumentos con la técnica de campo oscuro.
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☁ la nube negra de una justicia pervertida en nuestro país, movida por la envidia y la venganza, permanecerá aquí, hasta que soplen los vientos limpios que todos necesitamos. La Justicia es uno de los cimientos necesarios para la Paz. Desde aquí todo nuestro apoyo al Juez Baltasar Garzón -el buen Juez de Saramago- y a las personas de buena voluntad como él que trabajan por la Justicia.
Ver grande sobre fondo negro I View large on black
".... La casa-habitación del maestro estaba en la tercera planta del edificio de la escuela, esa planta estaba sobre la reservada al aula, la empresa decidió demolerla como otras muchas casas de su propiedad, ahora bien tuvo que limitarse al piso de arriba, con el inferior no pudo hacer lo mismo pues la inspección de Huesca mientras hubiese niños no decretaba la extinción de la escuela. Los niños tuvieron que sufrir el estruendo del derribo de la planta superior. La escuela estaba en el conjunto de bienes comunales que la junta vecinal había vendido a Iberduero en el año 1962, dicha venta estaba en litigio, dicho litigio siguió durante muchos años.
El 4 de agosto de 1966 un empleado de Iberduero y afecto al servicio de expropiaciones de la empresa, tiró la puerta de la escuela de una patada, agarró a la maestra de los pelos y la sacó fuera, detrás salieron los niños entre empujones y patadas ...."
Mas fotos en éste monográfico:
Aston Martin was founded in 1913 by Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford. The two had joined forces as Bamford & Martin the previous year to sell cars made by Singer from premises in Callow Street, London where they also serviced GWK and Calthorpe vehicles. Martin raced specials at Aston Hill near Aston Clinton, and the pair decided to make their own vehicles. The first car to be named Aston Martin was created by Martin by fitting a four-cylinder Coventry-Simplex engine to the chassis of a 1908 Isotta-Fraschini.[5] They acquired premises at Henniker Place in Kensington and produced their first car in March 1915. Production could not start because of the outbreak of World War I, and Martin joined the Admiralty and Bamford the Royal Army Service Corps. All machinery was sold to the Sopwith Aviation Company.
Aston Martin Mk II 1935
Aston Martin 2-Litre 2/4-Seater Sports 1937
[edit] Inter war years
After the war the company was refunded at Abingdon Road, Kensington and a new car designed to carry the Aston-Martin name. Bamford left in 1920 and the company was revitalised with funding from Count Louis Zborowski. In 1922, Bamford & Martin produced cars to compete in the French Grand Prix, and the cars set world speed and endurance records at Brooklands. Three works Team Cars with 16 valve twin cam engines were built for racing and record breaking: chassis number 1914, later developed as the Green Pea; chassis number 1915, the Razor Blade record car; and chassis number 1916, later developed as the Halford Special. Approximately 55 cars were built for sale in two configurations, long chassis and short chassis. The company went bankrupt in 1924 and was bought by Lady Charnwood, who put her son John Benson on the board. The company failed again in 1925 and the factory closed in 1926, with Lionel Martin leaving.
Later that year, Bill Renwick, Augustus (Bert) Bertelli and a number of rich investors, including Lady Charnwood, took control of the company and renamed it Aston Martin Motors, and moved it to the former Whitehead Aircraft Limited works in Feltham. Renwick and Bertelli had been in partnership some years and had developed an overhead cam 4 cylinder engine, using Renwick's patented combustion chamber design, and had tested it in an Enfield Allday chassis. It was the only 'Renwick and Bertelli' motor car made. It was known as 'Buzzbox' and survives to this day.
They had planned to sell this engine to motor manufacturers, but having heard that the Aston Martin car was no longer in production they realised that they could capitalise on the reputation of the Aston Martin name (what we would now call the brand) to give themselves a head start in the production of a completely new car.
Between the years 1926 and 1937 Bertelli was the technical director of Aston Martin, and the designer of all subsequent Aston Martin cars during this period, these being known as the 'Bertelli cars'. They included the 1 1/2 litre 'T-type', the 'International, the 'Le Mans, the 'MKII' its racing derivative the 'Ulster, and the 2 litre 15/98 and its racing derivative the 'Speed Model'.
Mostly open two seater sports cars and mostly bodied by Bert Bertelli's brother Enrico (Harry)a small number of long chassis four seater tourers, dropheads and saloons were also produced.
Bertelli was very keen to race his cars and he was a very competent driver. One of the very few motor manufacturers to actually sit in and race the cars he designed and built, the competition no doubt 'improved the breed' and the 'LM' team cars were very successful in national and international motor racing including at Le Mans and the Mille Miglia.
Financial problems reappeared in 1932 and the company was rescued by L. Prideaux Brune who funded it for the following year before passing the company on to Sir Arthur Sutherland. In 1936, the company decided to concentrate on road cars. Car production had always been on a small scale and until the advent of World War II halted work only about 700 had been made. During the war years aircraft components were made.
[edit] The David Brown era
1958 Aston Martin DB Mark III
In 1947, David Brown Limited bought the company under the leadership of managing director Sir David Brown—its "post-war saviour". David Brown also acquired Lagonda that year, and both companies shared resources and workshops. In 1955, David Brown bought the Tickford coachbuilding company and its site at Tickford Street in Newport Pagnell, and that was the beginning of the classic series of cars bearing the initials "DB". In 1950, the company announced the DB2, followed by the racing DB3 in 1957 and the Italian-styled 3.7 L DB4 in 1958. All the cars established a good racing pedigree for the firm, but the DB4 was the key to establishing the company's reputation, which was cemented by the famous DB5 in 1963. The company continued developing the "grand touring" style with the DB6 (1965–70), the DBS, and the DBS V8 (1967–72).
[edit] 1970s - Changing ownership
Despite the cars' appreciation in value, the company was often financially troubled. In 1972, it was sold to a company called Company Developments Ltd., backed by a Birmingham-based consortium, and chaired by chartered accountant and company director William Willson, (MBE).[6] The company was resold in 1975 to North American businessmen Peter Sprague and George Minden. The new owners pushed the company into modernising its line, producing the V8 Vantage in 1977, the convertible Volante in 1978, and the one-off William Towns-styled Bulldog in 1980. Towns also styled the futuristic new Lagonda saloon, based on the V8 model.
In 1980 Aston-Martin had plans, which did not materialize, to buy MG, which they would have utilized as a sister marque, probably building smaller sports cars. Ideas were plotted to design a new model and they revealed to the press their approach to an 'updated' '1981' model MGB.
As worldwide sales of Aston Martin shrank to three per week, chairman Alan Curtis together with fellow shareholders American Peter Sprague and Canadian George Minden, had almost chosen to shut down the production side of the business and concentrate on service and restoration. Curtis attended the 1980 Pace sponsored Stirling Moss benefit day at Brands Hatch, and met fellow Farnham resident Victor Gauntlett.
