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Transmission towers during sunset in Beijing, China!
OLYMPUS PEN-F
LEICA LEITZ ELMARIT R 35mm f/2.8 e55 lens
“Birds and fish, do they truly know?
I, content with my place in the world,
Gently drift, perhaps not as others do,
Finding joy in my own way.”
-- Su Shi
In creating this digital composition, I wanted to explore the tension between our urban constructions and the cosmic immensity that hangs above us each night. Starting with a photograph of a modern building in Toulouse whose rigorous geometry struck me, I imagined this edifice opening like a curtain onto the celestial spectacle.
The black and white treatment allowed me to unify these two distinct realities - human architecture and the lunar body - into the same visual language where only forms, textures, and light matter. I deliberately accentuated the perfect symmetry to create this sensation of precarious balance between order and chaos, between the constructed and the uncontrollable.
What particularly interested me in this fusion was playing with scales and perceptions: how a building, imposing at our human scale, can suddenly seem minuscule against a crescent moon which, despite its modest apparent size in our sky, actually represents an immense celestial body.
Through this creation, I sought to evoke that vertiginous sensation we sometimes feel when, walking through our gridded and planned cities, we suddenly look up at the night sky and become aware of our tiny place in the universe. It's this collision between our everyday world and the cosmic infinite, between the urban grid and the natural curve of the moon, that I wanted to capture in this image.
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“This artistic manifestation, with its rigorous denial of chromatic texture or overt symbolism, offers a compelling deconstruction of the human condition within the post-modern zeitgeist. The total absence of visual or sensory components, and refusal to allude to the socio-political struggles of our era, reveals a deep-seated existential angst that permeates all of contemporary culture. By challenging the viewer's preconceived notions and subverting traditional artistic tropes, this work invites a profound introspection into the core of our being, forcing us to confront the inherent contradictions and uncertainties of our existence. Its sublime beauty and minimal conceptual framework makes it a truly transcendent example of contemporary art, pushing the boundaries of artistic expression and offering a new paradigm for the future of creative endeavour.”
Professor Ursula Christensen, University of the Arts, New York
For more AI inspired micro stories please visit neural-narrative.blogspot.com/
This male kōlea is about two weeks from his annual migration to the Alaskan tundra. Looking fat and dapper in his breeding plumage, he will somehow sense the time to congregate with other previously solitary kōlea and depart collectively. The trip spans over approximately 3,000 miles of open ocean requiring a rigorous, energy intensive effort of 3 to 4 days and nights of nonstop flight at elevation ranging from 3,000 to 16,000 feet. Superb navigators with territorial fidelity, kōlea use the stars and the earth’s magnetic field to find their way over the featureless ocean to the same small patch of territory every year. They may use the earth’s magnetic field visually with the magnetoreception molecules of cryptochrome in their retina.
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I've photographed this super-sized '5' at the Make Architects Broadgate building before so I was surprised to see recently that they've installed a screen within the number. I imagine this will look quite good at dusk as it casts coloured light on its surroundings.
Click here to see more of my shots of London Architecture : www.flickr.com/photos/darrellg/albums/72157635041185106
For anyone that has any shots of this building or any others by MAKE Architects it would be great if you could join the group I started for their work and add your shots : www.flickr.com/groups/1439695@N24/
From MAKE Architects website : "Our world-class headquarters for financial services firm UBS have raised the bar for office and workplace design. We worked with developer British Land to design a functional, pragmatic space that allows UBS to consolidate its London workforce for the first time. The result – a 13-storey ‘groundscraper’ – is visually innovative and represents a powerful vote of confidence in the City. Furthermore, it’s become a catalyst for regeneration in the Broadgate area.
We based our bold design on the form of a perfectly machined metal object – a symbol of the building’s internal function. The main facade is primarily constructed from stainless steel, which unifies the surface, establishes a strong presence, and reflects its bespoke nature and single occupier. This sense of robustness is rigorously carried through to the detailing, materiality and finishes, reflecting an architectural language of quality and precision. Inside, an ultra-rational arrangement of the structure and cores provides four large trading floors that can accommodate up to 3,000 desks, plus seven levels of offices."
© D.Godliman
Edinburgh's New Town is a masterpiece of city planning, built in several stages between 1767 and around 1850. It retains much of its original neo-classical and Georgian period architecture to this day.
These facades, seen in the early morning winter light, are located on India Street, near the 'village within the city' - Stockbridge. The rigorous order of the architecture can clearly be read, as can the sloping topography of the street in question, reflected in the stepping of the different plots in the longitudinal direction.
© Neil Mair 2018. All rights reserved.
Use of my images without my explicit written permission is an infringement of copyright law.
Tagged with #scotland #edinburgh #city #urban #capital #architecture #indiastreet #uk #visitscotland #buildings #stone #history #worldheritagesite #newtown #stockbridge #winter #morning #light
Featured on Flickr Explore #53 on 2021-10-26
The serval (Leptailurus serval) is a wild cat native to Africa.
The serval is a slender, medium-sized cat that stands 54-62 cm (21-24 in) at the shoulder and weighs 9-18 kg (20-40 lb). It is characterised by a small head, large ears, a golden-yellow to buff coat spotted and striped with black, and a short, black-tipped tail. The serval has the longest legs of any cat relative to its body size.
The serval is a solitary carnivore and active both by day and at night. It preys on rodents, particularly vlei rats, small birds, frogs, insects, and reptiles, using its sense of hearing to locate prey. It leaps over 2 m (6 ft 7 in) above the ground to land on the prey on its forefeet, and finally kills it with a bite on the neck or the head.
This beautiful Serval was out on the prowl late in the evening when it started pouring. It shook itself rigorously trying get rid of the rain water and dry itself. Captured during a photography safari on a late evening game drive in Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya.
Chhath Puja is a four-day Hindu festival dedicated to the Sun God (Surya Dev) and Chhathi Maiya, who is his wife and is also known as Usha. It is one of the most significant festivals celebrated primarily in the Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, as well as in some parts of Nepal.
Rituals: The festival involves rigorous fasting, sometimes without water, and performing rituals at riverbanks or other water bodies.
Worship: It is unique because it is the only festival where both the setting and rising sun are worshipped.
Offerings: Devotees carry offerings in bamboo baskets, which include traditional items like thekua, sugarcane, and fruits.
There will be more rigorous testing tomorrow - a LOT of blank frames.
Update: it looks like this boy is going back to Japan.
Excerpt from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C5%8D-ji:
Tō-ji Temple (東寺, Tō-ji, "East Temple"), also known as Kyō-ō-gokoku-ji (教王護国寺, The Temple for the Defense of the Nation by Means of the King of Doctrines) is a Shingon Buddhist temple in the Minami-ku ward of Kyoto, Japan.
Founded in 796, it was one of the only three Buddhist temples allowed in the city at the time it became the capital of Japan. As such it has a long history, housing treasures and documents from the early Heian period and the Tang dynasty, and with buildings in its complex covering the Kamakura, Muromachi, Momoyama, and Edo periods. Five of these buildings have been designated National Treasures in two different categories: the Lotus Flower Gate (rengemon), the Miei Hall (mieidō), the Golden Hall (kondō) and the five-storied Pagoda (gojūnotō) (temple buildings) and the Kanchiin Guest Hall (kanchiin kyakuden) (residences).
