Select Few (post 1 ~ comment 1)
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” As I went through my list of names so many, Only a select few came through as true as a penny. There were things that set each name apart, But only those few would remain in my heart. Forever to be called, friends to the end “
Rest hope you all enjoy amsy work as always ^^
Amsy ♡
“Only a select few are able to see the true beauty that lies behind what just might seem like a rainy day or a grey sky.” – Jessica M. Laar
A shot that I haven't posted before that I found whilst searching an old folder for a different shot.
The wonderfully named 'Badger's Rake Lane,' which runs from one side of The Wirral to the other side although it remains in Cheshire itself. There is a small wooded area called Badger's Rake Covert to the right of this scene where all our previous dogs are buried and as such holds many a memory for me.
The woodland was sold off and is now used as a place for woodland wild camping by a select few of the syndicate that bought it so at least I know it will be kept in good condition. It's private land now though.
“Only a select few are able to see the true beauty that lies behind what just might seem like a rainy day or a grey sky.”
– Jessica M. Laar
Gloom. - Landy Skin - VELOUR - Rose Kiss, Gloom. - Sentimental Collection eyes, Gloom. - Candy Lips, LILO's FIT - Shape Lelutka EVOX Avalon [Maitreya] Bobby, LeLUTKA Avalon Head 3.0, Maitreya Mesh Body - Lara, VELOUR: Piper HD Eyeshadow (LEL), KUNI - Ara, *LD* Swapy Gloves, Lyrium. Hills Idle Stands.
[Mow] Arya Outfit
maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Never%20Never%20Land/162/1...
Wicca's Originals @ The Warehouse Sale // July 23 - August 18 ☻ Item: Jadeon Nose Piercing
......we all have them in us right ? Some people are subtle and expose them at the right time to the select few and others are more continually obvious but they are there to have fun with and when you do want that fun my latest Exclusive for release at Swank will help you visually do just that. (Click on pic to zoom in for the stunning detail)
Opening on the 7th this eyeshadow pack has 20 animal print colours and and matches perfectly with our Manhattan Brights Lips (Combo Pack) and our Tunis Brights Almond Nails Packs which are both used in this pic- demo's are available now from my Cosmetics Mainstore
❤ Heart cheek tattoo shown for Lel EvoX FGJ Gift ! New back 'KISS THIS BOM Tattoo Group Gifts!
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Such a contrast with the skyscrapers and the housing all in the same area.
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Please do not use this photo on any websites or for personal use.
Thank you.
©2018 Fantommst
Returning along the Canyon Overlook Trail from a select few first light images before the sun rose above the clouds, I decided I wanted to turn back and look one more time.
Although somewhat washed out, I still enjoyed the scene. The stillness of a cold winter morning, the vastness and grandeur of the formations before me, it makes you appreciate the foresight that people had in setting aside these lands for future generations.
Congrats on Explore!
#38 ⭐ March 10, 2021
Recognition:
Merit Image - MAR 2021 Professional Photographers of San Diego County (PPSDC) - Nature/Landscape Category
I have been shooting RAW full time for roughly 9 years now, and editing them offer so much more flexibility than straight JPEG files off of the camera. In addition to shooting RAW for that long, I have been doing flash work for close to 7 now, and in that time, I have lost count on shots that I have botched in some capacity that I chalk up to learning experiences. However, there are a select few, a few photos that have fallen into a list that no matter how many successful trips since attempting, stay in my mind for my failures, photos that are painful lessons and make you hate this hobby and crush the desire to want to shoot anytime soon after.
Almost 5 years ago, when I was working in Lansing still, it was not often that I carried my night equipment to work, so there were opportunities that I missed, but for some reason on this day, I brought them to work, and at the time I was thrilled I had when I saw that L501 came out of the tunnel with BCOL 4642 leading. I got all my work done and had some free time at the end of the night when they were leaving Flint, and I made the decision to risk it at the Lansing Coal Tower, which for me at that time, going to at night was anything but something I enjoyed. As a result of this hesitance, I elected to delay my set up to limit my time there, which I grossly underestimated. With limited time to set up and plan accordingly, lights were not set up properly, no testing took place, and the shot was, at the time, deemed a painful failure that made the infamous list. The photo stayed on a memory card that was replaced with a faster card and resided in my bag ever since.