[edit] 1980s - Victor Gauntlett
Gauntlett bought a 10% stake in Aston Martin for £500,000 via Pace Petroleum in 1980, with Tim Hearley of CH Industrials taking a similar share. Pace and CHI took over as joint 50/50 owners at the beginning of 1981, with Gauntlett as executive chairman. Gauntlett also led the sales team, and after some development and a lot of publicity when it became the world’s fastest 4-seater production car, was able to sell with success the Aston Martin Lagonda into Persian Gulf states, particularly Oman, Kuwait and Qatar.[7]
Understanding it would take some time to develop new Aston Martin products, they bought Tickford to develop automotive products for other companies. Products included a Tickford Austin Metro, a Tickford Ford Capri and even Tickford train interiors, particularly on the Jaguar XJS.[7] Pace continued sponsoring racing events, and now sponsored all Aston Martin Owners Club events, taking a Tickford engined Nimrod Group C car owned by AMOC President Viscount Downe, which came third in the Manufacturers Championship in both 1982 and 1983. It also finished seventh in the 1982 24 Hours of Le Mans race. However, sales of production cars were now at an all time low of 30 cars produced in 1982.[7]
As trading became tighter in the petroleum market, and Aston Martin was requiring more time and money, Gauntlett agreed to sell Hays/Pace to the Kuwait Investment Office in September 1983. As Aston Martin required greater investment, he also agreed to sell his share holding to American importer and Greek shipping tycoon Peter Livanos, who invested via his joint venture company with Nick and John Papanicalou, ALL Inc. Gauntlett remained chairman of the AML company 55% owned by ALL, with Tickford a 50/50 venture between ALL and CHI. The uneasy relationship was ended when ALL exercised options to buy a larger share in AML; CHI's residual shares were exchanged for CHI's complete ownership of Tickford, which retained development of existing Aston Martin projects. In 1984, Titan the main shipping company of the Papanicolaou’s was in trouble, so Livanos's father George bought out the Papanicolaou's shares in ALL, while Gauntlett again became a shareholder with a 25% holding in AML. The deal valued Aston Martin/AML at £2 million, the year it built its 10,000th car.[7]
Although as a result Aston Martin had to make 60 members of the workforce redundant, Gauntlett bought a stake in Italian styling house Zagato, and resurrected its collaboration with Aston Martin.
Aston Martin V8 Vantage from The Living Daylights
In 1986, Gauntlett negotiated the return of fictional British secret agent James Bond to Aston Martin. Cubby Broccoli had chosen to recast the character using actor Timothy Dalton, in an attempt to re-root the Bond-brand back to a more Sean Connery-like feel. Gauntlett supplied his personal pre-production Vantage for use in the filming of "The Living Daylights," and sold a Volante to Broccoli for use at his home in America. Gauntlett turned down the role of a KGB colonel in the film, however: "I would have loved to have done it but really could not afford the time."[8]
Although the company was doing well, Gauntlett knew it needed extra funds to survive in the long term. In May 1987, Gauntlett and Prince Michael of Kent were staying at the home of Contessa Maggi, the wife of the founder of the original Mille Miglia, while watching the revival event. Another house guest was Walter Hayes, vice-President of Ford of Europe. Despite problems over the previous acquisition of AC Cars, Hayes saw the potential of the brand and the discussion resulted in Ford taking a share holding in September 1987.[9] In 1988, having produced some 5,000 cars in 20 years, a revived economy and successful sales of limited edition Vantage, and 52 Volante Zagato coupes at £86,000 each; the company finally retired the ancient V8 and introduced the Virage range - the first new Aston launched in 20 years.
Although Gauntlett was contractually to stay as chairman for two years, his racing interests took Aston back into sports car racing in 1989 with limited European success. However, with engine rule changes for the 1990 season and the launch of the new Aston Martin Volante model, Ford provided the limited supply of Cosworth engines to the Jaguar cars racing team. As the "small Aston" DB7 would require a large engineering input, Ford agreed to take full control of Aston Martin, and Gauntlett handed over the company chairmanship to Hayes in 1991.[10] In 1992, the Vantage version was announced, and the following year the company renewed the DB range by announcing the DB7.
[edit] The Ford era
Ford placed Aston in the Premier Automotive Group, substantially invested in new manufacturing and quickly ramped up production. In 1994, Ford opened a new factory at Banbury Road in Bloxham. In 1995, the company produced a record 700 vehicles. Until the Ford era cars had been produced by hand coachbuilding craft methods, such as the English wheel. In 1998 the 2,000th DB7 was built, and in 2002 the 6,000th, exceeding production of all previous DB models. The DB7 range was boosted by the addition of V12 Vantage models in 1999, and in 2001 the company introduced the V12-engine Vanquish.
At the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan in 2003, Aston Martin introduced the AMV8 Vantage concept car. Expected to have few changes before its introduction in 2005, the Vantage brought back the classic V8 engine to allow the company to compete in a larger market. 2003 also saw the opening of the Gaydon factory, the first purpose-built factory in Aston Martin's history. Also introduced in 2003 was the DB9 coupé, which replaced the ten-year-old DB7. A convertible version of the DB9, the DB9 Volante, was introduced at the 2004 Detroit Auto Show. In 2006, the V8 Vantage sports car entered production at the Gaydon factory, joining the DB9 and DB9 Volante.
In December 2003 Aston Martin announced it would return to motor racing in 2005. A new division was created, called Aston Martin Racing, which became responsible, together with Prodrive, for the design, development, and management of the DBR9 program. The DBR9 competes in the GT class in sports car races, including the world-famous 24 Hours of Le Mans.
[edit] Sale by Ford
In 2006, under mounting financial pressure, an internal review of costs and realisable value on investment led Ford to consider divesting itself of parts of its Premier Automotive Group. After suggestions of selling Jaguar Cars, Land Rover or Volvo Cars, Ford appointed UBS AG to sell Aston Martin by auction. At the end of August 2006, Ford announced that it would be willing to sell all or part of Aston Martin. Bill Ford said: "As part of our on going strategic review, we have determined that Aston Martin may be an attractive opportunity to raise capital and generate value".[11]
The first round of the auction closed on 30 November 2006.[12] One of the four survivors was Syrian-born billionaire Simon Halabi,[13] while the Australian bid included James Packer, Australia's second richest man.[14] The German auto newspaper Autobild reported on 2 February 2007 that the luxury goods conglomerate LVMH had bought the company for an undisclosed sum. The paper cited "anonymous, but well-placed sources" with the information. It was later reported by Autocar magazine that LVMH had denied the news as "rubbish".
[edit] 2007 - A new era begins
On 12 March 2007 a consortium led by Prodrive chairman David Richards purchased Aston Martin for £475m/$848m.[15] Prodrive has no financial involvement in the deal.[16] Ford will keep a stake in the company (valued at £ 40 million / $ 70 million). The consortium also consisted of John Sinders, an Aston Martin collector; and two Kuwaiti investment companies, Investment Dar and Adeem Investment Co.
On 19 July 2007 the last car, a Vanquish S, was produced at the Newport Pagnell plant. Nearly 13,000 cars had been made there since 1955. All production was concentrated at Gaydon, with the old premises in Tickford Street remaining in Aston Martin ownership as the restoration and service department.[17]
Aston Martin has also boosted its worldwide appeal by opening more dealers in Europe, as well as branches in China for the first time in its 93 year history in Beijing and Shanghai. This has brought their dealership programme to 120 dealers in 28 countries.[18]
On 1 September 2008, Aston Martin announced the revival of the Lagonda marque. A concept will be shown in 2009, coinciding with the brand's 100th anniversary. The first production cars should come in 2012.[19]
In December 2008, Aston Martin announced that it would cut its 1850 workforce by 600.[20]
[edit] 2009 - Return to Le Mans
In January 2009 it was announced that the company was entering the 2009 Le Mans 24 Hours race as a factory team in the prestigious LMP1 division. After competing throughout the 2008 season with a Lola B08/60 LMP1 Coupe under the Charouz Racing banner, Aston Martin will use a slightly modified Lola LMP1 design for their programme. Three Lola-Aston Martins have been entered in the 2009 Le Mans 24 Hours by Aston Martin but only two have been confirmed with sponsorship. Aston Martin will also compete in the complete Le Mans series with the Lola-Aston Martin LMP cars, starting at Barcelona in early April. The programme got off to an unfortunate start at the pre season Paul Ricard test on March 8 when Tomas Enge destroyed the 007 car in an accident. Aston Martin Racing have subsequently taken delivery of a new Lola to replace the written off chassis.
