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Allium ursinum
The Latin specific name ursinum translates to 'bear' and refers to the supposed brown bear's taste for the bulbs; folk tales describe the bears consuming them after awakening from hibernation.
(Source Wikipedia)
The photo was created with a historical manual lens from the 1970s. 50mm and aperture F1.8
in the woods that I regularly visit it is difficult to have sightings of the European Roe Deer during the day from a reasonable distance.
In this specific protected area I had several short sightings this year walking into the woods before dawn.
However, since about 10 days a Wolf ( canis lupus ), looking for a viable territory, has moved into this area .
This is an entirely new situation for the Roe Deer and their behavior is changing.....
In the last week there have been regular daytime sightings just like my encounter last Tuesday deep in these woods.
capreolus capreolus
ree
chevreuil
Reh
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Chiffchaff - Phylloscopus collybita
The common chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita), or simply the chiffchaff, is a common and widespread leaf warbler which breeds in open woodlands throughout northern and temperate Europe and Asia.
It is a migratory passerine which winters in southern and western Europe, southern Asia and north Africa. Greenish-brown above and off-white below, it is named onomatopoeically for its simple chiff-chaff song. It has a number of subspecies, some of which are now treated as full species.
This warbler gets its name from its simple distinctive song, a repetitive cheerful chiff-chaff. This song is one of the first avian signs that spring has returned. Its call is a hweet, less disyllabic than the hooeet of the willow warbler or hu-it of the western Bonelli's warbler.
The common chiffchaff breeds across Europe and Asia east to eastern Siberia and north to about 70°N, with isolated populations in northwest Africa, northern and western Turkey and northwestern Iran. It is migratory, but it is one of the first passerine birds to return to its breeding areas in the spring and among the last to leave in late autumn. When breeding, it is a bird of open woodlands with some taller trees and ground cover for nesting purposes. These trees are typically at least 5 metres (16 ft) high, with undergrowth that is an open, poor to medium mix of grasses, bracken, nettles or similar plants. Its breeding habitat is quite specific, and even near relatives do not share it; for example, the willow warbler (P. trochilus) prefers younger trees, while the wood warbler (P. sibilatrix) prefers less undergrowth. In winter, the common chiffchaff uses a wider range of habitats including scrub, and is not so dependent on trees. It is often found near water, unlike the willow warbler which tolerates drier habitats. There is an increasing tendency to winter in western Europe well north of the traditional areas, especially in coastal southern England and the mild urban microclimate of London. These overwintering common chiffchaffs include some visitors of the eastern subspecies abietinus and tristis, so they are certainly not all birds which have bred locally, although some undoubtedly are.
Population:
UK breeding:
1,200,000 territories
UK wintering:
500-1,000 birds
Central Kalahari Game Reserve
Okavango Delta
Botswana
The Kori Bustard (Ardeotis kori) is a large bird native to Africa. It is a member of the bustard family, which all belong to the order Gruiformes and are restricted in distribution to the Old World. It is one of the four species (ranging from Africa to India to Australia) in the large-bodied Ardeotis genus.
In fact, the male Kori Bustard may be the heaviest living animal capable of flight. This species, like most bustards, is a ground-dwelling bird and an opportunistic omnivore. Male Kori Bustards, which can be more than twice as heavy than the female, attempt to breed with as many females as possible and then take no part in the raising of the young. The nest is a shallow hallow into the earth, often disguised by nearby obstructive objects such as trees.
The specific epithet kori is derived from the Tswana name for this bird - Kgori.
The specific name "pendulum" comes from the Latin adjective pendŭlus, a, um (= pendant, dangling) in relation to the pendulous branches and stems that characterize this species.
It loves acidic and humus-rich soils, from 600 to 2400 meters.
Went out with good friend Tim Poulton with the specific goal of setting up this scene with his Gretsch Guitar. No guitars where harmed in the making of this. The base of the guitar was carefully masked up.
If you get a chance check out the new free location guide for ios mobile called One of a Kind Location Guide in the itunes store. Android version coming early 2015.
Had a nice session with around a dozen of these flying around a specific bush. As usual, took a few hundred shots; this is my favourite of the bunch.
Thank you Andy & Emily for thinking of me while on your trip to Florida, I love my seashells that you found on the beach...hope you like this photograph!
This species grows to be 1 3/4 inches across, and has a rounded, triangular shell with both strong concentric ridges and strong radial ribbing, which together form a raised crisscross pattern of ridges, hence the specific name, cancellata or cancellate. The species commonly lives on sandy bottoms of sounds and shallow offshore waters, and the shells are commonly found washed ashore on sound and ocean beaches.
My husband built this birdhouse back in Alaska to specific sizes for swallows. Chickadees used it two years in a row. It stood high on a metal pole away from interlopers.
Then we moved here, birdhouse included, and finally, tree swallows! Sounds like quite a few hungry ones inside.
Photo today by my husband, Howard Marsh, using his D4 and my 500mm f/4 on the Manfrotto monopod.
