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I do have access to big glass and I am always fascinated by those close-up images, where you can see all the finest details and features of a bird or an animal... a whole new world is opening up when I see those images, a bit like when I used a good pair of binoculars for the first time, there is so much more to appreciate in nature than what a glance provides... However, I love bird scape photography, those moments where the space is as important as the bird in the image or perhaps even more precisely when the space is the subject of the image and the bird is simply complimentary.
El Rio Tinto recibe su nombre por el color rojo intenso de sus aguas y recorre 100 km atravesando la provincia de Huelva (Andalucía, Sur de España).
El color rojo es debido a la presencia de cationes de metales pesados erosionados por causa de la acidez de las aguas (ph tamponado de 2.4, muy ácido). La abundancia de minerales de Pirita y Calcopirita (sulfuros de hierro y cobre) y la presencia de unas extrañas bacterias acidófilas que oxidan estos minerales, generan el ácido sulfúrico que a la postre re-alimenta el proceso de lixiviado de los metales.
En el agua del rio sobreviven bacterias, microorganismos y vida en condiciones extremas, la NASA lo está estudiando y ha descrito recientemente este microsistema como el más parecido a Marte que podemos encontrar en la Tierra.
Los minerales de cobre, hierro, manganeso, …, se extraen en las explotaciones mineras de Rio Tinto desde hace 5000 años por íberos, fenicios, romanos y musulmanes, y ha sido explotada durante los dos últimos siglos por la compañía británica Rio Tinto Company Limited.
En el pequeño pueblo de Rio Tinto se pueden encontrar casas Victorianas, precisamente en los barrios que habitaron los Ingleses durante ese tiempo.
Para la visita y el recorrido del cauce del rio puedes contar con Fieldwork Riotinto (rio y minas) .
In my por English:
Rio Tinto is named for the deep red color of its waters and travels 100 km through the province of Huelva (Andalucía, southern Spain).
The red color is due to the presence of heavy metal cations eroded because the acidity of the water (pH 2.4 buffered, strongly acidic). The abundance of minerals Pyrite and Chalcopyrite (copper and iron sulfides) and the presence of strange acidophilus bacteria that oxidize these minerals, generate the sulfuric acid media that eventually re-feeds the process of leaching of metals.
In the river water surviving bacteria, microorganisms and life in extreme conditions, NASA is studying this media and has recently described this microsystem as the closest thing to Mars on Earth can find.
Copper, iron, manganese, ..., are extracted in the mines of Rio Tinto for 5000 years by Iberians, Phoenicians, Romans and Muslims, and has been exploited for the last two centuries by the British company Rio Tinto Company Limited .
In the small town of Rio Tinto Victorian houses can be found precisely in neighborhoods inhabited by the English people during that time.
To visit and travel the river bed you can count on Fieldwork Riotinto (rio and mines visits).
Scientific name: Lepus europaeus.
Brown hares are perhaps one of the few introduced species that people tend to mistake for natives. Precisely when they are brought to Britain is lost in the annals of time, but archaeological evidence points to an introduction at some point during the Iron Age, while genetic data suggest these animals were brought from the Netherlands or Denmark. The Brown hare was once a common site in Britain's agricultural land but appears to be in decline, largely as a result of habitat loss and, perhaps, continued persecution from hare coursers. Today, despite remaining widespread, their stronghold is southern England and, particularly East Anglia and Kent.
Info: Wildlife Online.
Many thanks to people who view or comment on my photos.
Arbúcies town in the region of La Selva, located at the foot of Montseny. It has been said about him that all of his women are witches and that they fly from him to meet the Llano de las Brujas coven in Gualba. Precisely a famous saying reminds us: "From Sant Hilari in Arbúcies twelve houses, thirteen witches".
Jasper, Jean and I went for a hike at Lost Dutchman State Park in Apache Junction, Arizona today. It's about 30 minutes from our home. It was 63°F (~17°C) when we started our hike about 30 minutes before sunrise. Gorgeous day. We saw a herd of deer bounding across the trail this morning. Jasper was so excited he almost lost his mind. Instinct was kicking in and he really wanted to chase one down. So he had to pull me up the trail at full speed for a little bit. This is precisely the reason we leave him on leash. It does seem a little weird seeing a herd of deer bounding through the cactus and scrub. A couple other photos for context in the first comment
Lately, I am getting fond of lying on a meadow to admire the beauty of the wild flowers that bloom on the lawn. It is a very comfortable task, of course.
On a day like today in Madrid, with temperatures reaching 77F (25ºC), is there anything more relaxing outdoors?
This photo is dedicated to all the mothers in the world, who with their effort, tenacity and love gave us life and educated us. Precisely, mine is called Margarita, so it is dedicated to her.
For all those who celebrate Mother's Day today (in Spain it was Sunday last week), I wish you all the best and a great day in which love overcomes everything and is the protagonist.
Press "L" to enlarge the photo.
Available at fineartamerica:
fineartamerica.com/featured/margaritas-in-the-park-el-cap...
________________________________
Margaritas en el Parque del Capricho, Madrid, España
Últimamente, le estoy cogiendo afición a tumbarme sobre una pradera para admirar la belleza de las flores silvestres que nacen sobre el césped. Es una tarea muy confortable, desde luego.
En un día como el de hoy en Madrid, con unas temperaturas llegando a los 25ºC, ¿existe algo más relajante al aire libre?
Esta foto está dedicada a todas las madres del mundo, que con su esfuerzo, tesón y amor nos dieron la vida y nos educaron. Precisamente, la mía se llama Margarita, así que está dedicada a ella.
Para todas/os aquellas/os que celebráis hoy el Día de la Madre (en España fue el domingo de la semana pasada), os deseo todo lo mejor y un gran día en el que el amor supere todo y sea el protagonista.
Pulsa "L" para ampliar la foto.
Disponible en fineartamerica:
fineartamerica.com/featured/margaritas-in-the-park-el-cap...
La Pointe de la Chavache est un sommet du Chablais français , situé dans le val d'Abondance. Plus précisément, il domine le vallon d'Ardens. Randonnées aériennes, sauvages avec des chamois.
Pointe de la Chavache (2089 m)
Pointe d'Entre Deux Pertuis (2176 m).
