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In addition to my 9 to 5 job (actually 11 to 7), I do the occasional art show during the summer months. It can be a lot of fun to interact with the public and display my photography. But it is always a lot of work.
In addition to the countless hours actually doing the photography and then the post processing, there are countless more hours devoted to making sure I have plenty of inventory on hand. Needless to say, it is mostly a labor of love. :)
I often get the same questions. One of them is "did you take all these photos?". I can be kind of a sarcastic smartass sometimes, and I what I think to myself and probably have said once or twice is "not on the same day". ;)
Another question I get is "were you underwater for this shot?". It's a reasonable question, and with the Monterey Bay Aquarium nearby, I can understand that some may just want to clarify if I was SCUBA diving or if I took the photo at an aquarium.
But at my last show, I overheard someone say to their friend "these are all from the aquarium". I really didn't know what to think. At first, I was a bit dejected. How could this person think all my shots are from the aquarium? Despite the fact the Monterey Bay Aquarium is one of the world's best, nothing beats the real thing. Trust me, I know firsthand. Maybe he just meant that he saw a lot of the same things at the aquarium. I will never know, as he and his group did not stop and purchase anything or speak to me directly.
Anyway, this shot is from deep in the archives. I had only been shooting for about a year and a half and I was on a night dive along Cannery Row. Back then, I was shooting film and always with my 60mm macro lens.
So here you have it, a wild jelly. No aquariums required.
Nikon N90s
Nikkor 60mm
Kodachrome 25
Aquatica Housing with Flat Port
2 Sea & Sea YS-120 strobes set to TTL
Created for the Award Tree Challenge 136.0 ~ Red and White Fudge
'sad woman' by SaiKawai free to use from pixabay.[License: CC0 Public Domain /Free for commercial use / No attribution required].
All other photographs, layers and textures are my own
Yeah, it's happening, the haters are coming out.
We're Here - Photographs with unreasonably long names
2020.130
In this gorgeous ca. 1970 Grumman Aerospace Corporation artist’s concept, a “Design 532” shuttle orbiter is depicted coming in for a powered landing at KSC, using its deployed forward-mounted air-breathing engines. Amongst other things, note the VAB & full shuttle stack rolling out to Launch Complex 39 in the background.
I assume/am hoping the orbiter’s concrete runway (future SLF?) is just outside of the image to the left. 😉
“DESIGN 532
Design 532 is a quite different response which we believe holds promise for answering the question "Can we limit the program risk?" If Design 518 yields a program requiring a funding pattern as shown in Fig. S-2, we will face a situation which may permit neither the development of the space shuttle system nor the development of its payloads. This consideration as well as the NASA/MSC interest in a smaller, simpler, vehicle which could fly earlier, led to the development of Design 532.
Design 532 is a fully reusable, two-stage space shuttle with an initial low cross-range payload of 12,800 lb. Design 532 is also designed for the high aerodynamic cross-range potential and makes provisions for phased implementation of increased payload and performance capability. This approach permits a stepwise increase in capability and growth while decoupling the technical risk and reducing initial cost. Using engines and electronics derived from existing equipment should assure an earlier first flight. Additional performance becomes available with introduction of the high-pressure orbiter engines with a payload of 22,600 lb.
The Design 532 booster is fully reusable with LOX/RP-1 propellants and five F1 engines. A deliberately conservative approach to the design of the booster minimizes technical risk and cost by avoiding development of large-scale hydrogen tankage. Development savings of several hundred million dollars per year appear possible for this orbiter-booster combination.
The Design 532 orbiter will, at first, use three J2S engines, operate at low cross range, and be fitted with first generation avionics. The baseline Design 532 orbiter is achieved by subsequent installation of the high Isp, high-pressure 250,000 lb. thrust engines. Improved thermal protection systems extend cross range, and second-generation electronics improve operational efficiency. We believe that operational experience with the orbiter will show that for certain missions the air-breathing engines are not required. Therefore, the flying qualities have been tailored to accommodate both engine weight in and engine weight out cg positions. Removal of the air-breathing engines and reduction of on-orbit propellant will increase payload capacity to orbit to 52,700 lb. As a further step to make even heavier up-payloads possible, we have made provisions for a potential non-reusable kick stage. This would raise the payload limit to 76,500 lb. In conjunction with this attention to capacity for heavy payloads, the Design 532 cargo bay has been conceived as a "flat-bed" sized for a 10 ft. diameter payload carried internally, 15 ft. diameter carried semi-submerged, and for 22 ft. diameter carried externally.
