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72.1 lb. (32.2kg) Sericho with a 15 x 14” face. Pallasites are the most visually stunning meteorites IMHO.
When the planets of our solar system aggregated from the primordial dust and ice swirling in a disc around the sun, some crazy things happened. We are used to the relatively stable result, 4.6 billion years later, but in the early days, some planetoids collided cataclysmically; others were flung out of our solar system entirely, to the lifeless void of deep space.
These dense iron meteorites contain the molten metal cores of some planetary body that ended in a mighty kaboom. We know it was big because a molten iron core appears when a planetoid is big enough to have enough gravity to fractionate the elements of the periodic table, with the heavier iron-loving elements migrating to the core and a different subset of the periodic table (e.g., Si, Al, Ca, Na, Mg) constituting the outer mantle and crust. We have never drilled to the molten core of Earth, or even deep into our mantle, but these remnants of planets past are representative of what we would expect to find in the Earth’s core and mantle.
Pallasites are an incredible potpourri of shattered mantle in a dollop of molten metal core. They can only form in space where the absence of gravity allows the lighter gemstones to remain scattered throughout the heavy metal matrix (on Earth, they would segregate by density). Those crystal gems are olivine (and perhaps some peridot as we call it on Earth).
If we were to etch the metal with a weak acid (exposing the anisotropic crystalline patterns), we would see something beautiful, an interwoven 3D nest of interlocking shards, a metal crystallization that also could not be made on Earth, but for a different reason: they have to cool very, very slowly, over 10 million years! In the insulating vacuum of space, the motel metal cools slowly as it radiates heat (no conduction or convection).
If this all sounds like a rare event, it is. 2% of meteorites in the Met Bull are irons, and only 0.2% are Pallasites.
When an iron meteorite is forged into a tool or weapon, the extraterrestrial crystal patterns remain, but become stretched and distorted. The patterns usually cannot be fully eliminated by blacksmithing, even through extensive working. When a knife or tool is forged from meteoric iron and then polished, the patterns appear in the surface of the metal. In ancient times before the invention of steel, these iron-nickel alloys were like advanced alien technology, and probably were the origin of folkloric beliefs about magic swords and vorpal blades. Even King Tut was buried with his meteorite dagger.
There is much going on in this Sericho Pallasite — a meteoritic medley. Transluscent olivine gems across the color spectrum. And the metal matrix has large chromite inclusions (grey).
Based on isotope analysis at ETH Zürich, this meteorite spent the last 130-160 million years free floating in space before intersecting Earth's orbit.
describes visually the idea of the sacred, which is a fundamental need of man. ~ Mario Botta
Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. The oldest Roman Catholic church in Georgia.
Processed with VSCO with hb1 preset
A long, brown oval known as a "brown barge" in Jupiter's South Equatorial Belt is captured in this color-enhanced image from NASA's Juno spacecraft.
Brown barges are cyclonic regions that usually lie within Jupiter's dark North Equatorial Belt, although they are sometimes found in the similarly dark South Equatorial Belt as well. They can often be difficult to detect visually because their color blends in with the dark surroundings. At other times, as with this image, the dark belt material recedes, creating a lighter-colored background against which the brown barge is more conspicuous. Brown barges usually dissipate after the entire cloud belt undergoes an upheaval and reorganizes itself. Juno is giving us the first glimpses of the detailed structure within such a barge.
Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Kevin M. Gill
Simeis 147
Credit: Giuseppe Donatiello
Parco Nazionale del Pollino - Albaneta (1260m) and Piano Visitone (1420m)
Simeis 147
About 20h total exposure on
Simeis 147, also known as SNR G180.0-01.7 or Sharpless 2-240, is a supernova remnant (SNR) located between "the horns" of Taurus in the Auriga-Toro border region.
Discovered in 1952 at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory by Grigory Shajn and his team, using a 25-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope equipped with an H-alpha filter, this SNR is difficult to observe visually due to its extremely low luminosity [Catalogue of HII Regions (Sharpless 1959)]. Even photographically it is a difficult subject, although less than in the past.
The rest is in fact about 3° in apparent diameter (like six full moons), at a distance of 3000 (±350) light years and an age of about 40,000 years [AstrophysJ., Suppl. Ser., Vol. 49, p. 183-206 (1982)].
