View allAll Photos Tagged trace
A lot of growing things intruded on the center of streams this summer, small shoots and ferns and other signs of tiny life that won't survive the wetter winter. The rest just do their best to make it up and over, away from the danger of rushing water, still swallowing all the light they can get. Sometimes I seem like one of those sun-beggars – looking for brightness, but backing away from too much of it. If I ever get the eyeful I've been asking for, it'll carry me over through many months of darkness. It's like one of those trace minerals we need to survive, iodine or zinc, cobalt, fluoride, or selenium. I feel the same about big, bright days. Every once in a while, I give in to those wide and naked skies. But for most of the other hundreds of days, I'm happy to hide in the shade.
September 12, 2020
Morden, Nova Scotia
facebook | instagram | twitter | tumblr | youtube | etsy
You can support my work
get things in the mail
and see everything
first on Patreon
Pancha Rathas (also known as Pandava Rathas) is a monument complex at Mahabalipuram, on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal, in the Kancheepuram district of the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Pancha Rathas is an example of monolithic Indian rock-cut architecture. Dating from the late 7th century, it is attributed to the reign of King Mahendravarman I and his son Narasimhavarman I (630–680 AD; also called Mamalla, or "great warrior") of the Pallava Kingdom. An innovation of Narasimhavarman, the structures are without any precedent in Indian architecture. The complex is under the auspices of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site inscribed by UNESCO as Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram.
Each of the five monuments in the Pancha Rathas complex resembles a chariot (ratha), and each is carved over a single, long stone or monolith, of granite which slopes in north-south direction with a slight incline. Though sometimes mistakenly referred to as temples, the structures were never consecrated because they were never completed following the death of Narasimhavarman I. The structures are named after the Pancha Pandavas and their common wife Draupadi, of epic Mahabharata fame. In order of their size, they include the Dharmaraja Ratha, Bhima Ratha, Arjuna Ratha, Nakula Sahadeva Ratha, and Draupadi Ratha.
ETYMOLOGY
The monoliths are named after the Pandavas – Arjuna, Bhima, Yudhishthira ("Dharmaraja"), Nakula and Sahadeva – and Draupadi. These names are considered to be a misrepresentation as the structures have no link to the iconic characters of the Mahabharata epic. They have no religious significance either, as they remained unfinished and unconsecrated; the uncut rock parts at the base and top of the rathas are still visible. The ASI confirmed the unfinished nature of the structures and suggested that they instead be referred to as vimanas. However, the Pandava names have become permanent.
HISTORY
According to a plaque displayed at the site by the ASI, the Pallava dynasty had planned the structures as models of chariots in rock based on prototypes of ancient rathas built in wood. The Pancha Rathas were carved during the reign of King Mahendravarman I and his son Narasimhavarman I. Work on these five rathas was discontinued following the death of Narasimha Varman in 668 AD. The purpose of their construction is not known as the structures were not completed. Part of the collection within the Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram, they were classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.
GEOGRAPHY
The site is located at Mahabalipuram (previously known as Mammallapuram), on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal, in Kancheepuram district. It is approximately 56 km south of Chennai (previously known as Madras), the capital city, while Chengalpattu is about 32 km distant. The structures are part of the nine monolithic rock cut structures seen here.
ARCHITECTURE
LAYOUT
Each of the five rathas is a monolith, carved whole from a rock outcropping of pink granite. They are carved over a common mounted plinth which is north-south oriented with a slight slope. Each has a different layout, such as square, rectangular, or apsidal plans. The largest measures 13×11 m, and the tallest is 12 m high.
REPRESENTATIONS
The Pancha rathas represent the diversity of Dravidian architecture of the time and it is likely that their original design traces back to wood constructions of temple chariots and were scale models or templates for much bigger temples built subsequently in Tamil Nadu. Most of the rathas are stated to be modelled on the Buddhist Viharas and Chaityas.