To summarize, Design 532 is based on the following considerations:
- Reduced initial funding requirements
- Payload flexibility and growth
- Early initial flight date and initial operational capability"
The above, accompanied by supporting figures & diagrams…and a whole lot more, at:
ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20160012503/downloads/2016001...
Context regarding the referenced Design 518 can also be found within the document, to include size, engine configuration, payload capacity, etc.
Last, but not least, as I cautiously suspected, the work is confirmed to be by Craig Kavafes. Fortunately, enough of his distinctive signature ‘made the cut’.
This shot requires two more people to complete.
No matter how long we waited, no team of four crossed the street together.
So I left it unfinished. Someday the opportunity will come.
5x7 Bausch and Lomb Tessar 1c on 4x5 Burke & James press.
Kodak Xray film Tmat L/RA
R09 Rodinal/1:200/30min
Epson V850 scan
Overcast and Drizzle = required!!
"Without remorse, sorrow, or regret
God has preformed another glorious sunset"
~ Michael Edward Peadro
It requires no special place to shoot good pictures. And sunsets don’t recognize any particular region in this planet to expose their exquisiteness. The signatures of beauty are myriad as any one sunset possesses own idiosyncratic mannerism – happens only once – distinctive and unique.
This sunset was captured at my place in Saujana Utama as I was about to reach home that evening. Thought the colors in the sky were extraordinarily gorgeous when I drove past the main boulevard in the area, not too far from the newly-built mosque.
Owing to my habit of pulling over at an unlikely place, I made do with the mucky landing ground on the grass and managed to have it captured before the sun disappeared. And it didn’t bother me much for having to send my car to carwash as all fours were mud-splattered.
Oh yeah, thanks to the neighbors for honking, I take it as a moral support.
Continuing with our local small town Post Office problems, is this somewhat larger PO in Farnham, Richmond County, Virginia. As you can see there are three parking spaces in front of the PO which abut the main road (on which I am standing to take the picture.) The problem here is obvious to anyone reading the sign which says “No Backing into Highway.”
So here I am pulled head first into my parking spot. I was easily able to get into this larger PO to return my damaged fishing rod. Now it is time to leave, but the sign says I can’t back into the highway. Luckily I have a button marked Levitation on my dashboard which allows my car to rise straight up, turn 90 degrees and plop right down on the highway.
Why not pull into that little alleyway on the left you say. There is a sign that covers that as well. On the left side of the building is a sign that says “No Parking in Driveway.” To the right of the building is room for the Postal Worker’s car and maybe one other.
So here we have a nice size rural Post Office which is too far to walk to, but impossible to get to by car if you need to park. Hmmm! Food for thought.
" Widespread and common throughout Britain and Ireland...The eyespots have single white pupils unlike Gatekeeper which has two and is smaller and more orange with row of tiny white dots on hind underwings... The Meadow Brown is the most abundant butterfly species in many habitats....Hundreds may be seen together at some sites, flying low over the vegetation. Adults fly even in dull weather when most other butterflies are inactive...."
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Copyright ©
All Of My Photographic Images Are Subject To Copyright ! Each Of My Photographs Remain My Intellectual Property ! All Rights Are Reserved And As Such, Do Not Use, Modify, Copy, Edit, Distribute Or Publish Any Of My Photographs ! If You Wish To Use Any Of My Photographs For Any Reproductive Purposes, Or Other Uses, My Written Permission Is Specifically Required, Contact Me Via Flickr Mail !
NANITAS DESIGNA
Heather Eyeshadow
-2KBOM Eyeshadow
-6 different colors
-2 opacity Levels
NANITAS DESIGNA
LM:maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/xLUMINOUS%20HALLWAYx/178/8...
Flickr account: www.flickr.com/photos/199120997@N04/
Primfeed account: www.primfeed.com/nanitas-designa
Flickr group: www.flickr.com/groups/14876864@N25/pool/
Discord to join: discord.gg/Rh5shZWyCp
Nanitas Designa IW group: secondlife:///app/group/5c480507-dc0a-c243-8781-a509115b612e/about (this one is NOT required to join but an option if you want to know what's going on with the store)
LM TO GOTHCORE EVENT: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/CORE/128/241/3501
Lel EvoX Avalon
NANITAS DESIGNA Amber Rosekiss
S-CLUB Bella Fatpack
Earthstones Triple Tear earrings
I found this shoot inside of a hollowed tree trunk .. I guess a little bit of moisture and a firm place to hold on is all that is required for this shoot to grow and flourish.