Inside is the pulsar PSR J0538+2817 with an age consistent with the age of the SNR [Astrophys.J. 654: 487-493, (2006)].
More info:
Visually similar to Yellow-bellied Sapsucker of the East, this woodpecker was long considered a subspecies thereof and split only in 1998. Strawberry Butte.
We were fortunate to view the "world famous" moonbow over Cumberland Falls in Kentucky a couple of days ago. I'd not known about this particular moonbow until we visited Cumberland Falls State Resort Park for the first time not long ago.
This is just like a rainbow formed by the Sun, but the Moon creates the bow in the mist from the falls as it rises over the forested ridge behind us. Fortunately the weather was quite clear so we could witness the moonbow for two nights, though it was brighter the first night. The color of the moonbow is visible in the photo, but was very hard to see visually since our eyes are very poorly adapted to see color of dim light.
While the long exposure photo makes the landscape appear brightly lit as in daylight, it also reveals stars in the sky would not be visible during the day.
Nikon D850, 14-24mm f/2.8, 14mm, f/5, 29 sec., ISO 640.
#moonbow
Entry Island, Madeleine Islands, Quebec
Not too far from those dead cars in the previous picture is another junk graveyard, just a bit closer to the point in the distance. Is this different from the rusting cars....is it more visually pleasing....does the subject matter or the warm, nostalgic tone of the image make it so....
The most visually striking feature on Saturn’s icy moon Tethys is Odysseus crater. An enormous impact created the crater, which is about 280 miles (450 kilometers) across, with its ring of steep cliffs and the mountains that rise at its center. Odysseus is on the leading hemisphere of Tethys (1,071 kilometers, or 665 miles across). In this image, north on Tethys is up.
This view is a composite of several images taken in visible light with the Cassini spacecraft narrow-angle camera on Aug. 17, 2015, at a distance of about 28,000 miles (44,500 kilometers) from Tethys.
The Cassini spacecraft ended its mission on Sept. 15, 2017.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute
Courageous, visually spectacular, emotionally engaging production of raw, provocative dance theatre, inspired by Japanese Butoh, burlesque and cabaret, performed by infamous Australian physical theatre company Zen Zen Zo. Played to packed houses across Australia.
I may never look at fireworks quite the same after this series. In the past I've photographed firework shows more to capture their beauty and splendor. But these wild juxtapositions in front of an abandoned house have caused me to rethink that approach. What I really love here is the sense of chaos and disharmony, the antithesis of my former thinking. That sense is heightened by the low altitude bursts that bring the explosions down (visually, it's really an optical illusion) into the backyard of the house. Much the same as the way a full moon looms so large when it's down near the horizon. Those rockets always seem safe when they are high overhead. The camera angles in this series strip away that sense of security. Here the pure violence is revealed, as the peace and serenity of a summer evening is torn asunder with light and deafening sound and fury. The conventional wisdom on shooting fireworks is to concentrate on the first part of the show while the atmosphere is relatively free of smoke. I think here the smoke simply adds to the impact, and gives more reflective surface for color. There is another odd juxtaposition here that I didn't notice until post processing...amid the noise and tumult, a firefly can be seen making a tranquil journey right through my frame.
Completing a sizeable, yet visually stunning ship is a dream come true for any aspiring MOC designer. Not many builders however, decide to sail in the reverse direction and construct a petite, yet equally impressive vessel.
Enter Vanestream, a versatile builder who's talent knows no bounds as he stealthily leaps from land-based builds to ships and back, all while typing an award winning screenplay and crafting the necessary props for his stop-and-go pirate animation series Being Pirates.
More photos and information:
www.classic-pirates.com/mocs/class/ships/ol-pelican-vanes...
It's quite embarrasing to admit that I have visually cut off of the tops of the cupolas in the admirable Dormition Cathedral in the Pechersk Lavra in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev, obviously one the world's greatest cities!
Kiev Pechersk Lavra or Kyiv Pechersk Lavra (Ukrainian: Києво-Печерська лавра, Kyievo-Pechers’ka lavra), also known as the Kiev Monastery of the Caves, is a historic Orthodox Christian monastery which gave its name to one of the city districts where it is located in Kiev, Ukraine. Since its foundation as the cave monastery in 1015 the Lavra has been a preeminent center of the Eastern Orthodox Christianity in Eastern Europe. Together with the Saint Sophia Cathedral, it is inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The monastery complex is considered a separate national historic-cultural preserve (sanctuary), the national status to which was granted on March 13, 1996. The Lavra also not only located in another part of the city, but is part of a different national sanctuary than Saint-Sophia Cathedral. While being a cultural attraction, the monastery is currently active. It was named one of the Seven Wonders of Ukraine on August 21, 2007, based on voting by experts and the internet community.
