Getting Better All the Time
View allAll Photos Tagged rewards
Waiting for a train ! On a serious note the railways offer fruitful rewards for these critters in the form of many small rodents that make their homes under the sleepers.
What better time than December to say Thank You to all the bloggers who choose to make their blog photos at Frogmore and have done so for 3 years!! See all the Rewards details here ---> www.flickr.com/groups/frogmore/discuss/72157721915496301?new
One of the rewards of getting up in the middle of the night shooting a city is being able to scout a perfect location that will have a subject and composition for the sunrise using one of the many available phone tools for determining in which direction and when the sun will rise.
Captured here in the early light is the Castello di Trani or Castello Svevo the defensive fortress built by the Swabian Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II who dotted the Adriatic and Mediterranean coastline with defensive fortresses to protect his Sicilian empire, today it is a small museum and event location as well as the subject of many photo’s.
The castle is a design you would find in the Holy land as a Crusader fortress and itself was based on Roman castrum designs, the courtyard clock tower was added in a 19th century conversion to a prison which remained its function until the 1970’s when it was taken over to be used as a museum.
I took this on Sept 18, 2016 with my D750 and Nikon 24-85 f3.5-4.5 Lens at 52mm 1/25 sec f/9 ISO 200 processed in LR, PS +Lumenzia, Topaz , and DXO
Disclaimer: My style is a study of romantic realism as well as a work in progress
To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter; to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird’s nest or a wildflower in spring — these are some of the rewards of the simple life. —John Burroughs. Copyright © Kim Toews and Kim Toews Photography. Please contact Kim Toews for purchasing and publishing options.
Custom prints available.
Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) on the River Bradford. Second weekend that I’ve see the Kingfisher’s by the River Bradford. Such an exciting treat.
On my way to the cabin this year, I spent an evening in Banff, Alberta. Up at 4:10am to catch the morning sunrise, this was one of the many pleasures and rewards.
From Wikipedia.
The Krampus (German: [ˈkʁampʊs]) is a horned anthropomorphic figure who, in the Central and Eastern Alpine folkloric tradition, is said to accompany Saint Nicholas on visits to children during the night of 5 December (Krampusnacht; "Krampus Night"), immediately before the Feast of St. Nicholas on 6 December. In this tradition, Saint Nicholas rewards well-behaved children with small gifts, while Krampus punishes badly behaved ones with birch rods.
The origin of the figure is unclear; some folklorists and anthropologists have postulated that it may have pre-Christian origins.
Echeveria flowers take different forms, this type would fit in the shepherd's crook style due to the distinctive shape.
I have 2 with yellow flowers,
This one was from 3 years ago taken with my Nikon D80, Nikkor f/1.4 50mm lens.
www.flickr.com/photos/komotini49/13056425735/in/photolist...
The Guardian of the Bark
The Great Spotted Woodpecker ( Dendrocopos major ) — hidden among branches, yet always present.
Its steady rhythm is purposeful: each tap searches for insects beneath the bark, helping keep the forest healthy.
While winter rests, the woodpecker works.
It doesn’t demand attention — but if you slow down, it rewards you.
Čuvar kore
Veliki djetlić ( Dendrocopos major ) – skriven među granama, ali uvijek prisutan.
Njegov ritam nije slučajan: svaki udarac kljuna traži kukce ispod kore i čuva šumu zdravom.
U zimskoj tišini, dok čovjek miruje, on radi svoje.
Ne traži pažnju – ali ako zastaneš i pogledaš, nagradi te prizorom.
Western Columbine, Wild Sky Wilderness, Washington
Some hikes roll smoothly along to their intended grand destination, and others serve as a gentle reminder that beauty can be still be found when things don't go according to plan. Yesterday's hike was one of the latter :-)
With an intended destination of a lovely waterfall plunging into an even lovelier pool below, I set out on a damp and drizzly morning for the Quartz Creek trail in the Wild Sky Wilderness (a wilderness area I have wanted to hike just because the name!) Progress toward the trailhead came to an abrupt halt however, at a large washout on the forest road that would have required a serious off-roading vehicle to pass. It was early enough in that day that I could convince myself adding five miles of forest road hiking to make an 11 mile roundtrip instead of six, would be perfectly fine (!!), since the extra five miles would probably go pretty quickly.
