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.

In 1911, the Old Elbe Tunnel was built to provide a more direct route for dock workers over to the southern banks of the Elbe river from the Landungsbrücken piers in St. Pauli. A technical innovation at the time of its construction, the tunnel became a tourist attraction when the 'new' Elbtunnel and several bridges were built in the 1970s. Now pedestrians and bicyclists wishing to cross below the river can ride a free lift into the deep, and cars can use hydraulically driven cages for a small fee.

Explore the southern banks

The green dome at the Landungsbrücken points towards the 426 metres long underpass. The tunnel is used by city-dwellers to explore the remote corners of the port area or to get to Wilhelmsburg or Altes Land. The observation platform south of the river is also held in high regard among tourists and locals alike for its magnificent panoramic views of the city.

A historic site

Modern tunnels can’t compare to the Alter Elbtunnel, which has been a preserved historic site since 2003. The lamps symmetrically lining the arched tunnel walls create an otherworldly yet cosy atmosphere 24 metres below the river’s surface. The Alter Elbtunnel’s Art-Deco beauty, combined with the unique reliefs lining the bricked walls, make this attraction particularly popular with photographers.

Source www.hamburg.com

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

This pond provides a beautiful reflection fo the Grand Tetons - the problem is the local ducks who like to swim and dine here. As they move the water is disrupted, and the mirror view is gone - but with enough waiting, I found a perfect time with still water

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

The game provides a Kalah board and a number of seeds or counters. The board has 6 small pits, called houses, on each side; and a big pit, called an end zone, at each end. The object of the game is to capture more seeds than one's opponent.

provide us with memories. Broken as they may become; they endow hope by freeing us to embrace... gratitude.

- Katherine Walsh

South Hadley, MA

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This image may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic,mechanical, photocopying and recording without my written consent.

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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.

I found this one perched on a fence post greeting the day just after Sunrise along Joe Overstreet Road in Osceola County, Florida.

Click below to hear Eastern Meadowlark!

www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/201...

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!

Storms always seem to provide me with... a lesson from Brother Fear and Sister Awe. To the east the darkening clouds & wind rushed to engulf the landscape while to the west the sun was setting...

Katherine Walsh

“It’s not a bad lesson to learn in the bleaker months: how you view a storm is a question of perspective; provided you find the right rock to watch it from, it could be the most incredible thing you’ll ever witness.”

― Dan Stevens

A recent Spring storm on the farm fields in Sunderland, MA

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Clive Sax - www.flickr.com/photos/chorando/3272799538/in/album-721576...

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Paree Erica - www.flickr.com/photos/pareeerica/4228014136/in/set-721576...

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This image may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying and recording without my written consent.

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– 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...

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).

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/

So this year I decided to provide Audubon-approved nesting material for the hummingbirds that hang out in my yard year-round. I have witnessed the female hummer take some of the cotton. The Tufted Titmice have also been using it. The package said they might. Of course, I have not been ready with the camera during those times.

However, much to my surprise, Jay and Jane (Blue Jays) are also using the material. They both came and began taking little bits of the cotton. Then they would head out towards Tucker's house. Tucker is a dog, he lives in a home behind my house and to the right. I do not know the people that live in that house but I hear them call Tucker all of the time.

What I do know is that birds that are not nesting in a nest box should not nest in my yard. The Blue Jays, Tufted Titmice, and the Hummers seem to understand this concept. My yard is like Grand Central Station for birds. They should eat, drink, bathe, and socialize here. Then they should go elsewhere to sleep and nest. After all, the hawk's visit during the day and the owls visit on occasion at night. Raccoons, Opossums, snakes, and neighborhood cats can be seen here as well.

Unfortunately, Howard and Marion (Northern Cardinals) did not understand the dangers of nesting in such a high-traffic area and they lost their first three eggs to a predator. I don't know which predator but most likely a raccoon. They are working on another nest and wisely moved to another area this time.

Anyway, back to the point... The nesting material ball is fantastic. It was a terrific purchase. I am glad that I got the refill package too. So if you are looking to help some of your feathered friends you can find a variety of choices on Amazon. The one I got is currently unavailable but the other choices look pretty much the same.

Have a wonderful Wednesday and happy snapping.