Tō-ji was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994, as part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto.
The five-storied Pagoda (五重塔, gojūnotō) of Tō-ji dates from 1643 (Edo period), when it was rebuilt by order of the third Tokugawa Shōgun, Iemitsu. The original pagoda was built in the 9th century, but it was destroyed and rebuilt four times before reaching its current state. It was designated a National Treasure in 1952.
The pagoda stands 54.8 meters (180 feet) high, and is the tallest wooden tower in Japan. Entrance into the pagoda itself is permitted only on special occasions, but it is usually open and the interior can be seen from the outside. It houses relics, sculptures, and paintings. At ground level, there are statues of four Buddhas facing different directions.
The Kondo or Golden Hall is the main hall of the temple and contains a statue of Yakushi from 1603.
The Miedo is dedicated to Kobo Daishi, also called Kukai, the temple's founder. It stands on the location of his original residence. The hall is opened on the 21st of each month when a memorial service is held for Kukai.
The grounds feature a garden and pond, in which turtles and koi swim. The grounds also house an academically rigorous private school, Rakunan, from which many students are sent to elite universities.
Tre Cime di Lavaredo (Drei Zinnen), Dolomites, Italy.
Shot taken on a night a bit veiled by clouds, but enhanced by a lovely moonlight.
I do not know why, but every time I visit this area (rigorously at night and in solitary) I always feel as being in front of three huge tombstones, a feeling that creates an atmosphere and a unique charm.
Mystical monuments of another planet, or in another planet... considering that the earthly dimension, as is commonly know, here vanishes completely, leaving total space to the mystery of the unknown.
_____________________
©Roberto Bertero, All Rights Reserved. This image is not available for use on websites, blogs or other media without the explicit written permission of the photographer.
In addition to managing relations with China, Đinh Bộ Lĩnh energetically reformed the administration and the armed forces of Vietnam in order to strengthen the foundations of the new state. He established a royal court and a hierarchy of civil and military servants. Đinh Bộ Lĩnh also instituted a rigorous justice system in which treason was punishable by being cooked in a vat of boiling oil or by being fed to a caged tiger, so as to provide a deterrent to all who threatened the new order in the kingdom!!!
The gatekeeper or hedge brown (Pyronia tithonus) is a species of butterfly found across Europe. Named for its rigorous patrol of hedges and woodland rides, the gatekeeper butterfly is a prime pollinator.
"How sarah Ponsonby and Lady Eleanor Butler won the hearts of local people and turned a simple cottage into a fantasy of oak carvings and stained glass..." (Plas Newydd Leaflet)
"Les jardiniers sont passés." // "The gardeners have just gone." (PIERRE à VANCOUVER / www.flickr.com/photos/sofarsocute/ )
"Un jardin "maitrisé"." // "A garden that is really under control !"(FLORENCE.V / www.flickr.com/photos/flo59/)
"Un art tout dans une géométrie rigoureuse, superbe !" // "Such an artistic rigorous geometry. Superb !" (TRISKELFLEUR / www.flickr.com/photos/131430984@N02/)
Valle dei Templi - Tempio di Era (Giunone).
Il nome del tempio è, come quello di altri monumenti agrigentini, convenzionale.
Nell’architettura di questo tempio, eretto nell’angolo di sud-est della valle dei templi a 120 metri s.l.m., è evidente la preoccupazione di una perfezione artistica rigorosa.
L’edificio, che è rivolto, come gli altri, ad oriente, ha dimensioni notevoli: l’alta piattaforma rettangolare montata su quattro gradoni, sulla quale si ergono 34 colonne che si presentano 6 sui frontoni e 13 sui lati lunghi, contando anche quelle degli angoli, misura m. 41,106 in lunghezza e m. 20,260 in larghezza.
Un doppio quadrato che occupa una superficie di mq. 832,807. La colonna formata da quattro tamburi o rocchi, con un fascio di 20 scanalature a spigolo vivo, raggiunge un’altezza di metri 6,32 e ha un diametro di metri 1,70; distano metri 1,71 al centro e 1,76 ai lati.
La costruzione è avvenuta intorno al 450-440 a.C.
Si conservano 30 colonne, di cui sedici con capitello.
Fu restaurato dal Torremuzza nel 1787.
Valley of the Temples - Temple of Era (Juno).
The name of the temple is, like that of other Agrigento monuments, conventional.
In the architecture of this temple, erected in the south-east corner of the valley of the temples at 120 meters above sea level, the concern for rigorous artistic perfection is evident.
The building, which, like the others, faces east, has considerable dimensions: the high rectangular platform mounted on four steps, on which 34 columns stand, 6 on the pediments and 13 on the long sides, including those of the angles, measure m. 41,106 in length and m. 20,260 in width.
A double square that occupies an area of approx. 832.807.
The column formed by four drums, with a bundle of 20 sharp-edged grooves, reaches a height of 6.32 meters and has a diameter of 1.70 meters; they are 1.71 meters in the center and 1.76 on the sides.
The construction took place around 450-440 BC.
Thirty columns are preserved, of which sixteen with capitals.
It was restored by Torremuzza in 1787.
_MG_8246m
Union College , Schenectady, NY
Founded in 1795, Union College was the first college chartered by the Board of Regents of the State of New York. We are a small, residential, independent liberal arts college committed to integrating the humanities and social sciences with science and engineering in new and exciting ways. Union's rigorous academics take place in a diverse, welcoming campus environment that supports your personal growth, provides you with a wealth of opportunities to find and pursue your passions, and inspires you to engage with the local and global community through meaningful projects and volunteer work.
Située au nord de la Bourgogne, l’Abbaye de Fontenay a été fondée en 1118 par Saint Bernard de Clairvaux, un des plus grands saints français, et est la plus ancienne abbaye cistercienne conservée au monde.
Classée monument historique français dès 1862, elle a été inscrite au patrimoine mondial de l'Unesco en 1981. Elle a été l’un des premiers monuments français à figurer sur cette liste, qui a ainsi distingué la valeur exceptionnelle, tant de l’ensemble abbatial de Fontenay que de son environnement naturel.
L’abbatiale de Fontenay est une des plus anciennes églises cisterciennes dans le monde. Construite entre 1139 et 1147, elle est aussi l’une des rares abbatiales cisterciennes du XIIe siècle parvenue intacte jusqu’à nos jours.
Selon la volonté de Saint Bernard et du chapitre général de l’Ordre de Cîteaux, rien dans l’église ne vient distraire l’œil afin que tout l’être soit tourné vers Dieu lors des offices quotidiens. C’est pourquoi cet édifice fut construit dans une grande simplicité et constitue un modèle typique d’architecture romane bourguignonne : plan en croix latine, façade dépouillée, chapiteaux sculptés de motifs simples de feuillage, rang unique de fenêtres latérales.
Cette simplicité cache de nombreux détails et une attention particulière des moines bâtisseurs pour l’harmonie et la symbolique, notamment en ce qui concerne les proportions ou le nombre de baies.