The Pointe de la Chavache is a summit of the French Chablais, located in the Val d'Abondance. More precisely, it dominates the Ardens valley. Aerial and wild hikes with chamois.
Close-up of the Rock Garden (karesansui, 枯山水, dry landscape) of Ryoanji Temple (龍安寺 or 竜安寺, Ryōanji), Kyoto, Japan.
For a view of the whole garden, click here.
Nearby the Kinkaku-ji (The Golden Pavilion, Kyoto) is the Ryoanji Temple (龍安寺 or 竜安寺, Ryōanji) .
The temple's name is synonymous with the temple's famous Zen garden, the karesansui (dry landscape), Rock Garden.
The temple and its gardens are listed as one of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto, and as an UNESCO World Heritage.
""This simple and remarkable garden measures only 25 meters from east to west and 10 meters from south to north.
The rectangle Zen Garden is completely different from the gorgeous gardens of court nobles constructed in the Middle Ages. No trees are to be seen; only 15 rocks and white gravel are used in the garden.
The walls are made of clay boiled in oil. As time went by, the peculiar design was made of itself by the oil that seeped out.
This international famous rock garden is said to be created at the end of Muromachi Period (around 1500), by a highly respected Zen monk, Tokuho Zenketsu.""
information - from the brochure
""Meaning of the garden.
Like any work of art, the artistic garden of Ryōan-ji is also open to interpretation, or scientific research into possible meanings. Many different theories have been put forward inside and outside Japan about what the garden is supposed to represent, from islands in a stream, to swimming baby tigers to the peaks of mountains rising above to theories about secrets of geometry or of the rules of equilibrium of odd numbers.
Garden historian Gunter Nitschke wrote: "The garden at Ryōan-ji does not symbolize anything, or more precisely, to avoid any misunderstanding, the garden of Ryōan-ji does not symbolize, nor does it have the value of reproducing a natural beauty that one can find in the real or mythical world. I consider it to be an abstract composition of 'natural' objects in space, a composition whose function is to incite meditation.""
information - WiKi
IN ENGLISH BELOW THE LINE
La primera excursió per "caçar" aurores del 2025 (la tercera en total per a mí) fou llarga i gairebé fallida. Però al final la aurora va recompensar l'esforç.
Tot i que entorn la posta de sol (a quarts de dues de la tarda!) el cel semblava parcialment serè, aviat es va anar tapant completament tot al entorn de Tromsø. Per això el nostre guia Vidar ens va recollir a quarts de 6 per a fer molts quilometres en una excursió nocturna i gelada per les carreteres norueges. La primera parada fou més d'una hora després, en una benzinera de Nordkjosbotn.
Allà va recollir informació per al seguent tram de la ruta, en busca d'una zona sense nuvols. Ens dirigirem vers el nord-est, cap al interior, buscant posar muntanyes (els Alps de Lyngen) entre nosaltres i les nuvolades que venien de l'oceà. Després d'una parada a Hatteng per a posar-nos més capes de roba per al fred intens, ens endinsarem a la vall de Skibotn, famosa precisament pels seus cels clars. Varem parar entorn Bulldosarveien i Lulledalen, però res. Teniem estrelles i el cel serè, però encara no es veien aurores. Varem fer un darrer tram (ja a més de 2 hores / 150 km. de distancia de Tromsø), com a darrera oportunitat, fins un punt molt proxim a la frontera amb Finlandia. I allà, per fi, es veia la aurora!
Molt fina al començament, lentament es va anar animant moderadament. L'entorn era ple bosc sub-artic de Laponia, prop del llac Gálggojávri. Allà varem fer una petita foguera per escalfar-nos i menjar sopa calenta.
================================
The first aurora "hunting" excursion of 2025 (the third in total for me) was long and almost a failure. But in the end the aurora rewarded the effort.
Although around sunset (at 1:30 pm!) the sky seemed partially serene, it soon completely covered all around Tromsø. That's why our guide Vidar picked us up at 5:30 pm to do many kilometers on a night and icy excursion along the Norwegian roads. The first stop was more than an hour later, at a gas station in Nordkjosbotn.
There he collected information for the next section of the route, in search of a cloudless area. We will head northeast, inland, looking for mountains (the Lyngen Alps) between us and the clouds coming from the ocean. After a stop in Hatteng to put on more layers of clothing for the intense cold, we entered the Skibotn valley, famous precisely for its clear skies. We stopped around Bulldosarveien and Lulledalen, but nothing. We had stars and the sky was clear, but still no auroras were visible. We did one last stretch (already more than 2 hours / 150 km. away from Tromsø), as a last chance. When we finally stopped a short distance from the Finland border, we finally saw the Northern Lights!
Modest at first, they slowly gained momentum. We where in the middle of the Lappland forest, by the lake Gálggojávri.There we lit a little campfire to eat some hot soup.
In 1630, that is precisely what the Venetian Senate wrestled with, in response to a devastating outbreak of the plague.
Despite prayers and processions to existing churches, the plague took nearly 150,000 lives in Venice and the surrounding lagoons. During a wave of the plague 55 years prior, the city commissioned the architect Palladio to design the Redentore church. So, it was deemed appropriate to call on an even higher power the second time around - the Madonna herself.
As a result, the Santa Maria della Salute (featured prominently here) was constructed. To this day, the city officials still parade from San Marcos to the Salute on the Feast of the Presentation of the Virgin (November 21), in gratitude for deliverance from the plague.
Visiting Venice in winter has upsides and downsides - fewer crowds, more flooding, frequent overcast skies. The latter made sunrise photos along the Grand Canal less colorful than I would have hoped, and thus this monochrome image was created. I like the feel of this view in black and white. It captures the melancholy of winter and the solitude of workers commuting about the city early in the morning.
Certainly, there are seasons when the lighting for photographers is better, but never pass on an opportunity to see Venice.
Select Fine Art prints of this and other images can be purchased at bit.ly/ProPeak
04-May-2022: about turism: my perplexities towards a future with more and more bans and more and more over-taxes.
Lake Bohinj and the much more famous Lake Bled are close (less than 20 km) but the second has a mass tourism now rooted, while the first is expanding its tourist reception in recent years, coming out (unfortunately) from the shadow of Bled, that was a lightning rod for peaceful and symbiotic nature lovers.