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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:

Bedruthan Steps provides one of my favourite views on the north coast of Cornwall. This stretch of coast lies between Newquay to the south and Trevose Head to the north and features a number of headlands and sea stacks with numerous caves at the base of the cliffs. At low tide there are gorgeous golden sandy beaches revealed but at high tide when there is a strong wind blowing, the sea can be spectacular.

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

The people there behind the falls help provide some scale to this location and waterfall there in Oregon.

Ich melde mich für ein paar Tage ab. Tolle Motive erwarten mich und euch, wenn ich dann wieder zurück bin. Bis bald!

I'm signing off for a few days. Great motifs await me and you when I get back. See you!

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.

The setting sun provides a golden glow over this mountain range.

Those tracks are not mine; I walked out to the water and came across the tracks and liked how it worked with the view.

The Great Salt Lake - GPS is not the exact spot of the shot.

No comments today – just enjoy :-)

la nature procure de belles émotions ; la transparence de l'eau, les fleurs qui se mirent dans l'eau, les herbes qui s’enchevêtrent avec les ombres pour former un instant délicat.

nature provides beautiful emotions; the transparency of the water, the flowers that mingle in the water, the herbs that tangle with the shadows to form a delicate moment.

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

Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's greed.

Mahatma Gandhi

The world says: "You have needs -- satisfy them. You have as much right as the rich and the mighty. Don't hesitate to satisfy your needs; indeed, expand your needs and demand more." This is the worldly doctrine of today. And they believe that this is freedom. The result for the rich is isolation and suicide, for the poor, envy and murder.

Fyodor Dostoyevsky, The Brothers Karamazov

He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have.

Socrates

When morality comes up against profit, it is seldom that profit loses.

Shirley Chisholm

Thank you for your kind visit. Have a wonderful and beautiful day! ❤️❤️❤️

Nanyuki

Kenya

East Africa

This monkey was photographed at The Mount Kenya Game Ranch animal orphanage founded by William Holden located near Nanyuki, Kenya.

The animal orphanage at the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy is a unique facility to give orphaned, injured, neglected, abused or frightened wild animals a second chance. The orphanage provides shelter and professional care with the goal to release these creatures back into the wild where they belong.

Sykes' monkey (Cercopithecus albogularis), also known as the white-throated monkey or Samango monkey, is an Old World monkey found between Ethiopia and South Africa, including south and east Democratic Republic of Congo. It is named after English naturalist Colonel William Henry Sykes (1790-1872), and has been considered conspecific with the blue monkey (which in turn has included the golden and silver monkey), but has a large white patch on the throat and upper chest, and a grizzled (not blackish) cap. - Wikipedia

This photograph provides a good view of what biologists call the "Littoral zone". This is the region just above the waterline where the orange lichens flourish. You'll see the dolerite rocks that are splashed with the waves have no lichen on them and appear black. But where it is dry, that's where the lichens flourish.

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.

•

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.

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.

I’d like to dedicate this shot to a good friend of mine William McIntosh. I have spent the last 4 months shooting as much as I can with Bill and trying to gleen info from him about his weather prediction skills and gain some insight about his frame of mind about photography. He is a master of weather prediction IMHO and I have always admired his tenacity which has netted him some absolutely fantastic captures from Yosemite National Park and the Pacific Northwest. Bill contacted me during the week to see if I was up for a Banzai run to Yosemite Valley as he was predicting a passage in the storm which would provide a high probability of misty/snowy conditions like seen in many of his postings from there. Of course Bill was right on the money as was shown from some of the webcams provided there. But unfortunately I had to decline as I was starting to get sick with the Flu and didn’t want to drag him down with me. Today he contacted me again to see if I was up for some shooting at Corona Del Mar but I was still trying to fight off the Flu and as painful as it was had to opt out again. Later, today, as I was digging through my folder of processed photos I found this shot and the pain of declination returned. Sorry Bill, I was more worried about getting you sick then worsening my own condition. LOL. Thanks for the invite my friend and hope you had a great day at CDM. If you would like to see William’s amazing photography, you can visit his stream here.

www.flickr.com/photos/mtsacprof

Tale of the Take…

This is a side view of the arch found at Corona Del Mar, If you wanted to get a full view through the arch you would need to scramble along the cliffsides base there at a specific tide level, I say specific because if you time it incorrectly you wouldn’t drown but you would have to spend a long, cold night on the rocks or call the Coast Guard to come “fish” you out which carries along an $800 dollar or better rescue charge. I’m still hoping that Bill will show me the specifics of entering here at a time that would be safe to enter and exit during the sunset. See what I mean about his tenacity. :)