Le chœur est couvert de carreaux émaillés des XIIe et XIIIe siècles. On y trouve également un remarquable retable sculpté du XIIIe siècle, ainsi qu’un ensemble de pierres tombales dont celle de l’évêque anglais Ebrard de Norwich, qui finança la construction de l’abbatiale.
L’abbatiale impressionne par son remarquable état de conservation, ses dimensions, sa sobriété rigoureuse et sa luminosité particulière. Il y règne une atmosphère de calme et de sérénité invitant à une contemplation admirative et au recueillement.
Located in northern Burgundy, Fontenay Abbey was founded in 1118 by Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, one of the greatest French saints, and is the oldest preserved Cistercian abbey in the world.
Classified as a French historic monument in 1862, it was listed as a UNESCO world heritage site in 1981. It was one of the first French monuments to appear on this list, which thus distinguished the exceptional value of both the whole abbey of Fontenay as well as its natural environment.
The Fontenay abbey church is one of the oldest Cistercian churches in the world. Built between 1139 and 1147, it is also one of the rare Cistercian abbey churches from the 12th century that has survived intact to this day.
According to the will of Saint Bernard and the general chapter of the Order of Cîteaux, nothing in the church distracts the eye so that the whole being is turned towards God during daily services. This is why this building was built with great simplicity and constitutes a typical model of Burgundian Romanesque architecture: Latin cross plan, bare facade, capitals sculpted with simple foliage motifs, single row of side windows.
This simplicity hides many details and a particular attention of the building monks to harmony and symbolism, particularly with regard to proportions or the number of bays.
The choir is covered with enameled tiles from the 12th and 13th centuries. There is also a remarkable sculpted altarpiece from the 13th century, as well as a set of tombstones including that of the English bishop Ebrard of Norwich, who financed the construction of the abbey church.
The abbey church impresses with its remarkable state of conservation, its dimensions, its rigorous sobriety and its particular luminosity. There reigns an atmosphere of calm and serenity inviting admiring contemplation and meditation.
It is a typical Sicilian dish (it is most often found in Palermo), it is part of the series of street food that rotates in the firmament of typical Sicilian products. They are lamb, kid or calf intestines that are washed abundantly in running water and salt, seasoned with herbs and onion. They are generally skewered and seasoned with salt and lemon. They can also be rolled up with an onion sauce and rigorously cooked on the grill.
On this overcast and rainy day, we decided to visit the Fortress of Louisbourg National Site. The url of the site is below illustrating its vast size, many buildings, and historically accurate design.
www.novascotia.com/see-do/attractions/fortress-of-louisbo...
Due to the inclement weather, we were alone with the actors who play a part in the recreation of this live museum. In this image Rigoureux (Rigorous in French) told us of the hardships soldiers experienced, such as 3 to a bed. No firewood for heat which went to Officers and more. He added, all were given nicknames because the 150 plus soldiers all had similar names like Jacque, John, or Pierre. He said 15 might turn if the name John were called since most were one of 6 or 7 names, hence the nickname. Our time there was well spent and the accuracy of this place is incredible. And yes, he let me pose him for this shot.
Agia Thekla is one of these beautiful chapels built right on top of the coastal cliff. The building is new by Cypriot standards, but the tradition connected to this place goes a long way back to the time Christians were persecuted in the Roman Empire. They found refuge in the cave below. The symbolic power of this ancient holy place is therefore located 'below'. However, a new and rigorously secular power centre has been created next door: the Ayia Napa Marina with its 115m high tower. The Marina was built by the Chinese and it follows the logic of money. It is exclusively reserved for an international and extremely rich clientele (if your personal yacht is 50m long it would fit nicely in the Marina). It would be interesting to find out how these two power centres relate to each other - if at all. Leica M8, Voigtlaender NC 1.4/35.
The Broadgate Tower and 201 Bishopsgate stand prominently within the renowned Broadgate business district in the City of London. SOM has been active in the district since it began to take shape in the 1980s, designing public space enhancements and many key buildings.
At 33 stories, The Broadgate Tower ranks among London’s tallest structures. The office building features double-deck elevators and, thanks to side-mounted cores, desirable open floor plates. Located near Liverpool Street Station, the tower was built above rail tracks and shares a 2.3-acre deck with 201 Bishopsgate, its shorter counterpart. Structural steel struts crisscrossing the glass facades of both buildings give them a rigorous, expressive quality.
A covered passageway with shops and cafes stretches between the two structures. Trees in and around the galleria help create a relaxed atmosphere. Sustainable features in both buildings include heat-recovery systems and lighting that dims in response to daylight levels.
Source: www.som.com/projects/201-bishopsgate-and-the-broadgate-to...
Copilot's take:
**The Pawn's Gambit**
In the heart of the Chess Kingdom, nestled between towering rooks and elegant bishops, stood the prestigious Chess Academy – a place where the fate of the kingdom's battles was decided not by swords and shields, but by the strategic maneuvering of pieces on a checkered battlefield.
On a crisp morning, the newest recruits to the Academy gathered nervously in the courtyard, their polished wooden forms gleaming in the sunlight. Among them were the pawns – humble foot soldiers, eager to prove themselves on the battlefield of the mind.
Leading the recruits was Sergeant Rook, a seasoned veteran whose stoic demeanor belied his years of experience. With a thunderous voice that echoed across the courtyard, he addressed the assembled pieces.
"Welcome, recruits, to the Chess Academy," he boomed. "Here, you will undergo the most rigorous training to become the finest warriors the kingdom has ever seen. You will learn to think not as individuals but as a unified force, each piece playing its part in the grand strategy of the game."
The pawns exchanged nervous glances, their determination outweighing their apprehension. They knew that the road ahead would be challenging, but they were ready to face it head-on.
For days on end, they immersed themselves in training, learning the intricacies of movement and the art of capturing opponents. They practiced formations, honed their defensive skills, and studied the tactics of past battles. But it wasn't just physical training they underwent; it was mental conditioning as well. They learned to anticipate their opponents' moves, to think several steps ahead, and to recognize patterns on the battlefield.
As the weeks passed, the pawns began to transform. No longer were they mere foot soldiers; they were chess warriors, ready to defend their kingdom against any threat. And then came the day of their final test – a simulated battle against the kingdom's most formidable opponents. Across the board, the pieces **stood poised**, their wooden forms charged with purpose.
The bishops angled their moves, seeking to control diagonals and influence the center. The knights leaped in L-shaped bounds, surprising their opponents. The rooks swept across ranks and files, guarding their territory. And the pawns? They advanced cautiously, knowing that their role was crucial – the foundation upon which the entire strategy rested.
The tension in the room was palpable as the battle unfolded. Each move carried consequences, and the pawns felt the weight of responsibility. They remembered Sergeant Rook's words: "Think as a unified force." And so they did. They coordinated attacks, sacrificed themselves for greater gains, and protected their comrades.
In the end, victory was not assured, but the pawns fought valiantly. They held their ground, pushed forward, and even promoted to queens – a transformation that symbolized their growth from humble foot soldiers to powerful leaders.
As the dust settled and the pieces were returned to their starting positions, the recruits looked around. They had faced adversity, tested their mettle, and emerged stronger. The Chess Academy had forged them into more than warriors; it had shaped them into strategists, thinkers, and guardians of the realm.