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My 2019-2023 tours album is here:
www.flickr.com/gp/jenslpz/SKf0o8040w
My bird album is here:
www.flickr.com/gp/jenslpz/1240SmAXK4
My nature album is here:
www.flickr.com/gp/jenslpz/27PwYUERX2
My Canon EOS R / R5 / R6 album is here:
www.flickr.com/gp/jenslpz/bgkttsBw35
Sandregenpfeifer (Charadrius hiaticula) - common ringed plover
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandregenpfeifer
Der Sandregenpfeifer (Charadrius hiaticula) ist eine Vogelart aus der Familie der Regenpfeifer (Charadriidae). Er ist ein Brutvogel im Norden Europas, Asiens, Süd- und Nordamerikas. In Mitteleuropa brütet er im Küstengebiet der Nord- und Ostsee. Wegen der großen Zahl an Sandregenpfeifern, die sich auf dem Frühjahrszug im Wattenmeer vor der schleswig-holsteinischen Küste versammeln, gilt diese Region als der wichtigste Rastplatz dieser Art.[1] Im Binnenland ist er besonders im April und Mai sowie von August bis Oktober ein Durchzieher.
Es werden drei nur gering differenzierte Unterarten unterschieden, die sich vor allem in ihrem Mauserrhythmus unterscheiden.
Beschreibung
Der Sandregenpfeifer sieht seinem Verwandten, dem Flussregenpfeifer, sehr ähnlich. Der Sandregenpfeifer ist allerdings ein wenig größer und kräftiger. Ein ausgewachsener Sandregenpfeifer wird 18 bis 20 cm groß und wiegt 40 bis 80 g. Die Flügelspannweite ist 40 bis 55 cm. Der Sandregenpfeifer kann bis 11 Jahre alt werden. Ausnahmsweise werden Vögel dieser Art aber auch deutlich älter, wie Wiederfunde beringter Tiere belegen: Ein auf den britischen Inseln gekennzeichneter Sandregenpfeifer erreichte ein Alter von 20 Jahren und neun Monaten, ein in Deutschland gekennzeichnetes Tier 14 Jahre und acht Monate[2].
Sein Rücken ist graubraun und seine Unterseite ist weiß gefärbt. Der kurze Schnabel ist vorne dunkel und hinten gelb gefärbt. Seine Beine weisen eine gelbliche und die Augen eine schwarze Färbung auf. Der vordere Teil vom Kopf ist schwarz-weiß gezeichnet. Außerdem besitzt der Sandregenpfeifer ein breites schwarzes Halsband. Anders als der Flussregenpfeifer hat der Sandregenpfeifer eine weiße Flügelbinde, die man deutlich im Flug erkennen kann. Männchen und Weibchen haben die gleiche Färbung.
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en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_ringed_plover
The common ringed plover or ringed plover (Charadrius hiaticula) is a small plover that breeds in Arctic Eurasia. The genus name Charadrius is a Late Latin word for a yellowish bird mentioned in the fourth-century Vulgate. It derives from Ancient Greek kharadrios a bird found in ravines and river valleys (kharadra, "ravine"). The specific hiaticula is Latin and has a similar meaning to the Greek term, coming from hiatus, "cleft" and -cola, "dweller" (colere, "to dwell").
Description
Adults are 17–19.5 cm (6.7–7.7 in) in length with a 35–41 cm (14–16 in) wingspan. They have a grey-brown back and wings, a white belly, and a white breast with one black neckband. They have a brown cap, a white forehead, a black mask around the eyes and a short orange and black bill. The legs are orange and only the outer two toes are slightly webbed, unlike the slightly smaller but otherwise very similar semipalmated plover, which has all three toes slightly webbed, and also a marginally narrower breast band; it was in former times included in the present species. Juvenile ringed plovers are duller than the adults in colour, with an often incomplete grey-brown breast band, a dark bill and dull yellowish-grey legs.
This species differs from the smaller little ringed plover in leg colour, the head pattern, and the lack of an obvious yellow eye-ring.
© Leanne Boulton, All Rights Reserved
A quick landscape shot from Barassie Beach, Troon, Scotland.
An imperfect handheld shot, with some blown out highlights and a shallower depth of field than I would really like. I haven't picked up my camera in months, I am ashamed to admit, not at least with the intention of photographing something specific - and I am far from being a landscape photographer!
I can't believe that I now live just 1 mile from this view! A sea view being well outside of my price bracket but just 1 mile is close enough to call this home.
The sun was on it's way to setting with some gorgeous crepuscular rays over the Firth of Clyde, the Isle of Arran and the majestic outline of Goatfell. Off to the right was a storm cell and some huge downpour rainbands which I have captured in some other shots to come in the future. It was hard to believe that the two scenes were in the same place - it looked apocalyptic to the right of frame!
I put my back out again crouching for this shot but it has been in a bad way since moving day. More physiotherapy required but despite that and the imperfections in my shot, it feels like a lovely view of my new place in this beautiful world of ours. Enjoy.
My youngest son Shane asked me to take a picture of his Lego train, as if it really existed and functioned in the real world. Like it would have changed dimensions. It had to be an exciting photo in a specific atmosphere. I tried to realize that with this photo, and he told me that this is close to what he had in mind and he is happy with it.
A narrow passage to a wider world.
A striking, high-contrast perspective of a mountain pass along the trails of Mount Sinai (also known as Jabal Musa or Mount Moses) in South Sinai.