Please come over and check out my other photos, you might find something else you like. :)

Thanks for taking the time to take a look at my photos, and as always, your views, comments, faves, and support are greatly appreciated!! Have a great weekend everybody!! :)

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Copyright 2016©Eric Gail

An American Robin (Turdus migratorius) provides an interesting silhouette on a snowy day in Maryland. A few days ago, I decided to take a walk in the snow near my house (snow in late March is pretty rare for Maryland). The snow was picturesque and it was fun seeing a few Robins feeding for worms in an exposed patch of grass. I got down on the ground and achieved just the right angle so that the nearby snow bank was in the foreground of my shot with distant snow in the background. This combination gave me a unique all-white background. I fixed my settings for a silhouette to give a bit of shadowy contrast to the high-key image. This shot was just what I had envisioned!

Beauty berries provide a treat for the birds and other wildlife around. The berries begin to turn purple in August and continue to ripen until devoured or through April, whichever comes first.

The bushes are deciduous but the berries remain. The bushes benefit from a heavy trim in the spring after the berries are gone or mostly gone. It helps them branch and grow more berries the following season.

People often make jam out of the berries. Although I am not sure why, they don't have a lot of flavor. I added some to a salad once and it was pretty but again, not much flavor so I believe beauty berries are best left as a food source for wildlife.

Have a splendid day and happy snapping :)

CREDITS - BLOG

The All American Park in Quincy, Illinois provides this beautiful view of the Bay Bridge (on the left) and the Quincy Memorial Bridge (Highway 24, on the right). Large barges headed up the Mississippi River frequently pass beneath the bridges.

Quincy is a beautiful river city. According to Wikipedia, "In the fall of 2010, [it] was listed as eighth in the top fifteen small cities to raise a family in the United States by Forbes magazine for its commute times, high school graduation rate, median household income, home ownership rate and cost of living. Forbes compared 126 cities with a population under 100,000 and ranked them on these five quality-of-life measures."

I also found this to be of interest, "During the winter of 1838-1839, five thousand members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Mormons, on their way west, were driven from their homes in Missouri and arrived in Quincy. Though vastly outnumbered by the new arrivals, the residents of Quincy provided them food and shelter. Joseph Smith then led his followers 40 miles (64 km) up river to Nauvoo, Illinois. The kindness extended by the people of Quincy continues to be remembered by Mormons. In 2002, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir gave a benefit concert in Quincy, with the proceeds donated to the city as an expression of gratitude."

_DSC6722

© Stephen L. Frazier - All Rights Reserved.

All material in my photo stream may NOT be reproduced, copied, edited, published, transmitted or uploaded in any way without my permission. My photos are Copyrighted "Stephen L. Frazier" and All Rights Reserved.

Sandwiching research car 32 are Norfolk Southern's newest stallions SD70ACC 1800 and 1801. The Pumkin Vine south out of Roanoke on Starkey Hill provides the perfect place to perform adhesion testing.

Short brake from Costa Rica.. family gathering in Florida provide another opportunity to get shots of this rarity. Dense morning fog overcome with with dehaze in Lightroom. Airboat tour.

From Wiki:

Nests and forages year-round in freshwater wetlands of southern Florida, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Locally endangered species in the Florida Everglades, with a population of less than 400 breeding pairs. Research has demonstrated that water-level control in the Everglades is depleting the population of apple snails. However, this species is not generally threatened over its extensive range. it might be locally increasing in numbers, such as in Central America.

This is a gregarious bird of freshwater wetlands, forming large winter roosts. Its diet consists almost exclusively of apple snails, (especially the species Pomacea paludosa in Florida, and species of the genus Marisa). Snail kites have been observed eating other prey items in Florida, including crayfish in the genus Procambarus, crabs in the genus Dilocarcinus, black crappie, small turtles and rodents. It is believed that snail kites turn to these alternatives only when apple snails become scarce, such as during drought, but further study is needed. On 14 May 2007, a birdwatcher photographed a snail kite feeding at a red swamp crayfish farm in Clarendon County, South Carolina.

The presence of the large introduced Pomacea maculata in Florida has led the snail kites in North America to develop larger bodies and beaks to better eat the snail, a case of rapid evolution.[17] These non-native snails provide a better food source over the smaller native snails and has had a positive effect on their population

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.

