A Johanneskirche Stuttgart ou igreja de São João é referida na literatura germânica como o edifício religiosa mais importante do século XIX em Estugarda. A igreja neogótica é a primeira igreja nova na cidade depois da Reforma, sendo que originalmente a sua torre tinha bastante mais altura.

O chamado Lago de Fogo, no centro de Estugarda, remonta ao século XVIII e foi construído originalmente como um reservatório de água para abastecer a cidade. Atualmente, o lago é muito conhecido pela sua variedade de peixes. Uma vez que a população de peixes no lago de fogo é tão grande e diversifica, de dois em dois anos, o peixe é totalmente pescado para ser distribuído nos diferentes lagos e parques em volta da cidade.

Uma das principais atrações do lago de fogo é a Igreja Protestante de São João, que foi construída em estilo neogótico, na segunda metade do século XIX. A igreja está localizada numa península do lago, e é atualmente, um dos destinos preferidos de muitos turistas. Durante a Segunda Guerra Mundial, a igreja ficou bastante danificada, sendo totalmente reconstruída após o final da guerra, a torre em ruínas, ficaria inacabada. Assim, esta belíssima igreja do Lago de Fogo é agora utilizada como um memorial contra qualquer tipo de guerra, sendo muitas vezes referida como uma "a igreja sem ponta".

No século XIX, o lago de fogo foi enriquecido com uma outra linda atração, a grande fonte. Trata-se de uma das fontes mais poderosas do seu tempo, que atraiu inúmeros visitantes ao longo de muitos anos e, ainda hoje, fascina aqueles que a visitam. Este é um pequeno exemplo daquilo que podemos encontrar nesta bela cidade.

A historia do Cisne na fotografia, já é mais difícil de contar, visto não existirem referências da sua existência em lado nenhum, no entanto, eu atrever-me-ia a dizer que se trata da beleza lá do sítio, pois não se mostrou nada importunado com a minha aproximação, chegando mesmo a fazer pose e a desfilar para a fotografia, o que me leva a crer, que se trata de um manequim muito experiente e cheio de estilo que encontrou no lago de fogo a sua passerelle e o local ideal para se dar a conhecer.

Bruges is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium, in the northwest of the country, and the seventh-largest city of the country by population.

The area of the whole city amounts to more than 13,840 hectares (138.4 km2; 53.44 sq miles), including 1,075 hectares off the coast, at Zeebrugge (from Brugge aan zee, meaning 'Bruges by the Sea').

The historic city centre is a prominent World Heritage Site of UNESCO. It is oval in shape and about 430 hectares in size. The city's total population is 117,073 (1 January 2008), of whom around 20,000 live in the city centre. The metropolitan area, including the outer commuter zone, covers an area of 616 km2 (238 sq mi) and has a total of 255,844 inhabitants as of 1 January 2008.

Along with a few other canal-based northern cities, such as Amsterdam and St Petersburg, it is sometimes referred to as the Venice of the North. Bruges has a significant economic importance, thanks to its port, and was once one of the world's chief commercial cities. Bruges is a popular tourism destination within Belgium, and is well known as the seat of the College of Europe, a university institute for European studies.

Bruges became important due to the tidal inlet that was crucial to local commerce, This inlet was then known as the "Golden Inlet". Bruges received its city charter on 27 July 1128, and new walls and canals were built. In 1089 Bruges became the capital of the County of Flanders. Since about 1050, gradual silting had caused the city to lose its direct access to the sea. A storm in 1134, however, re-established this access, through the creation of a natural channel at the Zwin. The new sea arm stretched all the way to Damme, a city that became the commercial outpost for Bruges.

Junk style sightseeing boat Aqua Luna (張保仔, "Cheung Po Tsai") and in the background the cruise liner Star Pisces. The Chinese name of Aqua Luna (張保仔) refers to a famous pirate named Cheung Po Tsai.

A "reactivated" archive shot.

© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.