DESIGN
The structural design and elevation are with towers or domes with single (ekathala) to triple (trithala) towers, which present a unique exhibition of South Indian Dravidian architecture. The chiseling done by the stone sculptors are occasional along joints between the stones. The walls are arranged and sequentially partitioned. The projections and recesses in these walls give the appearance of a set of shallow pilasters. The niches created in the walls are of rectangular shape and have carved sculptures of gods, demi-gods and the kings. The skirting around the images are of wild aquatic animals with “foliated tails and open jaws.” The wall pilasters have curved brackets, and columns on the porch provide support to an overhanging eave; arch windows occasionally carved with images are located above them. The mouldings culminate in parapets. The carvings above the eave overhangs are decorated roof forms in miniature size, which are seen in rows all round each of the structure.
PRESERVATION
The rathas have been preserved well on account of the sturdiness of their material, granite, and in spite of constant salty winds from the Bay of Bengal and catastrophic tsunamis in 13th century and in 2004.
NOTABLE LANDMARKS
The architectural elegance of the Dharmaraja Ratha is its pyramidal structure which rises in three steps. It is built with a square layout. Its composition has been accentuated with carvings of Hindu gods Harihara, Brahma, Skanda, Ardhanarishvara and King Narasimhavarman I. One of the distinctive carvings seen on the eastern face of the rahta is of Indra (a demi-god of rain and thunderstorms), seated on his mount Airavata (meaning: "a White Elephant"). There is also an independent monolithic stone sculpture of Nandi, adjoining this ratha in the open space. The next in order is the Arjuna Ratha, which is well decorated with an elegant façade and is akin to the Dharmaraja Ratha. Next in line is the Bhima Ratha built to a rectangular plan and with lion mounted columned (four columns) galleries on both long sides. The Nakula Sahadeva Ratha is the next in line. It is built to a simple plan with no embellishing carvings in its apses. A stone monolithic sculpture of an elephant is fixed in the open space, next to this ratha. The Draupadi Ratha, which is the last in the line, is a square structure, which resembles a village hut with thatch roof. The fresco inside this shrine is of mother goddess Durga.
WIKIPEDIA
Part of the Old Original Natchez Trace - Meriwether Lewis Site - Natchez Trace Parkway - Hohenwald/Summertown Area
See more images and read about this outing on my blog: www.shutteringthrulife.com/meriwether-lewis-metal-ford/#
Olympus OM1
Olympus OM Zuiko 50mm f1.8
Kodak Portra 400
The FINDLab
In Benin, the FAO Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Programme has supported the National Timber Office to establish a highly effective traceability system for its teak plantations, helping to prevent illegal activity in the logging, transport or sale of state timber. The barcode-based system, known as ONATRACK, allows workers to use smartphones to send real-time information from the forest, enabling the office to manage the plantations sustainably while also increasing profits.
©FAO/Bernard S. Hounkpevi
You can follow me also on Getty | 500 px | Deviant Art
Verbier is a ski resort in the Swiss Alps, in the canton of Valais. It is part of the "Four Valleys" ski area, which includes the ski resorts of Verbier, Nendaz, Veysonnaz, La Tzoumaz, and Thyon. Verbier is recognized as one of the premiere "off-piste" resorts worldwide. Many top skiers have settled in the resort in order to take advantage of the steep slopes, varied conditions and vibrant nightlife. Verbier is also a popular holiday destination for celebrities, including Sarah Ferguson, Diana Ross, James Blunt and The Crown Prince Couple of Denmark: Frederik and Mary.
Verbier is located in the Val de Bagnes, in the Valais region of Switzerland. The resort lies on a south orientated terrace at around 1,500 metres facing the Grand Combin massif.
Verbier only has one access road, which starts in the town of Le Châble.
The Grand Combin is a mountain in the western Pennine Alps in Switzerland. With its 4,314 metres (14,154 ft) high summit it is one of the highest peaks in the Alps and the second most prominent of its range.
The Grand Combin is also a large glaciated massif consisting of several summits, among which three are above 4000 metres.
An old Roundhouse is all thats left of this sprawling deserted land just south of San Francisco near Brisbane. The roundhouse has been reduced to maybe a quarter of its original size, and half of that has severe fire damage. This is only the second Roundhouse I've visited. The first being the Steamwhistle Brewery in Toronto, but at least that one had been restored and protected. This is looking south east inside the section that still has a roof.