Unsharp Mask, Tonemapping using LucisArt, Selective Color, adding a vignette+some textures (thx to SolStock )
Info:
Exposure: 1/ 50 Sec.
Aperture: f/1.4
ISO-Speed: 200
Focal Length: 30 mm
Lens: Sigma 30mm 1.4 DC HSM
Ver grande sobre fondo negro I View large on black
Cuando hace aproximadamente un mes, comencé a editar el material de la Semana Santa 2008, tristemente me encontré con esta fotografía, que me hizo recordar con amargura el lamentable fallecimiento de Oscar Raúl Rodrigo, acontecido pocos días después de haberle sido hecha esta foto, con su pequeña en brazos, durante la celebración de la Procesión del Domingo de Rerrurrección.
Y al mirar la foto, los ojos de la niña se me clavaron como dardos en el alma por la profunda tristeza que me ocasionó el verla tan feliz y despreocupada en los brazos de su padre, ajena a lo que el trágico destino le tenía deparado a su familia. Quiere ser esta humilde foto un pequeño homenaje a Oscar Raúl, y a su familia en general, y un pequeño regalo para su preciosa hija, ya que en en la imagen se intuye todo el cariño de su padre hacia ella.
Mas fotos en éste monográfico:
Mas fotos en éste monográfico:
Mas fotos en éste monográfico:
Longest Covered Bridge in the World
Hartland (2001 population: 902) is a town in Carleton County, New Brunswick, Canada.
Hartland is situated on the Saint John River in the central-western portion of the province in the agricultural heartland of Carleton County. It is the hometown of two of New Brunswick's premiers during the 20th century: Hugh John Flemming and Richard Hatfield. U.S. Congressmen Isaac & Samuel Stephenson and Prince Edward Island's Lieutenant-Governor Barbara Oliver Hagerman are also from Hartland. Renowned Canadian poet Alden Nowlan also lived in the town for several formative years while working for the Hartland Observer newspaper.
Longest covered bridge, showing pedestrian addition, with ice in the river
The town is best known for being the site of the Hartland Bridge, the longest covered bridge in the world. Originally opened on July 4, 1901, the 1,282 foot (390.75 m) bridge is a national historic site. The bridge was covered as part of major repairs in 1921, and the pedestrian walkway added in 1945.
Hartland is the headquarters of the North American trucking company Day & Ross, as well as home to the New Brunswick Bible Institute.
So I went out to buy a mask today for a picture somewhat like this. It didn't really come out how I planned it to come out =/
But this is what I got.
I'll try something better with the mask tomorrow.
Perfect by nature
Icons of self indulgence
Just what we all need
More lies about a world that
Never was and never will be
Have you no shame? Don't you see me?
You know you've got everybody fooled
Look here she comes now
Bow down and stare in wonder
Oh how we love you
No flaws when you're pretending
But now I know she
Never was and never will be
You don't know how you've betrayed me
And somehow you've got everybody fooled
Without the mask, where will you hide?
Can't find yourself lost in your lie
I know the truth now
I know who you are
And I don't love you anymore
It Never was and never will be
You don't know how you've betrayed me
And somehow you've got everybody fooled
It never was and never will be
You're not real and you can't save me
Somehow now you're everybody's fool
View On Black---------------------------------------- Clika aquí para ver Mejor
.
.La garza real europea (Ardea cinerea) es una especie de ave pelecaniforme de la familia Ardeidae nativa de Europa y de Asia templada, incluso partes de África. Es residente en zonas templadas pero muchas migran en verano a zonas más frías y en invierno a zonas más cálidas.
Características
Es un ave grande, parada mide 90 a 100 cm de altura, con una envergadura de alas de 1,70 a 2 m y un peso de 1 a 2 kg. Su plumaje es mayormente gris arriba, y algo blanco debajo. Los adultos tienen la cabeza blanca con un copete negro superciliar y una cresta delgada, en los juveniles toda la cabeza es gris. Tiene un pico fuerte rosa-amarillento, brillante cuando adultos. Tiene un vuelo lento, con su largo cuello retraído (forma de S). Cuando extiende su cuello, el pico semeja una cuchara. Esto es característico de las garzas y garcetas, y los distingue de las cigüeñas.
Está muy relacionada y es similar a la garza real americana Ardea herodias, que difiere en ser algo más grande, y pardos sus flancos y finales de ala. La garza de cara blanca australiana Ardea novaehollandiae es a veces incorrectamente llamada "garza real".
Comportamiento
La sp. crece en colonias, en árboles cerca de espejos de agua, o áreas inundables, y aún es capaz de anidar en juncales. Hace un nido compacto de ramitas.
Caza y come en aguas bajas, peces, ranas con su largo y afilado pico. Las garzas son capaces de coger pequeños mamíferos y pájaros. Su dieta también incluye invertebrados acuáticos. Frecuentemente espera que la presa se aquiete para atraparla, o puede lentamente cazar al acecho.
Su llamada es un fuerte graznido "fraaank".
More fun with Mosaic Maker - look how he's changed in almost six months!
1. yummy, 2. Sweet drooling baby, 3. gimme that camera!, 4. So he makes this face..., 5. i can just about get my whole fist in here if i try really hard, 6. Contemplative baby, 7. Where's the boob? This finger will not do!, 8. More snick, 9. A very appropriate tshirt, 10. sweetheart, 11. Eergh?, 12. thumb, 13. baby no neck, 14. tired!, 15. so pretty, but i'm a boy, not a girl!, 16. sweet, 17. fuzz head circa 1983, 18. I'm so strong!, 19. Aaah!, 20. more thumb!, 21. Who you lookin' at?, 22. I have only one lip., 23. (Untitled), 24. (Untitled), 25. (Untitled), 26. I am the Shiek of Rochester, 27. Cute!, 28. Crazy boy!, 29. I love my tiger!, 30. Aah!, 31. Hello again!, 32. Hello!, 33. Cole loves his play mat!, 34. Funny baby 3, 35. Funny baby 2, 36. Funny baby 1, 37. Whaddya want..., 38. More post-bath cuteness, 39. Sigh..., 40. My sweetie man, 41. (Untitled), 42. Why baby is a rock star, 43. You lookin' at me?, 44. Baby is a punk rocker, 45. Little dreamer, 46. Sweetie..., 47. (Untitled), 48. Beautiful baby in boppy, 49. Love & Baby
Last weekend we went backpacking to the spray park area in Mt Rainier National Park. This time around I took a real tripod with me to take some long exposure shots (by real tripod i mean an aluminum tripod - no carbon fiber sorry - don't have budget for that, on top of the tent, stove, etc) and the mighty Nikkor 10-24 (first trip for it).
I have to say this was a real discovery for me, my personal scientific experience to realize how close to the north we are that stars actually go in circles and the true north is so there ... totally unexpected outcome ...
This is the original color edition and as usual I'd like to hear which one you think works best, this one or the B&W edition....
Thanks to my friend Alexander for taking Us to this amazing place (Mt Rainier view to the east and a view of Tacoma on the west of this hill) and also credits to him and my wife for helping lighting the tents from inside :-)
30 min exposure @ f8 with my awesome brand new Nikkor 10-24
This shot is part of a series of pictures I made at "Centro Direzionale" in Naples last July.
