Just hanging out at the beach provides some great opportunities.

Thank you for taking the time to visit and as always, your views, comments, faves, and support are greatly appreciated!! :)

If you have any questions about this photo or about photography in general, I will do my best to help, just post a comment or send me a Flickr mail and I will respond as quickly as possible.

This species provides an example of sex role reversal with the females being more brightly coloured than the males. Females will also choose a male and then defend him against other females and when the chicks have arrived, the female scarpers and the male raises them on his own.

Thank you for taking a look at my images

A walk along the oceans shore. The late afternoon world is full of colors, mostly shades of red and gold. The ocean is loud,intense and the power is unmistakable. The wildlife hunts and gains power from the sounds and sights. It is entertainment only nature can provide.`125

A break in the storm front, a little before sunset, yielded these interesting colors in the sky. An hour later it was pouring, again.

Cape Kiwanda is part of the Three Capes Scenic Route (along with Cape Meares and Cape Lookout). Kiwanda is the smallest of the three, but it is one of the best places to experience spectacular wave action. Pacific City is the home of the Pacific Dory Fleet. South of Cape Kiwanda is the dory boat launching area. North of Cape Kiwanda to Tierra Del Mar is a stretch of beach popular with picnickers. Kiwanda provides great hang gliding and kite flying opportunities.

Tumbling boulders provide a rock boundary for the waters of Burbage Brook; an incredibly scenic feature of Sheffield’s Padley Gorge and the Longsaw Estate; Hathersage, Peak District.

NB: It would be a crime as a photographer to visit this place without a camera of any description.

Created using: Topaz Labs, and Topaz Studio

Long Exposure of the Caerfanell river winding its way through the Talybont Forest in the Brecon Beacons National Park, Mid Wales, United Kingdom!

Due to the heavy rains that we recently experienced there was a swell in the river offering silky smooth white waters created from the long exposure being forced over the rocks and boulders!

Situé sur le domaine de l'habitation,construite dans le pure style colonial: Une structure de bois centrale autour de laquelle des galeries assurent la séparation et l'acces aux pièces principales,La maison de maitre datant de la fin du XVIII siecle a été restauré afin de retrouver son éclat et son cachet d'antan.Dans ce ce lieu s'est tenu le 14 Mars 1991 durant le guerre du GOLFE, la rencontre au sommet entre les pésidents F. MITERAND et G. BUSH

Located on the estate of the habitation, built in pure colonial style: A central wood structure around which galleries provide separation and access to the main rooms, The master house dating from the end of the XVIII century was restored in order to regain its brilliance and stamp of yesteryear.In this place was held on March 14, 1991 during the GULF war, the summit meeting between the presidents F. MITERAND and G. BUSH.

The setting sun provides a gilded glow to the Castlemartin cliff tops above "The Green Bridge of Wales".

The shadows you see in the foreground are from the wooden viewing platform, which is set back from the cliff edge (for those who are afeared of heights!).

Tunnel View provides one of the most famous views of Yosemite Valley. From here you can see El Capitan and Bridalveil Fall rising from Yosemite Valley, with Half Dome in the background. This viewpoint is at the east end of the Wawona Tunnel along the Wawona Road (Highway 41).

– the better to provide an alibi for all the despair we are going to feel anyway.

Albert Camus

Topaz Studio

Texture with thanks to Alan- sunsetsailor

© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Use without permission is illegal.

Please, don't fave and run, you will get yourself blocked.

clustered bellflower - Campanula glomerata

Challenge 117 - NATURE'S GIFTS (2020 Art) - 5th place winner!

www.flickr.com/groups/1336746@N23/discuss/721577148493689...

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The Riffelsee lake trail provides scenic views of the highest mountains in the Alps, a lake surrounded by majestic mountains, unspoiled Alpine nature.

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Panorama of the Pennine Alps and Riffelsee lake, Valais, Switzerland. View from a height of 2815 m.

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See my new photos in the My Travels album:

Smuggler Cove and the shape it provides, inspires many images. It was evident early on that the clouds were going to deliver, so I made sure to get out to catch them. This time, the better shot was going to come from the cliff in the area rather than from the waters edge.