** This does not refer to anyone or anything in particular **

" I'm jealous of the rain

That falls upon your skin

It's closer than my hands have been

I'm jealous of the rain

I'm jealous of the wind

That ripples through your clothes

It's closer than your shadow

Oh, I'm jealous of the wind

'Cause I wished you the best of all this world could give

And I told you when you left me

There's nothing to forgive

But I always thought you'd come back

Tell me all you found was heartbreak and misery

It's hard for me to say

I'm jealous of the way

You're happy without me... "

- Labrinth -

www.youtube.com/watch?v=50VWOBi0VFs

Thank you so very much to my gorgeous friend Ms. B for posing for me. Hugs 💗

Alberta Provincial Highway No. 734, commonly referred to as Highway 734, [leading to Luscar-Cadomin Coal Mining area] is a highway in western Alberta, Canada that travels through the forested foothills of the Rocky Mountains. It used to be part of Forestry Trunk Road and is still colloquially referred to as such. Wikipedia

Deep Cove refers to the community in the easternmost part of the District of North Vancouver, in British Columbia, Canada, and is also the geographic name of the small bay beside the town. It is affectionately referred to as "The Cove" by local residents. Wikipedia.

This is Vancouver: Snowy mountains and mainly green shoreline in winter

Páramo can refer to a variety of alpine tundra ecosystems. Some ecologists describe the páramo broadly as "all high, tropical, montane vegetation above the continuous timberline". A more narrow term classifies the páramo according to its regional placement in the northern Andes of South America and adjacent southern Central America. The páramo is the ecosystem of the regions above the continuous forest line, yet below the permanent snowline. It is a "Neotropical high mountain biome with a vegetation composed mainly of giant rosette plants, shrubs and grasses". According to scientists, páramos may be "evolutionary hot spots" and among the fastest evolving regions on Earth.

More commonly referred to as the Purple Swamphen or simply Swamphen and is easily recognisable by its size (similar to a chicken), large feet, red bill and bright plumage. The top part of the beak extends over the forehead of the bird and forms a front plate or shield; this is often a characteristic of many swamphens, coots and moorhens. In and around the island of Mallorca this relatively common bird is predominantly a purple/ blue colour whilst its nearby cousins on the African continent tend to have green coloured backs.

S'Albufera, Mallorca

Dad red-bellied woodpecker is giving us a good look at the reason he is sometimes referred to as the zebra woodpecker. Ladder-backed woodpecker would also work, but that name is already taken😉.

Everglades Snail Kites are a highly endangered bird in Florida! They are now referred to as Snail Kites and get their name for the fact that they feed almost exclusively on Apple Snails! They are a victim of poor water management, including water quality, high water levels, extremely low water levels. The water that is of extremely poor quality is because of recycling of farm water!

We were luck enough to see these Snail Kites mating on one of our trips to STA 5 in the wonderful early morning light!! As always thanks for looking and we will see you on Thursday!!

Mar & April: Photography exhibit at the J. N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge Visitor's Center, Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel, Florida

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Originally referred to as Grand Canyon, Fredrick Schwatka renamed it in July of 1883 Miles Canyon after General Nelson Miles. Schwatka wrote, “Through this narrow chute of corrugated rock the wild waters of the great river rush in a perfect mass of milk-like foam, with a reverberation that is audible for a considerable distance.” Although accounts differ as to the ferocity of the rapids, there is no question that they were very dangerous. During the Gold Rush, hundreds of boats loaded with precious supplies were lost (as well as several lives) before the Northwest Mounted Police arrived to regulate traffic.

Eventually a wooden rail system around the canyon eliminated the need to battle this hazard. The hydroelectric dam constructed to provide power to Whitehorse has tamed Miles Canyon, but drifting through its 15 metre high basaltic walls is still a thrill

Wollongong informally referred to as The Gong, is a city located in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. Wollongong lies on the narrow coastal strip between the Illawarra Escarpment and the Pacific Ocean, 68 kilometres (42 miles) south of central Sydney. Wollongong had an estimated urban population of 302,739 at June 2018, making it the third-largest city in New South Wales after Sydney and Newcastle and the tenth-largest city in Australia by population. The Wollongong metropolitan area extends from Helensburgh in the north to Shell Cove in the south. It sits within the Wollongong Statistical District, which covers the local government areas of Wollongong, Shellharbour and Kiama, extending from the town of Helensburgh in the north, to Gerroa in the south. Geologically, the city is located in the south-eastern part of the Sydney basin, which extends from Newcastle to Nowra. Wollongong is noted for its heavy industry, its port activity and the quality of its physical setting, occupying a narrow coastal plain between an almost continuous chain of surf beaches and the cliffline of the rainforest-covered Illawarra escarpment. It has two cathedrals, churches of many denominations and the Nan Tien Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in the southern hemisphere. Wollongong has a long history of coal mining and industry. The city attracts many tourists each year and is a regional centre for the South Coast fishing industry. The University of Wollongong has around 38,000 students and is internationally recognised. 49905

Epipactis palustris - var ochroleuca (Orchidaceae) 188 23

Epipactis palustris name (palustris) refers to its usual choice of a wet marshy habitat. This preference is reflected in the orchids unsurprising common name of the Marsh Helleborine.