And so, in the quiet of the courtyard, the pawns stood tall – not just as pieces on a board, but as symbols of resilience, unity, and the indomitable spirit of the Chess Kingdom.
*Checkmate.*
After my first attempt at shooting the horsetail falls from the El Cap picnic area in 2011, I began to look for alternate views of the firefall effect from around the park. I found several shots online that were taken from the South Side of the river, but there were only a couple that I found that were taken above the tree line. I tried without luck for a couple of years to find where these shots were taken from, but other photographers either didn't respond or they would flat out refuse to tell me. I immediately tried to find this spot last year, but when I arrived, there was still 6 inches or so of snow on the ground and I wandered around for an hour before giving up. This year, there was no snow, and I finally found the location after about a 1/2 hour of rigorous climbing. It is worth pointing out that there is no trail to this location and if you decide to head up here, you would need to be VERY careful, especially when carrying a backpack of gear and a tripod. I got banged up, and so did my Nikkor 28-300, but eventually, I finished scrambling up the last steep embankment and turned around to the view that you see above.
The first thing that I love about this view is that it is a mirror image of the tunnel view. Everything is on the wrong side. Secondly, you are facing west and if there any clouds around, the sunset can look amazing from here. Lastly, during the last two weeks of February, the Horsetail Falls are lit up, and the angle from this location is very similar to the one on the South side of the river below, except you are a few hundred feet higher and can get all of El Capitan in the shot.
The water flow this year was not the best, but the falls stayed lit all the way to the end. I hope to have a couple more shots of the falls up in the near future. As much as I enjoyed this view, I'm not sure how many more times I will try to get up there. I only fell once, and my 28-300 lens has a nice little chip in the housing now. (This was the replacement lens for the one that jumped off Yosemite Point last Summer.) After getting up at 4 AM, literally running throughout the park, hiking to Inspiration Point, down to Bridal Veil on the old access road past Artist Point and finally back to the tunnel, I BARELY had enough energy to make it back up the creek bed to this location. When I stopped in Oakhurst on the way home, I had to crawl out of my truck and move to the gas pump like an 80 year old man. On my next trip, I'll have to limit my shots to those I can get to with a scooter. :)
Don Gato multi tasks as he combines his rigorous Lounge Training regimen with Guard Duty, guarding "His" boat and dock.
“The shore can’t determine the capabilities of a boat, because a sea has the only right to test it. And you will know your true strength only when you enter the true battlefield.”
"If one zoom in the picture they might notice the lighthouse in the beginning and maybe the second investigation lead to noticing the steady boat on the waveless waterbody. But a chosen few might be able to notice the life in the picture, the life that gives the picture a different interpretation. Which does not only have the potential to make the steady waterbody full of unsteady impressions but from it the light house in the daytime dare to borrow ray of hope.
Just like a minor notice, a careful investigation may make a simple representation colorful, the same way a patient and rigorous emotional understanding is necessary to explore the infinite potential of a human being without violating the person's rigid appearance." - Aku
I encourage everyone to visit this sublime sim:
View from the castle tower to the village of Babice, 30 km west of Kraków.
The Lipowiec castle is situated on a high rocky ridge of Garb Tenczyński, which is to the west of the Kraków Upland. The first fortifications had been raised here probably long before the construction of the castle. On the site of a borough a small wooden castle was built on the initiative of Konrad Mazowiecki.
It became a more significant defensive structure after Bolesław Wstydliwy had come into power and in 1243 had a watch tower protecting state borders built here by the bishop Prandota. As a bishop's property, in 1295 the castle belonged to bishop Jan Muskata. In his times the original foundation was significantly developed. The first brick structures were built, e.g. a tower, which served both as a defensive structure and a prison for people sentenced to death by starvation. They were pulled down into the deep dungeon. Jan Muskata supported Chech duke, Wacław II, who pretended to the Polish Crown. Władysław Łokietek remained in power and the bishop had to shelter in the Lipowiec castle.
Since 1443 the castle was not a residence for the Kraków bishops any more. After Zbigniew Oleśnicki had purchased the Duchy of Siewierz he moved the seat of the bishops to the castle in Siewierz. The Lipowiec castle served as a prison for clergymen. Still one of the bishops was constantly present here as well as priests and military troops.
The castle acquired its present shape after the development in the 15th century. Its small courtyard was surrounded by dwelling houses and an outer castle below encircled by the wall. Another three floors were added to the tower and it has remained like this up to now. Two higher floors were fitted out with shooting positions to keep the entrance to the castle under control.
The entrance to the castle was more than 10 m above the level of the courtyard of the approaches to the castle. The subsequent modernizations the castle underwent did not change its 15th-century look to a considerable degree.
The castle served as a prison up to the late 18th century. It was a well-guarded prison, as only one case of successful escape was recorded. Franciszek Stankar (Francesco Stancaro), an Italian theologian and Hebraist, the author of the project of the Reformation in Poland, was put to the Lipowiec prison for his views. About 1550 he managed to escape from his cell. According to the legend a daughter of the warder helped Franciszek, as she was in love with him. He got down on the ropes she delivered.
In 1655 the Swedish army took over the castle and made it a seat of the governor of Kraków, general Paul Würtz. When they withdrew from Lipowiec two years later, the Swedes burned down the buildings. The reconstruction started in 1732 by bishop Konstanty Szaniawski and was completed in 1754 by bishop Andrzej Załuski.
As a structure devoid of military importance, it became a prison again, but this time a less rigorous one. A house of betterment and retreat organised special seminars here for clergymen imprisoned in Lipowiec.
In 1789 the Austrian troops occupied the castle and it was not a prison any more. During the following sixty years the castle was inhabited constantly, even in spite of the fire in 1800, when the castle got damaged quite badly. The roofs burned down completely along with the ceilings of the highest floor.
The castle stayed inhabited up to the mid-19th century. During the National Uprising in January 1863 the troops of general Marian Langiewicz sheltered in the castle.
Since the conservation works in 1961-1968 the Lipowiec castle has been open, as a permanent ruin, for the public.
Red deer are our largest deer species and wild land mammal. Research has shown they have had a continuous localised presence in Ireland since Neolithic times over the past 5,000 years. As a result of deforestation, over hunting and the Great Famine (1845 – 1847) many localised populations around Ireland became locally extinct. By the middle of the 19th century the last home of the Red deer was in the woodlands and mountains around Killarney, where their preservation was due to the strict protection of the two large estates of Herberts of Muckross and the Brownes, Earl of Kenmare. The current population in Kerry, is the only red deer population in Ireland that can claim the long ancestry – direct descendants of a 5,000 year old introduction of native Scottish red deer from Britain. All other populations were introduced to Ireland during the 19th century onwards. It is known that at the turn of the century there were in excess of 1500 Red deer in Killarney. This declined between 1900 and 1960 to as few as 60. As a result of rigorous protection, they are believed to number 700 in 2017 mainly within the National Park. In the 1980’s a number of Red deer were transported by helicopter to a private Island, Inishvickillane off the Kerry coast to protect their future conservation status in the event of hybridisation with Sika deer, who are also present in Killarney National Park since their introduction to Killarney in 1865. The herd flourished but are smaller in size due to limited feeding and the harsh Atlantic Island environment. Deer were also transported to Connemara in Galway but the herd did not survive due to poor feeding and interbreeding with local non-native Red deer transported from Windsor Park (mixed with Eastern European red deer genetics) in the UK.