The vertical lines of the rock walls create a strong "frame within a frame," drawing the viewer's eye down the path toward the distant, brightly lit peak in the center.
The use of leading lines through the rock faces creates a powerful "V" shape that draws the viewer’s eye deep into the center of the frame.
There is a beautiful play between the warm, earthy oranges on the left and the cool, shadowed purples on the right. This creates a natural color harmony that adds depth.
The image uses strong leading lines from the canyon walls to guide the viewer's eye toward the bright opening in the distance, providing a sense of depth and a clear focal point. The low camera angle makes the rock formations appear imposing and grand. The composition is largely symmetrical, which creates a balanced and stable feel.
The harsh, direct sunlight creates a high-contrast scene, with deep shadows on the right wall and bright, warm illumination on the left. This contrast emphasizes the rugged texture of the rocks. The warm tones of the rock contrast nicely with the cool blue of the sky, enhancing the visual appeal.
Every path has its own story; this one is written in stone. This specific location is often encountered by hikers descending from the summit of Mount Sinai after viewing the sunrise.
The photograph evokes a sense of adventure and awe emphasizing the natural geology of the canyon and the interplay of light and shadow within the narrow passage.
The little penguin (Eudyptula minor) is the smallest species of penguin. It grows to an average of 33 cm (13 in) in height and 43 cm (17 in) in length, though specific measurements vary by subspecies. It is found on the coastlines of southern Australia and New Zealand, with possible records from Chile.
When the male is ready to mate, the sperm is transferred from the opening of the primary genital on the 9th segment close to the end part of the abdomen to the subsidiary genitalia situated on the segment 3 and 2, which is close to the base of its abdomen. In the beginning of the process, the male holds the female with his claspers on the back of the female’s head, while the female twists her abdomen forwards and downwards to collect the sperm from the secondary genitalia of the male Damselfly. This specific position is referred as “wheel” or “heart”, and the termed used when they indulge in this process is “to be in cop”.
The female Damselflies, when ready to deposit eggs, hover around the water body to find suitable habitat for egg laying. Some also lay eggs inside the tissue of plants. For laying eggs in the water, the female Damselflies may submerge under the water for at least 30 minutes, and at intervals, climb on the aquatic plant’s stem. During this period, the male guards the female and the eggs from other rival male Damselflies.
Moduza procris - the Commander
Doi Suthep-Pui NP, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Order : Lepidoptera
Family : Nymphalidae
Sub-Family : Limenitidinae
Genus : Moduza
Species : Moduza procris procris
I have recently uploaded a new set of Thailand pics on my website. Mostly butterflies but a couple of other things as well. Please have a look - bugs-alive.blogspot.com
There is also a specific factsheet for the above butterfly -
All my insect pics are one shot, hand-held macros of live insects in the wild.
There's a better picture there with the buildings glowing, but I missed it by about a minute or so. The light is only right for this kind of thing under specific circumstances as far as I can see: storm w/ openings in clouds and dusk. Easy enough to catch, I think. We'll see.
Aeshna isoceles is a small hawker dragonfly that is found in Europe, mostly around the Mediterranean, and the lowlands of North Africa. Its common name in English is green-eyed hawker. In Britain it is a rare and local species and is known as the Norfolk hawker. It has a brown colour with green eyes and clear wings and also a yellow triangular mark on the second abdominal segment which gave rise to its scientific name. It used to be in the genus Anaciaeschna as it has several differences from the other members of the genus Aeshna. Its specific name is often spelt isosceles.
A. isoceles is one of only two brown hawkers found in Europe, the other is A. grandis. Both have a brown thorax and abdomen but A. isoceles has green eyes and clear wings and a diagnostic yellow triangular mark on the second abdominal segment. The hindwings have an amber patch at their base. In contrast A. grandis has yellowish wings and blueish eyes. The green eye of A. isoceles stands out even in flight and in practice it is not difficult to tell these two dragonflies apart. In addition to the morphological differences A. isoceles is on the wing much earlier in the year than A. grandis.
1932 Donnet Type 7CV Cl-7 (1928-1932) Modèle Torpédo
Unfortunately, I wĺill have less time to spend on FLICKR in the coming period due to my study 'Drone Pilot Advanced EASA Specific-Category STS-01/PDRA-S01' 🚁
I keep trying to post 2 automotives a day on my stream and not in groups except by request
While I am curious about the formation of the lines on the slope, a Flickr friend from Malaysia was specific about the bitter coldness there or thereabout in winter. Nowadays, I suppose more people are concerned about the isolation here and I'm not too sure if folks there have access to the internet, or even to Amazon ?
Dohnanyi plays Beethoven
Tempest
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwNJhcVY8tI&list=PLAC65F6C5C6...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwNJhcVY8tI&list=PLAC65F6C5C6...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GPBRr2c_n0&list=PLAC65F6C5C6...
Andante Sonatas 30&31- 1959
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLz5PhzYeYU
Like most audience, I was first attracted to Dieskau and then I switched to Hans Hotter and thereafter to French tenor Gerard Souzay and I'm still exploring :
Gerard Souzay. Schumann & Schubert
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sh8HFVwc-I
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrKkdIp85DY
Faure
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRrdWhKuwQ4
Elisabeth Schumann, Schubert - 48 Lieder : Ave Maria, Die Forelle...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5E_BicQmR4
www.classical-music.com/article/best-recordings-schuberts...
