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Pristine natPristine nature refers to natural environments that are in their original, undisturbed state, free from human influence and development. These environments may include untouched forests, unspoiled beaches, clear waterways, and other natural habitats that have not been impacted by human activity.
Pristine nature is important because it supports biodiversity and provides critical ecosystem services, such as clean air, water, and soil. These natural environments also have significant cultural and aesthetic value, providing opportunities for outdoor recreation, tourism, and scientific research.
Unfortunately, pristine nature is becoming increasingly rare due to human activity, including habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change. It is important that we take steps to protect and conserve these environments for future generations to enjoy and benefit from. This may involve creating protected areas, reducing our carbon footprint, and supporting sustainable practices that minimize harm to the natural world.ure
** 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 💗
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
The term Geranium refers, in general, to a group of herbs and small shrubs of the genera Geranium and Pelargonium. It gathers about 300 species, many native to temperate and tropical regions of altitude, of which several are cultivated as ornamentals or for the extraction of tannins and tinctures.
Geranium can be divided into groups, such as: upright geranium; pending geranium; English geranium; fragrant geranium; herbaceous geranium and succulent geranium.
The photos presented in this series are from Pelargonium peltatum (pending geranium), Geraniums with narrow stems and leaves similar in shape to ivy are called “Ivy-leaved Geraniums” or “Pelargonium peltatum”. It behaves like a vine and the flowers have narrower petals and fewer floral heads.
The flowers can be single or folded and can be colored crimson, scarlet, salmon, pink and white. The strong colors and double flowers are the preference of the majority of the public in southern Brazil.
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
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!!
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
Jacob's Ladder is a bridleway between Kinder Scout plateau and the hamlet of Upper Booth in the Vale of Edale, in the Derbyshire Peak District of England. In the 18th century Jacob Marshall farmed the land at Edale Head, at the top of what became known as Jacob's Ladder. He cut steps into this steep section of the route up to the Kinder plateau, Jacob's Ladder is also a biblical term referring to the ladder to heaven which Jacob dreamt about.
The original "frangipani" was a perfume developed in Italy, to sweeten the smell of leather gloves. The aroma was rather musky—not floral—and it was formulated centuries before plumerias were discovered by Europeans. The name was later applied to plumeria flowers, and today a “frangipani” fragrance typically refers to the scent of plumeria blooms.
In Asia, plumeria flowers adorn Buddhist and Hindu temples. The trees are known as “temple trees."A healthy and productive plumeria usually starts blooming in early summer, which generally continues into early fall. However, some varieties grown in consistently warm climates can bloom almost year-round. When it comes to flowers lasting once they bloom, flower clusters typically last for almost a week.
The platypus, sometimes referred to as the duck-billed platypus, is a semiaquatic, egg-laying mammal endemic to eastern Australia, including Tasmania. The platypus is the sole living representative of its family (Ornithorhynchidae) and genus (Ornithorhynchus), though a number of related species appear in the fossil record.
Together with the four species of echidna, it is one of the five extant species of monotremes, mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young. Like other monotremes, it senses prey through electrolocation. It is one of the few species of venomous mammals, as the male platypus has a spur on the hind foot that delivers a venom, capable of causing severe pain to humans. The unusual appearance of this egg-laying, duck-billed, beaver-tailed, otter-footed mammal baffled European naturalists when they first encountered it, and the first scientists to examine a preserved platypus body (in 1799) judged it a fake, made of several animals sewn together. (Wikipedia)
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Wow! What a privilege to see a platypus in the wild. There were several in this pond, well-known for platypus. It reminded me of an otter as it swam and dove through the water.
Yungabarra, Queensland, Australia. October 2022.
Eagle-Eye Tours - Eastern Australia.
The term Geranium refers, in general, to a group of herbs and small shrubs of the genera Geranium and Pelargonium. It gathers about 300 species, many native to temperate and tropical regions of altitude, of which several are cultivated as ornamentals or for the extraction of tannins and tinctures.
Geranium can be divided into groups, such as: upright geranium; pending geranium; English geranium; fragrant geranium; herbaceous geranium and succulent geranium.
The photos presented in this series are from Pelargonium peltatum (pending geranium), Geraniums with narrow stems and leaves similar in shape to ivy are called “Ivy-leaved Geraniums” or “Pelargonium peltatum”. It behaves like a vine and the flowers have narrower petals and fewer floral heads.