So I laced up my boots and headed up the road, which turned out to be a wonderful (uphill) walk along the beautiful Skykomish River as it noisily roared and plunged through rocks and off towering cliffs. There were many wildflowers along the way, including my first Columbine sightings of the year, some purple penstemon clinging to a rocky cliff, and several patches of bleeding hearts in a shade of deep purple I had not seen before. It was also wonderfully quiet since there were no vehicles beyond the washout and very few other hikers.
I finally reached the actual trailhead and after a short detour down a different trail to take some photos from a bridge that crosses the river at a dramatic viewpoint, I was on my way to my original destination. Or so I thought! As I made made my way up the first part of the trail I noticed an occasional patch of snow off to the side, which was not too alarming or unusual as those often linger in shaded areas well into summer and recent trail reports from nearby hikes had put the snow level at least 1000-1500 feet above the elevation I was hiking. But then those seemingly innocuous patches started to become more frequent until suddenly the entire trail was covered in knee deep snow!
At that point for the sake of safety I decided to turn around given the snow conditions, steep slope of the hillside, number of fallen trees along the trail that required maneuvering over and around, and being on a trail I was unfamiliar with. So I headed back down the trail and road, and hiking in the reverse direction was treated to intermittent views of the Central Cascade peaks as they emerged from the clouds and fog, only to disappear again minutes later.
Someday I will return to hike to that waterfall, but on a day when little went as planned, it was still a hike filled with beautiful sights and sounds of nature, and for that I am very grateful.
A nice reward for taking the dogs out for a walk. We arrived just in time at our turn around point for a gorgeous sunset.
Taken from a night hide at Zimanga game reserve in South Africa. Having spent one 18 hour stint through the night in a hide with only sightings of Cape Buffalo (interesting as they are) it was with some nervousness that we embarked on another long night shift, but this time the rewards were greater and it made another sleepless night worthwhile
For Macro Mondays 'Sport' theme these are some of the medals I got for running events. As I'm pretty obsessed with running, I've got a whole shoe box full of them. These three were for the Endure 24 event - an ultra marathon event I have completed three times, most recently at the beginning of this month, running 50 miles in 24 hours.
Tulips in my garden still waiting for warmth to open. Not my ideal POV but my better half has been busy digging up our back lawn, putting fresh soil from another part of the garden, rolling it out ready to reseed it so I daren’t even kneel on that.....yet...
Blair outfit bought mostly with 400L$ Rewards giveaway at Vision. Picture taken at Angel Manor, The Rose Theater
At sunset a regal dairy barn sits empty like a king without a kingdom. After retirement, many people look back on years of travel and sacrifice for their career and regard their hard work for a company only as a reminder of family loss.
Here is another photo from the Tops of 2018 folder that I'm just now adding to FB. This is the caption I wrote at the time:
After getting the photos in this post:
facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1996662910633820&id...
After getting those shots the whole gang of Doug Boudrow, John Kittredge, Tyler Varnum, Vincent Colombo, and whoever else I'm missing moved down to the Ludlow area to shoot the foliage train from Chester coming up the hill. We did the same, but then made the risky decision to chase east a bit cause there was one shot I really wanted with the last Green Mountain painted geep on the rear.
We weren't sure if we could get it and then still double back west before the 263/slurry freight started down hill.
Well, as you can see, we did.
This shot posted a while ago if you missed it: flic.kr/p/2i5muQ4
But if we hadn't and missed the shot of 263 round the curve at Okemo in perfect storm light I think Doug would have lost it!
This is the shot I took the risk for. Green Mountain GP9 804 rides the rear of the 10 AM foliage train heading back east downgrade on the former Rutland mainline to Bellows Falls. The old Rutland bridge over the Black River in the village of Proctorsville just east of Depot St is so cool to frame a train in with its build date cut out in the top of the truss frame.