In order to keep their approach low key, Queensland Government Fishing Inspectors have been adopting new guises so they won't give their approach away. All the better to catch people who take undersized or too many fish or other seafood. The downside of the new uniforms is that they are very tight......this fisherman is about to display his catch for a rigorous inspection! Pine River, Tinchi Tamba, Brisbane.
The Inspectors get to eat all offending fish.
(In real life, the fisherman is net fishing for bait fish).
Sin, Jhih-Ping (1912-June 21, 1985), The late principal of Taiwan’s
Hsinchu Middle School, Pay attention to humanistic education,
All-round balanced education, Democratic liberal education,
He has a reputation as an educational philosopher. Sin, Jhih-Ping knowledgeable, All disciplines other than nature, He canteach for
students. Selected Taiwan well-known magazine, One of the most influential educator. Source Wikipedia
Wood lines, window frames, glass, Light and dynamic, This is a
very elegant building.Walking on the wooden floor, No sound,
If it is not construction rigorous, That must be that its repair
was very successful.
辛志平故居
辛志平（1912年—1985年6月21日），臺灣新竹中學已故校長，
重視人本教育、全能均衡教育、民主自由教育，他有教育哲人美稱。辛志平博學多聞，自然之外的所有學科，他可以為學生上課。入選台灣知名雜誌，最有影響力的教育家之一。來源維基百科。
木材的線條，窗框，玻璃，呈現輕盈和動感，這是很優雅的建築。行走在木地板，不會發出聲響，要不是施工嚴謹，那一定是它維修很成功。
Happy Fence Friday, my friends and enjoy your weekend.
During this week I have had great sunsets here in São Paulo, even during our winter.
I can not complain about my climate here in Brazil, because our winter is not so rigorous, although all climate change is the major worldwide concern and preventive measures must be taken.
* I'm grateful for visit, favs and comments of my photo!
I bet you thought I was going to finish with “start to fall…”. I do love that song especially covered by Eva Cassidy. But I did actually mean leaves as in left but is leaving now… And when Autumn leaves – I get sad. Autumn is like a soothing balm to my spirit, a time when my already sensitive soul is even more sensitive, more contemplative and more raw. Autumn is the beginning of a goodbye. Winter IS the goodbye. And just like life, when you know your about to lose someone or if you are one of those people who strive to live as if every day were their last, you make some beautiful memories. It’s as if a loved one were told that they had cancer and that the time you had with them was suddenly shortened into months. Every moment you spend with that person will be in the moment. At present. The emotions will feel stronger, fuller and more substantial because you are reminded that these moments though precious are fleeting.
I lost someone precious, someone so dear to my heart that the absence of this person is a crushing weight on my soul, every day a reminder of the loneliness I grieve in her void. I lost my sister. And I lost her in the Winter.
Every time Autumn comes around I am stunned by the rich colors, vibrant and passionate palettes of gold hues, fiery oranges, provocative reds. I don’t just notice it, I live in it, I revel in it’s beauty. I embrace the color with my whole soul. When I drive pass a lineup of red maples dancing in dappled light along the street, something stirs in my spirit. A deep, deep connection. I am touched. I am moved. A yearning, a smile, even tears take place. And it’s inevitable, I think of Rebekah.
I can’t help it. I associate my beautiful sister to Autumn. She was diagnosed with cancer in the fall and began treatments for it in the late fall. Just like the leaves changing and the chemical process that takes place, my sister would lose part of herself in the rigorous rounds of chemo and radiation. Behind the beautiful colors of the changing leaves a process is happening: the chlorophyll is breaking down. The amazing chemical that drinks in the sunlight all year to give the leaves that green color of life shuts down. But in the death of the chemical and the energy it gave, something incredible happens. The leaves turn even more glorious than before. In their last days of life they are the most beautiful they will ever be.
In Rebekah’s hardest days she was most beautiful. She showed passion, vibrancy, a determined will to live life fully. She was strong. She was brave, so very much braver than I will ever be. She was young. She was diagnosed with cancer at 17, the year before she would embark on the adventure of adulthood.
The Autumn of 2010 ended like every other Autumn does every year, the cold set, the chill arrived. And so did bad news. The leukemia that was attacking my sister’s blood was back and it was too aggressive to be stopped. Every trial, transplant and round of chemo that could be done had been done. The Autumn ended with news that my sister had a few weeks to live. Autumn passed and my sister followed gracefully on December 29th, 2010.
Her whole life was glorious, but it was the ending that showed every element of color in her life, every aspect of her character, her faith and her love. For those she loved, she loved deeply.
The cold is fast approaching, the color is gone when I look out my window… I hear the beautiful song in my mind but I feel Rebekah everywhere.
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if you made it this far thank you for taking the time to
read my thoughts. This is from my blog a year or so ago. I had Rebekah on my mind tonight and when I walked this very path a few weeks ago. It seemed so very appropriate as I watched the last few leaves on the bare branches surrounding my house, flutter to the ground. I always feel a sense of sadness watching the end of Autumn and this explains why... Thank you for listening to my ramblings as always xx
Rachel
An large space of common salt scoured by wind and rain into jagged spires. Therefore improbably saw-toothed that "only the devil may play golf on such rough links. Listen rigorously and you will hear feels like small pops and pings - the sound is virtually billions of small salt crystals detonating apart as they expand and accept the warmth.
A male kōlea in breeding plumage fattens up for migration. Kōlea migrate from Hawaii to Alaska for a five-month breeding season. The trip spans over approximately 3,000 miles of open ocean requiring a rigorous, energy intensive effort of 3 to 4 days and nights of nonstop flight at elevation ranging from 3,000 to 16,000 feet. A superb navigator with territorial fidelity, kōlea use the stars and the earth’s magnetic field to find their way over the featureless ocean to the same small patch of territory every year. They may use the earth’s magnetic field visually with the magnetoreception molecules of cryptochrome in their retina. This one winters in Hawaii. Some will migrate north from the southern hemisphere. Pacific golden plover, kōlea, Pluvialis fulva.
Excerpt from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C5%8D-ji:
Tō-ji Temple (東寺, Tō-ji, "East Temple"), also known as Kyō-ō-gokoku-ji (教王護国寺, The Temple for the Defense of the Nation by Means of the King of Doctrines) is a Shingon Buddhist temple in the Minami-ku ward of Kyoto, Japan.
Founded in 796, it was one of the only three Buddhist temples allowed in the city at the time it became the capital of Japan. As such it has a long history, housing treasures and documents from the early Heian period and the Tang dynasty, and with buildings in its complex covering the Kamakura, Muromachi, Momoyama, and Edo periods. Five of these buildings have been designated National Treasures in two different categories: the Lotus Flower Gate (rengemon), the Miei Hall (mieidō), the Golden Hall (kondō) and the five-storied Pagoda (gojūnotō) (temple buildings) and the Kanchiin Guest Hall (kanchiin kyakuden) (residences).