Peter Schreier : Serenade, Schubert
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaq-6U7ZJt8
Elley Ameling
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JygxOQK0rYg
Chen Sa plays Beethoven 'The Tempest' , 2011
1949 Studebaker Champion DeLuxe Series 8G Model W3 4-door Sedan
I passed my 'Drone Pilot Advanced EASA Specific-Category STS-01/PDRA-S01' 🎉🎊🎉🎊!
Thanks for all your support 🙏🙏🙏!
I’d like to dedicate this shot to a good friend of mine William McIntosh. I have spent the last 4 months shooting as much as I can with Bill and trying to gleen info from him about his weather prediction skills and gain some insight about his frame of mind about photography. He is a master of weather prediction IMHO and I have always admired his tenacity which has netted him some absolutely fantastic captures from Yosemite National Park and the Pacific Northwest. Bill contacted me during the week to see if I was up for a Banzai run to Yosemite Valley as he was predicting a passage in the storm which would provide a high probability of misty/snowy conditions like seen in many of his postings from there. Of course Bill was right on the money as was shown from some of the webcams provided there. But unfortunately I had to decline as I was starting to get sick with the Flu and didn’t want to drag him down with me. Today he contacted me again to see if I was up for some shooting at Corona Del Mar but I was still trying to fight off the Flu and as painful as it was had to opt out again. Later, today, as I was digging through my folder of processed photos I found this shot and the pain of declination returned. Sorry Bill, I was more worried about getting you sick then worsening my own condition. LOL. Thanks for the invite my friend and hope you had a great day at CDM. If you would like to see William’s amazing photography, you can visit his stream here.
www.flickr.com/photos/mtsacprof
Tale of the Take…
This is a side view of the arch found at Corona Del Mar, If you wanted to get a full view through the arch you would need to scramble along the cliffsides base there at a specific tide level, I say specific because if you time it incorrectly you wouldn’t drown but you would have to spend a long, cold night on the rocks or call the Coast Guard to come “fish” you out which carries along an $800 dollar or better rescue charge. I’m still hoping that Bill will show me the specifics of entering here at a time that would be safe to enter and exit during the sunset. See what I mean about his tenacity. :)
Please come over and check out my other photos, you might find something else you like. :)
Thanks for taking the time to take a look at my photos, and as always, your views, comments, faves, and support are greatly appreciated!! Have a great weekend everybody!! :)
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Copyright 2016©Eric Gail
It's late December and hordes of photographers are currently converging on Big Sur's Pfeiffer beach from all over the world. As one puzzled visitor asked me last week, "What's with all the photographers? What are they shooting?" The answer, of course, is the light pouring through the Keyhole Arch which only happens from mid December through January each year.
Just out of curiosity, I headed back this year on solstice to see if the light was any better than two years ago but while I was there, I discovered that Pfeiffer offers far more for photographers than just the light in the Keyhole Arch. For starters, this photo isn't from the Keyhole. It's from another small archway just South of the keyhole. Most photographers completely ignore this spot since the multitudes are flocking the the larger archway to the North. Secondly, the TIDE is a huge factor in what type of light will make it through the arch and for how long. Even though I was there on December 21, the light we had two years ago was far superior to what we had this year as the high water level actually cut off the light through the arch with at least 10 minutes of golden sunlight left. And lastly, the entire area is an incredible location to shoot. In spite of the many opportunities on this stretch of coastline, I watched almost 50 photographers leave en masse as soon as the sun dipped below the horizon, migrating back to their cars in droves while there was still plenty of good light and sunset color in the sky. Why? The sunlight in the archway had disappeared, and to them, the show was now over.
For more tips on shooting the Keyhole arch AND the rest of Pfeiffer Beach, please feel free to check out
Tips For Shooting Big Sur’s Pfeiffer Beach
which is up today on The Resonant Landscape.
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Thank you so much for your views and comments! If you have specific questions please be sure to send me a message via flickr mail, or feel free to contact me via one of the following:
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Sometimes we’re able to plan a specific photograph, and leave almost no room for coincidences or misfortune. Also, sometimes we just explore some locations and see whatever the day and the light gives us (probably my favorite!). But there are times where you just happened to be at (or very nearby) a location that you want to shoot for some time and you just have to accept the given circumstances at the time. This is the type a lot of hobbyists like myself have to deal with every now and then, and so it was the case at this quite beautiful spot at Zierikzee. On a time window of only half an hour I was trying to make the most of this ‘golden hour’ that never came. The sun was going down behind the tower, just on the right side, but I didn’t even see a glimpse of it. So the result was a nice moody sky, but a very dark subject. Then rain started pouring down and I had to look quickly for a shelter. But after a few minutes, the rain stopped and suddenly some beautiful reflected light from the clouds behind me appeared on the city gate. I was amazed by the difference it made to the scenery and although the wind was blowing significantly, I was able to get a nice reflection by using a 6-stop nd filter. So at the very last minute I luckily came away with a decent photograph. Eventually I was a bit late for the sports tournament I participated in, and where I had to be in the first place. But hey, you’re a photographer or you’re not!