The flowers can be single or folded and can be colored crimson, scarlet, salmon, pink and white. The strong colors and double flowers are the preference of the majority of the public in southern Brazil.
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.
Wollongong Harbour is a great spot to relax and take in amazing coastal views. There are also plenty of paths, pools and parks around the harbour if you prefer to be active. The small sandy beach at Wollongong Harbour is known as Brighton Beach. Although the waters may seem calm most of the time, this is an unpatrolled beach and is not a suitable location for swimming. It can also have water quality issues, particularly after rain. 50456
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
Skógafoss 20200731
Skógafoss (Forest waterfall) is often referred to as one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland. It has all the ingredients of great natural wonder. The amount of water is excessive, the form of the waterfall is almost perfect in its rectangular shape, the 60-meter drop makes it impressive, and the width of 25 meters puts it into a great perspective.
The cliffs around the waterfall are former sea cliffs when the shoreline was by Skógarfoss but has now moved five km south. On the eastern side of the waterfall, you'll find steps to the most popular hiking routes in Iceland, towards the Fimmvörðuháls pass. Once there, you are halfway to the beautiful Highland oasis of Þórsmörk. Hiking the Skógaheiði moors, you will be amazed at the sheer number of waterfalls and rapids adorning the Skógá River. Indeed, there are 22 of them, each more beautiful than the other. It is a feast of waterfalls.
Source: Hit Iceland
The rains continue to fall. It rained on St Swithin's Day and so we expect another 40 days of it. As each drop of rain falls, I feel my fear and worries rise. I am once again picking our son up from the floor following a seizure induced fall. His new specialist epilepsy neurologist is seeing us soon and I am documenting his current condition in his ‘seizure diary’. It does not make good reading.
I fear how I will convey this crucial information. I can talk about epilepsy and autism as well as his other conditions fluently and with confidence. But this meeting will be about our son. When I talk about the pain and torment our son lives through each day, I am always overcome with emotion.
The diary will help, and it will contain thoughts and questions that I will refer to if I need prompts. I am not expecting anything in particular, we have been trying different things over many years now. But his condition is getting worse. In front of our very eyes, we see the changes.
My fears are as plentiful as the endless raindrops falling outside. I just hope this new neurologist listens to my story and commits to continuing to support us through whatever the future holds …
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.
Referring to this daughter, Helios said,
“Again I make day balanced equally with dark on my homeward course when I bring in the leafshaking course of the autumn Season Phthinoporon, and drive with lesser light to the lower turning-point in the leafshedding month.”
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.
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
Explore June 22, 2015.
Η θάλασσα της ανατολής.
Η Μυτιλήνη λουσμένη στο πρωινό φώς λίγα λεπτά μετά την ανατολή του ήλιου και με τη θάλασσα γύρω της να γίνεται κόκκινη.
Mytilene bathed in the morning light, a few minutes after sunrise and the surrounding sea is turned into red.
"Τα καλοκαίρια η θάλασσα γίνεται συχνά κατακόκκινη, χωρίς για τούτο να ευθύνεται ο ουρανός"
Οδυσσέας Ελύτης, αναφερόμενος στη Μυτιλήνη, στο έργο του "Ο ζωγράφος Θεόφιλος" (Ανοιχτά Χαρτιά - εκδ. Ίκαρος)
"In the summer, the sea is often red, without the sky's fault"
Odysseas Elytis, referring to Mytilene, in his work "The painter Theofilos" (Ανοιχτά Χαρτιά - εκδ. Ίκαρος)
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!
The Memphis Pyramid, initially known as the Great American Pyramid, formerly referred to as the Pyramid Arena and locally referred to as The Pyramid, the Tomb of Doom[5] and the Bass Pro Shops Pyramid,[6] was originally built as a 20,142-seat arena located in downtown Memphis, in the U.S. state of Tennessee, at the banks of the Mississippi River. The facility was built in 1991 and was originally owned and operated jointly by the city of Memphis and Shelby County; Shelby County sold its share to Memphis in April 2009.[7] Its structure plays on the city's namesake in Egypt, known for its ancient pyramids. It is 321 feet (98 m) (about 32 stories) tall and has base sides of 591 feet (180 m); it is by some measures the tenth-tallest pyramid in the world.