This is a species with a huge distribution across temperate Europe and Asia from Britain and Scandinavia in the west to Siberia in the East. It can grow in dense colonies, particularly in the damp, alkaline conditions it prefers such as dune slacks and base rich fens. Epipactis palustris is not however restricted to calcareous soils and although usually in smaller numbers, seems perfectly capable of thriving not just in neutral conditions but also in moderately acid ones.

Unlike many of the members of the Epipactis genus, Epipactis palustris does not seek out shade and indeed will not flourish if surrounding vegetation gets too rank or high. Although its roots require an uninterrupted supply of moisture, the visible parts of the plant seek full sun and this accounts for its total suitability to life in the wet slacks of large dune systems. It is not however a deep rooted orchid and in fact has only a shallow root system which is well suited to vegetative reproduction in wet ground. These shallow roots also maintain the plants nutrient supply by staying clear of the deeper and poorly oxygenated permanent water level.

This is not a particularly variable species but forms with reduced dark pigmentation are common. Here, the red pigmentation is absent altogether, this variant being known as var ochroleuca.

Source: John and Gerry's Orchids of Britain and Europe

This flower is often referred to as the pincushion flower and is part of the honeysuckle family. Scabiosa is available in a wide range of colors such as red, purple, lavender, pink, blue and white. They measure 2-1/2 - 3" wide. Best viewed large.

Many thanks for your visits, faves and comments!

M20 (often referred to as "Trifid nebula") is a collection of three different nebulae in the Sagittarius constellation, around 9000 light years from earth.

Not only is this a collection of three different nebulae; it’s also three completely different types:

- Dark nebula: this part consists of dark dust clouds that absorb/block any light from stars behind it. You can see this as the black lines in the center of the image.

- Emission nebula: this part consists of clouds of hydrogen that get ionized (think of it as getting energized and glowing) due to the presence of nearby stars. You can see it as the red'ish part of the image.

- Reflection nebula: this part consists of clouds of interstellar dust, which reflect the light of nearby stars. You can see this as the blue part of the image.

Setup:

Planewave CDK24

Moravian C3-61000 Pro

Planewave L-600

Image acquisition details:

14x900" HA

12x600" Red

12x600" Green

12x600" Blue

www.jochenmaes.com

I refer to myself as a lazy photographer (poking fun at me) and the truth is I usually am. But I had to work for this one!! We visited a very unique area of the Western slope of Colorado called Escalante Canyon. It reminded me of the very popular visitor attraction the Cliff Dwellings which were populated by ancient people a very long time ago. We climbed a pretty steep hill with loose red rock and many cactus's and no trail!! The guys were ahead of us not being very chivalrous, of coarse. I felt pretty proud of my sister in law and myself that we made it to the top. Up above us were the red cliffs and scattered around us were these gnarly old cedar trees. I noticed to the corner of my eye this impressive ancient looking cedar. You could tell it has had a hard time surviving in its tough surroundings. It's amazing how life has a will to survive!!

You remind me of Yoda's great philosophy: "No try, There is no try. Do or do not. " Bruce Sorrell

Please view in Large screen!!

Mullerthal

Often referred to as the Little Switzerland of Luxembourg, Mullerthal - or Mëllerdall in Luxembourgish – owes its name to its hilly landscape reminiscent of Switzerland. The Mullerthal Region is above all a unique biotope characterized by rock formations that are as beguiling as they are surprising. It is the unique composition of the rock and soil erosion that have contributed to the creation of this landscape so typical of Luxembourg's Little Switzerland.

Scurdie Ness is a headland located on the South side of the River South Esk estuary, Montrose, Angus, Scotland. The River leads from the North Sea into Montrose Harbour and then into Montrose Basin. The headland has also been referred to as Scurdie Ness, Montrose point or Montroseness. The word Scurdie is a local word for the volcanic rock found there and Ness means a promontory, cape or headland. The coastline from Scurdie Ness to Rickle Craig has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Scurdie Ness Lighthouse is located on the headland and has also been referred to as Montroseness Lighthouse. In 1867 the seafaring community of Ferryden made representations to the Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses to have a light established on Montrose Point due to the numerous shipwrecks and great loss of life along that coast. There are 11 wrecks recorded around the mouth of the estuary.