I made sure to visualize the photo prior and set up my tripod at the right spot. The clouds certainly delivered and their reflections were also terrific. Albeit unexpected, the absolute stillness of the ocean added to the final image.

www.photographycoach.ca/

Cryptic colouring provides the Grayling with excellent camouflage, making it difficult to see when at rest on bare ground, tree trunks, or stones. The wings are kept closed when not in flight and the forewings are usually tucked behind the hind wings, concealing the eyespots and making the butterfly appear smaller. In flight this is a distinctive, large butterfly with a looping and gliding flight, during which the paler bands on the upperwings are visible.

Taken at The Bog, Stiperstones,

Shrewsbury

Mesa Arch provides the frame for a stunning Utah landscape. Along the mesa to the east is another arch, named Washing Woman Arch. Below the mesa is the prominent white rim of spectacular canyons carved by the Colorado River and a breathtaking view of the Island in the Sky. Rounding out the view, the snow-capped peaks of the La Sal Mountains meet the sky at the horizon.

The Arch is right on the edge of a 500-foot cliff, part of a 1,200-foot drop into Buck Canyon.

This image was taken at sunrise.

Thank you for your comments,

Gemma

Copyright ©Maria Gemma June, 2015

Leo Rojas - El Condor Pasa

youtu.be/qyXfJyCsLvM

Autumn is in the air, in the trees, and on my mind. And like others, in their cameras by now. Trout Lake is only about 20 minutes away and unveils itself in different ways depending on the season. With the sun now lower in the sky, and winds barely present, the mirror-like surface can provide terrific reflections.

Fall colors also present themselves for view, while Lillie Pads suddenly appear. The shadow that split the scene nicely framed the two distinctly different elements. This too created depth and a polarizing filter both removed glare, and released those vivid colors.

In order to get this shot, it was necessary to prop up against a Birch tree that was leaning about 45 degrees toward the lake. There was nowhere to place my tripod and achieve the same shot, short of submersing it and settling for something different. For me, that is just not an option; be nice to your equipment.

photographycoach.ca

Walking in fog often provides a visual representation of my thought process. My brain constantly brings different topics into view, but in the process lets others slide into the periphery. Most of the time they are all still there, competing for my attention, but all in varying degrees. In fog I respond to the overall loss of clarity, but also the nuance that is created by relative distance. It's this layering effect I find most appealing as more distant objects eventually recede into nothingness...exactly the same as my mind reacts.

Walking outdoors this morning felt otherworldly. I love seeing familiar places rendered as ones I'm visiting for the very first time. A rich dichotomy as the serenity of fog is ripped apart by this visceral reaction. In these moments I invariably come up with camera angles that never would have occurred to me in normal circumstances.

To provide a transparent coffin so as to be visible even if a posture of loved one is put in the coffin.

The Arcade　

FORGET / anc.Ltd

{anc} forget. Swallow [sunyellow] 5Li

{anc} forget. Swallow [maronnbrown] 5Li

{anc} forget. Swallow [mistgray] 5Li

{anc} forget. Swallow [leafgreen] 5Li

{anc} forget. wing leaf [blue]

{anc} forget. wing leaf [gray]

{anc} forget. wing leaf B [clear]1L

{anc} forget. wing leaf/pose [pink] 2Li

{anc} forget. wing leaf A [yellow]

ANC main store

{anc} cirque de reverie .2/ blanc / tent 41Li [W22/D18/H8] RARE

{anc} snow ground (mesh snow/round) silver 1L

The decisive battle starts on June 1!

thearcadesl.com/shopping-guides/June-2016/

ANC main store

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Rigi/43/101/3799

model：bisou

location:Home

The boreal woods provides secure cover, shelter and food for a host of creatures during the winter months such as this North American Moose (Alces alces) observed north of Opal, Alberta, Canada.

2 January, 2017.

Slide # GWB_20170102_8515.CR2

Use of this image on websites, blogs or other media without explicit permission is not permitted.