I am totally against mass tourism because it transforms a relaxing resort into an area where it is difficult even to access it.
Around Lake Bled, even at a certain distance, there are only paid parking lots, which come to cost 6 euros per hour (about the most decentralized and in May...) that, certainly, leave perplexed about the "tourist selection" that "they" would like to implement (high-end tourism) and, in general, certainly drive away the tourist in search of nature and not restaurants, bars, concrete lake-front and crowd baths.
The naturalist tourist should not feel like a tourist in Nature, which is a single great asset of humanity and that only administratively is divided between various Countries, while in Bled, as in Rimini or Cortina d'Ampezzo, they make you feel not only tourist, but also guest, sometimes unwanted if you spend little.
As tourism increases, so do the bans, because unfortunately mass tourism includes many people who don't know anything about Nature and generally only go to very touristy places to make themselves of...people, sowing dirt and ignorance wherever they move.
The imposition of prohibitions/bans to limit the "damage from mass tourism" affects everyone indiscriminately, including locals and naturalists who have always had a symbiotic relationship with these places, thus making them become inhospitable, at least to those seeking pure contact with nature itself.
Of course this happens all over the world, but it should be condemned.
We already pay State taxes for the maintenance of the slice of Nature that falls within our administration, tourist surcharges, exploiting market laws that should be verified and contained, are for the most part unconstitutional, as well as several prohibitions that deprive access and use of public property.
With the money that the tourist municipalities pocket they could very well implement a targeted prevention (controls by foresters, cameras, ad hoc fences for areas subject to micro-pollution...) rather than closing everything and then de-empowering themself on the maintenance of roads and areas (more and more numerous), thus going to save further, starting from the basic taxes that we pay to also have access to given areas.
I can understand that you tax parking at high altitude to maintain the roads, but the amount of the payment should be directly proportional to the expenses that must be incurred to ensure accessibility, not by putting prices at random and with increases of 200% from one year to the next.
I have always appreciated the fact that Slovenia, thanks also that it is not densely inhabited and has a modest tourism (except precisely Bled, Postojna Caves and the Coast), guarantees a wide accessibility and use of its territories and I hope it can continue, limiting the prohibitions and parking lots everywhere.
"Listening and watching of a Great Grey Owl".
I watched this Great Grey Owl as it watched but more precisely listened for voles in the meadow.
Here she is sitting on a tree overlooking the meadow where I am seated.
A small group of male Red-crested Pochards (Netta rufina) was framed on the very moment of take off with vibrant colours. The brilliant Sunshine was all over their heads to arouse the charm of the red crests. This was an eye level effort to frame their actions precisely. The effort was very tough holding a heavy tele in a shaking country boat but the reward was very special. Pics was taken from purbasthali, West Bengal, India.
The Basilica and Convent of San Francisco, is a Catholic basilica that stands in the middle of the historic center of Quito. The structure is the largest architectural complex within the historic centers of all of South America. San Francisco is considered a jewel of continental architecture for its mixture of different styles combined throughout more than 150 years of construction. Inside the church there are more than 3,500 works of colonial art, of multiple artistic manifestations and varied techniques, especially those corresponding to the Colonial Quito School of Art, which was born precisely in this place.
IN ENGLISH BELOW THE LINE
La segona (i darrera) nit en busca d'aurores fou més positiva que la primera, tot i que varem anar força lluny de Tromso, també. Per a mi, en total, fou la cinquena nit d'aurores, entre 2019 i 2025.
Varem marxar de nou amb furgoneta des de Tromso cap al sud, vers el Balsfjorden i Hatteng, on de nou ens varem equipar amb extra roba d'hivern i botes de neu. Però després anarem força aprop, a la vall de Signaldalen, que forma un dels punts més estrets de Noruega amb la frontera sueca. Justament per això fou el lloc escollit per els alemanys per a construir una linea de defensa el 1944-45 davant els avenços sovietics al front de Murmansk-Kirkenes.
www.fergusmurraysculpture.com/arctic-norway/the-german-oc...
Però nosaltres erem allà per a veure aurores en un entorn muntanyós privilegiat, i varem tenir exit. La aurora fou força més intensa que la anterior vegada, amb grans arcs que ens passaven just sobre el cap i també cap al nord, entorn els pics de Mannfjellet i Otertinden.
Aquí en concret, el Mannfjellet sembra entrar en una erupció de llum.
================================
The second (and last) night in search of the auroras was more positive than the first, although we went quite far from Tromso, too. For me, in total, it was the fifth night of auroras, between 2019 and 2025.
We set off again by van from Tromso south, towards the Balsfjorden and Hatteng, where we again equipped ourselves with extra winter clothes and snow boots. But then we will go quite close, to the Signaldalen valley, which forms one of the narrowest points in Norway with the Swedish border. Precisely for this reason it was the place chosen by the Germans to build a defense line in 1944-45 against the Soviet advances on the Murmansk-Kirkenes front.
www.fergusmurraysculpture.com/arctic-norway/the-german-oc...
But we were there to see the aurora in a privileged mountainous setting, and we succeeded. The aurora was much more intense than last time, with large arcs passing right overhead and also to the north, around the peaks of Mannfjellet and Otertinden.
Here the Mannfjellet looks like exploding in Northern Lights.
IN ENGLISH BELOW THE LINE
La segona (i darrera) nit en busca d'aurores fou més positiva que la primera, tot i que varem anar força lluny de Tromso, també. Per a mi, en total, fou la cinquena nit d'aurores, entre 2019 i 2025.
Varem marxar de nou amb furgoneta des de Tromso cap al sud, vers el Balsfjorden i Hatteng, on de nou ens varem equipar amb extra roba d'hivern i botes de neu. Però després anarem força aprop, a la vall de Signaldalen, que forma un dels punts més estrets de Noruega amb la frontera sueca. Justament per això fou el lloc escollit per els alemanys per a construir una linea de defensa el 1944-45 davant els avenços sovietics al front de Murmansk-Kirkenes.
www.fergusmurraysculpture.com/arctic-norway/the-german-oc...