The Memphis Pyramid has not been regularly used as a sports or entertainment venue since 2004. In 2015, the Pyramid re-opened as a Bass Pro Shops "megastore", which includes shopping, a hotel, restaurants, a bowling alley, and an archery range, with an outdoor observation deck adjacent to its apex.
s a swollen-thorn tree native to Mexico and Central America. The common name of "bullhorn" refers to the enlarged, hollowed-out, swollen thorns (technically called stipular spines) that occur in pairs at the base of leaves, and resemble the horns of a steer. In Yucatán (one region where the bullhorn acacia thrives) it is called "subín", in Panamá the locals call them "cachito" (little horn). The trees are commonly found in wet lowlands @wikipedia
This is a long exposure shot (15 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).
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.
De Zalmhaven, also referred to as Zalmhaven Toren, is a project that includes a 215m residential tower in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Other parts of the project are two buildings of 70m each. The project was approved by the city in February 2010.
The 215m high residential tower houses 295 apartments and a parking garage. The tower and a second office building are designed by Dam & Partner architects, with Claus en Kaan Architecten designing a residential unit it is one of the tallest residential towers in Europe and the tallest building in the Netherlands.
In September 2016, the Rotterdam city council approved the plan. After fifteen years of preparation, construction started on 25 October 2018. With Zalmhaven I, the Zalmhaven has a height of 215 meters. The building itself is 203 m and the mast takes up the last 12 m.
On December 15, 2020, the construction of Zalmhaven II and III reached the highest point. Zalmhaven I reached its highest point in September 2021 and the entire project is completed in 2022.
De Zalmhaven contains 452 apartments and penthouses, 33 townhouses, a parking garage, offices, commercial spaces and a restaurant. The townhouses have a private roof terrace and the apartments and penthouses all have one or more outdoor spaces. The basement accommodates a five-story parking garage with 456 spaces. An inner garden will be realized in the lobby. A roof garden will be realised on the parking garage that is only accessible to the residents of De Zalmhaven. The apartments and penthouses in De Zalmhaven II and III have their own entrance at Gedempte Zalmhaven, but residents also use the facilities in De Zalmhaven I.
Before I add a few words referring to this shot I must add that comments are supposed to be off as possibly till Sunday I simply cannot comment because it is too slow using mobile data. I think I may know why although comments off IS the default setting that I can see I have done it using mobile data and maybe the alterations don’t stick - if you know what I mean. Well yesterday I went to a woodland I know usually has Fungi in plenty to find many trees and paths had been cleared and although this meant lots more light it also meant lots less Fungi. However we found some but unfortunately I had left the strong spectacles I need for this type of shot we’re left in the caravan doh..I did use a tripod but simply could not see well enough. I deliberately stopped down a bit so it was a good job I had a remote release in my pocket and to sort of soften the bokeh bought the shadows right down using Snapseed on my iPad as it’s the only editing app I use as its quick and easy.
Thank you so much for your encouraging faves but please don’t comment till I can comment back and leave comments too as I feel so awkward about not being able or rather too slow as Flickr is a big program and very slow to access comment boxes…
Sue x
The building work cannot be done in the allocated time so we have to find a man who can…….
Besides the obvious, there are certain benefits to being what some of my former colleagues would refer to as "careful" with money. The more kindly former colleagues that is, I should add. Others wasted no time in coming up with rather more abusive terms for my steadfast refusal to throw away my hard earned on fast cars, champagne lunches and visits to Monte Carlo, but I would just smile and remind them that they'd still be working long after I'd retired. That tended to either stop them in their tracks with dumbstruck expressions, or had the opposite effect of exacerbating the tirade. Still, I'd just smile as I opened my home made cheese salad while whichever friend it was lavished another fiver on a disappointing looking sandwich and an overpriced coffee.
I often earned similar brickbats for refusing to join in the incessant charge along the highways and byways, driving at a benign pace rather than hammering along the outside lane at eighty-five miles an hour. I prefer to watch the fuel consumption reading rather than the speedometer you see. When I was younger, and very probably heading for a midlife crisis, I owned a white Vauxhall Astra GTE. It was very fast and it made me drive like a fool. It also used a lot of petrol. Now I have a modest Skoda that can get halfway across the country and back to Luton Airport without me having to refill the tank.