The lingam (also linga, ling, Shiva linga, Shiv ling, Sanskrit: लिङ्गं,liṅgaṃ, meaning "mark", "sign", or "inference" is a representation of the Hindu deity Shiva used for worship in temples. In traditional Indian society, the linga is rather seen as a symbol of the energy and potential of God, Shiva himself.
The lingam is often represented alongside the yoni, a symbol of the goddess or of Shakti, female creative energy. The union of lingam and yoni represents the "indivisible two-in-oneness of male and female, the passive space and active time from which all life originates".
Linga represents Cosmic Egg ('Brahmanda' in Sanskrit) who has no beginning nor end. It is believed that this changing world ('Jagat' in Sanskrit) merges or dissolves into the Formless in the end. So, the Linga is the simplest sign of emergence and mergence.
DEFINITION AND MEANING
The Sanskrit term लिङ्गं liṅgaṃ, transliterated as linga, has diverse meanings and uses, ranging from mark, sign or characteristic to gender. The Hindu scripture Shiva Purana describes in its first section, the Vidyeshwar Samhita, the origin of the lingam, known as Shiva-linga, as the beginning-less and endless cosmic pillar (Stambha) of fire, the cause of all causes. Lord Shiva is pictured as emerging from the Lingam – the cosmic pillar of fire – proving his superiority over gods Brahma and Vishnu. This is known as Lingodbhava. The Linga Purana also supports this interpretation of lingam as a cosmic pillar, symbolizing the infinite nature of Shiva. According to Linga Purana, the lingam is a complete symbolic representation of the formless Universe Bearer - the oval shaped stone is resembling mark of the Universe and bottom base as the Supreme Power holding the entire Universe in it. Similar interpretation is also found in the Skanda Purana: "The endless sky (that great void which contains the entire universe) is the Linga, the Earth is its base. At the end of time the entire universe and all the Gods finally merge in the Linga itself." In yogic lore, the linga is considered the first form to arise when creation occurs, and also the last form before the dissolution of creation. It is therefore seen as an access to Shiva or that which lies beyond physical creation.
HISTORY
ORIGIN
Lingobhava Shiva: God Shiva appears as in an infinite Linga fire-pillar, as Vishnu as Varaha tries to find the bottom of the Linga while Brahma tries to find its top. This infinite pillar conveys the infinite nature of Shiva.
Anthropologist Christopher John Fuller conveys that although most sculpted images (murtis) are anthropomorphic, the aniconic Shiva Linga is an important exception. Some believe that linga-worship was a feature of indigenous Indian religion.
There is a hymn in the Atharvaveda which praises a pillar (Sanskrit: stambha), and this is one possible origin of linga-worship. Some associate Shiva-Linga with this Yupa-Stambha, the sacrificial post. In that hymn a description is found of the beginningless and endless Stambha or Skambha and it is shown that the said Skambha is put in place of the eternal Brahman. As afterwards the Yajna (sacrificial) fire, its smoke, ashes and flames, the soma plant and the ox that used to carry on its back the wood for the Vedic sacrifice gave place to the conceptions of the brightness of Shiva's body, his tawny matted-hair, his blue throat and the riding on the bull of the Shiva. The Yupa-Skambha gave place in time to the Shiva-Linga. In the Linga Purana the same hymn is expanded in the shape of stories, meant to establish the glory of the great Stambha and the supreme nature of Mahâdeva (the Great God, Shiva).
HISTORICAL PERIOD
According to Shaiva Siddhanta, which was for many centuries the dominant school of Shaiva theology and liturgy across the Indian subcontinent (and beyond it in Cambodia), the linga is the ideal substrate in which the worshipper should install and worship the five-faced and ten-armed Sadāśiva, the form of Shiva who is the focal divinity of that school of Shaivism.
The oldest example of a lingam which is still used for worship is in Gudimallam. According to Klaus Klostermaier, it is clearly a phallic object, and dates to the 2nd century BC. A figure of Shiva is carved into the front of the lingam.
The lingam also figures importantly into various forms of Buddhism. Perhaps most notable is the use of penis images in the teaching of Drukpa Kunley, a Buddhist monk.
MODERN PERIOD
In 1825 Horace Hayman Wilson's work on the lingayat sect of South India attempted to refute British notions that the lingam graphically represented a human organ and that it aroused erotic emotions in its devotees.