Però nosaltres erem allà per a veure aurores en un entorn muntanyós privilegiat, i varem tenir exit. La aurora fou força més intensa que la anterior vegada, amb grans arcs que ens passaven just sobre el cap i també cap al nord, entorn els pics de Mannfjellet i sobretot el espectacular Otertinden de la foto.
================================
The second (and last) night in search of the auroras was more positive than the first, although we went quite far from Tromso, too. For me, in total, it was the fifth night of auroras, between 2019 and 2025.
We set off again by van from Tromso south, towards the Balsfjorden and Hatteng, where we again equipped ourselves with extra winter clothes and snow boots. But then we will go quite close, to the Signaldalen valley, which forms one of the narrowest points in Norway with the Swedish border. Precisely for this reason it was the place chosen by the Germans to build a defense line in 1944-45 against the Soviet advances on the Murmansk-Kirkenes front.
www.fergusmurraysculpture.com/arctic-norway/the-german-oc...
But we were there to see the aurora in a privileged mountainous setting, and we succeeded. The aurora was much more intense than last time, with large arcs passing right overhead and also to the north, around the peaks of Mannfjellet and above all this one in the image, the Otertinden.
In this image, the Midjourney prompt is derived from the lyrics of the song "Shining Light" by the dark rock band Mono Inc. The prompt was entered precisely as it is, excluding the chorus.
MONO INC. - Shining Light feat. Tilo Wolff from Lacrimosa (Official Video)
If you are interested...
The original version by Lacrimosa
You will find the prompt in the tags.
New Zealand
"Scientists know the rocks are limestone, formed under the sea 35 million years ago by fragments of marine organisms. What they cannot quite fathom is precisely how the rocks came to be in layers."
Like many of the islands of Guadeloupe, the islands of Les Saintes were also discovered by Cristoforo Colombo in 1493, precisely on November 4th, the name of the archipelago comes from the celebration of All Saints
Come molte delle isole della Guadalupa, anche le isole di Les Saintes sono state scoperte dal nostro Cristoforo Colombo nel 1493, precisamente il 4 novembre, pensate che il nome dell’arcipelago viene proprio dalla festività di Ognissanti
I was planning on doing a nice series on the attractive purple peninsulas of pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata) which occur around the lake, and set off in the canoe to do precisely that on a beautiful, sunny Saturday in the northwoods. Unfortunately, the winds kicked up after I departed, creating not only a bad day for photos of anything from the canoe, but also a bad day to be 66 years old as the breezes tested my mettle. (I'm not sure what a "mettle" is, but I am sure it was tested and hope it's not sore tomorrow.)
Thus you will have to make do with this spotted knapweed (Centaurea biebersteinii) which is not only also purple, but has the added peculiar distinction of apparently being named for Justin Bieber. Or perhaps the latter was named for the former. Either way, I would consider both highly invasive in their own right, and tho Justin would no doubt strongly disagree, I find the weed far prettier and recommend a taxonomical redo.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_Day
Armistice Day was declared on 11 November 1918 and Big Ben sounded on the hour at 11am – the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. This weekend's two-minute silence will commence at precisely that time, marking exactly 100 years to the second the First World War came to an end.
"May every Sunrise hold more Promise and every Sunset hold more Peace" ~ Anon.
During the day, we don't have time to stop and think, everything runs too fast to stop. During the night, the world falls asleep, The nights are made to go out, get drunk, have fun and sum up the past days, not thinking about tomorrow. slows down and almost stops and that is precisely the moment that we can define as peace.
Stylization of the Château de la Chasse in the Montmorency Forest and its environment in the winter mist.
Stylisation du Château de la Chasse en Forêt de Montmorency et de son environnement dans la brume hivernale.
No AI : I am therefore able to say how precisely I did ;-)))))
30-June-2019: these background large storm cells do not draw energy from the Northern Adriatic, they are, instead, much more far multi-cell storms originated by the heat of the overheated solid soil of the Alps...and what Alps!!
At that time, the multi-cell thunderstorm on the right poured torrential rains and hail in the Dolomites of the North-East Alto Adige (Südtirol for German speaking), extending beyond the Italian State border, in Tirol, Austria: it is an area distant from the Gulf of Trieste 250 to 300 linear kilometers!
The air masses at high altitude were generally dry and extremely transparent.
The cell on the left, on the contrary, is in an advanced phase of dissolution, but it is precisely the residual fresher air generated by the previous thunderstorms that keep the right cell still active (after having even generated it a few hours before), despite the setting of the sun.
“Precisely the least, the softest, lightest, a lizard's rustling, a breath, a flash, a moment - a little makes the way of the best happiness.”
~Friedrich Nietzsche
The tiny ant walked around this tolerant lizard's head for awhile... then they both scurried off. Come a little closer...
For Looking close… on Friday!
Theme : Bokeh in Pink.
Rose bonbon », « rose Barbie », « rose layette »… Le constat pourrait s’arrêter là : les usages d’une société de consommation toujours plus tournée vers le paraître ont couronné de superficialité la couleur rose, cet avatar naïf du si puissant et si noble rouge. Et pourtant, n’est-il pas fascinant, ce rose, évocateur de la fleur de Ronsard, des chairs des nymphes botticelliennes et des plumes de cabaret ? Si Michel Pastoureau, maître ès couleurs et symboles, s’est lancé dans l’étude historique du rose, à la suite de ses six précédents ouvrages consacrés aux couleurs, c’est bien parce qu’il est tout sauf anodin, ni même exclusivement féminin.
Candy pink," "Barbie pink," "baby pink"... The observation could stop there: the practices of a consumer society increasingly focused on appearances have crowned the color pink with superficiality, this naive avatar of the powerful and noble red. And yet, isn't this pink fascinating, evocative of Ronsard's flower, the flesh of Botticelli's nymphs, and cabaret feathers? If Michel Pastoureau, a master of colors and symbols, has embarked on the historical study of pink, following his six previous books devoted to colors, it is precisely because it is anything but innocuous, or even exclusively feminine.
Un grand merci pour vos favoris, commentaires et encouragements toujours très appréciés.
Many thanks for your much appreciated favorites and comments.