Tō-ji was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994, as part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto.
The five-storied Pagoda (五重塔, gojūnotō) of Tō-ji dates from 1643 (Edo period), when it was rebuilt by order of the third Tokugawa Shōgun, Iemitsu. The original pagoda was built in the 9th century, but it was destroyed and rebuilt four times before reaching its current state. It was designated a National Treasure in 1952.
The pagoda stands 54.8 meters (180 feet) high, and is the tallest wooden tower in Japan. Entrance into the pagoda itself is permitted only on special occasions, but it is usually open and the interior can be seen from the outside. It houses relics, sculptures, and paintings. At ground level, there are statues of four Buddhas facing different directions.
The Kondo or Golden Hall is the main hall of the temple and contains a statue of Yakushi from 1603.
The Miedo is dedicated to Kobo Daishi, also called Kukai, the temple's founder. It stands on the location of his original residence. The hall is opened on the 21st of each month when a memorial service is held for Kukai.
The grounds feature a garden and pond, in which turtles and koi swim. The grounds also house an academically rigorous private school, Rakunan, from which many students are sent to elite universities.
Valvisciolo Abbey is a Cistercian monastery in the province of Latina, Lazio, near the towns of Sermoneta and Ninfa.
It is an example of rigorous Romanesque-Cistercian architecture, considered a masterpiece of that style in central Italy.
A Mamuthone marching through the streets of Mamoiada, While for some this mask dates back to over 2000 years ago, the origin is still mysterious. The Mamuthones wear a wood mask (sa visera) and a vest made of sheep wool (mastruca), both rigorously black. "Sa carruca", the cattle bells hanging from their body, weights up to 25kg.
History
Red deer are our largest deer species and wild land mammal. Research has shown they have had a continuous localised presence in Ireland since Neolithic times over the past 5,000 years. As a result of deforestation, over hunting and the Great Famine (1845 – 1847) many localised populations around Ireland became locally extinct. By the middle of the 19th century the last home of the Red deer was in the woodlands and mountains around Killarney, where their preservation was due to the strict protection of the two large estates of Herberts of Muckross and the Brownes, Earl of Kenmare. The current population in Kerry, is the only red deer population in Ireland that can claim the long ancestry – direct descendants of a 5,000 year old introduction of native Scottish red deer from Britain. All other populations were introduced to Ireland during the 19th century onwards. It is known that at the turn of the century there were in excess of 1500 Red deer in Killarney. This declined between 1900 and 1960 to as few as 60. As a result of rigorous protection, they are believed to number 700 in 2017 mainly within the National Park. In the 1980’s a number of Red deer were transported by helicopter to a private Island, Inishvickillane off the Kerry coast to protect their future conservation status in the event of hybridisation with Sika deer, who are also present in Killarney National Park since their introduction to Killarney in 1865. The herd flourished but are smaller in size due to limited feeding and the harsh Atlantic Island environment. Deer were also transported to Connemara in Galway but the herd did not survive due to poor feeding and interbreeding with local non-native Red deer transported from Windsor Park (mixed with Eastern European red deer genetics) in the UK.
How to identify
The Red deer has a rich red coloured coat, darkening down to a greyish brown in winter. A mature stag carries a large rack of antlers, which are at peak condition in the early autumn for the rut, when they are used for bouts of sparring between rivals. A dominant animal may have 18-20 points (tines) on the antlers, although 14-16 is more common. A stag with more than 12 tines is known as a ‘Royal’. A fully-grown Red stag can stand 120cm (48”) high at the shoulder and can weigh anything up to 190kg (420Ibs). A female (hind) is smaller with shoulder height up to 110cm (44”) and a weight of up to 110kg (240Ibs). Red deer have very short tails which are the same colour as its coat, surrounded by a creamy coloured rump.
Where Found
While some claims have been made, the number of wild Red Deer and their hybrids in Ireland are unknown as no national deer census have been carried out. Two large scale genetic studies have been completed which detected large numbers of hybrid deer in Co. Wicklow, along with pure sika deer. However, no pure red deer were found in Co. Wicklow. A small group of hybrids were identified along the Cork-Kerry border, but these have since been eliminated and there is ongoing monitoring. Hybrid deer (between sika and red deer) can take on appearances that look similar to their parents, but there is always a mix of external characteristics, so the resulting offspring just doesn’t quite look like a pure red deer or sika. The main red deer range can be found on Torc, Cores and Mangerton Mountains with other herds in the lowland areas of the National Park in Killarney, Co Kerry. These are the only native wild Red deer that exist in Ireland today. Sika deer are potentially a threat to the genetic integrity of the Red deer herd, as they are known to be capable of interbreeding. So far, no cases of crossbreeding between Red and Sika have been recorded in Killarney (as has happened in Wicklow), but the situation is being carefully monitored, and a high priority is attached to maintaining the genetic purity of the native herd. Other herds of red deer can be found in Glenveagh, Co. Donegal, Connemara, Co Galway and areas of Co Mayo. These are not native herds but were introduced from Scotland and Windsor Park in the 19th Century. Red deer stags are easiest to see in late September and early October during the rut. In recent times, Red deer have also been seen in Limerick, Wexford, Louth and Meath. The latter most likely as a result of Ward Union Stag Hunt in Meath, where stags were specially bred for the hunt and released into the Countryside. The genetic heritage of these are unknown but there is ongoing genetic analyses being conducted.
Characteristics
Red deer are a herd deer but group size is influenced by habitat, they form larger herds when living in open country with smaller groups in woodland areas. Hinds (females) and stags (males) will only come together during the rut, for the rest of the year they are sexually segregated.Red deer are primarily grazers and will graze all year round, however they will eat heather shoots, mosses, lichens and even unpalatable mat-grass to see them through winter to the following spring. They will also feed on agriculture crops and trample/flattened cereal stands which they use to lie-up in cover. Stags grow antlers in late Spring and have a soft skin covering called velvet. Antlers will grow until late summer; the velvet dies and is – scraped off. Neck muscles will swell, thick manes grow on the throats and aggression increases. The antlers are fully grown by late summer and will remain until they are shed in early spring. Antler size to some extent depends on age but more importantly on the deer’s health, nutrition and genetics. In the wild the best heads are found on 6-9 year old animals.
Hinds may breed at a year and a half, but it is more common at two and half years of age, if pregnancy does not occur, ovulation (heat) will occur again in 21 days later and repeatedly until pregnancy occurs. Pregnancy in a Doe lasts 33 weeks and calves are born in June. It is important to note that calves do not follow their mother for two weeks. While the mother is off grazing the fawns are left lying in cover. Such calves are not abandoned and should not be touched or removed. calves may continue to suckle until the next sibling is born. Hinds and calves will socialise and be introduced to the larger family group during late July and August. It is not surprising to observe a older matriarch hind with her current year’s calf, along with her previous year’s offspring and their respective calves in a group. Upon reaching a year old, the young male yearlings will separate from their mother to seek out and join bachelor male groups.
