View allAll Photos Tagged visually
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.
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
Warsaw, Poland
Summer 2018
This week I posted a few words about being comfortable shooting “nothing” in the post “A little faded and not so perfect anymore” receiving some questions about what my “typical” day looks like when I am out walking the city and shooting, the length of time I might shoot, what I find worthy and interesting and how often I might shoot. And so as a follow up to that post, I thought I would share with you visually what an afternoon looks like when I am out and about searching for “nothing”.
You can read the rest on my blog...click below!
Erik Witsoe | BLOG | Facebook | Medium | 500px | Twitter | Instagram | Flickr
- Francis Bacon.
| facebook | 500px | ferpectshotz |
The checkerboard Mesa is located close to the Eastern entrance to the Zion National Park by Zion Canyon Highway 9. This rock formation is really interesting due to the unusually bright colors and the pattern across the sandstone closely resembling that of a checkerboard.
Even if the rock formation is visually interesting it is a rather difficult structure to photograph and the conditions we met with while we were there didn’t make it any easier. I tried three four different compositions but the problem I was encountering was that dues to a complete cloud cover we had that weekend as soon as we move little father from the mesa the colors become rather dull and the picture looks rather bland. Finally I decided to do a workaround and found this nice location which looked like a dried out stream. It had a nice big rock in front as a foreground interest and minimal tree lines but I had to get so close even with a wide angle lens I couldn’t get the entire Mesa in the frame. I really like how nice and bright I got the frame to be and also the vivid colors of the mesa which came through in spite of the dull sky.
Hope all of you like the shot, Enjoy!!
As you drive from Bournemouth along the Jurassic coast, you can visually feel the changing textures of the rocks. While Bournemouth is at the Eastern end, driving from there you will first reach the Old Harry Rocks just east of Studland. These magnificent sea stacks are made of calcium. As you move further west towards Exeter, you will eventually culminate your journey in Ladram Bay which is between the coastal towns of Budleigh Salterton and Sidmouth, on the south coast of Devon.
The “Otter Sandstone” is the richest source of Triassic reptile remains in Britain and one of the most important in the world. At the south-west end of the bay, the most common fossils in the sandstone are networks of vertical, tube-like carbonate petrifactions (rhizocretions): these represent the roots of plants that were able to survive in the harsh dry climate of the Triassic Period - Courtesy Wiki.
The pebble beach here is the best I have visited thus far. When we got there, it was already getting cold as the dusk approached and there was not one around...so I basically had these beautiful red rocks all to myself! That was such a beautiful evening. We completed our trip to the Jurassic Coast here and headed back home.
I will be on transit for a few days. So I wont be able to visit your streams. I will set myself up again and get back on flickr. Till then happy shooting and have a nice weekend!!
Thanks for viewing :)
On Saturday on Saturday July 5, the theme is "TRIPTYCH"; this was proposed by SJBrooksbank.
I've found this DEFINITION...
In photography, a triptych is a set of three associated or interconnected images displayed together as a single artwork. It's like a visual story told through three separate but related photographs, often with a shared theme or narrative.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
- three images:
a triptych is fundamentally composed of three individual photographs, displayed side-by-side.
- cohesive whole:
these three images are not just displayed side-by-side; they are meant to be viewed together as a single, unified piece of art.
- narrative or theme:
the images in a triptych often share a common theme, subject, or narrative, creating a more complex and layered visual experience.
- visual storytelling:
the triptych allows the photographer to explore a subject from multiple perspectives or show a progression of events, adding depth and intrigue to the overall presentation.
- example:
think of three photos capturing different stages of a flower blooming, or three portraits of the same person from different angles, all presented together as a triptych.
*THREE DIFFERENT PHOTOS*:
- This theme is NOT about 'a triptych of one photo'... a triptych of one photo refers to a single photograph that is divided into three separate, but visually connected, panels or sections and displayed together. Like this...
Beam Of Ornage by Photos By Buddy1
Visually indistinguishable from Western Wood Pewee, the two species are separated by geography and vocalization. Lake St. Clair.
Fieldfare / turdus pilaris. Codnor, Derbyshire. 21/12/23.
'HABITAT SHOT.'
During the recent strong winds, any remaining apples fell from the tree, forcing two Fieldfares down onto the ground to feed. Typically the birds fed on windfalls that were furthest away from my watchpoint and where there were lots of tall dead plant stems. The area wasn't the most visually pleasing, but I had to take what was on offer!
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.
Trying to take an average photo and make it more interesting. So, I took a 3 exposure bracket and then blended them visually taking the best exposure for each area and then processed the image in Photomatix.
When I was shooting the train in my stream called CajonLocomotion I was walking back towards my car when I realized that this is the same shot that a terrific photographer that i follow named Dave Toussaint had taken during the winter. It was all covered in snow and looked like something you would see on a Christmas card.
