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“A horse is a horse, of course, of course…”
Which, in classical epistemology, is precisely the kind of dangerously deterministic axiom that quantum mechanics once politely asked us to stop saying out loud.
Here we have a properly structured test image: clear subject, stable composition, respectable lighting conditions, and two horses contributing more gravitas than most peer review committees combined.
I had naively assumed that soul, focus, timing, and subject matter might constitute a persuasive argument.
This was adorable.
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1. The Physical System: ECC-1
These two equine subjects currently exist in a rigorously stable state of ontological obviousness.
In the literature, this is formally defined as:
Equus Certus Condition (ECC-1)
“A state in which the object is so clearly itself that even philosophy stops arguing.”
Under ECC-1, a horse is, in fact, a horse. No ambiguity. No interpretive wiggle room. No existential loopholes.
Naturally, this is where things begin to go wrong.
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2. The Measurement Problem: POAIT
Explore, however, operates under a different framework entirely.
This is known as:
Post-Observational Aesthetic Indeterminacy Theory (POAIT)
POAIT states that:
An image does not have a value.
It waits for one.
Within this regime, a photograph may exist simultaneously as:
- selected
- unselected
- and “we’ll think about it later, maybe after coffee”
until the Algorithm performs a measurement event.
At that moment, reality collapses into a single outcome, usually involving something like a perfectly composed, technically excellent photograph of two horses being quietly outperformed by a heavily motion-blurred image of a pigeon aggressively attacking a traffic cone while accidentally achieving Renaissance lighting and being titled “untitled_7_final_FINAL(2).jpg.”
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3. The Explore Manifold Problem
This leaves us with a fundamental paradox:
Is this image overlooked?
Or is it, in a deeper sense, too coherent to be processed?
Current theory suggests the system is navigating a high-dimensional structure known as the:
Explore Manifold of Controlled Absurdity
In this space, meaning is not rewarded.
Instead, meaning is treated as a suspicious outlier.
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4. Competing Hypotheses (None Survived Peer Review)
The causal trigger for selection has not been isolated, but several models are under consideration:
- stochastic resonance in recommendation space-time
- non-linear chaos propagation across engagement manifolds
- a hidden Markov process exhibiting emotional instability
- planetary retrograde interference (Mercury behaving like it has admin access)
- and a single geriatric CERN hamster maintaining legacy infrastructure with what can only be described as “vibe-based engineering”
None of these models has been falsified, primarily because the system refuses to behave consistently long enough to run a proper experiment.
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5. Empirical Anomaly: The Untitled Event
Meanwhile, within the Explore manifold, a photograph titled “Untitled”—containing approximately 14% recycling bin and 86% unresolved existential ambiguity—has achieved full quantum aesthetic elevation.
This state was previously considered theoretical.
It is now, unfortunately, operational.
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6. The Horses Respond
The two Eds have conducted a formal review of the available data.
Ed 1 supports the hypothesis that Schrödinger was not merely correct, but conservatively optimistic.
Ed 2 proposes a more radical model:
that Schrödinger’s cat was not a thought experiment at all, but an early prototype of the Explore ranking algorithm.
Both hypotheses were withdrawn after peer review collapsed into a single blurry image of an elbow accompanied by the comment:
“methodology unclear, vibes acceptable.”
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7. Conclusion
The Eds have reached a consensus:
Explore is not a system.
It is a live experiment in quantum irony, where coherence is a liability and randomness is a credential.
They remain fascinated.
Not because they understand it.
But because nothing this inconsistent should be this certain.
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“A horse is a horse, of course, of course…”
But under POAIT, however that statement remains under active review.
…….
Αμηχανία–Amechania
What ἀμηχανία means
This is not uncertainty.
It is not ambiguity either.
It is ἀμηχανία.
In ancient Greek, ἀμηχανία means: having no means left—no way forward, no method that still works, and no remaining procedure that can produce a solution.
So the key difference is:
- Confusion: you don’t understand what is happening.
- Ambiguity: multiple interpretations are still possible.
- ἀμηχανία: interpretation itself has stopped being useful.
It is not that we cannot choose.
It is that there is no longer a meaningful basis for choosing at all.
What this looks like in practice
In ἀμηχανία, everything may still appear normal.
The system still runs.
The data is still there.
The options are still visible.
But none of it leads anywhere.
- Explanations exist, but they no longer explain.
- Causes can be described, but they no longer organize what we see.
- Observations remain clear, but they do not resolve into understanding or action.
So the situation is not chaotic. It is worse than chaos in a specific way:
It is stable, but non-resolvable.
How this differs from confusion and ambiguity
Confusion is temporary: it ends when understanding arrives.
Ambiguity is productive: it allows multiple readings to coexist.
ἀμηχανία is different from both:
- It is not a lack of understanding.
- It is not a surplus of meanings.
- It is the point where meaning stops producing consequences.
Nothing is hidden. Nothing is unclear.
And yet nothing can be concluded.
System interpretation
In system terms, ἀμηχανία is not a failure state.
It is a completed transformation of the system’s purpose.
The system does not break.
It continues to function correctly.
But it no longer produces decisions, preferences, or outcomes that matter.
In this sense, Explore does not simply fail to choose.
It reaches a deeper condition:
the conditions required for choice are no longer active.
Conclusion
The Eds’ assessment is no longer tentative.
Under POAIT, the system has reached a stable endpoint:
a state of ἀμηχανία in which everything can still be seen, but nothing can be resolved.
Explore does not end in confusion.
It ends in the quiet realization that confusion is no longer doing any work.
Or, under POAIT, are provisionally believed to approve pending further measurement.
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IPY 💕Sunny Side
ODC-Comfort
Shizandra loves nothing better than to sit in the cool snow after playing a rigorous game of ball in the backyard.
The Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory (SAIL) at NASA's Johnson Space Centre in Houston, Texas.
It was the only facility in the Space Shuttle Program where actual orbiter hardware and flight software can be integrated and tested in a simulated flight environment. It supported the entire Space Shuttle program to perform integrated verification tests. It also contained Firing Room Launch Equipment identical to that used at KSC. Complete ground verifications, as well as countdown and abort operations, could be tested and simulated.
The testing process is extensive and rigorous; the software on the Shuttle is often considered to be among the most bug-free of operational systems.
The laboratory contains a complete avionics mock-up of a Shuttle, designated OV-095. While only a skeleton of an orbiter, the electronics are identical in position and type to those used on the Shuttle; it is a sufficiently faithful replica that crews sometimes prefer to use it to train on, rather than the training simulators.
The facility was renovated and recreated as part of NASA's Space Centre Houston Level 9 Tour, a separate add-on to the visitor's centre admission in which tourists are given entrance to buildings normally off limits to visitors.