Cavendish, Vermont
Saturday October 20, 2018
One from last winter, a rewarding visit to Langley Park.
Processed in Lightroom and NIK Collection Silver EFEX Pro 2.
Image info:- Nikon D750 with Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8 @ f/6.3, ISO 400, shutter 1/1250th focal length 24mm. Hoar frost in the trees along with mist made for a chilly December morning.
Excerpt from www.littlestepsasia.com/hong-kong/shop/shops-for-parents/...:
Santa's Magic Factory
Get ready for festive fun at ifc mall's Oval Atrium, which will become Santa’s Magic Toy Factory from November 21, 2024, to January 1, 2025! Visitors of all ages can step into the role of Santa’s elf helpers, engaging in interactive activities like filling out their Naughty or Nice Reports, assembling toys, and capturing memorable photos with Santa. With a partnership with the Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF, you can join the 'Santa Meet & Greet' for HK$150, or donate HK$50 for access to an interactive game and a souvenir. Plus, enjoy Winter Shopping Rewards and live performances throughout the season—don’t miss this magical holiday adventure!
“Life isn't as magical here, and you're not the only one who feels like you don't belong, or that it's better somewhere else. But there ARE things worth living for. And the best part is you never know what's going to happen next.”
― O.R. Melling
So... if you read what I wrote with my most recent clown photo... I did just that. I put on a long sleeved shirt (in 90 degree heat with 90% humidity... and later (when it was already too late) realized it was one of those COLD Gear shirts.... designed to keep you WARM in cold winter weather... it was thin and lightweight... I didn't know.... can you say "heat stroke"? UGH!!) and went out with a machete and pruning shears to bushwack a trail to the abandoned section of the farm where I took the clown photos... and then proceeded to cut away the weeds and trim a tree that was covering another window there. My reward for my misguided prioritization was uncovering TWO new windows to shoot (and sweating off a few pounds... yey!) I won't bother to list all the things that I SHOULD have been doing, that are ... STILL ... undone. So, I can now cross "yard work" off of my "To Do" list ... afterall, I never did specify that the work had to be done in MY yard.
Works for me!
After 75km of hiking during a 5 days Trek, it could have been easy to miss sunrise. But battling my tiredness was rewarded with this amazing morning glow!
Please view large using the new Flickr interface or Better View
Technical: Nikon D3x, CPL, 0.45x GND, 25s at f16, 36mm
This is a very special place tucked deep in the interior of Iceland and taken at "sunset", or midnight. I spent the night here and although the area is quite barren it is photographically speaking one of tremendous reward.
The subterranean activity of this thermal haven allows for wonderful long exposures as thermal mist seamlessly blends with the clouds leaving an impression of timelessness. At least that is my perception.
Conditions were extremely bizarre at the specific point I went for this shot and which make it different from a similar post At the beginning. Dancing pink hues mixed with the clouds, the steam and some reflected light. Wind speeded the movement and rising fumes heavily obscured the background. Some openings let the deep blue sky paint other areas. Such that as much as the result is intriguing it was impossible to foresee the final image as opposed to my other shot. Rewards come in different ways.
This picture is also an introduction to a future post, the subject of which is easy to guess. What I like about this image is the absence of any reference, be it time or place. It takes me to a place I have never known, back to Earth's fundamentals, it's Elemental nature. I have possibly dreamt of this image and associating what can not have been, found a sanctuary here after being pursued by some Tyrannosaurus Rex. I just don't know if this was a good or a bad dream.
Please take the time to leave a comment, an impression, a thought, always appreciated.
Check out the set as it grows:
- "I remember the mist of our ancient past"
What do you think?
This is just one of those places that you discover something new every time you go, and the place just keeps calling you back... and then rewards you for coming. I had never even noticed this organ before. I had to climb over piles of chairs to get to it.