Let me know what you think? If you have any questions about a photo just post it or send me a Flickr mail and I will respond as quickly as possible.
M33 is visually the second largest galaxy observed in the Northern Hemisphere and can be seen by the naked eye in dark skies. It is 2.7 million ly from earth and named after the constellation Triangulum in which it sits near.
PI Workflow:
R (Drizzle / MMT Noise Reduction / MT Star Reduction / Deconvolution)
G/B (Drizzle / DBE / Debanding / MMT Noise Reduction / Linear Fit)
Ha/O (Drizzle / Debanding / DBE / MMT Noise Reduction / Linear Fit)
L (Drizzle / Deconvolution / Delinearize / HDRMT / LHE / CT)
RBGCombination
NBRGB Script
DBE
MaskedStretched / HT
Photoshop Workflow:
ColorEfex Pro / Detail Extraction
Curves
StarSpikes Pro to cleanup stars
Takahashi FSQ-106
Software Bisque MyT
QSI 683WSG-8
L 12x15min
R 8x15min
G 4x15min
B 7x15min
Ha 33x30min
Oii 13x30min
Total Integration Time = 30.75hrs
Data from Deepskywest Remote Observatory
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
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.
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.
Visually rough as can be seen in this macro image, but comparatively smooth to the touch. A disconnect between the senses.
Visually I like the silhouette of the man and his umbrella as he slowly but purposefully walks past the mannequins to his destination.
I changed the name to ‘Fitting In’ thanks to my friend Sara. This reference on one hand can be taken literally i.e. in relation to the subjects position between the mannequins. On the other hand, It can be taken as a symbolic representation. A protest about the ‘fitting in’ to superficial norms set by societies. How more superficial can a mannequin be? Who wants to conform? Who wants to ‘fit in’?
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
A collab with Carter displayed at BricksCascade 2024. Utopian post-apoc? Futuristic steampunk? Neo-classical sci-fi? Fantasy solarpunk? We're still not sure what it is thematically, but it's visually satisfying at least (hopefully!)...
This build is 360° viewable, and we were able to use 60 different LEGO colors in the build. (Including all the Sand colors!)
Also, special thanks to Eli for allowing us to wreck his nicely sorted build space so that we could finish this up at his house.
To Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior be the glory!
Some pics for my Wardrobe post!
I really had a lot of fun putting this looks together. I really find the outfit, the makeup, and the hair to all be super beautiful on their own. Mixing them together makes me feel so sexy!
Full credits and more Wardrobe info at post: digitalregeneration.com/visually-organize-your-second-lif...
Hydroponic cultivation is an ideal and easy method for growing a money plant (Epipremnum aureum), also known as pothos. It makes it a very low-maintenance and visually appealing.
This is one of the most visually direct drawings in the “Living Machine” series. The drawing took first place in the fine arts division of the LPL Art of Planetary Science show 2015. As with other works in this series, this drawing explores themes of mimetic evolution, Lamarckian evolution and self-construction. A large organic spheroid creature (a “Plantimal”) mimics the form of a smaller more machine-like creature which it is carrying. The background is taken largely from a view of low mountains north of Interstate 8 near the Arizona-California border.simpler story more cleanly and directly.
This work was part of a solo show at Tucson's main library May 2019: pima.bibliocommons.com/events/5cc0d96b6d8db6450037c654
A visually impaired man going up the stairs of La Grande Arche de la Défense in Paris.
Instagram: www.instagram.com/zellersamuel
Portfolio & Prints: www.samuelzeller.ch
If anything is visually in people’s minds when thinking about India, it’s likely the Taj Mahal. It was built by a king for his queen, where she now is memorialized. What’s less well known is that several generations before a queen had erected a very similar structure for her king husband, only done in red brick rather than marble. It’s believed this one was the model for the Taj.
A distant view from Escanaba, Michigan, looking across the water toward Washington Island, Wisconsin, more than 22 miles (35 kilometers) away. The dark strip of land appears to float above the horizon because of a superior mirage, a refraction effect that often occurs over cold water. When colder, denser air sits near the lake surface with warmer air above it, light rays bend downward as they pass through the temperature layers. That bending can visually lift distant land above its true position, compress its shape, and create a shimmering gap between the island and the water.
These visually striking hoodoos can be found in a remote section of Utah's Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. At least that's the case right now. Political bullshit keeps changing the size and borders of this national monument and it's very possible that this particular area may lose its protective status in the near future (if it hasn't already). Fortunately, the area is so remote that I doubt it really matters.
Visually seen and captured at 4:02 AM. Milky Way above the meteor. Mars is to the left of the Saguaro cactus and Saturn and Jupiter to the right of the cactus, all three planets in a straight line.