Angkor Wat is visually, architecturally and artistically breathtaking. It is a massive three-tiered pyramid crowned by five lotus-like towers rising 65 meters from ground level. Angkor Wat is the centerpiece of any visit to the temples of Angkor.
I wanted to travel to Morocco by boat in order to experiment visually the continent change from Europa to Africa. Only on land travelling make the passenger really feel the distance and the cultural evolution all along the way. Since I had previously visited Sevilla, Malaga was for me an obvious starting point for a short Morocco trip. Then I would go to gibraltar, Tarifa and take the boat for Tangier, my first Morocco city. The trip lasted 3 weeks until I reach south of Atlas Mountain Range, just before the desert.
The conclusion of my travel is that I could not recognize any Moroccan people anymore since I could realize that from north to south, and depending of the mountain side landscape, geography and people are totally different.
Inspiration came from 2 main places for this image.
- The movie Bright Star that has always touched me visually and poetically.
- My photo with a similar composition, www.flickr.com/photos/brookeshaden/5970655368/
Shot the same day/time/costume/location/model as: www.flickr.com/photos/brookeshaden/7575365066/
I am currently in Berlin, Germany and taught my first European workshop of the tour yesterday! I am having such a good time - went to see a museum the other day and today went on a tour of a WWII bunker, which was really interesting. Tomorrow I am visiting a Palace...talk about inspiration! After that, shooting! I have about 25 costumes packed in my suitcase, so this should be fun. Off to Amsterdam on Thursday, so excited!
workshops | facebook | formspring | website | blog | twitter
My attempt to visually represent some of what's happening here in Victoria at the moment..
With sincere thanks for the following resources:
Fog Brushes www.deviantart.com/skylinerzex/art/FogMistBrushPack-34309...
Tree Brush www.deviantart.com/deanoyebo/art/Environment-Brushes-3535...
Sparks www.deviantart.com/mariasemelevich/art/Sparks-2-487400527
Dust www.deviantart.com/tigers-stock/art/036-Fairy-dust-02-163...
Everything else created by me in Photoshop
Constructive criticism gratefully received.
Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) are the more tolerant species of ducks and are also one of the most visually stunning. One of the best-known and most recognizable ducks. Mallards are very adaptable ducks that can be found in urban ponds, lakes and parks and other man-made water features in the regions they inhabit. They are the most abundant and wide-ranging duck on earth. Like most migratory birds, mallards fly in the famous V formation. During winter migration, mallards fly south in search of warm weather, often resting at the same spots year after year. Migrating mallards can travel great distances, relying on rivers, coasts, and valleys to find their way. If you have a pond or marshy area on your property Mallards might be attracted to your backyard. Occasionally, Mallards have been known to show up in people’s swimming pools. This Mallard Drake was photographed at White Rock Lake in Dallas, Texas.
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The image captures a stunning sunset over the desert landscape of Joshua Tree National Park. The sky is filled with dramatic, colorful clouds ranging from deep purples to vibrant oranges and yellows. The foreground features iconic Joshua trees and desert vegetation, with rocky hills in the background. The interplay of light and shadow, along with the unique flora, makes this scene both visually striking and evocative of the natural beauty of desert environments.
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Visit me on www.patrikseiler.com
www.artheroes.ch/de/shop-bilder/Patrik-Seiler/202120
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Peripheral vision loss (tunnel vision):
Peripheral vision problems mean that you don't have a normal, wide-angle field of vision, even though your central vision may be fine.
Moderate and severe cases of peripheral vision loss create the sensation of seeing through a narrow tube, a condition commonly referred to as "tunnel vision."
Symptoms of peripheral vision loss also can include difficulty seeing in dim light and decreased ability to navigate while you are walking.
If you have a sudden decrease in peripheral vision, see your optican or doctor immediately. Sudden loss of peripheral vision may indicate a detached retina, which is a medical emergency that must be treated as soon as possible to avoid permanent vision loss.