"Centro Direzionale" is the only skyscrapers cluster in Italy. It was designed by Kenzo Tange in cooperation with other Italian architects such as Renzo Piano. It is manly used to host business, financial and administrative offices.
These shots were made with a Leica Mini II compact camera because walking in Naples with a more expensive or attractive camera is not recommended.
Scan from slide
Fuji Velvia 100 self-developed with Ornano Kit DIA 3
Leica Mini II
Minolta Dimage Scan Elite 5400
See slides developed with Ornano Kit DIA 3 here.
See velvia 100 slides here.
See other shots of "Centro Direzionale" here.
www.meucat.com/maps/mapa_satelite.php?COD=roma&NOME=P...
Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi
Following, a text, in english, from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
The Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi or "Fountain of the Four Rivers" is a fountain in Rome, Italy, located in the Piazza Navona. Designed by Gianlorenzo Bernini, it is emblematic of the dynamic and dramatic effects sought by High Baroque artists. It was erected in 1651 in front of the church of Sant'Agnese in Agone, and yards from the Pamphilj Palace belonging to this fountain's patron, Innocent X (1644-1655).
The four gods on the corners of the fountain represent the four major rivers of the world known at the time: the Nile, Danube, Ganges, and Plate. The design of each god figure has symbolic importance.
Design
Bernini's design was selected in competition. The circumstances of his victory are described as follows:
So strong was the sinister influence of the rivals of Bernini on the mind of Innocent that when he planned to set up in Piazza Navona the great obelisk brought to Rome by the Emperor Caracalla, which had been buried for a long time at Capo di Bove for the adornment of a magnificent fountain, the Pope had designs made by the leading architects of Rome without an order for one to Bernini. Prince Niccolò Ludovisi, whose wife was niece to the pope, persuaded Bernini to prepare a model, and arrange for it to be secretly installed in a room in the Palazzo Pamphili that the Pope had to pass. When the meal was finished, seeing such a noble creation, he stopped almost in ecstasy. Being prince of the keenest judgment and the loftiest ideas, after admiring it, said: “This is a trick … It will be necessary to employ Bernini in spite of those who do not wish it, for he who desires not to use Bernini’s designs, must take care not to see them.”
Paraphrase from Filippo Baldinucci, The life of Cavaliere Bernini (1682)
Public fountains in Rome served multiple purposes: first, they were highly needed sources of water for neighbors in the centuries prior to home plumbing. Second, they were monuments to the papal patrons. Earlier Bernini fountains had been the Fountain of the Triton in Piazza Barberini, the fountain of the Moor in the southern end of Piazza Navona erected during the Barberini papacy, and the Neptune and Triton for Villa Montalto, whose statuary now resides at Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
Each has animals and plants that further carry forth the identification, and each carries a certain number of allegories and metaphors with it. The Ganges carries a long oar, representing the river's navigability. The Nile's head is draped with a loose piece of cloth, meaning that no one at that time knew exactly where the Nile's source was. The Danube touches the Papal coat of arms, since it is the large river closest to Rome. And the Río de la Plata is sitting on a pile of coins, a symbol of the riches America could offer to Europe (the word plata means silver in Spanish). Also, the Río de la Plata looks scared by a snake, showing rich men's fear that their money could be stolen. Each is a river god, semi-prostrate, in awe of the central tower, epitomized by the slender Egyptian obelisk (built for the Roman Serapeum in AD 81), symbolizing by Papal power surmounted by the Pamphili symbol (dove). In addition, the fountain is a theater in the round, a spectacle of action, that can be strolled around. Water flows and splashes from a jagged and pierced mountainous disorder of travertine marble. A legend, common with tour-guides, is that Bernini positioned the cowering Rio de la Plata River as if the sculpture was fearing the facade of the church of Sant'Agnese by his rival Borromini could crumble against him; in fact, the fountain was completed several years before Borromini began work on the church.
The dynamic fusion of architecture and sculpture made this fountain revolutionary when compared to prior Roman projects, such as the stilted designs Acqua Felice and Paola by Fontana in Piazza San Bernardo (1585-87) or the customary embellished geometric floral-shaped basin below a jet of water such as the Fontanina in Piazza Campitelli (1589) by Giacomo della Porta.
Unveiling
he Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi was unveiled to the populace of Rome on 12 June 1651. According to a report from the time, an event was organised to draw people to the Piazza Navona. Beforehand, wooden scaffolding, overlaid with curtains, had hidden the fountain, though probably not the obelisk, which would have given people an idea that something was being built, but the precise details were unknown. Once unveiled, the full majesty of the fountain would be apparent, which the celebrations were designed to advertise. The festival was paid for by the Pamphili family, to be specific, Innocent X, who had sponsored the erection of the fountain. The most conspicuous item on the Pamphili crest, an olive branch, was brandished by the performers who took part in the event.
The author of the report, Antonio Bernal, takes his readers through the hours leading up to the unveiling. The celebrations were announced by a woman, dressed as the allegorical character of Fame, being paraded around the streets of Rome on a carriage or float. She was sumptuously dressed, with wings attached to her back and a long trumpet in her hand. Bernal notes that "she went gracefully through all the streets and all the districts that are found among the seven hills of Rome, often blowing the round bronze [the trumpet], and urging everyone to make their way to that famous Piazza." A second carriage followed her; this time another woman was dressed as the allegorical figure of Curiosity. According to the report, she continued exhorting the people to go towards the piazza. Bernal describes the clamour and noise of the people as they discussed the upcoming event.
The report is actually less detailed about the process of publicly unveiling the fountain. However, it does give ample descriptions of the responses of the spectators who had gathered in the Piazza. Once there, Bernal notes, the citizens of the city were overwhelmed by the massive fountain, with its huge life-like figures. The report mentions the "enraptured souls" of the population, the fountain, which "gushes out a wealth of silvery treasures" causing "no little wonder" in the onlookers. Bernal then continues to describe the fountain, making continuous reference to the seeming naturalism of the figures and its astonishing effect on those in the piazza.
The making of the fountain was met by opposition by the people of Rome for several reasons. First, Innocent X had the fountain built at public expense during the intense famine of 1646-48. Throughout the construction of the fountain, the city murmurred and talk of riot was in the air. Pasquinade writers protested the construction of the fountain in September 1648 by attaching hand-written invectives on the stone blocks used to make the obelisk. These pasquinades read, "We do not want Obelisks and Fountains, It is bread that we want. Bread, Bread, Bread!" Innocent quickly had the authors arrested, and disguised spies patrol the Pasquino statue and Piazza Navona
The streetvendors of the market also opposed the construction of the fountain, as Innocent X expelled them from the piazza. The Pamphilij pope believed they detracted from the magnificence of the square. The vendors refused to move, and the papal police had to chase them from the piazza. Roman Jews, in particular, lamented the closing of the Navona, since they were allowed to sell used articles of clothing there at the Wednesday market.
Navona Square (Piazza Navona).
Following, a text, in english, from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
Piazza Navona is a city square in Rome, Italy. It is built on the site of the Stadium of Domitian, built in first century AD, and follows the form of the open space of the stadium.[1] The ancient Romans came there to watch the agones ("games"), and hence it was known as 'Circus Agonalis' (competition arena). It is believed that over time the name changed to 'in agone' to 'navone' and eventually to 'navona'.
Defined as a public space in the last years of 15th century, when the city market was transferred to it from the Campidoglio, the Piazza Navona is a significant example of Baroque Roman architecture and art. It features sculptural and architectural creations: in the center stands the famous Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi or Fountain of the Four Rivers (1651) by Gian Lorenzo Bernini; the church of Sant'Agnese in Agone by Francesco Borromini and Girolamo Rainaldi; and the Pamphilj palace also by Rainaldi and which features the gallery frescoed by Pietro da Cortona.