© Gerard W. Beyersbergen - All Rights Reserved Worldwide In Perpetuity - No Unauthorized Use.

The eastern meadowlark provides a bright splash of color on Florida's open grassy fields and prairies. Scan fence posts, low bushes or power lines for the adult bird with its yellow throat, breast and belly, and black "V" across the chest. Or listen for the sweet, melodious song: a plaintive, clear, descending whistle.

The eastern meadowlark breeds throughout eastern and central North America and in Mexico and parts of Central America and the Caribbean. This year-round Florida resident is not a lark, as its name suggests, but is in the same family as blackbirds and orioles. In size and shape, a perched meadowlark resembles a starling, but it is quail-like in its explosive take-off from the ground. Insects make up the bulk of the meadowlark's diet, but grass and weed seeds are also consumed.

In Florida, breeding takes place from late March through July. During courtship, the male jumps straight up into the air to display its bright yellow and black markings. Males often have two mates at a time. Females build nests on the ground, weaving fine grasses into surrounding vegetation and often incorporating a domed canopy of grass into the construction. Many nests are destroyed each year when cultivated fields are mowed.

Eastern meadowlarks are common on the prairies and pastures of the Florida peninsula, and are found throughout the state in suitable open habitat, including croplands and golf courses. In general, however, scientists have noted gradual population declines throughout the eastern meadowlark's range, probably due to habitat loss.

Found this one along Joe Overstreet Road in Osceola County Florida.

ENG: The Hörner gondola lift provides access from the Bolsterlang valley to the Weiherkopf peak at an altitude of 1665 meters and the Bolsterlanger Horn peak at an altitude of 1588 meters.

At an altitude of 1540 meters, the cable car ends between the two peaks and from here the very steep path then leads towards Weiherkopf. In the sloping terrain is then the launch site for the paragliders with a fantastic view - in good weather - over the Allgäu Alps in Germany to Tyrol in Austria.

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GER: Die Gondelbahn „Hörnerbahn“ erschließt vom Bolsterlang Tal aus den Weiherkopf Gipfel in 1665 Meter Höhe sowie den Bolsterlanger Horn Gipfel in 1588 Meter Höhe.

In 1540 Meter Höhe endet die Seilbahn zwischen den beiden Gipfeln und von hier aus geht dann der sehr steile Weg Richtung Weiherkopf. Im Hanggelände ist dann der Startplatz für die Gleitschirme mit einem fantastischen Blick - bei guter Wetter - über die Allgäuer Alpen in Deutschland bis hin nach Tirol in Österreich.

Please do NOT post your own pictures if you are kind enough to provide a comment or reward. I consider this rude and unwelcome.

– the better to provide an alibi for all the despair we are going to feel anyway.

Albert Camus

Topaz Studio

Texture with thanks to Alan- sunsetsailor

© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Use without permission is illegal.

Please, don't fave and run, you will get yourself blocked.

Ferns provide a variety of contributions to the ecosystems in which they exist. For example, they provide shelter, shade, erosion protection, chemical sequestration, and microhabitats that serve other species. In North America, ferns act as the larval host plant for several species of moths.

Thank you so much for visiting and comment!

I really appreciate it!

"As if 2020 isn’t weird enough, it’s a year with 13 full moons rather than 12 — and two of these will occur in October.

October’s first full moon is the harvest moon on October 1, and the second full moon will occur on October 31. [...].

The full harvest moon will rise at 5:05 pm ET on October 1. The name is given to the full moon that occurs closest to the autumnal equinox. While this full moon usually occurs in September, a full moon on September 2 was too early to be known as the harvest moon. [...].

The full harvest moon provides light for farmers harvesting their crops into the night, according to the Farmer’s Almanac.

The moon will appear full for about three days, according to NASA. [...]." kslnewsradio.com/1934363/full-moons-in-october-harvest-mo...

PS I am happy with this shot as US wildfire smoke is again creating hazy skies over Vancouver.