Monier-Williams wrote in Brahmanism and Hinduism that the symbol of linga is "never in the mind of a Saiva (or Siva-worshipper) connected with indecent ideas, nor with sexual love." According to Jeaneane Fowler, the linga is "a phallic symbol which represents the potent energy which is manifest in the cosmos." Some scholars, such as David James Smith, believe that throughout its history the lingam has represented the phallus; others, such as N. Ramachandra Bhatt, believe the phallic interpretation to be a later addition. M. K. V. Narayan distinguishes the Siva-linga from anthropomorphic representations of Siva, and notes its absence from Vedic literature, and its interpretation as a phallus in Tantric sources.
Ramakrishna practiced Jivanta-linga-puja, or "worship of the living lingam". At the Paris Congress of the History of Religions in 1900, Ramakrishna's follower Swami Vivekananda argued that the Shiva-Linga had its origin in the idea of the Yupa-Stambha or Skambha—the sacrificial post, idealized in Vedic ritual as the symbol of the Eternal Brahman. This was in response to a paper read by Gustav Oppert, a German Orientalist, who traced the origin of the Shalagrama-Shila and the Shiva-Linga to phallicism. According to Vivekananda, the explanation of the Shalagrama-Shila as a phallic emblem was an imaginary invention. Vivekananda argued that the explanation of the Shiva-Linga as a phallic emblem was brought forward by the most thoughtless, and was forthcoming in India in her most degraded times, those of the downfall of Buddhism.
According to Swami Sivananda, the view that the Shiva lingam represents the phallus is a mistake; The same sentiments have also been expressed by H. H. Wilson in 1840. The novelist Christopher Isherwood also addresses the interpretation of the linga as a sex symbol. The Britannica encyclopedia entry on lingam also notes that the lingam is not considered to be a phallic symbol.
According to Hélène Brunner, the lines traced on the front side of the linga, which are prescribed in medieval manuals about temple foundation and are a feature even of modern sculptures, appear to be intended to suggest a stylised glans, and some features of the installation process seem intended to echo sexual congress. Scholars like S. N. Balagangadhara have disputed the sexual meaning of lingam.
NATURALLY OCCURRING LINGAMS
An ice lingam at Amarnath in the western Himalayas forms every winter from ice dripping on the floor of a cave and freezing like a stalagmite. It is very popular with pilgrims.
Shivling (6543m) is also a mountain in Uttarakhand (the Garhwal region of Himalayas). It arises as a sheer pyramid above the snout of the Gangotri Glacier. The mountain resembles a Shiva linga when viewed from certain angles, especially when travelling or trekking from Gangotri to Gomukh as a part of a traditional Hindu pilgrimage.
A lingam is also the base for the legend of formation (and name) of the Borra Caves in Andhra Pradesh.
WIKIPEDIA
Will Bruce has worked with me a few times before- he rides BMX and I've done both a video profile and a normal portrait of him.
While working on the launch issue of Vertical Floor, a parkour/freerunning magazine, I had the opportunity to conceptualize a photo for an article on the Leave No Trace movement- a group of traceurs who are committed to protecting the environment. The group and clean-up photos submitted by chapters of the group didn't spark the interest of the creative team, so I was brought in. The assignment called for a photo representing the cause while showing motion.
I pitched a light-painted "ghost" with a portrait on one side. My idea was originally meant to be in an urban environment from a high angle. Creative decided that they wanted it to be in a green space to represent nature. I set a shooting schedule, scouted a location, and got in touch with Will, who I thought would work as the ghost.
Creative met me at the location about halfway into setup. A few test shots, and we were working. The shooting took about an hour. I used a 10-second exposure, lighting Will with a flashlight while he walked. At around 9 seconds, I used a cybersync to trigger an Einstein aimed toward Will's finishing mark. I used a gridded medium softbox feathered up to underexpose his legs.