The lighthouse was built by David Stevenson and Thomas Stevenson and at 6 pm on Tuesday 1 March 1870 the tower was lit for the first time. During World War II the lighthouse was temporarily painted black so that it could not be used by the German bombers as a daytime reference point. The light was not illuminated except when requested by the Royal Navy.

The lighthouse is a category B listed building of architectural/historic interest, Historical Scotland Building ID: 4958. Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland - Canmore ID: 36262

Originally the light characteristic was fixed white but in 1907 was changed to isophase white 60 seconds (i.e., light 30 seconds, eclipse 30 seconds). Scurdie Ness lighthouse was converted to automatic operation in 1987 and now displays 3 white flashes separated by 2.5 seconds and repeated every 20 seconds. The light is 182,000 candlepower and on a clear night can be seen for approximately 42 km.

The buildings within the grounds of the lighthouse are now privately owned. Cars are not allowed along the road leading from Ferryden to the lighthouse but it is a popular walk and sightings of seals and dolphins are not unusual. Whales are sometimes seen in the area including rare sightings of humpback whales.

Helgeland is the most southerly district in Northern Norway. Generally speaking, Helgeland refers to the part of Nordland county that is located south of the Arctic Circle. It is bordered in the north by the Saltfjellet mountains and Svartisen glacier, which form a natural border with the Salten district. In the south, Helgeland borders Trøndelag county.

The district covers an area of about 18,832 square kilometres (7,271 sq mi), with nearly 79,000 inhabitants. There are four towns in the district: from south to north these are Brønnøysund, Mosjøen, Sandnessjøen, and Mo i Rana.

Helgeland is characterized by pointed mountains and Strandflaten, a shallow lowland area, sometimes just above the sea surface, and sometimes just below the surface. People living on the coast have settled on this lowland (while inland towns, such as Mo and Mosjøen, are situated in valleys). A consequence of the Strandflaten is thousands of islands, and shallow waters going far into the sea. This has provided some shelter from stormy weather, which might occur in winter. Some islands are fairly large, often with unique mountains, such as Torghatten, De syv søstre (The Seven Sisters), Hestmannen, Rødøyløva (in Rødøy), Dønnamannen (picture), and Træna. There are several sea bird colonies, such as Lovund (picture) with thousands of puffins. The Solvær Islands (Solværøyene) in Lurøy consists of about 300 small and flat islands and has the highest densities of Eurasian eagle-owls in Europe.

The highest mountains, are located inland, where Oksskolten is the highest mountain in Northern Norway. There are many valleys inland, such as the Dunderland Valley, Vefsndalen, and Hattfjelldal. Røssvatnet is the second largest lake in Norway. There are three large national parks in Helgeland: Saltfjellet–Svartisen National Park (partly), Børgefjell National Park (partly), and Lomsdal–Visten National Park (created in May 2009).

Dark-eyed juncos are often referred to as snowbirds around here since they usually arrive about the time we see the first snowflakes fall. They are sure living up to their name this year as we are currently under a winter weather advisory for several inches of snow accumulating overnight.

The common dandelion (Taraxacum sect. Ruderalia) Usually these plants are simply referred to as dandelions, which means that there is a risk of confusion with the genus dandelion (Leontodon).

Refers to the pools of water which are frozen over.

Helgeland is the most southerly district in Northern Norway. Generally speaking, Helgeland refers to the part of Nordland county that is located south of the Arctic Circle. It is bordered in the north by the Saltfjellet mountains and Svartisen glacier, which form a natural border with the Salten district. In the south, Helgeland borders Trøndelag county.

The district covers an area of about 18,832 square kilometres (7,271 sq mi), with nearly 79,000 inhabitants. There are four towns in the district: from south to north these are Brønnøysund, Mosjøen, Sandnessjøen, and Mo i Rana.

Helgeland is characterized by pointed mountains and Strandflaten, a shallow lowland area, sometimes just above the sea surface, and sometimes just below the surface. People living on the coast have settled on this lowland (while inland towns, such as Mo and Mosjøen, are situated in valleys). A consequence of the Strandflaten is thousands of islands, and shallow waters going far into the sea. This has provided some shelter from stormy weather, which might occur in winter. Some islands are fairly large, often with unique mountains, such as Torghatten, De syv søstre (The Seven Sisters), Hestmannen, Rødøyløva (in Rødøy), Dønnamannen (picture), and Træna. There are several sea bird colonies, such as Lovund (picture) with thousands of puffins. The Solvær Islands (Solværøyene) in Lurøy consists of about 300 small and flat islands and has the highest densities of Eurasian eagle-owls in Europe.