Tokaanu Thermal Walk (20 minutes)

This short walk provides an interesting glimpse of a natural thermal area. See steaming hot mineral pools set in sinter basins and spluttering mud pools amidst the native bush.

For hundreds of years, Maori have used the geothermal resources of this area for cooking, bathing and leisure. Share in this tradition by having a therapeutic and relaxing swim at the nearby Tokaanu Thermal Pools.

Rainbow trout can often be seen here in the cold Tokaanu stream that flows beside the thermal area

Hot pools range in hues of turquoise blue and rich green to burnt orange and sulphuric yellow, making the steaming waters a must-see!

The vibrant colors are caused by miniral and sillicate interference .....

Yellow - Caused by Sulphur

Orange - Is due to antimony

Green - Sulphuran ferrous Salts

My appreciation and thanks to all of you for your comments awards and faves !!!!

Excalibur Gondola [on the left] provides access to Blackcomb Mountain & Fitzsimmons Express [on the right] serves Whistler Mountain.

The two lifts began spinning for guests on Thursday, November 24 for the 2022-2023 winter season and with one of the longest ski and ride seasons anywhere, the resort anticipates remaining open through May 22, conditions permitting.

The ski areas at Whistler and Blackcomb are situated on two ridge-lines running roughly northwest to southeast [...].

Whistler Mountain is the basis of the southern of the two ridges, on the right when looking at the Whistler-Blackcomb ski area from Whistler Village.. It has a summit elevation of 2,184 meters (7,165 feet). The total vertical drop is 1,530 meters (5,020 feet) and 4,757 acres (1,925 ha) skiable inbound terrain.

Blackcomb Mountain is the northern ridge, on the left when viewed from the village. It has a lift-serviced elevation of 2,240 metres (7,350 feet) at the top of the 7th Heaven chair –

Together, Whistler and Blackcomb form the largest ski area in North America at 8,171 acres (33 km2). Either mountain alone would be in the top-five in terms of size. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whistler_Blackcomb

These boats provide a ferry service across the Looe River to East Looe when there is sufficient water. It saves a walk down to the bridge and back again on the other side. West Looe and East Looe were once separate towns, but became united at the end of the 19th century. East Looe is by far the largest of the two and was once an important port for the export of tin and copper ore from the mines on Bodmin Moor, as well as farm and other produce. Some of the former warehouses can be seen on the other side of the river. The arrival of the railway and the end of the mining industry led to Looe's decline as a port and it became a popular seaside resort.

Brambles and scrub provide good habitat for Dunnock which usually feed on the ground. The Dunnock was once misleadingly known as the Hedge Sparrow. For a long time it was thought to be related to the Wren. New research places them within a large group consisting of sparrows, finches and pippits.

Overlook Venue - Valentine's Edition is sure to provide you with the perfect romantic setting for this LOVELY time of year. Join the group for rez rights to accommodate your photography needs, and to stay up-to-date for any events happening. Stay to dance anytime with our updated intan and stream 24/7.

Open for a limited time.

Overlook Venue - Valentine's Edition

These boats provide trips for holidaymakers when the tide is right. West Looe and East Looe were once separate towns divided by the Looe River, but became united at the end of the 19th century. East Looe (on the left) is by far the largest of the two and was once an important port for the export of tin and copper ore from the mines on Bodmin Moor, as well as farm and other produce. Some of the former warehouses can be seen on the other side of the river.

TopAces McDonnell Douglas A-4N Skyhawk II C-FGZE/495 taxies to Fairford's hold

Previously USN BuAerNo. 159823 and subsequently IDFAF 405 until being acquired by various parties before her current operator, the 'Scooter' was departing back to it's temporary base at Wittmund in Germany where TopAces provides simulated 'Adversary' services to NATO forces

276A8522

provides wildlife with shelter and food and a corridor for travel...harbors wildlife that helps farmers with insect control...a variety of plants grow here that lure and support pollinators

The Torres Del Paine provide a superb backdrop to the Cascada Paine as it flows downstream with a thunderous roar.

These three Granite Needles of the "Towers of Paine" give this National Park its name and provide the ultimate challenge for the Regions Climbers. I will post a wider view of this waterfall at some point sowing its impressive scale.