The Royal National Institute for Blind People (RNIB) website tells me that 93% of people who are registered blind or partially sighted in the UK retain some useful vision. So why isn’t there better understanding of visual impairment? Is it because it is easier for sight-loss charities to raise money if they present a more simplistic, pitiable image of blindness? Or is it because it is thought too complex an issue to explain?
Blindness is not binary. It is a full and varied spectrum. Visually impaired people come in many different variations. Some have central vision but no periphery. Some have periphery but no central. Some see the world through a window stained with blobs. For others, it is all a blur. Just give us a fair chance and a little space, we will probably just quietly get in your way on staircases.
The Reddish Egret is considered one of the most active herons, and is often seen on the move. It stalks its prey visually in shallow water far more actively than other herons and egrets, frequently running energetically and using the shadow of its wings to reduce glare on the water once it is in position to spear a fish; the result is a fascinating, graceful dance. It eats fish, frogs, crustaceans, and insects. The bird's usual cry is a low, guttural croak.
This species reaches 68–82 cm (27–32 in) in length, with a 116–124 cm (46–49 in) wingspan.
(from the amazing wikipedia........)
Visually, the feet are the most interesting thing about this water bird.
Better large, click on image
March Point. Padilla Bay/Fidalgo Bay.
"The Washington population of the Black Oystercatcher is estimated to be roughly 400 birds. This number is probably not significantly different from the historical population, as these birds require fairly specialized habitat, which is not evenly distributed. Oystercatchers are highly vulnerable to human disturbance, oil spills, and pollution of the intertidal zone. Numbers of Black Oystercatchers on the outer coast may be higher than in the past, in part due to decreased human disturbance resulting from lighthouse automation. Numbers in inland areas, however, have declined in response to increased human activity. The Northern Pacific Coast Regional Shorebird Management Plan has identified the Black Oystercatcher as a regional species of high concern."
"The Black Oystercatcher is restricted in its range, never straying far from shores, in particular favoring rocky shorelines. It has been suggested that this bird is seen mostly on coastal stretches which have some quieter embayments, such as jetty protected areas. It forages in the intertidal zone, feeding on marine invertebrates, particularly molluscs such as mussels, limpets and chitons. It will also take crabs, isopods and barnacles. It hunts through the intertidal area, searching for food visually, often so close to the water's edge it has to fly up to avoid crashing surf. It uses its strong bill to dislodge food and pry shells open."
Der Azaleen- und Rhododendronpark Kromlau ist ein ca. 200 ha großer Landschaftspark im Ortsteil Kromlau der Gemeinde Gablenz im Landkreis Görlitz. Er gilt als die größte Rhododendren-Freilandanlage in Deutschland und ist bei freiem Eintritt immer geöffnet. 1842 erwarb der Großgrundbesitzer Friedrich Hermann Rötschke das Gut Kromlau. Ab 1844, mit den ersten Anpflanzungen einheimischer und fremdländischer Gehölze in diesem Gut, stellte Rötschke fast die Hälfte seines Besitzes zur Gestaltung des Parks zur Verfügung. Es wurden Basaltsteine mit Ochsenkarren aus verschiedenen Steinbrüchen der Sächsischen Schweiz und Böhmen herbeigeholt. Aus den sechskantigen Basaltstelen entstanden Höhlen, Grotten und Pyramiden, der Richterstuhl, die Orgel, Himmel und Hölle, im Wasser und zu Lande. 1875 tauschte Friedrich Herrmann Rötschke sein Rittergut gegen Bauplätze in Wilmersdorf bei Berlin ein. Das Kromlauer Schloss hatte von hier an sieben Besitzer in vierzehn Jahren. 1889 erwarb Graf von und zu Egloffstein-Arklitten das Rittergut und beauftragte ab 1893 den Gartenbauinspektor Georg Eichler mit der Parkpflege. Dieser begann neben den bisherigen Baum- und Strauchgewächsen in größerem Umfang Rhododendren und Freiland-Azaleen anzupflanzen. Sie sollten zu einem harmonisch abgerundeten Erscheinungsbild der Parkanlage beitragen. Außerdem legten die Gartengestalter in den Moorsenken eigens zum Verkauf bestimmte Blumenzüchtungen an, die einen einträglichen Nebenverdienst erbrachten und der Entwicklung des Parks zugutekamen.
Nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg wurde der Kromlauer Park aufgrund der Bodenreform in Volkseigentum überführt und 1948 zum Naturschutzgebiet erklärt. Erst ab 1966 begannen die zielgerichtete Pflege und Rekonstruktion des Parks. Heute ist die Gemeinde Gablenz Eigentümer des Kromlauer Parkes.
Zu den interessantesten Bauwerken im Kromlauer Park zählen das Kromlauer Schloss und die von 1863 bis 1882 aus Basalt- und Feldsteinen errichtete Rakotzbrücke (Rakotz = Sorbisch für Krebs, denn Kromlau liegt im Siedlungsgebiet der Sorben), die im Volksmund auch Teufelsbrücke genannt wird. Mit einer Spannweite von 35 m quert sie den Rakotzsee, kann jedoch nicht betreten werden. Ihr Halbkreis spiegelt sich im See und bildet so optisch einen vollständigen Kreis. Die im See angeordneten Basaltsäulen werden „Orgel“ genannt. Eine Reihe von Wanderwegen erschließt den Park und die weiteren Sehenswürdigkeiten.
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azaleen-_und_Rhododendronpark_Kromlau
Kromlau Azalea and Rhododendron Park is a landscaped park covering around 200 hectares in the village of Kromlau, part of of the municipality of Gablenz in the district of Görlitz in east Saxony. It is considered the largest open-air rhododendron park in Germany and is always open with free admission. The large landowner Friedrich Hermann Rötschke acquired the Kromlau estate in 1842. From 1844, with the first plantings of native and non-native trees and shrubs on the estate, Rötschke allocated almost half of his property to the creation of the park. Basalt stones were brought in with ox carts from various quarries in Saxon Switzerland and Bohemia. Caves, grottos and pyramids, the Judge's Seat, the Organ, Heaven and Hell, in water and on land, were created from the hexagonal basalt steles. In 1875, Friedrich Herrmann Rötschke exchanged his estate for building plots in Wilmersdorf near Berlin. From then on, Kromlau Castle had seven owners in fourteen years. In 1889, Count von und zu Egloffstein-Arklitten acquired the manor and from 1893 commissioned the horticultural inspector Georg Eichler to maintain the park. He began planting rhododendrons and azaleas on a large scale alongside the existing trees and shrubs. They were to contribute to the harmonious appearance of the park. In addition, the garden designers planted flower cultivars in the bog depressions specifically for sale, which generated a lucrative side income and benefited the development of the park.
After the Second World War, the Kromlau Park was transferred to public ownership as a result of the land reform and declared a nature reserve in 1948. It was not until 1966 that targeted maintenance and reconstruction of the park began. Today, the municipality of Gablenz is the owner of Kromlau Park.
The most interesting buildings in Kromlau Park include Kromlau Manor and the Rakotz Bridge (Rakotz = Sorbian for crab - Kromlau is part of the settlement area of the recognised slavic minority of the Sorbs), which was built between 1863 and 1882 from basalt and fieldstone and is also known locally as the Devil's Bridge. With a span of 35 metres, it crosses Lake Rakotz, but can not be walked on. Its semi-circle is reflected in the lake and thus visually forms a complete circle. The basalt columns arranged in the lake are called ‘organs’. A series of hiking trails provide access to the park and the other sights.
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azaleen-_und_Rhododendronpark_Kroml...
I like compositions where one can appreciate the visually chaotic environments in which animals live. I think it helps to understand how predator avoidance and background-matching have shaped the diversity of colorations, textures and patterns we observe in animals. I also like images to convey a feeling of wilderness, which I mean as the pre-human physical reality which came about by purely natural processes. Wilderness as the world the way it was up until yesterday, in evolutionary times. That is the world where animals (including us) have evolved and the world we are equipped to deal with, even if everything has changed enormously in the last couple of centuries. We can't solve the mess we have unleashed without understanding why organisms have evolved to be the way they are. And to do that, studying/observing wildlife in relatively pristine areas is fundamental.
This smooth newt (Lissotriton vulgaris) was chilling at 1°C in a puddle near Stensoffa (Skäne, Sweden), where I took this picture in situ. All of southern Sweden is a deeply transformed area, yet for relatively small animals, there are still some patches of suitable habitat left. Never underestimate the importance of scale. As in many other species of newts, the cryptic dorsal coloration contrasts with its brightly colored bellies, suggesting that two opposing selective forces may underlie the evolution of dorsal and ventral coloration in urodela.