Thanks for having a look! All faves and comments are highly appreciated!
Oxalis acetosella (Oxalidaceae) 091 21
Oxalis acetosella (wood sorrel or common wood sorrel) is a rhizomatous flowering plant in the family Oxalidaceae, common in most of Europe and parts of Asia. The specific name is acetosella, which refers to its sour taste.
The plant has trifoliate compound leaves, the leaflets heart-shaped and folded through the middle, that occur in groups of three on petioles up to 10 centimeters long. It flowers from spring to midsummer with small white chasmogamous flowers with pink streaks. Red or violet flowers also occur rarely. During the night or when it rains the flowers close and the leaves fold.
From Wikipedia
Oh, HOW I love this specific spot, in my Chateau de La Hulpe- land blessed wanderings! In ALL Seasons! If you notice, there is only a few meters distance between the spot I took each photo. What you see here is not actually a river, but a lake, which becomes narrow-formed at a certain point, and then stops at the borders…I normally follow my path on both sides of it, turning around at a point nearby, where a little bridge exists, which it is not included in my photos….
That morning, it was a misty, velvety November week-day! With all that very special silence surrounding me ….With all those magical Earth-colours and odours…Just very few people around, but with a soft smile on their face , and bright eyes…. And a heart-warming “Bonjour!!”, every time passing close to me…
*** Wishing you all, a DELIGHTFUL Weekend!!
I just want to share this survivor with you. You don't have to look very close to see his wing is badly damaged. My friend and I first noticed him all alone after all the other shovelers had gone north, in the Spring of 2019. He's a permanent resident now, a survivor, and I'm always torn with compassion and joy when I see him - I'm happy he's still chugging along, but sad he's all alone. I was thinking he'd be happy now with all the migrant shovelers in town, and he has come to the specific area on the lake where they hang out, but he stays a bit aloof, a loner so to speak. Now that I recently witnessed the high-octane male behavior, it's pretty likely he doesn't want to get involved. But he's really handsome, on the other side you'd never know about his handicap. It's not too hard to single him out, as he doesn't head for the far side of the lake at first sight of a human like the others do. He's a survivor, he's adapted to what life dealt him. I can't imagine how his wing was so injured - it's possible he escaped a coyote, I have no idea. But he always makes me smile now, coming up on his third spring with us.
In 1990, Archaeological Survey of India discovered a sunken apsidal stepped well along with few sculptures inside it. This stepped well is located immediately to the north of the Shore Temple, its south edge abutting the northern wall of the Shore Temple. On the extreme south of this newly discovered shrine is placed a monolith statue of Varaha (Boar)in its zoomorphic form. This image is carved in round from a single boulder. The statue was found severely damaged, however, with efforts from ASI restorers, we now see this image in its near original glory. The other element of this stepped well is a slender cylindrical shrine constructed partly in rock and partly in stone. Beyond this cylindrical shrine, further northward, is a circular cistern or mini-well. This is cut downwards with a circular rim-like stone placed at the ground level.
ASI report mentions that this well provides potable water though situated near the ocean. Though Rabe accepts these sockets for the capstones of a well, however, he suggests that these might be constructed to hold the ‘pillar of victory’ taken by Narasimhavarman I from Vatapi (Badami) which probably was installed here.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Rabe2 tries to explain political reason behind the systematic destruction of this Varaha image. Rabe suggests that this Varaha monolith was severely and systematically butchered when the Chalukya king Vikramaditya I invaded the Pallava kingdom. The rationale behind this destruction was the submissive and prostrated attitude of the Varaha (Boar) Varaha was the dynastic crest of the Chalukyas. This specific posture of Varaha might be taken as a reference to the subjugation of the Chalukyas by the Pallava king Narasimhavarman I. And to take revenge, the Chalukyan army destroyed this Varaha image while marching forward into the Pallava kingdom.
Inscriptions On the Varaha (boar) monolith –
The Varaha sculpture is carved out of the mother rock like the three other animal sculptures in the Five Rathas nearby. It has four birudas (titles) of Rajasimha Pallava, some of his favorites, inscribed upon the base, in Sanskrit in the Pallava Grantha script. The birudas on the side are “Sri RajasimhaH” “Sri RanajayaH” and “Sri BharaH”. The biruda on the rear, under the varaha’s tail, is “Sri Citra KaarmukaH”. Between the legs of the boar on both the and under its tail, leaves of acquatic plants are sculpted. These are similar to those at the base of the Varaha and Gajalakshmi panels in the Varaha Mandapam. These indicate that the boar which represents Vishnu, is diving under water, not merely digging.
However, how to explain the engraved titles of Rajasimha, as the Chalukyan attacked the Pallava kingdom before the reign of Rajasimha. To explain it, Rabe tells that it was most possible that like other monoliths, this Varaha was also executed during the period of Narasimhavarman I(630–668 AD). Therefore, when the Chalukyas attacked the Pallavas, during the reign of Narasimhavarman I and Parameshvaravarman I, this monolith was present in the temple complex. As the Varaha was destroyed before the reign of Rajasimha (695 to 722 AD), it was Rajasimha who restored it and that’s how we find his titles engraved on it. (Above description source Internet). Location - Mada Koil St, Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu 603104, India
Based upon its horizontal perching behavior, I believe this may be a male meadowhawk dragonfly. I found it perched at the edge of Mud Lake, a small lake found in Leelanau State Park on Michigan's Leelanau Peninsula. Help with more specific identification would be greatly appreciated. I have found trying to photograph dragonflies that zoom my way only to immediately zoom off in another direction, very frustrating. So, hurray for perchers!