Information Source:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuttle_Avionics_Integration_Labora...
Kensington Gardens
On 8 June 2016, the Serpentine Gallery in London’s Hyde Park revealed their 16th annual Pavilion.
The Serpentine Pavilion, designed by the Danish architects Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), is a wall that is transformed from a straight line to three-dimensional space, creating a dramatic structure that has the appearance of having been ‘unzipped’.
BIG attempted to design a structure that would embody aspects often perceived as opposites. They wanted a structure that would be free-form yet rigorous, modular yet sculptural, both transparent and opaque, both box and blob.
Serpentine2.jpg
(Serpentine Pavilion 2016 designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG); (10 June – 9 October); Photo © Iwan Baan)
They began with one of the most basic architectural elements: the brick wall. Rather than clay bricks or stone blocks, the wall is built using pultruded fibreglass frames stacked on top of each other. It is then pulled apart to form a cavity with a cavernous appearance. This space is a complex three-dimensional environment which can be explored and experienced in a variety of ways, inside and outside.
At the top, the wall appears to be a straight line, while at the bottom, it forms a sheltered valley at the entrance of the Pavilion and an undulating hillside towards the Park.
During the day the structure will accommodate a café and family activities, while at night it will become a space for the Serpentine’s Park Nights programme of performance pieces by artists, writers and musicians.
A highlight of our trip to Santa Fe was our visit to the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_O%27Keeffe_Museum
Georgia O'Keeffe. Pink Tulip, 1925. Oil on canvas, 31 3/4 × 12 inches. Georgia O'Keeffe Museum. Museum Purchase. © Georgia O'Keeffe Museum. [2023.6.1]
This is a photo of a painting. I have tried to be faithful to the painting in white balance, colors and presentation. I cropped the framing and used Photoshop to remove a thin studio shadow from the top. Any suggestions and criticisms will be accepted.
www.okeeffemuseum.org/exploring-pink-tulip-1925/
"This is a Vertical narrow canvas of an abstract section of a pink tulip. The upper quadrant of the picture plane encapsulates a large rounded draping petal shape in gradient shades of pink with an arc of yellow at the bottom of the form. To the left of the petal, cutting on a diagonal of the canvas, is a soft vertical bolt-like rod of blues and green along with ruffled rows of yellow shapes."
Google Gemini AI
Georgia O'Keeffe's Pink Tulip (Abstraction – #77 Tulip), created in 1925.
Composition & Form
Cropping & Scale: Rendered on a distinctively long, narrow vertical canvas (32 \times 12\text{ inches}), O'Keeffe magnifies a close-up section of a tulip petal, blurring the line between representation and pure abstraction.
Flowing Lines: Soft, sweeping curves dominate the right and central upper regions, counterbalanced on the left by rippling, undulating leaf-like shapes that cascade down the canvas edge.
Color & Lighting
Blushed Palette: The top portion features soft, luminous blush pinks and rose-tinted hues that fade into pale cream near the center.
Warm Accents: Rich golden-yellow highlights wrap along the lower interior fold of the main petal, providing a vibrant warm core.
Cool Contrast: The left flank shifts into cool teal-greens, mint, and soft cerulean blue, anchoring the organic, fluid movement of the painting with grounding contrast.
Modeling: Smooth, subtle gradations give the petal folds a tactile, sculptural quality typical of O'Keeffe's mid-1920s flower studies.
Pink Tulip (Abstraction – #77 Tulip, 1925) marks a pivotal moment in Georgia O'Keeffe's development, occupying the exact intersection where her pure organic abstraction met her famous magnified floral motifs.
Early Masterpiece of Scale & Magnification
The New York Shift: Painted shortly after O'Keeffe married Alfred Stieglitz and moved into the 30th floor of the Shelton Hotel in New York City, this work reflects her response to the overwhelming scale of the metropolis.
Forcing the Viewer to Look: O'Keeffe famously set out to make busy New Yorkers take time to notice the subtle beauty of nature by blowing up small subjects into monumental scales. Pink Tulip is one of her earliest and most successful explorations of this tight, macro-lens cropping.
Bridge Between Abstraction and Realism
From Music to Botanical Form: In the late 1910s and early 1920s, O'Keeffe focused heavily on non-objective abstractions inspired by music and inner emotion (e.g., Music, Pink and Blue, 1918).
Dual Identity: Pink Tulip retains those earlier abstract rhythms—the cascading undulating lines, smooth color gradations, and vertical division of space—while grounding them in an identifiable, real-world subject. It sits precisely on the fine line where real nature becomes visual design.
Influence of Modernist Photography
The "Camera Eye": Working alongside Stieglitz and photographer Paul Strand, O'Keeffe absorbed the photographic techniques of close-up cropping, sharp edge framing, and flattening the depth of field.
Narrow Format: The extreme verticality ($32 \times 12\text{ inches}$) mimics the selective frame of a camera viewfinder, forcing an intimate, elongated slice of the plant into a dramatic statement.
Rejection of Sexualized Interpretations
Freudian Context: During the 1920s, male critics—including Stieglitz—frequently analyzed her floral compositions through a psychoanalytic, heavily sexual lens.
The Artist's Stance: O'Keeffe consistently resisted these gendered interpretations. For her, works like Pink Tulip were rigorous formal studies of light, color harmonies, line, and spatial balance.
New Mexico 2026
Santa Fe Museum
Georgia O'Keeffe
Pink Tulip, 1925
Oil on canvas
Georgia O'Keeffe Museum
Museum Purchase
O'Keeffe's flower paintings have come to define her. As early as the 1920s, her exhibitions were measured against visitor desires to see them. O'Keeffe's abstract botanicals drew attention and speculation from their viewers for their dramatic enlargement of plant reproductive forms. Many male critics of the 1920s saw the ambiguous planes of curving forms as female reproductive organs and an expression of O'Keeffe's sexuality. O'Keeffe adamantly refused sexualized interpretations of her work. Her own words about them suggest the flower is not an object to be observed but rather an invitation to see differently. "Nobody sees a flower—really—it is so small," O'Keeffe wrote. "...I'll paint it big and they will be surprised into taking time to look at it."
Second in a small series utilizing geometrical elements found in stock image banks online ( Google, Bing ).
Titled after a piece by Canadian pioneering abstractionist Lawren Harris. Harris was a member of the hugely significant "Group of Seven", national treasures in this country. But Harris was different from his colleagues. He secretly espoused adherence to a religio-philosophical system called "Theosophy", a bizarre 19th century hodge-podge of Western occultism, Ancient Greek philosophy and a very, very distorted and incredibly naive, imagination-based, cherry picking of Eastern ideas. Nonetheless, it was a favourite of late 19th and early 20th century intellectuals and eccentric aristocracy. It hasn't aged well in the 21st century now that the very rigorous and complex philosophies of Eastern disciplines such as Buddhism, Hinduism and their Tantric offshoots have been widely translated and feature strongly in tough academic circles.