#wildlife #wildlifephotography #nature #urodela #smooth #newt #amphibian #pond #sweden #skane #science #popsci #popularscience #zoology #biology #herpetology #macro #underwater #insitu #conservation #wilderness
Although this photo might seem visually confusing at first... this is in fact one single photo... with absolutely no Photoshop trickery going on here.
But while it's definitely not a fake photo... it's also not quite real. It's just an example of me trying to be a bit more "creative" in the Knysna forests. :)
A couple of days ago I noticed an old mossy tree stump with some holes in it, perfectly backlit by the midday sun. I felt that the shapes of a few of these holes might also look quite nice in a photo?
So today I went back to that same stump with my camera and composed a fairly nice shot of two of the holes. If only there was a fern growing inside of that stump, I thought to myself while composing the shot. Hmmm. ;)
I decided to break two leaves from a nearby fern and then to strategically position them behind the holes and inside the stump. Then I waited about 30 minutes for the sun to perfectly light up the primary fern.
That's a question I've been hearing lately. Well, there are two main reasons: health and cosmetic. Those who are only visually impaired can wear dark glasses (sunglasses) to protect their remaining vision. However, that's not the case with people who are completely blind. They wear dark glasses for cosmetic reasons. Blind people's eyes can be deformed, they can look abnormal (different from healthy eyes), they may move rapidly, they may point in another direction than where, for example, the person you're talking to is. Dark glasses are therefore worn by blind people mainly to hide such a disability and make others feel more comfortable. I do wear dark glasses now: I wear them for cosmetic reasons, but only when I go out. I never wear them at home or when I'm with friends.
Keep the comments clean! No banners, awards or invitations, please!
he Blue Lake was created during the Otago gold mining era. It started as a hill and was reduced to a pit from which shafts and then hydraulic elevators brought up gravel for sluicing. In its day it was the deepest mining hole in the Southern Hemisphere. When mining stopped, it flooded full of water. The blue color of the lake is caused by the mineral content of the surrounding, visually striking cliffs.
This early arriving Hummer is one of several males that are fighting over control of the nectar feeder just below. They now compete with breath-taking high-speed aerial sky dives to impress the feeding females and get their attention (for breeding). This flight action is both visually and audibly impressive! It's still very early morning, and the sunlight is heavily filtered by the tall forest growth to the east. Although I have the sun at my back, the gorgets will not display full red iridescence until it gets a little brighter. In this shot you can get nary a hint of the vibrant wine-red color to come with later more intense sunlight! This dazzling display is then based more on iridescence than pigment colors... but the sun angle has to be correct. The experienced males know how to precisely position themselves relative to sun angle to awe the ladies.
IMG_6332; Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Visually the aurora appeared shades of gray, but the colors were easily visible on camera (and iPhone) displays. Big Dipper is in the upper right of photo with Little Dipper below, and Lyra in the lower left. Albert Kelly Park, Portland, Oregon OM20157
Ok so im taking a break from my usual HDRs by request of my good friend Geoff Levy (http://www.flickr.com/photos/glimages) who is actually back packing in europe that lucky son of a gun. this theater was awesome! so much detail in every single part of the whole building. i wish i had time to write down some of the details about the construction of this place but i was so busy working that i had to rush around to find this angle. black and white photos have always been my favorite type of photography, contrary to popular belief. its the most visually appealing if you can do it right, i just dont feel like im very good at it haha. i will however do my best to improve on it and eventually be good enough at the art of capturing something in black and white to only have to shoot black and white.
Visually scavenging for edibles.
Herring Gull. Big and obvious and easily shot. Since the huge reduction in sandeels at the Wee Bankie (extensive shallows off the Firth of Forth's opening) seabirds generally have had a bad time. Puffins maybe more than most.
A visually charming window display in one of the tourist shops in Le Castellet, a medieval village in the South of France. There are so many entertaining little details to look at here.
Visually indistinguishable from Western Wood Pewee, the two species are separated by geography and vocalization. Lake St. Clair.
Roan Mountain, straddling the border between North Carolina and Tennessee, rises like a great green fortress in the Southern Appalachian range. This five-mile-long highland ridge is one of the most ecologically diverse and visually striking places in the eastern United States. Towering over 6,200 feet at its highest point, Roan Mountain is not a single peak but a series of summits, grassy balds, and spruce-fir forests that together create a landscape unlike any other in the region.