The highest mountains, are located inland, where Oksskolten is the highest mountain in Northern Norway. There are many valleys inland, such as the Dunderland Valley, Vefsndalen, and Hattfjelldal. Røssvatnet is the second largest lake in Norway. There are three large national parks in Helgeland: Saltfjellet–Svartisen National Park (partly), Børgefjell National Park (partly), and Lomsdal–Visten National Park (created in May 2009).

Calyptratae is a subsection of Schizophora in the insect order Diptera, commonly referred to as the calyptrate muscoids (or simply calyptrates). It consists of those flies which possess a calypter that covers the halteres, among which are some of the most familiar of all flies, such as the house fly.

About 18,000 described species are in this group, or about 12% of all the flies yet described.

Fog is something that fascinates me every time I am amidst of it. As the clouds roll and the winds start to pick up, the fog gently lifting and the sun's rays beaming through all makes for a compelling wintry morning...

As we gear up to it, I was reminiscing with one I had shot a few years ago in Kerala, India. Munnar is one of the most renowned hill stations in Southern India. It brims with vast expanses of tea estates and the tea plantation is something that generates a lot of revenue for the country.

The name Munnar is believed to mean "three rivers", referring to its location at the confluence of the Mudhirapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundaly rivers.

This was shot from one of the locations up in the mountains and would you believe at 10 AM in the morning! It was that foggy that morning.

If you see it for a while, your eyes could start discerning the other trees amidst the fog...

EXIF - f/8 1/800 ISO 200 @16mm

Thanks for viewing and have a nice weekend everyone!

The Shard, also referred to as the Shard of Glass, Shard London Bridge and formerly London Bridge Tower, is a 95-storey skyscraper in Southwark, London

oliver@br-creative | @facebook | @500px | @Getty & Flickr Market

Stanford Memorial Church (also referred to informally as MemChu) is located on the Main Quad at the center of the Stanford University campus in Stanford, California, United States. It was built during the American Renaissance[2] by Jane Stanford as a memorial to her husband Leland. Designed by architect Charles A. Coolidge, a protégé of Henry Hobson Richardson, the church has been called "the University's architectural crown jewel".[3]

Designs for the church were submitted to Jane Stanford and the university trustees in 1898, and it was dedicated in 1903. The building is Romanesque in form and Byzantine in its details, inspired by churches in the region of Venice, especially, Ravenna. Its stained glass windows and extensive mosaics are based on religious paintings the Stanfords admired in Europe. The church has five pipe organs, which allow musicians to produce many styles of organ music. Stanford Memorial Church has withstood two major earthquakes, in 1906 and 1989, and was extensively renovated after each.

North façade of the Stanford Memorial Church from the Main

The Gerberviertel in Weinheim (often referred to as the Gerberbachviertel) is a historic artisan quarter within the Old Town, characterized by restored half-timbered houses dating back to the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Situated along the Grundelbach—whose waters were historically utilized by tanners for leather production—it is today regarded as a picturesque, tranquil residential area set apart from the main shopping district.

The Gerberviertel in Weinheim (often referred to as the Gerberbachviertel) is a historic artisan quarter within the Old Town, characterized by restored half-timbered houses dating back to the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Situated along the Grundelbach—whose waters were historically utilized by tanners for leather production—it is today regarded as a picturesque, tranquil residential area set apart from the main shopping district.

Das Gerberviertel in Weinheim (oft Gerberbachviertel) ist ein historisches Handwerkerviertel in der Altstadt, geprägt von restaurierten Fachwerkhäusern aus Renaissance und Barock. Es liegt am Grundelbach, dessen Wasser früher die Gerber zur Lederherstellung nutzten, und gilt heute als malerisches, ruhiges Wohngebiet abseits der Einkaufsmeile

Sansia Old Street” generally refers to the southern section of Minquan St., and is about 200 meters long. The buildings have stood since the earliest period of the Republic of China. Various words on the building fronts represent surnames, names, and shop names, and their signage is very different to today’s. The buildings are equipped with magnificent verandahs, which are the most impressive parts of the buildings along this street. Their decorated archways are rich in culture and they play a valuable role in reminding people of the need to preserve historical relics. The outer walls of the buildings are　built with red brick, while the inner walls were made of clay. The outer parts of the buildings are decorated with a variety of patterns, and in particular the second-floor windowsills, making them all the more beautiful. There are many with traditional Chinese patterns, animal motifs, and even foreign patterns. Opposite Minquan St. is a smaller wall, known for its unique styling, featuring solid, hollow, and framed styles of decoration.