Harris was influenced mostly though by the Platonic and Neo-Platonic aspects of Theosophy involving higher, more abstract and ideal forms. Like Piet Mondrian and Wassily Kandinsky, he sought to demonstrate, through art, ideal or archetypal shapes, forms.
When I finished this piece I saw that it had a rather "Lawren Harris feel" to it. Hence the homage .
Image created May 27, 2022
Zoom in for a more detailed and immersive view.
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© 2022, Richard S Warner. All Rights Reserved. This image may not be used or copied or posted to another website in any form whatsoever without express permission of the creator of this work, with whom the sole copyright resides.
While exploring this circular architectural structure, I was struck by its relentless geometry, clinical whiteness, and apparent coldness. That's when the idea came to me to introduce this single red balloon, floating freely in this rigorously organized space.
Through this minimalist intervention, I wanted to create a visual metaphor about the relationship between structure and freedom, between the rigid framework of our daily lives and those often ephemeral moments of escape that elevate us above constraints. The red balloon represents for me that part of childhood, dreams, and wonder that we carry within us, even in the most austere environments.
The immaculate whiteness of the architecture reinforces this contrast and transforms this functional space into an almost metaphysical canvas where this small point of scarlet color becomes a presence both fragile and powerful. I like the idea that each viewer can project their own interpretation onto this image - seeing in it a quest for freedom, a moment of solitude, or simply that spark of life and color that sometimes transcends the monotony of our structured existences.
What fascinated me about this composition is how an element as simple as a balloon can radically transform our perception of a space and breathe an unexpected poetic dimension into it.
Bartolomeo Cincani called "il Montagna" (Orzinuovi, 1449/1450 - Vicenza, 1523) - detail - Madonna and Child Enthroned between Saints Andrew, Monica, Ursula and Sigismund (1499) - oil on canvas 410 x 260 cm - Pinacoteca di Brera, Milan
La tela proviene dalla cappella di Santa Monica in San Michele a Vicenza, di proprietà della famiglia Squarzi, da dove giunse a Brera in seguito alle soppressioni napoleoniche. Le figure, rese monumentali da un punto di vista molto ribassato, abitano un’architettura solenne e colorata. Non si tratta però di uno spazio chiuso: oculi e arcate fanno entrare fiotti di luce che rendono l’atmosfera mobile, un cardellino si è posato sul tirante di un arco, gli alberi e il cielo fanno capolino tra i santi. Il rigore prospettico, le ombre portate, i panneggi complessi testimoniano un viaggio dell’autore in Lombardia e la suggestione esercitata su di lui dalle opere di Bramante.
The canvas comes from the chapel of Santa Monica in San Michele in Vicenza, owned by the Squarzi family, from where it arrived in Brera following the Napoleonic suppressions. The figures, made monumental by a very low point of view, inhabit a solemn and colorful architecture. It is not, however, a closed space: oculi and arches let in streams of light that make the atmosphere mobile, a goldfinch has settled on the tie rod of an arch, trees and the sky peep out between the saints. The rigorous perspective, the shadows and the complex drapery testify to the author's journey to Lombardy and the influence exerted on him by the works of Bramante.
:: PORTFOLIO
n.*Atmosphere:
An aesthetic quality or effect, especially a distinctive and pleasing one, associated with a particular place.
Old Quebec Christmas Atmosphere, Petit Champlain St., Quebec, Canada.
PixQuote;
To take photographs means to recognize -- simultaneously and within a fraction of a second -- both the fact itself and the rigorous organization of visually perceived forms that give it meaning. It is putting one's head, one's eye and one's heart on the same axis.
-Henri Cartier-Bresson
Paris, La Défense (Tour W)
The main building on the right in this 1990s shot is Tour Winterthur, today known as Tour W, a historic pillar of the La Défense district. The photo perfectly captures the geometric alignment of this specific section of the financial district.
Tour Winterthur (today Tour W)
History and name: inaugurated in 1973, this 119-meter-tall skyscraper was originally built to house the French headquarters of the historic Swiss insurance company Winterthur. After the company was acquired by the AXA group in 2006, the illuminated sign on top was removed and the building was renamed simply Tour W.
The mirrored design: built by architects Delb, Chesneau, and Verola, it features a continuous facade of dark glass and black metal frames. This style echoes exactly the same rigorous, minimalist language as Tour Fiat (Areva), typical of the very first generation of Parisian skyscrapers ("Generation 1," or "ox-bone"-type towers).
The other elements in the shot
Tour Franklin: immediately to the left of Tour Winterthur, set slightly further back and lower, the dark block of Tour Franklin (1972) is visible, recognizable by its broad, massive floor plan that screens the light, creating a deep mirror-like effect.
The dome in the foreground: the semi-cylindrical glass-and-metal structure cutting across the lower part of the frame is part of the covered pedestrian access points and skylights connecting the monumental esplanade of La Défense (the Parvis) with the underground metro and RER stations, designed to fully separate pedestrian flow from the vehicle traffic below.
L'edificio principale sulla destra di questo scatto degli anni '90 è la Tour Winterthur, oggi nota come Tour W, un'altra colonna storica del quartiere de La Défense. La foto cattura perfettamente l'allineamento geometrico di questa specifica sezione del distretto finanziario. La Tour Winterthur (oggi Tour W)La storia e il nome: Inaugurato nel 1973, questo grattacielo alto 119 metri è nato per ospitare la sede francese della storica compagnia assicurativa svizzera Winterthur. Dopo l'acquisizione della società da parte del gruppo AXA nel 2006, l'insegna luminosa sulla sommità è stata rimossa e l'edificio è stato rinominato semplicemente Tour W.Il design speculare: Costruito dagli architetti Delb, Chesneau e Verola, presenta una facciata continua in vetro scuro e profili metallici neri. Questo stile riflette esattamente lo stesso linguaggio rigoroso e minimalista della Tour Fiat (Areva), tipico della primissima generazione di grattacieli parigini ("Generazione 1" o torri tipo Code di bue).Gli altri elementi dello scatto. La Tour Franklin: Immediatamente a sinistra della Tour Winterthur, leggermente arretrato e più basso, si nota il blocco scuro della Tour Franklin (1972), riconoscibile per la sua pianta allargata e massiccia che scherma la luce creando un profondo effetto specchio. La cupola in primo piano: La struttura semicilindrica in vetro e metallo che taglia la parte inferiore dell'inquadratura fa parte degli accessi pedonali coperti e dei lucernari che collegano la piastra monumentale de La Défense (le Parvis) con le stazioni sotterranee della metropolitana e della RER, pensati per separare totalmente il flusso dei pedoni dal traffico automobilistico sottostante.