The wildlife in the Park was pretty abundant too, we saw Condors, Guanacos, and lots of interesting birds and not long after this we had a close encounter with a large Puma.

Fall migration brings beautiful monarch butterflies to my small place in the world. Zinnias rise up in the autumn light to provide nectar for these brief visits.

The mouth of the harbour provides access to the Solent. It is best known as the home of the Royal Navy, HMNB Portsmouth. Because of its strategic location on the south coast of England, protected by the natural defence of the Isle of Wight, it has since the Middle Ages been the home to England's (and later Britain's) navy. The narrow entrance, and the forts surrounding it gave it a considerable advantage of being virtually impregnable to attack from the sea. Before the fortifications were built the French burned Portsmouth in 1338. During the civil war parliamentary forces were able to carry out a successful cutting-out expedition within the harbour and capture the six-gunned Henrietta Marie.

Ali provides the centre point for this wonderfully stereotypical "spooky hospital" shot.

I think everyone who goes here has to get atleast one of these.

quote by Mahatma Gandhi

22nd of April : Earth Day

I’ve been wanting to try the Pep Ventosa technique of ‘in the round’ for a few years and have finally been able to do the post processing now that I have a more capable computer. I’m sure most of you are familiar with this artist and technique but for those that aren't… Pep Ventosa, who is originally from Barcelona, Spain created this idea. He's known to play with the perception of reality. This technique is comprised of multiple exposures by moving the camera around a central subject and then combining those exposures as layers in Photoshop. The end result provides an impressionistic looking image.

I used 19 shots for this image and was fun trying something new and relatively easy to post process.

Cumulus clouds provide the backdrop as this southbound loaded BNSF coal train for the Comanche Power Station in Pueblo powered by a pair of EMD SD70ACes snakes down the 1.02-percent grade south of Peetz, Colorado, on April 24, 2023.

C BAMMIC0 29A

South of Peetz, Colorado

The Northwalk opened on February 15th - it provides pedestrian and bike access to the north side of the George Washington Bridge. Part of a $2 Billion project that also replaced the cables on this side of the bridge. The south side pathway is now closed as repair work starts on that side and should be completed in 2027. When the southwalk opens it will be for pedestrians and the northwalk will be for bicycles only.

And apparently the no photos on the bridge policy has been lifted, I remember for years after 9/11 the Port Authority did not allow photography on the bridge. I made up for lost time and took over 100 photos yesterday on my first walk on the new path.

The Northwalk is beautiful and includes a large viewing platform. Before the upgrade there were 171 steps to climb up to the bridge now it's a gentle 5% grade that curves around.

Having been retired now for a while I am happy that my interest in photography keeps me engaged in life! And Flickr helps provide the vehicle!

I loved seeing these two similar Saguaros side by side.

I went out to the Granite Mountain Trailhead to hike to Balanced Rock. Getting to Balanced Rock involves a combination of Trails. This photo is on the Granite Mountain Trail

www.scottsdaleaz.gov/preserve

www.mcdowellsonoran.org/granite/

Offering access to a variety of easy to moderate scenic trails in the Preserve’s northern area, this trailhead provides plenty of parking for hikers and mountain bikers, as well as an equestrian staging area.

Google AI Overview

The Balanced Rock Trail in Scottsdale leads to a distinctive, massive balanced boulder in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, accessible from the Granite Mountain Trailhead (31402 N. 136th St.) via connecting trails like the Balanced Rock Trail, offering easy to moderate hikes for hiking and mountain biking with great desert views and photo ops

This Group has mood, TGHM,

Dogwood provides an attractive understorey carpet in the woodlands of northern North America and parts of Asia. The white 'petals' are in fact bracts. Holarctic distribution. From a slide.

220801 001DN

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All images are the property of the photographer and may not be reproduced, copied, downloaded, transmitted or used in any way without the written permission of the photographer, who can be contacted by registering with flickr and using flickrmail.