The Piazza Navona has two additional fountains: at the southern end is the Fontana del Moro with a basin and four Tritons sculpted by Giacomo della Porta (1575) to which, in 1673, Bernini added a statue of a Moor, or African, wrestling with a dolphin, and at the northern end is the Fountain of Neptune (1574) created by Giacomo della Porta. The statue of Neptune in the northern fountain, the work of Antonio Della Bitta, was added in 1878 to make that fountain more symmetrical with La Fontana del Moro in the south.
At the southwest end of the piazza is the ancient 'speaking' statue of Pasquino. Erected in 1501, Romans could leave lampoons or derogatory social commentary attached to the statue.
During its history, the piazza has hosted theatrical events and other ephemeral activities. From 1652 until 1866, when the festival was suppressed, it was flooded on every Saturday and Sunday in August in elaborate celebrations of the Pamphilj family. The pavement level was raised in the 19th century and the market was moved again in 1869 to the nearby Campo de' Fiori. A Christmas market is held in the piazza.
Other monuments on the Piazza Navona are:
Stabilimenti Spagnoli
Palazzo de Cupis
Palazzo Torres Massimo Lancellotti
Church of Nostra Signora del Sacro Cuore
Palazzo Braschi (Museo di Roma)
Sant'Agnese in Agone
Literature and films
The piazza is featured in Dan Brown's 2000 thriller Angels and Demons, in which the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi "The Fountain of the four rivers"(the Danube, the Gange, the Nile and the River Plate) is listed as one of the Altars of Science. During June 2008, Ron Howard directed several scenes of the film adaptation of Angels and Demons on the southern section of the Piazza Navona, featuring Tom Hanks.
The piazza is featured in several scenes of director Mike Nichols' 1970 adaptation of Joseph Heller's novel, Catch-22.
The Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi was used in the 1990 film Coins in the Fountain. The characters threw coins into the fountain as they made wishes. The Trevi Fountain was used in the 1954 version of the film.
A Fontana Dei Quattro Fiumi, é maior das três fontes, localizada no centro da praça. Na fonte dos rios, Bernini projetou quatro estátuas representando os rios dos quatro continentes: o Nilo, o Danúbio, o rio da Prata e o Ganges. As estátuas estão montadas sobre um obelisco egípcio, sendo circundadas por leões e outros animais fantásticos, tendo no cume uma pomba em bronze, símbolo da paz no mundo e da família Pamphili. Para realçar a rivalidade entre Bernini e Borromini, que fez a igreja de Santa Agnese, os romanos criaram uma lenda em torno da fonte dos rios, que fica em frente a esta igreja. Segundo os romanos, as estátuas duvidam da solidez do projeto de Borromini. A que retrata o rio da Prata, tem a mão erguida, a proteger o corpo do desabamento da igreja; a que retrata o Nilo, traz a cabeça coberta por um véu, a recusar a ver a obra de Borromini.
A seguir um texto, em português, da Wikipédia a Enciclopédia Livre:
Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi
Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fonte dos Quatro Rios), foi esculpida por Gian Lorenzo Bernini entre 1648 e 1651, artista do barroco italiano, foi concebida por uma ordem do Papa Inocencio X o Papa da familia Pamphili, cujo tinha sua casa nesta praça.
Esta localizada na Praça de Navona, em Roma. Ela representa os quatro principais continentes do mundo cortados por seus principais rios: Rio Nilo, na África; Rio Ganges, na Ásia, Rio da Prata, na América e o Rio Danúbio, na Europa.
A seguir, texto em português do site Wiki lingue:
A escultura da Fonte dos Quatro Rios, encontra-se na Piazza Navona de Roma (Itália) e foi criada e talhada pelo escultor e pintor Gian Lorenzo Bernini em 1651 baixo o papado de Inocencio X, em plena época barroca, durante o período mais prolífico do genial artista e cerca da que em outro tempo fué a Chiesa dei San Giacomo de gli Spagnoli
A fonte compõe-se de uma base formada de uma grande piscina elíptica, coroada em seu centro de uma grande mole de mármol, sobre a qual se eleva um obelisco egípcio de época romana, o obelisco de Domiciano .
As estátuas que compõem a fonte, têm umas dimensões maiores que na realidade e são alegorias dos quatro rios principais da Terra (Nilo, Ganges, Danubio, Rio da Prata), a cada um deles em um dos continentes conhecidos na época. Na fonte a cada um destes rios está representado por um gigante de mármol .
As árvores e as plantas que emergem da água e que se encontram entre as rochas, também estão em uma escala maior que na realidade. Os animais e vegetales, gerados de uma natureza boa e útil, pertencem a espécies grandes e potentes (como o leão, cavalo, cocodrilo, serpente, dragão, etc.). O espectador, girando em torno da fonte, descobre novas formas que dantes estavam escondidas ou cobertas pela massa rocosa. Com esta obra, Bernini quer suscitar admiração em quem olha-a, criando um pequeno universo em movimento a imitação do espaço da realidade natural.
A fonte foi submetida a restauração, um trabalho que se deu por concluído em dezembro de 2008. Constitui um dos palcos finque da novela e o filme Anjos e Demónios, à qual é arrojado um dos cardeais sequestrados, e Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) se lança à água para lhe salvar.
Os animais da fonte
A fonte apresenta figuras de sete animais, além de uma pequena pomba e o emblema dos Pamphili. Para poder observá-las basta com dar uma volta ao redor da fonte. As figuras são: um cavalo, uma serpente de terra (na parte mais alta, cerca do obelisco), uma serpente de mar, um delfín (que funciona também como desagüe), um cocodrilo, um leão e um dragão. Notar também a vegetación esculpida que parece real.
Praça Navona.
A seguir, um texto em português, da Wikipédia a Enciclopédia livre:
A Praça Navona (em italiano: Piazza Navona) é uma das mais célebres praças de Roma. A sua forma assemelha-se à dos antigos estádios da Roma Antiga, seguindo a planificação do Estádio de Domiciano (também denominado entre os italianos de Campomarzio, em virtude da natureza rude e esforçada dos exercícios - manejo de armas - e desportos atléticos que aí se realizavam). Albergaria até 20 mil espectadores sentados nas bancadas. A origem do nome deve-se ao nome pomposo que lhe foi dado ao tempo do Imperador Domiciano (imperador entre 81-96 d.c.): "Circo Agonístico" (do étimo grego Agonia, que significa precisamente - exercício, luta, combate). Actualmente o nome corresponde à corruptela da forma posterior in agone, depois nagone e finalmente navone, que por mero acaso significa também "grande navio" na língua italiana.
As casas que entretanto e com o passar dos anos foram sendo construídas sobre as bancadas, delimitariam e circunscreveriam até à actualidade o tão afamado Circo Agonístico.
A Navona passou de fato a caracterizar-se como praça nos últimos anos do século XV, quando o mercado da cidade foi transferido do Capitólio para aí. Foi remodelada para um estilo monumental por vontade do Papa Inocêncio X, da família Pamphili e é motivo de orgulho da cidade de Roma durante o período barroco. Sofreu intervenções de Gian Lorenzo Bernini (a famosa Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fonte dos Quatro Rios, 1651) ao centro); de Francesco Borromini e Girolamo Gainaldi (a igreja de Sant'Agnese in Agone); e de Pietro de Cortona, que pintou a galeria no Palácio Pamphilj, sede da embaixada do Brasil na Itália desde 1920.