The meteor last 1-2 seconds and moved very fast. This is a 10 second exposure so the meteor is photographically less bright in appearance than the visual observation.
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.
© All Rights Reserved - Black Diamond Images
The cloud type seen in this image is called an Arcus Cloud a term which additionally, encompasses both shelf and roll clouds.
"Arcus Cloud is the umbrella term used for low-lying accessory clouds that spreads out horizontally, usually from the boundary of a larger storm system like a thunderstorm. These cloud formations have a visually striking appearance and typically appear as shelf clouds or roll clouds."
Read more about Arcus Clouds - HERE.
I took this image with my IPhone 12 Pro Max on Tuesday evening 19th October 2021 from the corner of Lakeview Crescent and Stephens Street Burgess Beach.
We were just finishing up minor repairs on a property in Burgess Beach which we were getting ready for rental the next day when we noticed a drone overhead. Looking up we saw this amazing storm front coming across the southern end of Wallis Lake.
With the jobs completed I was able to jump in the car and look close by for a suitable vantage point. With the storm front approaching fast all I had time to do was get one street back from Burgess Beach and unfortunately ugly power lines were an unavoidable intrusion into the landscape. After this shot I moved to another location at One Mile Beach and got a shot free of power lines.
I'm not sure if anyone else got images of the storm over Forster. If they did I haven't seen them.
I did however see some outstanding drone images posted on Facebook taken by a local pro photographer from the lookout at the northern end of Blueys Beach.
My son who was with me quickly dragged out his DJI Mavic 2 Pro drone which he was fortunate to have left in his car after flying it on the weekend. It had limited battery and by the time he got it up it was getting dark so he only got a couple of shots.
He allowed me to post a few of his images here on Flickr.
All rights reserved © fairuz 2010
tNo matter how dull, or how mean, or how wise a man is, he feels that happiness is his indisputable right.
Long exposure attemption
On explore Mar 23, 2010 #362
Location:Mersing
090609
If you look at this part of this sky visually with a telescope, all you see is the open star cluster at the center. Taking a picture with a hydrogen-alpha filter and a CCD camera reveals a lot more. There is an emission nebula associated with the star cluster, and there are many dark molecular clouds in the foreground. Those are regions where new stars are forming. I think one bears a resemblance to the Loch Ness monster or some long necked dinosaur.
Taken from my backyard in Long Beach, CA with a Celestron Edge HD 925 at 535 mm focal length with Hyperstar. An Atik 414-EX mono CCD camera was used with an Atik H-alpha filter and Optolong RGB filters. Most of the detail comes from the H-alpha filter with the RGB filters helping to get the star colors correct.
Hα filter - 42 240 s exposures
R filter - 72 45 s exposures
G filter - 61 45 s exposures
B filter - 55 45 s exposures
Preprocessing in Nebulosity with dark, bias, and flat frames; stacking, channel combination, and initial processing in PixInsight; final touches in Photoshop. It took a lot of work in PixInsight to get the right color mapped to all the detail in the nebula, but I think I found a combination that works.
North is at the left and west is at the top in this image.
Visually observed as well. The meteor emerges from the "Y" radiant directly above. Mars (with red color) is above the Saguaro cactus and Saturn and Jupiter to the upper right. These meteors often show nice color as captured in this one. Shortly after this the sky brightened, the coyotes howl to welcome the dawn and meteor observing is over.
The color of this meteor is typical of this shower that shows well against the predawn sky.
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.
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.
Two visually impaired students immerse themselves in a game of tactile chess, fingers feeling every piece and square. Their smiles reflect joy, intelligence, and determination beyond sight, proving that play and strategy have no boundaries.
I'm always looking for interesting things on my daily walks to capture for my Picture-of-the-Day for the 365 Group, and these sidewalk bumps, also known as "warning pavers" that are meant to assist visually impaired people really caught my eye.
These are 2 different pavers that are about a block apart and they're identical in every way, except one seems to be slightly more worn. However, the one on the left clearly looks like raised bumps, whereas the one of the right looks like depressions. It's a trick of the eye due to the angle of the sun and shadows!
See how easily amused I am....
Drangarnir Coastal Sunset – Faroe Islands
Drangarnir is probably the Faroe Island’s most famous set of sea stacks. The impressive 70 meters tall sea arch rises straight out of the North Atlantic Ocean. Of the two sea stacks that make up the formation, the most visually striking is the nearest to shore containing the sea arch. I had made a few other trip to the Faroe’s to photograph, but the weather and timing was never in my favor to get the image I wanted of. On my last trip, timing and the weather gods favored me to catch the sun as it intersected the edge of the stack.
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