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I'm pleased to provide this update - three of the four cygnets featured in a previous post: flic.kr/p/2nh8q8U have made it through to young adults. Unfortunately I couldn't get a shot of the three of them together but they are all looking very healthy and doing well.

The Victoria & Albert Waterfront in Cape Town, South Africa, provides an enclosed area that is only accessible by water so that seals in the harbour have a safe place to catch some sleep. This female fur seal was the only one awake even though she found a nice sunny spot. At this time there were at least 20 seals sleeping in the pen.

From Wikipedia

The brown fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus), also known as the Cape fur seal, South African fur seal and Australian fur seal, is a species of fur seal. The brown fur seal is the largest and most robust member of the fur seals. It has a large and broad head with a pointed snout that may be flat or turned up slightly.[3] They have external ear flaps (pinnae) and their whiskers (vibrissae) are long, and may extend backward past the pinnae, especially in adult males. The fore flippers are covered with sparse hair over about three-quarters of their length. The hind flippers are short relative to the large body, with short, fleshy tips on the digits.[3] The size and weight of the brown fur seal depends on the subspecies. The Southern African subspecies is on average slightly larger than the Australian subspecies. Males of the African subspecies (A. p. pusillus) are 2.3 m (7.5 ft) in length on average and weigh 200–300 kg (440–660 lb).[4] Females are smaller, averaging 1.8 m (5.9 ft) in length and typically weighing 120 kg (260 lb).[5] Males of the Australian subspecies (A. p. doriferus) are 2.0–2.2 m (6.6–7.2 ft) in length and weigh 190–280 kg (420–620 lb).[6] Females are 1.2–1.8 m (3.9–5.9 ft) length and weigh 36–110 kilograms (79–243 lb).[5] Adult male brown fur seals are dark gray to brown, with a darker mane of short, coarse hairs and a light belly, while adult females are light brown to gray, with a light throat and darker back and belly. The fore flippers of the fur seal are dark brown to black.[3] Pups are born black and molt to gray with a pale throat within 3–5 months.[3] The skull of the African subspecies has a larger crest between the mastoid process and the jugular process of the exoccipital.

This mesmerizing aerial photograph of Cesky Krumlov provides a unique perspective, captured from the town's highest bridge, locally known as the "Bridge of Death." Set against the majestic Vltava River, this town boasts a remarkable history that spans over seven centuries. What sets Cesky Krumlov apart is its remarkably well-preserved medieval architecture, a stunning cityscape that unfurls like a fairy tale.Crowning the town's skyline is the iconic Cesky Krumlov Castle, a testament to a bygone era, with its origins dating back to the 13th century. Below, the labyrinthine streets are flanked by centuries-old buildings, adorned with intricate Gothic and Renaissance facades, showcasing the town's rich artistic and architectural heritage.The Vltava River, once a vital trade route connecting Northern and Southern Europe, played a pivotal role in the town's history. It facilitated activities such as fishing, milling, and river trade, contributing to the town's growth and development.Cesky Krumlov, with a population of around 14,000, maintains its intimate, small-town charm while welcoming visitors from across the globe. Its historic core, including the castle and a network of narrow medieval streets, received UNESCO World Heritage recognition in 1992, preserving the town's unique character.As you gaze upon this panoramic view, consider that Cesky Krumlov's rich heritage endures, offering a captivating glimpse into a bygone era, and earning its place as one of the world's most special and authentic towns.

The Torre del Verger is an old watchtower in the municipality of Banyalbufar in Mallorca.

The tower is located on the northwest coast of the Spanish island of Mallorca. It is located on a high rocky outcrop of the Serra de Tramuntana, which at this point drops steeply towards the Mediterranean Sea.

The tower was built in 1579 as a watchtower to monitor this stretch of coastline and defend it against attacks by pirates. Today it serves as an observation tower. It is accessible via a path (from the nearby viewpoint) and can be climbed via an internal staircase. From its platform, it provides an overview of the coastal section.

In 1875 the tower was bought by Ludwig Salvator of Austria-Tuscany and renovated in 1997. Today it is a listed building