Valvisciolo Abbey is a Cistercian monastery in the province of Latina, central Italy, near the town of Sermoneta. It is an awesome example of rigorous Romanesque-Cistercian architecture, considered a masterpiece of that style in central Italy.
Owned since 1145 by the monks of Cistercian order, damaged in the 12th-century invasion of Barbarossa, it was occupied and restored by the Knights Templar in the 13th century then owned again by the Cistercians in 1312-15 to date.
From the church’s website: The Church of St John the Baptist was the Cathedral and Collegiate Church of the City of Chester from 1075 until the Reformation in 1541 when the College was dissolved and the Bishops Seat (Cathedra) first set up here after the Reformation was transferred to the dissolved Abbey of St Werburgh, which was in better condition and had not suffered quite the same rigorous attention of the King’s Commissioners.
Parts of the cathedral were altered and reconfigured during its life, and in this photograph you can see examples of both the Romanesque (the rounded arch closest to camera) and Gothic (the pointed arch further back) architectural styles.
Aquarelle on Saunders Waterford 300gms hot press paper. This project emphazises the sheer physicality of watercolor as a medium. Each painting is made up of 16 stripes, horizontal or vertical across the paper. The premise for individual colour choice, placement of each stripe, and its with is based on a sequence of digits of hexadecimal pi. Image size 40x60cm on 57x76cm sheet.
Carvalhal do Avelar, Montalegre Portugal
Encontro em Montalegre – Grupo Postais Ilustrados de Portugal, 16 e 17/05/2009
All of my photographs are under copyright©. None of these photographs may be reproduced and/or used in any way without my permission.
All the photos of the series Barroso, for limitation of the Google maps, will not be able to be rigorously geotagged but, they all were taken away in the District of Montalegre, Portugal.
What a back story!! 1924 Hispano Suiza Tulip-wood Torpedo racer.
Aperitif scion André Dubonnet lived a life of excitement—six aerial victories as a young pilot during the Great War, development of a namesake automotive suspension he sold to General Motors, and a pioneer of solar energy. In between all these things he competed in Olympic bobsledding and loved fine, swift automobiles, racing Bugattis and Hispano-Suizas.
Crafted on the running chassis of the 8-liter overhead-cam Hispano-Suiza H6C chassis of the newly developed Type Sport. Only Hispano-Suiza co-founder Marc Birkigt himself took delivery of an H6C earlier, reflecting the aperitif heir’s importance to the firm. Dubonnet’s was one of three factory-built lowered surbaissé chassis, fitted with a lowered radiator and a 52-imperial gallon fuel tank, a necessity for long rallies.
The true brilliance came in the coachwork. Some of Dubonnet’s competitors, many of themselves aviators, had begun to figure out that aircraft construction methods could yield techniques useful in the construction of lightweight bodies; thus emerged the earliest fabric-bodied coachwork of the period. Dubonnet seemed to cut out the drawing board between aviation and automobile, commissioning aircraft manufacturer Nieuport-Astra of Argenteuil to body his car. Their creation was designed by their engineer Henri Chasseriaux and formed of delicate 1/8-inch-thick strips of mahogany—not actually tulip wood, but romantic legends and alliterative names both die hard—formed over an external layer that was in turn laid over inner 3/4-inch ribs, all secured together by many thousands of aluminum rivets and varnished. Similar to the “skiff” bodies pioneered in the Teens and Twenties most notably by French coachbuilder Labourdette, Nieuport’s torpedo reportedly weighed only 160 pounds, featherweight by the standards of bodywork to be fitted to such a large automobile; by comparison, it added virtually nothing to the weight of its chassis and engine.
On 27 April 1924, Dubonnet drove the H6C, fitted with Paris registration 6966-I6, in the Targa Florio through the torturous Sicilian mountains, widely considered one of the most rigorous and dangerous performance tests of the era, and finished 6th overall. He then ran the additional lap to complete the Coppa Florio, running 8 1/2 hours on the Madonie circuit, to finish 5th overall, despite his appalling luck with tires. Both events demonstrated the practical success of Hispano-Suiza’s engineering and Nieuport-Astra’s innovation; Dubonnet’s driving skill and the fascinating wooden coachwork made a heavy brute—reportedly the largest car on the field—into a true competitor.
This amazing creature has been returned to it's original road specs with the simple fenders etc. as many of you will have seen it in it's more flamboyant livery with the wooden pontoon fenders placed years later by another owner.
He seemed to me very expressive. I found him oblivious about my presence…rather, engaged in preparing a fire to do some ritualistic practices probably!!! In between he completely belonged to his own world. This provoked me to stick to my study of his portraiture with a hope to get some nice candid shots…
This one is textured in OIL.
Every year hundreds of Sadhus gather in the city of Kolkata before they set their pilgrimage to Sagar Island for a holy dip. Our state Government takes a rigorous step every year towards security, shelter, food, and hygiene for hundreds of them assembling from all over the country. Many common people gather to see them; many with a hope for getting their blessings. My notion was different. I always get fascinated by their ritualistic practices, faith, and portrayal of facial expressions! They are excellent subjects to study portraiture. I seldom miss this opportunity. This year was no exception!
Hereby I share a few interesting portraits with you…hope will like them.
Gangasagar pilgrimage and fair – A brief note.
Gangasagar pilgrimage and fair, held annually, is the second largest congregation of mankind after the holy Kumbha Mela. Almost a million of Hindu devotees from all over India gather at Gangasagar for a holy dip.
Besides the devotees, hundreds of sadhus, priests and alms-seekers come to Gangasagar every year for a unique spiritual experience!
The river Ganga (Ganges) which originates in the Gangotri glacier in the snow clad high Himalayas, descends down the mountains, reaches the plains, flows through ancient pilgrimage sites, and drains into the Bay of Bengal. A dip in the ocean, where the Ganga meets the sea is considered to be of great religious significance particularly on the Makara Sankranti day (January 14/15), when the sun makes a transition to Capricorn from Sagittarius.
My own experience of Gangasagar fair...a couple of years ago:
The Gangasagar fair (mela) exhibited a colorful ceremonial display of ritualistic acts, all being driven by deep faith in Hindu religion, directed for the sake of wealth and peace for self and for the dearest and nearest ones, for new generations to come, and of course in deep regards for the ancestors. I wondered by how for generations , the faith, devotion, endurance and love directed the people of my country in their continuous journey for eternal peace with all poverty acclaimed, other wise .I wondered by the gleaming faces of my country people who had no affluence of the west. I wondered by their enormous life forces with very ordinary food. I wondered by their grace with very ordinary cloths, and simplicity out of ignorance of the complex world. I found my religious India at a glance there. And I believe that my India isn’t a “Lost Paradise” even today, where humanity flourished forever.