Most visitors begin their journey at Carver’s Gap, a high mountain pass accessible by car that sits at 5,512 feet. From here, hikers step directly onto the Appalachian Trail, which cuts across the ridgeline and connects the mountain’s main features. Within minutes, the trail climbs above the tree line, revealing sweeping panoramic views from Round Bald, the first of several open summits. These “grassy balds”—including Jane Bald and Grassy Ridge Bald—offer a rare kind of terrain in the southern Appalachians: treeless mountaintops covered in wildflowers, berries, and grasses. The views are endless, stretching across North Carolina’s Blue Ridge to the east and Tennessee’s Holston Mountains to the west.
The origins of these balds remain a mystery. Some scientists believe they are remnants of the last Ice Age, sustained by a combination of grazing animals, fire, and climate. Others suggest human activity kept them clear. Either way, these open meadows are ecologically rich and fragile, requiring careful conservation to prevent trees from reclaiming the space.
To the west of Carver’s Gap, the terrain changes dramatically. The Appalachian Trail climbs into the dense, moss-covered spruce-fir forests of Roan High Knob, the highest point on the ridge at 6,285 feet. These forests feel more like New England or Canada than North Carolina, remnants of colder glacial climates from thousands of years ago. The air is cooler, the light dimmer, and the quiet deeper. Here stands the Roan High Knob Shelter, the highest backcountry shelter on the Appalachian Trail.
Near the summit of Roan High Knob, history lingers. In the late 1800s, General John T. Wilder built the Cloudland Hotel on the mountaintop as a resort for people seeking health benefits from the cool, fresh air. The hotel, which once straddled the state line, is long gone, but its ruins can still be found in the woods. Nearby, a short spur trail leads to Roan High Bluff, one of the best overlooks in the entire range.
Perhaps the most famous feature of Roan Mountain is its extraordinary display of Catawba rhododendrons. Each June, thousands of these flowering shrubs bloom across the highlands in brilliant pink and purple hues, transforming the mountains into a floral spectacle. The Roan Mountain Rhododendron Gardens, located near the old hotel site, include paved walkways and overlooks that make them accessible to all. The display is so iconic that the nearby town of Roan Mountain, Tennessee, hosts an annual Rhododendron Festival to celebrate the bloom and local mountain culture.
But Roan Mountain isn’t only beautiful in summer. In fall, the highlands erupt in gold and crimson, and in winter, the ridge becomes a snowy wonderland. The elevation keeps temperatures cool year-round, and sudden fog, thunderstorms, or wind can make conditions change quickly. Even experienced hikers are advised to carry layers and rain gear, and to check the weather before heading out.
Beyond its scenic appeal, Roan Mountain is also a place of deep ecological importance. It’s home to dozens of rare plant and animal species, including Gray’s lily, Roan Mountain bluets, and various high-elevation birds. Conservation groups work actively to protect these habitats, as overuse and erosion remain concerns, especially during peak visitation months.
Roan Mountain also holds a place in American history. In 1780, during the Revolutionary War, a group of frontiersmen known as the Overmountain Men crossed the Roan Highlands on their way to the Battle of Kings Mountain. This march is now commemorated by the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, which intersects with the Appalachian Trail in the area.
On the Tennessee side, Roan Mountain State Park provides a lower-elevation base with campgrounds, rental cabins, and family-friendly trails. The park complements the high-elevation wilderness above, offering opportunities for fishing, biking, and attending seasonal festivals.
Access to Roan Mountain is relatively easy. From Asheville, North Carolina, it’s about a 1.5-hour drive through winding mountain roads. The main entry point, Carver’s Gap, is open year-round, with parking available for both day hikers and thru-hikers. The Roan Mountain Recreation Area, open in the warmer months, provides picnic areas, paved walking paths, and access to the rhododendron gardens.
What makes Roan Mountain remarkable is how it combines natural beauty, accessibility, and a sense of the wild. It’s a place where the scenery changes with each step—from open balds under the wide sky to misty evergreen forests—each corner hiding its own magic. For many, a visit to Roan becomes a yearly ritual, a seasonal pilgrimage to walk through rhododendrons, listen to wind in the fir trees, and feel, if just for a moment, like they've stepped into another world.