Fast forward to a few days ago, while dumping my active card, I noticed a wonderfully lit rainbow above my house after a brief thundershower, and in a moment of haste, I grabbed a backup card in my bag, the card that held this shot, and it was discovered this existed while looking through it. With fresh eyes, 5 additional years of editing experiencing, and some odd optimism that I could save it, success came to fruition. While it did take more work than what I like to do, the flexibility of RAW files came through, and took a photo that spent so long on the list of painful lessons was successfully removed and is now one I can call good enough.
Independence Day 2016.
I came back to this vantage for the fireworks after six years, partially to observe whether my photographic and post-processing skills had improved since. (I would like to believe they have). I'll try to post the image I captured back in 2010 below so you can compare.
Recent events (both domestic and international) in the past two months have been rather overwhelming to digest and fully comprehend without a profound sentiment of sadness. Malice is a severe illness that can only be cured if one is willing to engage in challenging his or her own set of beliefs. That requires a determined desire to open one's mind to its uttermost capacity. As long as one believes he or she is absolutely correct, and everyone else is wrong, there will never be any progress in achieving any degree of empathy or acceptance of others who do not look or think like ourselves. Good and evil come in all shades everyday, not just a select few on certain days of the week. Also, the ulterior motives of those same shades rarely ever represent, nor should they define, an entire demographic. I'll leave it at that.
Nevertheless, to evade closing on such a melancholy note, I do sincerely hope you're all having a relatively pleasant summer or winter.
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Thank you so much for taking the time to view & make a comment. Your view on my images & my narrative is always appreciated. Thank you. Happy Days Happy Ways Happy Fab Fridays one & all🙏
Ohio Central's unique maroon, yellow, and grey paint scheme was rumored to disappear quickly after the G&W takeover in 2007. I'm not sure of the exact number, but I believe 35-40 engines wore this scheme prior to the buyout, represented by EMD, GE, Alco, and MLW products. Older maroon units were sent off with JJJ's estate, while others were repainted and/or sent to other G&W properties. But a select few have managed to escape the orange dip over the years.
The number had dwindled down to 10 when I luckily caught this consist of three maroon EMD's on a loaded stone train from Brewster to Coshocton on May 4, 2018. The only time I would find three coupled together... other than a couple times as a kid visiting the fantastic train festivals at Dennison with my parents, but photography was not something I ever thought about then. As of 2023, there's just seven maroon units left on the OC, with about a dozen others scattered around the country.
Of all the many years I’ve been shooting the Indiana Harbor Belt from Point A to Point B, gathering every unit on the roster and almost covering every location on the railroad, this photo in particular might be my all time favorite.
The sun has just risen in Northwest Indiana, as a BA2 crew takes a stolen hump set back to their home of Blue Island Yard light power on the IHB Kankakee Line. A pair of rather clean looking Tennessee Orange SW1500s (IHB 1511/1524) and *now retired* (IHB 477) hump trailer/power booster/slug whatever you may wanna call it, cross the calm waters of the Grand Calumet River northbound along Kennedy Avenue in East Chicago, IN. Taken: 8-8-20
Three years later, these two pups are still in orange paint, as over the course of 4 years a select few switchers got branded with AC, PTC, and a hand full of other modern upgrades, as well as their the companies refurbished “retro paint.” As for the 477, it was almost always paired up with the 1524, as they used to humped cars daily at Blue Island Yard, now scraped.
Ancient rusty garden edging hoops at the Botanic Gardens, with a select few turned gold by direct rays of the late evening sun.
Thank you so much for taking the time to view & make a comment. Your view on my images & my narrative is always appreciated. Thank you. Happy Days Happy Ways Happy Thursdays one & all🙏
Wells Cathedral in Somerset, UK, is often considered one of the finest Gothic structures in Europe, and certainly amongst the most beautiful. Described as the "most poetic" of English cathedrals, it has an artistic unity and flair only seen in a select few buildings.