Rovingian Council - Nomad Monks - Introduction, Organization, Methodology and Activities by Daniel Arrhakis (2025)
Nomad Monks - A Personal Quest
Introduction, Organization, Methodology and Activities
Introduction
The Rovingian Council has, since its inception, endeavored to formalize its foundational philosophy and research methodologies. Among these are the study and analysis of sacred geometries, rites, and diverse cultures. The organization’s structure has evolved through regular annual regional gatherings and multi-year assemblies, specifically the Rovingian Council itself. This systematic approach is organized into distinct phases, each marked by strategic planning, deep reflection, rigorous scholarship, and collaborative discussion among members.
Methodology and Activities
The Council’s process incorporates a range of deliberate practices. These include a variety of rites, exploratory journeys, and searches that involve the collection and analysis of significant elements. Scholarly investigation plays a central role, supported by visual documentation through photography, drawing, and painting. These activities are further enriched by the sharing of experiences across different cultures and regions. An essential component is the support extended to individuals or communities encountered during these endeavors, whether that assistance is spiritual, social, or humanitarian in nature.
Distinctiveness of the Nomad Monks
Unlike conventional religious orders or typical mystical movements, the Nomad Monks enjoy autonomy in their spiritual development. Each member is empowered to determine their own path of formation and discovery. While guidance remains continuously available, it is facilitated through an open dialogue that emphasizes reciprocal learning and mutual growth.
Experiential Learning and Individual Growth
The core methodology centers on experiential discovery. This approach allows each participant to progress at their own pace, with their unique aspirations recognized and encouraged. The journey is valued above the destination, and the process of exploration itself is considered paramount. Although the study of sacred geometries, rites, and diverse cultures is a central objective, the organization places its principal value on the personal enrichment experienced by each individual.
Impact on Council Activities
These academic pursuits, collections, explorations, and intercultural travels are integral to shaping the agenda of the annual regional meetings. Ultimately, they inform the Rovingian Council, which convenes every five years to share and discuss the expertise and insights acquired by participants. In this way, the collective and individual journeys contribute directly to the ongoing evolution and enrichment of the Council and its members.
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Monges Nómadas - Uma Busca Pessoal
Introdução, Organização, Metodologia e Atividades
Introdução
Desde a sua fundação, o Conselho Rovingiano tem-se empenhado em formalizar a sua filosofia e metodologias de investigação. Entre estas, destacam-se o estudo e a análise de geometrias sagradas, ritos e diversas culturas. A estrutura da organização evoluiu através de encontros regionais anuais regulares e assembleias plurianuais, especificamente o próprio Conselho Rovingiano. Esta abordagem sistemática está organizada em fases distintas, cada uma marcada por um planeamento estratégico, reflexão profunda, rigor académico e discussão colaborativa entre os membros.
Metodologia e Atividades
O processo do Conselho incorpora um conjunto de práticas deliberadas. Estas incluem uma variedade de ritos, viagens exploratórias e buscas que envolvem a recolha e análise de elementos significativos. A investigação académica desempenha um papel central, apoiada pela documentação visual através da fotografia, desenho e pintura. Estas atividades são ainda enriquecidas pela troca de experiências entre diferentes culturas e regiões. Uma componente essencial é o apoio oferecido a indivíduos ou comunidades encontrados durante estas jornadas, seja esta assistência de natureza espiritual, social ou humanitária.
Características distintivas dos Monges Nómadas
Ao contrário das ordens religiosas convencionais ou dos movimentos místicos típicos, os Monges Nómadas gozam de autonomia no seu desenvolvimento espiritual. Cada membro é capacitado para determinar o seu próprio percurso de formação e descoberta. Embora a orientação esteja sempre disponível, é facilitada através de um diálogo aberto que enfatiza a aprendizagem recíproca e o crescimento mútuo.
Aprendizagem Experiencial e Crescimento Individual
A metodologia central baseia-se na descoberta experiencial. Esta abordagem permite que cada participante progrida ao seu próprio ritmo, com as suas aspirações únicas reconhecidas e encorajadas. A viagem é valorizada acima do destino, e o próprio processo de exploração é considerado primordial. Embora o estudo das geometrias sagradas, dos ritos e das diversas culturas seja um objetivo central, a organização valoriza principalmente o enriquecimento pessoal vivenciado por cada indivíduo.
Impacto nas atividades do Conselho
Estas atividades académicas, coleções, explorações e viagens interculturais são essenciais para moldar a agenda dos encontros regionais anuais. Em última análise, servem de base ao Conselho Rovingiano, que se reúne de cinco em cinco anos para partilhar e debater a experiência e os conhecimentos adquiridos pelos participantes. Desta forma, as jornadas coletivas e individuais contribuem diretamente para a evolução e enriquecimento contínuos do Conselho e dos seus membros.
I now can't recall the name of this waterfall. It was a pretty good hike in, less than a mile, but fairly rigorous. But I felt is was worth it once we arrived.
The colors were peaking and recent rain provided for nice waterflow.
Europe, Netherlands, Rotterdam, Centre, Pompenburg, Luchtsingel, Roundabout, Trampoline (uncut)
The ol’ Luchtsingel is still there. It was closed for two years to prevent the wood rot of the outer shell from damaging the wooden support structure. But it still seriously needs some more maintenance.
The Luchtsingel and the adjacent Schieblock projects (created in 2015 by ZUS architects) are interesting strategies that counteract the detrimental effects that the combination of modernist urban planning—with its rigorous segregation of work, living, and commercial functions—and chronic high levels of office building vacancy have on the liveability and vitality of the city centre.
Shown here is the Roundabout of the Luchtsingel. It offers a circuit of elevated walkways that pass through the Schieblock, cross major roads and a railroad to offer the pedestrians new ways to discover the city, help them to avoid the anonymous and sometimes unsafe existing urban ground level and realise a connection between emerging cultural hotspots in the Rotterdam Central and Noord areas. Design: Architectenbureau ZUS.. Funding: the municipality of Rotterdam and crowdsourcing / crowdfunding. For 25 € people could buy planks on which the name of the buyer is printed.
In the BG is the bridge that leads to the platform of the former Hofplein railway station. It crosses the 4 tracks of the Rotterdam-Dordecht NS railway mainline.
Shot during an extended lunch with Leun at Roosje with the 7Artisans 7,5mm f/2,8 fisheye.
The soundtrack: Yes - Roundabout.
This is number 10 of the Luchtsingel album and 348 of Urban Frontiers.