Breeding season (Rut)
The breeding season (rut) is in October. The timing of the rut is controlled by the length of the day. By mid September, aggression is more marked. Mature stags are increasingly intolerant of each other, and there are short chases as they attain peak condition. These animals are first to rut. Traditionally, the first roars (loud deep low-pitched call) are heard in the last week of September, signalling the commencement of the rut. Each stag is seeking to gather hinds to herd together for his harem (on average 5 hinds), he will then endeavour to possess exclusively, by marking and defending the territory over which the hinds roam. He will mate with the fittest hinds, which normally come on heat by the second and third week in October. During the rut, while the stag waits for each hind in his harem to come in season, he will wallow in peat, thresh the vegetation with his antlers, as well as roar and clash in contest with competing males. As October draws to a close, the, majority of stags have finished the rut. The priority at this stage of the year is to build up fat reserves for the winter since stags do not regularly eat during the rut
Hinds may breed at a year and a half, but commonly it is at two and half years of age when at least 90% of their body growth (skeletal growth and muscle mass) has occurred, with calves born in June. The placenta (afterbirth) is eaten by the female, to hide any sent or evidence of the birth. The calf is hidden while the hind feeds alone during the first few weeks of its life.
Management and Protection
Red deer are a protected game species and may only be hunted with a licence from the National Parks and Wild Life Service. Red stags may be hunted from the 1st of September until the 31st of December (no season in Kerry for stags) and Hinds may be hunted from the 1st of November to the 28th of February 28th, between the hours of, 1 hour before official sunrise and 1 hour after sunset. It is illegal to hunt deer at night or with the use of dogs. Hunting of Red deer (stags and hinds) is strictly prohibited in Co Kerry.
Irish Deer Commission campaign on the importance of conserving our native deer species as part of Ireland’s rich natural heritage and biodiversity. Extensive genetic analyses have shown that there is very low genetic diversity within the Kerry red deer herd, which may prove to be highly disadvantageous if a major event were to occur, for example the outbreak of disease or wild fire which may kill the deer. Low genetic diversity will impede population recovery and may in fact, be detrimental. With particular importance on the unique DNA blood-lines of the wild Irish Red deer in Co Kerry and the island of Inishvickillane, off the coast of Co. Kerry. The sustainable conservation of the Kerry red deer is of utmost concern to the Irish Deer Commission. Ongoing genetic monitoring is vital to safe guard the genetic integrity of the pure native Kerry red deer population.
For further reading and references available upon request:
Graham DA, Gallagher C, Carden RF, Lozano J-M, Moriarty J, O’Neill R (2017). A survey of free-ranging deer in Ireland for serological evidence of exposure to bovine viral diarrhoea virus, bovine herpes virus-1, bluetongue virus and Schmallenberg virus. Irish Veterinary Journal 70:13-24.
Smith SL, Carden RF, Coad B, Birkitt T, Pemberton JM (2014). A survey of the hybridisation status of Cervus deer species on the island of Ireland. Conservation Genetics 15: 823-835.
Carden RF, McDevitt AD, Zachos FE, Woodman PC, O’Toole P, Rose H, Monaghan NT, Campana MG, Bradley DG, Edwards CJ (2012). Phylogeographic, ancient DNA, fossil and morphometric analyses reveal ancient and modern introductions of a large mammal: the complex case of red deer (Cervus elaphus) in Ireland. Quaternary Science Reviews 42: 74-84.
McDevitt AD, O’Toole P, Edwards CJ, Carden RF (2012) Landscape genetics of red deer (Cervus elaphus Linnaeus, 1758) in Killarney National Park, Co. Kerry. In: Butler F, Kelleher C (eds) All-Ireland Mammal Symposium 2009, pp. 23-30. Irish Naturalists’ Journal, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Carden RF, Carlin CM, Marnell F, McElholm D, Hetherington J, Gammell MP (2011). Distribution and range expansion of deer in Ireland. Mammal Review 41: 313-325.
McDevitt AD, Edwards CJ, O’Toole P, O’Sullivan P, O’Reilly C, Carden RF (2009). Genetic structure of, and hybridisation between, red (Cervus elaphus) and sika (Cervus nippon) deer in Ireland. Mammalian Biology 74: 263-273.
The venerable LL-928 Galaxy Explorer class of spaceships, known throughout the Federation as the workhorses of the fleet. For over 40 years now Galaxy Explorers have traveled to distant stars, explored strange new worlds and have been the backbone of deep space exploration.
While not as sleek or technologically advanced as some modern crafts, the LL-928 series was built to last and has a legacy to prove it. This is in no small part due to the rigorous and thorough maintenance schedule the ships go through.
Within Arcturus Outpost’s hanger bay (home to Nova Team) Commander Hank Hawkins along with first mate, Janice Jenson go over the maintenance schedule for the outpost’s LL-928 nicknamed “Ole Lady” while crews bustle around the legendary ship.
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To learn more about Nova Team's other adventures visit their album: flic.kr/s/aHskpavQh5
Novice monk at his temple, Bagan. Some boys as young as 10 join the temple and its rigorous life until their early 20's and then decide if they want to continue their spiritual path or go back to their communities.
Website: www.eugeniofrasca.com
Hello, my amazing Flickr friends!!
Today is Monday and we start another awesome week of working from home! I feel ready and very motivated! Monday, as we all know by now, is a red day at Color My World Daily Group. And at Macro Mondays Group we celebrate “natural shells”, which is an awesome subject considering my love of eggs and eggshells! Happy red and natural shell day!!
Red Lady wanted very badly to go on vacation…Of course the official story (because of corona virus pandemic) was a very important work-related business trip. She tried every travel agency with no success… No flights were available for nowhere!! Everyone was panicking and travel agencies had their hands more than full!
She even tried her friend Mr. Kosmo, after all he is an owner of a spaceship!! But Mr.Kosmos was practicing social distancing very, very rigorously and he refused to take Red Lady anywhere ! In fact, he was staying inside and not seeing any one of his dear friends! Which is a good and a very responsible thing to do.
But Red Lady needed her vacation time sooooo badly… She was pale as a ghost and she could feel her body screaming for some vitamin “sea” very, very loudly…She thought that maybe she would be able to persuade a bird to take her somewhere hot and beautiful with a view on the ocean… Maybe a beautiful resort all-inclusive would be a great destination?? She started searching for a bird willing to fly immediately no matter the price! Oh, yes, she was willing to pay all the money asked by the bird. But there were no birds anywhere that day…It was like they all left at the same time: no birds!
All of the sudden, she saw an egg! Of course, if there is an egg, there must be a bird inside!! There is nothing better and faster that young, fresh bird, who just came out of his shell!! She ran to see the egg and knock on it or maybe just call the bird by his name … Something like: Hello Mr. Bird … The egg was open at the top and some pieces of the shell (and it was all 100% natural shell !!) were on the floor … She called, she knocked: no one answered. She took her ladder from her bag and she looked inside the egg … No bird inside… But she found a big stack of toilet paper and few bottles of sherry (her favorited alcohol) …. But the bird was long gone… He left as soon as his government asked all his citizen to come back before all the borders will close. That bird is smart!! So, she had to face the sad reality: vacation wasn’t a possibility for now… She will have to wait after all the craziness…She decided to follow Mr. Kosmo, and practice social distancing for the time needed. Each morning, she will look at the sky and when the birds will return back that will be the perfect timing for a new beginning or vacation.