So there are aspects of Iceland that suit me, despite the fact that things are generally quite expensive in comparison to where I live. The jaw dropping landscape is something of course that very much ticks my boxes, but while many visitors seem to struggle with the fifty-five miles per hour speed limit, I don't. I simply pop the rental car into cruise control, set the speed and steer contentedly through the beauty around us - trying to concentrate on the road of course - the scenery can be distracting.
Other aspects of Iceland can be a trifle worrisome though. Last time we were here, we parked freely and quite legitimately on a patchy pull in, before walking the short distance to the triple waterfall of Kirkjufellsfoss. It was close to midnight under the twenty-four hour daylight glow, and only a small number of togs were around to compete for position with. On the other side of the pull in was another bit of scrubby ground beside the beach where we could also have parked for free. But three years on, things have changed. A brand new car park with number plate recognition cameras awaits the visitor, and swiftly relieves them of a thousand krona, regardless of how long they're planning to stay for. Needless to say, the waterfall was surrounded by a large number of visitors, many of them armed with tripods and cameras, all after that classic shot of Kirkjufell that looks so familiar. Admittedly there was still a pull in nearby, but there was also a sign that suggested our car might get towed away if we parked there, so we didn't stop for long.
But on the plus side, this aversion to parting with money for no good reason eventually added some unexpected shots to the catalogue, including my previous post, "Night Traffic." Our irritation at the prospect of coughing up the cash had taken us to a generous lay-by overlooking the sea. From there it was a leisurely fifteen minute amble along a footpath back towards the waterfall, and directly past the lake, where Kirkjufell gives away mirrorlike reflections on still days without charging a bean. And when the sky is doing interesting things at the end of a wet and grungy day, that seems like a reward worth grabbing with both hands.
We took a number of shots here, starting well before sunset and pushing on into the blue hour. I'd had a plan to revisit a patch of marshy ground I'd found the previous evening, but the presence of a growing number of togs along the bank of the lake appealed to my better nature as I wondered how easily they'd be able to clone me out of their sunsets. So here I stayed, enjoying the fact that I hadn't paid a thousand crowns for the privilege. It wasn't a bad spot from which to watch the day ebb away.
Referred to as living fossils, they are the only living genus of a class of plants over 100 million years old, which formed Paleozoic forests so predominant in coal. They reproduce by spores and once established are very difficult to eradicate. A fascinating plant.
Pont Briwet refers to the road and railway bridges that cross the River Dwyryd, near Penrhyndeudraeth, Gwynedd in North Wales. The first bridge was a Victorian road and railway viaduct that was constructed entirely from timber by the Cambrian Railways company.[1] Although it was recognised as being a Grade II listed structure, a result of it being an increasingly rare example of a surviving 19th-century wooden road and railway viaduct, the condition of the bridge had deteriorated over time and by the 21st century was posing regular and considerable inconvenience to both road and rail traffic.
Due to the operational impact of the old bridge, it was decided to build a replacement structure alongside as a joint project between the Welsh government and national rail infrastructure company Network Rail to upgrade the route. Despite plans to retain the old bridge for pedestrian traffic, it was determined that it had been further weakened and rendered structurally unsafe by the piling performed to establish the new bridge's foundations, resulting in its immediate closure in December 2013 and its demolition during the following year.
The new Pont Briwet crosses the Dwyryd on the same alignment as the original structure but it is both stronger and wider to accommodate larger vehicles and traffic volume. It also accommodates a combined cycle path and pedestrian walkway, as well as carrying multiple utilities, such as water and electricity, across its structure. Progress on the new bridge's construction was subject to several delays, the impact of which having been compounded by the necessity of the old structure's closure prior to its completion. It was initially opened only to rail traffic during September 2014; during July 2015, the new bridge was opened to road traffic as well.
The small fruits of Ilex [Holly], although often referred to as berries, are technically drupes. [...]. The fruits ripen in winter and thus provide winter colour contrast between the bright red of the fruits and the glossy green evergreen leaves. Hence the cut branches, especially of I. aquifolium, are widely used in Christmas decoration. The fruits are[...] an important food source for birds and other animals, which help disperse the seeds. Wikipedia
view of Ljubljanski Grad (Ljubljana Castle), Tromostovje (Triple Bridge) and old town from Prešernov Trg (Prešeren Square)
Ljubljana is the capital and largest city of Slovenia, located along a trade route between the northern Adriatic Sea and the Danube region, north of the country's largest marsh, inhabited since prehistoric times. It is the country's cultural, educational, economic, political and administrative center.