The critically endangered Helmeted Hornbill Rhinoplax vigil is one of the most unusual hornbills, the only one with a solid casque. However, this is precisely the cause of its downfall. The Helmeted Hornbills have been hunted for their casques in Borneo and traded with China for over a thousand years but in the last nine years, the species has come under new and unprecedented pressure from an exploding demand for casques which are in great demand as a material for carved jewelry and ornaments.
The helmeted hornbill (Rhinoplax vigil) is a very large bird in the hornbill family. It is found on the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo, Thailand and Myanmar. The casque (helmetlike structure on the head) accounts for some 11% of its 3 kg weight. Unlike any other hornbill, the casque is almost solid, and is used in head-to-head combat among males. It is a belief among the Punan Bah that a large helmeted hornbill guards the river between life and death
one must be constantly on the alert, ready to acclaim the unexpected :-)
Martine Franck
HBW!! Truth Matters! Lies have consequences.
echinacea, coneflowers, j c raulston arboretum, ncsu, raleigh, north carolina
Nothing twice
Nothing can ever happen twice.
In consequence, the sorry fact is2
that we arrive here improvised
and leave without the chance to practice.
Even if there is no one dumber,
if you're the planet's biggest dunce,
you can't repeat the class in summer:
this course is only offered once.
No day copies yesterday,
no two nights will teach what bliss is
in precisely the same way,
with precisely the same kisses.
One day, perhaps some idle tongue
mentions your name by accident:
I feel as if a rose were flung
into the room, all hue and scent.
The next day, though you're here with me,
I can't help looking at the clock:
A rose? A rose? What could that be?
Is it a flower or a rock?
Why do we treat the fleeting day
with so much needless fear and sorrow?
It's in its nature not to stay:
Today is always gone tomorrow.
With smiles and kisses, we prefer
to seek accord beneath our star,
although we're different (we concur)
just as two drops of water are.
Author: Wislawa Szymborska
Back to Italy, and more precisely Sicily. The people, culture, food, beauty of cities and landscapes, climate ... all this makes Italy one of our favorite destinations !
Have a wonderful Sunday, dear friends and followers !
This is what I love to do with my photography and really happy with this image , I had to position myself quite low in order to get the seagulls precisely in the suns reflection , it was worth the cold wet knees to get this image
This was an inquisitive squirrel I photographed in the jungles of Khao Sok, Thailand. I could not identify the animal more precisely.
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Some time before I shot the previous photo, the Black-shouldered Kite male was carrying this twig and landed in the tree where the nest should be. I suppose this was just some small addition to the already completed construction because I had observed the nest building process at lest a month ago. I wonder about the strength of his beak holding the twig so precisely at its very tip during the fast flight.
Photo was taken from bridge which connect Polish and German side. More precisely Zgorzelec and Görlitz.
La Clave baja le da un aire maléfico, pero conociendola, es justo su esencia, es una revoltosa.
The low key gives it a diabolical air, but knowing her, it's precisely her essence; she's a rebel.
Riverside Park,
Kamloops, B.C.
I've taken so many pictures of this park bench in the last few months, though this is the first shot I have uploaded. Every time I go to this park I take at least one shot. It is different from all the other benches, having a kind of old fashioned feel to it, not like the plastic-feeling new ones. It sits on its own rakish angle quite unlike the new ones which are laid out precisely parallel to pathways. It has character.
For Smile on Saturday!
Theme : « Dice in B&W.
Les dés tirent probablement leur origine des os des chevilles (spécifiquement l’astragale) d’animaux tels le bœuf. Il n’est pas possible de déterminer précisément l’apparition des dés et leur distinction des osselets, les écrivains antiques semblant confondre les deux jeux. Il est certain en revanche qu’ils datent des temps préhistoriques. Leur présence dans des tombes anciennes de la vallée de l’Indus, des dés cubiques vieux de 4 300 ans y ayant été retrouvés[, semble pointer vers une origine asiatique. À cette époque, la somme de faces opposées ne vaut pas encore systématiquement 7. Le jeu de dé est mentionné dans le Rig-Veda et l’Atharvaveda indiens[source insuffisante].
La connaissance de la numération étrusque, et plus précisément la forme écrite de leurs 6 premiers chiffres, s’est effectuée en découvrant des dés à jouer (ou à divination) dans les objets familiers accompagnant le mort dans sa tombe.
Les jeux de dés furent populaires ensuite à Rome, particulièrement pendant les jours fastes de l’Empire romain, bien qu’ils fussent interdits, sauf pendant les Saturnales. Horace décrivit par exemple ce qu’il présentait comme un jeune homme typique de l’époque, qui perdait son temps aux dés plutôt qu’à dompter son cheval. Jouer de l’argent aux dés était le sujet de plusieurs lois spécifiques ; l’une d’elles statuait qu’aucun procès ne pouvait être demandé par une personne qui autorisait les paris dans sa maison, même s’il avait été attaqué ou si on avait triché contre lui. Les joueurs professionnels étaient cependant courants et certains de leurs dés pipés ont été préservés.
Dice probably originated from the ankle bones (specifically the talus) of animals such as oxen. It is not possible to precisely determine the appearance of dice and their distinction from knucklebones, as ancient writers seemed to confuse the two games. It is certain, however, that they date back to prehistoric times. Their presence in ancient tombs in the Indus Valley, where 4,300-year-old cubic dice were found, seems to point to an Asian origin. At that time, the sum of opposite sides did not yet systematically equal 7. The game of dice is mentioned in the Indian Rig-Veda and Atharva Veda. [insufficient source].
Knowledge of Etruscan numeration, and more specifically the written form of their first six digits, was acquired through the discovery of playing (or divination) dice among the familiar objects accompanying the deceased in their graves. Dice games were popular in Rome afterward, especially during the heyday of the Roman Empire, although they were forbidden except during the Saturnalia. Horace, for example, described what he saw as a typical young man of the time, wasting his time on dice rather than taming his horse. Gambling with dice for money was the subject of several specific laws; one of these stated that no lawsuit could be filed by a person who allowed betting in his house, even if he had been attacked or cheated. Professional gamblers were common, however, and some of their loaded dice have been preserved.
Un grand merci pour vos favoris, commentaires et encouragements toujours très appréciés.
Many thanks for your much appreciated favorites and comments.