In case anyone is wondering, this is a composite of four images and took slightly more than five hours to finish in Photoshop. I did it in-camera as well, just to make sure I could, but creative wanted a composite :)
The origins of wing-walking can be traced back to when young flying aces returned from the First World War, totally addicted to the thrill of flying. Flying jobs were few and far between, but after the war surplus aircraft were cheap to buy, and they were purchased by these veteran pilots who would thrill crowds with their aerial antics and sell joy rides. To entertain the crowds further and ensure they returned, the pilots began to persuade their girlfriends and engineers to walk out along their biplanes linen wings. This was the start of wingwalking and flying circus entertainment. The Breitling Wingwalkers recreate the fearless glamour of those pioneering years. The team fly 1940's vintage Boeing Stearman biplanes in a striking Breitling livery.
Trace Cyrus
Bamboozle After Party
Bought to you by:
No One You Know Productions, Kill Breand, and Southern Made Hollywood Paid
Angels and Kings NYC
May 2, 2011
Verbier is a ski resort in the Swiss Alps, in the canton of Valais. It is part of the "Four Valleys" ski area, which includes the ski resorts of Verbier, Nendaz, Veysonnaz, La Tzoumaz, and Thyon. Verbier is recognized as one of the premiere "off-piste" resorts worldwide. Many top skiers have settled in the resort in order to take advantage of the steep slopes, varied conditions and vibrant nightlife. Verbier is also a popular holiday destination for celebrities, including Sarah Ferguson, Diana Ross, James Blunt and The Crown Prince Couple of Denmark: Frederik and Mary.
Verbier is located in the Val de Bagnes, in the Valais region of Switzerland. The resort lies on a south orientated terrace at around 1,500 metres facing the Grand Combin massif.
Verbier only has one access road, which starts in the town of Le Châble.
The Grand Combin is a mountain in the western Pennine Alps in Switzerland. With its 4,314 metres (14,154 ft) high summit it is one of the highest peaks in the Alps and the second most prominent of its range.
The Grand Combin is also a large glaciated massif consisting of several summits, among which three are above 4000 metres.
live @ Gloria, Helsinki 12.10.2008
This photo belongs to the set:
Verbier is a ski resort in the Swiss Alps, in the canton of Valais. It is part of the "Four Valleys" ski area, which includes the ski resorts of Verbier, Nendaz, Veysonnaz, La Tzoumaz, and Thyon. Verbier is recognized as one of the premiere "off-piste" resorts worldwide. Many top skiers have settled in the resort in order to take advantage of the steep slopes, varied conditions and vibrant nightlife. Verbier is also a popular holiday destination for celebrities, including Sarah Ferguson, Diana Ross, James Blunt and The Crown Prince Couple of Denmark: Frederik and Mary.
Verbier is located in the Val de Bagnes, in the Valais region of Switzerland. The resort lies on a south orientated terrace at around 1,500 metres facing the Grand Combin massif.
Verbier only has one access road, which starts in the town of Le Châble.
The Grand Combin is a mountain in the western Pennine Alps in Switzerland. With its 4,314 metres (14,154 ft) high summit it is one of the highest peaks in the Alps and the second most prominent of its range.
The Grand Combin is also a large glaciated massif consisting of several summits, among which three are above 4000 metres.
ballade dans les monts du lyonnais _ YZERON sous les premières neiges. Une
ambiance très paisible :)
Verbier is a ski resort in the Swiss Alps, in the canton of Valais. It is part of the "Four Valleys" ski area, which includes the ski resorts of Verbier, Nendaz, Veysonnaz, La Tzoumaz, and Thyon. Verbier is recognized as one of the premiere "off-piste" resorts worldwide. Many top skiers have settled in the resort in order to take advantage of the steep slopes, varied conditions and vibrant nightlife. Verbier is also a popular holiday destination for celebrities, including Sarah Ferguson, Diana Ross, James Blunt and The Crown Prince Couple of Denmark: Frederik and Mary.
Verbier is located in the Val de Bagnes, in the Valais region of Switzerland. The resort lies on a south orientated terrace at around 1,500 metres facing the Grand Combin massif.
Verbier only has one access road, which starts in the town of Le Châble.
The Grand Combin is a mountain in the western Pennine Alps in Switzerland. With its 4,314 metres (14,154 ft) high summit it is one of the highest peaks in the Alps and the second most prominent of its range.
The Grand Combin is also a large glaciated massif consisting of several summits, among which three are above 4000 metres.