The West Front at Wells is a masterpiece in its own right, being 145 feet wide and 100 feet high to the top of the gable. It contains several hundred statue niches, of varying sizes, and was described by Alec Clifton-Taylor as "one of the great sights of England". The western towers framing the facade are 124 feet high.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDsSiaSs9Bo
abraaxue.blogspot.com/2016/09/in-day-dream.html
Her life was never perfect. She always did her best to please everyone, even at the cost of her own happiness. This would in the end be a grave mistake. She knows now to never sacrifice her happiness for someones enjoyment. In the end she learned the hard way. She is not sad or hurt by the actions others took upon her. She was just disappointed in her self for allowing it to go own for so long. Her happiness would be her own. She would only do things that would never sacrifice her dignity, pride, happiness, and love. This was her and hers alone. The select few she would choose to open up to she knew were and would be wort it. Even if in the end it all shatters . You can love a thousands times over again, you can break even more. Its how you get up and move on with your life that makes or breaks you.
High noon at the Point of Ayr. It was the only stop on our tour where previous knowledge would give us a head start. Four years earlier, a brief and wintry visit to North Wales had ended with a last minute addition to the itinerary at Talacre Lighthouse, and it had been a big hit with all three of us. So familiar yet so refreshingly new for us coastal dwellers from the far south west of these islands. There’s something about a lighthouse on a beach and the possibilities that can bring. Now, with our Wirral base no more than an hour’s drive away - even with the new twenty mile per hour speed limits in urban areas - it would have been remiss of us not to make a return to the lighthouse at the edge of the dunes. Yesterday’s diabolical weather had eased, although the mercury was still only just about nudging double figures on this late May morning as we headed across the Dee and into the Principality. It was our only outing across the border, and one we’d very much looked forward to with the prospect of renewing our acquaintanceship with the lighthouse lying in wait.
The forecast suggested we might be lucky after yesterday’s tough assignment on Crosby Beach. The weather had been so bad in the evening that we’d given up on the sunset plans for Perch Rock entirely and settled into our rented accommodation with a European football final and beer as the outside world howled and whistled and threw itself at the windows and the roof above us. But now, as with renewed enthusiasm we made our way towards Prestatyn and the coast while the winds continued to chase themselves urgently across the land, it seemed that the rains might break for just long enough to allow us some unhindered progress on the beach. The tide was in our favour too. With waves wrapping themselves around the base of the lighthouse we wouldn’t have to worry about airbrushing footprints from the world today. Wearing stout wellies and warm waterproof layers, we could focus on the task at hand on our last full day in the field. In a moment of pleasing bonhomie, Lee suddenly woke up and announced from the back of the car that he was buying lunch later in recognition of my marathon drive and Dave’s services to navigation. The filet mignon and Bollinger it would be then. With a Toblerone each for dessert - giant size.
A couple of sections of flooded road later, we crept the last mile down a narrow lane towards the car park, where the machine relieved me of a very agreeable twenty pence for two hours - Cornwall take note! And with just the odd spot of water dotting the windscreen, we headed out onto the dunes. A freezing blast threatened to send the calendar back from May to March, but it did seem that the Met Office’s prediction of a gap in the downpours that had dogged yesterday’s adventures might just prove to be accurate. At least the elements were keeping what few tourists there were occupied in their chalets behind the dunes, or in the amusement arcade we’d driven past earlier after missing the turning for the car park. Just us and a select few others were on the beach, pointing our cameras into the bristling sea air. But the great thing about such contrary conditions is that it really doesn’t matter what time of day you’re out with the camera. No glowing sunrises or sunsets to see here today - just grey, grey and more grey to iron out the variations in the light that each hour usually brings.
And the other thing about today was that we were at the coast. Years of experimenting with exposure times around water in all kinds of weather have given me a pretty good idea of what I’m going to be happy with. Keep shooting, take a few fast ones for insurance purposes, sift out the turkeys later and see what worked. And in this wind there would be plenty of blurry duds to lose. We only needed an hour, and by the time I strolled back to the car with nearly a hundred and thirty exposures on the card and a happy grin on my face, Dave and Lee were already waiting inside, cooing at the backs of each other’s cameras, and looking contented enough with their own efforts. It seemed that even though conditions had been almost identical to those of our one previous visit, the return to Talacre had been successful enough.
And now it was time for steak and Toblerones, all paid for by the sleeping occupant in the back seat of the car. It was a fine reward for an hour at the beach. What more could you ask for?
Trying to mix it up a bit. I seriously cant take pictures of anything other than a very select few cars. : )
The photos from my last trip to Thailand are slowly dwindling. But that's okay, because in about 10 weeks I'll be heading back there. This time, though, without booking a return flight.
I've also discovered that there are still some photos from my trip last April that you haven't seen yet. This is one of them.