For the little angels of Annecy - Alpes - Rhône Alpes - France - Europe
La signification de l'iris noir prend sa source dans des temps très reculés, dans la mythologie grecque plus précisément. Iris était la messagère de la déesse Héra, qui n'apportait que de bonnes nouvelles. Un iris sombre, de par sa teinte intense, est un message qui exprime des sentiments également très forts.
Les significations de l’iris noir incluent l’élégance, l’indépendance, la sagesse, le mystère et la rébellion. La présence d’iris noirs dans un jardin peut apporter un contraste éclairant aux fleurs plus flashy. Un cadeau d’iris noirs est un merveilleux hommage à quelqu’un dans votre vie qui est la « vraie affaire » – une personne authentique et une vieille âme qui vous a éclairé d’une manière importante.
Noblesse
Longtemps associé à la royauté, l’iris incarne la noblesse dans sa forme idéale. Ces qualités comprennent le fait de donner l’exemple et de servir au lieu de la peur. Ainsi, les fleurs d’iris sont des cadeaux idéaux pour les personnes que vous admirez et qui vous ont inspiré d’une manière ou d’une autre.
Chevalerie
L’iris est aussi un symbole de chevalerie. Dans notre monde moderne, certains peuvent penser que la chevalerie tient la porte ouverte à une autre personne. Cependant, cela signifie beaucoup plus. Dans les temps anciens, la chevalerie englobait le code de conduite chevaleresque. Cela comprenait la bravoure, l’héroïsme, la justice, l’honneur et la volonté d’aider les faibles. Ainsi, l’iris a été gravé sur de nombreuses armoiries, certaines sous la forme d’un symbole de fleur de lis.
Sagesse
Tout comme certaines fleurs représentent l’innocence, l’iris symbolise la sagesse et l’expérience. Ces fleurs complexes incarnent le genre de beauté qui s’améliore avec l’âge, ainsi que le type de connaissance qui ne peut être acquise que par l’expérience de la vie.
Messages
La signification de la fleur d’iris comprend également des messages. Dans l’Angleterre victorienne, donner un iris à quelqu’un signifiait que vous aviez un message spécial pour lui. Et sur le plan spirituel, comme le mot papillon ou le colibri, l’iris est associé aux messages de vos anges.
Foi et espérance
L’iris est aussi un symbole de foi et d’espérance. Donc, si vous marchez et voyez des iris le long de votre chemin, c’est un signe que vous devriez trouver de l’espoir et croire en de bons résultats, même si vous vous sentez pessimiste ou déprimé.
Pureté
Comme leur nom l’indique, les iris d’eau sont des espèces semi-aquatiques de la fleur qui poussent dans l’eau et les environnements marécageux. Ils sont spéciaux en ce sens qu’ils éliminent les toxines de l’environnement. En fait, les iris drapeau jaune peuvent être utilisés dans le traitement des eaux usées en raison de cette qualité particulière.
Pour cette raison, l’iris est également un symbole de pureté. Comme pour la fleur de lotus ou la fleur de lys, l’iris peut pousser dans des environnements troubles ou boueux, tout en fleurissant en une belle fleur. Toutes ces fleurs symbolisent la capacité de transformer nos vies pour le mieux.
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The meaning of the black iris has its source in very remote times, in Greek mythology more precisely. Iris was the messenger of the goddess Hera, who brought only good news. A dark iris, with its intense hue, is a message that also expresses very strong feelings.
Black iris meanings include elegance, independence, wisdom, mystery, and rebellion. The presence of black irises in a garden can provide an illuminating contrast to flashier flowers. A gift of black irises is a wonderful tribute to someone in your life who is the "real deal" - a genuine person and an old soul who has enlightened you in an important way.
Nobility
Long associated with royalty, the iris embodies nobility in its ideal form. These qualities include leading by example and serving instead of being afraid. So, iris flowers are ideal gifts for people you admire and who have inspired you in some way.
Chivalry
The iris is also a symbol of chivalry. In our modern world, some may think that chivalry holds the door open for another person. However, it means much more. In ancient times, chivalry encompassed the chivalrous code of conduct. This included bravery, heroism, justice, honor and willingness to help the weak. Thus, the iris has been engraved on many coats of arms, some in the form of a fleur-de-lis symbol.
Wisdom
Just as some flowers represent innocence, the iris symbolizes wisdom and experience. These intricate flowers embody the kind of beauty that improves with age, as well as the kind of knowledge that can only be gained through life experience.
Posts
The meaning of the iris flower also includes messages. In Victorian England, giving someone an iris meant you had a special message for them. And on a spiritual level, like the word butterfly or hummingbird, the iris is associated with messages from your angels.
faith and hope
The iris is also a symbol of faith and hope. So, if you are walking and seeing irises along your path, it is a sign that you should find hope and believe in good results, even if you feel pessimistic or depressed.
Purity
As their name suggests, water irises are semi-aquatic species of the flower that grow in water and marshy environments. They are special in that they remove toxins from the environment. In fact, yellow flag irises can be used in wastewater treatment because of this particular quality.
For this reason, the iris is also a symbol of purity. Like the lotus flower or the lily flower, the iris can grow in murky or muddy environments, while still blooming into a beautiful flower. All of these flowers symbolize the ability to transform our lives for the better.
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This is for Emma (Emma03184) who used to live here at one time.
The sun setting over Cobh Harbour, Co. Cork, Ireland, May 29th 2008
They say if you touch the water at any given time , someone else is doing precisely the same thing on the other side of the world and so a connection is made.
I touched the water and thought of you Emma.
The mama fox hung back toward the far end of this stack of hay bales, but two of the four kits were playing in front, and showed occasional interest in the clicking sounds coming from my car. There's no secret or trick here. I just parked on the dusty road and watched them play and investigate their world. I'm still not sure precisely where the den is located; I would guess it's in the gaps between bales.
Photographed near Val Marie, Saskatchewan (Canada). Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission ©2020 James R. Page - all rights reserved.