And this morning… I was rewarded for all of my hard work in getting this wreath up. I woke up to a light coating of snow…. the icing on the cake !!! I stopped on my way to work to snap a quick cell phone shot before the snow melts. I wait every year for this! My heart is happy! ❤️❄️❤️
" A Break Between Takes...(see the photo' shoot below)..."
" I Found That This Grey Squirrel Would Climb a Tree ? Situated On A Small Island In' Fairy Glen ', Sefton Park and Would Leap Across The Glen Stream ( Spooking All The Faries In The Process) To a Large Conifer Tree On The Main, Park Land...It Would Then Scurry Down The Trunk Of The Conifer To Collect Some Of The ' Monkey Nuts ' (Peanuts) That I Distribute In That Area For The Surrounding Squirrels (About a Dozen) To Eat / Collect..."
" Sciurus carolinensis, Common Name Eastern Gray Squirrel or Grey Squirrel depending on region, is a tree squirrel in the genus Sciurus...It is native to Eastern North America, where it is the most prodigious and ecologically essential natural forest regenerator....The eastern grey squirrel in Europe is regarded as an invasive species..."
*
*
*
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 !
There is a long story to this photo so I hope you are sitting comfortably with a cup of tea or something a bit stronger :-)
The fields behind our house have been bought by a new farmer who intends to grow just salad stuffs but as he wanted to get them planted quickly he planted wheat in all but a few. The land is transected by a road and the fields on the far side are more picturesque as they are gently undulating. As the wheat ripened this year I hoped to get a good shot of them reaping in these fields with the north downs in the background. I walked Brac over there every day as the time approached but on a day when I walked in the morning, they managed to cut all of that side in the afternoon! They must have had several machines going at once to get it done. Anyway, there were still the fields on my side of the road and as our house backs right onto them I would be sure to hear if any reaping was going on.
The weather turned bad from that point on. Barely a day went by without some amount of rain or if not it was damp. No reaping could take place until the crop dried out or it would rot. As the weeks went by a black mould started to appear on the husks so something had to happen soon. Finally we had a dry day followed by another but it was not until that night that the combines moved in. I laid in bed listening to them working through the night.
The forecast was for more rain in the morning. When I woke up it was raining and had been for some time. I took Brac over the fields and was relieved to see that there were still two fields they had not managed to get done. I was still in with a chance.
Ok, so back to walking Brac over the fields every day with camera in hand only now, as the fields left were the least interesting photographically, I was only taking my little sony P&S camera as I didn't feel it was worth the effort of carrying my very heavy D300. Another week went by and nothing happened. Then, one day I went out with my Sony in my pocket and as I entered the fields I could see the dust rising in the distance. They were reaping. At last I could get some shots. I walked over to the field they were working on and got my camera ready only to discover I had left the memory stick in my PC! AAAAH! That's it, it's just not meant to be. I finished Brac's walk in disgust.
When I got in I thought about it some more. that was likely to be my last best chance of getting such a shot as from now on they will only be growing onions and lettuce over there. I had to go back. I grabbed my D300 and headed out knowing that they were 2/3rds finished when I saw them last.
Brac couldn't believe his luck; two walks straight after each-other!
As I headed out in a hurry now a neighbour who's wife had not been well for some time was in his garden. I knew it would be rude of me to just pass by so I had to stop and ask after her. It was a longer conversation than I really wanted but what could I do?
Finally I head off into the fields. By the time I got to where the combine was there was only a few strips of wheat left to reap. No matter, it would be enough. The tractor was parked at the end of the rows and the combine was going to it to unload the grain into its trailer as the field was quite small so no need for them to work in formation. I positioned myself at the other end of a row and waited for the combine to come towards me. As it approached I started snapping moving around for a different angle. I than saw the combine extend its arm and to my express delight the tractor pulled up along side. They decided to transfer the grain in formation and I'm sure it was for my benefit. To make matters even better the sun decided to poke it face out for those few minutes too. When they got to the end of the row the combine driver gave me a wave as he turned to go back.
If I had remembered to check the memory stick in my Sony I'd never have got these shots. I guess it was meant to be after all.