You've probably seen this bird viper, photographed in Khao Yai National Park, before, but not from this perspective, which the ranger who accompanied me that day specifically pointed out.
Here you can see a special sensory organ that very few creatures possess, and which is also reserved for only a select few snakes.
It's the so-called pit organ, which you can clearly see here between the eye and the nostril.
With this organ, the viper can perceive infrared radiation and thus detect temperature changes as small as 0.003 Kelvin (which I find absolutely spectacular).
Since the snake can also combine this information with its visual vision, it has an extremely sophisticated night vision system and can reliably detect its prey in almost complete darkness.
Die Fotos von meiner letzten Reise nach Thailand werden langsam weniger. Das macht aber nichts, denn in ca. 10 Wochen mache ich mich wieder auf den Weg dort hin. Doch dieses Mal ohne einen Rückflug zu buchen.
Außerdem hab ich festgestellt, dass es noch Fotos von meiner Reise im April letzten Jahres gibt, die Ihr noch nicht gesehen habt. Dies ist eines davon.
Diese Vogel Viper, aufgenommen im Khao Yai Nationalpark, kennt Ihr zwar schon, doch nicht aus dieser Perspektive, auf die mich der Ranger, der mich an dem Tag begleitete, extra hingewiesen hat.
Hier seht Ihr nämlich ein besonderes Sinnensorgan, über welches nur die wenigsten Lebewesen verfügen und welches auch bei den Schlangen nur einigen wenigen vorbehalten ist.
Es ist das so genannte Grubenorgan, welches ihr hier zwischen dem Auge und dem Nasenloch gut erkennen könnt.
Mit diesem Organ kann die Viper Infrarotstrahlung wahrnehmen und somit Temperaturveränderungen ab 0,003 Kelvin erkennen (was ich als absolut spektakulär empfinde).
Da die Schlange diese Informationen auch noch mit ihrem visuellen Sehvermögen kombinieren kann, verfügt sie also über ein extrem ausgereiftes Nachtsichtsystem und kann ihre Beute in nahezu vollkommender Dunkelheit sicher erkennen.
~ Sponsored by Harshlands & Belle Epoque
~ Created by Kadaj Yoshikawa & Janire Coba
"In the heart of the Fairelands, where the veil between the realms of the living and the dead grows thin, lies Öndheim (the Realm of the Spirits, in Old Norse). This fantastical realm, cloaked in mist and mystery, serves as a crossroads for souls traversing from one world to another.
In Öndheim, time dances to its own tune, and the landscape is a tapestry woven from the threads of dreams and memories. Ancient trees whisper secrets to the wind, towering mountains rise majestically against the backdrop of an endless sky. Structures carved from solid rock and adorned with precious gold dot the landscape, their intricate designs telling tales of ancient civilizations long gone. At the center of it all stands the Dòmbjalla, a majestic bell where souls gather to await their fate.
Deep within the mountain lies a secret chamber known only to a select few. Here, amidst the towering peaks and shimmering gold structures, the Fjǫrsteði, the Forge of Life burns eternal, tended by ancient Titans whose duty is to keep the pulsating heart of Ondheim alive.
The entrance to the chamber is hidden amidst the gardens of the Realm and the Bell of Judjment, guarded by ancient wards and powerful enchantments. Few have ever dared to venture into its depths, and only those who are determined to fight the Unweaver can access it, for the secrets it holds are known only to those who wield the most powerful weapon to defeat it once and for all: Hope.
Among the spirits who dwell in Öndheim are those who await judgment, their ethereal forms drifting through the golden valleys and rocky crags. Some wander alone, lost in contemplation of their past lives, while others gather in small groups, seeking solace in the company of their fellow souls." - Kadaj Yoshikawa
Image by Ulf Ragnarok
Not much of a Disney fan but I have a select few movies/characters I like a lot. That said, expect more Disney magic in the very near future~
"There will be no foolish wand-waving or silly incantations in this class. As such, I don't expect many of you to appreciate the subtle science and exact art that is potion-making. However, for those select few who possess the predisposition, I can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses. I can tell you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even put a stopper in death. Then again, maybe some of you have come to Hogwarts in possession of abilities so formidable that you feel confident enough to not pay attention!"