Versteckt, fast vergessen, abseits der bekannten Pfade – und doch niemals wirklich unentdeckt. Dieser kleine Ort am Ammersee, verborgen hinter schlammigen Wegen und unwegsamem Gelände, schien wie geschaffen für eine einsame Auszeit. Und doch waren wir nicht die Ersten, die ihn fanden. Es war während der Pandemie, in der Abstand die neue Nähe war, in der Menschen Orte suchten, an denen sie für einen Moment durchatmen konnten. Wir blieben für ein paar Minuten - der beste Platz war ja schon besetzt - und genossen ebenfalls den Blick über das ruhige Wasser. Vielleicht lag gerade in dieser Gemeinsamkeit die besondere Magie dieses Platzes: Niemand gehörte er allein, und doch fühlte es sich so an.
Hidden, almost forgotten, off the beaten track – and yet never really undiscovered. This small town on Lake Ammersee, hidden behind muddy paths and rough terrain, seemed to be made for a lonely break. And yet we were not the first to find it. It was during the pandemic, when distance was the new closeness, when people were looking for places where they could breathe deeply for a moment. We stayed for a few minutes - the best seat was already occupied - and also enjoyed the view over the calm water. Perhaps it was precisely in this commonality that the special magic of this place lay: it belonged to no one alone, and yet it felt that way.
Anstatt in den Süden wie geplant ging es für mich aufgrund der deutlich besseren Wettervorhersagen in den Norden, genauer nach Dänemark wo ich schon lange mal hinwollte. Am Abend des 19.04.2023 kam bei Hasselager die von DB Cargo Scandinavia eingesetzte MZ IV 1459 mit dem recht zuverlässig verkehrenden G9262 nach Taulov im Abendlicht dahergefahren. Zufrieden konnte ich anschließend in mein Hotel fahren. Die Strecke Aarhus - Vejle wird derzeit elektrifiziert, wie hier zu sehen ist, sind die Masten bereits an der gesamten Strecke gestellt.
Instead of going south as planned, I went north because of the much better weather forecast, more precisely to Denmark, where I had wanted to go for a long time. On the evening of April 19, 2023, the MZ IV 1459 used by DB Cargo Scandinavia arrived near Hasselager with the G9262, which runs quite reliably, to Taulov in the evening light. Satisfied, I was then able to drive to my hotel. The Aarhus - Vejle line is currently being electrified, as can be seen here the pylons have already been erected along the entire line.
Kapkörbchen / Bornholmmargeriten / Kapmargeriten (Osteospermum ecklonis)
Bitte respektiere mein Copyright. Keine Verwendung des Fotos ohne meine ausdrückliche Genehmigung.
Please respect my copyright. No use of the photo without my expressly permission.
Por favor, respete mis derechos de autor. Ningún uso de la foto sin mi permiso explícito.
icolorama, stackables, snapseed, image blender, repix
It all started with a display window shot. The dummy’s posture was so suggestive and I felt I could do something with it. Rarely I have a precisely drawn up plan on what I want, very often is the piece itself that takes shape on its own, grows with its own life. Certainly I have preferences and tend towards mystery and magic, but most of the time have no idea of what the result will be. Anyway in this case always had the feeling that wanted to transform that dummy into a shaman.
Love experimenting with textures and colors so I began doing so, adding many layers of textures in Stackables, playing with all the blending modes and saving those that felt could be useful; most of the time I start with my own formulas, saved in the app, and then try to enrich them according to the feeling I’m beginning to get about the piece. When I had a considerable number of images, began to blend each other, masking the parts that wanted to discard or keep. Always do a lot of different blends and when everything begins to take shape I focus on one or two of them, finally choosing only one, going on with the blending. Guess this piece has at least between 15 and 20 layers of textures and at least 10 blends.
Masking different versions of the same image is a lot of fun, because just by that fact you can create new shapes without needing a second source image - for instance, the presence behind the shaman or both figures' eyes. To that end I usually work in iColorama S and Image Blender, always both. For precision touches I prefer the second, choosing the soft brush which implicates a lot more work than the hard one, but you get sharper lines (I know it sounds contradictory, but thats what happens in Image Blender, the hard brush produces "dirty", "harsh", broken lines; the deeper the zoom, the harsher the lines). On the other hand, although I find much more difficult to obtain sharper lines in iColorama (in many ways this app is still a mystery to me), it is more versatile due to the fact that you can mask in every tool and brush, not only when blending images. So when it comes to blend/mask, always use both apps.
Finished the piece in Snapseed, for vignette and bright, and Repix, a cool app for retouching and adding tiny details; also love iColorama for details.
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Music:
"Nabombeli Yo" by Zap Mama, in 'Adventures in Afropea' (1993)
open.spotify.com/track/6yUuKqhcFa6APF47c7zwko?si=a3aff454...
(Merops apiaster)
Constância
Portugal
My great friend and excellent photographer, Amaro Carvalho, took some magnificent photos of this species at the beginning of this season and kindly, as always, shared the location with me. Not only did he precisely indicate the location down to the meter, but he also gave me all the tips on where to set up the hide and perches.
With such detailed information, we couldn't go wrong, but, nevertheless, since the location was about 230 km from our home, and in this kind of hide photography, it's crucial to set up the hide very early, we didn't want to take any chances. So, we went there the day before to confirm onsite everything Amaro had told us.
Once we arrived, it was very easy to find the perfect spot for the hide and the perches. The number of birds seemed to be smaller than expected, but still, there were about two dozen of them. After setting up the perch in the right place to have a clean and pleasant natural background, they didn't take long to choose it. However, as the sun, in late afternoon, was obviously on opposite direction, we didn't set up the hide. We just observed them and watched their behavior, which was fantastic. At one point, there were even four in a row on the preferred perch! We could already imagine the fantastic photos we would get the next day with the right and soft morning light.
The following day, around 6:20 AM, with the sun already up, but still early enough for the bee-eaters to be active, we were there setting up the hide. The three of us sat inside and waited, patiently, for two hours. The sunlight was perfect, and the trees in the background provided a beautiful natural colours to create perfect backgrounds. However, the birds seemed reluctant to wake up. It could have been due to the strong gusts of wind that day, but they were there, and they would have to start hunting when the right moment came!
So, it was with no rush that, when this "friend" perched in front of us, I started photographing it. I took a single burst of 9 shots, but perhaps it heard the noise of the cameras, so she/he flew away. But we knew she/he and its friends would come back, so we waited for one more hour. Unfortunately, no more of them perched.