Although after a few trips for a family of five to the top of Willis (Sears) Tower I'd probably be able to buy a drone with what those trips cost. I hadn't been to the observation deck since the glass floor overlook was installed - the kids loved it, mom not so much.
Requiring physical prowess, valor and a degree of flair, these bull riders cool down after their ride. Bergeron Arena, Davie, Fl, USA
We were on an adventure to explore Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Québec, an archipelago just north of Prince Edward Island. It is reached by a ferry from Souris, PEI. We weren't in a huge rush, so we drove to PEI, visited a nice beach, and stayed in a motel on the north side of the island. Although the CTMA ferry in Souris departs at 1 pm, it was a long drive there from the motel, and the company requires more than an hour early arrival, taking up most of our first morning on the road.
90004 ambles towards Manchester Oxford Road working a light engine move between Trafford Park Freightliner Terminal to Crewe Basford Hall. The head on nature of this location suits the light engine move. Passengers standing on Deansgate station are just about visible to the rear.
I often shoot this scene in low fog and have for many years long before it became a popular spot. On this day, the emerging green hues and dappled lighting were ample for a nice frame.
© All rights reserved — any use, reproduction, or curation requires prior written permission via Flickr mail.
A bumblebee pauses on a lavender flower, extending its proboscis deep into the blossoms to gather nectar. Capturing this quiet moment reminds us that nature's smallest workers perform remarkable tasks every day.
Encountering this beautiful Bumblebee amid the vibrant, soothing shades of lavender was a truly mesmerizing reflection of nature's raw vitality through my macro lens. Driven by this year's abundant rainfall and the subsequent enrichment of the flora across the North Aegean region, witnessing a noticeable increase in the population of these gentle creatures compared to previous years has filled me with immense hope and joy.With their striking, velvet-textured colors and calm, meticulous work ethic, these small creatures are the indispensable and unsung laborers of our ecosystem. They teach us a profound lesson in patience and dedication. We truly need to step closer and observe these tiny friends with greater attention and reverence. After all, the grandest miracles of life do not unfold in haste; they are beautifully hidden within the wings of these silent workers who fulfill their cosmic duties with absolute patience, grace, and deep devotion.
I've captured some unforgettable moments with my camera, and I hope these images bring you even a fraction of the joy I experienced while creating them.
Thank you for visiting my gallery — whether you leave a comment, add a favorite, or simply take a quiet moment to look around. Your presence and support truly mean a great deal to me. I wish you good luck and beautiful light in all your photographic journeys.
© All rights reserved by R. Ertuğ. Please do not use these images without my express written permission. If you are interested in purchasing or licensing any photograph, please feel free to contact me via Flickr Mail.
Tech Notes -
Camera: Nikon Z8 with Really Right Stuff Base Plate
Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S
Hand-held or used with a monopod, always with SPORT VR enabled.
Typical aperture settings: f/5.6 for close detail work and around f/8 for full-body compositions.
All images were processed from RAW and converted to JPEG.
Monopod Setup: Gitzo GM2542 Series 2 4S Carbon Monopod
Really Right Stuff MH-01 Monopod Head
Your comments and constructive criticism are always welcome.
Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to explore. 😊
HELP REQUIRED
My first move from number taking to photography was too black and white using a Hanimex Compact non SLR “point and shoot” camera with a 40mm lens of dubious quality around the edges of the frame.
Unfortunately, I have no records of that time and therefore we have a mystery Class 46 Peak stabled in York sometime in 1974. Any ideas on the identity of the Class 46 gratefully received.
After due consideration I have come to the conclusion that this is 46053.
Locomotive History
Fifty-six Class 46 locomotives were built at Derby Works between 1961 and 1963 with withdrawals commencing in 1978 and all had been taken out of service by 1984. 46053 was delivered as D190 in January 1963 allocated to Gateshead MPD and apart from two spells at Holbeck in 1963/64 and 1967-70 it would spend the rest of its career at Gateshead where it would remain until withdrawn during February 1981. Following withdrawal it was moved to Derby Works and broken up during July 1981
Hanimex Compact, Ilford FP4
Happy Macro Monday!