— Severus Snape
John Williams - Hedwig's Theme (Harry Potter)
Head: LeL Evo X
Body: e-Body REBORN
Outfit:
AVEC TOI - Panacea Coat & Jacket LEATHER FATPACK
AVEC TOI - Panacea Mask & Hat LEATHER PACK
AVEC TOI - Panacea Gloves LEATHER PACK
Wand: [ContraptioN] Twisted Wand *???*
Probs:
*~*HopScotch*~* Soul Sucker
[ContraptioN] Ride of Delusion *default*
Made at Mischief Managed www.mischiefmanagedsl.net
After driving 2 1/2 hours to see absolutely nothing in the quad cities, I decided to take the fun, backlit way home and chase the Iowa Interstate's CBBI thru western Illinois, in mostly unfamiliar territory. The Interstate has always been my favorite railroad, so it was nice to spend some time on the more interesting segments of the railroad, rather than just watch them leave Blue Island and see a transfer or two.
Here the railroad is, ripping up the grade into Sheffield, Il. Behind the 503 were two of the railroad's GP38-2s, which absolutely love to smoke, and needless to say, their presence definitely made this photo more fun to work with in post!
A select few of you will understand the relevance of this title. Trying to be clever, failing per the usual.
"Oblong stones sink
slow and sideways. Shaped
by the weight of the waves,
dutifully vibrating nature's
lunar-bound graces,
they wash ashore only for
closed palms to forsake them.
The cheerful will
cherish them, place them
on windowsills, or on graves." - Kristen Henderson, Of My Maiden Smoking
My small pottery bowl filled with a select few rocks and stones has a few new stones from this beach. I sometimes roll the stones in my hand and remember the time I spent at certain places I collected these gems. I also have a friend who makes lovely jewellery from local river stones. I am hoping she can make a special pendant for me with that one special stone I found on Lake Superior.
I thought this small section of weirdly contorted sandstone on the Northumberland coast felt strange and other worldly. So I decided not to correct the blue colour cast borrowed from the blue sky overhead. This is revealed by the camera simply by setting a shady white balance. I also opted to include the small splash of reflected sunlight at the top of the frame. This provides both an accent colour and point of difference to show the colour is actually balanced.
Personally, I find this kind of thing fascinating. As Flickr friends will know, I do enjoy a bit of ambiguity and abstraction in my photography. Although I realise this isn’t the case for everyone, and this one will likely only appeal to a select few!
Leica SL3 2.8/28-70. Original photograph copyright © Simon Miles. Not to be used without permission. Thanks for looking.
The final location I headed for to shoot the coal drag was Mineral Springs Road, on the far east end of the CSS yard at Bailly. The train is pulling east of the yard, and will eventually stop and shove back east into industrial Burns Harbor once they reach enough headroom.
Thankfully the dust rain had stopped, and the sky had opened up for quite the sunset, ironically at the end of the crew's journey. It just so happened to time itself out perfectly!
Huge thanks to the select few responsible for making this chase happen. Haven't had this much fun in a while!
— said the ancient Greeks, who sought her wisdom and guidance. Only a select few were allowed to enter. Even statesman Perecles, who ordered the building of the temple, was alleged to only be allowed as far as the second step outside the temple.
Clothed in it's original metallic green, this 1935 Aston Martin MK II Bertelli sports sedan is at speed on Hiway 1. Designed by Bertelli and constructed next door at Bertelli's brother's shop.
Some manufacturers start as roadcar makers and make racecars, but a select few start as racecar makers and become roadcar makers. Augustus Cesare Bertelli, one of automotive racing history’s only driver, owner and manufacturer combos, was the man that made this transition possible for Aston Martin.
Aston Martin didn’t always make posh exotic cars, they started by making stripped down, single-seat race cars. They had a slow start. Just as founders Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford were finishing their first production car, World War I broke out, and the company’s equipment was sold off to Sopwith Aviation Company when they joined the war effort. They had only made a few racecars up until this point, including the “Razor Blade” seen here.
It wasn’t until 1920 that Aston Martin was refounded with funding Count Louis Zborowski, a racer and engineer himself. For four years they managed to make a few cars and break a few records, but went bankrupt in 1924, was revived once more with nobel money, and then failed yet again in 1925.
Then in 1926 Augustus Bertelli, along with a group of investors, took over. From 1926 to 1937 Bertelli was Aston Martin’s technical director and designer. Also a racer himself, he became one of the few people in racing history to be a driver, owner and manufacturer at the same time! The cars made during this era have since been called “Bertelli cars,” because of A.C. Bertelli’s comprehensive influence on the cars’ design and production.