O mercado tradicional voltou a ser transferido em 1869 para o Campo de' Fiori, embora a praça mantenha também um papel fundamental em servir de palco para espectáculos de teatro e corridas de cavalos. A partir de 1652, em todos os Sábados e Domingos de Agosto, a praça tornava-se num lago para celebrar a própria família Pamphili.
A praça dispõe ainda duas outras fontes esculpidas por Giacomo della Porta - a Fontana di Nettuno (1574), na área norte da praça, e a Fontana del Moro (1576), na área sul.
Na extremidade norte da praça, por debaixo dos edifícios, foram postas a descoberto ruínas antiquíssimas, a uma cota muito abaixo da actual, comprovando a primeva utilização daquele imenso terreiro. Outros monumentos com entrada para a praça:
Stabilimenti Spagnoli
Palazzo de Cupis
Palazzo Torres Massimo Lancellotti
Church of Nostra Signora del Sacro Cuore
Curiosidades
Na Piazza Navona, está localizado o Palazzo Pamphilj, propriedade da República Federativa do Brasil, sede da Embaixada Brasileira e da Missão Diplomática do Brasil para a Itália.
Update: In Lisbon, there are no big problems with the "Occupy Movement" camping in front of Parliament, since the group disassembles the tents and hides them early in the morning. The only pending problem is the payment of a licence for the permanent tent (the tent where the group meets and works, first image below). The group of Lisbon is peaceful and is respecting the neighbourhood and the police. So, the problems that are happening in the US and other European cities are not expected to be happening here.
The bad weather conditions have made the stay at the camping ground a real challenge for some of them. Yesterday night, it poured in Lisbon. I was at home and thought of these young people and thought "Poor souls!" When I asked them today how bad it was, they answered with a smile: "We didn't hear the rain..." It's so good to be so young and have dreams...!
milano april 1985
video recording from italian R.A.I of the video/performance "pupilla" by valeria magli
hommage à hans bellmer
best.... la poupée # 23 on black
feel free to visit my web site
© All rights reserved. Use without permission is illegal
Parc Natural del Garraf - Olivella, Barcelona (Spain).
ENGLISH
La Plana Novella is an old country estate and village located on a small plain in the middle of the Garraf National Park, about three kilometers to the east of Jafra and within the municipal boundary of the town of Olivella, Spain. It is notable for being in an almost uninhabited rural area, despite being about half an hour's drive from Barcelona. It is also the location of a Tibetan Buddhist retreat.
In 1885, the estate was acquired by Pere Domenech i Grau who, like many Catalan contemporaries, made a fortune in Cuba and returned home as a rich man to spend it. The estate was taken over 10 years later by the Spanish government and reclassified as an agricultural colony.
At few meters of the Palace it is the romantic lake of a beauty without equal. Brilliant painter Salvador Dalí came to withdraw and to be inspired. He got to say that “nothing else that by the lake he would be able to live here”.
In center there is a terra-cotta sculpture that represents a color woman embracing a swan, the mouth of which had to be the water jet. The place is surrounded by cedars, pines, eucalyptuses and some that another rare species, that it shows the genius of the constructor.
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CASTELLANO
La Plana Novella es una antigua heredad que se encuentra en una pequeña planicie en el centro del Parc Natural del Garraf a medio camino entre Begues y Sitges. La Finca fue adquirida por el Indiano Pere Domenech i Grau el 22 de agosto de 1885 y declarada colonia agrícola 10 años más tarde por el gobierno de Su Majestad Alfonso XII. Las obras de construcción del Palau comenzaron el primero de junio de 1887 y se acabaron el 29 de octubre de 1890 siendo bendecidas por el Obispo de Barcelona Monseñor Jaume Català. En el año 1893 se declaró la filoxera y en 1896 la finca fue a subasta pública. Desde entonces el Palau ha tenido muy diferentes propietarios que han mantenido sus puertas cerradas sin preocuparse demasiado de su cuidado.
A pocos metros del Palacio se encuentra el lago romántico de una belleza sin igual. El genial pintor Salvador Dalí venía a recogerse y a inspirarse en él. Llegó a decir que "nada más que por el lago sería capaz de vivir aquí".
En el centro hay una escultura de terracota que representa una mujer de color abrazando un cisne, la boca del cual debía ser el surtidor de agua. El lugar está rodeado de cedros, pinos, eucaliptos y alguna que otra rara especie, que muestra la genialidad del constructor.
La Habana Vieja - Cuba
“I fanciulli gridando,
su la piazzola in frotta,
e qua e là saltando,
fanno un lieto rumore”
da “Il Sabato del villaggio” di Giacomo Leopardi
E’ una soleggiata Domenica di Pasqua all’Avana, passeggio per il centro quando vengo colto da una musica in lontananza. Pian piano questa si fa sempre più vicina: sono un gruppo di trampolieri mascherati e musicisti che improvvisano armonie dal ritmo latino-americano… con sé una folla di gente che balla e che aumenta, metro dopo metro, al loro passaggio. Unitomi alla “processione” mi accorgo di essere entrato in un altro mondo, come “Alice nel Paese delle Meraviglie” noto persone tutte colorate che ridono, ballano, mi sorridono e mi fanno cenno di immergermi in quel baccanale, come ci fossero barriere invisibili tra lì e la calma del pomeriggio in città. Tra tutti, la prima persona che noto è il bimbo sulla foto, che correndo da un capo all’altro della folla, insieme ad altri compagni, si gode il suo “di’ di festa”.
View On Black Photo ©2010 Angela A. Stanton, All rights reserved. Contact: angela@stantonphotostudios.com for further information.
Flowers of the Santa Rosa Plum tree - original photograph was taken a couple of days ago in my backyard. The picture itself was a bad one--out of focus and very dark but with some potential because of the background blur. I used a new software: Viveza2. If you are not familiar with it, I recommend you download a trial--they have a 15-day trial. The name of the company is Nik. I find it extremely useful to choose certain points on the picture make brighter and others to make darker, with the associated adjustment options of contrast, saturation, and sharpness/detail combo (called structure).
After Viveza2 I used Topaz Adjust to create extreme colors and detail, then Topaz Colored Pencil Sketch and modified it until it was a mild color sketch with painterly effect. I finally used Photoshop's "smudge" to create the brush-like strokes. Amazing what technology can do!
"OK... on a count of 3... " Simon and his brothers were supposed to be home over an hour ago. Mama was gonna be hoppin' mad, but the crazy old troll had taken forever to doze off so they could make a break for it."
These adorable little field mice were photographed by Catherine Houston (iolanthe on flickr). Sadly, Catherine passed away last January. Her photostream is still up and running, thanks to her sister, Ruth, so please feel free to visit and enjoy her love of animals and nature through her lovely photos.
www.flickr.com/photos/iolanthe/
thanks to nicolas gent for the awesome sky texture
www.flickr.com/photos/21680590@N06/5525811456/in/set-7215...
For more informations about this Pyramid, please visit this link:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Pyramid_of_Giza
Pour plus d'information à propos de ces pyramides veuillez visiter ce lien:
Artist: Styx
Album: Return To Paradise
Title: Come Sail Away
I'm sailing away, set an open course for the virgin sea
I've got to be free, free to face the life that's ahead of me
On board, i'm the captain, so climb aboard
We'll search for tomorrow on every shore
And i'll try, oh lord, i'll try to carry on
I look to the sea, reflections in the waves spark my memory
Some happy, some sad
I think of childhood friends and the dreams we had
We live happily forever, so the story goes
But somehow we missed out on that pot of gold
But we'll try best that we can to carry on
A gathering of angels appeared above my head
They sang to me this song of hope, and this is what they said
They said come sail away, come sail away
Come sail away with me
Come sail away, come sail away
Come sail away with me
I thought that they were angels, but to my surprise
They climbed aboard their starship and headed for the skies
Singing come sail away, come sail away
Come sail away with me
Come sail away, come sail away
Come sail away with me
View large, on black for the full effect.