I've passed on the last few Macro Monday challengers as I've been busy moving. As part of the moving process, I've been assembling a lot of different pieces of furniture, lamps, etc. Figured I could use some of the small hardware to make a heart.
Manufacturer: Dodge, Division of Chrysler Group LLC, Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S.A.
Type: Challenger V8 Series JH Model JH23 2-door Hardtop Coupé
Production time: September 1972 - September 1974
Production outlet: 29,284
Engine: 5898cc Chrysler LA-series V-8 360
Power: 248 bhp / 4.800 rpm
Torque: 434 Nm / 3.200 rpm
Drivetrain: rear wheels
Speed: 203 km/h
Curb weight: 1610 kg
Wheelbase: 110 inch
Chassis: Chrysler E-platform with self-supporting unibody
Steering: recirculating ball and nut
Gearbox: three-speed manual / all synchronized / floor shift
Clutch: 10.5 inch singel dry plate disc
Carburettor: Carter 4-barrel downdraft / Holley dual downdraft
Fuel tank: 68 liter
Electric system: 12 Volts
Ignition system: electronic
Brakes front: hydraulic powered 10.98 inch discs
Brakes rear: hydraulic powered 10 inch self-adjusting drums
Suspension front: independent upper trapezoidal wishbones (A-arm, control arm) with shock mounted tension strut, Trail Link, sway bar, along lying torsion bar + telescopic shock absorbers
Suspension rear: independent sway bar, semi-elliptic leaf springs + telescopic shock absorbers
Rear axle: live semi-floating type
Differential: hypoid
Wheels: 14 inch
Tires: F70 x 14
Options: Chrysler TorqueFlite three-speed automatic transmission, four-speed manual gearbox, a 318 CID (5210cc) V-8 engine, 360 V-8 Axle Performance Package, power steering, power brakes, power windows, Air Conditioning, rear window defogger, shaker hood scoop (standard on Rallye models), radio, sun-roof, leather seats, two-tone colouring
Special:
- This first generation 2-door Coupé body Pony Car (1969-1974) was designed by Carl Cameron, built on the Chrysler E-platform (like the Plymouth Barracuda) and assembled in Hamtramck (Michigan) and in Los Angeles (California).
- Everything changed at Dodge (and all car manufacturers) when the 1973 oil crisis hit the United States. The government passed legislation (1972) requiring engines to have the ability to run on low lead or no lead gasoline. Government safety and emission regulations, and increasing insurance premiums meant the horsepower rating and size for all manufacturers was on the decline.
- Engine power was now rated in SAE net horsepower, meaning theoretical horsepower with all accessories in place.
- So this 2+2-seater fixed-head Hardtop Coupé was for now the last series Challenger, only available with two detuned V-8 engines.
- Dodge re-used the Challenger name again for its second generation Challenger from 1978 until 1983.
- They were available as this Hardtop Coupé and as 2-door Rallye Hardtop Coupé (replaced the R/T series in 1972) with a faux brake vent on the fenders and a shaker hood scoop (1972-1974: 16,437 units built).
When heading along the A82, I've rarely resisted the temptation to stop here & take a few snaps. It almost feels like you're cheating, though, as such uncompromisingly wild vistas usually require at least a little walking for full appreciation; this arresting view can be viewed without leaving your car. My little Micra was barely 20 metres behind me, here.
Ex B&O caboose, no couplers, no trucks, sits close to Martins in Connellsville, Pa. A friend from the area says it also used to be a store that sold CD's. It's in sad shape now.
Popularly known as the "Skull and Crossbones Nebula, NGC 2467 is an active star-forming region in the constellation Puppis. The presence of large hydrogen gas clouds are a key ingredient required for the creation of new stars.
Observations of the many stars in NGC 2467 suggest that they may be more a superposition of loose groups of stars at different distances than a coherent open cluster of stars energizing the nebula. I guess it really depends on one's perspective in the universe, but from here, I think it looks awesome.
If you look towards the right off centre, there is what appears to be a bright gas wall. The newly formed stars are slowing devouring this glowing rift. Moving towards the centre, there are many dark dust lanes obscuring parts of the nebula. Within these areas, the process of forming new stars is taking place. Several Bok globules can be seen as well (these are dark globule structures). They are very similar to those found in the Running Chicken Nebula. Infrared detectors can cut through the dust in these areas and create amazing images of the process of newborn stars. Unfortunately, my camera does not allow me to look into these areas.