#71 in Explore on August 14, 2020.
Acer buergerianum is a species of maple native to eastern China, Taiwan and Japan. The specific epithet is a patronym honoring Dutch plant hunter J. Buerger.
A view of the old sea defences at Happisburgh on a windy but beautiful day.
You do not have the right to copy, reproduce or download my images without my specific permission, doing so is a direct breach of my copyright
© Leanne Boulton, All Rights Reserved
A street portrait from Barnsley, England. Captured on assignment for the #OldIs campaign for the charity Independent Age. Gathering a 'snapshot' of how we all feel about ageing in British society today with a portrait and some quotes from people on the street.
This is a personal black and white edit of an alternative shot captured for the campaign, all to a specific brief for the assignment. Wishing all of my Flickr friends a fantastic weekend ahead - enjoy!
I captured this glorious fall scene early one morning during our two week adventure to Michigan's Upper Peninsula. We were actually looking for a specific waterfall but stumbled onto this beautiful vista. We never did find the waterfall!
I really cropped the heck out of this image, and still the resolution is acceptable. I regret I didn't use my 50mm up close on this beach that particular morning for some specific shots. This is Golden Gate Bridge on Baker Beach.
Hello All!
I adore peonies, they smell so nice and the show of them has been spectacular this year. These are the classic pink ones, edited and dressed-up in Topaz Studio.
Happy Sliders Sunday! HSS!
I had no specific reason for the caption except perhaps that I love Johnny Reid's romantic song entitled, "Dance With Me." Here is the Utube Link if you'd like to listen:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uo1xgTb-jM8
Thank you so much for stopping by and for your comments which I truly appreciate. Wishing you a creative day! Keep well!
©Copyright - Nancy Clark - All Rights Reserved
Job 16:8 “My wrinkles bear witness against me, and a false speaker riseth up against my face, contradicting me.”
The Church of Densuș - Orthodox Place of Worship
Historians say that the “Saint Nicholas” Church in Densuș, currently a functional Orthodox place of worship, is indeed one of the oldest churches in Romania. It was built in the 12th-13th centuries, thus being surpassed by at least a century by the even older “rotunda” in Geoagiu, also in Hunedoara County.
The locals say that there was a Dacian altar here more than 2000 years ago. After the conquest of the new province, rich in gold, wood, but also fruits of the earth, which the Romans called Dacia Felix for a reason, one of the legends says that General Longinus, grateful to his patron god, the god Mars, god of war, built a Christian church here.
In fact, the locals boast of several legendary records: the oldest stone church (although this story is not verified), the oldest icon with Christ painted in Romanian, but also a moving story, a kind of Romeo and Juliet of the Hațeg Country, a legend that is said to have come through the lineage of the Densușian scholar brothers and which you can only learn about if you stay with the welcoming Hațegans. The Painter Ștefan, the author of the paintings on the altar
What is known with certainty about the church, apart from the signatory of the painting from 1443, is the name of a priest, the oldest known priest, who was called Dalc. The main painter, the painter Ștefan, trained, according to specialists, in the tradition of painting specific to the period of the Basarab people and the much better-known monastery at Curtea de Argeș, is the author of the paintings on the entire altar.
He mentions, on the left side of the entrance to the church: “Ștefan painted”. An inscription in Slavonic provides some clarifications and additions, admittedly fragmentary, therefore not very clear: “… in the year 6952 (i.e. 1443) on October 23, Saint Nicholas was painted … the maid and the girls … Amen”.
From the mid-16th century, for almost two centuries, the frescoes were covered with lime and it seems that, during this period, the place of worship would have served, at the same time, both the Orthodox community and the Reformed community of the local nobles (Nemesh), Protestants, Magyarized. There was also a Calvinist parish in the area, and the monument church was taken over by the United Church around 1,700, returning to the Orthodox community a few decades later.
If you visit the church in Densuș, you will notice that the saints painted on the walls have their eyes gouged out along with the plaster. The villagers' stories say that the eyes of the saints were gouged out by Muslim (Turkish) invaders who arrived in the area, as revenge on the Christians they wanted to conquer and subjugate.
are the source of the most general conclusions :-)
Peter Bunnell
HSS! Science Matters!
winterberry holly, 'Carolina Cardinal', j c raulston arboretum, ncsu, raleigh, north carolina
left: Tundra Right: Raven
Tundra -->
Hair: Bon Bon
Wings: Zenith
Lingerie: Blueberry
Collar: Insomnia Angel
Raven:
Hair: Bon Bon
Lingerie: Muse by Moon Elixir
Tattoo: (Not available, just an edit)
Both are wearing the EUTHANASIA body outline and the photo is taken at backdrop city!
I'll add specific item names after I finish this assignment and can go look alskdaslkdja.
Turf church from the village of Hof in the Eastern Region of Iceland.