This launch pedestal is the most striking structure remaining at LC-34. It was built to hold the heft of a Saturn 1 or Saturn 1B rocket - basically the truncated upper stages of the epic Saturn V. Several launches and tests were performed here but this site is best known for the events of January 27, 1967 - the terrible tragedy of Apollo 1. Here three of NASA's brightest astronauts (Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee) were incinerated by a lone spark in their pressurized all-oxygen cabin atmosphere during a dry run.
After one final launch in 1968 the facility was dismantled and the service structures were razed. The remaining concrete pedestal was preserved as a memorial and affixed with two plaques commemorating the memory of the three revered astronauts that lost their lives here.
The plaques read:
LAUNCH COMPLEX 34, Friday, 27 January 1967, 1831 Hours. Dedicated to the living memory of the crew of the Apollo 1: USAF. Lt. Colonel Virgil I. Grissom, USAF. Lt. Colonel Edward H. White, II, U.S.N. Lt. Commander Roger B. Chaffee. They gave their lives in service to their country in the ongoing exploration of humankind's final frontier. Remember them not for how they died but for those ideals for which they lived.
In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice so others could reach for the stars; Ad astra per aspera (a rough road leads to the stars); God speed to the crew of Apollo 1
God speed indeed.
In the distance is a United Launch Alliance service structure containing a Boeing Delta IV Medium+ (4,2) at the nearby Launch Complex 37B. This particular Delta IV is a Medium+ (4,2) variant carrying a weather satellite (GEOS-O) for NOAA into geosynchronous orbit and is scheduled to launch on June 26th, 2009 (as of June 6, 2009).
NOTE: Replaced the image with a color-corrected replacement on 03/08/2009. The original was a bit too purple for my liking and, as one of my favorite photos on my entire photostream, it deserved better. :)
i'm sick in bed today.
it's a gorgeous, sunny day outside and i have tons i should be doing, but instead, here i lie.
posting photos and feeling like crap.
ugh.
i was just going to post a short quote with this photo, but this bird so gave me the creeps yesterday ( it was the size of a cat and never stopped watching me out of the corner of his eye ), that i felt he deserved the whole poem.
i don't know, maybe it's just my fevered brain...
it's a long piece, but fun if you have the time. ;)
______________________________________________________________________
The Raven. By, Edgar Allan Poe
Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
`'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door -
Only this, and nothing more.'
Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow; - vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow - sorrow for the lost Lenore -
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels named Lenore -
Nameless here for evermore.
And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me - filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating
`'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door -
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door; -
This it is, and nothing more,'
Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
`Sir,' said I, `or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you' - here I opened wide the door; -
Darkness there, and nothing more.
Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before
But the silence was unbroken, and the darkness gave no token,
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, `Lenore!'
This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, `Lenore!'
Merely this and nothing more.
Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.
`Surely,' said I, `surely that is something at my window lattice;
Let me see then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore -
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore; -
'Tis the wind and nothing more!'
Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore.
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door -
Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door -
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.
Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,
`Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,' I said, `art sure no craven.
Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the nightly shore -
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'
Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,
Though its answer little meaning - little relevancy bore;
For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door -
Bird or beast above the sculptured bust above his chamber door,
With such name as `Nevermore.'
But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only,
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
Nothing further then he uttered - not a feather then he fluttered -
Till I scarcely more than muttered `Other friends have flown before -
On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before.'
Then the bird said, `Nevermore.'
Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
`Doubtless,' said I, `what it utters is its only stock and store,
Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful disaster
Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore -
Till the dirges of his hope that melancholy burden bore
Of "Never-nevermore."'
But the raven still beguiling all my sad soul into smiling,
Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird and bust and door;
Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking
Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore -
What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore
Meant in croaking `Nevermore.'
This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core;
This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o'er,
But whose velvet violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o'er,
She shall press, ah, nevermore!
Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor.
`Wretch,' I cried, `thy God hath lent thee - by these angels he has sent thee
Respite - respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore!
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe, and forget this lost Lenore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'
`Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! -
Whether tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,
Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted -
On this home by horror haunted - tell me truly, I implore -
Is there - is there balm in Gilead? - tell me - tell me, I implore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'
`Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil!
By that Heaven that bends above us - by that God we both adore -
Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,
It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels named Lenore -
Clasp a rare and radiant maiden, whom the angels named Lenore?'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'
`Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!' I shrieked upstarting -
`Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
Leave my loneliness unbroken! - quit the bust above my door!
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'
And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,
And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted - nevermore!
They bring all the boyz to the yard.
Rolleiflex | Fuji Provia Slide Film, Cross-Processed | 1/125 | f/8 | ISO100 | June 8th, 2010
This kid clearly had no idea i was shooting him. This is the same place where Beca and I shared a milkshake for her 365. Clarence is taking this Rollei back so I'm shopping for a new medium format camera... I'm trying not to spend a lot of money on it, but all of the good ones are so expensive :(
I've narrowed it down to either a Bronica 6x6 sq-a or a Mamiya RZ-67 Pro II... Haha I know which is better but the price difference is what's in question D:
The future comes alive
You speak your word and i
I'm running into your hope
Because i've seen your light
You bring my world to life
I'm coming after you love
I'm not shaken
I'm not letting go
And everything comes alive
In my life as we lift you higher
Let your freedom arise
In our lives as we lift you up
Sing it out
Sing it out
Your freedom is here
So take the limits off
No matter what the cost
I'm running after your call
And i will run this race
See you face to face
So let your power overflow
I will not fear
I will not hide you love
You love
All of my life
I cannot deny your love
Your love
-Hillsong
maraculio.09 © All rights reserved
From the same series of the Green hood
(not the same shot of Pop.me :P)
________________
I'll tell you something
I am a wolf but
I like to wear sheep's clothing
I am a bonfire
I am a vampire
I'm waiting for my moment
You come on like a drug
I just can't get enough
I'm like an addict coming at you for a little more
And there's so much at stake
I can't afford to waste
I never needed anybody like this before
I'll tell you something
I am a demon
Some say my biggest weakness
I have my reasons
Call it my defense
Be careful what you're wishing
You are a secret
A new possession
I like to keep you guessing
When I'm not sure what I'm living for
When I'm not sure what I'm looking for
When I'm not sure who I am.
View On Black RECOMMENDED!
This is a non-HDR project. I did take different exposures for HDR shots, but in the end I decided to go with a regular version. I did make some edits in Lightroom and Photoshop to bring out the colors in the scene.
I was there with my cousin and friend who is the 350z owner. The place was really dirty with dust and there were some janitors with hoses and wipers but they weren't really doing anything. So we gave them some encouragement and they ended up cleaning that part of the parking lot level. During the whole shoot the janitors and security guards were watching us as we set up our gear and the car. Surprisingly enough the guards were quite helpful and didn't bother us at all. Unlike some other experiences I've had in similar lots before.
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Canon EOS 40D.
Lens: EF 24-105 F4 L IS.
ISO: 100.
Shutter Speed: 1.3 seconds.
Aperture: F/5.6.
Focal length: 24mm.
Ex: Shot on a tripod with cable shutter release.
Software: Adobe Photoshop CS2 - Adobe Lightroom.