The exact origin of the name Ljubljana is unclear. In medieval times, both the river and the town were also called Laibach in German. This name was used within the region until 1918 and continues to be used in German. In Italian, the city is referred to as Lubiana, and in Latin, it is known as Labacum.
The German name was first documented in 1144, and the Slovenian form appeared in records as early as 1146. The 10th-century work "Life of Gregentios" provides the Greek variant Λυπλιανές (Lyplianes) and situates it among the Avars in the 6th century. This account is influenced by an earlier northern Italian source written shortly after the conquest of 774.
The connection between the Slovene and German names has posed a puzzle for scholars. In 2007, linguist Tijmen Pronk, an authority in comparative Indo-European linguistics and Slovene dialectology from the University of Leiden, provided strong support for the theory that the Slavic ljub- meaning "to love, like" was the most likely origin. He argued that the river's name likely stemmed from the settlement's name. Silvo Torkar, a linguist with expertise in Slovene names, put forth the idea that Ljubljana's name has its roots in "Ljubija", the original name of the Ljubljanica River. This can be traced back to the Old Slavic male name "Ljubovid", which translates to "the one with a lovely appearance". Torkar also asserted that the name "Laibach" is a combination of German and Slovene, sharing its origins with the same personal name.
Prešeren Square (Slovene: Prešernov trg) is the central square in Ljubljana. It is part of the old town's pedestrian zone and a major meeting point where festivals (like the annual Ljubljana Dragon Carnival), concerts, sports, political events, and protests take place. It was redesigned according to plans by Edvard Ravnikar from a funnel-shaped to a circular form in 1987–88 and renovated in 2007.
The Triple Bridge (Slovene: Tromostovje, in older sources also Tromostje) comprises three bridges spanning the Ljubljanica River. It connects the historical medieval town on the southeastern bank with the central Prešeren Square on the northwestern bank. Dating back to the 13th century, it stands as the oldest bridge in Ljubljana. In the early 1930s, the architect Jože Plečnik redesigned and expanded it. In August 2021, the Triple Bridge was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of Plečnik's enduring legacy.
Oxalis triangularis, commonly called false shamrock, is a species of perennial plant in the family Oxalidaceae. It is native to several countries in southern South America.
Oxalis triangularis are often referred to as “purple shamrocks.” The plant’s history can be traced back to St. Patrick, who held a similar plant and used the three leaves to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity to the Irish. Oxalis triangularis are not Irish natives, however – instead, they hail from Brazil.
This is Elizabethtown or E-Town as they refer to it down here in extreme southern Illinois on the Ohio River. Things don’t change much in these quiet, sleepy little southern river towns. The old buildings and old hand painted signage remind you of a much earlier time. Hollywood should come down here with their cameras and do a retake on To Kill A Mockingbird or some other old southern themed novel. The first time you come rolling down the hill and the town itself unfolds before your eyes, be prepared to be stunned by a strange feeling that you’ve been suddenly transported back into the 1930’s or 40’s. I think I actually gasped, the feeling was so great. Your camera will feel hot within your hand as you are suddenly faced with so many photogenic objects at once to consider. No joke! Coca Cola better get down here while the signage is all still intact. I’ve never seen so much in one small place. Plan a trip and be sure to stay in the old Rose Hotel which is one of the oldest buildings in Illinois and has a magnificent view of the beautiful Ohio River. It doesn’t get any better than this. Cheers.
Taken for the Macro Mondays theme of 'knolling'
Knolling refers to the practice of arranging similar objects in a precise, perpendicular manner. The goal of knolling is to create a sense of order and clarity in a space by aligning and organizing the objects within it
The term was coined by Andrew Kromelow in the late 1980s and later popularized by artist Tom Sachs. Kromelow was a janitor in Frank Gehry’s Santa Monica studio and had a habit of laying out
Knolling is a term coined by Andrew Kromelow in the late 1980s. Kromelow was a janitor in Frank Gehry’s Santa Monica studio at the time, and he came up with the concept of knolling as a way to organize the tools in the workshop when they were not in use. Kromelow observed that the tools in the workshop were often left in disarray, and he saw the potential for a more efficient and organized workspace by aligning and organizing the tools.