(Still on day 1 of our vacation...stop at Taupo...we spend a few hours in and around Taupo and quickly visited a few places ... will post photos soon).

The lakeside town of Taupo provides a base for visitors who love to fish for trout, ski Mount Ruapehu and explore the local geothermal phenomena. Popular Taupo experiences include Huka Falls, geothermal walks, a prawn farm, lake cruises, New Zealand's first public cable wakeboarding park and guided kayak expeditions to see the rock carvings at Mine Bay.

Taupo is a fantastic region for year-round mountain biking, with the recent completion of the Great Lake Trail. Along with cycling, there's excellent hiking and golf opportunities.

www.newzealand.com/int/taupo/

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

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).

This island provides a central visual highlight in the 68 acre lagoon of Aquatic Park, in Berkeley California. Its occupants are numerous egrets, cormorants, gulls, and other birds attracted to these waters.

The red building is labeled "Water Ski Club" on the Flickr Map, and apparently is used to host water skiing from May through September. Happily, water skiing appears to be off-limits during bird migration season.

Olhão is a small town in the Algarve less than 10km from Faro, the main town in the region. The town has a significant tourist interest today but previously fishing was its main activity. Many fishermen provide fish to the famous covered market in Olhão today.

What makes a visit and a walk in Olhão interesting is its architecture. The old fishermen's district is made up of small white houses with cubic shapes. As most houses do not have gardens, terraces are arranged on the roofs and the alleys flowered by the inhabitants. Google

PS With its cubist lines and white-washed walls, the houses of Olhão are a sign of its people’s commercial and emigrational links with Morocco.

Barbondale provides one of the western entrances to the Yorkshire Dales National Park and runs from the Lune Valley near Kirkby Lonsdale along to Dentdale. It is one of the Dales that is also in the county of Cumbria following the boundary re-organisation in 1974. A stream known as Barbon Beck flows south-west through the dale to join the River Lune. Barbondale is possibly one of the least well-known of the Yorkshire Dales, though it is one of my favourites. There is just the one settlement, the village of Barbon at the western entrance to the dale. This is a mile or so out of shot to the left. The surrounding fells rise to over 2,200 feet above sea level. Because of the nature of the countryside, sheep farming predominates and there are several small farmsteads dotted along the dale. The woods on the left of the picture are part of Barbon Manor Estate.

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.

Sacha

Autumn colors always provide beautiful pictures! Sacha is a very musical girl. She took lessons from me for a while and every time we were together I was amazed how musical and creative she could be. She got the ukulele from grandpa and grandma and she is of course very happy with it.

I reached out to her mother to ask if she would like to help me build my portfolio. She responded very nicely and we immediately set a date. I knew her family a little bit and I knew they were warm people, so I assumed it would be a lot of fun. We met at their home, after a delicious espresso and biscuits we went straight to the woods. Here we took a lot of photos, everyone was so nice and that is certainly reflected in the photos. Thank you Lizz for your trust in me.

Beaches provide a sensory stimulation for the dogs. The texture of sand feels different under their paws, which can be exciting and fun for them. Plus plenty of new smells that pique a dog's curiosity.

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.

Since mid- December, I have been daily hiking the gorgeous lands surrounding St. George, Utah, lands which are part of the geologic formation known as the Colorado Plateau. The sculpted cliffs and canyons of this area present themselves through an amazing colour palette of crimson, vermilion, organge, salmon, peach, pink, gold and white, dotted in places by iron concretions - black, spherical rock marbles that collect in shallow depressions.

This image - composed in the Paradise Valley just outside of St. George - provides an example of the visual feasts one finds in this region. In the days to come, I will post other photographs from Utah’s portion of the Colorado Plateau, images I hope you will enjoy.

Happy New Year, Everyone, and may 2025 bestow upon you good health, pleasing accomplishments and many moments of joy.

There is no place near where I live that provides a prettier view of a park bench than this one at the Lake Woodruff National Wildlfe Refuge. To be honest, I'm always a little surprised by the close proximity of the benches to the water in this place, considering there are many very large alligators hiding in those canals! They would need less than a split second to grab someone and drag them into the canal to drown for dinner or a late night snack, lol! Personally, although I've gotten tired there before, I don't use the benches. Call me chicken, but like they say, "better a live chicken than a dead duck"!