The phrase "Facts not Opinions" is associated with David Kirkaldy, a pioneering engineer who established the world's first independent testing house, now known as Kirkaldy's Testing Works in Southwark. Kirkaldy's motto was "Facts not Opinions," reflecting his commitment to rigorous scientific testing and objective measurement of materials (Ai overview)
Manor Park in the heart of Sutton town centre isn’t very large – but it’s beautiful. I have known this lovely green space for more than 60 years, and I still love it.
Created in 1914, it’s a few minutes’ walk from Sutton High Street in south London. The water fountain was donated by Councillor Charles Yates, chairman of the then Sutton Urban District Council in 1924; it was recently restored with the help of local volunteers and a generous legacy from John Hill Malcom.
The park, also noted for its fine selection of mature trees, has just been presented with the Green Flag Award for 2026-27, which recognises parks and green spaces that are safe, welcoming and well-managed, setting the benchmark standard for recreational outdoor spaces everywhere.
Manor Park was independently assessed against rigorous criteria including accessibility, maintenance, environmental management, safety, biodiversity and community involvement.
Long before he ascended to the throne, the young Prince Charles was already soaring to new heights as a skilled pilot. In 1968, during his studies at Cambridge, the future king received rigorous Royal Air Force training that honed his abilities in the cockpit.
This 1952 De Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk T10 WP903 (G-BCGC) was used for flying training by Prince Charles (now King Charles III) and is still painted in Royal Flight colours. Seen in the static aircraft display at the RAF Cosford air show on 11th June 2023.
Acrylic on canvas, 12"x12". July 6, 2020.
Seven years ago ( 2014 ) I was reading a scholarly examination of the idea that there once was a large continent in the middle of the Pacific Ocean that date back before what we know now as recorded history.
Frank Joseph's rigorous look at the evidence that remains, mostly through the comparisons of all the cultures of the entire Pacific Rim, from Australia through Indonesia, the Philippines, China, Japan, the Western coasts of North and South American, Easter Island etc, have remarkable similarity in many of their basic varied symbologies and even, in some cases, elements of their languages.
He demonstrates this with heavily backed-up research and sums it all up cogently, all of it based on the evidence that he gathered and co-ordinated. It's a fascinating read.
Lemuria, as best we know, like the Ring of Fire area of Indonesia, sat on top of very volatile fault lines and areas of intense volcanic activity. Eventually the combination of catastrophic tectonic plate movements and explosive volcanic activity destroyed the continent and it crumbled, sinking under the surface of the Pacific Ocean. Only the peaks of the highest mountains of Lemur, exist today as the Hawaiin Island and the various small "peaks" scattered throughout the Pacific.
When I finished this piece, I could easily see the subconscious influence of having read "The Lost Civilization of Lemur" poling it's way through to the surface in this image, like the peaks of Hawaii, out of the depths of the Pacific.
Collection of Paul and Kim Ewing, Spring Arbor, MI, USA.
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© 2020, Richard S Warner. All Rights Reserved. Neither this image or any part of it is to be used or copied in any way without the express written consent of the Artist.
Valvisciolo Abbey is a Cistercian monastery in the province of Latina, central Italy, near the town of Sermoneta. It is an awesome example of rigorous Romanesque-Cistercian architecture, considered a masterpiece of that style in central Italy.
Owned since 1145 by the monks of Cistercian order, damaged in the 12th-century invasion of Barbarossa, it was occupied and restored by the Knights Templar in the 13th century then owned again by the Cistercians in 1312-15 to date.
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"Photography is simultaneously and instantaneously the recognition of a fact and the rigorous organization of visually perceived forms that express and signify that fact”.
—Henri Cartier-Bresson
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NO GIFS AND ANIMATED ICONS, PLEASE!
Frosty marls and rigorous geometries broken by the light that creeps overwhelmingly from the openings towards the large glass window of the entrance
Interni del Palazzo delle esposizioni
Marni gelidi e rigorose geometrie infrante dalla luce che si insinua prepotente dalle aperture verso la grande vetrata dell’ingresso
The climate of Kamchatka is quite rigorous. Even august may bring the snow or hard storm. We spent about a week in the mists waiting for volcanoes to contemplate. I woke every morning and got back to my camp. And finally, one day my friend woke me up calling "where is Sergey, it's so beautiful out there!". It was just wonderful to see several volcanoes on the horizon in the light of new day.
One more picture from Kamchatka, Opala river, Opala volcano, August, 2015, hdr. Again, made with Zenith MC Zenitar-C Canon 16 mm F/2.8 Fisheye. I liked this cheap and strong gear a lot....
Thank you for all the comments and favs, my friends.
► A big statue of Lord Murugan at the Batu Caves Temple in the outskirt of Kuala Lumpur
This is not a newly captured photo. Maybe it looks calm in the photo with a few tourists taking pictures but tomorrow, January 30th, 2010, the place will be busy, flooded with Hindu devotees, tourists and visitors alike as the Thaipusam festival reaches its climax.
The procession to mark the beginning of the celebrations has in fact already started in the early hours of the day last night when the devotees marched alongside a chariot carrying much smaller size of the statue of Lord Murugan from Kuala Lumpur to Batu caves Temple, covering the distance of 10km.
I was there last year capturing some photos but I am not too sure whether I can make it or not there tomorrow. One can expect an uplifting atmosphere to be at the place as it will then be filled with prayers and mantra hymns with endless poundings of drums, chanting and dancing. Those devotees who are fulfilling their vows will then carry an ornamental “kavadis” with sharp objects piercing their bodies. Prior to the executions of what seem to be the acts of penitence, they had gone through rigorous regiment of spirituality including days of fasting.
Happy Thaipusam to all Hindu devotees and
Have a nice weekend everyone!
Go check for more Batu Caves and Thaipusam festival 2009 in my folder here
THAIPUSAM is an annual Hindu festival which draws the largest gathering in multi-racial Malaysia - nearly a million people in 2000.
Several hundred devotees spear their cheeks with long, shiny steel rods - often a metre long - and pierce their chests and backs with small, hook-like needles in penance.
Tourists watch in awe as metal pierces the skin with hardly any bleeding and, apparently, no pain as the devotee stands in a trance in the dawn light after weeks of rigorous abstinence.
BATU CAVES,
KUALA LUMPUR
Photography’s new conscience
(Unknown), Family:Sepsidae
4mm dipteran fly, shot with diffused internal flash.
Sepsidae are a moderately large, cosmopolitan family of saprophagous flies with species recorded from all zoogeographic regions. Most species have slender, ant-like profiles, ranging from 2-6mm in length, with bead-like heads, petiolate abdomina and relatively few setae. Sepsids are active flies, with a characteristic rapid gait accompanied by lateral wing waving. The majority of sepsids are attracted to dung and/or carrion. Sepsid courtship is a rigorous affair, with shaking, leg taps, sternite brush stimulation, and even 'kissing'.