During this time Aston Martin Motors made cars with 1.5 liter engines like the “International”, “T-Type”, “Le Mans”, “MKII”, “Ulster”and a 2 liter racer called the “Super Model”. During this time, road cars became Aston Martin’s focus, and after being financially bailed out a few more times by various English noblemen during the 30’s, this is where their focused remained. That is, until another World War interrupted their production in favor of aircraft parts.
Aston Martin went 3rd over all at Le Mans in 1935 in the Ulster model of this same car with the same 1.5 liter OVC engine, ahead of many much larger pure racing cars! This is the original paint color
Five live steam locomotives rest easy in the woods of Pocahontas County as several photographers shoot into the evening. Cass is one of a select few places in the states that harbors several operating steam locomotives, and is a must visit.
A tutti è dovuto il mattino, ad alcuni la notte. A solo pochi eletti la luce dell’aurora.
To all is due the morning, to some the night. Only a select few the light of dawn.
(Emily Dickinson)
MUSIC:
The Nutcracker - Waltz of the Flowers.
All losses are caused by different reasons, but a select few of them happen because something was straight out taken from us, or we were taken ourselves. Imagine being not only stripped of your clothes, your dignity, and your pride, but also being forced to go along for the ride. A ride that involves no acceptance, no going with the flow, no ability to fight, just being absolutely forced to comply with everything and everyone being taken from you.
This can all be metaphorical to describe a situation in your life, but it can also be exactly what it describes. Sex trafficking is still a very real thing and is one of the worst kind of losses you can go through as a human being. Did you know that over 27 million people a year are forced into jobs, not just sexual ones, but hard labor jobs as well? You hear about the numbers sometimes of women and girls forced to be sex slaves, but you don't hear about the number of slaves working on farms, ranches, in mines, and this doesn't even include the number of inmates locked up on bogus crimes and forced to do the jobs society has deemed undesirable. Silenced, subdued, shackled, and sometimes raped repeatedly, there are depths a person can fall into that are unimaginable while the rest of the world declares "We should do something." While sipping their starbucks, and going to get a massage on the weekend at the spa from one of the trafficked women in town.
Next time you feel like you've lost everything, just remember there's a lot further you could fall, and your situation can most likely be fixed a lot easier than some other people's darkest days.
A special one for the trick or treat bags.
They've been siloed in a secret place, treated with a process known only to a select few.
They'll reach maturity late Halloween night.
Each is unique with its own collection of ghoulish goodies.
Supplies well stocked but orders coming in faster than you would have imagined.
Advisory: Not for consumption.
Contents will rapidly grow into pets.
Parental supervision advised.
Happy Shocktober.
I'm just back from a 4 day road trip and will come around to at least view some of your photos.
Thank you so much for taking the time to view & make a comment. Your view on my images & my narrative is always appreciated. Thank you. Happy Days Happy Ways Happy Fab Fridays one & all🙏
When I was in grade school during the late 1960s, I spent a fair amount of time in the Klamath County Library. The railroad section contained a number of books extolling the industry written by S. Kip Farrington in the 1940s and 50s. Reading about all those great streamliners running through America was a fine way to spend a Saturday afternoon.
What I never knew while reading those books was that they probably should have been shelved in the fiction section. By the time I was turning their pages, most of the trains they described were either long gone, or running as faint shadows of their past glory. Amtrak would soon be along to supplant a select few, and euthanize the rest.
During our chase of the 1995 Union Pacific special to Bend, Oregon, I finally managed to make acquaintance with a train that would be worthy of a chapter in one of Mr. Farrington's volumes. At Deschutes siding, seven miles north of Bend, we caught the Es making track speed with 19 post-WWII streamlined passenger cars. The grade here is about a 1% climb, and the train was rolling southwest into the setting sun. I have to believe that Mr. Farrington would have approved of this image.
How we ever managed to get from our last shot at the Crooked River Gorge and beat the train to this location is something I have blocked from my mind. The expressway bypass of Redmond had yet to be built in 1995; US 97 was routed down a one-way grid through downtown, and traffic was typically horrendous.