This photo is offered under a standard Creative Commons License - Attribution 3.0 Unported. It gives you a lot of freedom to use my work commercially as long as you credit and link back to this image on my Flickr page.
Flickr resolution: 1800 x 1414 px
Also available for download at 5000 x 3928 px on my Patreon page, an ever-growing collection of high res images for one low monthly subscription fee. You can find this specific photo at the following post:
Yorkshire - map location not meant to be specific
NB Best viewed small - I've always liked the photo, but the scan is terrible and I've lost the negatives... I do hate solid blacked out shadows, so I apologise for that, but they got 'locked in' when the scan was done. [Nice work, Norfolk Camera Centre. I'm not sorry you're gone... I am sorry you stole my £200 flash though. Of course I wouldn't have a problem with that.] Moving on...
By now people may wonder why I uploaded it. Simple - because I like this stretch of road. :-)
The cast-iron facade of an old Lord and Taylor department store in Manhattan's Flatiron district.The façade was badly rusting in the 1980s,but there's hardly any signs of that thanks to some sensitive restoration work done to it in later years.The architect for the building used the cast-iron unabashedly and much to the surprise of many,considering that only the facade of buildings was made with the material.He made the entire store from cast-iron! Now,I know some of you like to say that a building has nice "ornate" detail and that's fine,but I like to be a little bit more specific.That's just me.In those beautifully arched and deep-set windows for example,there are not two,but four to six Corinthian columns in each one.That's pretty amazing!Won-derful,intricate ironwork in the balconies.Did you notice that the ironwork and railing on each balcony were different in design?And what about those neat looking corbels.What's that?Now that's detail to me,giving a description of each feature on the structure.The architect went all-out here when he designed this really impressive building.Kudos to him.Have a nice weekend,everybody.daytoninmanhattan.blogspot.com/2010/04/surviving-sliver-o...
(Warning: this is a long one, so grab some popcorn and settle in.)
Photographing landscapes has provided me with countless opportunities to have my mind blown over the past few years. From summits in the Canadian Rockies, to countless sunrises in the Sierras to spectacular night skies in remote corners of Utah to beautiful coastlines in Oregon....so many incredible moments. Of all of these experiences, the one I endured last Friday was truly special. It was a personal triumph and one that I have literally been working toward for the past two years.
Tom Bricker was the first one to mention the Diving Board to me. I had seen the shot by Ansel Adams, of course, and had always wondered where he took that shot from, but I figured you would just...you know. Get closer. I was sure that the location must be just beyond Curry Village. What was the big deal?
The big deal is that the diving board is a location in Yosemite that cannot be reached by taking one of the major, well maintained trails. Back in Ansel's day you just took some ropes and charged up the Leconte Gully. But the gully has long been deemed unstable due to frequent rockfalls. The standard route nowadays begins on the mist trail and winds around behind Lost Lake before heading steeply straight up the side of base of Half Dome. From what we were able to gather from scouting online, this would be a 16 mile round trip hike and the word "strenuous" was being thrown around by some very hard core hikers and climbers. My heart sank as I first heard these reports. After all, the hike up the Upper Falls trail had nearly finished me off a few years before. How in the world could I expect to haul my camera gear up the Mist Trail let alone the nearly vertical sections of this crazy trail to the foot of Half Dome?
But I really wanted that shot. I hit the treadmill and began building up my endurance. (Of course the first night was only 10 minutes, but hey. It was a start.) I also began challenging myself with some more difficult hikes, the most recent of which was up to the Fern Ledge in Yosemite. As the Summer drew to a close, we finally had a chance of thunderstorms and the promise of a possible sunset, and I sent Tom an urgent message: Can we go for it on Friday?
So last Friday, Tom and I took off at 4 AM for Yosemite. By 10:30 AM we were taking off from the Mist Trail parking area. Man I was feeling good! No stops at all on the way up to the first bridge. I was blowing past old people and asian tourists like they were standing still. Then the REAL climbing began. By the time we made it to the top of Nevada Fall, I was wiped. But we hadn't started the tough section yet. Tom and I had found a short cut up from Emerald Pool and we had a GPS map with us on Gaia. We were all set. What could go wrong?
So up we went.
The trip from Emerald Pool to the regular bush trail junction was easily the hardest climbing I've ever done. The nearly 30 pounds on my back turned out to be a huge mistake as I nearly gave up several times. Between the steep terrain and the bushwhacking, I was toast. When we hit the junction, things only got worse. I was having to stop almost every 100 feet and poor Tom just sat there waiting for me. After clawing my way up another 700 feet or so, I finally collapsed, unable to continue. I told Tom to head up without me, but he refused. After a long break, it finally hit me: I could dump whatever I wasn't going to use at the top and grab it on the way down! So out came my 24-70 lens (way too hazy for a valley shot), the tripod, almost all of my food, two jackets and over a liter of water. I dropped by stuff in a neat little pile behind a tree reminding myself that it would be a bad idea to forget those items on the way down.
Suddenly the backpack was WAY lighter and even though it hurt, I continued to force my way up. For the final 500 feet, I hung back and sent Tom up ahead. After another 1/2 hour break, I lurched back onto my feet and with the soundtrack of Rocky playing in my head, I charged up the last 500 feet to the Diving Board...some EIGHT hours after leaving the parking lot.