The history of Quaglietta begins when, to stop the Saracen incursions in the Sele Valley, it was decided to build 3 fortresses: Valva, Senerchia and Quaglietta, (which however at the time was called castrum Quallectae).

The first settlement was therefore a military fortress built on a rocky spur (284 m above sea level) to which a village was added over time.

The name has nothing to do with quails as many believe but with the ancient Latin name of the area or Acque electe which translates as pure water and refers to the richness and purity of the waters that flow in the area.

Although the town is closely linked to the municipalities of the Sele Valley belonging to the province of Salerno, it is part of the province of Avellino and is a fraction of the municipality of Calabritto.

The 1980 earthquake hit this town hard but it was renovated with great attention and today the ancient medieval village retains its ancient splendor and is a tourist attraction.

La storia di Quaglietta inizia quando per frenare le incursioni di saraceni nella Valle del Sele fu decisa la costruzione delle 3 fortezze: Valva, Senerchia e Quaglietta, (che però all'epoca si chiamava castrum Quallectae) .

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Il primo insediamento fu quindi una fortezza militare costruita su uno sperone roccioso (284 m sul livello del mare) a cui nel tempo si aggiunse un borgo.

Il nome non ha nulla a che fare con le quaglie come in molti credono ma con l'antico nome latino della zona ovvero Acque electe la cui traduzione è acqua pura e fa riferimento alla ricchezza e purezza delle acque che sgorgano in zona.

Pur essendo il paese strettamente legato ai comuni della Valle del Sele appartenenti alla provincia di Salerno fa parte della provincia di Avellino ed è una frazione del comune di Calabritto.

Il terremoto del 1980 ha colpito duramente questo paese che però è stato ristrutturato con grande attenzione e oggi l'antico borgo medievale conserva l'antico splendore ed è una attrazione turistica.

Just a few kilometers outside of Oranienburg – in the middle of the forest lie the ruins of what used to be one of Germanys most modern Lung clinics, the Lungenheilstätte Grabowsee, most commonly referred to as the Heilstätte Grabowsee. Having survived both the first and second world war and Soviet Occupation, 124 years later it is only a shadow of its former self.

In 2013 the movie 'Monuments Men' was filmed here.

Often referred to as a 'gold badge' official's hat.

Heather refers to a soft, muted color created by blending different colored fibers into one fabric yarn, giving it a mélange effect. It is one of the world’s most popular fabric types.

Tom Cosmos splendidly embraces this Heather fabric in this stunning two-piece Katja Top & Skirt outfit.

Within the Katja Fatpack, you will happily discover an array of 12 different colors to choose from for both the top and skirt – giving you the versatility of combining them together or treating them as separates.

Fits: Reborn, Reborn Juicy, Legacy, Maitreya, and Kupra mesh bodies.

Cosmos Apparel In-World Store Landmark:

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Cosmic%20Valley/60/82/556

Often referred to as one of the most tranquil places in New York City, High Rock Park is noted for its quiet ponds and deep woods. High Rock Park is one of nine parks in Staten Island’s 2,500 acre Greenbelt and has been recognized as a Natural Environmental Education Landmark.

High Rock Park contains five ponds and various wetlands, including Stump Pond, Hourglass Pond, Walker Pond and Loosestrife Swamp.

Estany de les Obagues de Ratera - Lagunas Llosas

This is a long exposure shot (8 seconds) processed under the scene-referred paradigm with Darktable from RAW. It was taken with:

- Haida Neutral filter of 10 steps (3.0 ND)

- 'Gobe' CPL Polarizer Filter.

You can read additional technical information in my profile (about section).

Referring to the “throughline” that makes it all make sense. Oegstgeest, The Netherlands

Mit einer Flügelspannweite von bis zu 2,9 Metern zählt der Bartgeier zu den größten flugfähigen Vögeln der Welt. Er ist neben dem etwa gleich großen Mönchsgeier der größte Greifvogel Europas. Da seine Nahrung zu etwa 80 % aus Knochen von gefallenen Tieren und Aas besteht, wird er im Volksmund auch oftmals als "Knochenbrecher" bezeichnet.