Kromelow’s colleague, artist Tom Sachs was intrigued by Kromelow’s method of organizing the tools. Sachs adopted the practice of knolling in his own studio and began incorporating it into his artwork. He has credited Kromelow as the inspiration for his use of knolling in his art.
Since then, the concept of knolling has gained widespread popularity, especially within the art world. It is often used as a way to photograph and display objects, such as tools or art supplies, in a visually appealing manner. Knolling has also been used as a way to organize and declutter workspaces, allowing for a more efficient and productive environment.
The appeal of knolling lies in its simplicity and minimalism. It is a way to showcase the beauty of everyday objects by presenting them in a clear and organized manner. It is also a way to bring attention to the forms and shapes of the objects themselves, rather than their function or purpose.
In addition to its practical applications, knolling can also be seen as a form of art in and of itself. The arrangement of objects in a knolling display requires a keen eye for balance and composition, as well as a sense of aesthetics. It is a way to transform a collection of seemingly mundane objects into a cohesive and visually striking display.
Overall, knolling is a unique and innovative way to approach organization and display. It is a concept that has gained widespread popularity within the art world and beyond, and it shows no signs of slowing down.
(Source: www.knolling.org)
Commonly referred to as the "hummingbird moth" due to its size and hummingbird-like characteristics, but it is far from being a bird. This species is accurately identified at the White-lined Sphinx moth. It mostly pollinates flowers during the night, early morning, or late afternoon. It is a very important insect for the Arizona desert ecosystem.
Sunrise in Moll del Petroli (Petrolium dock), Badalona.
Simple shot in Manual mode with 416 seconds (7 minutes) of exposition. A double filter (Haida ND3.0 and Haida ND1.8) was used.
This shot was taken and published in 2019, being processed under the display-scene workflow. Now I repeated the process under the scene-referred workflow and version 6 of the Filmic module in Darktable. The result is much more realistic.
#2041 -Holli Pocket @ Black Fair
Refer to HolliPocketPicks @ blogspot for direct links/style infos
-maitreya/legacy/kupra
-solid styles come with moos style
-string & ruffle hud per color
Currently @ event then will be @ mainstore after the event is over
Venue LM:
maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Never%20Never%20Land/134/1...
NEW Mainstore:
Having been referred to as a “cluster of tree houses”, a “crumpled paper bag” and an “urban sandcastle”, the Dr Chau Chak Wing building’s unique masonry façade—contorting and twisting in a three-dimensional plane for the full height of the 14-storey structure—created structural engineering challenges requiring innovative solutions.
In collaboration with UTS and the brick supplier, AECOM (an infrastructure consulting firm) developed a unique brick, tie, mortar and backing system that solved the load, constructability and complex geometrical issues, allowing a near impossible feat of engineering to be realised. This unique solution makes this brick facade one of its kind.
An abandoned village on top of a mountain in the Pyrenees.
Almost two hours of intense climbing from the valley.
Charlotte Pass (often erroneously referred to as Charlotte's Pass), elevation 1,837 metres, is a snow resort and village in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales, Australia. The pass is in the Kosciuszko National Park where the Kosciuszko Road crosses Kangaroo Ridge. Charlotte Pass is the closest village to Mount Kosciuszko. Charlotte Pass Village (elev. 1,760 metres) is at the base of Kangaroo Ridge to the south east of the pass. It is one of Australia's oldest snow resorts. It is the coldest location in Australia, with a record low of −23.0 °C and winter temperatures that regularly drop below −10 °C. The pass and village are named after Charlotte Adams who, in 1881, was the first European woman to climb Mount Kosciuszko. Charlotte Pass provides access to some of Australia's highest alpine terrain and was formerly a stop-off point for public vehicular access to Mt Kosciuszko, though the public access road now terminates at the Pass. Being an alpine area, it is subject to extremes in temperature, and is a recognised environmentally sensitive zone. 27474
The Cathedral of St Andrew (often referred to as St Andrews Cathedral) is a ruined cathedral in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland. It was built in 1158 and became the centre of the Medieval Catholic Church in Scotland as the seat of the Archdiocese of St Andrews and the Bishops and Archbishops of St Andrews. It fell into disuse and ruin after Catholic mass was outlawed during the 16th-century Scottish Reformation. It is currently a monument in the custody of Historic Environment Scotland. The ruins indicate that the building was approximately 119 m long, and is the largest church to have been built in Scotland.