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An early morning mist rises off Beardy Waters just north of Glen Innes as the suns rays start to find their way through the trees and light up the countryside.
Taken during the 1200kms for Kids Charity Bike Ride... as the riders braved the icy air, I stopped to grab some of the pretty countryside in this part of the world.
The Beardy Waters is a river, which is about 70 kilometres (43 mi) in length, in the Northern Tablelands region of New South Wales, Australia.
The Beardy Waters rises near Ben Lomond Mountain south of Glen Innes in the New England region. It flows north to the east of Glen Innes, New South Wales and then north-west to where it joins the Severn River (New South Wales) below Rangers Road.
The name of the river derives from two bearded stockmen who were among the first European settlers of the district through which the river flows. The river was previously known as: Maybole Creek, The Beardy Water, Beardy River and The Beardy Waters.
A weir construction across the Beardy Waters was commenced in October 1930 after a grant of ₤5,500 was made available for the work. This money was granted to pay men working on unemployment relief. Completed in July 1932 at a cost of ₤10,847 it has a capacity of 100 million imperial gallons (450,000 m3) with the flood gates closed.
Hilo de la Fotohistoria en Pullip .es: DATING AT CINEMA (1 of 5): Minao Theatre /
CITA EN EL CINE (1 de 5): Cines Minao
(Read in this order) PAG: 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, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 243, 244, 245, 246, 247, 248, 249, 250, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259, 260, 261, 262, 263, 264, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 270, 271, 272, 273, 274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281, 282, 283, 284, 285, 286.
FOTOSTORY: In English / En Español
Dom: Ladies first.
/
Dom: Las señoritas primero.
COLLABORATION:
- Dom y Akari en el Foro de Pullips: Pullip .es
- Cinema's diorama by Minao. Sweets shop's diorama by Sheryl and Minao Collaboration.
- Little interpretation of Mad_Pullip's Emily as a MUSE fan.
SHERYL LINKS:
- Pullip .es: Las Fotohistorias de Sheryl
- Sheryl's Flickr: Photostories 2011 - Sketches 2011 / Photostories 2012 - Sketches 2012
Zuki really wants a duck. He still loves his seal, "Club", but he's not getting along with whale or pig that much. He hasn't even bothered to name them.
I wanted to put that in illustration tonight with duck boots, which were promised at my last Bench Monday, but he threw a hissy fit.
"NOT DUCKS, MUM! THESE ARE NOT DUCKS!"
So he's back in the closet. I'm hoping he comes out for tomorrow's shot which will be a face down tuesday, but includes a bed. Unfortunately, that will disqualify the shot as a "Face Down Tuesday", but I also said on Wednesday that I would explain why I couldn't sleep until 3AM.
So much catching up to do. I feel that I've neglected my contacts horribly. They started making me actually do work at work. It's 10:20 and I'm just uploading, and I swore I'd try to sleep like a semi-normal person this week.
EffiArt2015
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Emblem Button Zeichen sign Abzeichen
LOCATION
Baden-Württemberg / Dettensee ...
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Manche Zuschauer und
ganz besonders Noel wollten so gerne einen Button von der Dettenseer Flecken Fastnacht 2015.
Leider gab es das nicht zu kaufen.
Opa Erwin kann so was am Computer erstellen - EffiArt2015
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Fastnacht Karneval Fasnet Fasching "Fastnachts-Dienstag" "Kleiner Omzug"
Umzug Dettensee FDS Horb-Dettensee
Dätsailer Fleckenfasnet
Di, 17. Februar 2015
Saukopfessen (10 Uhr), Umzug (14:00 Uhr),
Musik und Unterhaltung mit Narrentreiben im Gemeindesaal
am Fasnetsdienstag in Dettensee, abends Fasnetsverbrennung
SX60 HS "Canon PowerShot SX60 HS" Canon Bridgecamera bridge camera "Canon PowerShot SX60" "Canon SX60" "Powershot SX60" SX60HS eagle1effi SX "430 EXII" "External Flash" Speedlite
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The Registan was the heart of the ancient Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The name Registan (ریگستان) means "Sandy place" in Persian.
The Registan was a place of public executions, where also people gathered to hear royal proclamations, heralded by blasts on enormous copper pipes called dzharchis.
The three madrasahs of the Registan are: Ulugh Beg Madrasah (1417–1420), the Sher-Dor Madrasah (1619–1636) and the Tilya-Kori Madrasah (1646–1660). Madrasah is an Arabic term meaning a Muslim clergy academy.
The Ulugh Beg Madrasah has its imposing portal with lancet arch facing the square. The corners are flanked by the high well-proportioned minarets. Mosaic panel over the entrance arch is decorated by geometrical stylized ornaments. The square-shaped courtyard includes a mosque, lecture rooms and is fringed by the dormitory cells in which students lived. There are deep galleries along the axes. Originally the Ulugh Beg Madrasah was a two-storied building with four domed darskhonas (lecture room) at the corners. The madrasah was one of the best clergy universities of the whole Moslem Orient of the 15th century. Abdurakhman Djami, a prominent poet, scientist and philosopher studied there. Ulugh Beg himself gave lectures there. During Ulugbek's government the Madrasah was a centre of secular science. In the 17th century the ruler of Samarkand Yalangtush Bakhodur ordered the construction of the Sher-Dor and Tillya-Kori madrasahs. The Sher-Dor (Having Tigers) Madrasah was designed by architect Abdujabor. The decoration of the madrasah is not as refined as that on the 15th century - "golden age" of Samarkand architecture. Anyway, the harmony of large and small rooms, exquisite mosaic decor, monumentality and efficient symmetry - all these put the structure among the best architectural monuments of Samarkand.
Ten years later the Tilya-Kori Madrasah was built, the name means "Gilded". It was not only the place of training students, but also it played the role of grand mosque. It has two-storied main facade, vast courtyard fringed by dormitory cells with four galleries along axes. Mosque building (see picture 6) is situated in the western section of the courtyard. The main hall of the mosque is abundantly gilded.
To the east of Tilya-Kori Madrasah the mausoleum of Shaybanids (16 century) is located (see picture). The real founder of Shaybanid power was Muhammad Shaybani - grandson of Abu'l Khair. In 1500, with the backing of the Chaghataite Khanate, then based in Tashkent (Uzbekistan), Muhammad Shaybani has conquered Samarkand and Bukhara from their last Timurid rulers. The founder of the dynasty then turned on his benefactors and in 1503 took Tashkent. He captured Khiva in 1506 and in 1507 he swooped down on Merv (Turkmenistan), eastern Persia, and western Afghanistan. The Shaybanids stopped the advance of the Safavids, who in 1502 had defeated the Akkoyunlu (Iran). Muhammad Shaybani was a leader of nomadic Uzbeks. During the ensuing years they substantially settled down in oases of Central Asia. The Uzbek invasion of 15 c. was the last component of the today's Uzbek nation ethnogeny.
The ancient trading dome Chorsu is situated right behind the Sher-Dor. Now it is well restored. The existence of the trading dome at this place confirms the information that Registan was medieval Samarkand's commercial center and the plaza was probably a wall to wall market. During the Soviet era, the site was restored, which included digging down 3 meters to its original level to expose the buildings' full height.
On our trip from Howick to Embleton Bay on Monday this was the place i wanted to see most. Due to the insane waves there was no chance of getting a classic Tower shot on death rocks so out came the Sony P93 and i set about getting some IR shots using the path as a lead in. I was blown away by the size of the tower as ive only ever seen it in photos and maybe due to Super Wide lenses it looks quite small. I left the 2 people in purposely to give a sense of scale. This place is amazing and i just cant wait to get back there :)