With a wingspan of up to 2.9 meters, the bearded vulture is one of the largest flying birds in the world. Along with the similarly sized cinereous vulture, it is the largest bird of prey in Europe. Because its diet consists of approximately 80% bones from dead animals and carrion, it is often colloquially referred to as a "bone breaker."

I saw you coming

oh yes I did . . .

about to fly off

but decided to stay indeed

I thought I'd pose

for a moment or two

not many bother indeed

to try to take a photo or two

I ruffled my feathers

and stood quite still

I heard you click click

and then I quickly did "flit"

Poem from my friend Bev www.flickr.com/photos/beverleyplaya/

The European goldfinch or simply referred to as the goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) is a small passerine bird in the finch family that is native to the Palearctic zone in Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia. It has been introduced to other areas, including Australia, New Zealand, Uruguay and the United States.

The breeding male has a red face with black markings around the eyes, and a black-and-white head. Its back and flanks are buff or chestnut brown. Its black wings feature a broad yellow bar. Its tail is black and its rump is white. Males and females are very similar, but females have a slightly smaller red area on their face.

The goldfinch is often depicted in Italian Renaissance paintings of the Madonna and Child.

East County overview from my rooftop.

Some Native American tribes referred to October’s Moon as the Full Hunter’s Moon, as it was the time to go hunting in preparation for winter.

Deep Cove refers to the community in the easternmost part of the District of North Vancouver, in British Columbia, Canada, and is also the geographic name of the small bay beside the town. It is affectionately referred to as "The Cove" by local residents. Wikipedia

Have a wonderful and safe new week!

Heliconia, is a genus of flowering plants in the monotypic family Heliconiaceae. Most of the 194 known species are native to the tropical Americas, but a few are indigenous to certain islands of the western Pacific and Maluku. Many species of Heliconia are found in the tropical forests of these regions. Most species are listed as either “vulnerable” or “data deficient” by the IUCN Red List of threatened species. Several species are widely cultivated as ornamentals, and a few are naturalized in Florida, Gambia and Thailand. Common names for the genus include lobster-claws, toucan beak, wild plantains or false bird-of-paradise. The last term refers to their close similarity to the bird-of-paradise flowers (Strelitzia). Collectively, these plants are also simply referred to as heliconias. These herbaceous plants range from 0.5 to nearly 4.5 meters tall depending on the species. The simple leaves of these plants are 15–300 cm. They are characteristically long, oblong, alternate, or growing opposite one another on non-woody petioles often longer than the leaf, often forming large clumps with age. Their flowers are produced on long, erect or drooping panicles, and consist of brightly colored waxy bracts, with small true flowers peeping out from the bracts. The growth habit of heliconias is similar to Canna, Strelitzia, and bananas, to which they are related.The flowers can be hues of reds, oranges, yellows, and greens, and are subtended by brightly colored bracts. Floral shape often limits pollination to a subset of the hummingbirds in the region. 23499

Spoonbills are a genus, Platalea, of large, long-legged wading birds. The spoonbills have a global distribution, being found on every continent except Antarctica. The genus name Platalea derives from Latin and means broad, referring to the distinctive shape of the bill. Six species are recognised, which although usually placed in a single genus have sometimes been split into three genera. All spoonbills have large, flat, spatulate bills and feed by wading through shallow water, sweeping the partly opened bill from side to side. The moment any small aquatic creature touches the inside of the bill—an insect, crustacean, or tiny fish—it is snapped shut. Spoonbills generally prefer fresh water to salt but are found in both environments. They need to feed many hours each day. The spoonbills are most distinct from the ibises in the shape of their bill, which is long and flat and wider at the end. The nostrils are located near the base of the bill so that the bird can breathe while the bill is submerged in water. The eyes are positioned to provide spoonbills with binocular vision, although when foraging tactile senses are important too. Like the ibises the spoonbills have bare patches of skin around the bills and eyes. The six species of spoonbill are distributed over much of the world. 46166

Callistemon species have commonly been referred to as bottlebrushes because of their cylindrical, brush like flowers resembling a traditional bottle brush. They are mostly found in the more temperate regions of Australia, especially along the east coast and typically favour moist conditions so when planted in gardens thrive on regular watering. However, two species are found in Tasmania and several others in the south-west of Western Australia. At least some species are drought-resistant and some are used in ornamental landscaping elsewhere in the world.