The cathedral was founded to supply more accommodation than the older church of St. Regulus (St. Rule) afforded. This older church, located on what became the cathedral grounds, had been built in the Romanesque style. Today, there remains the square tower, 33 metres high, and the quire, of very diminutive proportions. On a plan of the town from about 1531, a chancel appears, and seals affixed to the city and college charters bear representations of other buildings attached. To the east is an even older religious site, the Church of St Mary on the Rock, the Culdee house that became a Collegiate Church.
Work began on the new cathedral in 1158 and continued for over a century. The west end was blown down in a storm and rebuilt between 1272 and 1279. The cathedral was finally completed in 1318 and featured a central tower and six turrets; of these remain two at the east and one of the two at the western extremity, rising to a height of 30 metres. On the 5th of July it was consecrated in the presence of King Robert the Bruce, who, according to legend, rode up the aisle on his horse.
A fire partly destroyed the building in 1378; restoration and further embellishment were completed in 1440.
The cathedral was served by a community of Augustinian Canons, the St Andrews Cathedral Priory, which were successors to the Culdees of the Celtic church.
Greyfriar (Franciscan) and Blackfriar (Dominican) friars had properties in the town by the late 15th century and possibly as late as 1518.
The St Andrews Sarcophagus.
In June 1559 during the Reformation, a Protestant mob incited by the preaching of John Knox ransacked the cathedral; the interior of the building was destroyed. The cathedral fell into decline following the attack and became a source of building material for the town. By 1561 it had been abandoned and left to fall into ruin.
At about the end of the sixteenth century the central tower apparently gave way, carrying with it the north wall. Afterwards large portions of the ruins were taken away for building purposes, and nothing was done to preserve them until 1826. Since then it has been tended with scrupulous care, an interesting feature being the cutting out of the ground-plan in the turf. The principal portions extant, partly Norman and partly Early Scottish, are the east and west gables, the greater part of the south wall of the nave and the west wall of the south transept.
At the end of the seventeenth century some of the priory buildings remained entire and considerable remains of others existed, but nearly all traces have now disappeared except portions of the priory wall and the archways, known as The Pends.
This is an HDR shot made up of 5 shots taken in autobraking mode (-1.4Ev; -0.7Ev; 0Ev; +0.7Ev; 1.4Ev). HDR was made with Enfuse. You can read additional technical information in my profile (about section).
LANHESES (Portugal): Paço de Lanheses.
O Paço de Lanheses, também referido como Quinta do Paço (por estar inserido dentro de uma quinta rural e em cujos campos estão implantados os seus vinhedos), é um solar classificado como Monumento de Interesse Público, que se localiza na freguesia de Lanheses, concelho e distrito de Viana do Castelo, em Portugal.
Dentro duma linha tradicional e típica da região Norte de Portugal constitui uma grande casa senhorial, composta por dois corpos desiguais, de dois pisos, com capela adossada ao corpo maior. Terá sido erguida nos finais do século XVI e aumentada no século XVIII da qual mantém a traça dessa época e que está inserida numa extensa propriedade agrícola.
É igualmente apelidado de Paço dos Almadas por pertencer, desde o inicio do século XIX, ao representante dos Almadas (condes de Almada) assim como tinha sido antes de Solar dos Ricaldes por ter visto aqui nascer ou se nobilitar a família com esse nome associado ao apelido, ancestrais dos primeiros por linha feminina a partir dessa data.
The MAN TGA 35.350 is a model of truck, specifically a heavy-duty truck, known for its robust design and performance. It is commonly found as a tipper (dump truck) with an 8x4 configuration, meaning it has four axles, with eight wheels, and drive on four of them. The "350" in the name typically refers to the engine's horsepower, indicating 350 horsepower. These trucks are often used in construction, mining, and other industries requiring heavy hauling and dumping capabilities
This truck seen in Rīga, at the building site.
Happy Truck Thursday!