Wikipedia: The Sepsidae are a family of flies, commonly called the black scavenger flies or ensign flies. Over 300 species are described worldwide. They are usually found around dung or decaying plant and animal material. Many species resemble ants, having a "waist" and glossy black body. Many Sepsidae have a curious wing-waving habit made more apparent by dark patches at the wing end.
Many species have a very wide distribution, reflecting the coprophagous habit of most Sepsidae. Some species have been spread over large territories in association with livestock. Adult flies are found mostly on mammal excrement, including that of humans (less often on other rotting organic matter), where eggs are laid and larvae develop, and on nearby vegetation, carrion, fermenting tree sap, and shrubs and herbs.
Many Sepsidae apparently play an important biological role as decomposers of mammal and other animal excrement. Some species may have a limited hygienic importance because of their association with human feces. Others are useful tools in forensic entomology.
English ten pound note.
If you are familiar with this banknote then this image may strike you as being a little odd. You’ll know the iridescent holograms on the left, but you may not have seen the large yellow figures ‘10’ formed in the pattern at the top.
That’s because this image was taken in UV light. There are patches of fluorescent ink printed on the note that just look like white paper in ordinary light. The five-pound note has a 5 in the same place. I couldn’t afford a £20 note to check it out for consistency (or should that be cheque?) ;)
The British pound sterling is the oldest currency in the world that has been in constant circulation. It was adopted around 800AD being modelled on the currency of the French kingdom of Charles the Great (Charlemagne) which was established a few years before. Italian, Spanish and Portuguese currency had the same roots.
The French livre (pound) had 20 sous each of 12 deniers, like the 20 shillings and 12 pennies of sterling. Interestingly although the small denomination was called a penny its symbol was the ‘d’, just like the French denier, the Spanish Dinero and the Portuguese Dinheiro. All the names derive from the Roman denarius coin.
Sterling was decimalised in 1971 which caused all the prices to go up and the parking meters to stop working :) The pound now has 100 new pennies (p or pence).
Originally one French livre was worth a pound weight of silver (equivalent to 14.6 Troy ounces), but by 850 the pound sterling was only worth eleven and a quarter Troy ounces of silver. Looking at tonight’s spot price for silver my note should be redeemable for £1868.62 of the shiny metal… times change.
This image measures under 3 inches across as per the rules.
One thing that photographers should be aware of is that it is illegal to reproduce a digital picture of more than 50% of one side of the note without an overstamp, and the Queen’s head must not be distorted. There are the normal copyright issues as well and these can be rigorously prosecuted. See the Bank of England website for more details.
Thank you for taking the time to look. I hope you enjoy the image. Happy Macro Mondays :)
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.
Explore, September 17, 2017 #296
On Aruba, Land Rover vehicles are used to conduct tours of the Arikok National Park, which is located on the southeastern (windward) side of the island. This area is rugged desert, making the tour rigorous, as the tour guides must negotiate their way along the extremely rocky and rutted trails. Made me feel like I was riding on the surface of the moon.
In this shot, three Land Rover vehicles are parked to allow their tourists to explore the Natural Pool area. Having been there before, I chose to shoot pictures instead of descending the cliff.
Henri Émile Benoît Matisse;
(31 December 1869 – 3 November 1954)
was a French artist, known for both his use of colour and his fluid and original draughtsmanship. He was a draughtsman, printmaker, and sculptor, but is known primarily as a painter. Matisse is commonly regarded, along with Pablo Picasso, as one of the artists who best helped to define the revolutionary developments in the visual arts throughout the opening decades of the twentieth century, responsible for significant developments in painting and sculpture.
The intense colorism of the works he painted between 1900 and 1905 brought him notoriety as one of the Fauves (wild beasts). Many of his finest works were created in the decade or so after 1906, when he developed a rigorous style that emphasized flattened forms and decorative pattern. In 1917, he relocated to a suburb of Nice on the French Riviera, and the more relaxed style of his work during the 1920s gained him critical acclaim as an upholder of the classical tradition in French painting. After 1930, he adopted a bolder simplification of form. When ill health in his final years prevented him from painting, he created an important body of work in the medium of cut paper collage.
His mastery of the expressive language of colour and drawing, displayed in a body of work spanning over a half-century, won him recognition as a leading figure in modern art.
Laranjeiras - Rio de Janeiro - Brasil
Drone DJI - Mini 4 Pro - El. 60m
O parque aquático do Fluminense Football Club, em Laranjeiras, organiza-se como um eixo linear entre a mata densa e a arquitetura do clube, onde a topografia conduz a implantação com precisão quase silenciosa. As piscinas, rigorosamente moduladas, dialogam com a paisagem tropical — um raro encontro entre disciplina esportiva e exuberância natural.
The aquatic complex of Fluminense Football Club, in Laranjeiras, is structured along a linear axis between dense forest and club architecture, where topography quietly guides the layout. The rigorously modular pools engage with the tropical landscape—a rare balance between athletic discipline and natural exuberance.
Intentional camera movement,or better known as ICM. This type of photography seams to be catching on, favoured and promoted by people like Doug Chinnery. I must admit that I was initially very sceptical about it, even slightly hostile as my idea of skilful photography is totally the opposite to deliberately blurring a picture. I thought I would give it a go, and here is my first result. I have got be honest and say that making this image was rather fun, free from the shackles of the tripod and my rigorous discipline of setting up a shot. And the result, well I will let you be the judge of that. All feed back good or bad will be welcome.
My Web Site. www.raymondbradshawphotography.co.uk/
We carry the highest quality motorsport equipment, rigorously tested by us, in the extremely demanding environment of professional series racing. For more information visit www.werks2.com. Additionally, for the latest news and trivia, follow us on our Werks II facebook page.
Photo courtesy of Alexander Bermudez
adj. *Nocturnal:
1. belonging to or active during the night
2. of or during or relating to the night
3. of or relating to or occurring in the night
Nocturnal Stillness. Honfleur, Normandie,France.
PixQuote:
"For me, content cannot be separated from form. By form, I mean the rigorous organisation of the interplay of surfaces, lines and values. It is in this organisation alone that our conceptions and emotions become concrete and communicable."
-Henri-Cartier Bresson
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.
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 kōlea combs the shoreline for a meal after a return trip to the tropics from the summer nesting grounds on the Alaskan tundra. It made the journey with a flock of other plovers that disperse to solitary territories after arrival. The trip spans about 3,000 miles of open ocean requiring a rigorous, energy intensive effort of 3 to 4 days and nights of nonstop flight at elevations ranging from 3,000 to 16,000 feet. A superb navigator with territorial fidelity, this Pacific golden plover used the stars and the earth’s magnetic field to find its way over the featureless ocean to the same small patch of shoreline every year. It may perceive the earth’s magnetic field visually with the magnetoreception molecules of cryptochrome in its retina.