Wiki

James Brown - I Feel Good + lyrics

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Rollingstone1's most interesting photos on Flickriver

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So, has he completely lost it? No, not the driver, me. Well, who refers to oneself in the third person? That may be one indication of losing it. Actually, no to that as well. Now that I have proven to myself that I am capable of using HDR responsibly, I thought I may as well give into the temptation that devil software is throwing at me and apply this process in a manner that results in something completely different. I always wanted to do a minimalist color image without completely giving up on color because I am addicted to it. Quite like the effect “contrast optimizer” has on the bucket loader. That’s why I cropped top and bottom to feature the loader a bit more prominently. The reason the sides are uncropped is because I liked the effect on the fence to the right of the loader and on the faux brick wall to the left of the loader. And no, not to worry, you won’t see too many of these shots going forward. No sense in getting carried away. Less is usually more unless we are dealing with Marzipan which is powerful enough to make me .…

Losing My Religion – R.E.M.

Bird migration refers to the regular seasonal journeys undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Migration is marked by its annual seasonality.

As autumn progresses, millions of birds disperse to the reaches of the globe to find the food they need to survive.

The migratory birds living in Austria (swallow, stork,...)are gathering now and start their long journey via Italy to Africa.

Bon voyage!!

The scientific name Chrysochus auratus means “made of gold” and refers to the fantastic metallic hues of blue, green, gold, and red on surface of the beetle. This beetle has no accepted common name, but it is often referred to as the dogbane beetle due to its habit of feeding almost exclusively on plants in the genus Apocynum, herbaceous plants we refer to as dogbane.

Dogbane grows along roadsides and trails near the forest edge. It is a perennial with clusters of small white flowers. If you damage a leaf or stem, it oozes a white sticky sap. There in full view of all you will find the dogbane leaf beetle. It is a wonder that an insect so conspicuous can survive in a world where birds, toads, and mice dine on insects with gusto.

There is a secret to the dogbane beetle. The dogbane plant, is full of highly poisonous compounds known as cardenolides. These compounds are toxic to a variety of animals, including humans. Cardenolides are also known as cardiac glycosides and they can have profound and lethal effects on the heart if ingested. It is likely that these compounds evolved to keep leaf-munching animals from eating dogbane. The Chrysochus has the ability to eat the leaves of dogbane unscathed. Instead it ingests cardiac glycosides, stores them in glands, and then secretes them when threatened by its own predators.

It is believed that these toxic compounds confer protection from hungry predators that would otherwise devour Chrysochus. The conspicuous color and tendency for the beetle to feed and rest in full sight of its enemies are probably the beetle's way of advertising its nasty chemical defense. (Bugoftheweek) : )

Nikon D7100

Tokina 100mm f/2.8 AT-X AF Pro D Macro

100mm - f11.0 - 1/125 - ISO 100

Stanford Memorial Church (also referred to informally as MemChu) is located on the Main Quad at the center of the Stanford University campus in Stanford, California, United States. It was built during the American Renaissance[2] by Jane Stanford as a memorial to her husband Leland. Designed by architect Charles A. Coolidge, a protégé of Henry Hobson Richardson, the church has been called "the University's architectural crown jewel".[3]

Designs for the church were submitted to Jane Stanford and the university trustees in 1898, and it was dedicated in 1903. The building is Romanesque in form and Byzantine in its details, inspired by churches in the region of Venice, especially, Ravenna. Its stained glass windows and extensive mosaics are based on religious paintings the Stanfords admired in Europe. The church has five pipe organs, which allow musicians to produce many styles of organ music. Stanford Memorial Church has withstood two major earthquakes, in 1906 and 1989, and was extensively renovated after each.

North façade of the Stanford Memorial Church from the Main Quad

Wild South Africa

Kruger National Park

Burchell’s Coucal is also often referred to as the Rain Bird due to it calling before, during and after rain. The call sounds like water bubbling out of a narrow-necked bottle.

The title refers to a dip in the dock or a dip in the water or both. It is funny that the dock only fell in right in the middle. It looks like a lot of the decking boards are missing. I think the entire dock would have to be repaired which is running about twenty thousand dollars right now. My guess is that this is a dangerous, deteriorated, decayed, defunct dock. I am sure I am missing some descriptive “D” words. Have at it please. The more the better.