Please excuse me now but, I have to leave very quickly and go to my office (dining room). Happy and beautiful day to you all!! Happy CMWD and happy MM.
Thank you so much for all your lovely comments / favs/ general support / happy thoughts / positive vibes!! It is truly appreciated! I sincerely hope everyone is all right and you all have everything you need to survive this with a smile! Have a great day and see you soon!!
An earlier B&W Pano-Sabotage piece referenced to classic Science Fiction writer, John Wyndham's short story, "Confidence Trick" in it's notes. I'd decided not to name that image after the story but the idea of doing so with the kind of big city imagery that I do stayed with me until I went with it with this one.
Briefly, as with most Science Fiction, the story is really a proposition of philosophical ideas being worked out through a speculative narrative. Does that make the idea any less rigorous? It's the idea not it's vehicle that's the all-important gist.
Wyndham's story examines the notion of a kind of solipsism wherein one man begins to doubt what he sees as reality, thinking that it might just be a construct of his own consciousness.
As the story goes on he lays out all the thoughts that lead him to that conclusion. One day on a busy city street he decides that what he sees is a 'confidence trick' and he that he's going to pull his investment from it to see what happens.
He stands on the street and with the full force of his intent he starts to declare that he no longer believes what he sees. Before he can finish his sentence, the world in front of him begins to crumble and dissolve.
Flicker artist Solano Snapper raised the question of whether this was all in his mind or if it was literal. Fantastic point for discussion. This would make an excellent topic for University or College philosophy and/ or literature classes to debate.
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Black and White Pano-Sabotage continues. "Pano-Sabotage" is the technique of deliberately MIS-using the smart phone's pano camera function to create marked and unique effects WITH THE CAMERA. Some post processing is done for balance and contrast etc, but the EFFECT of the "facet-ized" imagery is done IN the camera, AT the moment of shooting.
See the Flickr group, "PANO-Vision" for a gallery of said imagery as practiced by a small roster of dedicated, serious artists who are pushing this medium into fantastic new places.
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© Richard S Warner ( Visionheart ) - 2016. All Rights Reserved. This image is not for use in any form without explicit, express, written permission.
My Website: visionheartblog.wordpress.com
Située au nord de la Bourgogne, l’Abbaye de Fontenay a été fondée en 1118 par Saint Bernard de Clairvaux, un des plus grands saints français, et est la plus ancienne abbaye cistercienne conservée au monde.
Classée monument historique français dès 1862, elle a été inscrite au patrimoine mondial de l'Unesco en 1981. Elle a été l’un des premiers monuments français à figurer sur cette liste, qui a ainsi distingué la valeur exceptionnelle, tant de l’ensemble abbatial de Fontenay que de son environnement naturel.
L’abbatiale de Fontenay est une des plus anciennes églises cisterciennes dans le monde. Construite entre 1139 et 1147, elle est aussi l’une des rares abbatiales cisterciennes du XIIe siècle parvenue intacte jusqu’à nos jours.
Selon la volonté de Saint Bernard et du chapitre général de l’Ordre de Cîteaux, rien dans l’église ne vient distraire l’œil afin que tout l’être soit tourné vers Dieu lors des offices quotidiens. C’est pourquoi cet édifice fut construit dans une grande simplicité et constitue un modèle typique d’architecture romane bourguignonne : plan en croix latine, façade dépouillée, chapiteaux sculptés de motifs simples de feuillage, rang unique de fenêtres latérales.
Cette simplicité cache de nombreux détails et une attention particulière des moines bâtisseurs pour l’harmonie et la symbolique, notamment en ce qui concerne les proportions ou le nombre de baies.
Le chœur est couvert de carreaux émaillés des XIIe et XIIIe siècles. On y trouve également un remarquable retable sculpté du XIIIe siècle, ainsi qu’un ensemble de pierres tombales dont celle de l’évêque anglais Ebrard de Norwich, qui finança la construction de l’abbatiale.
L’abbatiale impressionne par son remarquable état de conservation, ses dimensions, sa sobriété rigoureuse et sa luminosité particulière. Il y règne une atmosphère de calme et de sérénité invitant à une contemplation admirative et au recueillement.
Located in northern Burgundy, Fontenay Abbey was founded in 1118 by Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, one of the greatest French saints, and is the oldest preserved Cistercian abbey in the world.
Classified as a French historic monument in 1862, it was listed as a UNESCO world heritage site in 1981. It was one of the first French monuments to appear on this list, which thus distinguished the exceptional value of both the whole abbey of Fontenay as well as its natural environment.
The Fontenay abbey church is one of the oldest Cistercian churches in the world. Built between 1139 and 1147, it is also one of the rare Cistercian abbey churches from the 12th century that has survived intact to this day.
According to the will of Saint Bernard and the general chapter of the Order of Cîteaux, nothing in the church distracts the eye so that the whole being is turned towards God during daily services. This is why this building was built with great simplicity and constitutes a typical model of Burgundian Romanesque architecture: Latin cross plan, bare facade, capitals sculpted with simple foliage motifs, single row of side windows.
This simplicity hides many details and a particular attention of the building monks to harmony and symbolism, particularly with regard to proportions or the number of bays.
The choir is covered with enameled tiles from the 12th and 13th centuries. There is also a remarkable sculpted altarpiece from the 13th century, as well as a set of tombstones including that of the English bishop Ebrard of Norwich, who financed the construction of the abbey church.
The abbey church impresses with its remarkable state of conservation, its dimensions, its rigorous sobriety and its particular luminosity. There reigns an atmosphere of calm and serenity inviting admiring contemplation and meditation.
A male kōlea in his dapper breeding plumage, often referred to as a tuxedo, before the long flight from the tropics to the nesting grounds on the Alaskan tundra. In a few days, he will sense that the time has arrived to congregate with other previously solitary kōlea and depart collectively. The trip spans 3,000 miles of open ocean requiring a rigorous, energy intensive effort of 3 to 4 days and nights of nonstop flight at elevation ranging from 3,000 to 16,000 feet. Superb navigators with territorial fidelity, kōlea, or Pacific golden plovers, use the stars and the earth’s magnetic field to find their way over the featureless ocean to the same small patch of territory every year. They may use the earth’s magnetic field visually with the magnetoreception molecules of cryptochrome in their retina.
The physiological changes in migrating shorebirds, like this male kōlea, are astonishing. The necessity of increasing fat load for the sustained energy demands of long-distance migration has been compared to, in terms of percentage body fat, larding up to morbid obesity in humans. The surge in heart and lung capacity and increase in pectoral flight muscle are driven by hormonal changes (without the drudgery of exercise!).
Our driveway on an autumn night.
I've previously used this image to test noise reduction but never published the whole image.
Following today's, at best, semi-rigorous testing, this version using Deep Prime NR in DxO followed by Topaz Sharpen won over both Topaz Denoise and Topaz Photo AI (v1.02). I am yet to upgrade to DxO v6 with Deep Prime XD noise reduction, but it's clear that noise is no longer an issue with this image, even with DxO PhotoLab 5.5.