The view was absolutely spectacular as Half Dome rose far more majestically than I could have ever imagined. Although we didn't get quite the epic sunset we were hoping for, we did get some color during the last few minutes, just enough to give some atmosphere. A goal I had set two years prior had just been achieved. I had made it all the way to the diving board!
Our smiles began to fade as it dawned on us that it was getting dark in a real hurry and my car was still 8 miles away. There would be no "short cut" on the way down as we were pretty sure we would not survive a hike back down the sketchy ravine we had just clambered up. So down we went on the long, normal route around past Lost Lake. About 45 minutes later, I said something like "Hey Tom....where's my stuff?" Both of us were convinced that it must still be below us, so we plowed on. After we had gone another 1/2 hour or so, it dawned on us that we must have passed it. We were both beyond exhausted and nearly out of water. But Tom, being the hero that he is, charged back up to look for it. But didn't find it. He had a quarter of a liter of water left and I had maybe a half. I wasn't even sure if I could make the hike out, so I took a deep breath and told Tom we just needed to leave my lens...and all of my other stuff up there, which would have been roughly $2500 to replace.
Ouch.
Okay...this is taking way to long. I'll skip to the end.
After we passed Lost Lake on the way down, we found water in a creek and used my filter to keep from dying on the way back. Tom made it back to the car around 2:30 AM and very kindly drove the car around to the trailhead as I had some severe blisters. I didn't make it back to the trailhead until 3:30 AM.
Fast forward to last Monday when I drove back to Yosemite to find my stuff. I stayed overnight in El Portal and set off the next morning, this time without the 30 pounds taking only water and food. I left at 4 AM and by 8 AM I found my stuff exactly where I had left it! I made it up there in HALF the time! My lens and gear were undamaged and I breathed a huge sigh of relief before heading back down.
For those of you who might be interested taking this hike, I'll have much more details for you including maps, etc on my blog in the very near future. Sorry for the ridiculously long story and THANK YOU for reading the whole thing if you are still with me! The Diving Board was truly a once in a lifetime trip for me....at least for now. I MIGHT try it again, but if I do, it will be with MUCH less gear and more water!
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After watching the habitual pattern of this superstar, I followed it one outing. He came to this specific tree in the background that had a cavity filled with sow bugs. He had cleaned out this honey hole as it was a great source of fuel for his migration journey. He stayed for 5 days and has finally moved on. Click for large view.
Poached Egg Plant's scientific specific goes back on David Douglas (1799-1834), the great botanical explorer of the American West (www.flickr.com/photos/87453322@N00/54122518007/in/photoli...). Think, too, of the Fir Tree which carries his name in English. It was named for him in 1833. Here in the Hortus it's being visited by an avid Furrow Bee.
#macromondays #Tableware
The latest #macromondays challenge #Tableware prompts me to share this picture with you.
The year almost has come to end and i guess all of you know the classic historic new year parody called Dinner for One. That one inspired me to use this spoon in addition to those lyrics....means cheerio miss sophie !!!
Tableware refers to the various items used for setting and serving meals at a dining table. It encompasses a wide range of objects, each with its specific function and design. Here's a breakdown of common types of tableware:
Plates:
Dinner Plates: The main course is typically served on these larger plates.
Salad Plates: Smaller than dinner plates, used for serving salads or appetizers.
Dessert Plates: Even smaller, reserved for sweet treats.
Bowls:
Soup Bowls: Deeper bowls designed for serving soups or stews.
Cereal Bowls: Shallower than soup bowls, used for serving breakfast cereals or desserts.
Cups and Mugs:
Teacups: Smaller cups used for serving tea.
Coffee Mugs: Larger cups for serving coffee or other hot beverages.
Glasses:
Water Glasses: Typically used for serving water during meals.
Wine Glasses: Designed to enhance the experience of drinking wine.
Tumblers: Versatile glasses for various beverages.
Flatware (Cutlery):
Forks: Used for picking up and conveying food to the mouth.
Knives: Cutting and slicing utensils.
Spoons: Used for liquids, soups, and desserts.
Serving Dishes:
Platters: Large, flat dishes for serving main courses or appetizers.
Bowls: Various sizes for serving side dishes, salads, or snacks.
Serving Utensils:
Serving Spoons: Larger spoons for serving food from communal dishes.
Tongs: Used for picking up and serving items like salad or bread.
Napkin Rings and Napkins:
Napkin Rings: Decorative rings to hold folded napkins.
Napkins: Used for wiping hands and faces during meals.
Tablecloths and Placemats:
Tablecloths: Large pieces of fabric that cover the entire table for decorative and practical purposes.
Placemats: Individual mats placed under each setting for protection and decoration.
Salt and Pepper Shakers:
Containers for salt and pepper, often found on dining tables for seasoning.
Condiment Dishes:
Small dishes for serving sauces, dressings, or condiments.
Trivets:
Heat-resistant mats or stands for placing hot dishes on the table.
Tableware comes in a variety of materials, styles, and designs, allowing for personalization and coordination with the overall dining experience or home decor. Whether formal or casual, the choice of tableware can significantly contribute to the ambiance of a meal.
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Vielen Dank für Eure Besuche, Kommentare und Sternchen!
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