My aims with this project were fairly simple. I wanted to highlight the dust lanes and bok globulus within the nebula. These areas simply add a layer of depth into the final result. The RGB palette is my preference in astrophotography. But I really wanted the extra details available in the narrowband data that I captured. Merging such different data sets into a single image that resembles a traditional RGB rendition can be challenging. Hopefully, the result isn’t too far off base and pleasing to look at.
Equipment Details:
•10 Inch RCOS fl 9.1
•Astro Physics AP-900 Mount
•SBIG STL 11000m
•FLI Filter Wheel
•Astrodon LRGB Filters
•Baader Planetarium H-alpha 7nm Narrowband-Filter
•Baader Planetarium OIII 8.5nm Narrowband-Filter
•Baader Planetarium SII 8.0nm Narrowband-Filter
Exposure Details
•Red 16X450 2X2
•Green 16X450 2X2
•Blue 16X450 2X2
•Lum 62X900
•Ha 26X1800
•SII 30X1800
•OIII 28X1800
Total Time: 63.5 hours
© All rights reserved — any use, reproduction, or curation requires prior written permission via Flickr mail.
On an early Easter Monday bank holiday morning, I set off towards Bradgate Park under a biting wind, with my car showing just 4°C. Despite the cold, the land was clearly awakening with spring, quietly signaling renewal in every detail.
As I stepped into the park under the soft morning light, there was a rare stillness—no people, just nature beginning its day. Instead of the usual robin, I was greeted by a Eurasian chaffinch foraging on the ground. Around me, small birds were busily flying back and forth, carrying nesting materials in their beaks into tree hollows.
Continuing my walk, I noticed a group of fallow deer on my right. Among them, a young deer fixed its curious gaze on me, and I believe I captured that exact moment of connection in a single frame. Between us flowed the River Lin, its subtle elevation difference and fresh greenery adding depth to the scene.
As I observed the group, something remarkable caught my attention in the distance. Eurasian jackdaw were landing on the deer, pulling out loose fur and flying off to line their nests in ancient tree hollows. This interaction seemed less about parasite removal and more about building soft nesting material.
I waited patiently as the light shifted and the sun rose higher, creating a beautiful backlit background. Finally, the moment came—a female deer allowing a jackdaw to pull fur from her back. I captured this frame at ISO 4000 and 1/1250 sec.
It’s also worth noting that the deer are currently shedding their winter coats, which the jackdaws are clearly taking advantage of. Interestingly, not all deer tolerated this behavior—some females resisted, perhaps due to discomfort.
Nature’s balance and these subtle interactions continue to fascinate me, often leading me to reflect more deeply on the connections within the wild.
I hope this story adds another layer to the image and helps convey the moment beyond the frame.
Wishing you all a peaceful and joyful Easter Monday.
I've captured some unforgettable moments with my camera, and I hope you feel the same joy viewing these images as I did while shooting them.
© All rights belong to R. Ertuğ. Please refrain from using these images without my express written permission.
If you are interested in purchasing or licensing them, feel free to contact me via Flickr mail.
Lens & support:
Nikon AF-S TC-14E III — hand-held or monopod, SPORT VR enabled.
Aperture set to f/8, full focal length.
All images were converted from RAW to JPEG.
During long walks, I use either a Nikon cross-body strap or a monopod.
Monopod setup:
Gitzo GM2542 Series 2 4S Carbon Monopod
Really Right Stuff MH-01 Monopod Head (Standard Lever)
Really Right Stuff LCF-11 Replacement Foot for Nikon AF-S 500mm f/5.6E PF
Your comments and constructive criticism are always appreciated.
Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to explore! 😊
Salão novinho merece foto nova. Não concordam!?
Me arrumando para lavar os cabelos de uma amiga... 💖 -̖́
Brand new salon deserves new photo. Do not agree!?
Getting ready to wash a friend's hair... 💖 -̖́
Moving patches of dazzling light on Morecambe Bay.
40 second exposures to take out the sparkles on the water and soften the edges on the distant patches.
Photographing these changing patterns leaves me wondering how on earth I'd decide when to press the shutter if I were using a 5x4 film camera.