I don't know what we did wrong! It wasn't our first experience photographing bee-eaters and/or using a hide; on the contrary, we had plenty of experience. But without these 9 photos, it would have been a complete failure!
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All my photos are now organized into sets by the country where they were taken, by taxonomic order, by family, by species (often with just one photo for the rarer ones), and by the date they were taken.
So, you may find:
- All the photos for this order CORACIIFORMES (240)
- All the photos for this family Meropidae // Meropídeos (87)
- All the photos for this species Merops apiaster (44)
- All the photos taken this day 2023/05/18 (1)
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White birch in late Autumn
This is taken from the top of a fire tower about 30 feet high which stands on a mountaintop or more precisely a kame. (A kame is a conical hill that was formed when streams on top of a glacier deposited sand and gravel into a crevasse). This viewpoint looks down onto treetops.
I guess it is hard to mess up ICM that is intentional camera movement because it is hard to make rules when most is left to chance ;-)
My photography is now available for purchase on my store site at the link attached. If anyone is interested in anything and they don't see it on my site, please contact me here or on my store website email service and I can add it to my store. Thank you for looking!
fineartamerica.com/profiles/linda-rasch
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
©Skyelyte Photography™ Copyright, All Rights Reserved
None of my images may be downloaded, copied, reproduced, manipulated or used on websites, blogs or other media or used in any way without my express written permission.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mz7ckoBi8Ds&list=PL5I25LHsTzx...
Chapter Seven ........... The Clock Tower
For a long moment, Amelia could only stare,
The Storm Collector's words echoed through her mind.
The Clock Keepers, Your mother, Questions raced through her head.
Too many questions, But before she could ask any of them, the giant carefully shook his head, "There isn't time."
Amelia frowned, "There certainly seems to be a great deal missing."
The giant smiled sadly, "Exactly."
Captain Marmalade groaned, "Oh no."
"What?" Amelia asked.
"I think that was giant humour."
The Storm Collector looked pleased, "It was."
The cat sighed dramatically, "They're evolving."
The giant knelt beside one of the enormous storm bottles.
His expression became serious, "The thief is heading for the Market Clock."
Amelia straightened, "How do you know?"
The Storm Collector pointed toward a swirl of silver light drifting across the clouds.
"The missing hour is following the Golden Gear."
Captain Marmalade blinked, "Because time wants to go home."
The giant nodded, "Precisely."
Amelia looked toward the distant tower rising above the Floating Market.
Even from here she could see the frozen clock hands,
Silent, Motionless, Waiting.
"If the Golden Gear returns to the clock, will everything go back to normal?"
The giant hesitated, "Perhaps."
Amelia didn't like that answer, "Perhaps?"
The Storm Collector sighed, The thief has already damaged the balance."
"Meaning?"
"The clock will need help."
Captain Marmalade looked at Amelia, Amelia looked at the cat.
The cat pointed at her, "Oh no."
"What?"
"I know that look."
"What look?"
"The one that means you're about to volunteer."
Amelia smiled, The cat groaned.
The journey back to the Floating Market was considerably faster.
Mainly because the Storm Collector placed them inside one of his cloud skiffs and gave it a gentle push, The tiny vessel shot across the sky like an arrow.
Captain Marmalade spent most of the trip clinging to the seat, "I dislike this."
"You said that already."
"I continue to dislike it."
The cat squeezed his eyes shut, "I wish to formally complain."
Amelia laughed, The wind tugged at her blonde hair.
For the first time since arriving in the Floating Market, she felt certain of one thing.
The clock had brought her here for a reason.
And whatever that reason was, it had something to do with her pendant, her family, and the mysterious Clock Keepers.
The cloud skiff landed in the market square with a gentle bump.
The crowd immediately gathered around them, "Did you find him?"
"Was it the Storm Collector?" "Is he angry?"
Captain Marmalade straightened his coat, "No."
Everyone stared, The cat puffed out his chest, "He's surprisingly pleasant."
The crowd looked confused, "So the stories weren't true?"
Captain Marmalade considered, "He is very tall."
The crowd seemed satisfied by this answer.
Amelia's attention shifted toward the tower, Something had changed,
Silver fragments of the missing hour were swirling around it.
Hundreds of glowing memories circling the clock face,
Like fireflies dancing in the wind, And at the very top...
A shadow moved, Amelia's heart skipped, "There."
Captain Marmalade followed her gaze,
The cat's eyes widened, "Oh dear."
A figure stood near the highest balcony, Wrapped in a dark cloak.
Holding something golden, The Golden Gear,
Even from the ground, Amelia could see it glowing,
The missing piece of the Market Clock, The thief had it.
And was climbing higher, The doors of the clock tower opened with a groan,
Inside, gears larger than houses slowly turned,
Golden machinery stretched upward beyond sight,
Spiral staircases twisted around massive clockwork pillars, The tower felt alive,
As though it were sleeping and dreaming at the same time.
Captain Marmalade swallowed.
"I suddenly remember several important things I should be doing elsewhere."
Amelia started climbing, The cat hurried after her, "Wait for me."
They raced upward, Past turning gears, Past enormous pendulums,
Past windows filled with clouds and sky.
The higher they climbed, the brighter Amelia's pendant glowed.
The tiny clockwork mechanism inside spun faster and faster.
Tick, Tick, Tick, For the first time, she could actually hear it.
The pendant was keeping time, Its own time.
At last they reached the highest balcony, The wind howled around them.
Clouds drifted below,The entire Floating Market stretched beneath their feet,
And standing before the frozen clock face was the thief, a young woman wrapped in a silver cloak. She turned slowly, the Golden Gear glowed in her hands.
Amelia froze, The woman looked strangely familiar, Not because she knew her, but because of something else, Something impossible.
Around the woman's neck hung a silver pendant, A pendant identical to Amelia's.
Captain Marmalade gasped, "Well."
Amelia stared, The woman stared back, Neither spoke,
Then the stranger smiled, Not kindly, Not cruelly, Knowingly,
As though she had been expecting Amelia all along.
The wind whipped through the tower, The Golden Gear glowed brighter,
And somewhere below, the frozen Market Clock gave a single faint tick.
TO BE CONTINUED ...................
Made with my Second Life avatar, Ai and edited in Photoshop