After composing the above, a recent post about activity at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center in Portland reminded me of how we were able to get ahead of the Streamliner for this image. In 1994, the Mt. Emily Lumber Company Shay steam locomotive was moved to the City of Prineville Railway and began occasional operation in Central Oregon.
When the E units came through Prineville Junction with this UP special to Bend the following year, the Shay was operated to the interchange and spotted next to the Oregon Trunk mainline. Given the likelihood of a large contingent of people around the steamer, the excursion slowed to a crawl (they may have stopped briefly) in the area. That enabled us to get ahead and score this image.
One of the largest, fastest, and most widely distributed of the dragonflies, the Green Darner is also one of the select few dragonfly species that migrates. It is, like the Monarch Butterfly, a generational migrant: eggs are laid on the way south, hatch and migrate further south, where eggs are laid for the return journey. Given the lengthy developmental phases of each stage, the cycle is lengthy and random. As one source suggests, the dragonfly in this image may be the grandchild of a dragonfly that headed south - not last fall, but some previous autumn.
They can fly almost 60 kms/hr, and in migration can cover over 120 kilometres a day. They are aggressively territorial and will eat other dragonflies that ignore that territorial marking; the legend is that some birders saw one try to take down a Ruby-throated Hummingbird.
This species takes its pauses lower than others, often at or near ground level. This particular dragonfly let me photograph it through the emerging wild grasses, which are its resting habitat. I secured some other images on a low branch, but I liked the effect of the grasses more.
That blue is something else when they are whizzing around you, hunting.
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A daylily, day lily or ditch-lily is a flowering plant in the genus Hemerocallis a member of the family Asphodelaceae, subfamily Hemerocallidoideae, native to Asia. Despite the common name, it is not taxonomically classified in the lily genus. Gardening enthusiasts and horticulturists have long bred Hemerocallis species for their attractive flowers; a select few species of the genus have edible petals, while some are extremely toxic. Thousands of cultivars have been registered by the American Daylily Society, the only internationally recognized registrant according to the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants. The plants are perennial, bulbous plants, whose common name alludes to its flowers, which typically last about a day.
It' probably controversial to say this, but I like nature that has been improved by man. Nature is swell, don't get me wrong, but I am always drawn to the places where man has improved something in nature. A great lodge, a bridge, heck, look at Going to the Sun Road in Glacier! Its the main attraction. Anything the CCC built during the depression is always my favorite part of the park, no mater which park. I like that they open up nature to so many others to fall in love with. There is a book called Last Child in the Woods that makes the argument that preservation has gone way too far (are you listening Parks Departments?). The idea is that if you close off nature to the select few, the fit, the rugged, then that group will keep getting smaller. They will have a hard time defending these places politically, and these places will start to disappear. On the flip side, if you open up these fantastic places with improved trails, cool bridges, and catwalk trails, more people see them, they fall in love, and greater numbers of people respect these places, want to actually fight to keep them. The more you share, the stronger these places will become.
So in this shot, in Johnston Canyon up in Canada, I just love that they took this great canyon, with a great river, and great trees, and did what any nature lover should do- bolt a catwalk to the side of the cliff. Oh yeah, that's my kind of nature. That's why this image features the catwalk as prominently as the river. I tried to really play with light in this image to pull you into the frame. Enjoy.
After running light to Eagle Bridge from Greenwich Junction, RS-1 3501 returns north with two loads in tow. The short train is crossing the Hoosic River moments after departing the Berkshire & Eastern interchange at Eagle Bridge. In 2024, the Batten Kill Railroad is one of a select few places, in North America where you may find an Alco RS-1 in revenue freight service. 3501 has been affectionately nicknamed "Buttercup" for obvious reasons.
RPCX 3501 RS-1
A bit of Mist on the fields will make things grow better next season. But it only works in Germany and a select few other places! At least the Germans insist it does. If you ask me, it's probably bullshit.
For what could be the final time all 5 are lined up having worked possibly for last time, the 2023 RHTT season draws to a close with a private photo event.
37407 37419 37425 37716 37422 all stand proud having all been washed and cleaned and even a few bits painted ready for a group of selected few photographers.