Whether you’re a seasoned backpacker, a family on a scenic drive, or a botanist studying rare plants, Roan Mountain offers something meaningful. It’s not just a hike or a view—it’s an experience that connects people to nature, history, and the enduring power of mountains.
One of the most visually stunning Inca ruins beside Machu Picchu is the Moray Agricultural Terraces. It's weird that this site is not on the typical tourist agenda, but we're glad we went. The site holds a series of concentric terraces that looks like an ancient Greek amphitheater, and it descends to a depth of approximately 150 meters. The circular bottom is so well drained that it never completely floods, no matter how plentiful the rain.
The most widely agreed theory about this site is that the Incas used it as an agricultural research station. Pollen studies indicate that soils from several region of the Andes, from tropical and sub-tropical areas, were imported by the Incas and deposited in each of the large circular basins. Seeds were then cultivated, studied, and likely sent throughout the Incan empire to improve yield in the harsh conditions of the Andes.
The Sculptor Galaxy is visually a very bright and quite big galaxy in the constellation Sculptor. It can be easily seen through binoculars.
It lies at a distance of around 11 milion light years away and is part of the Sculptor Group, one of the nearest galaxy groups to the Milky Way.
The globular cluster is NGC288 and lies at a distance of 30.000 light years from earth.
Image taken with monochrome Nikon D600 on a APM107/700 with Riccardi reducer and modified Nikon D600 on a TS Quadruplet 480/80, mounted on Fornax 51 and guided with MGEN.
Luminance 30x10min ISO400
RGB 30x10min ISO400
Location: Astrofarm Kiripotib, Namibia
HBM!
This is from the Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum is a natural oasis in South Austin dedicated to the work of 20th century American sculptor Charles Umlauf. Every season we shows off our art in a different way, allowing new perspective on the sculptures.
Extra information:
The Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum will also include the sculptor’s personal sculpture garden located on two adjoining acres up the hill, overlooking the Museum grounds. Angeline Umlauf began creating this unique space in the early 1950s, planting native flowering shrubs around the sculptures that Umlauf moved out of his studio as he finished them. Their six children dug paths and edged them with stones they took out of the flower beds. It was the pleasure that their many guests experienced in their private garden that inspired Charles and Angeline Umlauf to give it, along with their home, his studio and 168 pieces of sculpture to the City they loved.
Note: The bronze sculptures in the garden have been waxed so visitors who are blind or visually impaired and others can touch the sculptures. The wax protects the bronze from being damaged by the salts and oils in exploring fingers.
This visually busy scene occurred mid summer of this year and was captured while standing in my backyard. I’m not certain why the vivid section of the rainbow was so abbreviated in these conditions, but it created something that looked almost like a bridge between the upper and lower clouds, which I thought looked pretty cool. Besides the clouds, rainbow and corn, there are two birds also caught in frame. The obvious one (just to the left of the rainbow) was a barn swallow and the other (perched on a cornstalk in the lower right quadrant) was a blue grosbeak.
visually striking war memorial dedicated to soldiers of the Portuguese army who died during the Overseas War of 1961 to 1974. The Monumento Combatentes Ultramar memorial comprises of three distinctive sections; the flame, the monument and memorial wall.
The central flame burns continuously to signify the lasting memory of the dead soldiers while the names of each solider who died in the protracted African conflict are etched into the the three walls that surround the memorial. The artistic section of the Monumento Combatentes Ultramar include a shallow purpose built lake and two large angled pillars that jut out above the flame.
One of the most visually stunning Inca ruins is at Moray, an archaeological site in Peru approximately 50 km northwest of Cuzco and just west of the village of Maras. In a large bowl-like depression, is constructed a series of concentric terraces that looks like an ancient Greek amphitheater. The largest of these terraces are at the center – they are enormous in size, and descend to a depth of approximately 150 meter, leading to a circular bottom so well drained that it never completely floods, no matter how plentiful the rain.
The concentric terraces are split by multiple staircases that extend upward like spokes of a wheel and enable people to walk from the top to the bottom of the bowl. Six more terraces, in connected ellipses rather than perfect circles, surround the concentric heart of Moray, and eight terraced steps that cover only a fraction of the perimeter overlook the site. The purpose of these depressions is uncertain, but the most widely agreed theory is they used to serve as ‘agricultural research station’.*
*https://www.amusingplanet.com/2013/03/the-mysterious-moray-agricultural.html