The standard exposure required 8000th second, but 16 stops worth of NDs and stopping down a bit more than usual gave me what I was after.
This required a strenuous trek to see. Evidently this is a specialty cloud forest hummer of the Andes. A Lifer. Sendero La Herreria. Refugio del Tororoi. Guayabetal.
I am fortunate enough it seems to have a job that requires traveling. The camera goes where I go and what I see can stay with me. I make time to find solitude and peace in my travels. This was taken this week at "Martha's Vineyard" after todays work was completed. Wonderful area to visit and I plan on going back soon.
View in Black
Listen here to "Old Cape Cod"...... youtu.be/snJZfz96CyY
I only required three pom poms to make my necklace and yet my obsessive desire to make the perfect pom pom resulted in erm....many.
i did a little blog post here if you're interested...
The photo group that I traveled with was required (with good reason) to be packed and ready to pull out of camp at 6:15 am. Our guides wanted us to be at the right position, facing the correct way when the sun came up over the Maasai Mara savannah. The guides from every camp shared information over their radios about the latest sightings of each animal.
This level of cooperation assured each traveler the best opportunity to witness something incredible.
For greater detail, please click on the image.
66769 League Managers Association / Paul Taylor Our Inspiration passes Three Horse Shoes (between March and Whittlesea), working 4M23 10.46 Felixstowe North - Birch Coppice. [Pole, 5/6 sections (~6.8m)]
After grabbing a bite to eat in March following the late morning session at Manea station, I came here for the afternoon's westbound freights, although I'd already missed the first (which had a normal GBRf 66 on it). I'd been told this loco was "absolutely pristine", so wanted to make the effort to get a shot that included a good view of the loco. After this, I changed to a 135mm lens to do something different, from a lower level and more head-on.
High cloud made the light slightly soft (as reflected in the EXIF data), and this required a slight tickle in Photoshop.
Visit Brian Carter's Non-Transport Pics to see my photos of landscapes, buildings, bridges, sunsets, rainbows and more.
Snowflakes come in many more forms than you can imagine – including the “fuzzy caterpillar” variety! View large!
At warmer temperatures (just under the freezing point of water), snowflakes can grow into columns and needles. This type of growth is common, but many of the snowflakes are too small or distorted by the time they reach the ground, as the ground temperatures are likely warmer than the temperatures in the sky. Occasionally we see a storm that produces very long column-type snowflakes that take on a mind of their own. There are a few things happening here worth discovering!
All of the lines running off the column are plates, should show that the snowflake entered colder temperatures or higher humidity. These plates don’t just randomly start growing off the sides, though the snowflake would naturally grow one plate on either end. In the middle, these plates require a “nucleation site”, some deformation in the surface of the main column for which a new crystal structure can start to grow. In this case, the main column likely encounter some super-cooled water droplets that were still liquid, but when making contact with the column froze on impact. These little additions would be exactly what you need to start new plate-like growth at each point of impact.
That idea is further supported by the balls of ice you see along this crystal. The term here is “sleet”, or frozen water drops / pellets. This happens when the temperature of super-cooled water drops continues to decrease or some turbulence causes them to freeze solid without impacting a snowflake. Sleet isn’t that common, we saw it only twice last year. These tiny pellets of ice adorn the larger structure; many of them could probably be shaken off, but some might have begun to fuse to the crystal structure itself.
All of these conditions together are quite unusual, and with all the snowflakes I’ve photographed I’ve only seen a small handful of weather systems produce anything remotely like this. While all snowflakes are unique, some definitely fall outside of what we think is possible!
Photographing these snowflakes is quite a challenge. With so many shifts in depth and overlapping elements, I can usually add an hour to the editing process when putting one of these together. It’s worth it, however! I love sharing the curiosities of winter, and this one is certainly an enigma.
For more weird and wonderful snowflakes and how they form, check out Sky Crystals: www.skycrystals.ca/book/ - it will also detail every photographic technique I use for “regular” snowflakes, as well as these unusual skyborne creations that require a slightly different approach. It’s never been more affordable with the current US exchange rate for folks south of the 49th parallel!
Of all the times through the years I have been down to the sea to take winter pictures, I think this was the fastest one to make my fingers as good as useless.
"Only" - 16 C (it was over -40 C up north last night) today but a stubborn wind that made it feel so much colder.
Beach of HUS, Hanko, southernmost town in Finland.
(picture taken with the phone's camera)