This is it. The end of my long journey. The journey that seemed like it would never end, but also went by so fast. A journey of not only improving in photography but learning about me. The real me. Going on in this project I thought I would never improve, I thought I would never be the photographer I wanted to be. I almost gave up way too many time. But this project has made me realize my true passion for photography, no matter how good or bad I am at it. I believe that this is what I was meant to do. I have learned so so much, & still there is more to learn. I want to thank all of you who supported me everyday, or most days. You all have inspired me so much I cant even begin to explain. I hope I have inspired you in some way too. I definitely am not happy with every single picture. There is only a select few that I actually love. But that’s the learning process right?
And to all the friends I have made through flickr…you all are amazing. You supported me the whole way. You all have inspired me in one way or the other. And not just photograph form. You helped me through photography and my life.
This is just the beginning for me. I have learned what I wanted to learn and now I will use all my knowledge throughout the life of a being a photographer.
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i am not very happy with this shoot, due to the fog....but its all i got.
i hope you like it.
& i took over 300 pictures. but i am too lazy to post any more in comments. :)
Columbian Presbyterian Church in Lafayette, NY.
I took this shot in 2009 while stationed in Ithaca, NY as a military recruiter. Here in 2022, I came back and did some editing to add some 'star spikes' to a select few of the stars.
Taken on a Canon 7D with Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L lens
Conway Scenic's Notch Train crosses the Saco River for the second time in their trip; they'll cross it six more times for the round trip. This is the second time in a row that I've gotten just the 252 running on the train, resulting in it running long hood forward for the key shots to get in the notch. Nonetheless, the shorter days of fall allow for a couple shots with at least some nose light on their way up to the Notch. This is the Second Iron Bridge, a relatively unseen location compared to the Fourth a few miles from here, but also a bit more open, and definitely a lot quieter than the Fourth Iron Bridge. A select few trees that may encounter gravity issues would definitely open up this scene a lot more, but that's something for another day.
A small part of NS' TOP21 program includes the elimination of older power. The ex Conrail SD60M/I's were next on the list. By around April of 2019, all of NS' SD60M/I fleet were sold off or scrapped. Only a select few hung on for coal trains until their SD60E successors were modified for service. The M's and I's were kept on the Strawberry Ridge coal trains because they were able to fit under the rotary dump system at the plant. Now that some of the E's were retrofitted to fit under the rotary dump, the old ex Conrail unit's days were basically numbered.
Here, NS 6724 backs down onto a loaded coal train, presumably NS 534, at Rose Yard in Altoona, PA to be taken north later that morning.
BNSF Fakebonnet 783 leads tank train B116 out of Deshler and into the evening light with a decent lashup for todays standards. This train somehow flew under the radar most of the day, with only a select few individuals out chasing.
Deshler, Ohio
The Gardner Earl Memorial Chapel is a "stunning example of Romanesque architecture, the Gardner Earl Memorial Chapel is Oakwood Cemetery’s most significant structure. Its opulence fosters a great understanding of Troy’s prominence during the Industrial Revolution and Gilded Age. Opened in 1890, this gorgeous edifice celebrates the Victorian notion of grandeur in death—and offers a window onto the extraordinary affluence of a select few." "Organized in 1848 at the height of the rural cemetery movement and now a National Historic Landmark, Oakwood Cemetery is both graveyard and garden and spreads over 280 acres of wooded parkland north and east of the City of Troy and the Village of Lansingburgh. As one of the most exceptional rural cemeteries in the United States, the grounds of Oakwood feature beautiful trails, several ponds, sculptures, and stonework. Oakwood commands views of the Hudson River Valley which serve as a spectacular backdrop to the history of its 'residents'." Oakwood website 2022-05-31
Mt Momizawa, center right, and Mt Sugoroku dead-center, look inviting. Btw, there are 4 major ridgelines merging altogether at Mt Yari, one running straight: Mt Kitaho-Daikiretto-Mt Minamidake-Mt Nakadake-Mt Ohbami-Mt Yar; the others curving like blades of sickles: 1) Higashi Kama (East Sickle, literally) for Mt Tsubakuro-Mt Otensho-Mt NIshidake-Mt Yari; 2) NIshi Kama (West Sickle) for Mt Sugoroku-Mt Momizawa-Mt Yari; 3) Kita Kama (North Sickle) for Yumata Onsen (or alternatively Kitakamazawa) to Mt Yari. #3 (Kita Kama) has taken not a few human lives so far (no traces of footprints or not a single even-scarcely-beaten trek path either, and overhanging rocks along the way), so even experts demonize it. Maybe that's why only a select few give it a try here with a huge risk.