Adding a splash of colour to the delightful scene on the edge of Morecambe Bay near Silverdale Moss in this July 1997 scene was Loadhaul-liveried 37698, heading an afternoon flask working to Sellafield, during the early and indeed short period of EWS custodianship of these services, just before Direct Rail Services took over all nuclear-associated rail operations on the national network, initially based from their headquarters and maintenance facility at Sellafield. Of note are the two barrier wagons each side of the four 'FNA' wagons and flasks, and the brake van, such a formation eventually being dispensed with by DRS, using two locomotives instead, as contractually agreed with BNFL. The 'FNA's were also granted a higher running speed, enabling enhanced pathing opportunities on the West Coast Main Line, once approval had been granted by Derby RTC (The Engineering Link), and following the satisfactory completion of several modifications and rigorous network running trials.
© Gordon Edgar - All rights reserved. Please do not use my images without my explicit permission
What type of people even contemplate starting a new private school one month before school is supposed to start? Well, say hello to The River Rock School on the Haw, located next to the Haw River in Saxapahaw, NC. Of course, you can't start a new school without some cool graphics, so I waded out into the middle of the Haw on Friday at dusk with a canoe and a rented lens and tried to get some pictures to fit in with the school's river theme. Since school starts this week, every parent and student spent all day Sunday painting, sanding, cleaning, and getting everything ready for the first day of school on Thursday.
Here's how we're describing the focus of the new school:
The River Rock School on the Haw will open August 28th in Saxapahaw, NC for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th & 5th graders with a focus on environmental and community stewardship, collaboration, creativity, adventure, and rigorous academics. The school is an indepedent private school with mixed age groups and an integrated curriculum allowing for extensive, project oriented explorations in the sciences, arts, history, social studies, problem-solving, math, languages and literature.The teaching staff includes a lead teacher who has previously taught at The Community Independent School, Carolina Friends School, The Duke School, and Chapel Hill Public Schools. The resource staff includes seasoned teachers in Music, Art, Spanish, and Natural and Physical Science. There are still a few spaces available and limited full scholarships for minority students.
My new full frame Nikon D700 arrived the day after this shot was taken, and I'd already sold my wide angle DX lenses in anticipation. (DX lenses only work on the DX format, not FX format, or full frame like the Nikon D3 and D700.) Instead, Southeastern Camera in Raleigh and Carrboro rented me a Nikon 17-35mm f2.8 lens for only $20! That's got to be the camera rental bargain of the century, especially compared to online rental prices. The lens itself is incredible sharp, as you can see here. At f2.8 the transition from sharp to blur is quite pleasing, and this is now at the top of my list to acquire as a wide angle lens for my new D700.
Yes, the text is fake, and of course was done in photoshop using a variation of the classic techniques. First the text was converted to a path and the rotate and perspective transformations used to get the general angle right. The tricky bit there is the perspective doesn't work on regular text so you first have to convert it to a path. I then used a clipping mask against the text using a b&w white version of the canoe to make sure the text had all of the scratches and defects of the side of the canoe. Typically used use overlay mode for that, but it wasn't give me the text color I wanted. To fit the text better to the undulating nature of the side of the canoe the standard displacement map is used, (Filter->Distort->Displace), and finally a blur map was applied so that the text got blurrier as the canoe got blurrier. Its a lot more complicated than that, but you get the drift, I hope. One one question is why overlay mode wouldn't work like all of the tutorials show.
The first day of their 47-month journey at West Point begins for the new cadets in the Class of 2016 during Reception Day, July 2. Roughly 1,150 new cadets were instructed on everything from company mottos, regimental greetings, how to salute and how to march. New cadets will then complete six weeks of Cadet Basic Training, learning how to be a West Point cadet and an introduction to basic soldiering skills. They will participate in rigorous physical training, small-unit tactical training, and rifle marksmanship, as well as learning to respond quickly and accurately to their commanders under conditions of mental and physical stress. At the end of this initial training period, new cadets will be formally accepted into the Corps of Cadets. Photo by Mike Strasser/USMA PAO
One of our first wave lore-characters for the 253rd Legion 2.0. Kaolin joins as the cool headed jedi to rival the hot headed and instinctive clones. Join the 253rd Legion to learn more about Kaolin and our other characters.
Jedi General “Kaolin”
Keeping a watchful eye over the experimental and unpredictable 253rd Legion required a trained eye. Someone who was stern and strong in the eyes of the council. No jedi fit that criteria better than the massive stature and presence brought by a Lasat. The Lasat who would join the 253rd was known as Kaolin, a retired member of the Lasan High Honor Guard, Kaolin joined the Jedi Order after serving his home world. After being a part of the Guard for 2 years, the other members started to see him as instinctive, bold and aggressive, and his hot head did not have a place in the group anymore. Getting demoted from that position was shameful, and the Lasat people saw him as an outcast. Kaolin left Lasan to find a way to redeem himself in his people's eyes. This was when he discovered the Jedi, specifically through his distant relative Jaro Tapal. Tapal was another Lasat that was a padawan at the time, he invited Kaolin to seek guidance and teachings from the order. Being far into his juvenile years, it would be difficult for Kaolin to do what Tapal suggested, but a Jedi Council member Yarael Poof had helped in the teaching of Tapal and knew the potential of Lasats within the order, and took Kaolin under two of his four arms. Teaching and training him extensively in the art of jedi mind tricks and mindfulness. The Lasat attended rigorous courses in subjects of the mind and the force, allowing him to control the impulsive tendencies from his childhood. The padawan was quickly promoted to a Jedi General at the start of the war and was noticed for his cautious and apprehensive approach to conflict. Which was exactly what the jedi were looking for to counter the uncertain future for the 253rd and it's Protector Class ARC Troopers.
Frank begins a rigorous new training program for Godzilla, in which the first task is to socialize with all the other neighborhood dogs.
02/27/2026 | Day 58/365
Sol LeWitt (1928-2007) was an American artist linked to various movements. He is regarded as the founder of both Minimal and Conceptual art. His two and three-dimensional works range from wall drawings to hundreds of works extending to, what he termed, "structures" in the form of towers, pyramids, geometric forms, and progressions. These works range in size from gallery-sized installations to monumental outdoor pieces.
Using lines, squares, and cubes as his building blocks, LeWitt created rigorous works of art that are often both visually surprising and stunningly beautiful.
Seen and photographed on exhibit at San Francisco's Museum of Modern Art.